Chapter 17: Ch17 – Meow?

Two days had elapsed since the duo narrowly avoided capture by the mounted guards. With little time for rest, they pushed on, barely pausing to replenish depleted mana, snatch moments of sleep, or nibble on the remnants of berries and fruits they found along the way. Their relentless pace had left them on the brink of shutdown, but their determination had paid off; either the guards had abandoned their pursuit or they had left the zone that the guards were scouting.

The forest had changed slightly; before, it was overwhelmed by towering trees and long grass with massive bushes, but now the trees had become sparse and there are signs of people nearby, footsteps, both a good and bad omen.

“Rumble, rumble.” Ryan’s stomach made never-ending rumbling noises, signalling him to hurry his ass up on finding food. His situation wasn’t very dissimilar to Eleanor’s.

A footpath! Wait, I meant to say that out loud. Ryan wasn’t thinking very clearly…

“A footpath!” Ryan said, excitedly.

Finally, something interesting has happened! For the past two days, we’ve been walking around trees and bushes while being assaulted by bugs.

“Don’t be too excited, doofus; although we’re next to a human kingdommmm, we’re still deep innnnn elf territory.” Said Eleanor, her eyes slightly drowsy and her speech slurred.

Just as Eleanor finished her sentence, a rickety cart came trundling down the path with a strained, old horse carrying it along.

People! Huh, of all the things to be the same as Earth, they are horses and millipedes? The two things I dislike most!

10 years ago, Ricklebury Park, Earth.

“Hahaha!” A slightly old, blonde-haired man was laughing, slapping his knee in the process, while his wife was sighing, preparing a meal on a checkered blanket.

What was he laughing at? A young Ryan had just run straight into a low-hanging branch.

“Owww, where did that come from?” A little, squeaky Ryan said.

Suddenly, a small herd of horses, no more than 10, appeared, trotting a few metres away in the forest they were settled in.

“Ooo, Ryan, Look, I’ve heard about these wild horses on Youtuby!”

Ryan jumped up, and hopped over to say hi to the cool-looking animals, and the moment he was in range.

“Neighhhhh.” The horse rose up, and kicked him in the chest.

10 years later, Foles Forest, Delar

There was a man in the cart—an elf.

Crap! We’re done for, he’s already seen us!

Eleanor hopped in a bush to try hide from the cart, her head stuck out like a sore thumb.

“Hello, you two! What are you doing alone out here?”

Eleanor climbed out the bush, realising she was caught, “Just follow my lead,” she whispered, not very quietly; her mental faculties weren’t performing very well.

The elf shook his head, his whitish-black hair swaying from side to side. “I heard that… But before you panic, I don’t believe in that stupid propaganda about humans being inferior to elves so do not worry about me harming you.”

Thank God! If we had to get into a fight, I don’t think Eleanor would be able to use a single spell in the state she’s in. Ryan cast a glance towards Eleanor, who was gazing at a flower in front of them, her head was completely out of it.

“Meow,” said Eleanor.

“Huh, okay, it seems you two need some food… and a nap? There’s a couple apples back there; feel free to have one, and by the way, I am heading for the border town of Elerea. So tell me when you want to get off and I’ll stop.”

Ryan and Eleanor jumped into the slightly old elves’ cart, no questions asked.

If he is lying to us and is leading us into a trap, I do not care anymore! Just kill me! I cannot stand another minute walking through that forest!

“So, what are you two doing out here?” asked the elf, trying to make conversation.

*Silence*

“Hello?” asked the elf.

Snoring sounds began emanating from the back of his cart.

“Ahh, they didn’t even eat the apples yet!” Said the elf, looking behind the curtains of the cart.

Ryan woke up a couple of hours later disturbed by the sounds of the old cart bumping along the street. It was around midday now, and Eleanor was still sleeping.

Well, that wasn’t the nicest nap I’ve ever had, but it’ll have to do. Oooooh, an apple!

“Munch, Munch”

Within seconds, the apple was nearly gone.

“Finally awake, hmm?” The elf said, to which all he received was a couple final munches.

“So what were you two doing over at Foles Forest?” asked the elf, raising his voice slightly so that he could grab Ryan’s attention, which was currently searching for more apples.

“Weee… were lost?” Said Ryan, who was peeking out of the cart up at the elf, unsure of what he could say without revealing his identity.

“Haha, that sounds like a good enough excuse.” Responded the jolly, old elf.

Eleanor now began to wake up, disturbed by the voices.

Eleanor patted Ryan on the shoulder, “Why are we in an elf’s cart?” She whispered, now sufficiently quiet enough that the old elf wouldn’t hear.

“He’s just helping us out, this elf doesn’t approve of the discrimination against humans. And to be honest? We needed this, we wouldn’t last another day in tha-”

“Oooh, an apple,” interrupted Eleanor, who was starving to death.

It feels like she interrupts me every day, I wouldn’t be surprised if she is doing this on purpose, sighed Ryan.

“What are you murmuring about back there?” The old elf spoke.

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