IN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PRAIRIE
The dim skies are preparing for dawn, hours before the light scatters across the horizons. The slow night has been full of unexpected dangers that rattled the Hesam knights. From brutal deaths with loud cries to untimely demise and silent screams, the tormenting outpours haunted Stellan as they walk by. She began to muse the unthinkable. A certain defeat after burning all their efforts may be the end. Coming here, after all, is a mistake.
Her intrusive thoughts started winning over the doubts and ugly assumptions she casted upon herself. It went on replay that made her chest hurt. Her huffs became louder. Trying to keep away the voices running inside her head. A failure, who got nothing to prove. The weak soul traveler who walked the paladin's knights to their own graves.
Her feet felt heavier to drag. Just when she was about to stop carrying the heavyness that pulls her down, a large hand warmed the top of her head. She looked to the side with Jac giving her a subtle smile. "Now what's going on in that little.. I mean big head?", Jac whispered with a pout.
Stellan paused, then he turned to Jac with his hand gripping tightly on his staff. "You don't have to come with me. I'm on my own starting now".
Jac didn't get the idea of going on in separate ways after all they have been through. Moreso, he have never liked leaving his comrades behind. "We ain't stopping now.". Stellan stood still, unfazed… as if waiting for Jac to leave.
"I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of me. I'm done with that", Stellan answered.
"You have a knack for feeling guilt all the times, squirrel.", Jac thought.
"Don't you, sometimes?", Stellan asked. "They died thinking that I could save them, because I'm Stellan".
"Nah…", Jac lifted his arms for a good stretch, then he placed his hands behind his head. "Be a little kind to yourself, squirrel. I've been there once. And let me tell you, it's a dark path you're walking into", he said with a tiny glimmer shimmering in his eyes. He choked a little, blinking many times. "Me and Atrius will still follow your breadcrumbs no matter whose skin you hide under… We'll risk our lives, as how you would do for us. That's just an unbreakable cycle we have as brothers. There are archers who died for Alesso. Crusaders for Vesta. And knights for Stellan. Their deaths didn't earned them the blame, but… it gave them honor for fighting alongside them", with those words, Jac ended Stellan's uncertainties. Stellan smirked with a snort. She shook her head as she walk off. Jac frowned, looking at the back of Stellan's head. "What!?", he wondered if he had said something funny.
"There were too much big words coming from you. It made me dizzy", they both laughed leaving the prairie.
And, that's it.
A spark of hope lit up Stellan's dying faith. It was people like Jac who believed in her thatkept her going. Her father, Gaius, who picked her up each time she falls. Her mother, Tris, who held her when she's afraid. And Stellan, who pushed her to her limits and become the best version of herself.
"Are you going to tell me what happened?", Stellan asked, wondering what was in the past that made Jac teary.
"Let's save it for another 'morrrow, squirrel", Jac replied and whistled a tune. Hoping that the warbling sound would make his unforgivable memories hazy.
The two went going alongside each other. With regained profound strenght, Stellan stride steadily as her senses bring them into the dense dark green patch of the forest.
They forced themselves across the sprawling limbs of the old trees guarding the darkness.
There were no trails to guide them. Not even sounds to follow. Stellan abide by the spine-tingling effect that the dark healer gives her when she walks the path. The crisp crunch of dried leaves underneath their shoes went on as they go further. The dappled rays of the twilight scattering around gave them a glimpse of the forest's depths. It was not completely dark, and not totally lit. Keeping the forest's secrets well hidden.
There's an eerie calm in the squeaks of the cedar trees that are closely packed together. They remained close to each other as the frosty and misty air blanket the wilderness. Exploring the thick forest, the acrid scent of blood was easily whiffed everytime the dry breeze blew. The silhouettes of the big old trees trigger their imaginations to run wild. Drawing deeper, more shadows danced on the forest floor… more ticks and squeals makes their skin crawl.
Wherever their eyes reach, they see an endless stretch of large pine trees looking up like arrows, and willows rocking to the gentle wind. Each tree had stories frozen in time, with peeled barks and some with rotten boughs. Some with deep lashes of seemingly claws, and some burned and withered branches with evident black dusts.
In the midst of walking past clumps of moss, Stellan and Jac found something very useful for their hunt. "ON THAT?!", Jacomus felt his mouth dry peering at a distance of a wild crystal eyed silver winged horse. It's as if it has its one spotlight, that it radiantly glow under the twilight rays seeping through the lattice of leaves. Its long charcoal mane flow down on its neck as it lower its head. "Oh ho!! No no no no… NO!", Jac affirmatively declined as he shook his head violently.
Stellan lifted the roots, baricading the beautiful creature that they have found. She closed in the trees for that perfect natural enclosure and made it sure it doesn't go anywhere. "It can't be a bad idea".
The pegasus gazed at Stellan, reluctantly torn between stepping close to her and fleeing. Wary of their presence, it surprisingly never tried to escape. Like a beautiful statue, it flaunted its ethereal features with its head so high. Stellan made its way reachable to the winged horse. And slowly, the pegasus lowered his walls for Stellan's palms.
Stellan scratched the pegasus' forehead. It snickered lowly as if it liked it. Heaving a long sigh, Stellan closed his eyes sharing heartbeats with the pegasus. It's very rare for such a majestic stallion to approach people. And somehow, it was drawn to Stellan. The pegasus was heedful of Stellan's actions, and yet, placid for a wild creature.