30 Returned

By dawn they had left the village and were already on the trail that led the jungles. The path that crossed the mountains wasn't easy. Especially now they had load with them.

They walked through the mountains for three hours before making it to the edges of the Azra's jungles. Once they were on leveled ground, the trip got easier.

Eric had not been to the jungle before. He was born in Lourd city. A city far south of Azra under one of the monarchial governments in Azra. So the jungle experience was different for him and a bit scary.

"Out of every part of Azra, you picked the jungles to live in. Why is that Darla?"

"It felt more comfortable and it was my taste" Darla shrugged answering simply.

Eric shook his head in disbelief.

"I see it opposes your Lourd city life Eric." Daryn spoke from the front.

"Yes it does. But i see why you chose this location, This is the last place anyone would think to find Selene's champion"

"True. But it was Selene's choice not mine"

"The goddess is indeed smart" Eric said his voice trailed of as he saw something rustle in the bushes. His heart raced. "What was that?"

"Where?" Daryn asked looking around them.

"That" Eric pointed to the bushes were he saw the figure enter. On impulse, light glowed on his hands and then his hands were covered in yellow flames from his palm to his elbow. The flames glowed as if they were droplets from the sun itself.

"Hey, no need to start summoning your manna powers yet. We haven't seen what spooked you" Daryn barked.

"I just showed you were it is" Eric shouted back. Daryn laughed.

One look at Darla and they both creeped to the bush to look for what Eric had seen. When they looked behind the bushes, they saw a huge heap of branches and a few rocks in the shape of a dome and probably water proof. Daryn noticed a hole in the side.

"A fox den" Darla said. "Maybe a mother returning with food for her young. Lets go. They won't attack unless you encroach their home".

Daryn nodded and the both of them left the den area.

"So what was it let me burn it down" Eric shouted when they returned.

"Would you shut up Eric and stop pissing your pants. The animal didn't attack you did it?" Daryn barked at him forcing the man to keep quiet.

"I wonder how you will survive it here with such fear"

"Don't be hard on him. Its his first time in the jungles Daryn." Darla defended Eric then she looked at Eric; "Just take this as a new adventure Eric. A new experience. You'll see you will like it here"

"I hope you are right about that Darla"

"Well if i am not, you head back to Lourd city Eric" Her tone was soft but Eric knew it was a warning.

"Lets get going. We still have a long way to go" Daryn said and started walking ahead. Darla followed suit. Eric needed no one to tell him twice.

They completed the rest of the journey in silence as Daryn and Darla looked out for danger. When they got to the shed perimeters, they instructed Eric to follow the same path they followed to avoid his early death. The man hadn't understood them until he was at the shed and looking at were they passed through. Then he saw the traps and sharp pointed wood sticks pointing upwards hiding just below the grasses that covered the meadow.

It was already evening when they arrived so everyone settled themselves in. Darla began organizing dinner. After the journey, they would need to regain their strengths since no one ate anything on the way.

She shuffled through the reserves. They still had some dry meat left but the ingredients wasn't complete.

"I'm going to get somethings from the garden for dinner. I'll be back."

"Hey, why don't i come with Daryn?" Daryn asked dropping what he was doing to follow her.

"And leave me alone?" Eric piqued from the corner.

Daryn wanted to uproot his head from his shoulders. How can a grown man act this childish? He asked himself.

Darla just laughed at both friends. "I won't take long" she said giving him a quick kiss on the lips then rushed to go get what she needed for dinner.

When she had left. Daryn turned to Eric fury still in his eyes.

"C'mon, don't get angry at me man. I know nothing about this place sorry."

Daryn controlled his rage and went to continue what he was doing. Removing the goods they had bought from the market from the leather bags and arranging them properly.

Both men were silent for a few minutes before Eric suddenly asked. "You love her that much?"

Daryn sighed. "Why the sudden question?"

"No particular reason Daryn. I just wanted to know how deep you guys connection was.....why don't you trust me?"

After arranging the new clothes they had bought into closet. He turned to Eric. "I can't trust anyone at the moment Eric. Not even you"

Eric sighed. "Always on the grumpy side i see"

Daryn huffed and continued the little remaining task he would finish. How could he trust anyone? The tournaments were approaching. And according to Eric their was too much tension than normal....A champion that was removing competitors before the appointed time.

Daryn raked his hand through his head. Who was this champion that was bending the rules already set.

Plus he currently had a mate. How could he put her in danger. Just then she walked into the house with the basket with ingredients tucked under her arm. She walked straight to the kitchen section and started cooking.

Daryn finished arranging their belongings and joined her to cook dinner. Assisting her in areas she needed him.

"Eric go take a bath. You need it" Daryn said from the kitchen section.

"Yes that's true. Where do i go to bathe"

"Behind the house. There is a natural lake thats where you are to take your bath Eric"

Eric wanted to protest but one look from Daryn he kept shut and walked to the back of the house taking a towel with him.

Now he was alone with Darla.

"Darla i have been thinking about something"

"What is it?"

"Its about your choice to join me when i leave for the tournaments.... Eric says its different this time that there are....tensions. i_"

"Daryn, i had made my choice and that is final." She said not giving room for arguments.

But Daryn persisted. "I know and i respect it but you have a nice life here...i won't want you throwing it away."

She said nothing. Not long after Eric came back shivering. It was late evening already so the evening chills made him shiver. He put on new clothes and went outside the house saying he needed to warm himself.

He stood at the front of the house and began to use manna. His surroundings heated up as he forced heat out of his body to warm himself. Anybody closr to him that time would have felt they were close to a heated iron.

Daryn and Darla finished making dinner. Meat stew. They made use of the remaining dry meat. Darla dished the food in plates of three and everyone ate to their fill and went to bed. Eric sleeping on the furs while Daryn and Darla slept on the bed.