NATHANIEL'S POV:
The deep green curtains were draped together, shutting out the dazzling view of Sweetwater River that flowed right outside its rigid windows. The vacant room appeared unflawed as if it was never occupied before. Mantles and belt straps that used to hang on the mahogany room divider were all gone and even her paramount basket of potions was empty. My fingers traced over the abandoned basket in reminiscence for a moment longer.
We weaved it together and I wondered if she remembered it too.
Perhaps she didn't. Or perhaps she did. Or perhaps because she remembered rather too well was why she abandoned it. Like I'd abandoned her.
Are you safe out there?
Will you return home?
Do you hate us all?
Had I never abandoned my sworn pledge to protect you, perhaps you wouldn't have left us. A stray strand of teardrop welled at the end of my eyes and for the first time ever, I managed to blink it away like our father always did instead of letting it fall gracelessly.
"Nathaniel..." I glanced ahead to find our gramps standing by the doorframe. For a moment, her gaze almost lingered around the vacant room. The pain in her gaze was rather too evident. Without another word. I rushed out of the house and over to where the adults were talking.
"This voyage is unrelated to your education under our tutelages. So, those who wish to withdraw shall proceed right away and all lessons will be suspended till later notice." Upon hearing that, a few of the mentees heeded and immediately retreated while our father continued to speak with the remaining ones.
"This trip will be longer than usual since we don't have a specific destination and we will all travel together for-"
"We need to split up!" I marched right into the meeting and stood directly before our father.
Before, instead of beside. Which itself was another first in my record.
"That's not advisable, son. It is safer to move together as-"
"SAFER? For us? What about Mainey? Do you think she is safe out there all on her own?" Although I didn't intend to raise my voice, it subconsciously rose a few octaves higher in the desperation of wanting to be heard. To be seen. My heart broke when I realized how my sister must have been feeling all these times.
"Charmaine isn't a weak child, Nathaniel. She can protect herself-"
"Can she, gramps? Isn't that our duty? TO PROTECT HER? I see we've all done a great job at that, given the situation!"
"Young Master Montgomery, your sister made a choice and you can't blame anybody-"
"Oh, please, Mr Chauncey! I know my sister very well, thank you!" I sneered at the man my sister least liked, for whatever her reasons might be.
"NATHANIEL RAY MONTGOMERY!" Finally.
Finally, the great Xavier Montgomery decided to interfere. The intensity of his hostile glare was rather terrifying but no. I will not cower away or hide from my responsibility anymore. If my filial piety as his son was to be damned then so be it. After all, I've been a coward who failed my little sister. The one person, I was meant to be brave for. Holding my head up high, I stood firmly. Daring a direct glare from my much stronger parent.
Though my stance remained unwavering by the tension, the ripple in my eyes was beyond my own control. Father clearly noticed it too but instead of quailing like always, I managed to fiercely blink it away, again. The ever so inexorable Xavier Montgomery's obstinate glare staggered in surprise for a very brief second. He shut his eyes tight, as though willing away all his unrelenting ideas for a few solid minutes before ultimately, his hand that held the map was raised towards me. Audible gasps filled the crowd around us.
"What's your strategy, son?" His firm eyes met mine and I could hear his thunderous voice loud and clear from the tough gaze.
I BELIEVE IN YOU.
I heard them say. Out of my new favourite habit, I squinted away a few more tears as I replaced our father's position in the middle of the crew. My hands trembled beneath the map as I unfolded the scroll enthusiastically.
"First, we need to split into three groups and move towards all north, west and the south simultaneously. East is obviously out of the picture because we just returned from that direction and there was no trace of her. We'll have several portraits of Charmaine sketched and search with only those. No names because she's too clever to use her real identity." Gramps chuckled at that one.
"Father, Mother and I shall each lead the troupes and Gramps, I need you right here in case she changes her mind-" Before the eldest could protest, I added earnestly, "-AND! We need the strongest to hold the fort down while we're all gone." She granted an approving nod as I turned towards my parents this time.
"Father, Mother, I'll have to ask you to head towards the west and south respectively. As I'd advance towards North." Sofiel Montgomery moved past her husband and spoke for the first time since arrival.
"But son, the north is-"
"I'm aware, mother. That's precisely why I have to head north."
If there was one destination my dear sister would pick over the heavens itself, it would be none but Crimson Crown. With nothing but a barely made contingency plan and belief in my own instincts, I'm ought to face this trial head-on. If my impulsiveness is what's crucial to find my little sister, then I shall be the most impulsive brother ever.
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RAVEN'S POV:
The deafening noises from the market outside kept fleeting in and out of that shabby store as we waited for Kai to be done. Peddlers and buyers were yelling various bargains at the top of their lungs to outshout each other while the street musicians were easily winning over every other uproar with their rowdiest instruments. After at least an hour spent forcedly hearkening to the bustling rackets of that evening market, all the noises finally began overlapping to the point I couldn't distinguish between the local and foreign languages.
"Are we done yet or-?"
"For the millionth time now, young man! NO, WE ARE NOT! And we won't either if you don't stop interrupting at every five minutes' interval!" The old painter finally exploded at the constant intrusion. I even stopped keeping count of the number of pencils he threw at Legion each time he asked the very same question like an impatient child.
"You can't talk to him like that- Stop throwing things at him!- Please wait outside, Legion. I'll get him to finish soon." My inhuman hearing could easily discern the thrashing noises of Kai struggling to hold back the old man from jabbing Legion's eyes with his charcoal pencil.
"You better heed to the warning if you'd want to leave this place with both eyeballs intact, brother. Take me for an example." I let out a hushed peal of laughter as the younger boy stomped out of the store with his restless hands ruffling his own unruly hair. His handsome features instantly twisted in disgust as the ruckus of the bazaar flooded his senses at once.
"How are you so calm amidst this absolute pandemonium?" I simply shrugged with a rather cool manner as he leaned by the splintered doorframe. To which the broken hinges creaked at the addition of his weight.
"DON'T YOU DARE BREAK MY DOOR, YOUNG MAN!"
Legion instinctively launched himself away from the dilapidated store and landed on the streets. Appearing utterly pitiful like a scolded little puppy. This time I laughed out loud before even thinking about controlling myself as he shot me a deathly glare out of demur.
"Such sharp hearing at such an old age. Your subordinate surely is eccentric with his acquaintanceships."
"Nice try, Raven but I'm certain this whole bazaar heard you laughing at your brother's chagrin. Besides, it is unlike you to not recognise a mix-breed at first glance." Legion averted his attention to the abandoned cart of fruits by the road. The owner was clearly caught up in a heated argument with his neighbouring seller.
"It is unlike you to directly associate with former imperial guards though."
Essentially ignoring my explicit point, he tutted disapprovingly at the owner's poor business ethics and grabbed a few green apples. He took a curious little bite from one and leisurely kept chewing until a satisfactory smile surfaced on the corner of his lips. With a rather mischievous wink, he tossed the rest of the apples at the little children who were squatting by the streets. The owner of the cart immediately rushed back upon noticing this but the children had already fled.
"How dare you steal from my cart?" He was a rather plump man with a bulging potbelly and a very unfriendly face too. However, Legion calmly took another bite of his apple and swaggered around the cart.
"How do you know it's from your cart? There are many fruiterers here." The owner was clearly angered by Legion's nonchalance as he raised his voice in a vain attempt of intimidation.
"I SAW you stealing and you even gave some to those street rats. Now, pay up before I bring the guards."
Legion broke into a haughty burst of laughter as I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony as well. The man was visibly fuming at the both of us now and the crowds were gathering around the commotion too. Right on time, Kai emerged from the shabby store, looking completely normal as though the scene before him was an utmost common sight. Already unbothered by anything at all and now alongside his trusted subordinate's arrival as well, Legion grabbed two more apples and turned away from the fruiterer who was ready to throw fists.
"Oh and Kai, this man was going to call the guards. Spare him the trouble, please, would you?"
Legion patted the younger boy's shoulders and strutted back towards me with a sinister smirk, effectively blocking my vision. Over his obnoxiously broad shoulders, I caught Kai flaunting his royal badge with total indifference as the rather bitter man began cursing. Slowly, the crowd dissipated as the sullen seller moved his cart elsewhere.
"Is this how you've been abusing your power, High Commander Avery?" Legion tossed one apple to Kai and began munching on the other as he snickered cheekily.
"Oh no, Your Highness. That man is a fraud. He and his hooligans would fight in public to lure the crowd and steal from other trader's shops. This time it was a fruit wagon. Let's see what crafty little cart he wheels next time." Kai clarified coldly as we advanced towards the tunnel's tavern.
The bazaar was rather too packed as it was already past dusk and the people were rushing to buy dinner and be back at their homes. Since I rarely mixed with the masses of humans, it usually exerts a bit of time and effort to adjust my unhuman senses accordingly. However, my attempt at adapting was intruded when both Legion and Kai wordlessly walked perched on both my sides. Simultaneously sandwiching my body between theirs and shielding my senses from the surrounding.
"Oh, and as for what you were saying earlier, brother-" Legion caught me by surprise as he reached into his outer garment and retrieved another fresh green apple. Casually, offering to me. "It is likely advisable to keep track of everything and everyone regardless, don't you think so?"
"Like a contingency plan?" Kai posed suggestively.
"Precisely, Malachai Parker! Like a contingency plan."
I shook my head in utter disbelief at their absurd sync when a distant uproar struck my uncanny earshot. Immediately honing my senses sharper, I sought to capture the source of the commotion as both Legion and Kai armed themselves as well. However, due to the huge distance, I could only catch a few rough phrases but I recognized the pesky voice right away though. It was that fraud fruiterer from earlier.
"Catch the thief- is running away- She has weapons!"
"It's her! To the south!" All three of us were already sprinting even before I shouted the direction.
The chaotic crowd scattered away from our path like ants evading huge wheels. Upon continuous and careful practice, I managed to keep my monstrous pace under control as we raced past the bustling market and into the woods. My brain became mushy when I recognized the fork in the forsaken path that laid ahead of us. It has been marked as the unofficial border between the capital and the gigantic mountain forest beyond the fork. Legion immediately stopped us from advancing any further while Kai discovered several footsteps leading into the fork's left.
"Both the guards must have followed her considering the left is a dead-end anyway. This South exit has been deserted since forever hence, there are no other guards. We just have to-" Kai inferred breathlessly but Legion shook his head in resolute. His frantic reaction alarmed Kai as well.
"IT ISN'T A-" Legion stopped himself and shot me an emergency glance of consent before continuing as I quickly nodded in approval. He inhaled a long deep breath before facing Kai completely. The younger boy appeared rather nervous as he immediately squared his shoulders and stood still, awaiting his superior's command.
"Listen, Malachai Parker. By the will of whatever that's high above, you have somehow partaken in an extremely confidential mission that's being devised for a decade now." With each careful word, the rims of Kai's pupils kept dilating in turbulence as I stared into the void of that desolate road.
"It was us," He gestured between himself and me before resuming, "-We spread rumours and got this whole South domain exit abandoned for the mission. What's more important now is that the path on the right is simply a detour to the left and the left-" He exhaled a deep sigh, praying that it would miraculously calm his racing pulse and continued. "-the left isn't a dead-end, Kai. It leads to the Waning Hollow."
Exactly on cue, a series of shrill screams echoed from the concave passage. Followed by low rumbling growls that sounded rather too similar to a forthcoming storm.
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CHARMAINE'S POV:
My visions blurred and doubled over as I tripped on my own two feet and rolled off the rough ground in the most inelegant manner. Honestly, at this point, I don't even think that I might appear half as decent as a living human being. After all the tumbling in the dirt throughout my whole so-called solo adventure, I am pretty sure that I must seem like a new corpse that crawled out of her still-wet grave. The scarier part is that I don't bother about it anymore either. It was only proven more as the sounds of footsteps were clearly getting nearer but I was still sprawled on the ground and I failed to even crawl, given all the bloody bruises on my knees and palms.
Even the wounds that kai so kindly helped to patch up with his yarrow paste were all open again and I possessed no means of my own to treat them and definitely, returning to Kai was out of the picture as well. I tried to squirm myself into hiding between the wild shrubs but even nature was conspiring against me. My already unappealing skin got further scraped relentlessly by the branches of thorns that were almost invisible that I completely overlooked them. Just like the little details about the dangers that could befall an amateur's solo venture.
It suddenly felt as if I was the impulsive sibling and I sincerely regretted departing without a decent contingency plan in case of any unfortunate turn of events. Like this very moment.
"She can't run any further, mate. Ahead is a dead-end anyway." Great.
I really did stop breathing for a second when I heard the guards. My eyes instantly searched the area for an alternative weapon since all my arrows were already lost deep in the mud while I was literally running for my life earlier. However, what caught my eyes wasn't any weapon but a sliver of light seeping from the deepest darkness of the alleged dead-end that laid ahead. It was slimmer than my leftover hopes that I almost oversaw it as a desperate delusion but no. Suddenly, my senses were more vigilant than before and I was already limping in the direction of the dead-end.
As it grew way darker near the edge that I couldn't even see my own fingers, I noticed how the sounds of footsteps from earlier were entirely absent and I was just blindly walking into whatever doom that was awaiting me ahead. After moving for a few solid minutes in utter silence, I almost screamed in shock when I accidentally stepped on a puddle as the splash echoed louder than necessary in the hollow passage. Out of nowhere, the footsteps were back and sounded very close as I instinctively sprinted ahead with no sense of direction or whatsoever, only to fall right on my face for the umpteenth time today.
"HOLY CRA- WHAT. THE. BLOODY- HEAVEN?" Even my curse curled back in my throat as I stared at the gigantic trunk that twisted and turned to an ultimate height as it towered above me like a single enormous canopy. The sovereign tree was neither too spooky nor too serene as it stood there between the slim area of neutrality. At the topmost part above its crest, the moon was glowing like a luminous pearl of light, as the forlorn tree suddenly appeared like a holy guardian holding a celestial jewel on its crown. It didn't take me long before I realized that I was in a grotto that led to the mountain forest beyond. An entire cave, hidden in plain sight.
"There she is! I told you I heard- FUCKING HELL! TIMOTHY, LOOK WHAT I FO- AAAAHHHH!"
For a moment, I was doubting myself again of hallucination as I revised what I just witnessed. One of the guards had actually caught up with me but then. Right before he stepped one foot into the light, his whole body was hauled backwards with an extremely brutal force. What's rather more revolting was the deep growls that silenced his screams. After a moment of slow processing out of shock, I shuffled backwards in a hurry and backed myself up on the bark of the odd tree. I was instinctively aware that it was only a matter of time before the other guard catches up and what horror was awaiting him. However, his agonizing screams echoed helplessly in the hollow cave as the growls overpowered his voice before I could complete my train of thoughts.
Dead silence filled the grotto. Literally. Glancing upward, I caught sight of the luminescent moon as the faces of my loved ones flashed before my eyes like a long-forgotten dream. Perhaps it was a sign of my impending doom. A bitter smile appeared on my face as I shut my eyes tightly to avoid the reality but the sounds of footsteps, no- the sounds of pawsteps nearing me were rather louder and I wasn't willing to give up my residual dignity by covering my ears too. After all, I'm a Montgomery warrior like my grandmother always claimed.
The growls grew dangerously nearer as the creatures stepped in the slim stream of water that surrounded the giant tree. Suddenly my brain decided to spin its wheels right then. If there was water, then it must have seeped in from the outside of the grotto, which could be a possible escape route but I had no chance to solve that mystery because then, I'll have to open my eyes to see. Which I would rather not. I felt stupid for challenging Nathaniel once, that I would be the one to laugh in the face of death but look at me now. I can't even face my death. For a moment, time slowed and I was able to hear both my erratic breathing and the panting of the creatures in slow motion when the creature that was at the closest proximity began sniffing my bloody hands.
Although I wanted to sprint screaming, all my limbs failed me simultaneously as I sat there, rooted to the ground, almost becoming one with the godforsaken tree. Suddenly, I sensed the creature leap above my head with a loud growl as I opened my eyes out of instinct and caught the grim sight that stood stolidly before me. A whole pack of wolves were all gnarling right at me as their eyes glowed each a different hue in the splendour of the moonlight. I slowly turned my body around as my eyes traced along the massive trunk that protruded to the sky and spotted the silhouette of the wolf that sniffed me earlier. He was standing on the apex of the tree with the moon illuminated vividly like a brilliant halo behind him.
As though acknowledging my presence, his head tilted in my direction a little as his pointy ears perked up in alert. Right then, he turned back towards the moon and cried a rather long majestic howl that spread goosebumps over my body and shivers down my spine. Following him, the rest of the pack began howling in harmony as the unified sound echoed like a secret call to whoever it was supposedly meant for. Lost in the middle of the howls and growls of the mysterious creatures that appeared out of nowhere, I failed to notice the presence of the new guards, only to recognize one of them. Due to my involuntarily triggered protective instincts, I yelled out the warning but it was already too late.
"WATCH OUT, KAI! THERE ARE MORE WOLVES HERE!" Everything happened within a blinking moment, as one of the wolves leapt at Kai from the side but somebody else had already blocked the attack for him. Right away, the beasts began retreating towards the tree as their growls grew impatient and their howls a little mournful while the newcomers advanced forward. The one in the lead was holding his hand out while his other hand carried a long sword in a defensive stance. He was protecting the ones behind him as I noticed a third person beside Kai while their leader stepped into the moonlight alone.
"Well, well. At least she has a conscience, I see, Kai." The man in the lead with long amber hair scoffed sarcastically and I recognized his voice from the cottage earlier. He was Kai's superior, Legion, I guessed.
"Is it... is it really her?" The third one asked. Even from a distance, his voice was rather loud and clear, despite the slight tinge of hesitance that hemmed his calm tone. Kai stepped forward and handed Legion a scroll that the latter unrolled singlehandedly with an air of nonchalance which was pretty annoying, to be honest. He only glanced at the scroll once before sizing me up from top to bottom and rolled it back.
"Regardless of the additional accessories that are rather unclean, that's the one. We have found our target- Kai, please hold this- Now, what do we have here?" He strutted forward at an annoying pace as the stone in his hand gleamed brighter at direct contact with the moonlight and I noticed the beasts withdrawing from him. From the stone to be exact, I assumed.
"Alright, mates. I understand the attachment you fellers might have towards this twisted tree but a Waning Hollow reunion was never intended since forever. Unless your target happens to overlap with ours- which is possible given the circumstances- I would advise retreating to the Crimson Peak for now since this is still clearly our territory-"
Although I couldn't understand a single thing he was saying, still, the more he kept ranting indifferently, the more I was tempted to stuff that very stone down his throat. As I reached the verge of my usual high level of patience, I sensed steady movements above me. The Alpha, I assumed, descended like a literal holy being from the tree as he marched majestically and stood right before me. Clearly, guarding me as I suddenly recognized his odd semblance from somewhere.
"Great! You have an Alpha among you. Well, I have my superior here too but I'm afraid you'll have to deal with- WHAT THE FUCKING HELL!" If muted screams were a thing then that's exactly what my body was doing as I stared openmouthed at the seriously bizarre scene that unfolded before my eyes. Legion was clearly caught off guard too as he stumbled a few steps backwards and Kai immediately rushed to his commandant. The rest of the beasts began bowing and howled in harmony again as the Alpha wolf's whole body began shrinking until a more familiar figure was formed. He was shapeshifting.
Out of instinct, I rushed forward and covered the kneeling boy's naked back with my cloak as he turned towards me and I immediately recognized those ocean eyes. He flashed a truly beautiful smile before wrapping the garment neatly around his waist, exposing his toned torso as he rose to his feet. His arms were crossed in a defensive stance but the sharp smile lingered steadily on his radiant face as he mimicked the Legion's nonchalant tone.
"I'm afraid that the Waning Hollow was never the Demogorgons' territory, to begin with though." He cocked his head to the side and his copper curls swayed in the breeze as he studied the awestruck faces of his opponents.
"WHOA- Hold on a second!- Who the FUCK are you again?" All hints of nonchalance were gone, only to be replaced by pure shock and a perhaps a little curiosity. The boy chuckled in his deep voice as it awfully sounded similar to a familiar low growl, verifying my assumptions again.
"Oh, pardon my barbaric behaviour, sires. I still am adapting to manlike etiquettes after becoming one again, a few days ago." He coughed lightly to clear his throat before folding one hand behind his back and the other across his chest as he placed his palm on his heart and bowed respectfully.
"The name given is Lunar Wildbane and I'm here to repay the kindness of my saviour with my very own life."
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