5 CHAPTER 2 PART 3

When dawn arose, she prepared her mother's medicine and left everything to the girl's hands. Elva gave her one gold leaf promising to pay the rest when she comes back. Her clothes were already packed and she was done with everything. When she came out of her room, her mother looked at her. Her mother knew she was working with the Arrows and didn't object. Even though it was risky, they had no other way to make money. And starving is not an option. They have to buy medicines too. Elva's body was wrapped in a green cloak, hiding her uniform from the girl. And her face was covered with the hood, to cover up for the hair and beard. 

Her mother kept staring at her but didn't say anything. Elva walked to her and planted a long lingering kiss on her forehead. 

"I promised to come back soon, mother. Rest well" Elva said. Then, she turned to the girl whose name was Daena and handed out twelve gold leafs to her. "For food for the both of you and medicine for my mother" 

"I promised to do my job very well," Daena said softly. 

Even though she was curious as to how Elva has so much money, she didn't comment on it. It was a miracle Elva even hired her as she was alone and has been struggling ever since her parents died. She almost wished Elva would hire her to continue to look after her mother whenever she was busy but it sounds like a far fetched dream. She was already lucky anyway. One gold leaf is sufficient for someone like her and Elva even promised to pay her five. 

Elva kissed her mother on the cheek before leaving the house. She could only place her trust on Daena for now in taking care of Alma. If Daena tried something funny like running away with the money, she would hunt the girl down.

The others were already there when she arrived. Kymil gave her a nod when he saw her. They were all ten. Her, Haryk, Jassin and Morgan being the youngest. 

"Then, let's set off," Kymil ordered, his voice booming into their hearts. 

"So,.." Haryk began as he draped his arm around Elva's shoulder as they began their journey. "We haven't finished our discussion of yesterday" 

Elva frowned, her pace slowing down. 

"What discussion?" Elva asked

Jassin glanced at her as if to say 'make a run for it', but it was too late. 

"You know the rules doesn't say we couldn't have fun with each other's clan" 

Elva cursed under her breath. 

"It says, don't marry," Haryk said in a deep voice, imitating the rule makers. "Not don't have fun" 

Elva felt like punching him dead. Haryk's naughty behavior shouldn't be a surprise but as a woman, she felt queasy. 

"So when you have your fun and she gets pregnant, what will you do?" Elva asked

Haryk seems to be thinking about it as his face revealed a very serious expression before saying-

"I'll deny I slept with her" 

Jassin and Morgan choked on their tongue at his response but chose to ignore him. 

Elva's lips twitched. 

"How splendid" She said

"She was as blind as a bat to not have noticed the wings on the man that slept with her. In that way, everyone will be confused" 

"Humor me, Haryk. And when the baby turns out to be wingless or will you make her lose it?" Elva asked

"I'll just say the man's genes aren't so strong to give the baby wings. Or evolution or some shit like that. Or she must have hit her tummy and the baby wings must have broken or something. Am I making sense?" 

"I'm afraid not," Elva said, amusement filling her eyes. "You are impossible. How did I even become friends with you?" 

Haryk rubbed an invisible goatee. 

"Because I'm the smartest?" He replied. 

Elva ignored him and joined Jassin and Morgan instead, leaving the dumb idiot behind her. 

The journey to Winged Land will be a little long while travelling on foot and she preferred to make it not with a headache from Haryk. 

A sudden chill went up to her spine as if something or someone was watching her and she couldn't resist the urge to look around until her eyes fleetingly landed on a big animal hidden on top of a tree. It was an owl as her sharp eyes penetrated through the shadows hiding it. The same owl she saw when she buried the bandits. And like the other time, it was staring at her intensely, threateningly. As Elva and her team moved forward, the owl was still, but its eyes were still on her before it finally flew away in the blink of an eye, leaving Elva with a very troubled mind.