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It seemed like the journey lasted weeks when in reality it was only a few days.
In that time, the trio got to know each other better and grew more comfortable. Kieran would not let his guard down, though; he knew that no matter how friendly someone was or how worthy of trust they seemed did not mean they actually were.
Not everything was as it seemed in many cases. Life had taught him that. For that reason, he’d remain suspicious and on high alert, just in case. Perseus, now back in his small noodle dragon form, had also seemed to make that choice, too.
In the last few days on the train, Kieran, Tessa, Perseus, and Riven had all slept in the same vicinity, ate and drank together, and told stories.
Apparently, the brown fox had been born in the Vasthaven Mesa nation, a desert territory to the south; he was a ready and able bandit, living on his own terms, doing as he pleased.
He claimed, however, that he did not steal from or kill just anyone; he took riches from those who used them for harm and killed individuals who either attacked him first or were just being a general asshole by hurting others.
Riven, through the veil of his odd behavior and his questionable motives for chasing down Tessa, likely had a real heart of gold… or at least, to a certain degree. He had already proven to be a lot better than Malachai, and that was a welcome thing.
Kieran worried that once they reached their destination and made camp somewhere he’d turn on them all and kidnap the starry winged fox, so he’d keep an eye out.
Once they’d arrived at the train station in one of the towns of the Emberlands, one that was quite small to Kieran but was likely considered a moderately sized city to the inhabitants of this nation of mostly forested wilderness and the occasional lava flow, they exited the train car stealthily, moving quickly and keeping hidden within the crowd.
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“Why would anyone come here?” Riven cringed.
“What do you mean?” Kieran asked with confusion. For him, the Emberlands were beautiful and held many memories.
Riven rotated his dark brown ears, looking ahead. “There’s nothing here. It’s just a small town.”
Tessa chimed in. “I kind of like it here. The less people the better.”
The minty fox decided to become a tour guide for the others momentarily. “People come here because it’s a good place to do exactly that. They like to get away from it all, and just soak in the wilderness.”
“Why here and not anywhere else? Other nations have plenty of wild,” Riven inquired, adjusting his red bandanna and dusting off his black leather jacket.
“Because it has a lot of history. Didn’t anyone ever teach you about the First Dragons and the First Foxes?” Kieran asked, honestly baffled. “The origin story of Arthos.”
Riven blinked, his amber eyes showing just how confused he was; the brown fox said nothing, at a loss for what to say. The bounty hunter’s mouth hung open, for he was abashed; those were important stories, ones he’d learned from his parents, many years ago.
They trudged on under the stormy sky, walking on muddy dirt roads side by side, out of the town and into the sparsely wooded hills dotted by copses outside the settlement. Their goal was to find a campsite for the night, a good place to sleep and rest their heads.
Kieran looked to Tessa, urging her with a look to join in the explanation if she felt she should, then back to Riven, and began to recount the story he’d been told. “Long ago, as the legend has it, foxes came down from the stars to find an island called Emberland. They established a colony there, and had many kits to carry on their name. They loved the earth so much, but they wished it were bigger.”
Riven giggled, giving way to a short outburst of loud laughter. “Yea! We all do.”
Kieran continued, taking the lead in front of both of them but always looking over his shoulder, while also scanning the land for a potential spot to settle down. “One day, dragons arrived from the stars too; they wanted Emberland for themselves, and the star foxes fought them. The dragons destroyed the island, covering it in fire, and making volcanoes erupt, sending lava flows into homes.”
Tessa grew rigid at the mention of the star foxes, and Kieran noticed it; he wondered why but he would have to ask later, away from Riven’s ears. “Then, when all hope seemed to be lost, one fox named Asprochioni rose up to the plate, touched by the spirits of snow and the spirits of stars. He moved the earth around him, closing up the volcanoes, and causing lush forests to grow atop the lava beds. The dragons he brought to the ground and used large rocks to tie them down. He sealed their mouth with starchain, a starry substance not of this world that works like a chain but is unbreakable unless the creator of it dies.”
Riven scowled. “Ugh, this sounds like a dumb nursery rhyme, or something my mother would tell me. Do you really believe any of this?”