Lizzie
Two things I hate: prophecies and waiting. And guess what? I was now involved in both. Yay.
Hot sun beat down on the already dry earth, making the troops kick up dust as they moved around camp. Concorba heat waves were some of the worst in Amaya, I'd heard, although we were barely a week into spring. The thought of it getting even hotter made me grind my teeth.
"Lizzie."
Ah yes. Zarlo Scaups. Because he was definitely the idiot I want to talk to right now. Nonetheless, I turned in his direction.
"What?" The word came out sharp and harsh, just as I'd intended. It's easy to be cruel and emotionless. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying it.
He barely even blinked at my tone. "The Greencloaks are heading west in search of the Copper Falcon of Essix." Zarlo stated, monotone and unyielding as always.
"Ah yes. Let me guess. Zerif is sending us out to stop them." I felt my face twist into a scowl for a moment, and let it. Then I straightened myself out and pulled my lips up in the illusion of a confident smirk. "I suppose it's about time that I meet the rest of the children from my prophecy, hm?"
Zarlo gave me a single nod.
I remembered then that his own sister was part of it. "Well? Wouldn't you say a family reunion is in order?" I couldn't help the wicked grin that curled my lips.
A muscle jumped in his jaw and he narrowed his eyes for a split second. Then the irritation was gone and he was nodding again. "I suppose so. I will notify the others that we are leaving immediately."
Oh Zarlo. You think you can hide from me? No one can hide from me.
"Good." I waved a hand dismissively and turned away again. Man, I loved being in charge. And now that I was, I was gonna make sure I stayed that way. At any cost.
Tazi
"Okay, whose idea was it to travel by horseback?" I heard Sasha grumble loudly, and chuckled with agreement. He was riding just ahead of me, and despite his complaints, seemed to be keeping up just fine.
Ryan twisted back around from her position at the head of the group. "Would you rather have walked?"
"Oh no, definitely not." It was Niko who jumped in this time. He received a grin from Tyler and a glare from Sasha for his comment, but the latter didn't seem to bother him.
Ryan shrugged at that. "There you have it, Sasha." She turned back around.
I tugged on my rein, struggling to keep my horse on the path. It flattened its ears at me, but continued forward at my urging.
"We'll be passing Concorba shortly," Tyler raised his voice above the conversations that had broken out, silencing them quickly. "Word has it there is a Conqueror camp set up outside of it, so we'll do our best to stay away from the city outskirts. We can't risk being spotted."
Lucia, who was riding her own spirit animal, let out a groan. "We can't even go in and get something to eat?"
My stomach growled at the thought of it.
Navia, who was passing me at that moment, shot me a knowing grin.
I blushed with embarrassment.
"...if we get into a scuffle, there's a high chance we won't win. Or come out of it at all." Tyler was saying in response. "So no."
Sabien walked past me as well, obviously following Navia. The two had gotten close in the few weeks we'd known each other.
I pushed away the jealousy that soured my tongue. Friendship had never been easy for me, let alone in such a short period of time.
"Yeah, we wouldn't want Princess Lucia to get into a fight, now, would we?" Zay's spiteful tone dragged me back to the conversation.
Before Lucia could even open her mouth to retort, Tyler cut in. "Enough, all of you." His words were sharp.
"If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." Ryan chimed in.
I could practically hear Zay's anger boil, but luckily she kept a lid on it.
We continued to ride in silence for the rest of the day, passing Concorba with probably exaggerated caution. Not that I'd ever tell Tyler that.
Finally, after travelling through only forest for nearly two hours, we reached a large clearing. Ryan and Tyler both halted and dismounted, the rest of us hurrying to follow suit.
"We'll set up camp here for the night." Tyler tugged a brass compass from his saddlebag and considered it. "Our guide will be here shortly."
I sat down gratefully, my legs like jelly from riding all day. The others joined me, settling themselves and their spirit animals into haphazard circle.
Tyler had sunk down as well, releasing Charlie with a sigh of relief. The black bear blinked at us as he sat heavily beside his summoner.
I felt a stab of jealousy for the second time that day. I rubbed at my own tattoo to soothe the feeling. Ian, as I'd named my stingray, wouldn't be able to be out for a little while. Not that I minded, but– okay, I definitely minded. But I get it. Besides, what would he do here? Flop around? I suppressed a snicker at the picture.
Ryan sat beside Tyler, but didn't release her spirit animal. I realized then that I had yet to see it. Maybe she had an aquatic animal as well! My hopes lifted. "So, Tazi and Zay have both mastered passive state. Anyone else?" The guardian in question interrupted my thoughts.
Everyone else shook their heads, many averting their eyes.
"What's your spirit animal?" Niko blurted as if he'd read my earlier thoughts, "we know what Tyler's is, but not yours!"
Ryan smiled. She pushed up her sleeve and, with a flash of light, an orange and red frog appeared.
"That's it?" Sasha wrinkled his nose.
I was taken aback as well. Disappointment sent my hopes crashing back down, despite my attempt to stay positive.
Ryan laughed lightly. "There's more to Eden than meets the eye. He's a poisonous dart frog."
Zay rolled her eyes. "So? That frog is going to get killed the moment you step into battle!"
Ryan bristled.
I couldn't help but agree a bit with Zay. But nonetheless, I disagreed with the way she'd said it. Sympathy washed over me and I opened my mouth to defend the poor little frog.
"And here I was, thinking you were going to be stealthy!" Another woman interrupted.
All of us were on our feet in an instant. I saw the glint of Sasha and Zay's blades and clenched my own fists.
The woman swung down from the tree branch she'd been lurking on, flashing a toothy grin. A lynx slunk down as well, its tail flicking as it eyed each of us.
Tyler relaxed into an easy smile. He waved a hand for us to stand down, then stepped forward and embraced the woman warmly. "Well, it is a little bit hard to be stealthy with seven of them." He joked.
I cautiously lowered my fists, still confused by the interaction.
"I can see that." The woman chuckled, sweeping a keen eye over us.
"Gang," Tyler turned to us, "this is Hoya. Our guide. Hoya, this is the team. Sasha, Zay, Navia, Sabien, Lucia, Niko, and Tazi."
I waved awkwardly as I was introduced.
"And you already know Ryan." Tyler continued, gesturing to our other guardian.
Both women stiffened as they made eye contact, each offering the other a single, tense nod. It made me wonder if they had history.
Hoya shook her shock of pink hair out of her eyes and lowered herself to the ground. We followed hesitantly. Her lynx sprawled beside her. But I could see the way its ears twitched; the laziness was an illusion.
"So, the Copper Falcon?" Tyler prompted
"Of course." Hoya's tone became businesslike in an instant. "We can't waste any more time. My sources tell me the Conquerors are also aware of its return. We must get to the Copper Falcon before they can."
Tyler looked troubled at that. "We leave tomorrow at dawn." He decided.
Hoya raised a brow, as if to question the decision.
"We've been riding all day." Ryan read the look off the pink-haired woman's face. "The horses– and us, too– need rest. Tyler's decision is final."
Hoya inclined her head and raised her palms in surrender. But I saw the way her eyes followed Ryan as soon as her back was turned. And again, I wondered if they had a history.
Resolving to ask tomorrow (if I could work up the courage), I set up my bedroll and laid down. I rubbed over my tattoo. The action brought little comfort, but it was becoming a habit I didn't want to break.
Hi guys. And girls. (No sexism here). I updated again, it's a miracle! I haven't in a while because I was really busy. Hope you like this chapter, please comment, I'd love some feedback! Peace!
edit: 15/05/21
i was listening to achilles come down while writing this,,, *chefs kiss*
anyway, enjoy!
stay safe my lovelies xx