Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ Actions And Reactions ~~

"Can't you just be patient and wait to see where we're going?"

L scowled up at him. She didn't like that he seemed to be able to read her so easily.

"Can't you stop being cryptic and just answer a question straightforwardly for once?"

Bryce looked almost stumped at her reply and then laughed with a hand on his chest.

"Okay, fair point. But if I call it a meadow, then I'm really not doing it justice. Let's just say we're going somewhere to talk. Somewhere, that's a little off grid. Which means it'll be really hard for anyone to overhear us unless they're close, too close to go unnoticed."

L rolled her eyes, "You know that's still being cryptic, right?"

Bryce grinned and nodded but didn't say another word. He made his way a bit faster down the path, and L hurried to keep up.

The trees were starting to open up more; they looked thinner and younger, as if this part of the forest was newer. L didn't know how much further they could go until they reached the boundaries of the base. She was wondering how there could be a meadow nearby, and yet they wouldn't be leaving the base area itself when Bryce slowed.

He smiled over his shoulder and then disappeared around a much larger tree trunk. It looked a little out of place surrounded by all its younger brethren. L felt frustrated with his weird behaviour, though it didn't stop her from following him. She rounded the tree and stopped dead in her tracks, her frustration falling away.

The scenery had changed dramatically. She wasn't looking at a forest full of trees anymore, but what looked to be a large open space. It was bigger than the biggest farmer's field and hundreds of times more beautiful. L wasn't sure she'd ever seen a meadow before, but if they looked even half as good as this, she would have remembered.

There was a large pool of water not too far away that seemed to sparkle with an unknown light. L thought she could hear it lapping against its banks from where she stood. Brightly coloured wildflowers grew in every direction. Each of which was more varied and vibrant than the ones growing by the cottages. The grass that surrounded them grew longer here, almost waist height for L, and swayed gently in the wind like it was dancing.

Although it was cloudy, the meadow seemed to be more alight than L could understand. There was something almost magical about it, and L noted that magic probably was at work here. Trees lined it on at least three sides, but L couldn't see what was on the furthest side. She had a feeling they wouldn't be going far enough to find out and turned to look at Bryce. He was kneeling down by the large tree trunk, and L noticed a bag laying there. He was rummaging inside and muttering under his breath.

She walked over just as he looked up, and he smirked like he knew what she was thinking.

"Incredible, isn't it? I should have brought you here days ago, but considering what was happening, it just didn't seem necessary. Anyway, we just need to wait for the others, then I'll explain everything."

"Yeah, it's amazing... wait, what do you mean, 'others'?"

Bryce quirked a brow and held out a packaged sandwich to her. "Hungry?" He arched a brow at her, "I told you, I agreed with your advice in getting help to rescue the Worcesters. That's the others we're waiting on."

L felt uneasy about what his idea of help might be, but she took the sandwich; she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and her stomach was starting to complain. She knew there was no point questioning Bryce on who the help was. He'd just give her a riddle in response or tell her to wait and see. She ate her food in silence and took in the sights of the meadow; it was peaceful, and she could actually hear the quiet sounds of some of the wildlife.