Alred rolls on the ground, his back cracks as he pushes himself up. The smell of smoke and the warmth of a fire greet him.
He turns around to see a meat cooking over the flame. Jep and Agis both asleep. He scans around their camp site and is unable to see Laena. He pulls a small knife out, reaches for the meat.
"Go wash up, I can smell you from here. I'll cut you some meat." Laena walks through the brush at the edge of the camp site.
"OK." He puts his knife away, walks toward the river. The clear water seems calm this morning. A fog rolls on the Southwick side. He bends over to scoop water in his hands and splashes his face. A shiver runs down his spine as the cold water slaps him in the face.
He wipes the water away and hears a snap of a twig. His eyes scan the banks of the river. The spots a horse across the river. It's black coat shines with the raising sun. He pauses, grabbing for his heart as it comes to a stop. He's afraid his excitement will scare it off. He sees the single white horn sticking out its forehead.
"A unicorn?" His body tenses at the sight. The might beast locks eyes with him. The green blaze of its eyes sucking him in. A murder of crows calls the unicorn darts back into the fog.
He feels his heart beating again. He stares at the spot where it stood, hoping it would come back. After a few, he turns back to camp in disappointment.
"What is wrong Master?" Laena ask as Alred walks back into camp.
"I… thought I saw something that doesn't exist anymore. It was nothing." He whistles, both Jep and Agis jump up, reaching for their weapons. The horses spook and jerk their heads trying to break their leads.
"Get up boys, it's time to go." Laena hands him a few chunks of meat and sack of water. Jep and Agis head to the to wash up. Alred heads to horse to get its tack on.
"Master you don't have to do this." Laena says as she tries to push him out of the way.
"I understand we formed a contract, but you are not a slave to me. Here." He reaches in his robe and pulls out her contract. "Rip it up burn it. I don't own you." She pushes his hand back.
"No, now is not the time to discuss this. I'm willing to sell my soul to a demon to ensure I can get revenge for my people." She slide between him and the horse and starts with the girth. "I've seen the way you care for the people in your life. My gut tells me to follow you at any cost. Even if that means giving up my life."
He can hear the tears, and she sniffles her nose. He look at her back he can see the weight pushing her down. Her desire to fight through her life and avenge her people.
"I understand but, you are different then Jep so don't hold yourself in the same position." He places a hand a on her shoulder and she lays her head on the saddle. "Finish tacking them up, I'll go get the boys."
Alred turns and see the boys cleaning up the camp site. Jep packs the meat, while Agis puts the fire out. They each row two sleeping bags up. Within moments they all mount their horse.
"Which way do we need to head?" Agis ask.
"Newhill Bay, lays on the west coast of AiRisa and looks into the Great Sea. In the morning let's run away from the sun and in the evening let us chase the sun. He-ah!" Alred kicks his horse and it bolts into a run.
Hours go by. They slow their horse to a walk, trying to save them for the journey back. They have been traveling through a dense forest all morning.
"Lets stop to eat, the sun is high. It looks like seal have plains in front of us." Alred brings his horse to a stop. He pats it. Jep pulls the meat out and hands some to Alred first.
They hop off their horses and scarf their lunch down. After an hour of rest they mount and take off.
They race through the plains as fast as the horses will carry them. The rolling plains started to glow.
"Master?" Laena's voice uneasy voice makes Alred turn around and look. Her almost white hair is floating in the air. He looks forward to see his horses mane is starting to float. He feels for his hair to find he forgot he has dragon scales where his hair uses to be.
"HO!" He pulls back on his reins. The others to hurry stop. Alred jumps off his horse. He rushes to check Laena. Just as he reaches her and goes to grab her hand. He gets shocked.
"Static? Why is everyone building up static?" the rest of the horses manes start floating up.
"What's this?" Jep jumps off his horse and picks a berry from a bush. Jep goes flying away from the bush. Black marks all over his, as Alred tries to help him up, they both get shocked again. Jep drops the berry.
The yellow berry hits the ground and flashes of light start to spark from it.
"No, we need to go now." Alred runs for his. Jep hurries back to his. Just as they mount, the ground starts to rumble. The horses lose balance, they walk sideways. "Ride! Don't look back.
The horses take off. Their hoofs beating the ground. Alred pushes his heels into its side kissing for the horse to run faster.
A roar erupts behind them. He glances back. He swallows his spit and tries to go faster. After the roar the ground starts to shake more, the dirt in the fields starts to come alive. The mounds of dirt chasing after them.
"Master, what is going on?" Jep yells.
"Electric Buffalo Moles. They eat eleco-berries." His horse jumps over the mound in front of him. "They are very territorial."
"Wooohh." The horse come to a stop, a mole pulls itself out of the ground in front of them. Its black skin covered in a clear liquid. A long nose and horns atop its head. A thick fur covers their neck.
Bolts of electricity shoot out of the horns towards them. Alred jumps from his horse pulling his staff out!
"Earth-shield." The ground around pulls up to his staff. The piles in a shape of a shield. The bolts slams into the shield pushing him back. He lands on the ground, the nails of the mole slice through the shield.
Alred slides a fire crystal into his staff next to the earth one. Fire starts to dance around his staff. Two more moles pop up attacking the other three.