Luna Felix

28| Passenger Hell

REI'S POV

It has recently come to my attention that my mate is way more persuasive than I give her credit. My parents who were hell-bent on coming with me to the top of the mountain to check on the dwarves are now following the tunes of Felix Flute and assuring her that they will take care of all the rest of the injured on the journey back. 

Well, I am not the best person to point fingers at them, I too have been influenced. It's scary how quickly I had abandoned my pursuit of the climb. But in my defence, her explanation was much more logical than whatever my adrenaline-starved brain could have come up with. She devised that we have the IT team fly down and ask them to examine it first with a drone. Whatever caused the landslide might have more damage than anticipated and then a path can be mapped out. Meanwhile, we can contact the dwarves slowly and see if they need help.

It made more sense than my move first and think later reaction to emergencies. It's my flaw I know. I believe I am invincible, honestly, that's not far from the truth. There aren't many things that can escape my senses and even fewer that can trouble my strength. And being brought up as royalty, and considered the heir of the strongest race, I am not abt at approaching delicate situations with a tactical outlook. 

But Felix said that she has seen humans deal with natural disasters in multiple unique ways which makes her a better match for the situation and that to leave it to her. There is no lie we all know that and therefore here we are, returning with a few select guards after emptying the nearby area and leaving visible signs with warnings in case someone approaches the sunken area.

Lucky for me Felix's jeep was untouched. It was pure luck that we had opted to leave our vehicles on the outskirts of the town in the hope of not blowing our cover and save for a few dents most of the vehicles were safe.  The relief on Felix's face when we removed the bushes they were hidden behind was so clear. If one compares, she wasn't even half relieved when she saw me. 

So here I am, in the same jeep once again, but this time I am the comfortable passenger enjoying the air rushing through my hair as we ride into the night. Or as Felix described me in human terms "passenger princess". To be fair I am royalty so it's not logically wrong. 

When I asked her about the origin of the term she launched into an entire spiel explaining human slang and how they defer from region to region and community to community. And in turn, I too shared some silly slang that I and Acimer used to come up with during her hellish training days. Somehow the conversation switched to childhood memories.

After a beat of silence, I glanced at her and even in the dark the hard line of her lips formed was clear. 

"My favourite memory of my mother was when I was 12." She whispered. 

It was a known fact that Luna West had been ill for a very long but the severity of it was never known to anyone. I have never broached the topic because for one it doesn't feel like something she would like to discuss with me and then Flynn's letter confirmed the suspicion not to raise it ever. 

"My mother was cursed by a witch when she was hunting out once. We didn't know the reason. Father has tried to search for the witch for years now but we have lost faith honestly. The curse runs deep, it has taken a lot from her. But when... " She takes a little pause as navigates the turn ahead. 

"Her condition worsened a lot of her responsibility as a mother as a luna fell on me. But before that, I used to have so much fun just reading books in the shade, while mum made snacks and people came to our house all day for help, or to just talk or to just eat." 

I waited for a couple of moments in case she wishes to continue. But when she didn't I took it as an opportunity to do so myself.

"That sounds like some lovely afternoons. And I must say you have dealt with all the responsibilities and challenges so bravely even when you even in those tough days. You stepped up, my queen and I am sure you have made such a difference in so many lives." I said, trying to articulate my feelings the best I could. 

A comfortable silence settled between us after that. Until we hit the empty stretch of road and Felix gained a little more speed surpassing the other two cars. 

"Thank you, Rei. Somedays it's good to hear praises and it means all the more when it comes from you." She said over the wind as she shot me a smile. Which melted when her eyes focused on the road again. 

We both sensed it together and the jeep came to a screeching halt just mere inches away from the sneakily hidden nails laid to puncture our tires. Behind us the other cars came to a stop, slowly realising that something is wrong. 

She tapped the console in a rhythm that I could translate.

.....  .... . .-. .

5 here

I replied.

... .- -- . 

same

 I ordered the two cars to block one side each because the Jeep offers close to no cover. I turn to look at her to find her looking at me, arriving at the same conclusion as we could feel the numbers grow around us.

We are surrounded.

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So so this happened? Somedays I surprise myself with what I finished the chapter as. Anyway, the days of calm are over, the shit show is about to begin.