Kyera was resting on the grass looking up at the canopy, trying to relax away the tension that this forest was causing. Her mind was taking in all the smells and feelings here trying to place this campsite in relation to the Bazaar and the Ash Forest. A chill ran down her spine, and she slowly sat up and looked toward the south.
The forest looked no darker, no more dangerous than any other area but something was off. Kan starred in the same direction coming to stand beside her. "You sense it too?" He asked and Kyera nodded slowly.
"The Forest of Ash is crying…" Kyera replied standing, a burst of dizziness rushing to her head as she did. Kan bumped behind her knees, knocking them out from under her. She landed as gently as he could manage on his back.
"Should we investigate? It could be a trap." He pointed out and Kyera shook her head. She could feel it deep inside, the cries of the fallen warriors. Something was forcing them to be called to arms.
"We can not ignore the call of the forest. Follow the cries." Kyera replied settling into place on his back. Part of her was annoyed he had knocked her off her feet, but then the other part was grateful. Her body was behaving as though it was quite weak despite the rest. She knew the majority of it was the baby in her womb but something still felt wrong. The sensation of being drained was so… unsettling.
"Princess, are you alright?" Lazren asked seeing she was mounted up. Kyera flashed him a bright smile, she knew he couldn't go with her. She knew the rules of the heir games frowned on escorts entering the forest for the actual hunt. There would be no way to prove if the kill belong to the princess, or the guard. Rather than open up the chance for that misunderstanding, it had been banned for the escourts to leave the camp. Kyera sighed knowing she was going to have to lie. If Lazren knew she was going to the Ash Forest he would never allow it.
"I am going to go hunting. The quicker I get my kills the more the baby and I can rest." Kyera replied and nodded at Kan. It didn't take but a second for him to understand her expression. The tiger took heed and began to dash into the woods before Lazren could ask further questions. They never saw the concern on the wolf's face.
They traveled in companionable silence, the tension not between them but between their aura's and the forest itself. Kyera could feel the souls of the fallen pulling her closer, drawing her into the trees while Kan felt their utter rejection. He had not traveled this path since the night Keenan died, and for good reason.
"How long has it been since you visited the Ash Forest?" Kan asked, knowing the Princess had been away for a while. Her mind tried to think back to the last time she had been among those somber trees. Sadness pierced her heart as she came to a realization.
"I don't remember." Kyera replied, her hands gripped his fur a bit tighter. In truth she did remember. How could she forget… but she wanted to. Oh how she wanted to forget those moments beneath the ashen trees. So many things were witnessed by the trees of that dark grove, and the elder spirits called to her screamed her name.
"Kyera, you aren't a good lier." Kan replied shaking his head as he started to slow his steps, having covered quite a lot of ground. She sighed softly and nodded. She could lie, but it was something she had to work at. Hiding the truth wasn't the same, it was something she had to do for her people and her survival. Lies were fabrications that she wasn't very skilled at.
"I know. At any rate we will have to investigate this and bring back a kill in a hour." Kyera pointed out and Kan sighed. This was going to be interesting. They were already twenty minutes into the trip, and had another fifteen before she would reach the Ash Forest.
"Alright, Princess. Hold on tight." He replied increasing the speed and distance of his bounds. Kyera held tight, something still prickling at her heart, like eyes boring into her back. There was no turning back now, no matter what lay ahead.