Trust pt6~ Until Dawn

       You kept low, thankfully you could pinpoint another yellow rock when you reached one. The cool air blanketed your skin, but it was still. It was silent other than the occasional deep howling. Goosebumps were present on your skin as you try to stay silent, moving as quick you can. People were easy to sense when they were nearby. Beasts however, you could just sense in general, they didn’t have to be close for you to feel like yo were about to be pounced on. You had no way of knowing how close they were unless they caught your eye.
         Peering around cautiously, you jump slightly when your foot catches a stick. You take a moment to calm your heart. You hated places like this. Your extrasensory just made you jumpy and paranoid.  Your eyes glide up to the tree that marked your destination and you relax, mind moving to Kid. You didn’t have time to- something moves in your peripheral and you freeze, looking over.
           It’s large antlers hung with intestines, matted pelt shifting over it with a greenish tint under the moon light. You slowly move from it’s sight as you draw your dagger,  leaning back against a tree. It lets out a soft snort, breathing in heavily.  Leaves crunching quietly as it moves closer.
          A cloud from it’s breath appears next to your tree. The bucks head eases around slowly black eyes reflecting you just before you jam your blade up into its skull. It groans it’s last breath before dropping. Removing the dagger, your nose is met by the scent of death. Your nose wrinkles, sniffing at the blade and nearly gagging, yep that that’s where that smell was coming from. You peer around as a howl sounds closer. Looking back at the blood, you frown heavily and wipe it over your visible skin and clothes, maybe this would help?

          Law frowns lightly as the torch next to the rock burns out. “Why the hell would she risk her life…” Kid’s murmur draws his gaze to the redhead.
         “I have no idea.” Law deadpans. “As much as she complains about you.” Kid glances at him.
          “Complains about me?... It’s the chambermaid thing isn’t it?” Kid frowns closing his eyes.
          “No, just your utter disregard for your own safety when people are trying to kill you.” Law states. “I hope you know that if she doesn’t return by morning and you’re still alive, I’m going to make it a very painful death.”
          Kid watches him for a moment or two, “Are you two…. Together?” He inquires just before the spasms start again. Law frowns, pressing a wet rag to the prince’s forehead.
          “No… But finding another woman like her will be impossible… It’ll be a real shame if she dies.” Law looks back out toward his marker. “So I pray to any god listening, for her return.”

           You stop next to a tree, blinking at the meadow in relief. “Oh lovely flowers, I’m so glad to meet you before death.” You whisper kneeling done and touching one. Glancing around,  you find that sticking in the tree line would steal more time that you didn’t have, the meadow was to big. Crossing was your only option it seemed.
           “For Kid.” You tell yourself before carefully making your way to the giant tree on the other side. Soon your eyes lock on the glowing flowers at it’s roots. A small smile comes to your lips as you kneel and collect as many in your satchel as you can.  A soft huff behind you makes you freeze. Turning your body, you raise your dagger defensively at the small Howler. Between it’s tiny antlers sat a pink hat and it staggers back slightly, ears lowering in fear.
             Your muscles didn’t move to harm the creature as it’s big eyes reflect you. You frown slightly giving a growl to scare it off. It falls back, but something else catches it’s gaze and it’s head swivels to the side as a scared noise leaves it. You look over as a feline like howler leaps at you.
             Not quick enough, it barrels into you before you can react. Claws rake over your arms and uninjured side. A slight cry escapes you as you thrust your knife into it’s side, pushing it off as it yowls. You jump to your feet, grabbing the satchel and dashing back toward the forest you had came from. A shape flies at you from it’s shadows, crashing into your chest and slamming you into the ground.  You cough for air, stabbing with your dagger swiftly and making it whimper before you slice open it’s stomach, ignoring it’s warm blood seeping through your clothes as you cast the body aside and sit up only to have a clawed hand grab your shoulder and slam you back down as the feline howler looms over your face, yellow teeth baring themselves to you as its intense green gaze glow and reflect you.
           You move to stab it but it’s back leg pins your arm. Your eyes widen as it raises it’s free hand, claws glinting dangerously. “S-Stop…” You breathe, mind going blank. You felt death’s scythe train on you, body tensing for the final strike.
           Another, much smaller shape collides into the howler, knocking it off. You blink back and swiftly sit up, twisting your body and stabbing the feline in the head. You let out a breath, looking over at the pink hatted howler. “You saved me…” You whisper.  It offers a small and soft huff. You look around swiftly,  grabbing the satchel and checking on the flowers quickly.  “Come with me.”
           It gives a cute little hum before following you into the forest. Your wounds burn as you search for a yellow rock, finding one and swiftly following the path with the smaller howler close behind.
          You stop, paling again, eyes detecting  three of them passing under the moon light. You ease down to your knee, signaling the small howler to your side. It sniffs at you as if questioning. “I don’t know if you understand me, but I’m not making it out of here alive… So if you can understand… Follow the yellow rocks to the men in the wagon. My King needs these flowers, please save him.” You put the strap of your satchel around it’s neck. “Please.” You whisper when it hesitates.  
           One of the nearby howlers releases a howl as it spots you and you swiftly take the bow from your back and fire an arrow at it’s head. “Go!” You urge Pink Hat as you take aim at one of the others that came charging at you at a terrifying pace. You release an arrow that only grazes the top of it’s head. You frown, glancing over as Pink-Hat takes off down the path. As you ready another arrow and fire it, a wolf howler collides into your side. The wolf’s teeth sink into your shoulder, shaking it’s head viciously and tearing at the flesh. You cry out, drawing your dagger and stabbing through its eye, making it shriek out before collapsing.
           Wrenching your blade free, the one you had grazed bites down on your arm. “Fuck you.” You growl in pain jabbing your thumb into it’s eye and yanking it out, making it release your arm to shriek just before you stab it in the head. It goes limp but you have little strength to get up. You pant lightly, dragging the howler bodies over yours and closing your eyes, hoping the flowers would make it to Kid.

           Law stiffens slightly as the howler swiftly dashes toward the wagon. He quickly draws his sword but the small howler stops, making a whining noise and nosing the satchel around it’s neck. Law pauses, looking at the satchel. Was that… Yours? He carefully reaches over, taking the satchel and opening it. His shoulders slump at sight of the flowers.
            “Where is she?” He looks to the howler. It points its nose back to the forest, making Law’s heart sink. A pained groan from the wagon draws his gaze to it. He carefully goes in and starts to make Kid’s medicine.  The redhead sees the flower and lights up slightly.
            “She made it..” He breathes in relief.  Law meets his gaze and bites his lip lightly. Kid blinks at his response and deflates, covering his eyes and gritting his teeth. Why… Why did you do this for him?... Why did this weigh on him like this? “Dammit…”
             The sunrise lit the forest and sky, beautifully that morning.  Law sits looking at the yellow rock that marked his path. He kept imagining you coming out from that spot, but he knew better. The small howler lets out a huff, making him look back as Kid shuffles from the wagon, looking at the trees with a frown. “You should be resting your majesty.” He manages flatly.  
               “… Should we go look for her?” Kid asks.  
             “…I honestly don’t want to see her corpse…” Law breathes getting up and whistling for Nox. Kid frowns heavily at that.
            “It feels wrong to just leave.” The prince tells him. He didn’t want to go, he’d never be able to sleep if he never got to say goodbye. Law frowns back at him, looking so drained. Kid looks away as Nox returns, not saying anything as Law hooks the horse up to the wagon.
            “Get on, Killer-ya must be having a hard time.” Law says flatly. Kid blinks, moving to get on when a patch of flowers catch his eye. He frowns and goes over, plucking them before taking the small bouquet to the edge of the forest, setting them beside the yellow rock. He looks down at them for a bit before closing his eyes.
             “Thank you for saving me ___... I jjust wish your life hadn’t been the price.” He breathes before straightening,  pausing as Law sets down his own bouquet.  
             “Goodbye ___... It was an absolute pleasure.” Law murmurs. He and Kid share a somber look before returning to the wagon and leaving the forest behind them. “Your majesty.” He says, looking at the road ahead.
             “Yeah?” Kid glances at him from inside the wagon.
            “I hate you.” Law says flatly.  Kid blinks at his back for a bit before looking back toward the forest as it eases from sight.
           “….. Yeah, me too…”