From The Inside

05

Crouching down, Ylva placed her fingers against the tracks in front of her. After resting they had retraced their steps. "South," she mumbled thoughtfully and looked over her shoulder. "They're heading South, it seems." She said while catching Beorn's attention. He turned and walked slowly over to her. He was guardedly looking around, still sceptical that they weren't being watched. "So...do we go North?" Ylva asked worriedly. North meant possibly returning to the eerie quiet woodland. Giving a slow shrug she stood back up and crossed her arms. "We could always return to the river." Frowning, she looked up when the sun was seemingly setting. It was making its slow descent in the sky, making shadows stretch along the ground, and for the sky to tint an orangey yet pink colour in places.

"It'll be the first place they'll look." Beorn said decisively, Ylva looked up at him a little disheartened that things now couldn't just go simply. "What is it?" He questioned when Ylva suddenly looked like she had realised something.

"Being in between the river and the wood...it's like the perfect place to be." She looked up at him. "No one would dare walk through that wood, and crossing that river is hard."

"And what of the orcs?" Beorn asked. "What if they find us?" He wished to be somewhere else. Somewhere not so close to where they had escaped. The orcs weren't far away, even now they were still looming nearby.

Ylva looked to the ground and shuffled her feet, she mumbled something which he missed. Placing a hand under her chin, he made her look up. "We'll fight." He sighed over her simple words. She did make it seem simple. Ylva sensed his scepticism over what she had said. "You are amazing." Ylva said with a smile, Beorn frowned and looked at her strangely, not understanding if he had heard her right. "For so long you have been locked in the dark within that cage, you have forgotten. I thought I'd remind you. You are amazing. You are capable of such acts of strength." Ylva said quietly letting out a quiet laugh when his expression turned blank as he simply cupped her face in his hands.

"Fine," he said after a few moments of silence. He had to ponder over her words. And once his thoughts trailed off this was all he could reply with.

"Really?!" Ylva exclaimed quietly and somewhat excitedly.

"Yes." Beorn gave a nod and called after her when she suddenly pulled back from his grasp and darted off.

"Come on! I'll race you! First to the river is the winner, the last one has to find dinner!" She said in a highly excitable tone. She did stop a few paces away though when she realised he wasn't following. She wasn't going to stray too far away from him that he wasn't within sight.

Despite himself, Beorn found himself smiling. Walking forwards he shifted skins and stopped in front of her. Even as a bear he still towered over her human form. Reaching up, Ylva rubbed a hand over his muzzle, this action just caused him to sniff at her hand. Taking a step back from him, she too shifted forms and let out a low whine. She may have realised that she was going to lose this race. Having her head suddenly and gently nudged against, she looked up. Giving his head a nudge in return she trotted after him when he moved away from her side.

As soon as they reached a level piece of land, they stopped and looked at each other. With a decisive nod they both sprung forwards. Ylva's previous thoughts were annoyingly enough coming true. She had always prided herself on being fast, she had been faster at running in comparison to her brothers. Regardless, she continued to run for a few more moments before slowing to stop. Sensing her stopping, Beorn slowed to a stop too and turned to look at her. She just sat looking at him with a simple gaze.

Walking forwards, he walked behind her and nudged his large head against her back trying to urge her to move. Even though they had discovered they were in relative peace and safety. Stopping for too long still wasn't wholly wise. Ylva whined and playfully swiped a paw at him to bat him away. She was taking a breather. Not everyone had the same stamina as the bear. Beorn continued to nudge her to walk or even move. This if anything caused her to turn and look over her shoulder at him bluntly.