The Lost Princess of Winterspring

15: FREEDOM IV

Her arrows followed the three nimphian guards who were at the gate. All of the arrows landed on their neck and within a minute, the three of them were on the ground, sleeping. Before Malaya could run to the gate, Mathilda scans the area to check if there are more guards.

Malaya, 10 meters at 10 o'clock we have to run.

Mathilda turned herself into a tiger and pulled Malaya to her back. She sat down to her and pulled the string of her bow and pointed it to the incoming guard and released it. The guard was on the ground while they run back to the village where it all started.

You are very skilled in your archery, my child. Mathilda growled as she continues to run through the forest up to the mountains.

"I learn from the best." She smirked and pat the head of her mother.

The night is still young, if we arrive at the treehouse, you may rest your heart out.

"I am but restless. You say the night is still young, it definitely felt like I spend the whole year." Malaya let out a chuckle.

Don't let your guard down we are nowhere near safe. Snug onto me now.

Malaya bends over to her mother as Mathilda raised her speed while dodging the huge tree trunks ahead of her. When she reached her calculated momentum, she leaped from one trunk to the other trying to heave up to the top of the trees. At the looks of it, Malaya thought that it was because of Mathilda's years of training in the forest and mountains.

In the whole escape, she hasn't returned to a nimphian and now she is using her full power to climb to the trees while being a tiger! She can't help but be in awe—in her eyes, her mother is the strongest Segnale and she sure wanted to be like her someday.

Malaya had not noticed that they have reached the top of the 20 meters tall trees. The height has not even scared them one bit given that they have been sharpening their skills in the mountains. Mathilda stopped on a huge branch and sat down so that Malaya can easily jump off from her.

"Let's pause here for just a minute to inspect the area. The guards must've noticed that they were forcibly put into sleep." Mathilda went back to her nimphian form and sat down with her right bend knee slightly higher than her left knee. Malaya settled down and pulled her drinking bottle from the bag as she continues to watch her mother.

Mathilda reached for the boughs that they're stepping on and simultaneously closed her eyes. Her breathing was much more relaxed now that she had rested. She touched the heart of the forest with her meditation that made her see connections with all the creatures within the reach of her power. She seems to distinguish a familiar connection that had made her face look disgruntled.

Curious as she is, she followed the string attached to the connection and heard a faint voice intuitively screaming in dire pain. She also perceived that there were at least 6 to 7 who were screaming. Somewhere between the lines, she heard something "We are not to blame !! ..." immediately when she released whose voice that was, she pulled her arms and started to breathe heavily. She looked over to Malaya who was confused by Mathilda's sudden reaction.

"We," Mathilda had a hard time finding her composure to talk after what she had heard. She pressed her temples and when she was just about to cry, Malaya went over her and cupped her trembling hands. She noticed Malaya has been also worried about her so she has to speak of what she saw so that she could also understand.

"Our clan who stayed in Carcassone has been captured." She said in a quivering manner. "This is not part of the plan but Malaya, I have to save my family." She kneeled down to her daughter and hugged her as tears started to form her eyes. Malaya seemed to agree with her plan. In this whole ordeal, she hasn't disagreed with her mother once because she trusted her no matter what happens to them.

Mathilda returned herself into a tiger and Malaya jumped her back. If her calculations were right, her clan is 2 km away from them. Her tiger abilities can also sense voice vibrations, that being the case, the direction shouldn't be arduous. She then started to jump back down the tree trunks and landed on the ground and ran through the forest.

Malaya had thought that escaping from Arden was the last circumstance they had to encounter. Surely, both of them hadn't seen this coming because according to the guard who announced their warrant of arrest, the case just has just 2 suspects. Bewildered, she shook her head and focused on the problem at hand since they're near Carcassone.

I need you to stay back, Malaya. This is not your fight. Mathilda hissed under her breath making Malaya astounded.

"I have to help!" she demanded.

But Mathilda was determined that she won't be needing her daughter's help as she cannot fathom the idea of endangering the life of Malaya. She then reduced her speed at the sight of the boundary of Carcassone and shrugged off her daughter making Malaya fall on the ground but her reflexes were good enough.

Both of them hide in one of the trees to inspect their village. There were more than 10 guards and 1 Divine Knight. Mathilda cursed under her breath--they're outnumbered! Why is there a Divine Knight? She thought.

They have witnessed how Mathilda's brother, who was kneeling on the ground, gets beaten by one of the guards scepters. Mathilda, who is now losing her cool and was enranged with the sight of what's happening, was about to go over and help them but before she could ever leave, Malaya held her and pulled her down.