Chapter 4

So hey guys..... I promised an update and well..... I forgot. Dont kill me. Omo. I was actually stuck watching TharnType the series and thats why I didnt update when I should've lol. So heres an update. We are getting so close to meeting RT omo. We are at the point of Tian's adventure and when everything will change. Please dont be angry at Marie, shes a mother who would do anything for her son to protect him. Plus, enjoy a recurring character. He'll get his own love story with a special boy. I dont have a name yet so if you have any ideas, its gotta be ocean themed.

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Packing for the trip was hard. He didn't often wear anything other than the woven pants Marie made him and a shirt when it was cold. He almost never wore shoes either, but he was going into a place of ice and snow and his feet would freeze. He threw saddle bags over the white stallion's back later the next morning, filled with clothes and food. Moth pricked his ears towards him in confusion, cocking his head.

"We're going to death's pass," Tian explained quickly before running off once more to go get the last of his bags. He was packing blankets in case he fell into water and a shovel in case he was trapped.

"Maybe not the shovel," he commented to himself.

"Take the shovel," a familiar voice stated and turned to see his best friend Axel.

Axel was a year older then him with flaming red hair that came down to his shoulders when in a ponytail. He had the palest skin out of the whole village with millions of tiny freckles, and came from an entire line of red heads. He was the only one who had his father's deep oceanic blue eyes. Axel was the third eldest out of 8 kids, but he was his father's third son. When Axel was eight, his father had had an accident that led to his untimely death. He left three sons and 2 daughters behind, all with the same fiery red hair and millions of freckles against their pale faces. His mother remarried to a man named Josh from another tribe and the man treated all the kids as his own. Even though Josh's kids were brown haired and different, they didn't think none the different.

"Did the hunting trip go well?" Tian asked, turning his head to meet the elder's eyes.

"It was alright. Not as fun without you, but we brought home two more mule deer from the southern herd. They're surprisingly close for this time of year."

Tian chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm sure Barbaros helped a lot with chasing them down."

"He cried after we killed the deer. He cried while chasing the deer. He started crying and he didn't stop," Axel sighed, barely keeping his smile at bay. "He could've cried us enough to make a new river."

"He's an idiot, but he's only 12. Sorry I wasn't there, Marie didn't want me chasing with the threat of another raid so imminent."

"It's ok. Not your fault, she keeps you on a tight leash," Axel snorted. "She doesn't trust my ability to protect you anymore."  

"Where's your make up? I can see the lines against your neck," Axel commented, coming up behind Tian. "You know how Marie gets if she finds out you're not wearing the makeup."

"I didn't want to have to put it on," Tian commented with a shrug of his shoulders. "Plus, I'm going somewhere I won't need it either. The mountains.""

He was strapping the pack tighter against Moth's sides when he felt cold fingers against his neck. They traced up the black lines only to stop at his hairline.

"Unique," Axel whispered under his breathe before retracting his hand away. "Why is Marie letting you go into the mountains? Specifically to Death's pass! Thank god she isn't letting you take Devil's curve!"

"I want to find us a new home," Tian replied, turning around to face Axel. "Somewhere far away from the Capital. I think I have enough time before the Warriors get here for another raid."

"You're not actually going are you? You'd be stupid to. The warriors could be here in a week! You need to get ready to go below the ground again."

"I have reasons to go. I'll be back before the end of this week before the snow sets in completely."

"Tian, you're not going. You don't know what the pass looks like, and we're too close to winter as it is. It'll be nothing but snow up there, snow and wolves!"

Tian sighed before setting down what he'd been holding. "Axel, I've already went through this with Marie. She let me go."

Axel shook his head. "Then I'll go yell at her! This is Death's pass Tian, no one who goes there comes back alive. It is one of the most dangerous passes on this continent, even more so when the mountains opened up to let the Kukouk come from beneath the surface. It became a hundred times more dangerous! Even with the old roads, you don't know what's up there.  There's too many risks, I can't let you go. Too many of our people have already died on Death's Pass. You can't be another. I won't allow it."

"They went up in the winter Axel, it's still autumn. The snow isn't as deep yet. The river is probably still flowing down from the mountains, as well, without ice. It'll be ok."

"I'll go with you then. I'll take mom's horse Mana. Just let me get packed and I'll come with. If you go, than having someone else there is best."

"You'll slow me down Axel. I'm the strongest to go out there. My body is nothing but endurance and fortitude. I can withstand even the worst of the cold." Tian stated, putting his hand on Axel's shoulder. "It's going to be ok. I'll be back in a week, top. Just don't get too lonely without me around. You can flirt with all the girls until I'm back, they won't be fawning over me as much."

"Idiot!" Axel scoffed, slapping the back of Tian's head. "You say that like there's more than one girl our age. There's just Meredith and she definitely looks like her mother."

"Aw come on Axel, I know there's someone you like!"

"Yeah, there is," Axel said, barely a whisper.

"When I get back, tell me who she is ok? She must be beautiful to catch your eye, you've never had any interest in other girls," Tian laughed before trying to swing his leg over Moth's back.

Axel smiled before grabbing his foot to push him up. "Gorgeous. They're absolutely gorgeous Tian."

Axel looped a rope around Moth's back and guided him towards the front of the barn. The sun was low in the sky the morning Tian left. The clouds hung over the land and shrouded the buildings in haze. It was a colder morning, hinting at the coming winter and perhaps a little rain.

"Tian!" Marie shouted, racing up to the horse. She came to a stop at his other side, clutching a bowl tightly in her hands. "Are you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Tian shrugged with a smile.

"Just… be careful. Don't get lost please. I brought some mash for you in case you miss home or get too hungry. Here's the last two flares… in case you need a rescue… I'll be watching the skies as much as possible," Marie stated, rubbing her eyes awkwardly. "I love you kid, be careful out there."

"Thank you Marie. I'll be home in one piece, promise."

"Of course you will. You learnt from the best after all."

Tian snickered before reaching down to hug the woman. "Don't worry. I'll be ok. I'll see you in a few days."

Marie pulled one of his bags towards her and stuffed a small knitted charm into the deepest pockets. "Mom made that for you. It's a mountain charm, and she said it'll protect you from bad spirits. Keep you safe and all."

"And," Axel quipped on the other side. He pressed something into Tian's palm. "My compass, so you can find your way home no matter what. So you don't get lost out there. Remember, home is always north west by about 40° but I don't know how accurate the compass anymore. My hunting group always finds our way back home though."     

"Thank you guys, really. I'm not going to die out there."

Marie stepped back with a tense nod. "We better let you get going then."

Tian readjusted against Moth's back, tightening his feet against the stallion's sides. He wrapped the hair around his fist to hang on. "Stay safe. Ha!"

He kicked the stallion in the sides gently and Moth sprang forwards, breaking into a canter with ease. They shot to the edge of the village. Tian wished he'd never left.

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When Moth grew tired of running, he slowed them down and slid off the horse's back. It wasn't entirely fair to be carried all the way. When the sun was still high in the sky, they'd found one of the old roads that split off to somewhere called Denve. The sign was horribly faded and it quipped his attention. By sundown, they had made it to the base of the mountains, an old town called Boulder. The buildings had long since fallen apart and the roads had all split from plants and trees growing in between the hard stones. The village must've once been beautiful though, especially to have sit at the base of the mountains. What he wouldn't give to be able to go back in time and see the village when it was alive and bustling. There must've been thousands of people who lived there.

"It's kinda spooky though," Tian commented, looking over at Moth.

The horse simply blew air at him and shook his head before turning to graze. He patted the horse before stepping towards one of the fallen ruins of a building. "We'll stay here tonight, and continue up when we have daylight."

His partner didn't say anything.

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"Marie, wait!" Axel shouted, racing up to catch the older woman's arm. "Why did you let him go? It's unsafe! He could die out there, alone."

Marie pulled Axel's arm off and her face darkened. For once, their leader was afraid. "He isn't my child, he never was. But he came to me starved almost to death and despite his differences, I took him in. He is my son, Axel, even if he will never call me mom. And it three days time, or maybe less, the warriors will come. And unlike before, they will take us all away to their world. I didn't want him here. I didn't want to watch the warriors kill him."

"What do you mean they'll take us away? They can't do that! We feed them, we keep their large world running! Tian's heart will shatter when he comes back and we're all gone."

"Axel… I know you care for my son. But… I'd rather him be alive with heart break then rotting away in some ditch. When they come for us, they will most likely kill me and I don't want my dying breathe to be alongside my only child's. Even if they never find out that his blood is magenta, they'll kill him so no one will rally behind the next village chief."

"It's because he's different, isn't it. It's because he's better than any of those trash that they'd be quick to slit his throat," Axel hissed, there was murder in his eyes.

"At the end of the day, the same boy we know and love will only be seen as a monster to them. The elders all got together during the night only to agree with sending him away. We want the village's hope to survive. Because even if we're separated far from each other, Tian will always be the glue that holds us together in the worst of times. It is my duty as a mother and a chief to ensure the survival of my heir. Tian has an important destiny, and if he dies here than he'll never meet the protector, and the last hope of equality for all people will be gone."

"Go with him Marie. So you don't have to die when the Capital's warriors come. I'll get you a horse ready. The people will understand if you go, they would want you alive."

Marie smiled at him only to shake her head. "A good leader stays with her people. The next chief has been chosen already, after me, and Tian… he'll make a better leader then any of the other leaders before. I will not let the Capital think that my village and it's people are cowards. We are descendants of the great mountain folk, those who crossed Death's Pass first and built a home among the wolves, we are not cowards. When the blade is leveled at my neck, I'll fall proudly, knowing my boy is alive and well. Knowing that I'll spit in the face of the men who will take my people away."