Descendants

Chapter II - I Beg Your Pardon?

"If we take the old trails it'll be faster, though."

Claire mumbled slightly, still half-asleep, and turned away from the noise with the fire now facing her backside. She snuggled further into the soft leathery cloak which enveloped her tiny frame like a cocoon, trying to block out their conversation. When rubbing her legs against each other for added warmth, she felt soft bandages wrapped around her legs.

"And risk getting captured? Do you have any idea how elated they would be to catch us?"

Frowning, she opened her eyes and focused her attention on the ground in front of her. There were greenish-yellow and orange leaves scattered about the forest floor, nesting in between tree roots which surrounded the campsite.

A tiny creature she'd never seen before crawled on one of the leaves. It was red, and shaped like a little dome with black spots. She was a bit startled as the insect flew away in the blink of an eye.

"I don't think going through the mountains is such a good idea. She'll never make it."

Well that certainly doesn't sound promising.

Slowly, Claire began to sit up. She turned around with the cloak still wrapped around her and frowned at the two elves.

"I don't like where this conversation is going. I know very little of mountains but I was told they're tall and cold, and I'd like to know why we'd have to go through there, or at least where we're going."

Andil spoke first.

"My opinion is that we should go through the old trails in order to go around the mountains to reach the entrance of our camp. It's a longer pathway and slightly more dangerous because of possible human rangers, but it's safer than trying to scale them. They're a lot more massive than you probably realize, and this time of year has unpredictable weather, especially in what was once called the Appalachian Mountains. Which is our main obstacle."

Although she didn't quite understand where or what he was referring to, Claire thought he had a point. Humans were easier to deal with than weather. You can't change the weather.

Erendriel sat closer to the edge of the low tree trunk he was on, and looked over at Claire with urgency.

"I have been through those mountain passes many times, and know them by heart. My kin and I cut secret tunnels through the range before Man settled this region, and much longer before this elfling next to me came to life. I know from experience that underestimating humans can, will, and has cost the lives of many important and dear people."

His face grew more sullen, Claire had noticed. His eyes seemed to be looking at something else, far in the distance. The elf's jaw was set tight, and his thin brows seemed to nearly furrow, though he kept his composure.

Claire had also realized the other elf across from him seemed to be feeling a similar pain. With hair not much lighter, and a softer face, he could easily pass as a younger brother of the seemingly older of the two.

Maybe he's closer to my age, she briefly thought.

She was not far off. Andil was indeed closer to her age...relatively. This also meant he had less experience than his elder and he was not as skilled at hiding his emotions. She could see the wrinkles forming between his brows and a deep frown set in as the subject of lost life was brought up. It momentarily seemed to age him beyond his years.

After a brief pause, Erendriel continued,

"The old trails aren't used as often as they were before the wars, but they hold dangers of their own which I would not be able to protect you from. I am not asking your opinion, because I know you lack the knowledge to come to an informed decision. I'm merely telling you this so you understand my reasoning, because you will face other perils in those mountains which you can be protected from, although they may be more frightening."