Passing among the trees the branches looked like fingers about to grab you. Do trees like that exist? Jezebel wondered as they rode through the forest.

The sun just rose with the same bark for breakfast but since the last few days of unsuccessful hunts thank lady Rea if not for her we would have been starving Safiya looked her usual sad face buried behind her eagle head Hector looked like he was right at home and relieved. I still have know idea about Hector, his noble bearing yet being in the wilderness for who knows how long. his bravery and being a coward at the same time yet he could read me and Safiya like a book at times. eyes so full of searching yet he was handsome I just don’t know how I feel about him

“How much longer?” Safiya asked

“a little closer from the last time” Hector replied “this trip has taken forever” Safiya complied

“I can’t wait for it to end too and winter” Jezebel added

“We could all use a break but not now that we're so close” Hector said looking at the mountain as the day passed by without seeing another living thing as if the whole forest was asleep. they made camp Hector built a fire as Jezebel was getting firewood and Safiya sat there

“shouldn't you be helping were not your servants” Hector said as she came back with the fire wood

“not tonight I’m too tired from all that hunting” Safiya complied

“aren't we all”

“if she’s too tired than I’ll do the work” Jezebel chimed in

“everyone must pitch in a little” Hector said “or else they might as well not have dinner”

“don’t be so hard on her,” Jezebel said, getting in his face

“Fine, you can be her servant” Hector said storming off into the woods muttering to himself why can’t we just get along?

“thank you” Safiya said

“you're welcome I’m always here for you” Jezebel said tossing the firewood into the burning kindle Hector returned after Safiya went to bed in her blankets I wish we asked for a tent or two

“why do you let her push you around like that” Hector said

“I’m not I’m being her friend”

“you're defending her laziness, will you excuse everything your friends do because they're your friends”

“not everything but mostly” Jezebel admitted

“you must learn to be independent”

“Like you? You had no one for years”

“My case is not the same as yours. You are so desperate for companionship that if she points. you jump like a trained dog, are you a dog or a woman?”

“That's enough!” then remembering Safiya was sleeping spoke in a more quiet tone

“what should I just do as you say a man I still don’t know much about” that seem to trouble him by his expression

“you should know me without my past” Hector said walking towards her then stopped four feet away

“And besides what do you know about Safiya’s past but let’s go to bed, maybe we will be refreshed with a good night's sleep” with that he went over to their bags, got out his blanket and laid it out before taking another one and covered himself. sitting down on the log near the fire, do I know her? Her mother’s a priest but that's about it she was in the halfbreed camp for a while but I don’t know how long Hectors just trying to tear me and Safiya apart so he can claim the power for himself or is he? I have no idea. Are all friendships like this? I should just go to bed. I'm tired after making a bed with blankets as I lay there. Wait, shouldn't one of us keep watch? Getting out of her wool blankets shaking Safiya’s shoulder

“what?” Safiya said sleepily

“we need to keep watch you got some sleep can you do it first”

“I’m to tired” she replied pulling her blanket over herself

“ok sleep well” she’s just having a tough time sitting on the cold log again watching for monsters and almost sounded the alarm before she noticed it was just a deer after about four hours her eyelids felt heavy. Blinking felt like trying to unglue her eyes, shaking Hector's shoulder his eyes opened

“what? What’s happening?” Hector said sitting up

“we needed to keep watch and it’s your turn”

“how could I have forgotten thank you for this. I’ll keep watch. get some sleep” rising to keep watch as Jezebel fell asleep under Hector's blankets.

Jezebel awoke to the sun almost all the way up the blue sky with only a few clouds getting up to find Hector yawning he must have just gotten up Safiya walked over to her wings stretched outward

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“good morning” Safiya said flatly “good morning” she does not look good they packed up after a joyless breakfast I need to hunt soon or I’m going to die

Due to lack of nourishment, where did that deer run off to? Soon they rode off towards the mountain hearing a river running which means there should be all types of furry critters to eat or scaly to munch on. as they dismounted to drink from the river.

There was a small buck drinking water in the fast flowing river Jezebel immediately started to climb a tree before he got spooked. claws digging into the the cold bark once high up Jezebel unfolded her wings I have the perfect chance to swoop in and take him by surprise and I get to glide witch it’s been to long leaping and diving of the fat limb straight across the river gliding to the other side the buck bolted when Jezebel laded not five feet away running as fast as she could to catch it I’m getting a good meal today. running after the buck leaping over logs turning to the left as did Jezebel but rapidly closing the distance then leaping onto its back biting and clawing the neck in a spray of blood holding it down until the buck died.

painting from the chase. Sling the one hundred and fifty pound buck over her shoulders and walking back as fast as she could it took some time backtracking but once she could hear the sound of the river helped Jezebel find it and some sixty feet up the river Safiya and Hector were waiting for her I’m going to eat good today and tonight Jezebel thought now how am I going to get across I can’t swim because of the fast current nor can I glide incase the deer is to heavy or it falls off I’m just going to keep up on my side once they were level with each other Safiya and Hector stopped

“how are you going to get to us” Safiya called

“I don’t know” Jezebel called back

“you shouldn't have gone after it you could have been injured or lost or encountered monsters” Hector called loudly well they know now with your screaming

“I know the sound of the river would lead me back and it did as for the other stuff I had to take and look what I got” shaking the deer in front of the others Hector seemed bothered by the bloody deer he looked away when she held it up and went behind the moas for some reason shrugging and dropping the deer onto the ground. taking a bite off one of the hind legs feeling the warm blood and flesh. it was spoiled a little by the fur witch she had to spit out but who cares it was the heavens. scraping the fur off with her claws so she could eat the juicy meat not the rock hard dried meat she was used to once full eating a good three pounds of meat patting her stomach

“I think I over ate” Jezebel muttered to herself

“I need to sit down” sitting by the river edge

“Can you glide back?” Safiya called from on top of her moa

“I think I ate too much” Jezebel complained

“I saw why don’t you pace yourself it was disgusting watching you inhale that poor deer”

“I’m going to try to glide back” Jezebel called, going to the nearest tree climbing slowly due to stomach cramps and pulling the deer up as well after she reached a good point to glide pulling the deer into a hug and leaping off unfolding her wings to glide. she was falling noticeably quicker and when the deer shifted Jezebel turned to the left gliding just past the running water but barely pulling onto her shoulders again to meet her friends

“you're going to have to get rid of that” Hector said on top of his moa

“what!? After what I did to get it here no I’m bringing it” Jezebel said thought firmly

“it will bring all sorts of monster within a mile towards us if that caucus” Hector pointed out

“No it won't, I will get rid of it in two days” Jezebel insisted

“Fine you better hope not if it does I will bring Safiya to the mountain and leave you to your fate” Hector said calmly it can’t bring danger to us. She draped it over the packmoa and mounted her moa which was the largest since Jezebel was the tallest after riding for about three hours staying somewhat close to the river. The dense forest made them ride in single file with Hector in front. He turned his head to look behind him at the moa at the back of the line and the partly eaten deer with skin hanging off it. he's just being paranoid the moa doesn't seem to mind and besides no monster would go out of there way to compete for half a deer. Safiya was behind the packmoa so she had to speak up when she spoke Hector scolded her to keep quiet so they can hear for movement Jezebel and Safiya didn’t have much to say anyway Hectors right we need to be alert just incase we need to be on are guard in case of an ambush. riding in silence.

They stopped near a large hill covered with trees. The sun set about an hour ago then she noticed a small light up ahead. Curious, she dismounted to investigate, leading her steed a way ahead before tying it to some trees with the bridle. Then slowly made her way from tree to tree with Hector and Safiya doing the same until they found a goblin camp about fifty five feet away peering over from behind the trunk as did Hector and Safiya. They were dancing around the fire with a troll sitting next to them and three people tied to a tree. There were about fourteen maybe?

“I can’t get a good look” Jezebel whispered

“I’m going to see if there are more of them” Hector whispered before leaving and walking towards the camp much more quietly than a man of his size should be able to move. Safiya moved towards her right when something moved from the bushes on her left before Jezebel could react.

A large shape burst from the bushes and bashed me. The ground launched as she was thrown ten feet into the air and landed near Safiya on her stomach. knocking the air out of her longs as she laid there trying to breath Safiya helped her sit up and saw what hit her a minotaur a half man half bull with horns and short fur and one of his horns had some fresh blood on it he looked at them with black eyes

“You're bleeding,” Safiya said frantically. I looked down for a second and saw a large gash in her shoulder and down her upper arm. It didn't look too bad. I didn't even feel it. Why is he waiting? The nine foot beast looked confused. before charging after Hector

“watch out!” Jezebel screamed Hector turned around just as the minotaur slammed into him sending him flying back and landed on his stomach he got back up immediately then the minotaur charged again but Hector threw him back he was much bigger almost the same size then grew even more Jezebel and Safiya were confused as Hector swelled into a beast dwarfing the minotaur within moments he looked like a cross between a bear and a gorilla with a short snout with razor sharp fangs he let out a roar witch was hurt her ears. she stared in disbelief. then the minotaur and Hector charged each other the minotaur tried to grapple him but Hector was too big then he used his paw and he fell over from the blow then Hector pounced but the troll heard the noise and came swing hitting Hector in the back they grappled with each other Hector still had his foot on the minotaur but soon Hector’s sized gave him the upper hand and threw the troll off him and soon the minotaur got up from under Hector’s foot and joined the fray but Hector hugged him biting his neck and snapped its horns off the minotaur screamed holding its neck then laid still. Without pause Hector tackled the troll clawing and biting until the troll lay still. The strength on display was astonishing. Hector’s with a foot on the troll's chest let out a triumphant roar. Jezebel stared in shock then Hector stared right at them with his red eyes which seemed to glow in the night.