Day 15

Rachael Ceronio and Keimoni, followed Lakisha towards the river which would lead them to the swamp. The three of them walked through a field on horseback.

Rachael had her horses back and she was using three of them.

They each had backpacks with food and supplies.

Lakisha followed the riverbank on her horse. She was looking at the rapids that had tried to drown her not so long ago.

She wasn’t sure how she was going to get the attention of the city. She knew she wouldn’t be able to get back there by herself.

A strong cold wind blew through the trees.

Keimoni stopped them.

“We need to find shelter and quickly. A storm is coming.” He said.

“If we go upriver we will come to the shelter that I used when I first arrived. But it will not provide shelter for the horses.” Rachael said.

“How far upriver?” Lakisha asked “We have been walking the other direction for some time.”

“There is no time to make a shelter.” Keimoni worried.

“Nikki gave me a tent.” Rachael remembered.

She dismounted and began unpacking her pack. There was a tent. Big enough for them but not the horses.

“Can we make something for the horses?” Rachael asked.

Keimoni looked at her with a ‘really?’ look.

“Please can we try?” Rachael asked.

Keimoni had been by Rachael’s side while she was recovering. She had been very surprised but appreciated it. He had brought her food and herbal teas and told her stories and kept her updated on the happenings of things in the castle. She suspected he liked her.

Her body was mostly healed. She only had a few scares left after Ranger had healed her. He was going to even remove the scaring, but she had volunteered to find the crystals to go home.

“What will you need to make a shelter for the horses?” Lakisha asked.

Keimoni and Lakisha went into the forest. Leaving Rachael to put up the tent on her own. Nikki had made it easy. She didn’t design difficult tents to assemble.

Rachael placed the tent facing into the forest so that the trees would also provide some protection. Then she started helping tie the branches together to make a shelter for her horses.

Keimoni lit a fire.

The wind carried snow and the freezing air blew over them. The shelter for the horses would have to do. Rachael’s hands were so cold she couldn’t feel her fingers.

She put her horses in the shelter and climbed into the tent that was not made to withstand a blizzard.

There were many things that made it difficult to be in Chayim. The lack of running water was among the worst. Having to use a basin to wash her face and no hot water on tap was an uncomfortable adjustment. Not having a toothbrush really bothered her.

Rachael huddled in the tent. Nikki had given them a thin light silk blanket and three sheep’s wool rugs and three weaved mats.

The tent shock and made strange sounds as the howling wind beat against it.

“I think the fire went out.” Lakisha inspected.

“No point trying to relight it.” Keimoni said.

“Won’t we freeze without it?” Rachael asked.

A chill ran down her spine.

“We will be fine inside the tent. It’s cold but we are protected from the elements.” Lakisha said.

Lakisha looked at the cold Rachael who stubbornly sat on her own.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Come sit with me, we can share our blankets and stay warm.” Lakisha offered.

“Great idea” Keimoni moved in close to Lakisha.

Rachael moved in too. She squeezed into the middle and sat holding her knees. One sheep’s wool blanket under them, one over them and one behind them. The three huddled.

“How are you?” Rachael asked Lakisha.

“Cold but glad to be out of the castle. You have recovered well. Your face is perfect.” Lakisha said.

“My back is all scares, but no more open wounds. Wish my doctor back home was as good as the one’s here.” Rachael replied, trying to make things lighter.

The tent swept in as if wanting to eat them.

“What will happen if the tent breaks and we are in the blizzard?” Rachael asked.

“We might die.” Lakisha answered.

“Great!” Rachael moaned.

“We will be fine.” Keimoni reassured “The blizzard will only last a few hours. We will be fine. Even if the tent breaks, we use the wool to stay warm and out of the snow.”

“Have you done this before?” Rachael asked.

“I live here.” Keimoni answered as if that said it all.

The stormed beat them for hours. Then as suddenly as it had started it ended. Lakisha opened the tent and looked out. Everything was white, still and beautiful. The snow sparkled and light danced over it.

“Wow!” Lakisha said “It is beautiful!”

Rachael looked out. Everything was still. The air was fresh, and it was like a new beginning was before her. The world had become beautiful. No anger or cruelty, just new.

The wind was still, and it didn’t even feel that cold anymore.

Keimoni smiled. Winter was magical.

“Let’s get moving. Make the most of the light we have left.” Keimoni said.

Rachael closed her eyes and enjoyed the fresh air.

“It’s amazing.”

Lakisha watched her enjoying everything.

“Do you think she’s ok?” Lakisha asked Keimoni.

“I do. She is strong.” He answered.

Rachael ignored her companions as they started packing up. She just enjoyed everything.

Lakisha and Keimoni packed everything up alone.

“I hope this isn’t going to be the norm.” Lakisha said.

“I will do her part if needed.” Keimoni said.

“I will fetch her.” Lakisha went to call Rachael.

She found Rachael, kneeling in the snow. The light danced over her. As if it was drawn to her. As if light could move by will. Rachael’s eyes were closed, and she was smiling.

Lakisha went and fetched Keimoni.

“Come look at this. I think something is wrong with Rachael.”

Keimoni dropped his bag and hurried over. When he saw Rachael, he stopped.

“Is that normal?” Lakisha asked.

“No. But she is smiling. She is happy.” He looked confused.

Then as if the light had been disturbed it disappeared.

“Rachael?” Lakisha asked, “Are you alright?”

“I am.” She said getting up.

“What was that?” Lakisha asked.

“What?” Rachael asked.

“The light show?” Lakisha prompted.

“Light show? I have no idea what you are talking about. But I am feeling so much better. My body doesn’t hurt.” She laughed “Maybe I am just numb from the snow.”

“You packed up quickly” she commented.

Lakisha and Keimoni exchanged looks.

“It took a while since we were without your set of hands.” Lakisha said bluntly.

“You could have just asked for help.” Rachael said, “Guess I was daydreaming.”

The three of them continued their journey down the river. They reached the waterfall but by now the sun was setting in the sky.

“Down there.” Lakisha pointed, “We need to go down there. If I remember correctly there is a cottage down there. I can ask to stay the night.” Lakisha told them.

“What if they won’t put us up, or aren’t home?” Rachael asked.

“They are super nice. You have nothing to worry about.” Lakisha insisted.

They made their way down and it was a hard path down. By the time they reached the bottom it was night. The sun was gone. Only strange blue lights could be seen in the water. Lakisha put her hand into the water.

“What are you doing?” Rachael asked.

Lakisha smiled about to answer her, when she was pulled in.

“Lakisha!” Rachael yelled as Lakisha was dragged into the water by something.

Streaks of blue light. Closed in on her.

“We have to do something?” Rachael said.

“There is nothing to be done. We cannot fight underwater.” Keimoni replied.

Lakisha looked into the eyes of a Tskhali. She was not afraid. She confidently believed they were good kind people and that she was safe.

A group gathered around her. There light lit up her face in the water. She saw a familiar face and a smiled so big it let most of her air out.

“Look at the babbles!” Rachael wailed “She’s drowning!”

Lakisha hugged the familiar face. Then she indicated she needed air.

They looked at one another. Speaking among themselves. The one put his mouth over her nose and gave her air. He breathed for her.

“Do we take her back?” one asked.

“I guess if a pet comes home you get to keep it.” Another answered.

“I help save her the first time. It’s my turn to keep her.” Another said.

“What about the people making a noise on the surface?” the first one asked.

“Guess we should see what they want?”

“I don’t think this pet is returning. Her companions seem in distress, and I think they want her back.”

“Then why did she come back?”

They looked at one another. That was the big question. Why did she come back?

One surfaced with Lakisha unharmed.

“What is that?” Rachael asked.

“It’s a Tskhali” Keimoni replied.

“It’s glowing.” Rachael said stepping back.

“My name is Keimoni, I am the queen’s Viden.” He introduced himself.

“Why are you here?” the stranger asked.

“We are in search of the crystals to reopen the sugs. We need to know if your hidden city has one?” Keimoni asked.

“Our hidden city.” He repeated.

Turning to the water he said

“The pet told on us and now brought friends to see our supposed hidden city.”

“The queen is making positive changes. You can be part of the reason the new world is born.” Keimoni said.

Rachael’s heart pounded. She was afraid of the freaky thing with blue light coming from his face and hands and shoulders.

“Lakisha, get away from it.” Rachael said.

“You don’t need to be afraid.” Lakisha said calmly “He will not hurt you.”

Keimoni looked at Rachael and Lakisha.

“We are tired and hungry. Is there somewhere we can stay for the night while you discuss things with your leader?” Keimoni asked him.

“I am Raiden. Come you may stay for a night. But I have no food for you.” He said.

“Thank you. Shelter is appreciated.”

Lakisha’s stomach growled.

She gave an embarrassed smile.

Rachael followed at a distance. As the man dried so the light faded. His skin no longer reflected the light like fish scales. He looked like a normal man with bronze skin, except for the blue hair. He didn’t seem so scary anymore.

He led them to a cottage.

“You may stay here for the night. Please do not destroy anything.” he left.

“Well Lakisha you were right. A cottage and friendly… of sorts.” Keimoni said.

“You have nothing to worry about. They saved me, fed me and showed me kindness. You will see.” She was confident.

“Um… they called you a pet.” Keimoni said.

“Pet, like had a pet name for me?” she asked digging through the bags looking for food.

“No, more like you are their pet.” Keimoni said.

“You must be mistaken.” Lakisha answered without slowing down her search.

She found some bread and that was all they had left.

“I thought we had more food?” Lakisha said.

“So did I.” Keimoni said surprised by the lack of food left.

Then Raiden came back in. He had cooked fish in his basket.

“Here, eat.” He grumbled and left.

“Told you they are kind.” Lakisha said.

“He wasn’t friendly about it.” Keimoni stated.

“Actions. Actions.” Lakisha defended.