The Last Alive

Chapter 8: Kindel

Kindel's POV

I trudged along behind Saprindale and Waryndur. We had been walking since about noon and my feet were starting to hurt. Lilitine said we would reach our destination soon but every inch felt like a mile. I looked up at the clear blue sky. I would much rather be up there soaring above the clouds. But I had to stay with the group. I looked at our surroundings, not that they were interesting. It was all the same. Trees, trees, and more trees. I was ready for a change in scenery.

As I was looking around I didn't notice that the group had stopped and ran smack into Waryndur who turned and growled at me. I smiled feebly and then turned my attention to the front of the group.

Lilitine was standing there looking at something that I couldn't see.

Then, she turned around and said,"We're here. We will make camp here and go down in the morning."

Go down? Go down where? I made my way to the front and opened my mouth to ask what she meant but I didn't have to ask.

We were up high. Not on a cliff, but instead in a hill. We were looking over rolling hills covered in beautiful wildflower that stirred in the breeze. Dotting the hill were little trees that had leaves that looked like they had turned for fall even though it was summer. There was a small stream trickling through the wildflower-covered hills.

I turned to Lilitine,"It's amazing. Is this where the other elf is staying?"

"Close by yes," she pointed past the hills to a little cliff in the distance,"That is where the person is staying."

I looked at the distance we had to travel and my shoulders sagged. It would take another day of walking, but at least we would be walking through this beautiful landscape. I looked over it all one last time then turned back toward the group and sat to eat.

We ate fish again today and after we all finished eating we laid down and went to sleep.

I woke up around the same time as everyone else. We all ate apples and then packed up camp. I wasn't very excited about spending another day walking but at least I know we will be stopping for a day or two when we get to our destination.

I saw Brimundur standing and looking over the hills. Star and Bear weren't with him and I figured they were with Lilitine and Lego. I walked over to Brimundur. He stayed quiet, not even acknowledging that I was there. That was fine with me. Quiet was nice, peaceful.

Then, without turning toward me, he said,"My daughter would've loved this. She loved flowers."

This was the first thing he had said about his children and I wasn't sure how to respond. So I didn't. The silence started to get really awkward, then he broke the silence.

"They died 6 months ago. They were the only ones who died during the raid and the fire. I had a daughter and a son. My daughter's name was Geloven, she was only 5. My son's name was Leverancier and he was 12. Large age difference, I know. Geloven was a surprise that we never regretted. Leverancier, or Ver, was a genius. His Gift was that of strength and he couldn't wait until he turned 16 and could help the queen like I do. Geloven was a sweetheart and loved everything about nature. We never learned what her Gift was but I have a feeling she would've been a plant-talker. She would've nurtured the flowers in the queens gardens and helped the crops grow. My wife was a plant-talker who worked in the queens gardens. She was one of the main elven races, a Wood elf. She was beautiful," Brimundur looked down at me,"Star and Bear remind me so much of my own children. They have brought memories that were long forgotten into my thoughts and they are helping me heal from my wounds. If you need a place for them to stay or even live, they will always be welcome with me."