Chapter five.


Arrival.


After crossing the lake, Luna realised something didn't feel right. She was meant to feel relieved and relaxed, but a feeling of uneasiness struck her chest. The sky responded to her thoughts. The light of the sun glowed dimmer, but no clouds were blocking it. She glanced around nervously, wandering what to expect. Jacob looked her way, reading her expression.

"What is it? What's going on?", Jacob whispered, not wanting to alarm the others. 

"We have to go, now", Luna warned, alerting Amber and Andrew. She wanted to inform them more, but had no idea who, or what could be listening. Amber and Andrew hopped on the horse while Jacob and Luna walked. Andrew knew the directions to Evenlake Hedge, as he had journeyed there before. Thankfully he had informed her on them too, so she didn't have to rely on the sun. Suddenly Luna halted, pretended to have something in her shoe and whispered to Jacob,

"We are being followed". 

Luna nodded to him and they ran. Swerving past trees and fallen logs, she sprinted, Jacob pulling her after him. Her lungs felt aflame and she had scraped her legs against numerous sticks and low branches, yet she felt no pain. The shear adrenalin of the moment had disabled her every sense and emotion and replaced them with an overwhelming willingness to survive. Jacob was strong and fit and thus could run for a long time. Luna however, had no idea how long she could keep it up. Her forehead was beaded with sweat and she was struggling to breath. The worst part was she knew what her stalkers were after, and that was- well her. While Luna was not a princess or anyone of royal blood, she was the daughter of Astrid Rose, the duchess of Warandeer, and thus any enemy kingdom would pay high ranson for her. It was the reason she never ventured from Mayfeild for more than a day. She felt guilty on Jacob's behalf, she was pretty much a magnet, luring unwanted guests towards them. The farther she travelled, the stronger the lure...