Alex sat still for a moment, then slowly started moving towards the tent, which was behind the man. The man kept his crossbow trained on Firiko.
"Hurry up; I might get bored. And when I get bored, things die." Alex crawled into the tent, trembling. He was forming a plan.
Firiko resisted the urge to whimper as the other moved, trying not to show how terrified he was at that moment.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Alex crawled out of the tent, holding a highly ornate rosewood box in his hands. The man smirked, thinking he had won.
"Hand it over," he said, still keeping the crossbow trained at Alex. He quietly put the box in the man's hand. Smirking again, the man flipped the lid open.
"What?!" He roared, furious. The box was empty. Quickly, Alex hit the man in the back, sending him sprawling.
"Firiko, we need to run!" He said, bending down and picking the empty box up quickly. The man was groaning, trying to stand.
Firiko moved quickly at the other's side, "Get on!"
Alex climbed on, putting the box under his arm and glancing back at the man. He nearly stood, but fell again. He felt bad about having to leave everything, but they had to leave. Perhaps Ms. Hinata could come back with him after this was done.
Firiko took off as soon as the other was on, bolting deep into the woods, wings held tight against his sides as he ran.
Alex bent low to Firiko's back, holding on tightly. There was something… different about him. There seemed to be a foreign aura about him.
Firiko kept going, still scared from the wakeup call.
Alex looked back. No one seemed to be following them, but they had to put as much space between the camp and themselves as possible. He turned back and buried his head in Firiko's fur.
Firiko kept going, too shaken to think straight.
Finally, Alex thought they were far enough away.
"Firiko, you can stop now…" Alex bent down to speak close to Firiko's ear to ensure he could hear what Alex was saying.
Firiko nodded, slowing to stop in the next clearing, puffing a little from shakiness, and the run.
Alex slipped off, the box still under his arm. He kneeled down and opened it, shaking his hand over it. Slowly, a blue marble slipped out of his flesh, landing with a plunk in the box. He closed it again, looking up at Firiko.
"Are you okay?" He asked, worry in his voice.
Firiko allowed himself to lie down, tense with fright. that had not been a good wakeup call.
Sighing, Alex sat down next to Firiko.
Firiko pressed closer to him, trying to calm down.
(I feel really bad for traumatizing Firiko…)
Alex lightly put his hand on Firiko, knowing how terrified he must have been.
Firiko froze at the touch, before relaxing and pressing against him.
(Eh, it happens…)
In the camp Alex and Firiko had abandoned, the man Alex had hit into the tree finally struggled to his feet. several other men stepped from the trees. A man with black hair and red eyes looked over the man who had been fended off.
"You failed. You're weak. A weak link. We are only as strong as our weakest link. And what do we do to the weakest link?" The man's eyes widened. The others show in union.
"We reforge them." The man with the red eyes smiled wickedly.
"No, no, no please no! I'll do better, I swear!" The man pleaded.
"Yes, you will." The man with red eyes stepped forward. The man who had ambushed Alex and Firiko screamed.
Alex looked up when he heard a faint scream. It had come from the direction of the abandoned camp. He put his arm protectively around Firiko.
Firiko pressed closer to his side, his ears flattening as his feathers stood on end, wishing he didn't have the ability to hear it so clearly, however faint it was.
Alex looked down at Firiko.
"I'm sorry I dragged you into this," he murmured.
"It's okay…. I-I could've left before this happened….. I got myself into this…" he said, still shaky.
Alex gently hugged Firiko, not wanting him to be upset anymore.
Firiko eventually calmed, relaxing in Alex's grip.
When Firiko calmed down, Alex lightly squeezed Firiko, then let go. He looked up, squinting.
"We should get going. The fastest we get top of the mount, the better. Of course, we should be able to walk for awhile."
Firiko nodded in agreement, "Right…. I'm good to go if you are…" he said.
Alex nodded, slowly standing up. It would be easier to move quickly without having to carry everything from the camp.
Firiko got to his paws, preferring not to shift at the moment, still a bit on edge.
Seeing Firiko up, Alex started walking in the direction of the mountain.