— Stand.
Dorian gets up from where he fell, rolls his left shoulder and puts his wooden stick in front of him, ready for another assault. With already six months of daily training, he can stand his ground and react during their bouts at least. He keeps his eyes focused on the warrior, on the dark circles under Garm's eyes. They weren't here the first month, nor this intense afterwards. Worse, the training's intensity lessens day by day and the teen is sure that it isn't from his spectacular progress. The man is burning himself with something, and it is seen by all.
*Tonight, I'll let him sleep all night. I'll have to double the shadows keeping guard too.*
Nearby, Isa glares intently at them. It only took one week for her to let go of her pouting but she still feels a sting each time they spar. On the other hand, she can't help but see the sluggishness of her caretaker's movements and shivers mentally, a frown appearing on her little face. It seems, to her, that training someone seriously is harder than she thought. When it looks like the spar near its end, she quickly begins to prepare the meal, since Dorian doesn't need to learn it anymore as he is proficient now.
— Good. You'll hunt today. Retrieve the traps.
Garm, his face darkening a little with self judgement when he sees his foster daughter act, sighs while giving Dorian his task. Hunting is nothing more than checking their traps, for now, as they haven't found enough money to buy decent gear for the boy, but he stays unwilling to approach any settlement. Not now, not as long as they are followed, or at least until he can finally identify their followers. Even if he knows, after all this time, that they probably wouldn't act against his group, he can't help it. What if they keep tabs on them for someone else ? Worse, they came to be only after the boy entered their life, so they could be after him. This boy, who sometimes sees his eyes harden when he believes that no one is looking. Better keep him under watch, even if the warrior has to train him as an excuse.
After another silent meal, each lost in thoughts, Dorian washes what little utensils they have before going, under Garm's watchful eye. Out of view, he goes directly to the traps. However boring this task is, the teen gladly takes it as, each time he finds a captured prey he can kill it and collect its shadow discreetly. Never, since the bear, has he failed to do so but, again, he never tried on such a mighty creature. This task had helped the boy collect multiple small game's shadows, including flying ones, which helps him exponentially in his efficiency for knowing what happens around the group. When he comes back, traps in his backpack and game in hand, what awaits Dorian is a fully geared camp, with everyone ready to march.
As usual, Garm takes the lead with his senses in overload. This time, to his utmost regret, he feels like the followers are even more numerous, as if they knew his impending weakness and ready themselves for when he'll be unable to assume his role as the children's guardian. In his unease, unconsciously, he walks faster, with longer steps, which forces his charge to nearly run in order to keep with him.
*I… There is no choice, I have to have him geared.*
Unconscious of her caretaker's thoughts, Isa can only try to keep up, distraught by this sudden change. As she runs silently, she can't help but berate herself. If only she wasn't weak, if only Garm didn't take her under his wing, he wouldn't be burdened to stay slow even in his haste. Tears in the corner of her eyes, she doesn't see one treacherous root and fumble, only to be caught by Dorian. Without even a single word, she is then put on his back, over his backpack, while he continues to follow the warrior.
— Don't worry, he has probably seen something which perturbed him, we can talk about it when we rest later.
Hearing those words, Garm smiles softly and reduces his speed. This boy is good, weird, but good at heart. His shoulders, tense before, slacken a little and he allows himself to think more of their situation. He stays silent during their travel, but his relented pace lets the children follow easily, while he hears the teen put Isa back on the ground. It's only when the sun dips on the horizon that Garm stops in a clearing, near a little river. As he expected, the things continued to follow but never came to view.
— We'll sleep here.
Immediately after this instruction, both children act. Isa guts the game while Dorian fetches water and creates a fire pit. They glance often at the adult, rarely at the same time, without losing effectiveness. Once again, the meal is taken without a sound. Garm's eyes dart manically around, scanning every direction, every tree from where a sound is heard, a movement is guessed. Dorian, instead, looks at the sky, at the trees' crown where he sees one of his game's shadow resting unmovingly, proving to him the lack of danger. Then there's Isa, who looks alternatively at the both of them. She knows that something is wrong when she looks at Garm's body but, on the other hand, Dorian's complete lack of tension leaves her doubtful.
— Garm. Can you, tell us what's wrong ? We know you're trying to keep us safe but, well… Seeing you like that won't help Isa, you know, and not knowing will only worsen everything.
— I see.
He doesn't look at them, still concentrating on their environment, but sighs as he briefly sees the concerned look of Dorian and, more hurtfully, the fear in Isa's gaze.
— There's… Something. Out there. I don't know if it's good or bad.
Dorian tenses on the spot. Will he have to flee, to… To silence them ? No. It's only six months but he's already invested, too emotionally attached, he won't be able to, he knows it. And hell be damned, even if they can turn like Belle, he won't silence them, flee it is if he can't diffuse the heat.
As Garm stays worried about external factors, Isa is the only one seeing this new tension. Her gaze homes and scrutinizes the teenager as he keeps himself focused on the warrior. She doesn't miss the tremor in his voice.
— If nothing happened, it's because those things are not hostile, right ? You're tense for days now, so… You know ?
Another sigh from Garm answers him.
— Yes.
None of the children believe him, but at least they know what scares the warrior. Isa begins to fidget too, now, while Dorian clenches his teeth. He knows what's the problem now, but he can't. He can't recall all shadows, not at all for he'll be the next to become anxious if he does.
*Forget it, I'll… Reduce the number.*
— I'll go first.
— No. Let me do it, please, you can rest at first.
Here they are. Usually Garm would take the first turn, then wake Dorian at midnight, but this time the teen disagrees. It's a first, which pushes the warrior to look at his protege. Unable to find anything to oppose this choice, his face pares itself with a smile.
— All night ?
— Yes.
Garm, not naive enough to misunderstand Dorian's intent when he asks for the first turn, can't help but smile when he sees the boy admitting to taking more burden in order to help him.
— Take the sword.
He then goes to sleep, while the children wash what needs to be cleaned. He quickly seems to fall into a deep sleep. Isa crawls to Dorian after making sure that the adult is out cold. Once near him, she can't speak. Her question, the one who formed when she looked at him during the earlier conversation, stays locked in her throat.
— Yes ? Can I help you with anything ?
— …Yes.
*He… He'll do as Garm… He'll lie to me…*
— Can you…
Dorian changes his posture, his smile fading as he looks seriously in Isa's eyes.
— Ask what you need. If I can't answer, I'll tell you.
This simple sentence lifts a load off her shoulders, at least he shouldn't lie to her, right ?
— Can you tell me what's wrong ? I… You know what is it, out there ?
He gulps audibly.
— Yes.
Isa has to refrain her tears. Once again, this one word answer, this 'Yes.' which closes all possibilities of knowing what's happening. At least, this one is a truth.
— Yes, I know what's in the wood, but…
Dorian sighs as Isa opens her eyes incredulously. He closes his eyelids slowly before opening them again.
— I can't tell you. I can't tell him. I made this mistake. Once.
Seeing his reluctance, but happy that he kept his words of telling the truth or telling when he can't answer, Isa begins to crawl back to her sleeping area.
— But I promise you, it will lessen.
This time, she freezes. He can control it, he wouldn't make this promise otherwise. Finally happy and now calm, she easily sleeps while Dorian begins his night watch.
Before long, as he thinks himself the only one awake, Dorian recalls part of the shadows. Still uneasy, he chooses to send one heavy hitter to reside in the shadows of both his companions, thinking that they will be able to protect them a little if needed.
*I see… At least he's a good boy, as I thought. I'm glad to teach him.*