“Come on, it’s morning. We have to get going,” Blanc said, waking everyone up.
They’d had little sleep. Barely enough. But it was needed.
Everything that had happened, and everything still to come, would demand all they had.
Blanc hadn’t slept at all. He couldn’t.
No matter how much he wanted rest, it eluded him like a child fleeing chores.
His thoughts refused to quiet. Still, he pushed forward.
He had no other choice.
“Did you really not sleep at all?” asked Celine.
“I could not. But do not worry, I am fine.” Blanc replied.
Celine sighed, putting her hand atop his, “Even so, you still need to heal. If you are hurt and exhausted, you cannot protect anyone. Not even yourself.”
Blanc thought for a moment and realized that her words were the truth, even if his mind did not want to acknowledge them.
“You are right,” he said, “I will try to get some sleep tonight. But for that, we need to find a safer place. And we will not find anything if we do not start walking soon. So, go get yourselves ready. Wash your faces, drink some water, grab a bite to eat from our supplies, and let’s be on our way.”
“Very well,” Celine replied, offering him a warm smile as she went to prepare.
But two did not follow the instructions they were given.
“Kael? Lune? What’s wrong?” Blanc asked, seeing them pacing in circles after they got up from their sleeping bag.
“Well, I need to, you know…” Kael replied.
“Ah, I see. Lune, you too?” Blanc asked his sister.
Lune nodded, embarrassed by the situation.
“Do not worry, Little flower. It’s as natural as the lake behind me. I will ask Celine to take you somewhere else, okay?” Blanc comforted her.
After Celine agreed to it, Kael and Blanc walked a fair distance from where they slept.
A thing which made Blanc chuckle.
“It will not make it less embarrassing if we walk all the way back home, Kael. Take this spade and go behind some trees and do what you have to do.” Blanc said.
“And what should I use to.. You know,” Kael asked.
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“Leaves, moss. Whatever won’t scrape,” Blanc replied, unbothered by the topic.
“Brother, I want to go back home,” Kael sighed, grabbing the spade from Blanc and heading behind a large tree, some distance away.
So do I, little brother, Blanc thought, without voicing it.
He already guessed that the difference in lifestyles would make Kael and Lune lose their mind in some way. But he forgot how Noble Bloods were. Even though he was one himself.
The difference was that during his hunts with Valar, he had to throw away all his concepts of what a Noble Blood is, especially in the presence of nature.
Nature does not offer the conveniences of normal life. No... that of a Noble Blood.
No servants to prepare baths, no cooks or comforts. No fine cloth scraps to wipe your ass.
Only dirt. And leaves. And the wind to remind you how soft your life used to be.
Such luxuries do not grow in the wild. And Blanc knew it would be difficult for Kael and Lune to get used to it. He only hoped Celine would fare better.
“Already done?” Blanc asked, seeing his brother emerge in the distance. “You covered it with dirt, right?”
Kael offered a nod, his cheeks crimson, “Mhm, but I hate it.”
“You will have to make do with what you have, Little Kael. Otherwise, you will go mad before even reaching the mountain.”
“Do we have to do this? Do we have to live like beasts in the woods? Is the danger really gone? I don’t even know what those creatures were last night, or why you two acted like you were possessed,” Kael said, perhaps not used to the embarrassment he had to go through.
“Yes. We have to. And that is the end of that conversation. As for last night, act like it never happened, okay?” Blanc replied.
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“Good,” Blanc offered a smile, grabbing the spade from him before turning the way they came. “Let us go back and grab something to eat. It will be a long day.”
And so they returned, without exchanging another word, just as Lune and Celine were about to return as well.
“All good?” Blanc asked the two ladies.
“Of course,” replied Celine, with a wry smile, “Difficult but manageable.”
“I feel dirty…” muttered Lune.
“We all do, little flower. But enough about that, wash your hands, your faces, and eat.” Blanc instructed.
The meal moved fast, in silence, as the meal was nothing more than dried meats and fruits the servants grabbed in a hurry, but it was good enough to satisfy their stomachs.
As no fire could be made to cook other stuff they had at the ready.
The smoke that would have been made could have alerted unwanted guests.
A risk that both Blanc and Celine were not ready to take.
The other issue was the discomfort Kael and Lune were already showing. It took less time than Blanc would have ever expected.
However, he understood.
They have only viewed the Golden Forest as a place to relax, hunt, and play.
Not their survival or new home.
Somehow, it made Blanc wish it were night again.
When the darkness occupied the twins’ thoughts enough not to complain about their new lives.
He felt guilty about having such thoughts, but he soon focused again. As they were now ready to begin their way, once more, towards the Omu Mountain.
Towards the promised sanctuary, their father spoke about.
“Everything ready?” Blanc asked, making sure everything was in order.
“Yes,” they all replied, ready to depart.
Blanc nodded at their answer, “Let’s go then.”
And so their march to safety began anew. Rested and with a full stomach.
With the memories of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow in their minds.