Alliance

Midnight Rendevous pt 2

After what felt like an eternity, the fortnight is finally over. 

The men are rather disgruntled about our departure, but the ladies and I are more than eager to return to the castle, all for different reasons, though. Our husbands have definitely enjoyed the relaxed, near nonexistent schedule that we've had for the past two weeks which is understandable. From what I have been told about the soldiers' daily routine, it is very structured and rigorous with minimal breaks. I wouldn't be all too excited to return to such a demanding lifestyle either.

The ladies weren't fans of this woodlands trip because of the lack of resources, the bugs and being so far removed from the social scene. However, the trio was far from lacking entertainment; that came at my expense. 

For the past two weeks, the petty group has been making verbal jibes at me for every and anything I do. If I make the slightest mistake, be it a slip of the tongue or not knowing the names of those they are gossiping about, the women would sneer at me. What a vile bunch they are. My reasons for wanting to get back to the castle go without saying.

Unfortunately, our return to the castle will have to wait until tomorrow morning. We were making great progress with our travels, but the Terrible Three began to complain about being tired, so we stopped to make camp for the night despite being no more than three hours away from our destination.

My gaze flits over to the tent where Farrell is obliviously snoring the night away. The sound of him was beginning to bother me and, since I wasn't going to get any sleep anyway, I decided to work on the design I've been embroidering into a cloth for the Queen Raeka. That was approximately an hour ago and Farrell still hasn't stirred nor wondered my whereabouts. It is good to know that the warrior is no light sleeper. It's an admittedly concerning fact, seeing that anyone can come to snuff him out at night without his knowledge, but good to know nonetheless.

I stand up and trade out my project for my bow and bag. Time for a change of pace.

I silently sneak past the line up of tents and into the forest with ease. Nala whinnies as I pass her by, pouty that I'm not bringing her along for an adventure, but remains quiet otherwise. Sorry, girl, I think to myself, but you would get me caught.

I duck and weave through the brush, searching for any signs of small wildlife. For the duration of this trip, I've been shooting extra game to give to the servants who came along to tend to the royal travelers. The food brought along and gathered from the traps is more than enough for the six of us, but far from sufficient for the rest, so I've been supplementing them with what I can. It's not right for us to go to sleep on full stomachs while others in our company have to survive on scraps.

It doesn't take me long to shoot a few rabbits and a wild chicken (which I was lucky to find in the first place). I silently thank my mother for the game bag that I have slung across my back. It's waterproofed on both the inside and outside, so none of the blood nor the odors of the animals seep into my clothes nor my person. I want to find one or two more rabbits or, if I'm lucky, another chicken to bring back so that there's enough for everyone to be full for the rest of our short trip.

I hear the bushes north of me rustle and snap against the weight of something big. A wicked grin spreads across my face as I ready my bow with excitement. I was hoping to find a chicken but here I am with a boar pummeling towards me. Oh, how I love when things work my way.

As soon as the boar, a stocky adolescent, by the looks of it, breaks through to the clearing I lob arrow after arrow at it. The swine looks surprised by my being here but still manages to dodge my shot nonetheless. It continues its charge in my direction, allowing itself a second to look over its shoulder in the direction it came from. Fatal mistake. The moment the boar's face turns to my direction, I drive an arrow through its eye. It crashes to the floor instantly.

I take the few steps needed to close the distance between the boar and me before yanking the arrow out of its eye socket. Now that I have the chance to get a good look at the thing, the pig is actually fairly large. After attempting to pick the thing up, I scrunch my face in annoyance, I really should have thought this through. This thing is fat!

While I am capable of carrying it, I sincerely do not want to. It takes a minute of consideration before deciding to discard my preferences. This pig alone can feed all nine people and the rest of the game I procured can be taken back to their families. With a groan that sounds like I'm the dying animal, I heft up the fat beast and start my trek back to the campgrounds.

...

I surprisingly get back to the camp within, by my count, thirty minutes. I dump the pig and my game bag at the door of the head cook before heading straight to Nala for the change of clothes I keep in her side-saddle. I make to switch out clothes before getting a whiff of myself. I scrunch my nose in disgust before marching myself down to the nearby river. As hard of a sleeper as Farrell is, even he'd wake up at the smell of me. I wouldn't be surprised if even a dead man did.

My time bathing in the river is short-lived, but relaxing to my sore muscles nonetheless. I can't risk getting caught by a wild animal, especially with so little energy left. By the time I'm out and washing my dirty clothes, I realize that I forgot to leave a note next to the game like I usually do. I snort at a thought, who else would bother helping them besides me?

"What's so funny?"

I yelp and jump to my feet in an instant, taking the bow I had slung over my shoulder knocked and aimed without a moment's hesitation. Once I recognize who it is I re-sling my bow. 

Chatura laughs as he pads closer to me, "Is this going to be how you always greet me?"

I roll my eyes, "If you are determined to sneak up on me every time, then yes, yes I will."

"Why are you out right now? Have you still not returned to that husband of yours?"

"I could not sleep, so I went hunting and now I am washing up." I return to wringing out my clothes, "And you? I thought you didn't travel far from your cave unless it's for the Great Gathering. Is it that time of the month?"

Chatura nods, "That it is. Tonight's moon is as small as it shall be in this cycle, so my people take advantage of the camouflage the dark provides." He pauses for a moment before giving me an almost mischievous grin, "Would you like to come?"

I pause for a second, contemplating what all could possibly go wrong. From what Chatura told me, dragons don't fancy eating humans because we're too bony for the most part, so I'm in no danger of being a midnight snack. I doubt he'd let anything happen to me because I would already be dead if he wished it so. The only problem that I can foresee occurring is Farrell waking up and I'm not within campgrounds.

"Can you get me back here before sunrise?"

Chatura nods, "All dragons are back in their caves by dawn as customary. Lest a disaster occurs, I can guarantee your safe passage home before the stars begin to fade."

I give him a feral grin of my own, "Then what are we waiting for?"

Chatura laughs and takes a step closer. "I was hoping you would say that."

I secure my bow and quiver on my back before swinging myself up on Chatura's back. He's currently no bigger than Nala, so it's no hard feat. Once I am settled Chatura slowly crouches down to the floor. "Hold on tightly, we have some time to make up for if we want to catch the show." With that Chatura's wings snap open and we're bursting into the sky. I can't help but scream at the sudden acceleration. I hold on to the dragon's neck as tightly as I can. It feels as if my stomach has fallen to my feet. What have I gotten myself into?!