Katrina

Chapter 17 - War Has Come

Eanar realized that she was worried about something. He knew exactly what it was and wanted to distract her from those bad thoughts.

"Do you know how they met? Aerdnah and Muuqe?"

Katrina looked up at him, shaking her head.

"Muuqe found her when they were both young. He was a very playful colt and he found her crouched and scared to death in the jungle. So, he took her with him and they lived together with the horses beyond the hills on that end of the island, for several years. But the youth were on the other side of the island, so when they were adults, they moved to this area, and here they settled down to this day."

Katrina didn't know what to say. Her subconscious didn't leave her alone and she didn't stop thinking, without wanting to, about Muuqe's box and what she'd seen. But Eanar continued speaking anyway.

"Before, they went more often to visit the horses but since Xer... That is a complicated thing to do. It's dangerous to go so far. So I guess, when this is all over, things will go back as they did in the past and Muuqe and Aerdnah will be able to see their families again."

Katrina responded with something totally different to the subject. "When will everything be ready for me to go?"

"For us to go." He retorted.

"Are you going to come with me?"

"Yes, I've thought about it better and what am I going to do here, alone, while all the action is elsewhere? Besides, I no longer have a house. I'm not going to stay in this house with nothing to do."

Katrina's face lit up with a smile from ear to ear. She didn't want to go all the way by herself. However, she would have, if there had been no other option.

"Everything will be ready in a few hours, so tomorrow we'll march to the ruins. I suppose Aerdnah and the others will be there."

"Tomorrow? Why don't we leave today when you're finished?"

"I think it's a bit too hasty. It's getting dark."

"And? It's going to be nighttime for forty-eight hours. What difference does it make to leave today or tomorrow? The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll finish this story."

She was right and he knew it, so he just nodded.

"Or, are you tired?" She asked.

"No... I'm fine, we'll go out tonight. I'll prepare everything."

While he was finishing, Katrina came up with the idea of ​​practicing gymnastics so she wouldn't think too much about anything else, and somehow channel the anguish and pressure in her chest.

"What are you doing?" Eanar asked, seeing her cartwheeling everywhere.

"I used to do gymnastics when I was little, and I felt like doing it now. I need to have my mind occupied and my body ready for whatever's coming."

"Interesting." He answered, while he continued with his work and didn't say anything else.

After a few hours, Eanar turned to Katrina.

"It's ready." And he smiled. "Let's get out of here."

Katrina jumped up. "What potions have you prepared?"

"I'll tell you on the way. Now, let's get going."

And they did. They started the walk while it was slowly getting dark, and Eanar was telling her what he'd prepared. "A part from the potions that I mentioned before, I prepared some more surprises."