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My arms tightened around his finger, hugging him close to me, as I stared into the darkness between the trees. Not just darkness, but like a black cloud that sucked in whatever light dared to touch it.
Any bravery I’d felt earlier was gone as I stared into the deathly shadows.
I could feel the galloping of Edrich’s pulse beneath his skin. Forcing my eyes away from the darkness, I dared to glance up at his face. His features were tight and sickly pale as his shoulder gushed blood at an alarming rate.
My world was spinning out of control.I can’t lose him. I can’t be the reason his family never sees him again.
The shadows between the trees began to quiver until two forms appeared more clearly. It was another hooded rider and another unicorn. Only this one was black and had massive, feathered wings.
Edrich’s legs wobbled as he attempted to back further away from the two approaching figures. Clearing his voice, he started to speak when the rider cut him off.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said, removing his hood to reveal pale skin, with long, ebony tresses falling straight down over his shoulders.An elf.
His pointed ears twitched, and he looked to the south before sniffing.
The elf muttered something that sounded like a curse in a language I’d never heard before.
“Just let us leave,” Edrich said, backing further into the trees in an attempt to put as much distance between us as possible.
“There’s no time for that. More of their kind are already on their way.”
Edrich and I glanced at each other, then at the forest around us. We had no way of knowing what direction they were coming from, and he was hurt.
“I suppose you’d better follow me,” the elf added, picking up Edrich’s pack and turning away, heading back into the thicket he came from. “Unless you want to die.”
I gulped as Edrich struggled to listen to the forest. I knew he was debating whether or not we would be better off on our own. But when the screaming started, his feet moved forward, toward the dark elf.
Maggie emerged from the bushes and he stopped just quickly enough to scoop her up and put her in the pocket of his cloak, before taking off again.
We moved quickly through the trees.Or as quickly as we can with Edrich still bleeding so profusely. I climbed onto his shoulder and applied pressure to the wound as best as I could. He winced but nodded his thanks as we continued our pace.
“This is all my fault,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry, Edrich. It’s my fault you’re hurt.”
My stomach twisted into knots. I couldn’t bring myself to look at his face, so I wasn’t even sure if he’d heard me.
Whether or not he was going to respond was the least of my worries, as more unnerving screaming and wailing came from behind us.
“Just a little further now,” the elf said, leading us toward the sound of rushing water.
We picked our way through the trees, following the river as it widened and deepened. The forest was not nearly as dense in this part of the woods. Animal tracks, larger than I’d ever seen, littered the ground at the riverbank. Edrich stepped into them, rather than making fresh ones, following the lead of the mysterious elf and his black steed.
Suddenly, the sound of rushing water was louder than the screaming from behind us, as we rounded a corner and came upon a stunning waterfall.
“Through here.” Our leader dismounted his steed and led it around large, mossy rocks—directly behind the curtain of water.
Edrich’s steps faltered slightly. His strength was waning, and the blood wouldn’t stop pouring from his shoulder.
I pressed harder, and his knees buckled. He only barely caught himself on a mossy rock next to the falls. “Sorry,” he muttered.
“No, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Edrich.” I darted a glance behind us. “It’s just a few more feet. You can do this.”
Edrich nodded weakly, pushing himself up. His features hardened in determination, and he made the uneasy climb behind the waterfall. His breathing was ragged, his skin slick with a sheen of sweat, but he gingerly placed one foot in front of the other.
The falls were practically roaring to our right, spraying us with water as we inched further behind them.
“That’s it. We’re almost there.” I whispered encouragement in his ear, as a flash of white flew past us.
Pepper.
