As the announcer finished presenting all the leaders from the nine towns of Heavenly, the sorcerer's blessed us with a beacon like flare that stays lighted for as long as ten minutes. Each flare given to us have represents the R-O-Y-G-B-I-V color of the rainboe plus a Sky Blue and Pink colored one to make it nine. We were instructed to send the flare every night, so that the Kingdom will know where to find us if ever we weant missing. It's also a signal that we're safe and is still alive.

The Parents sent us their goodbyes one more time before the Royal Guards rang the two biggest bells in the Castle, signaling the official start of the race.

From the castle we ran towards the entrance of the dead forest, located below the mountain's corners. Cousin Erebor took the lead, as he was the one who ran first. We continued to follow him up until we reached the middle of the forest where he stopped.

"We aren't here to have a group search scavenger hunt, we are competing against each other, stop following me, and try to look for a way to survive on your own." Cousin Erebor threw a smoke bomb containing flour. We inhaled it, because we got caught off guard, we immediately started coughing as the mist of the flour faded.

"Well he's gone, you heard him, every man for themselves." Cousin Hikaru Ran eighty degrees North.

"See you soon Cousins," Cousin Nikita yelled, her voice echoed in the forest of death as we watched her shadows fade in the dark foggy forest. The mountain is blocking the sunlight, that's why there's no light down here. The trees might have no leaves on them, but they are as alive as any tree there is, but unlike most these trees are very dark and tall.

One by one I watched each of my Cousins' shadows get lost in the middle of the forest. I didn't know where to go, but I followed the trail of mud piles. Wherever it is that has mud, it means there is water, I can follow the dead river's flow. I had read in a book that the River water came from the other side of the mountain that is close to the sea. It's salty, one of the reasons why the forest doesn't grow back I guess?

I was cautious while walking because I don't know whether the soil is too soft, I can get buried in an instant if I fall in soft soil. Earlier I took a long stick to use as a crane, I used it to unhook my foot away from the sticky deep soil. My way might be dangerous, but going the other way can get me lost and worst face predators, that's made habitat in the caves and tall trees.

There is no safe way to navigate the Mountain of Drought, but I can still choose a more easier way of going there, even if it means I'm going to be slower than the others.

After hours of walking I finally saw the flow of the River. I stopped for a while to wash my shoes, but I heard iron noises, there must be someone coming.

I hurriedly ran away from there, but I didn't leave totally. I wanted to see who I heard, if there's someone else here, like fugitives, I need to warn the others not to come here. We may be no match for them, we're just a group of sixteen to eighteen year olds.

I don't know why but the sky became more darker as they arrived, they wore torn up dirty clothes, it looks like they've been in here for a long time.

I was right those people are danger for us, but they weren't fugitives, they were assasins. I saw their tattoo mark, that's the mark of the Vulture Assassin's, they called themselves that because they befriended the Vultures and used the birds as accomplices to do their dirty work.

Now I know why the sky grew darker. "The Vultures," I whispered as I heard bird noises from the sky. There were many birds, it was a whole flock I guess, they managed to block the light in that area.

They brought out a large piece of meat, I guess it was a dead Fox. I was about to leave when a familiar shiny, sparking figure catched my peripheral vision. "Oh no! Cousin Ryeille," I couldn't help but whisper his name out of fear. They'll see him, if he walk on that path, it's sunny there, his hat will reflect light.

Cousin Ryeille is the sun of Uncle Jovie of Docktown, he is the youngest one there is. He turned sixteen just two days ago. Why is he wearing a mirror ensembled hat anyways? I really don't understand my cousin's gimmick sometimes.

And I was right! A Vulture was attracted by the amount of light reflection his hat was giving, they started sorrounding him, and not so long after that the Vulture Assassin noticed him too. There were just three of them at the meantime, but I'm sure there's many of them in this area.

"Help! Help me! Please don't kill me, bring me back to my parents, they'll pay you great amount of money, please I didn't even want to go here." He begged as he stumbled while running. He didn't see the Assassins, that's why he didn't get to avoid them. He was too careless!

"Bring you back? And then what? They'll capture and behead us for capturing you?" You're dead Royal Kid, is it that time of the year? Are you Royals being greedy of power? You finally challenged that Pretty Face, Princess Cryztal?" The guy with a mohawk hairstyle asked Ryeille. My Cousin might be young, but he is not a scardy pants.

"She's not a Princess anymore, she's just one of us now. And we are not being greedy, we're competing for the sake of bringing out the best in all of us." He yelled back and kicked the mohawk guy in the thigh, making him fall on his back.

"Why you! Torture him!" The Mohawk guy yelled in anger, which made me more worried. I can't do this! I can't just sit here, I need to help him, he's my cousin, he would do the same for me if he was in my shoes.