Previously on LW:
Aiden dives down into the forest to drop the egg of vicious birds down on the closest enemy division.
Hailey, who waiting for Aiden above the trees, only heard screams from below. She waits a bit, but he doesn't come back. Finally, Zarasa comes and offers Hailey a ride.

Chapter 27

​Zarasa padded through the forest without hesitation, ducking underneath branches and stepping over ferns with incredible agility for an animal of her size. The forest didn't seem to be moving of its own accord anymore. I wondered if it was just an impression and hoped the village was still safe. Unfortunately, despite her skills Zarasa still lacked speech, and my questions concerning the forest, Autumn, and the Aeolian outpost remained unanswered.
​
​"We need to find Aiden," I kept repeating, but she gave no sign of hearing my pleas.

​Dimmed shouts reached my ears, and she sped up.

​"Stop firing, you idiots!" A man yelled.

​"Winston!" An authoritative and surprisingly familiar voice silenced him.

​"Is that...?" I muttered.

​"Now listen to me, you brainless jackalopes!" The voice continued.

​"That is her! What is Bree doing here?"

​Zarasa gave no answer and walked straight to the large rock behind which hid a group of Aeolian soldiers in full battle gear.

​The one standing next to Bree saw me first. "Who the h-"

​"Watch your mouth!" Bree showed no hint of surprise. "This is the princess."

​The man's eyes widened. He started to apologize, but Bree talked over him.

​"Hailey, since you're here maybe you can convince these fairies that, as our uniform, language, and flag imply, we aren't outlanders, and they can stop shooting at us."

​"Er... Sure?" I would have appreciated a few seconds to come to terms with the situation. "I just have to -"

​"Hailey!" Bree snapped at me before I could mention Aiden. "This isn't a picnic, get on with it."

​I couldn't find it in me to protests. Zarasa carried me towards the wooden wall. The fairy who had given me the egg flew down to me, urging the gryphon and I to go faster.
​
​"You did it! But a group we hadn't seen is right here. They've tried to attack, but we pushed them back. Let's hurry and get back inside. They must be waiting to regroup."

​I shook my head. "They're Aeolians come to help, not Outlanders."

​"What do you mean? They're allies?" Luckily, she caught on quickly.

​"Yes. One of our friends called for their help. They're led by a redhead who screams a lot."

​The fairy left me, shooting up between the trees and chattering to hidden recipients about what I had just told her.

​Soon, but not soon enough, the Aeolian soldiers were being ushered into the village to be given information about their target.

​"So that's the princess." I heard one of the men say.

​"What's wrong with her hair?" Another one asked.

​"I wasn't aware they had hairdressers in the forest, Winston." Bree glared at him, obviously fed up with his mere presence. "Anymore stupid questions, and I'm stabbing you with one of their sleeping darts myself."

​I ignored them. "Come on, Zarasa," I pleaded with the gryphon. "Bring me back to where you found me. I need to find Aiden."

​"Wait." Bree stopped mid-stride. "What did you say?"

​I fought back the tears that gathered in my eyes. "I don't know where he is. The birds... He dropped the egg, and..."

​"Lawrence!" Bree shouted. "You can take back command of your troops." She didn't wait for an answer. "Come on." She dragged me off Zarasa. "Trust that idiot to get lost in the forest in the middle of a freaking battle. Hurry up. I'm not having any of my Junior Troopers dying while I'm still at their head."

​"But I can't remember-"

​"Come on, Hailey!"

​Zarasa clicked her beak in warning. Bree didn't hear her.

​I knew we had spent the whole night preparing for the attack, but with all the excitement and the fairies' undying energy (they didn't seem to need as much sleep as we did), I hadn't realized how tired I truly was. It took Bree wrenching at my arm for me to become aware of my own crippling exhaustion. I stumbled and fell on my knees.

​Zarasa shrieked, the same, bloodcurdling cry by which she had first announced herself to us, a few days ago.

​The village froze. Heads turned slowly towards us. Chase was the only one not moving in slow motion. He dropped down next to us in a frenzy.

​"Zares! Are you okay? Hailey! What happened? Are you hurt?" He kneeled down next to me, looking up at the gryphon. "Zarasa? What's the matter?"

​The gryphon didn't answer, too busy glaring at Bree.

​"Bree? What are you doing here?" Chase, who was still holding my hand, didn't know towards whom to direct his attention.

​"Is that oversized cat yours?" Bree asked, answering Zarasa's glare with her own.

​"Her name is Zarasa. And you didn't answer my question."

​I took a deep breath, convincing myself I still had energy left. "Stop it." I picked myself up. "Aiden is alone in the forest, and he might be hurt."

​"Why? What happened?" Chase had already forgotten about Bree.

​"He was the one who dropped the eggs that drew these big birds to the forest."

​"Oh, yeah, that was great. Very efficient. Wait- What? He dropped what? What did he do that for? You mean he was there when the birds came?"

​"Yes. It should have been me, but... I guess he knew I didn't fly fast enough."

​"You? It should definitely not have been you! Or him! Do I need to get a babysitter for you two? Autumn! Where is Autumn?"

​"Geez, don't have an aneurism," Bree commented. I had to admit he did sound a bit hysterical. "Autumn stayed at the outpost."

​"She did? Oh, good. I thought for sure she'd come back."

​"Funnily enough, so did she," Bree said. "However, I don't make a habit of having my orders contested."

​"That's great, Bree. Now can we go get Aiden?" I asked.

​"No," Chase said. "We aren't going to go get Aiden. I am. You stay here with Zarasa. Bree, leave them alone."

​He started to walk off. Zarasa followed him.

​"Zares, stay here with Hailey."

​The gryphon ignored him.

​"Come on. Zarasa!"

​If Zarasa could come along, I didn't see why I couldn't.

​"You don't even know the way," I pointed out. "Zarasa and I will show you."

​"Then one of the fairies will show me the way; you two will stay here until I come back!"

​"You need to chill," Bree said.

​"What I need is for everyone to stop getting into impossible situations! Do you know what happened the last time Aiden was alone in the forest? He almost got eaten by a gryphon! A gryphon, Bree! How am I supposed to 'chill' if every time I turn around –"

​I cut him off by drawing him into a hug, squeezing him as close to me as a could. Slowly, his arms rose to wrap around me. He breathed in deeply.

​"I hate this forest." he rested his head on my shoulder. "There isn't even any coffee."

​"I know. As soon as this is over I'm sleeping for the rest of the year. Stop worrying so much. Aiden can take care of himself until we find him."

​"And they say girls are overemotional..." Bree shook her head. "Are you okay now? Let's go. All three of us."

​"Four," I corrected. "Zarasa will lead the way."

​Chase followed without protest, but in the hand that wasn't holding mine, he clutched his sword tightly.

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