Chapter III

My breath came out in puffs of fog as I walked quickly. My back and silver hackles rose and fell with every step I took, and my head hung a little lower than usual as I occasionally sniffed the ground around me.

We had left the Aurora stronghold this morning before the sun even broke the horizon. I was tired, and my whole body was numb with sleep deprivation.

Noah was in human form on my back. He was able to hold on by wrapping his arms around my neck. We had made it out of the valley just after sunrise and were finally on a set path.

"Our social intelligence is old; keep a sharp eye. Beyond this point we have no clue where The Horde has settled." Faust warned, and I nodded with a huff of fog out my mouth and nose.

The clouds had disappeared for the day, leaving a clear sky. The sun reflected light off the white snow in all directions; nearly blinding me.

"We have to pass through a human town; we'll be able to get more medical supplies." Petra said, and I looked to Faust who nodded.

"Is it Horde territory?" I asked skeptically. With humans this close to the southern mountains, I assumed the Horde had to be operating out of there to keep control of the bots that had gone so deep into our woodlands.

Petra hesitated before answering me with a nod, and Faust sighed, and we kept walking while he thought it over.

I kept turning my head as far as I could to check on Noah, who slept most of the journey. I was so paranoid with the thought of him falling off that I walked in front of Petra so she could tell me if he was really slipping or if it was just my lack of sleep and intense paranoia.

Faust halted us about two good miles from the village we were going to cross through. "The best to approach the village in human form; we'd be better off doing it now." Faust said, and turned back into a human, and helped Noah off my back.

I switched forms after Petra and walked behind them slightly as they both supported Noah's limp body.

The podzol had become more sporadic and birch trees sprung up everywhere, overpopulating the area. I soon lost any sight of a pine or spruce and my eyes were bombarded with birch trees, sycamores, and aspens. The closer we came to the village the more conflicted Faust seamed.

On the one hand, Noah needed medicine which we had been in short of ever since we lived in the Taiga. And on the other hand, this was Horde territory. This place was different though, there was no bots actively looking for us and I didn't see a single Horde soldier.

The first sign of civilization was a cross rode, with little activity that included a horse drawn cart of wheat. Farther down the road was the village. At least ten Horde soldiers could be seen from the entrance.

Faust looked at me over Petra's head with a calm expression on his chiseled face. "We need to go up to one of the soldiers." He said, and Petra looked taken aback.

"Why?" She hissed.

"They'll think were hiding something and tail us if we don't. We can't go limping in." Faust said, and I nodded.

"I'll go ask for directions. To the nearest hospital." I volunteered as I squeezed his hand before they sat down by a bar.

Taking a few deep breaths, I looked over to the nearest Horde soldier, who was standing in a tri cluster. I walked towards them as every instinct in my body told me to either run or attack. Once I was a few yards from them I slowed my pace and cleared my throat.

"Pardon me, great liberators." I said bowing my head to show respect. This felt sickeningly unnatural.

"What do you want?" One hissed under his mask. I looked up and tried to look timid and delicate, despite the fact that everything about me seemed strong and defiant.

"My cousin... Dax over there, had been hurt. He got into a fight with some rebel scum." I lied. It felt so natural lying to these horrible people that I did not mind it.

"Rebels?" One of the three growled. "How many?" She asked suspiciously and I shook my head.

"Only a few but I wasn't there when it happened." They nodded at each other, and one of the three walked away.

"He's getting a medical bag, the least we can do for the brave Horde supporters." I nodded, and I beckoned them forward. They walked with me over to Noah, Petra, and Faust.

"How is Dax?" I asked Faust, managing to look serious and dramatically aggrieved.

"Dax is fine; a little loopy though."

I scoffed shaking my head, "That Rebel scum is going to pay." Faust nodded with a scowl on his face. Petra managed to look teary eyed.

"You aren't from around here." One of the soldiers said, and I shook my head.

"You're right were from a small town down south. Some Princesses attacked, trying to get rid of all us Horde supporters. We went underground until they left." I said, and Petra choked back a sob. I could see the lie dance in her eyes, and I patted her shoulder.

"Here." The third soldier said running up and handing me a bag of medical supplies.

I bowed and handed Faust the bag. He began to undress and clean his wounds. With a few sickening cracks, Faust was able to pop a few ribs back into place while Noah slept.

"His ribs are fine; not broken like I'd originally thought." Faust said and applied ointment to some cuts.

I sighed when Faust was finished, and threw myself upon the nearest soldier, crying a little. "Blessings upon your cause. How can we ever repay you?" I wailed, and the other soldiers looked enormously proud.

"No repayment necessary. The Horde values your alliance more than anything." I nodded and turned to hug Petra who also whipped away tears.

"There is an Inn here, above this bar. You'll be able to stay here until your brother is healed." Faust nodded, and bowed.

"Thank you, mighty heroes." Faust said as they lead us into the bar and demanded two rooms for us. They gave us the key, and we went upstairs to rest.

I flopped onto one of the beds next to Petra and groaned. "I need to wash my mouth out with soap and burn my clothes." I said, and Petra snickered.

"Amen. They really bought it though; and that whole rebel attack thing was great." She said, and I thanked her.

"Not to mention those tears Petra." I winked, and she waved her hand as if she were a beloved queen waving to her pitiful subjects.

"I know."

Faust lay next to Noah and stretched. "I'll keep watch on Noah tonight, and when he feels better, I'll inform him of his role."

I nodded and lay down as I found that sleep came easily to me tonight, but when I was shaken awake, there was no going back. I rolled over to swat at Petra, and she grinned.

"One of the good things about being here... is that there is a bar bellow us." I swear She looked brighter than a full moon, and I smirked.

"We are underage and hate people." I reminded her but she shrugged and stood up, pulling her hair into a side braid.

"I know, and yes, people disgust me. But at least we can get actual filtered water here. They have olives~" she reminded me in a sing-song tone.

I did like olives, so I relented and stood up from the soft bed before I followed Petra down the thin hall...