The Beast Within

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

Auris held Laith’s hands in hers as they started out, Haneul holding securely to the package that Noelani had given them while Adrik and Ceraun walked as far apart from each other as the little group would allow.

Laith skipped happily beside Auris, excitement bubbling under her skin. “Say, Auris?” She called to Auris, instantly earning herself everyone else’s attention.

“Yes, Laith?” Auris leaned slightly in her direction.

“There is a river at the river bank, isn’t there?”

Auris blinked in slight shock at her question, they were making their way through meandering pathways through the huts in the town.

“Yes, Laith, that is why it is called a river bank, have you seen a river before?” She asked by way of conversation.

“No.” Laith said solemnly like it was of grave importance.

Haneul chortled, earning a dark look from Auris.

“Then I suppose today is a very fortunate one.” She beamed at her.

Laith’s beam was precious, lighting up the morning as she tried to hasten up although she had not the faintest idea exactly where they were going.

Auris smiled at this but humored her, Adrik was in front anyway with how hasty he was being while Ceraun drew up in the rear.

Auris was just relieved that he had started to recover from the blow of his parents’ death, perhaps his fascination with Laith was tied to the fact that she shared magical abilities with his mother but it was all very well.

He was incredibly more reticent now than before his parents’ demise. It was quite hard to not notice it, for normally by now, he would have been pestering her to race with him or trying to get under Adrik’s skin or even better still have an airheaded conversation with Haneul or do something with him to irritate Adrik, the list was endless.

But now, he just hung back and Auris could tell that it was not because he still had a row with Adrik, that was clearly forgotten as he stared into the distance, lost in thoughts.

That happened a lot now but they could not blame him, he was quite strong as it was but that did not mean it would not cause them worries.

When they got to the rocky incline, Laith hurried forward to get a glimpse, exhilaration and fear on her face.

Auris had held tightly to her, her heart leaping in her throat at Laith’s impulsive actions

“However are we going to get down?” She gulped, looking a tad nervous as if she did not approve of whatever would get in between her and seeing the river.

Auris gave her a reassuring smile. “Ceraun will carry you, don’t you worry about that.” She patted her head.

Laith frowned briefly. “Will Ceraun carry you all too?” She asked in concern.

Auris laughed at this, Haneul huffing out a breath even as Adrik snorted.

“As if.”

“I can’t say I find fault with Laith’s words.” Ceraun said approvingly, he said so for Laith had unwittingly agreed that he was the only one who looked like he could get down to the bottom of the rocky incline.

“There would be no need for that, Laith.” Haneul told her. “We can all get down just fine, Adrik can even carry you too.”

Laith looked impressed by this, awestruck, wide sea blue eyes staring up at Adrik who averted his head in mortification. “Can you teach me to go down as well?” She implored all of them.

“Of course…” Ceraun had already began to agree.

“No!” The other three chorused, glaring hard at Ceraun who chuckled nervously.

“We will teach you when you’re much older.” Auris blurted out without thinking when she saw how Laith’s face fell, then her words sank in and a cold silence enveloped them all.

It was a harsh blow to realise that in less than a fortnight, they would be leaving for the army and might never return.

Laith however was unaware of all this and only grinned in agreement, slipping her hand out of Auris’ hold to bound over to Ceraun, raising up her arms to be lifted.

Ceraun gave her a bright smile, the smile crooked and slanting to the side a bit making the other’s gape slightly for they had never seen him smile like that before, not even Adrik.

The smile was lost as soon as it appeared, Ceraun going low on one knee so that Laith could climb on his back.

“Hold on tigh… not my hair, Laith.” He corrected her in a dry voice, her giggle saying everything about how she had been teasing him.

“Now that we are all finally ready…” Adrik said in a voice they were all long used to, counting down to when they would race down.

Auris was slightly worried, Adrik also had the same inhibitions while Ceraun was making plans with Haneul to send his Wind Magic their way to make Laith feel like she was flying a little distance.

Adrik nodded to Auris, cutting himself off. “I think…”

“That we should best be on our way.” Ceraun cut him off, using a tone that was uncannily like how Adrik would use making Laith laugh.

Adrik had it then. “Fine then, we leave in three…”

Auris internally groaned, hoping that this didn’t scar Laith, for Noe would not let them take her along anymore if that were to happen.

Well, it was too late to worry about that now. She had taken off her cloak, wrapping the well worn outfit around her waist.

The sun wasn’t at it’s most powerful so she couldn't possibly have carried Laith as well as manage to keep up with them but she would be just fine keeping up with them.

The days were longer now so it would be bright enough soon for her to train without adverse consequences.

Ceraun tightened his hold on Laith, he was not worried about her coming to harm for he would not dream to let that happen but he could not help but imagine it and it made him uneasy.

The race started off and they dashed down the slope, the deadly rocks and craters very familiar but it was better now, they were four again, they would survive, they absolutely had to.