“So whats our plan of action?” Anya asked.
Aiden looked over at her “Well, no ferries are leaving tonight only tomorrow night...So we'll have to wait till then.” Anya frowned, “Ferries leave in the day time too you know?”
Aiden shook his head, “Winter can't be out-” but before he could finish Winter stood up so quickly Anya had barely enough time to blink.
“Whats wrong?” Aiden and Anya asked, Winter stood as still as a statue then she turned to Anya and Aiden “go into that cave and hide” she said sternly. Aiden stood up “Who's here?” he asked.
Anya looked at Aiden in alarm “nothing special,” Winter explained, “but better safe then-” before she could finish her sentence an arrow came out of know where headed straight for her heart.
Winter didn't even blink as she caught the arrow with ease, “get going” she growled as she threw the arrow back where it came from. It flew perfectly, “maybe even better then using a bow...” Anya thought to herself. Anya followed Aiden as he led her to the cave several feet away from the camp fire. They got inside and sat down at the very back of the cave, “will she be alright by herself?” Anya asked worriedly, biting her lip. Aiden just smiled, “not to worry, I've never met anyone who can look after them self as well as Winter can.” Anya looked over at Aiden who was peering out of the cave.
"Do you think you can use your magic and put out the fire?”
Anya's heart pounded, “why..should I do that? It's probably better that we leave it going so Winter can see better...”
“close call...”Anya thought to herself.
Aiden laughed, “actually it's the other way around, so go ahead and put it out” Anya's heart started pounding again, “Oh...alright...” biting her lip “how am I going too...”, but then shook her head “no, you can do this Anya!” she thought to herself, “Just make the wind blow it out...” so she murmured a spell to stir up the wind. “That ought to do it...” she whispered, they both peered out at the fire, but instead of it going out, it nearly doubled in size.
“What spell did you use?!” Aiden asked.
“I...I thought I used the mini tornado spell...”
Aiden looked over at Anya in confusion, “you thought?”
Anya looked away, “I...I'm not a very good...well, I just don't practice as much as I'd like too...”
Aiden shook his head, “you should have said that from the beginning” he growled. Anya felt like she was going to cry.
“I'm so sorry, I've made everything worse now!”
But before anything else could be said they heard a scream in the distance. Anya gasped, “That wasn't Winter was it?!” completely in a panic she stood up without thinking and bumped her head on the ceiling of the cave.
“Ow!” she yelled and sat back down, rubbing her head as hard as she could. Aiden, trying not to laugh asked “are you OK?” she glared at him making Aiden fall silent. Then they looked back outside and Winter was standing a few feet in front of the cave. Anya jumped up (careful not to repeat the same mistake), “Winter! Are you alright?” but she could barely see her at all, It was so dark out. “Winter?” Aiden asked, “What happened?” Winter didn't answer, so Anya ran over to her with Aiden at her side and once they got close enough to see her, they realized what was wrong. She had as many as 10 arrows stuck into her, “they absorb...your energy...” Winter could barely talk she was so weak. Aiden and Anya's feet we're frozen to the ground, all Aiden could do was take on step towards Winter “who we're they?” he asked, Winter just shook her head which made her loose her balance and fall to her knees. This woke up Aiden and Anya and the rushed over and helped Winter to her feet and took her over the cave's entrance. “What happened?” Anya asked, Winter just sighed and shook her head. The pair laid there friend down as they started to pluck the arrows from her body "she better recover from this" Aiden scowled; Anya fell silent "what were you thinking?" he continued but was interrupted by the muffled grown of the once fearsome warrior that lay at their feet "whats happening?” Winter asked "please save your energy" Aiden said softly then his tone changed back "Anya just screwed up with the spells, that's why you were an easy target out there." Anya's heart started to pound again "I'm sorry..." she began but was again interrupted "don't be too harsh on her Aiden" at this Aiden ripped the last arrow from her flesh and walked off. "Don't let him get to you Anya hes always been a little... over protective" Anya lowered her head as she watched Winter fall unconscious before going over to Aiden "will... she be alright?" she asked as she tried to keep the tears from falling "its lucky for you shes a fighter" he glanced at her "we need to get off this damn island...." Aiden looked around him and said "I'm going to look around. Stay here and don't do anything" his warning thundered through the cave as he headed in the direction the men had come from. "I'm sorry" Anya whispered as she watched the shadow of the big cat vanish.
It wasn't long before Aiden had reached the shore line and found a small boat guarded by a lonely figure. He was staring off into the forest, “They should have come back by now...” he thought to himself, “they better not have decided to move in... that wasn't the bosses orders...” Aiden decided to take his opportunity and pounced at the man knocking him off his feet, "your lucky I'm not a wild animal" he stated as the man tried to escape from the approaching panther "you and those weapons hurt a friend of mine tonight" Aiden smiled toyingly with his prey. The man search frantically on the ground till he came across a rock, Aiden was almost on top of him now as he swung the rock. Aiden easily stopped it with his mighty paw; pinning him down "now now, play nice" he grinned. Aiden then had the idea of taking the boat and getting out of this place so he turned to inspect the boat completely disinterested in killing a defenceless man. The boat was sea worthy enough "this will do nicely" Aiden muttered as he got on to inspect it further; it was a large motor boat with a little cabin perfect for keeping their injured Winter safely. He then heard a noise of the man behind him and a smile came across Aiden's face "so you got guts after all" he chuckled as he swiftly turned and attacked the man before he had chance to pull an arrow out of his quiver.
Time past slowly within the cave, all Anya could do is watch her friend lay motionless. She occasionally glanced at the entrance wondering when Aiden would return; her heart skipped when she finally saw his shadow appear then almost stopped dead in her tracks when he got close enough and she noticed the blood.
"What have you done?" she asked a little frightened at the thoughts that appeared in her head.
"I did what I had to, we wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for you" he calmly said as he walked past her. Anya dropped her head and fallowed "can you operate a boat?" he asked as he reached Winter "yeah, why?" she asked trying not to sound too upset.
"They left a boat behind and I've borrowed the key" he said smugly as he shifted into a horse.
"Help me get Winter onto my back" Anya pulled Winter to her feet and propped her up on the horse Anya tried to avoid looking at Aiden but eventually their eyes met "get on" Aiden told the now rather confused girl "you have to hold Winter so she doesn't fall... and do it quickly."
Anya lifted herself behind Winter and held her down as the horse started to gallop.
They reached the boat in little time at all; the tide had started to clean the mess left behind, but the signs where still there. Anya tried not to look at them as she helped Winter into the cabin below before starting the boat Aiden shifted into the panther once more although it was hard to move to a spot where he could see Winter and keep an eye on Anya at the same time.
"Apology accepted" he said after awhile Anya looked away pretending not to know what he was talking about. "Huh?" she threw him a confused look.
"Don't you dare keep anything from us again we need to know these things to keep you alive" he growled at her.
"I wont" she said.
She felt like a child being told off by her parents, but then Winter appeared in the door way of the cabin.
"Your awake!" they both said in astonishment.
"How do you feel?"
Winter hardly spoke, just shook her head and said, "have you both gotten any sleep?"
The waves crashing against the boat was the only thing breaking the silence, "Aiden please go rest now, your exhausted. Anya we need you to steer so are you OK to rest later?" Anya muttered under her breath, still feeling awful for screwing up.
“You need to rest more than I do Winter” Aiden protested, but Winter threw him a look which he knew all too well. Aiden didn't stand a chance arguing with her so he squeezed himself into the cabin and it was silent again. "I...I'm...I'm sorry" Anya sobbed.
"We all make mistakes, you should have told us before" Winter replied softly.
"I know... I'm sorry..."
Winter just smiled, "no harm done, and Aiden never stays mad too long, hes rather a softy at heart" they both laughed.
"Will we make shore before morning?" Winter asked.
"Yeah wont be long now" Anya smiled, Winter strolled over to the cabin "Aiden we are making shore soon, its a well populated area so-"
"No please not that" Aiden protested "no choice I'm afraid we need to find somewhere to stay and I'm sure they wont like animals."
Anya looked at Winter confusingly.
"Whats going on?"Anya asked.
"Well, in well populated areas to stop us attracting attention-" but then she was interrupted by a small mouse that climbed on top of her shoulder "I get free travel in her pocket" Anya couldn't resist smirking at the thought of such a big cat being reduced to staying in a pocket. They finally hit the dock when they were approached by a man just as Winter was sliding Aiden into her pocket "hey! You cant leave that there" the man pointed at the boat Winter casually walked up to the man "what did you say?" she demanded and the man repeated "you cant leave that th-." the man was stopped mid-sentance as Winter thrust her palm into his neck grabbing his hand and nearly twisting it off "what was that?" she repeated coldly.
The man now fearing of what she would do next if he upset her muttered "have a nice day."
Winter released her prisoner and said with a cheerful smile "you have a nice day too" and rejoined Anya who at this point was completely stunned.
"Wow" was all she could think of to say.
There was a long stretch of silence as they made the way through the streets. The sun was on the horizon so all the people were getting ready to start there day. Winter swiftly found the quietest streets till she found a small motel.
"This looks perfect."
Anya was speechless, this wasn't the usual place she would stay. The pair walked up to the desk "we want a room please" Winter stated, the woman behind the desk hardly said a word except "how will you be paying?" Winter searched in her pocket and pulled out a small pocket watch and a wad of cash and counted it out.
"We don't want to be disturbed, understood?" the woman nodded, unconcerned. Winter waved the cash in the woman's face.
"You haven't seen us, understood?" again the woman nodded as Winter handed over the money and picked up the key. They reached the room and Aiden leapt from Winter's pocket.
"Anya get some rest" Winter told the very exhausted looking girl who had already flopped onto the bed.
"You too."
Aiden looked up at Winter.
"I don't need it," Aiden protested, "you still haven't recovered from those arrows" the two argued for a little while then Aiden said "you can barely stand up" Winter didn't want to admit it but Aiden was right. Winter sighed, "it's your funeral" she smirked as she laid down in the chair.
"You don't give me enough credit" he told her as he shifted into the robin again and flew to the window looking back watching the two girls nodding off.
"Don't worry" he whispered softly as he flew out.
The waves crashing against the boat was the only thing breaking the silence, "Aiden please go rest now, your exhausted. Anya we need you to steer so are you OK to rest later?" Anya muttered under her breath, still feeling awful for screwing up.
“You need to rest more than I do Winter” Aiden protested, but Winter threw him a look which he knew all too well. Aiden didn't stand a chance arguing with her so he squeezed himself into the cabin and it was silent again. "I...I'm...I'm sorry" Anya sobbed.
"We all make mistakes, you should have told us before" Winter replied softly.
"I know... I'm sorry..."
Winter just smiled, "no harm done, and Aiden never stays mad too long, hes rather a softy at heart" they both laughed.
"Will we make shore before morning?" Winter asked.
"Yeah wont be long now" Anya smiled, Winter strolled over to the cabin "Aiden we are making shore soon, its a well populated area so-"
"No please not that" Aiden protested "no choice I'm afraid we need to find somewhere to stay and I'm sure they wont like animals."
Anya looked at Winter confusingly.
"Whats going on?"Anya asked.
"Well, in well populated areas to stop us attracting attention-" but then she was interrupted by a small mouse that climbed on top of her shoulder "I get free travel in her pocket" Anya couldn't resist smirking at the thought of such a big cat being reduced to staying in a pocket. They finally hit the dock when they were approached by a man just as Winter was sliding Aiden into her pocket "hey! You cant leave that there" the man pointed at the boat Winter casually walked up to the man "what did you say?" she demanded and the man repeated "you cant leave that th-." the man was stopped mid-sentance as Winter thrust her palm into his neck grabbing his hand and nearly twisting it off "what was that?" she repeated coldly.
The man now fearing of what she would do next if he upset her muttered "have a nice day."
Winter released her prisoner and said with a cheerful smile "you have a nice day too" and rejoined Anya who at this point was completely stunned.
"Wow" was all she could think of to say.
There was a long stretch of silence as they made the way through the streets. The sun was on the horizon so all the people were getting ready to start there day. Winter swiftly found the quietest streets till she found a small motel.
"This looks perfect."
Anya was speechless, this wasn't the usual place she would stay. The pair walked up to the desk "we want a room please" Winter stated, the woman behind the desk hardly said a word except "how will you be paying?" Winter searched in her pocket and pulled out a small pocket watch and a wad of cash and counted it out.
"We don't want to be disturbed, understood?" the woman nodded, unconcerned. Winter waved the cash in the woman's face.
"You haven't seen us, understood?" again the woman nodded as Winter handed over the money and picked up the key. They reached the room and Aiden leapt from Winter's pocket.
"Anya get some rest" Winter told the very exhausted looking girl who had already flopped onto the bed.
"You too."
Aiden looked up at Winter.
"I don't need it," Aiden protested, "you still haven't recovered from those arrows" the two argued for a little while then Aiden said "you can barely stand up" Winter didn't want to admit it but Aiden was right. Winter sighed, "it's your funeral" she smirked as she laid down in the chair.
"You don't give me enough credit" he told her as he shifted into the robin again and flew to the window looking back watching the two girls nodding off.
"Don't worry" he whispered softly as he flew out.
