Soul Lovers

The Hunters' Invasion.

Stood before Dryad and Wren was the three Hunters from the Forest Nymphs Kingdom, they were all marked like Dryad on their neck except from one whose skin was like a dry oak tree, her arms were long with sharp thorns all over her slender tall body having her feet firmly attached into the ground with a sculptured hair and face of an old lady.

Wren and Dryad stared at them in a distance, wondering why they were here, then

Dryad took a step forward. He'd knew they were hunters also an ex-convict. These hunters were the driven force in committing a crime against the Forest Nymphs throne but once a hunter is still a hunter never will he thought they were right in front of him after being released so many years ago. One thing came to his mind as he stared into one of the hunter's glazing red eyes.

They were sent here by the King to bring me back home

“Orchid, I know the King sent you, Tell him I will be on my way as soon as possible.” He sighed.

“No my Prince. The King didn’t sent us.” Orchid denounced, revealing his scrunching face with a round glazing red eyes.

Dryad was stunned by Orchid's response,

“Then who?!”

“Your death sent us!” Orchid twitted.

As the word echoed around the garden. Wren and Dryad froze staring at them with their eyes widened and raised eyebrows.

Wren shook herself and moved to Dryad's front.

“Your death?! What are they trying to say, Dryad. Is this how your kind communicate to each other?” she said while focusing on the Hunters.

Orchid immediately, laughed,

“Your Father, King Randall caused all these!” He continued, “thanks to him, the Nymphs Kingdoms are totally divided and secretly at war against each other.”

“Secretly at war?!” Wren yelled.

Orchid rubbed his chest then scratched it.

Why I'm I talking to a kid of no knowledge on what is happening between Kingdoms outside this walls, anyway... He thought then yelled again.

“The Nymphs and the Humanes were never at peace or with peace with any other Kingdoms. We hated everything about other beings, declaring peace— other Kingdoms acceptation is just a fluke if I may say. From your way of life to your way of belief. We hated them all! Not until your Father, Randall came to the Water Nymphs and destroyed everything back then. We the Forest Nymphs were their Hunters and their guardians against the outside world so your Father came and your Mother fell in love with a mere Humane.” Orchid uttered.

With her mouth clamped and eyes fixed on the terms of their words, Wren couldn’t say anything as Dryad noticed her then he spoke.

“So you use Oshoshi and I as bait to come here. Orchid! My father will hear of this treason!”

“We know it will be our down fall when doing this kind of hunt but my Prince no more turning back, we have absolutely no regret or whatsoever. That guy called Oshoshi will have known if we were a meter nearer whether he was being followed or not.” He told as he c***k his neck.

“And for our King, we are only doing him a favor, we can’t be a Hunter of the Forest Nymphs Kingdom and allow a stranger to be one of us, as if that was not enough," he looked at Wren, "your Father planned on tainting the Forest Nymphs after being done with the Water Nymphs. We can't accept the union between our Kingdoms and yours. Never! But thank goodness we found the two of you here… ”

"But... But you heard me, right?! I don't also agreed with the union between our Kingdoms and theirs!" Dryad yelled back.

"That's true, after hearing it I felt you should join us to stop this propaganda going on in our Kingdoms but I don't think you would have join." Orchid replied.

“Orchid! You talk too much, let’s finish them before they noticed we are here.” The sculptured old lady face said then she slammed her palms together as the atmosphere changed given an earthly smell, Wren and Dryad looked heavenward.

“Big sister, we need to get out of here, like right now!” Dryad yelled as he held Wren's hand as flowers and grasses swiftly twirled around them then both of them disappeared but it was too late for him. He hit a invisible wall unable him from disappearing from the area they were in as he bounced back which before falling Wren held his back in gaining his ground.

Wren looked at face.

“You are bleeding.” she looked at the invisible wall, “A barrier, just like lady Beth’s own but… ” She glanced down at the flowers in between the invisible wall then at the grey salmons swimming across the pond. “Time is slow inside the barrier.” She said.

“You are right young lady. Shall we begin.” Orchid said, “here in this barrier not one person will hear or see us here, just like the opposite of a mirage.” He turned his face to the two Hunters beside him. “Go, finish them.”

They nodded looking more like a figure being controlled and walked towards Wren and Dryad.

“Are you alright?” Wren asked, Dryad nodded, she looked up but she couldn't find an opening on the invisible wall above then she came into conclusion; The only place out of this twisted barrier was to beat the killers including the one who made it the first place.

“Let’s fight our way out of here.” Then she looked at Orchid as her eyes sharpened, “You will pay for all what you said about my Father, the King of Humanes. I believe all what he has done and what the former Kings and Queens of this great nation has done is to promote peace at all time. For this you will never leave unfathomed!”

Orchid jokingly wrapped his arms around his body.

“Am too scared~ Ha. Ha. Ha. Didn't I say. Today shall be your death?!” he laughed.

“You wish.” Wren smirked, “Stay here, gain back your strength. I will be back.” Wren said as she focused on the two Hunters coming, she held her fist tightly freezing her both arms to her neck with a balanced wide stance, her right foot slightly raised and her other foot ankle raised completely. She licked her lower lip and whispered; “I can't believe I'm this excited for my first real fight.”

The two Hunters hastily charged before her, one reaching her first while swinging a fist, Wren dodged it as she held the Hunter's arm close enough to punch-chest him with her knee at the same time punching his lower jaw then she released him with a kick forcefully thrusting him back to the invisible wall near Orchid. The other Hunter rushed behind her, grabbing her from behind, with quick reflexes she stepped in one foot to gained her balance, used her elbow to struck the Hunter, aiming at his cheek bone, she did that twice until she let go then threw him to where his second as fallen.

After, she straightened her back with a smirk of determination.

“Is that all?”

Orchid held his face and laughed.

“I see Queen Memphis, your Mother in you." Orchid yelled, Wren slightly widened her eyes. "Sadly you will see her soon.”

Meanwhile the two Hunters body turn into vines and went deep into the ground as Wren advanced towards Orchid while running, she noticed the ground crumbling then suddenly the ground cracked open as vines poked out towards her leg, she sprang over the vines closing the gap between her and Orchid still in the sky another vines came out from the ground this time with thorns on it’s body which Wren dodged gracefully suddenly, the two Hunters came out from the ground with great force flying towards Wren, she slightly gasped, as she bent down, bypassing one Hunter's kick, unfortunately for her the next Hunter was already in her front with his fist swinging towards her, unable to dodged it, she then shielded her self from the hit with her frozen arms which sent her flying back to were Dryad was as she gained her balance by placing her hand on the ground which made her to rotate her body aiding her to stand upright.

Wren left out a harsh breath then looked at her frozen hands as vapor slightly came out of her hand.

Orchid put his hand on his jaw.

She is strong. He thought.

-

At the castle, Randall was talking with Oshoshi as Oshoshi laughed awkwardly. Suddenly, Randall stopped talking then stood up, Oshoshi blinked.

“Wren... My Daughter’s vigor is fading!” he exclaimed and looked at Oshoshi.

“What have you done?” he said as the whole room suddenly got hotter and denser.

Oshoshi stood up immediately,

“My humble King I—I don’t understand… ” Oshoshi stammered then he noticed something strange also. “Dryad, am no longer sensing him.”

“The small boy's life force is also fading like Wren's. It looks like you are clean. For now.” Randall said as he left the room, Oshoshi swallowed.

What might be happening to Master and the Princess? He thought then hurriedly, followed Randall.

A few moments later a whirlwind of leaves entered the room through the window, revealing a marked middle-aged woman, dressed in all green tights having a black hair at shoulder-length with two huge green sparkling eyes with a rosebud lips having a huge sword sheathed at her back. She surveyed the whole room.

“They are gone, is the information right? we were given the notification that the King will not be within the Humanes walls today, anyways Kontar has activated her barrier, it will be hard for the King to locate such outrageous barrier.” She smiled while she bit on her fingernail.

“The King’s cape… where? Oh! Here you are.” She smirked, cat walking in her heels towards the cape folded on a mysterious stone. She extended her hands, reaching for the folded cape, slightly touched it with the tip of her fingers which immediately blazed her. “Ouch!!” she grunted, putting her fingers into her mouth as she stepped back.

“You are a fool for touching the King’s cape. If you were to raised it up from the stone for at least some time, I will have back down and let you leave with it, but since you hardly touched it. You will be extirpated from this Kingdom.” Luna said as she bent her head to walk inside the room with the two Royal Guards in yellow capes, wet from the being frozen earlier.

“Please, leave us. I will take care of her.” She said looking straight at the marked woman green eyes.

The marked woman scoffed. Luna rolled her eyes to the woman's legs. "And what the heck are you wearing?"

"I don't think you will understand, seeing how tall and big you are," the marked woman replied,

"Can you tell me before we fight, I'm curious."

The marked woman blinked then she narrowed her eyes, “Keep on dreaming.”

“We shall see.” Luna replied back while the two Royal Guards left the room and closed the door behind them.

Luna lifted both arms under her chin ready to fight while the marked woman removed her sword from it’s sheath as she licked her lips.