The boy's brown eyes slowly opened, the bright, blue sky being the first thing he saw. It was morning? He sat up, yawning as he rubbed his eyes. He must have been knocked out when he was hit the ground. He looked around, the tall trees were bare of leaves, though most had vines wrapped around them. Some trees tangled with others, making branch arches over the grassy path in front of him. There was no sound, except a warm breeze that swept by. Someone who didn't know better would think the place looked peaceful.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0AsUcNlaT
"What luck, she landed me right in front of the entrance." the prince grumbled, brushing himself off.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoMEDrJlEh
It wasn't until he started following the path that he remembered. The girl had been sent to the forest with him, but he didn't see her at the entrance. He increased his pace. How long had she been up without him? Or did she somehow land in a different area? Before he knew it, he was running down the long path. The tree branches wound together tight enough to almost block out the sun as he ran deeper into the forest. The sunlight hit him again when he finally reached a large clearing, splitting off into dense wilderness in all directions.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTm3FDMeR1
The halfling unfurled his wings, the extra limbs picking up loose grass blades as he flapped them. He took off above the trees, trying not to get the leathery skin caught on any branches as he flew past them. Bursting over the tree tops, he kept his eyes on the ground, looking for any sign of the human. Then, a scream pierced the air, almost making him fall from lost focus. He soared towards the sound, carefully lowering himself to where he brushed against the tree tops. Finally, it took him to a cliff, with a drop that must have been at least 50 feet. The human girl stood against the bottom of it, a scorpion-rhino corrupt looked ready to charge towards her. He looked back at the top of the cliff, looking for a quick solution. On top of the cliff was a large, heavy boulder, and with enough force it might help him.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf2mHWyviI
He stood on the other side of it, and forcefully pushed the boulder over. "Move it!" the prince called out. Luckily, the girl heard his warning combined with the sound of the boulder hitting the side of the cliff. She dodged to the side, getting as far out of the way as possible, the corrupt staring in confusion. The gigantic stone rolled down the bottom of the cliff, too late the corrupt tried to run. The momentum built caused the rock's speed to be too much for it, and it was crushed under it, only the black blood oozing out of it showed. He flew down to check the damage, despite the grass being uprooted and the corpse of the corrupt, no sign of the girl's crushed body was anywhere.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡoO6asJCc4g
"Thank you." A voice behind him said.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv9QzOum2m
He turned around, seeing it was the girl again. She had a soft, kind face, and she wasn't much shorter than him. He approached her, his face showing annoyance and a bit of respect. "Just stay out of trouble next time. I don't want to have to keep an eye out for both of us." he said, before he began to walk off.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOBqbjnJOF
"Aren't you the one who was supposed to...kill me last night?" the girl asked, following after him.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdtyoWh09m
"...Yes. Not the best first impression, I admit." he replied.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDSqtrfXOi
"Why did you save me, if you want me dead?" The prince stayed silent, as they cautiously past by a cave filled with nocturnal sleeping corrupts. Only once they passed it did he reply.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc7VCifZ14
"I'm not the one who wants you dead. I was to be the executioner for my mother, the queen."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡEth81F5jFf
"Mother? So that's how you got your cl-"copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWSymm0CkO
"Enhancements, yes. Her minions have taught me how to use them ever since I discovered them myself."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE01zDkPCm
They went across a beaver-bear dam, over a wide lake, as they continued. The morning blue sky faded into a colorful sunset. Both the forest and the lake were empty of normal animals, only corrupted beasts. It was quiet now, but night was only a few hours away. They hadn't been walking for long, but days seemed to pass faster in here, in a hurry to turn dark. They traveled in silence for a tense moment, the prince trying to remember whether he'd already been past certain landmarks, while the girl stared up at him.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡThPaqRQvbw
"What is it?" he snapped in frustration.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRsDpPZprj
The girl jumped at his voice. "I-I don't think we introduced each other. I'm Leliana, but my friends call me Lily. What's your name?"copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡemXeoxRImu
"My name? My mother never gave me one, and I never needed one."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fLUqbLgHW
"No? Well, what do you want it to be?"copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsOf5d54Dx
This made him think for a moment. He'd always been addressed as 'the prince', or 'my son' by his mother. He remembered seeing some names in the Queen's library books. A common one that he thought fit him well was Jin. When he realized she was still staring at him, he broke out of his thoughts.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRTm6hTY0g
"Jin. You can call me Jin." he finally answered.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5weZWqLd7
She smiled at him. "Nice to meet you, Jin. So where are we going? Do you know your way out of this place?"copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0AwgFJlKm
"No idea." Leliana froze at this. Jin went on with an amused grin on his face. "But don't worry! There's only beastly, demonic creatures at every turn. Those sleeping ones we saw eariler? Those weren't nearly the worst. Wait until you meet Ragnarok..."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9eMvk4pi4
"Stop it, stop it! I-I heard something!" she said, shushing Jin.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL9bZ98qUm
Sure enough, the halfling heard rustling up in the trees. It sounded as if the thing was jumping from one tree to another. He dashed towards the sound, whatever was moving was like a blur. Jin was much faster in the air, but the area the pursuit was taking him through was too tightly packed, barely leaving him enough room to run freely, much less fly.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCn78DNRZy
He was forced to hide behind a tree as snake-porkupines slithered past him. The delay made it easier for the blur to get out of sight. Jin swore under his breath, then sighed, looking behind him. The girl wasn't there. Another scream filled the sky. His feet started moving before his brain could register what was happening.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSHtFcNJB6
"Leliana!" Jin yelled out.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhSYtS7Ci2
"Jin!"copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQElYMZLEZ
Another push through thick undergrowth led him to see Leliana cowering against a big, tall, mossy oak tree. There was a human-like corrupt in front of her, who seemed to be trying, and failing, to calm her. His dark body seemed covered in fur, and his head was that of a jackel's. He hid his claws behind him, but no matter what he said or did, the girl wouldn't stop shivering and screaming.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTR1mxd9hP
Jin could hardly contain his laughter as he walked over to her. "Lily, meet Anubis. Anubis, Leliana."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6784A0cci
Anubis gave a nod. "Who is this human girl?" he asked, his voice monotone.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡeb8Tw6FvSk
As Leliana hadn't moved from the oak tree, Jin rolled his eyes and answered for her. "My mother meant for me to kill her. I refused and now we're stuck here."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡucdmdzUqJb
"A-Are you the beast we saw in the trees earlier?" Leliana asked.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0hn8mY9zb
"It talks." Anubis said. If he meant it as a joke, his expression didn't show it. "Yes, I am. Could you please move from the tree? I've been using it's hollow insides as a storage shelter."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOmAHSHnoz
"O-Of course."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡITMVgZvaqf
She scrambled out of the way, allowing Anubis to get by her. She clung to Jin's arm as the Corrupt took out a surprising amount of supplies from the tree trunk.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGfD4nZ2wz
"You're sure that he's okay to trust?" Leliana whispered.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYnAz5sgtR
"Yes, he's not like the others!" Jin said, not even attempting to quiet his voice.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbKD60CCa2
When Anubis finished, he tossed a pistol to Leliana which she fumbled with and nearly dropped. He also gave her a machete, thankfully with the sheath still on.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwJ69Ot9R0
"Assuming that you are just a human, you won't last long without those to protect yourself with. The machete's also good for cutting away vines and undergrowth in your way." Anubis explained. "The bullets won't do much against the tough skin of a corrupt, but our insides are much more delicate. If you're lucky enough to get close to one's mouth before it bites your head off, stabbing it through the roof of it's mouth should work."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5Z6Fyc8PF
"Why are you trusting me with all this. Who's to say that I won't turn on you both?"copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGQJjXJWzU
She could've sworn she saw a sign of amusement on Anubis' face, before it quickly faded. Jin outright chuckled at her.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqqIxAx1Ko
"First of all, that wouldn't be very smart on your part. Even on the chance that you did manage to kill us, you just destroyed your only chance to get out of this place. Secondly, Anubis isn't just a mindless puppet like the other corrupts. That's why he's here." Jin replied.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tu1z9AMhp
Anubis handed Jin a pile of logs and stones, fit to make a campfire from. "Enough talk." Anubis said. "It's getting dark, and this is around the time Ragnarok makes his rounds around the land."copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡrh6h0qfKmO
Jin nodded, and Anubis led them to a cave with no corrupted inhabitants. Jin started to set the fire up, as Anubis passed around a water canteen and pieces of meat stolen from other travelers. Travelers who weren't so lucky. Soon enough, their hunger was satisfied and the only sound was the crackling fire. They all laid down on towels, ready to sleep.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlf64MGCNr
But, Leliana was restless. She turned over to look at Jin, who was fast asleep. She shook him awake, to his annoyance.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PUvQuFrgX
"You and Anubis both mentioned someone called 'Ragnarok', who or what is it?" she asked.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHeXZfoeZK
Jin groaned. "That's what you woke me for? ...It's not important, I'll tell you tomorrow morning, if I feel like it. Alright?" Not waiting for an answer, he turned around and went back to sleep.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F6iLb5sNS
Leliana just stared up at the cave's ceiling. Until eventually, the sound of the fire crackling and the wind blowing through the trees and picking up loose grass blades lulled her to sleep.copyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOINkyhZZx
TO BE CONTINUEDcopyright protection335ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQfbOeqctp
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