Levtirest Book 1: Intrus

Chapter 6: Journey to the Western Plains

Kunesuch, Victoria, and Emily were surprised. Kunesuch asked, "I beg your pardon?"

Adafwyne explained, "There has always been something about that place that has not been right. I think we need to go to the Western Plains ourselves and see what is really happening. Maybe they could help us learn something."

Kunesuch began to think and asked, "Is it possible Yintillis was riding past the Dark Woods when he was attacked?"

Adafwyne admitted, "I have always felt very suspicious about the Dark Woods. It is very likely."

"The Dark Woods?" Victoria asked.

"They are another region of Levtirest," Adafwyne explained. "Good things rarely happen there. People go missing. Strange creatures are rumored to live in them. I have never liked them, and they are right next to the road that leads to the Western Plains. Tomorrow, I shall have two Darem take us to the Western Plains."

"Sounds like a plan," Emily stated.

The next day, after breakfast, Adafwyne, Kunesuch, Victoria, and Emily set out from Reichlregni on two Darem, headed towards the Western Plains. After a few hours, they stopped to eat some lunch that had been packed in leather sacks. They had passed by what appeared to be cow herds and other kinds of animals Victoria and Emily didn't recognize.

Kunesuch stated, "At this pace, it should take us around two more hours to reach the Western Plains. That means it should be near sunset when we arrive. We can begin asking around tomorrow."

Adafwyne stated, "There is no rush unless something happens." After they finished eating, they set out again. Not long after they did so, they began to pass some woods. Adafwyne pointed them out and stated, "The Dark Woods." Victoria and Emily watched them as they rode past. The name was creepy enough, but the woods looked dark and gloomy, even from a distance. The trees seemed darker than the ones they'd seen in the woods where they arrived in Levtirest, and they also appeared to be much closer together, blocking out sunlight. Everything about them seemed dark.

Soon, however, Emily noticed something and yelled, "Adafwyne, Kunesuch, behind us!" The others looked and saw that a bunch of men wearing black hoods and capes and riding black Darem were behind them and gaining. None of them knew who they were, but they remembered what Yintillis had told them. They all had a pretty bad feeling those were the men who'd captured Yintillis.

Adafwyne yelled, "Dretilu! Hurry!" The Darem seemed to recognize what she was saying and began to push themselves into an even faster pace. Victoria and Emily held on to the manes of the Darem, trying to stay on. Kunesuch was behind Emily, and Victoria was in front of Adafwyne. Even so, the girls could feel the speed with which the Darem were galloping.

Kunesuch yelled, "We cannot make it to the Western Plains! We have to head towards the Frigid Mountains!" Adafwyne nodded her head. The Darem began to turn, and the group began making their way towards what appeared to be a giant mountain range. The men were still gaining on them, however.

Adafwyne, after looking back, yelled, "We are not going to make it!"

Kunesuch yelled, "Take the scouted route!" Kunesuch and Adafwyne seemed to take a specific path towards the mountains, and soon a giant shadow came over them. The girls looked up to see some sort of giant flying creature, heading straight towards them. Victoria instinctively ducked, but when she looked back, the flying creature seemed to be warding off the men on the black Darem! In an amazing twist, the creature let out some sort of screech and picked up one of the men! Emily noticed someone on the back of the flying creature, seemingly controlling it.

Adafwyne and Kunesuch pushed the Darem up the mountains. The men continued to follow them. The flying creature had left, but suddenly, there was a loud noise that sounded like a person making a war cry. The men stopped their black Darem, but Adafwyne and Kunesuch continued up the mountain. Victoria and Emily let out a sigh of relief when they reached a small village on a flat area of the mountain. There, the flying creature was resting and being fed by a man. Victoria asked, "Who were those men?"