"So, what were you just doing and where are you from?" He asked reservedly. Rubbing her wrists, she answered, "Oh well, I don't think you would believe me even if I told you. But could you please tell me where I am exactly? How did I get here?" Jacklyn backed up to a safe distance as well. Ferras covered his eyes with his hand and pulled in a sharp breath. She looked honestly confused, but it could also be a very clever trap. He should just give her a harsh response and tell her that her situation was none of his business. He had no time for this.
Ferras looked back at her and said, clearing his throat. "You are currently in the empire of Alvira under the rule of Empress Fey. And I can't give you any further details about my identity. As to the nearest village, it's about a two-day walk from here in that direction." He pointed out the direction he was going himself.
"Oh." Her shoulders sagged, realizing she would never make it there by herself. Seeing her so crestfallen, he did something he hadn't done in a very long time and answered: "You could come with me if you like. I'm heading the same way."
He instantly regretted his words. He was just begging for trouble with her around, but something in his gut had told him to do it. Ferras couldn't quite place this feeling. Usually his gut feeling was never wrong. Or was this another trick of hers?
"Really?" Her face lightened up immediately. "Thank you!" She said with relief, stepping a bit closer. He gave her an acknowledging nod.
Suddenly Ferras remembered something important: Stargate had run away. What a pain. He turned around and gazed out into the forest, always keeping the girl in his sights. "Stargate! Where are you?" He suddenly shouted, startling Jacklyn.
"Jesus Christ, you can't just yell like that!" She exclaimed.
"Sorry." He apologized, a bit surprised about how jumpy she was.
"And who is this 'Jesus'?" Ferras asked, confused.
Jacklyn just stared at him, then said he should just forget it.
"You see my friend is missing." Ferras continued. "He ran away from the blue anomaly you came through." He worriedly looked into the forest. He hoped that he'd find him soon. This forest was no playground. He shook his head.
Ferras was quite surprised to hear Jacklyn help shout: "Stargate! Where are you?" He looked at her. "What?" She asked with a shrug. "We gotta find this Stargate, right? So, I'll help you." He arched his eyebrows but didn't respond.
Together they walked through the forest looking for Stargate. Jacklyn had suggested they split up to cover more ground, but he knew how dangerous this forest could be and he declined. Also, he wanted to keep her in his line of vision at all times.
He looked at her next to him. Her head barely reached his shoulders. Her walk was self-confident, not like most girls he knew that walked to entice others. Despite her petite build, she looked athletic. At first, she kept jumping and flinching back from every tree leaf that fell. He also noticed how she walked close to him but always made sure to leave a small gap between them. Why was she so jumpy? A childhood trauma? Maybe it just was the way she was. In any case, it wasn't a bad trait at all to have in this place, Ferras thought. A slow reaction could mean death at any time. She was intently examining her surroundings as if she'd never seen a forest like this before.
"Say, is this friend of yours, by any chance, a horse and not a Human?" Jacklyn asked out of the blue. She didn't look at him. She was too fascinated by the blue canopy of trees, the purple glowing flowers winding themselves up the blue pulsing stems and the colorful moths fluttering all around them. She even deeply inhaled the air that smelt sweet and damp from the morning mist.
"How did you know?" He glanced sideways at Jacklyn. There was no way she could have figured it out so fast. Was she a psychic after all? Had his mental barriers been breached without him noticing?
"Because you smell like horse, but I don't see one with you and a horse might have gotten scared and run away, just like you said." She answered uncertainly. She gave him a confused sideways look.
"Yes. That is correct." He said, impressed. "But actually, Stargate isn't a normal horse. He's half unicorn." Jacklyn stopped dead and stared at him.
"A unicorn?? There are unicorns here?" She looked at Ferras skeptically. "No way. You are joking." Ferras tentatively nodded his head. "Yes. Unicorns, flurax, griffins... there are all kinds of creatures here..." At this point, the whole situation seemed more and more bizarre to Ferras. Amnesia perhaps? No. That couldn't be. She looked so confused.
"Flurax? What are those?" She barged in. Jacklyn slowly continued walking, completely concentrated on Ferras and no longer paying attention to the magical forest around her. It looked like it was her first time ever hearing that term. Could it really be? He cocked his head in confusion.
"Wow, you really aren't from here." He muttered in disbelief.
The pathway crunched under their feet as they walked underneath the tree canopy. Jacklyn was just about to say something when a twig snapped and they both jerked their heads in that direction. Jacklyn gaped in awe. Ferras understood why. The most beautiful horse was standing on the path, staring at them. The half unicorn had no horn but, in its place, a black star mark. The tips of its long wavy mane were black, as were its lower legs, muzzle and tail tip. It was elegantly built with hard visible muscles underneath its snow-white fur.
"Stargate?" Jacklyn asked in amazement. Relieved, Ferras walked over to Stargate and clapped his companion on the neck. "Yes." He said distracted, inspecting Stargate for any injuries.
"Can I touch it?" Stargate snorted at that remark. Ferras laughed, clapping Stargate's flank.
"Ask him, not me. It's his decision." He nodded at Stargate. Slowly she walked up to the half unicorn and held out her hand for him to sniff. Stargate lowered his head to give her access to his neck. Gently Jacklyn scratched behind the ears. Stargate gave an approving snort.
Breaking the quiet moment between the two, Ferras said: "We better get going. We still have a while to go until we hit our camping site." With that Ferras swung himself on Stargate, who stomped his powerful black hoofs and turned around once. On the sides of the saddle, there were bags of what she supposed to be supplies.
Looking at Jacklyn, Ferras realized that by bringing her along, they would never make it to the original camp site on time and that in general, it would take much longer traveling
Looking at Jacklyn, Ferras realized that by bringing her along, they would never make it to the original camp site on time and that in general, it would take much longer traveling. Why did he do this again?
"Is it okay if you walk?" He asked politely. "Stargate doesn't like strangers riding him. He's very picky." That was not quite true. Stargate was picky, but it was obvious he liked her and wouldn't have minded carrying her at all. If he was honest with himself, he would admit that it was he who felt uncomfortable at the thought of having her riding behind him.
She probably didn't know how to ride anyway, he tried to justify to himself. She doesn't look like she was from the working or fighting class. Yet a noble title didn't fit either. No noblewoman he knew walked like that, dressed like that or looked like that. To his knowledge, she didn't even wear a ring. No, she was a true mystery. "Yeah, sure. No problem." She said smiling.
Usually, he disliked having others around. But now that he'd been alone for so long, he actually enjoyed the company for once. Something interesting was about to happen. He could feel it.