"Ewww! Get away, bad monkey-like creature." Lotus tried to shoo away the ones trying to snatch the bread from her hand.
Razial very calmly drew his sword and swung it over his head. The creatures shrieked and stumbled away from him and Lotus. She heaved a relieved sigh and scooted closer to him.
Faris kicked away the ones that attacked him and Aiko.
"It’s our food, go and find yours," Faris growled at one of the creatures who was trying to run away with his bread.
Faris dragged him by his long tail and snatched away the bread from his hand. Swinging it over his head, the young boy sent him flying towards the tree.
"Woooohh!"
"You find fun in everything," Aiko commented, shooing away another one who was trying to grab her food.
But the more they fought the more kept coming. The situation was getting out of hand.
"Still want to feed them, my lovely mate," Siroos mockingly asked, seeing one land in Cassandra’s hair. The wretched creature wished to pull at her hair.
Siroos grabbed him so quickly that she was afraid her mate would wring his neck. But Siroos tossed him back into the tree.
Cassandra sighed in relief that contracted her lungs and stepped closer to her mate. She had let down her shield and they had attacked in a herd.
He laughed seeing her reaction.
Finally, when the situation got worse, Siroos had to shift into his lion form and growl loudly to scare them away. They retreated to the trees but watched the CAFLRS with their beady eyes.
"We need to move, or they are going to attack us again," Razial said, getting up and straightening his clothes.
"Agg! I wanted to sleep. I am so tired," Lotus lamented, a yawn escaped her.
"I will carry you. Come." Razial bent down so Lotus could climb on his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his torso. She was so lightweight as if carrying a child. They wrapped a sheet around themselves so she would remain fastened to him.
"You are a good man Razial..." Lotus drawled out as she placed her head on his shoulder and drifted off into a slumber.
They were tired and wished to sleep. All of them had been walking for a while now but needed to find somewhere safe.
Danger seemed to lurk on every corner. Sometimes, an enormous bird would fly above them, making screeching sounds, or suddenly, some stray vines would creep up to them, only to be cut off by Razial and Faris.
Cassandra’s eyes were drooping, too, so Siroos picked her up. Exhaustion had consumed her because of the continual use of her shield.
Faris and Aiko remained vigilant. Faris had his giant axe resting on his shoulder while Aiko held a vial containing a ’sleeping dust’.
"You are not tired?" Faris asked.
"Not yet, I will keep guard with you."
The night had completely engulfed the creepy forest and howling of strange animals was becoming louder and louder.
Some strange flowers were glowing like rubies on a plant. Equal amount enchanting and dangerous at the same time.
Seeing them Siroos warned.
"Don’t touch anything. Remain vigilant of your surroundings at all times. Cassandra has gone to sleep, her shield won’t be around us constantly."
There was a limit to Cassandra’s magic and she had reached it for today. Siroos cast a glance towards her sleeping face and she seemed so tired. Her mouth had parted today as she lightly snored, safely tucked in her mate’s arms.
Soon, they arrived under a big tree; its branches seemed to curl towards the skies, broad and sturdy.
Razial poked the tree with his sword to check if it would move or retaliate. But it remained still.
"I think this one is safe," Siroos commented, taking a deep look at the tree.
By then, almost everyone was extremely tired.
"We can sleep on it for tonight," Razial wistfully said.
"I can take the first watch," Faris offered, seeing Razial and Siroos were tired after carrying the girls.
"I will keep you company," Aiko added, glancing up at the tree. Faris picked her up from the waist and raised her. She caught hold of a branch and swiftly climbed and settled on a thick one.
Razial climbed the tree and settled on another branch, carefully untying the sheet and taking a sleeping Lotus in his arms. Her drowsy eyes opened and she glanced at him shortly.
"Shhh! It’s fine, go back to sleep. You are safe."
His sweet whisperings lulled her back to sleep as she cuddled with him.
Siroos jumped with Cassandra in his arms and took his residence on another one. Carefully cradling her, he let her sleep.
This place was not as cold as Volsra; a slight wind was going around, but it was refreshing.
Faris remained on the ground, vigilant with his axe on his shoulder. Aiko sat right above his head, her legs dangled down as she moved them playfully, intently watching her mate.
"Let’s play a game to pass the time," she suggested.
"All right."
"If you had only been born with one spirit instead of two, which do you think it would have been?" Aiko asked.
Faris placed his index finger on his chin and thought for only a few seconds before saying.
"Most probably, fox. Considering my personality. My wolf is wiser, my fox is mischievous."
"Foxes always are," Aiko gleefully answered.
"How about you? If you had been born only with one power. To either be a vixen or have the power to open portals. Which one would you choose?" Faris leaned against the rough bark of the giant tree and placed his left foot on it.
"My fox spirit. I love being a fox. She is pretty."
"That she definitely is. My fox spirit loves her," Faris quickly added what his fox was screaming in his head. He couldn’t scream any louder.
Aiko hesitated at his answer but then propelled herself to ask.
"What about you? Do you love her too?"