People of the moon

The warm sunlight danced across the tranquil lake, casting a serene glow over the surroundings. The gentle lapping of the water against the shore created a soothing melody that seemed to lull the world into a peaceful slumber. Nienna and Jaxon had stumbled upon this hidden gem during their journey, and after the harrowing experience in the shadow valley, they had decided to take a two-day break to rest and recharge.

As Nienna wandered along the lake's edge, Ember floating lazily in the water, she spotted a shrub laden with juicy berries. Her eyes lit up with excitement, and she began to carefully pluck the fruit, her mind wandering back to her childhood days in the castle. The maids would often use these berries to make delicious pies, and the sweet aroma would waft through the corridors, making her stomach growl with anticipation. She remembered the way the sunlight would stream through the windows, casting a warm glow over the bustling kitchen, and the sound of laughter and chatter that would fill the air.

Jaxon, meanwhile, had wandered into the lake, his legs submerged in the cool water. He watched Nienna with an amused gaze, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You know those berries are poisonous, right?" he deadpanned, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Nienna's hands paused mid-air, and she turned to him with a defensive glint in her eyes. "No, they're not! These are boissom berries, the maids use them to make pie back at the castle." A hint of sadness crept into her voice, and her eyes grew distant, lost in memories of her old life. She remembered the way her mother would smile as she tasted the pie, the way her father would laugh and tease her about her love of sweets.

Jaxon's expression softened, and he gazed at her with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "I feel like, when we aren't in danger of losing our lives, you're desperately trying to kill yourself," he murmured, his voice tinged with dry humor.

Nienna rolled her eyes, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Why would I purposely put myself in harm's way? I love myself too much for that." She repeated his own words back to him, her voice laced with amusement.

Jaxon chuckled, his eyes glinting with mirth. "Right," he drawled, before turning his attention to removing his clothes. His movements were fluid and effortless, and Nienna found herself watching him with a mixture of fascination and embarrassment.

As Jaxon stripped down to his undergarments, Nienna's eyes widened in surprise, and she felt a flush rise to her cheeks. "What are you doing?" she murmured, trying to sound nonchalant despite the sudden flutter in her chest.

Jaxon grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Going for a swim, what do you think? The water is warm, and I think you could use it too...you smell really bad." His blunt words were accompanied by a cheeky smile, and Nienna's face burned with indignation.

"I DO NOT!" she exclaimed, before instinctively lifting her arm to sniff her armpit. Her face crumpled in dismay as she caught a whiff of something less than pleasant. She had grown accustomed to the dirt and grime of their journey, but it seemed that Jaxon's words had brought her back to reality.

Jaxon's laughter echoed across the lake, and he splashed water at her, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I used to smell like rose petals, mind you," Nienna muttered, her voice laced with wistfulness. She remembered the way her mother would perfume her hair with rose petals, the way the scent would linger long after she had left her mother's side.

Jaxon's grin grew wider, and he shot back, "Keyword being 'used to'." His teasing words were accompanied by a playful splash, and Nienna couldn't help but laugh, the tension between them dissipating like ripples on the lake's surface.

Nienna let out a frustrated sigh, deciding to shut Jaxon up once and for all. She began to peel off her clothes, revealing the worn but clean undergarments beneath. Jaxon's eyes widened in surprise, and he stared at her body, his gaze lingering on the curves and contours that had been hidden beneath her traveling clothes.

Nienna felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she realized Jaxon was staring at her. She rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool, and slipped into the warm water. "It's not a show, Nienna," Jaxon muttered, looking away, his face slightly flushed.

Nienna smiled to herself, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having caught Jaxon off guard. She ducked under the water, letting the warmth envelop her, and emerged with a gasp of pleasure. "You were right, it is warm," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Feels like the hot springs back at the palace."

Jaxon's gaze snapped back to hers, his eyes narrowing slightly as he asked, "Which do you miss more, your family or the luxury?" His voice was laced with a hint of curiosity, but also a dash of cruelty, as if he was trying to poke at her wounds.

Nienna's expression faltered, and she frowned, her eyes clouding over with memories. "My family, of course," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "If I could bring them back...I wouldn't hesitate."

Jaxon's eyes softened, and he looked away, his jaw working as he struggled to contain his emotions. Nienna's words had struck a chord, reminding him of his own losses, his own regrets.

Ember, sensing the tension, paddled up to them, climbing onto Nienna's head as if seeking comfort. Nienna smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and stroked Ember's scaly head. "I wonder what type of animal she actually is...I mean, we've been calling her a lizard, but she's too mystical to be one," she murmured to herself, her voice filled with curiosity.

Jaxon's gaze drifted back to Nienna, his eyes locking onto hers with a hint of intensity. "She's a shape-shifter animal," he explained, his voice low and husky. "Usually, they have two forms, but she's still too young to get a second form."

Nienna's eyes widened in surprise, and she leaned forward, her face inches from Jaxon's. "Really? Cool"

As the darkness deepened, Jaxon watched Nienna from the corner of his eye, a pang hitting his chest like a physical blow. He knew his mission, and he couldn't let his feelings get in the way. This couldn't happen, not now, not ever. He pushed the thoughts aside, his expression turning gruff as he murmured, "We should be on our way, it'll be dark soon."

Nienna looked at him in confusion, wondering if she had done something to upset him, but she decided to push it aside and leave the water as well. "You're right," she nodded, putting on her clothes and tucking Ember safely into her pocket.

As they journeyed on, the darkness was illuminated by the soft glow of luminescent lilies, which they picked and placed in a jar to light their way. The gentle rustle of the wind through the trees and the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet were the only sounds that broke the silence.

A couple of miles into their journey, the faint smell of smoke wafted through the air, assaulting their noses. "We're close," Nienna commented, raising her nose into the air. Jaxon's eyes narrowed, his senses on high alert. "Very close," he muttered, taking a step forward.

But that step was a mistake. Jaxon's foot triggered a set trap, and Nienna gasped, staring at the rope that had snared him. "Duck!" she muttered, hearing the sound of something whirring towards them.

Jaxon's eyes widened in confusion. "What?" he asked, but Nienna didn't hesitate. She lunged at him, knocking him to the ground as arrows whizzed past them, hitting a nearby tree with a loud thud.

Jaxon's eyes were wide with shock. "What the heavens was that?" he gasped, his voice shaking with adrenaline.

Nienna's eyes flashed with amusement. "That was me, saving your life again...a thank you would suffice—" she started to say, but her words were cut off as a bag was shoved over her head, and she yelped in surprise.

Jaxon's eyes widened in alarm as he realized they were under attack. "What the—I meant a thank you, not a stinky sack over my head, you jackass!" Nienna growls fighting against the hold on her wrist

Jackson yells, struggling against the ropes that bound his hands behind his back. "Trust me that wasn't me"

As they were dragged away, Nienna and Jaxon exchanged worried glances. They had no idea where they were being taken or what their captors wanted.

When they finally arrived at their destination, they were forced to the ground and tied back-to-back to a pole. The bags were removed from their heads, and Jaxon's eyes widened in mortification.

Their captors were a group of teenagers, younger than Jaxon but around the same age as Nienna. Jaxon's face turned red with embarrassment. "You have got to be kidding me," he grumbled. "First saved by a girl, now ambushed by prepubescents...what's next, killed by a toddler?"

Nienna struggled to hold back a laugh, but one of the teenagers stepped forward, holding a knife to her throat. "Nothing funny about the situation you're in, stranger," the boy's steely voice made her stop immediately.

A calmer person stepped in front of the boy, nudging him away from Nienna. "Rian, we've talked about this, Mum said we should always give them a chance to speak first," the girl said, her voice firm but gentle.

The boy grunted but sheathed his knife, stepping back as the girl turned to Nienna and Jaxon. "State your name and business, strangers," she said calmly but firmly, her eyes narrowing slightly as she waited for their response.

Jaxon begins to speak up for both of them his voice firm and commanding. "Jaxon Tirone and Nienna, we seek a map to the lost city of Tamarang." The ambushers all looked at them like they had grown a second head, their expressions a mixture of shock and incredulity.

"Why would you want to go there willingly, do you have a death wish?" one of them asked, rolling his eyes in disgust.

Jaxon scoffed, trying to wriggle free from the tight bindings. "Look, can one of you kids take us to the people in charge?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain.

The red-haired boy who had pointed a knife at Nienna earlier growled, "You're looking at 'em."

Nienna went to speak, but before she could, her cloak dropped, revealing her long, golden hair and the royal markings behind her ear. The group gasped in unison, their eyes widening in shock.

Jaxon felt like facepalming, his eyes rolling heavenward in exasperation.

"You're the—" one of them started to say, but another interrupted, his voice panicked. "We are so grounded, guys, we just kidnapped the princess!"

The group hastily moved to cut the ropes, their faces pale with fear. Nienna quickly put on her cloak, her eyes flashing with annoyance.

As the ropes were cut, Nienna finally looked at the group in the light. The red-haired boy, Rian, was still glaring at her, his eyes screaming defiance and danger. The blue-haired girl, who had been calm and collected, had a soft but cold calculating look in her eyes.

There were three other teenagers in the group. One was a tall, lanky boy with messy black hair and a crooked grin. He was wearing a faded black tunic and pants, and a pair of scuffed up boots. He looked like a troublemaker, and Jaxon couldn't help but wonder what kind of antics he had gotten up to.

Another was a petite girl with short, spiky purple hair and a collection of colorful tattoos on her arms. She was wearing a bright pink tank top and a pair of ripped jeans, and she looked like she would rather be anywhere else.

The last was a quiet, reserved boy with short, neat brown hair and a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. He was wearing a crisp white shirt and a pair of neat black pants, and he looked like he would rather be studying than ambushing travelers.

One of them, the black-haired boy, stepped forward, his eyes wide with apology. "We are so sorry, Your Majesty," he said, his voice sincere.

Jaxon rolled his eyes, watching as the group kissed up to Nienna. The blue-haired girl, whose name was apparently Aria, explained their situation. "He's right, we apologize. After the war, a lot of rogues surrounded our town and have been terrorizing us ever since. And because we are healers, we are nothing but sitting ducks."

Nienna's expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding. "I see," she murmured "and you thought we were bandits too" Aria confirms what she says with a nod and begins to lead them towards their town square

"Come, you must meet my mother, the chief of our tribe, she holds all the maps and artifacts of our people.

They hadn't walked far when the alarm sounded, the people of the town still and gasps ring through the air

"What's that for" jaxon asks and the answer sends a chill down the spines of everyone

"Bandits"