Chapter 14: Ch14 – Night Watch

“Hey, wake up!” Eleanor said softly.

“Hey!” She repeated, a hint of frustration creeping into her tone.

I’m going to push this idiot off this tree if he doesn’t wake up, thought Eleanor.

“RYAN!” She nearly shouted directly into his ear.

Ryan, now half awake, rose up, rubbing his eyes, and asked, “What do you want.”

“It’s your turn to watch,” she responded, slightly agitated already.

“Yeah, yeah, okay, I’ll look out.”

Eleanor instantly turned away from Ryan, laid down, and cast “Somnum” upon herself, leading to a snoring sound to emit from the tree.

Damn, she’s loud. Maybe I should wake her up… nevermind, If I wake her up, she will probably chuck me off of this tree.

Ryan turned away from his loud compatriot and surveyed the forest. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere amidst the towering trees. Ryan stretched his limbs, feeling the stiffness from sleeping on the tree branch, and tried to focus on his task of keeping watch.

As he scanned the surroundings, Ryan couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that lingered within him. The events of the past few days had left him on edge, constantly wary of danger lurking in the shadows.

Lost in his thoughts, Ryan failed to notice a faint rustling sound coming from the bushes below. It was only when the noise grew louder and more persistent that he snapped out of his reverie, his senses on high alert. Gripping the branch tightly, he strained his eyes to catch any movement in the underbrush.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure emerged from the foliage, moving stealthily towards the base of the tree. Ryan’s heart raced as he realised that they were not alone. Without hesitation, he nudged Eleanor, trying to rouse her from her slumber.

“Eleanor, wake up! We’ve got company,” Ryan whispered urgently, shaking her shoulder.

But Eleanor remained unresponsive, lost in the depths of her magical sleep. Panic began to rise within Ryan as the figure below drew closer, their intentions unknown. He cursed under his breath, feeling a surge of frustration at being trapped in this precarious situation.

With no other option left, Ryan braced himself for confrontation. As the figure reached the foot of the tree, he prepared to defend himself with a twig nearby, his muscles tense and ready to strike. Yet, to his surprise, the figure halted abruptly, their features illuminated by the faint moonlight filtering through the canopy.

It was a young woman, her face drawn and weary, with dirt smudges and twigs tangled in her hair. She held her hands up in a gesture of surrender, her eyes wide with fear and desperation. Ryan hesitated, unsure of what to make of this unexpected encounter.

“Please,” the woman pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper, “I mean no harm. I’m just… lost.”

Ryan studied her carefully, searching for any signs of deception or malice. Yet all he saw was vulnerability and exhaustion etched into her features. Against his better judgement, he felt a pang of sympathy for her plight.

“Alright,” Ryan relented, lowering his guard slightly, “but no sudden movements. What’s your name?”

The woman hesitated, as if weighing her options, before finally replying, “My name is Lila. I was…. separated… from my masters during the night, and I’ve been wandering aimlessly ever since. Please, I need somewhere safe to rest, just for tonight.”

Ryan glanced back at Eleanor, still sound asleep despite the commotion. He knew he should wake her and discuss their next course of action, but of course, he didn’t know when the effects of her spell would wear off.

Making a difficult decision, he gestured for her to climb up the tree and join them.

“Alright, but be quiet,” Ryan warned, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings, “and no funny business. We’re…” Ryan looked at Eleanor “I’m keeping an eye on you.”

Lila nodded gratefully, her relief evident in her eyes as she ascended the tree with ease. As she settled onto the branch beside them, Ryan couldn’t help but wonder what happened to her.

Now, up close, Ryan could make out her features. She had short blonde hair, light blue eyes, and bruises covering her body.

Something tells me she was “separated” from her masters, on purpose.

As the night wore on, Ryan remained on high alert, his senses attuned to any sign of danger. Lila, nestled between him and Eleanor, appeared to have drifted off into a fitful sleep, her troubled expression softened by the darkness.

With each passing minute, the forest seemed to come alive with whispered secrets and hidden threats. Shadows danced among the trees, casting eerie silhouettes on the forest floor, while the rustling of leaves sounded like ominous whispers in the night.

Suddenly, the beautiful chirping of the birds came to a halt, followed by a low growl that echoed through the darkness, sending a shiver down Ryan’s spine. He tensed, scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement. Beside him, Lila stirred, her eyes fluttering open with a startled gasp.

“What was that?” She whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves.

Ryan shook his head, his gaze fixed on the darkness beyond. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice tinged with unease.

As if on cue, a pair of glowing eyes appeared in the shadows, their predatory gaze fixed on the trio perched high above, attracted to the blaring snoring. Ryan’s heart pounded in his chest as he recognised the unmistakable silhouette of a predator stalking its prey.

Without a word, he reached for his makeshift weapon, a sturdy dead branch lying within arm’s reach. Beside him, Lila tried to wake up Eleanor to no avail, so instead, mirrored Ryan by picking up a twig, her hands shaking with adrenaline and fear.

Together, they braced themselves for the imminent threat, their eyes locked on the approaching danger.

With a sudden lunge, the creature sprang from the darkness, its claws bared and teeth gleaming in the moonlight. Ryan reacted instinctively, swinging his branch with all his strength, aiming for the creature’s head.

The blow connected with a satisfying thud, sending the creature reeling back with an annoyed growl; it had little effect, unsurprisingly. The wolf readied itself to pounce, but before the wolf creature could lunge for them again, Eleanor leaped into action, her multi-coloured eyes blazing with sleepless rage.

“Ignis pila, Ignis pila…”She unleashed a barrage of fire balls upon the creature, most of which striking true, setting the creature and it’s surroundings alight. Howling in pain it retreated into the depths of the forest. Eleanor closed her fist, the fire that was burning the wolf and the tree that they were currently sitting on, dissapeared.

Breathing heavily, Ryan collapsed back onto the branch, his limbs trembling with exhaustion and relief. Beside him, Lila let out a shaky breath, her eyes wide with awe and gratitude towards Eleanor.

“Who’s she?” Asked Eleanor, turning to Lila.

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