"Ean!" she yelled, but it was too late; the group was surrounded. Everyone crowded in on one another.
Supreany grabbed at Orckle's shoulder. "Orckle, can't you do anything?"
Before he could answer, a *shoom* sound hummed passed her ear as a flash of green substance could be seen flying through the air and onto one of the creatures. It shrieked in pain as it tried in vain to wipe the substance from its body.
In Blaizen's hands were intricate weapons of some sort as he continued to shoot the little creatures clearing a path. "Well, don't just stand there. Run!"
They didn't need to be told twice. They took off through the forest like antelopes with wild cats on their tails. Little hisses and shrieks filled the air as one creature leapt out of the trees onto Ean's shoulders. Its cold little hands clung to him as it relentlessly tried to bite Ean on the neck. Suddenly, a deafening shriek filled Ean's ear as the little beast leapt off him, madly scurrying on the ground. Ean glanced down to see its head covered in the green substance as Blaizen ran past him.
"Headshot. Man, I'm good."
The forest before them cleared, and they found themselves in the open fields. Pulges Rock lay ahead of them in the distance. The sound of their pursuers long faded from behind them. The land was filled with golden light, for the sun had already crept over the horizon and into the eastern sky. The group, out of air, doubled over, and some even sat down to catch their breath.
Ean straightened himself. "Is everyone all right?"
Supreany shook her head in response. "What were those things?"
"They're lepercorns." Everyone looked over at Orckle as he straightened himself, a sad look on his face. "They've inhabited that forest for over five-hundred years. They are the reason why nobody goes into that forest."
"Well, why didn't they keep chasing after us?"
"They are bound to the forest. They cannot leave it."
Blaizen took in a deep breath. "Well, if they're such a problem, then why doesn't somebody burn down the forest? That would fix them."
"Many have already tried that. It won't burn. It is set under the sorcery of Laveana."
Blaizen couldn't help but notice the discomforting silence that fell upon everyone. They all seemed to know who Orckle was talking about, and he would have been lying if he said he wasn't curious. But there was something odd about it that made him feel he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to know, so he let it rest.
Everyone seemed to have caught their breath, so Ean began to rally the group together. "All right, everyone, let's get going. We want to make it to Pulges Rock before sundown."
With that, they began the trek southeast. A moment of silence came over the group and Blaizen's mind began to wander. His eyes drifted over to Cecealye as he remembered the fight they almost had at the library and curiosity got the best of him.
"CC ... why did they deny you access to the prophecies and refuse to serve you?"
She looked back at him and took a big sigh. "I'm ... my name is not truly CC. It is Cecealye Elleno."
He shook his head. He figured there was something significant about that statement, but he couldn't pretend he knew what that was.
"I am the queen of the nation Ellizea."
His eyes slightly widened. "A queen?" His eyes fell to the ground, and he noticed the others had come to a stop. Raising his head he found them all staring at him.
Ean began to pace toward him. His eyes were narrow, his jaw set firm, and something about the way Ean stood before him was menacing.
"What nation are you from? Try not to lie to me; I haven't the patience for such charades."
"I already told you guys; I'm not from this world at all. I don't know anything about it except what I've learned from this past day. Ask them. They saw it; they saw me crash land here." He pointed over at Supreany and Orckle. Ean turned toward them.
"He did fall from the sky, and that which he came in was unlike anything I'd ever seen." Supreany's eyes dropped to Orckle, to see what his response would be.
"What she says is true."
Ean turned back to Blaizen, his eyes observing him. Blaizen had seen that look a thousand times; he was being sized up, measured.
Ean leaned in close. "Perhaps you are telling the truth. But if I find that you are lying and mean us ill, make no mistake, I will dispose of you myself." He then turned and began to take up the lead again. "Oh, and though you know what Cecealye's name really is and who she really is, you are never to refer to her as such." He turned back and looked Blaizen in the eyes. "You will call her only by CC. Is that completely understood?"
Blaizen nodded his head.
"She is being hunted, so she must remain otherwise unknown."
"Just one question." Blaizen walked up to Cecealye. "If you're a queen then why aren't you with your nation? Can't your soldiers keep you safe?"
Cecealye suddenly became rigid as she looked up at him. "I only left my kingdom to protect it. I was not convinced of this action at first, but I was persuaded otherwise." She glanced over at Orckle. "I am not content merely being the prey. And so I have set forth to find my unnamed enemy, resolved to put them to an end, even if I must hunt them to the edges of the world. My people will live free once more, and I will not fail." The look in her eyes was fierce, resolved. He could see she meant every word she'd said. She then turned on her heels. "I do not expect you to understand." With that, she walked away.