Axel had been away from Goldcrest for about two years now, he was on the longest adventure yet and was having the time of his life. However, the young adventurer sometimes wondered if this was all he was. If adventuring was really all he was meant to do. While the 20-year-old was lost in his own thoughts, he wandered into the feared Black Forest. The Black Forest was named after its known ability to block out all sun and look constantly like it was midnight. Because of this, few ventured into its depth, and those who dared to enter got lost and were never seen again. In the middle of this thick and eerie forsaken forest lay a calm and bright meadow.

     Axel managed to wander his way into the very center of this meadow when a cry for help drew him out of his thoughts. Axel ran to the source of the sound and was greeted by a young man looking around frantically as he called for help frightenedly.

     "Hey, are you alright?" The explorer asked the terrified prince, worry filling his expression.

     "Who are you? Do you know where we are? Can you help me? I'm kinda lost." The usually shy man rambled.

     "Hey, calm down, you're okay. My name is Axel Ryder. I'm not really familiar with this place so, no not really. I will try my best to help you. I guess I'm kinda lost too." The raven-haired man tried to answer all of Jax's questions to the best of his ability. "So, what's your name?" He asked gently.

     "O-oh, right, sorry. My name's Jax. Nice to meet you." Jax introduced himself shyly as he stuck out his hand in a friendly manner to which Axel shook happily.

     "So, where are you from?" Axel asked curiously. "If I know, maybe I'll be able to get you back home."

     "Um... I'm from... uh..." Jax took a quick look around the forest for some sort of name. Why was he lying? Well, he knew that if he went back to Kara's Vale then he would definitely have to become king and would probably never be allowed to leave the kingdom again. Plus, if this stranger knew who he was then who knew what might happen to the defenseless prince. "Uh... Vine... creek... yeah, Vinecreek." He hesitantly lied. But, just as Axel went to ask more questions, Jax was run into by a new stranger. Jax was now laying on the ground with someone on top of him, he looked up to see stunning silver eyes. The two stayed like that for a minute before the silver-eyed stranger stood up and held out a hand for the surprised prince.

     "S-Sorry, I didn't mean to tackle ya. I saw your horse get spooked and came to see if ya were okay." Damon explained. "The name's Damon by the way." The poet added as an afterthought. He was hesitant to add that he had been the one to scare the horse, he had sat up in the hay quickly to see what was going on and the sudden movement must have scared the poor mare.

     "I'm okay and I think that Izzy is calm now." Jax reassured as he watched the mare roam the meadow. The horse was a chestnut brown color with white speckles covering her back, rump, both back legs, and her left front leg. The speckles on Izzy's legs started right above the hoof and ended at the knee. The rest of the speckles started from the end of her neck to the start of her tail and barely dusted her sides. The Friesian mare also had a white blaze patterned mark on her face and brown eyes. Lastly, Izzy had a white mane and tail that had blue ribbons delicately woven into them. The silver harnesses that were fastened around her shone spectacularly in the sunlight.

     "Izzy?" Both the poet and the soldier asked at the same time, confused. They hadn't seen anyone else with Jax.

     "Yeah, the horse. She's new and gets frightened easily." The prince explained as though it should be obvious. Axel nodded as Damon made an 'o' shape with his mouth in silent realization. Jax laughed at the poet's reaction and decided that maybe they weren't as bad as he originally thought.

     "So, Izzy is yours? She's quite the beauty." Damon commented with slight awe.

      "She's technically mine I suppose." Jax answered with a nod.

     "Technically?" The explorer inquired with a tad bit of confusion.

     "Suppose? Y'all have a fancy way of talkin'." Damon interjected, his thick accent presenting itself prominently.

     "One, don't worry too much about it. And two, what do you mean by 'fancy'?" The price asked with a tilt of his head.

     "Y'all just have an interestin' way of sayin' things." Damon explained simply. Jax nodded in understanding, finally noticing the young man's strong southern accent. The sun began to set behind the tree line, the sky painted with outstanding shades of purple, red, and blue. The three strangers sat together in the calm meadow in awed silence, marveling at the beautiful sight as they forgot their own troubles or the fact that they were lost with only two other people that they have never seen before for company. Soon the shining stars were shown as they played gleefully around the somber moon. The twinkling and glittering stars harmoniously contrasted the soft and gentle glow of the moonlight upon the faces of the quiet people below. The whimsical stars copied the sparkling eyes of the silent viewers that watched in utter fascination. Fireflies dance amongst the men as if inviting them to their quiet and magical ball.

     "Wow... It's gorgeous..." Axel could not help but comment, speaking so quietly that it seemed as if he believed that if he spoke any louder than the moment would simply disappear. The other two could only nod in silent agreement. The three men turned to see that Izzy had fallen fast asleep. The breathtaking sky having lulled the skittish mare into a dreamless sleep. A group of fireflies gently flying around the calm horse.

     "I think it's time for bed. 'Night." Damon said as he laid down in the soft grass, falling asleep quite quickly. The other two soon followed after with whispered goodnights, the moon and the stars watching over the three lost souls. The stars seemed to shine brighter at the sleeping trio as if knowing that their journey was far from over and that their story will soon be written down in history. However, they dulled ever-so-slightly for a split second as if they remembered something sad that had not happened yet. The night filled with a lonely crickets song and an owl's gentle hoot.

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