A knock on the door sounded, and Estan poked his head in to see Syri sitting on the edge of the bed dressed in comfortable traveling clothes. The zeta had chosen a light blue shirt that had a short collar and hid the healing mark. It was rare for werewolves to wear clothes that would intentionally hide their mark, but in Syri's case, it was completely understandable. A dark blue pair of pants and black laced-up boots completed the zeta's outfit. The gamma smiled as he looked at the pink-haired male. 'He's so cute.'
Syri smiled when he saw Estan approach him. The gamma was outfitted in a light green top with forest green pants and brown boots. The light green shirt contrasted with the gamma's emerald eyes and enhanced their glimmer. A backpack was slung over the gamma's shoulders, and another was in his hands, which he promptly offered to Syri.
"Thank you," Syri accepted the bag and began to fill it with his clothes.
"Water and food are already in there as well as some essential items for traveling," Estan informed the zeta who thanked him for his efforts.
"How long will we be gone?" Syri inquired as he closed the bag and looped his arms through the leather straps.
"Until Jae gives us the signal to come back."
The zeta nodded his head in understanding before stepping away from the bed fully geared and ready to go.
"Ready?" Estan inquired as he made sure the zeta had everything he would need. Syri promptly nodded his head with a smile and followed the gamma to the door. Estan held a finger to his lips as he opened the door to the prince's chambers.
Syri watched as the gamma poked his head out and observed the hallway. After making sure the corridor was empty, Estan exited the door and motioned for the zeta to follow. Syri closed the door carefully as to not create any sound, and the two set off on their adventure.
Estan led the zeta to the end of the hallway, down a flight of stairs, and through several hallways until they reached the western gate. Estan stopped their small party and instructed the zeta to take off his pack. Syri did as he was told and watched as Estan set down his pack and rummaged through until he pulled out a dark blue cape.
"Put this on until we pass through the gate," Estan instructed as he gave the cape to the zeta. Once Syri clasped the cape around his neck, he pulled the hood over his head and returned the bag to its place on his back. "Stay close to me and keep your head down," the gamma directed the zeta in how to act when approaching the guards stationed at the gate.
Syri nodded in understanding and followed Estan as the gamma rounded the corner and crossed the courtyard. The four guards stationed at the gate waited for the pair to approach them before two went out to halt them.
"Ho there, what business have you at this hour?" The front guard questioned.
"I am Estan, physician of the Crimson Night pack, and wish to pass through this gate. I have a patient in the town Gern who is in dire need of medical attention."
"I am aware as your status as physician, Gamma. However, I will need to know your friend's identity," the guard said as he gestured toward the hooded figure behind the doctor.
"He is my assistant and will be aiding me in treating my patient," Estan informed the guard.
"I understand, but I need his identity."
"Omega," Estan answered promptly.
"I can tell that by the scent, but-"
"Then we are done here, are we not?" Estan inquired with dominance. "If you know that he is an omega, what fear have you?"
The guard's mouth opened and closed a few times as he tried to come up with an answer. After attempting for a few moments and failing, the guard waved them through. "Permission to pass!" The guard called to his comrades as he walked the pair to the gate. The sounds of mechanics accompanied the raising of the gate, and the gamma and zeta walked through unhindered.
Estan released a breath as he and the zeta put some distance between themselves and the gate. "That went a lot smoother than I was expecting."
Syri pulled the hood back and breathed in the summer night air. The two walked next to each other in silence as they entered the forest. The gamma and zeta's wolf eyes activated as they went deeper into the forest allowing them to see clearly in the darkness. The moonlight barely reached the forest floor, but the two continued with no problem.
Estan kept his pace steady as he led the zeta through the trees and over small streams. They were following a well-traveled path, but it was deserted as it was night. The gamma and zeta were the only travelers. The two stopped to take breaks every three or four hours, but other than that, their journey was non-stop.
Syri deactivated his wolf eyes as he caught the first glimmer of the sun. The zeta turned the gamma's attention toward the rising sun, and smiled as he saw Estan's face light up. The gamma seemed relieved to see the sun. He had remained tense and on high alert the entirety of the night as it was dangerous for a gamma and zeta to travel alone; they were both from the social class and had no experience in combat. Yejin had taught Estan some defensive moves, but they certainly did not make the gamma combat-ready.
Truthfully, the gamma did not want to begin their travel during the night, but it was the best option for sneaking out of the castle undetected. And Estan did figure into account that the path they would be taking was known for being deserted during the night, so no bandits or rogues hardly every set up shop alongside it. And he was right, they made it through the night unharmed.
Estan let out a pent-up breath as he watched the sun rise behind the trees. The gamma's eyes lit up as he recalled a certain vantage point. "If we hurry, we can watch the sun rise from a hill," Estan told the zeta walking beside him.
Syri nodded in excitement and followed the gamma as he picked up his pace. Soon, the two were running through the trees, their laughter floating through the air. A wide smile covered Syri's face as he ran after the laughing gamma. A small laugh escaped his lips as the two broke through the trees and found themselves running toward the peak of a rolling hill.
The gamma and zeta were panting by the time they reached the top, but they had made it in time. The sun had barely poked it's head out and was beginning its ascent. Syri's eyes glistened in wonder as he watched the sun rise above the rolling hills and vast fields. Small streams and brooks snaked through the fields and between the hills while trees topped the rolling mounds and dotted the horizon.
Once the two had caught their breath, they waited for the sun to be roughly ten degrees in the sky before continuing on their journey.