The Journey

<p>Kaylein and Greg were silent for a few moments, until Greg spoke up, "Are you sure you are alright Amillia? Your eyes look like they have no joy in them right now, unlike when you used yourself as a human shield, they had a certain fire within them." Kaylein lifted her head up a bit to see his face and said in a almost melancholy tone when she spoke, "Yeah, just, remembering some memories from my past is all. No need to worry yourself over me." Kaylein's eyes darkened a bit as if the light in her eyes were losing all of their joy as she was remembering that single memory of how she got into this situation. "I should keep moving, it's going to get dark soon." She said as the sky had blue skies hours ago and now it has purple and pink hues and is slowly turning to the more purple as the day is going by while they head on through the forest, "Where are you taking me now?" Greg was more than confused of why she is showing him around the forest and the only word he can put was, "trustworthy" towards him, suddenly she turned around with a knife to his throat, "WOAH!" was the only word he could let out with his hands raised to she he has no intention of harming her, but his mind was going berserk "Where did she-? When? What?" these were the words that repeated in his mind until he finally used his words to express his immensely growing confusion. "What is with this sudden action towards me?" Kaylein's eyes had the fire they had during their first encounter once again, "I am only walking you through the forest to show you what it provides to those who don't abuse or take what they want from greed or thrill from causing destruction. Like what you were going to do to those deers, they don't deserve to die, none of these precious creatures deserve that fate, but people similar to you, huntsmen, choose which of them die and when. Thinking they don't have families, loved ones who either depend or are waiting up for them to return home, not knowing that they will NEVER return to them! Mark me, if you TRY anything funny or try to do something or ANYTHING to me or these fascinating creatures, you will have a knife in your throat before you can even get a sound out. I don't trust you at all, but I AM willing to share this forest's secrets, but I won't EVER trust you until you prove to me that you are a trustworthy person. Now, until then, I will be keeping a VERY close eye on you." Greg was astounded with how fast she drew the dagger, swiftly got to him to closely stabbing him in the throat, and said such words as if she knew EXACTLY what he was thinking. "How did you know what I was thinking? Are you some sort of sorceress? Or was I just that obvious to figure out what I was thinking?" He gave her so many questions at once that now Kaylein has to answer. "I am not a sorceress and you made it obvious that you thought I was too trusting, but let me tell you something, I'm NOT one to give my trust to ANYONE, unless it was an animal, they can be trusted, unlike people. However, I will say nothing more on the matter, we have wasted enough time as it is." Kaylein put away her dagger before Greg could see where it is hidden and use it against her, they have finally reached the cave, the same one that Kaylein stumbled upon the first night she was in these woods. "Well, rest here for a bit and regain our strength, then you will see what this forest has to give during the night." After Kaylein spoke those words, she journeyed into the cave and sat down upon a very smooth flattop rock and Greg took a seat on a cool patch of soil. Once it got fully dark, they left the cave, it's very bright at night for it is a full moon, everything was in a pale light, almost everything was deathly still, except some crickets were chirping, frogs were croaking, then a wolf howled in the far distance to the East, more wolves joined in on the West side of the darkened forest, bats and owls were screeching while some other owls were hooting. Then, fireflies gently started to glow as they were flying through the air as if a million tiny lanterns were all around them, Greg watched and listened to their full surroundings and was astounded that he had never experienced anything like this with him adventuring the forest. "You see, this is the most beautiful scenery that the forest has to offer at night when the Earth is so still, you get to hear all of the nocturnal creatures at their finest and no one is after them and everything is at peace. No violence, war, arguments, or anything negative going on, just the great circle of life just as it should be where no huntsmen are hunting these animals where the creatures have to defend for themselves. Don't you see? These woods don't need anymore bloodshed from innocent woodland residents or foolish and self absorbent human beings who only take great pleasure of killing and causing pain wherever they go, whether it be here in the forest, a village, a kingdom, or in a person's own home, no matter where they are, death always- ALWAYS follows." Greg could certainly feel her care and love for the forest and all the animals who resign here, but couldn't help but feel like there was something more to it than that. However, he wasn't sure of himself if he should pry and bring it up, or just let it be, he brought up the issue anyways more out of curiosity than anything else. "I get the feeling that you are speaking out from experience from your past and not just out of adoration for the creatures in this forest, am I right?" Kaylein's eyes grew a bit for she accidentally let some of her past life out, "Nice going Kaylein." She said to herself in her mind and spoke, "A little bit, yeah, but I will be much more careful of my wording around you from now on. But, this is the last thing I can show you tonight, we should sleep, or maybe you should go back to your village, they must be worried about you, your folks." Greg looked up at the starry sky and replied, "Yeah you're right, I should get back to my daughter. She must be worried sick for me being gone for so long." Kaylein nodded and said, "If you don't she might send a search party after you to bring you home. Go to her and don't bother coming back, besides, you don't really belong in this forest anyways, you were hunting to survive by killing instead of taking only what you needed, such as water and plants that are edible as well as safe. You should stay with your daughter instead of venturing off into the forest for a number of days worrying her to death, not knowing when you will be back or if you are still alive, you never know how precious she is, until you lose her." Greg was a bit off balance figuratively, for she spoke with deep concern for his daughter, as if she lost her own father or a loved one. "I'll take my leave now. Have a pleasant evening, Amillia." He left her all alone as he made his way back to the village. Kaylein wondered through the forest and started singing out of nowhere, but it wasn't words, it was more of her vocalizing, almost as if she was warming up her voice, Greg could hear her, it was close to alluring and hypnotic as if it were a lullaby, he had finally made it home, opened the door, and was immediately tackled in a hug from his little girl at the age of four, dark brown eyes, and light brown hair. "Papa! Where did you go?! You were gone for so long, I was so worried that something had happened to you, papa!" She said with tears forming in her eyes and tightened her hug a bit. "My little rosebud, I am deeply sorry for leaving you alone for so long. But, I met a young maiden in the forest who is old enough to be your sister and old enough to be old enough for her to be part of our family, but more importantly, as your sister." He looks down at the ground once he gently places her down, his daughter gently takes his hand, lifts up her head, and spoke up, "What's wrong, papa?" she says with great concern in her tone of voice.</p>