Chapter 18: A Little Too Late

The afternoon sun hangs high in the blazing blue sky as the steady cadence of Teddy's hooves trample against the mountain path. The swaying of his long blond tail in front of my face becomes more and more hypnotic as the day creeps on.

"So how far exactly is this wagon wreck? I can't imagine a kid running this far on her own." I wheeze, cracking my back as we walk on.

"It took me a day or two to get where you found me but I didn't follow the trail." Stella says, tucked in front of Cynthia on Teddy's back. "It's on a flat clearing if I remember."

"Well, we're on a decline now so we could find it soon." Cynthia says as her eyes follow Lucy trotting around the horse's feet.

"So, what was a cart full of orphans doing on a path like this?" I ask. I can feel the strain building up in my knees.

"They were trying to get us to Aelia for a better future." Stella replies emotionlessly. "They snuck us out at night where the guards couldn't see. I guess we were spotted along the way."

"That's... Terrible." Cynthia breathes sorrowfully.

"Makes me question those Houndstooth guys even more." I huff. The dog runs past my legs and throws me off balance. We walk for half an hour more. I can feel my sweat building up on my forehead as the forest only seems to increase in temperature. Insects buzz in my ears as we reach the bottom of the mountain. I can see the thicket of trees begin to clear as we come to a riverbank.

"Just keep following the path along the river. I recognize this place so we shouldn't be far." Stella says nervously, clutching the saddle horn. I trudge over to the riverbed and kneel, hoisting handfuls of water at my face. I groan in relief. The girls follow me over and dismount to let Teddy refresh. He greedily laps up the water, the fur on his back drenched in sweat under his saddle.

"Do you want to ride for a bit Master Darwin?" Cynthia asks. I shake my head.

"Cardio is good for me." I reassure her, slamming a fist into my abdomen.

"Whatever you say." She chuckles, breaking the surface of the chilled river with her fingertips. "It's so lovely here really." She smiles, lifting her gown and twirling a bit as she steps into the water.

"Look out miss Cynthia!" Stella squeals, stripping off her tattered tights and jumping in beside her. The cold droplets fly out from beneath her feet and shower Cynthia in a mist.

"Gosh, be more careful!" Cynthia giggles, splashing her back mercilessly. Stella joins the chorus of laughter. Lucy barks loudly at the disturbance.

"You're going to get me soaked!" Cynthia exclaims.

"I already am soaked!" Stella hollers, stomping around.

"Alright you two, we should be hitting the road again." I say, walking over to grab Teddy's reins when I head the distant sound of hooves thudding against the soil and muffled voices of men. We all fall silent. The sound of the river drowns out the silence. I can feel my heartbeat quicken. I signal for the other two to hustle themselves behind a boulder on the bank. When they make it out of view I attempt to make a break for it.

"Hey you there, hot day isn't it?" A man's voice laughs in my direction. I turn around too quickly, propping a false smile as I lean against Teddy.

"Ah, yeah I've been out here for days. Just had to let this old beast have a break." I laugh nervously, patting the horse gently.

"Yeah, heat's been brutal lately." The one man says, though it's difficult to make out much of his facial features beyond a thick moustache under his helmet.

"Where you headed?" The other fully armored man asks through his tin helmet.

"Ah, just crossing the country to visit my mother." I say nonchalantly, waving my hands.

"Brutal." Moustache man chuckles. "I don't think I'd travel anywhere to visit my old hag of a mother." The other man laughs along.

"So where are you guy's from?" I ask as innocently as possible.

"Just on the daily patrol." One replies, his horse paws at the ground.

"Ah well, don't mind silly old me. You two have a nice day." I say, giving them a friendly wave. They both nod and walk onwards down the path. I let out a sigh.

"That was close." I say. "You guys can come out now, we should get out of here quickly incase they decide to turn around." I watch the two girls slip out from behind the boulder and remount Teddy. We break into a trot down the path and away from the guards.

"Hold on tight!" Cynthia says softly to Stella as she urges Teddy into a canter on the flat ground. Stella lets out a startled gasp. I watch them tear away from me down the path.

"Hey! I can't run that fast!" I holler at them. "Or wait.." I mutter quietly. I transition into a jog before a full sprint. I can feel my legs carrying me as if I'm gliding across the terrain. They almost don't feel like my own. My eyes widen in disbelief. Sure I'm not as fast as a horse at full speed but I am close enough to keep pace. I wonder if the heroes physical buffs are able to increase with practice? I continue to run, slowly catching up to them as Teddy slows down further up the path. I skid to a stop next to them. My heart feels like it will burst out of my chest and my legs sear up in a tingling sensation.

"How in the-"

"Hero things." I breathe heavily, leaning over to regain my breath. I stand up, a desolate scene being revealed. The once lush grass of this field has been charred to nothing but a dark ash. Dark brown stains loiter the soil. Over to the left lays a broken down cart which appears to be badly ransacked. It's linen cover is charred as well as it's once sturdy wooden body. Large charred rocks surround the base. The wind picks up and I catch the scent of charcoal on my nose. I begin to pace towards the cart. I shiver as my eyes begin to register what exactly those "rocks" just were. I feel like vomiting.

"Master Darwin?" Cynthia says, helping Stella off the horse before pacing over to my side. She gasps, pushing Stella back behind her instinctively.

"God." I spit in both anger and disgust, bringing my hand up to cover my mouth. I take a moment to recollect before turning to inspect the burnt corpses again. They seem quite eaten up by the flames. I feel the tears well in my eyes as I notice the body's tiny size.

"That's horrendous." I grumble, wiping my eyes.

"H-hello?" A weak voice so light it could be swept up by the wind mutters from behind the cart. I take a deep breath before walking over to the other side. My hand grappling the sword from Locke.

"Who goes there?" I announce myself as I turn the corner. I look around, half expecting a Houndstooth member when my eyes fall upon a skinny woman leaning against the cart. A deep dark gash sits in her chest, staining her dress at the top. I loosen my grip on my sword and dash over without another thought.

"What happened?" I ask, getting to my knees beside her.

"Sister Edna!" Stella cries from behind me, pushing past to huddle around the injured woman.

"Stella?" She replies weakly, coughing as blood spatters down her lips.

"It's me! I ran away with Lucy and found the hero Darwin to save you!" Stella leans over the woman's face. She cracks a weak smile.

"Thank goodness." She breathes.

"Is anyone else alive?" I ask gently.

"They slaughtered them all." She croaks. "Left me here to die slowly as punishment for..." She breathes shallowly. "Betraying the Houndstooth guild."

"Let's get you out of here-" I say, reaching out to help her up. She shakes her head stiffly.

"Poison. It's too late but thank you." She looks up towards me with exhausted eyes. "Please bring her somewhere. Far far away."

"Sister Edna..." Stella sniffles, clutching the woman's cold hands.

"We will." I say. I can hear Cynthia's sob break out from behind me. My gut twists in my stomach as I bite my tongue.

"You have a bright life ahead of you Stella." She smiles to the girl sobbing at her side. Edna raises a shaking hand and strokes her hair. "Don't cry now. I told you to be strong." She hushes her.

"You said we'd live together in Aelia!" Stella shrieks, clutching her bloodied dress.

"I'll always be with you so live on for me." She smiles tenderly, wetness collecting in her eyes. "It's all I ever wanted for you." She says shakily. "It seems as though my prayers have been answered." She whispers as her eyes close slowly. Her hand falling slowly down Stella's back as her sobs only grow louder.

"Please get up! You told me we'd be together!" Stella screams, falling back and sobbing into her knees. I feel a twinge of deep sadness. Was Emi like this after she heard I...

I start sobbing quietly. Tiny tears drop to the charred grass as the perfectly blue sky soars overhead. I hear Cynthia shuffle closer to Stella who cries into her. Her screams of despair are muffled with the buzzing in my head as my thoughts race. Being a hero doesn't mean you can save everyone. What a shitty position. I fall to my knees. I really make a pathetic hero.

"M-Master Darwin... What now?" Cynthia asks hopelessly, hugging Stella close in her arms.

"Let's give them a proper burial."