Marshall and I jumped down to the forest floor first. Ishi was chatting with the guard before leaving. When she jumped down, she had a small leather sachel slung across her body. Once we were all on the ground, we headed out. Ishi led the way, followed by Marshall and then me.
We walked from mid morning until almost dinner time in complete silence. We all had things to think about, I suppose. I took in the new foliage around me, identifying plants as we went and grabbing some that might prove useful and stuffing them in my belt pouch. We hadn't seen any wild animals since traveling, at first I assumed it was because of us, but as we went deeper into the forest I wasn't as sure. Ishi wasn't even taking a path, so we should have seen at least one animal.
My stomach growled, I hadn't eaten at all today. I caught up with Ishi to chat.
"I haven't seen any game in the forest." I observed.
"Very astute." She said sarcastically.
So much for being civil. I wanted to make a sarcastic comment back at her, but decided to be nice since I know she's just worried about Isola.
"Where are all the animals?" I asked.
"We have a chimera problem in these woods. They eat everything and we can't be rid of the damned things. We can't spare any males to fight them, and our female warriors - no matter how hard we train- can not defeat them. A female's scent drives them insane and they double in strength." She told me.
"Damn.." I said. "Wait.. how do you keep them from attacking the city then?" I asked.
"The males give us their urine to spread around the borders regularly." She said.
"Kind of gross.. but it makes sense. Is that why hunting parties are gone for so long and the price of food in Lashwood is so high?"
"Yes. We have to pay to buy game and fish from nearby towns. That's why the alliance with the desert city of Sah'fi is so important. They have more males, they would be able to spare some warriors to deal with the Chimera invasion." Ishi explained.
"I thought all felines had a low birth rate for male cubs?" I asked, trying to remember what Isola said.
"We do, but they seem to have found a way to change that." She observed.
"And they won't share how they did it?"
"No, they won't. We didn't have the best relationship with them for a long time. This alliance is a huge step towards improving our livelihoods in Lashwood."
"Makes sense.." I said thoughtfully.
Groowwwwwl~ My stomach interjected.
Ishi looked down at me with mild amusement as I grabbed my aching stomach.
"I'm a little hungry…" I said sheepishly.
Marshall was right behind us and offered me some jerky from his sachel.
"Here, I made sure to pack enough food to last us a few days." He said.
"Good," Ishi said as she also accepted a piece, "It will take at least three days before we are out of Chimera territory and can hunt again."
*. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *
I have never been so tired in my life!
Because of the chimera threat in the woods, Ishi and Marshall decided it would be best to keep moving, non-stop, until we were out of their territory. We only stopped for bathroom breaks, and otherwise kept a steady pace. It has been 2 days and I haven't slept or rested. I felt like I was going to collapse.
Marshall seemed to sense my fatigue through the bond. He slowed down and said to me, "If you want, you can ride on my back."
"No, that's okay. You are already carrying a heavy pack, you can't carry me and mine as well." I said, exhausted but determined not to be a burden.
He grunted in disappointment, although he seemed to understand that there was no way he could carry me and the 2 large packs. Neither of us was going to ask Ishi; he got an earful last time he tried to ask her something. She has gone back to being cold towards me, but she is even worse to Marshall. I suppose cats and dogs don't mix in this world either.
We finally stopped for a bathroom break. It was late evening and the last time we stopped was before the sun came out. After I relieved myself I went and sat on a log while I waited for the other two. I was so exhausted that I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. My eyes felt like sandpaper and stung the more I tried to keep them open.
My muscles felt like I had no energy left, like I would collapse at any minute, so the break was perfect timing. I felt myself dozing off, and couldn't fight it any longer.
I barely woke when I felt someone picking me up and putting me on their back. I clung to the soft warmth as I mumbled, "Marshall, you can't carry everything."
I rested my head on his soft shoulder and fell asleep; even if I wanted to stay awake any longer my body wasn't about to let me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ISHI POV:
"But she's my mate.." He said
"I don't care who she is. We need to keep moving. And I'm not going to carry your s**t." I said in a low hiss.
This damned wolf was insisting that he carries Mika and that I should carry the packs.
When I finished my business and walked back to the meeting point, Mika was fast sleep on a log. She probably would have fallen over if it weren't for her ridiculously huge backpack. I smiled at the adorable, exhausted little female. I'm surprised she held on this long.
I walked over and hoisted her up on my back. She snuggled up against me and nuzzled into the crook of my neck, which sent shivers down my spine.
Of course, then she had to go and ruin the moment by calling me by her mates name.
He finally gave up nagging me about carrying Mika. I felt satisfied at having won the right to carry her.
We continued through the woods throughout the night. I was trying to keep my ears pricked up for any sounds, I want to avoid any chimera. It was a little difficult to focus, however, with Mika's hot breath on my neck and her little murmurs when she's sleeping.
Marshall froze, and I realized that something was wrong. I could hear something in the distance, like an animal being tortured. We looked at each other knowingly. A chimera had found a victim.
"Who would be this far out in the wilderness?" He whispered to me.
"No sane person would be out here, off the main path, without a damn good reason." I whispered back.
I wondered if they might be acquainted with the people we are hunting. It would make sense. I decided to use my emergency stash. I pulled a bottle of masking elixir from my sachel.
"If we use this, we should be able to get close enough to investigate." I whispered to him.
He nodded and placed his pack on the ground, heading off to disrobe and shift into a wolf.
I gently placed Mika on the ground and took her pack off her. I gently shook her awake. "Mika" I whispered.
"Hmmm?" She sleepily looked at me through half open eyelids.
She was still struggling to stay awake. It was adorable, but I need her awake now.
"Chimera." I told her.
This shocked her awake.
I grabbed her shoulder and shushed her before she could alert anyone. She was on high alert, her big bushy tail was fluffed up and her ears straight up. She clearly heard the noises now and looked even more panicked.
"I smell blood." She whispered.
She must have keen senses because I don't smell blood, but I trust her. I nodded in acknowledgment. I poured the masking elixir over us both and readied my spear. She grabbed her bent piece of wood and sticks and looked ready to fight.
She still doesn't have a beast, so I can't take her with me. She will have to hang back and be extra careful.
"This will help keep them from detecting us as long as you stay calm. I will need you to hang back though, you can't transform and are likely to get us all killed." I sounded more condescending than I meant, but if it would keep her safe I don't care about hurt feelings.
She nodded and the wolf came around the corner. He came over and nuzzled her with his snout and made her smile. the sight put a sour taste in my mouth.
"Let's go." I whispered harshly. "Marshall, you and I are taking the lead. Just observe unless I say otherwise. Mika - treetops."
They followed my lead; Marshall and I fanning out to the left and right, Mika silently leaping between the branches in the middle.