Chattering Monkeys

Mechanical Bunny · Site Admin Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 223

The trees whispered softly and mysteriously to the night. Everything was drowned in an inky blackness. It was the darkest hour on the darkest night of the year, the new moon. One could hardly see anything right in front of him. Outreaching branches grabbed at you without warning as you walked, and roots tripped your feet. There was no traveling on a night like this. Justan didn't even know this, however, because it was as dark as his world always was. At one time he would have seen the night and been frightened, but looked up and seen the stars twinkling merrily. That would have brightened his mood. However, there was no use talking about the past.

Now, Justan was gloomy. The air was heavy with a late night chill, the damp kind that sinks into your bones. Justan felt it deeper than that, and shivered.

The castle, his one home, had fallen. The surviving army had fled to the surrounding area and traveled, trying to outmaneuver the larger Rougian army that followed. A few hours ago a surprise attack from a smaller contingent had found them. Dain had shielded them as Justan and others escaped. Through the chaos and the blind running, Justan had made it to this forest to hide. The only one who had made it with him was Yue Yan.

After walking months in each others company, Justan still didn't know Yue Yan well. The boy wouldn't speak in a normal conversation, and Justan had been subconsciously avoiding him for weeks. Something about the other made him feel weird. And now, it was just the two of them trapped in this forest. Justan was trying to contact Dain through their mental link, but had never been successful at that. Dain was the one with the mind talent. It was up to Master to reach them. Until then...

Until then, Justan sat against a tree and tried to get comfortable. He listened intently to the surrounding forest, flinching at every creak and rustle, hoping that his lack of sight wasn't robbing him from seeing an approaching enemy. He hated it, but he was depending on Yue Yan to protect him. His cheeks burned in shame that he was so powerless to defend himself.