Dragon's Khu'meir

Chapter Thirteen

It was dark as we walked, and it was starting to get difficult for me to see. Ahead of me, Dakoya had slowed his pace. He checked back often, keeping a close eye on me despite his earlier aggravation. The forest that we entered after leaving the palace seemed to go on forever. We hadn't stopped moving since we left either. It would seem that Dakoya wanted to cover as much ground as possible.

Yet, as daylight had faded, it had grown clear that we still had a long way ahead of us. Dakoya, however, continued forward -his steps measured. He knew exactly where he was going. Everything looked the same to me, especially in the darkness. A deep void that I couldn't hardly penetrate no matter how hard I squinted or tried to look ahead.

Dakoya came to a stop just in front of me, leaning against a tree and seeming to look around us. He gave me a quick glance -another check to make sure I was still with him probably. Then he continued on, pushing through the underbrush and breaking it apart so I could follow. It was getting difficult to keep up with him, but trying my best, I only just managed to see the path he was making for me.

"How far are we going before you want to stop?" I asked him, trying to see him in the darkness. Although I was still irritated from before, I tried not to let it get to me. I was also starting to get a little tired. Why had I thought going at night was a good idea again? Oh yeah... So we wouldn't be seen as much. I gave a sigh, and went into a jog to catch up with him again.

"If it were me, I could go all night. But," he said with a sigh as he looked over to me, "If you're tired we can stop and rest for a bit. We're still a ways out from their small base, yet close enough to be in a bit of danger too. What do you want to do? Think you can go a little further?" Dakoya had paused in his forward march as he answered me. He looked tense as he looked around us.

"Yeah. I can." I answered with a sigh of my own. I had kind of wanted to stop, but if we were close enough, then it was probably best to keep walking. Though my legs were starting to get a little tired, and my breathing slowly became faster as he was so much quicker than me. It was also easier for me to just agree with him rather than aggravate him even more. But it felt like everything he said just set me off, the thought of that only adding to my irritation.

We came to another stop after what felt like hours of walking. Dakoya looked over to me as he did so. The small spot he'd come to was like a mini clearing, with the trees opening up just enough to let the moonlight through. "Rest here," he said. "We'll go again in a few minutes."

"And you can't give me more time than that?" I asked as I sat down against a tree. I let out a huff as I sat down. The last time I had done that much exercise was when I'd thought it was a good idea to climb Half Dome. Thinking back on it was terrifying as the fall off of it had almost killed me. But then, if that hadn't happened, I never would have met Nakiirn. I wasn't grateful as such, but that fall did have its benefits.

Dakoya gave me a partial glare as he glanced over. He returned to looking around as he answered. "I would love to give you more time, but seeing as we're in the middle of enemy territory, I'd rather not risk it," he replied. "Honestly, Eoin. You're lucky I even agreed to bring you with. Now let's hope we don't run into any Ra or Za clans. Last thing I want to try to do is fight off a bunch of rogue dragons."

"I would have gone without you. So, you're lucky I let you come with me." I retorted as I looked away from him. It was getting more and more difficult to be nice, though I was trying. But I was sure Dakoya didn't see it that way. Looking up at the trees, I could see the moon shine through the leaves. It looked... Familiar. Where had I seen that before? Then it hit me. Eita, his illusion. The trees, and that never ending path that led away from the trees. The pain... That same fear came back suddenly, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. I pulled my legs in tight and wrapped my arms around them, burying my face in my legs. I could feel tears start as I did so, but managed to keep them somewhat at bay.