TAKE TWO, kotlc

Chapter 40- Braelynn

"Ugh- Iggy. If you weren't adorable, I would've let you be," Braelynn snorted as a fresh wave of Iggy farts wafted in their direction, sending Jocelyn- ("I'm trying to sleep, but that furball's toxic burps make it impossible!") -into a familiar coughing fit.

Iggy burped again.

It was day four on the run in the middle of the forest- or maybe three? Five? Braelynn had lost count. The days seemed to blur together, until she wasn't fully aware of what was day and night and anything in between.

"Put out the fire," Jocelyn mumbled from wherever she was, tucked beneath her Neverseen cloak and complaining endlessly about Iggy and Bullhorn. "We don't want to burn down the forest."

"Why not?" Braelynn asked fiercely. "Serves them right."

Jocelyn didn't say anything. She sighed and stomped on the crackling, dying flames, glad she had worn thick boots when she'd gone to Paris.

The trip to France had seemed so long ago- ages. Years. Lifetimes. But it had probably only been a month or so- not that Braelynn was keeping track of how many days had gone by since life was normal.

Four weeks.

Three days.

Twelve hours.

Sixteen minutes.

About thirty or so seconds.

But again, she convinced herself. Not like she was keeping track.

"What was that?" came Jocelyn's voice again, this time awake. The sound of leaves crunching and cloaks rustling made Braelynn's heart go thudding as Jocelyn scrambled to her feet, electricity crackling between her fingertips.

"Show yourself!" Braelynn added meekly, even though the plea was pathetic compared to how dangerous and threatening and put-together Jocelyn looked.

The crunching of dry grass and leaves continued, growing louder and louder. Braelynn found herself back to back with the Charger, even though she was brandishing a particularly feeble stick.

Out of the trees came a figure- dressed all in black. Especially their cloak- thick and over-sized and slung almost awkwardly over the rest of their clothing. Braelynn had a very creeping suspicion who it was- even though she had no idea how she could've found them.

Her and Jocelyn only moved in the darkest hours, with no clear pattern and complete spontaneity. They lurked in the shadows, hidden by their cloaks. One of them was constantly keeping watch. They moved together. Did nothing alone- and everything with almost over-protective caution. So how could she have found them?

Jocelyn dropped to her knees- into a bow.

And Braelynn assumed that meant she'd been double crossing her this entire time.

But her teeth were gritted and her fists were much too clenched. And everything about her position seemed forced.

"Hello, Princess," Jocelyn muttered, venom dripping from the two words. "Nice of you to drop in."

The next moment was a blur: the Charger lunged, viselike, for Arella who had thrown off her hood and was heading straight for them. The swiftness in her movement assured Braelynn that Arella would drop, safely unconscious without a moment to defend herself- but the decades that had passed clearly hadn't gone to waste.

She sidestepped, sending Jocelyn tumbling. On her knees, she almost managed to sweep the Princess and trip her...

But she hesitated just a moment too long, like Braelynn, assuming that Arella would stop. She didn't.

The last thing Braelynn knew was the Charger's scream right before the world went black.