Chapter 61

Kim

I followed Cat as she walked in front, peering around for any traces of the Queen’s soldiers that Aicha had sensed. Sara had said they wouldn’t attack us here, but maybe we were coming too close to the mountain.

She was walking at the back, watching out for anyone coming from behind, while Silvi and Aicha walked between us. I didn’t think I would be of any help if the soldiers really came, but I didn’t want to be useless and leave it all to the others. Since Cat had taught me how to fight, I might as well try to use it as best as I could.

It wasn’t who I used to be, but I couldn’t think about the past any longer. It was gone, lost when the man fell to the ground, and there was no use pondering about it. I had to learn to protect the others and even kill if I had to. That’s what Cat and Sara did, and I couldn’t leave Silvi and Aicha on their own.

“We’re safe,” Cat said and turned back to us.

“I don’t sense them any longer either,” Aicha commented.

“They must be around, but I believe they won’t take their chances,” Sara said as she walked up to us. “Meeting us at the mountain pass will give them an advantage.”

Cat spat on the ground.

“They will die.”

She went to stand by Silvi and took her hand. She always seemed to change mood so quickly, as if preparing to kill someone didn’t bother her, and she could simply switch and become friendly again. I would have to learn from her. I couldn’t continue being weak as I had and cry every time something happened.

“Let’s continue,” Sara said.

Aicha took the lead again, and Sara followed her close by. They had seemed to have found each other after we escaped the Unicorns. Sara had changed so much, and I wasn’t sure what to think about it. She was nicer now and even helped us set up the camp and prepare food as much as she could. But she was so different, it felt like I didn’t know her.

I shook my head. It didn’t matter. I had to learn how to fight and protect the others, that’s all that mattered. There was no use thinking about what had been.

We continued the whole day, but Aicha didn’t sense any more soldiers, so maybe Sara was right. It wouldn’t be long now until we were at the mountain, so I guess we would find out soon.

That night, the others were still sitting by the fire when I went to bed. They all seemed to have something to talk about, but I didn’t know what to say any longer, so I mostly sat quiet. I stared up at the stars above me. It was the same stars that Mother, Father and my little brother saw. I wondered what they were doing now. They must have found out that I’d escaped from the Queen’s Champion Camp, and I guess they must worry about me. I closed my eyes. I wondered if I would ever see them again.