Eerie Calm Before The Storm

After Hendrix returned to the group, he lay on the ground and sighed as he fell asleep. And everyone else did the same as it was nighttime.

Meanwhile, a creature watched the group from the shadows, completely invisible. It studied them before chuckling and gazing at them with a smile. However, it didn't attack, and when Hendrix woke up an hour later, it fixated its gaze on him.

{Hendrix, I sense an ominous presence is watching us. Please keep your guard up.}

'I fear it may hunt us now. Besides, we don't have much to defend ourselves. This Crown World is so horrifying.' Hendrix thought while frantically looking out into the night.

{And it's brutal and cruel to live in.}

'Honestly, I think it's my curse of Majesty doing this. The school would have trained everyone through grueling and inhumane ways to give them a chance at survival if the crown world is this dangerous everywhere.'

{Your curse of Majesty is horrible}

Meanwhile the creature chuckled again and continued to watch Hendrix, amused by his fear and alertness, before deciding not to kill anyone tonight, satisfied with Hendrix's paranoia.

'Ackalon, whatever this thing is, I hope it doesn't go after us.' Hendrix thought as he began to sweat profusely.

Afterward, Hendrix stayed alert all night and only went to bed after sunrise. And the creature left the group's premises. Subsequently, everyone woke up from their slumbers.

'Oh no, I forgot to pick up and hold Hendrix!' Natasha thought, worried he was carried off at night by a varmint. And she began looking around frantically before sighing while seeing Hendrix's sleeping form.

"Natasha, are you alright?" Allura asked while getting up and popping her back.

"Oh, I am. It's just I didn't hold Hendrix while I slept. I was worried he'd be missing." Natasha explained while sighing.

"I'm glad he's alright. But he seems to be still asleep." Valentina stated while pointing to him and raising her brow.

"Hey, are we going to continue our way to Okria?" Nicole asked while smiling.

"Yes, just let me pick up Hendrix. We'll have to proceed without his instructions." Natasha replied while walking to Hendrix and reaching down for him.

"Wait, Natasha. You said it will be my turn to hold Hendrix today." Valentina complained while pouting.

"Alright, alright. Here I'll hand him to you." Natasha replied while sighing as she picked up Hendrix and handed him to Valentina.

"Guess we need to go now." Allura suggested.

However, before anyone else could talk, the bushes nearby began moving, and Kiannah walked through them.

"Hello, everyone. May I please come with you? If you allow me, I'll protect you all the best I can." Kiannah asked while smiling.

"Sure, however, know we are wary of you. Also, how did you get your wounds stitched?" Valentina asked while narrowing her eyes.

"Oh, you mean these things Hendrix used to save my life?" Kiannah asked while pointing to her stitched-up wounds.

"Wait, Hendrix, stitched your wounds?! How is this possible?!" Allura asked while furrowing her brows and crossing her arms under her chest. Additionally, she frowned as well.

"I'm not sure. I've never seen or heard of stitches before. Usually, once anyone turns sixteen and becomes level one, they can use healing flasks to deal with injuries." Kiannah explained.

"Then why don't you have any with you? Or are you still level zero?" Natasha asked.

"Well, I'm from a certain family who sends their children on trails when they turn sixteen. The family sends us into the Crown Plane via special means, and we are left to find a way home alive." Kiannah explained.

"Why stay a part of a family like that? Isn't that just sending you to die?" Allura asked while gasping.

"No, it's not, we are well equipped, but sometimes that's not enough. I had to use my wits, willpower, and patience as well to survive this long. The death rate is close to ninety percent." Kiannah stated while sighing.

"Still, why be part of a Diabolical family like that?" Allura questioned again.

"Because it's how I can prove I am formidable to my parents and make them proud. They also had to go through this and live." Kiannah replied while smiling.

"I see. However, let's keep going. We must reach our destination in a week, or we're doomed." Allura replied.

Kiannah nodded and walked with the group as they traversed along the path, and at times they had to deal with the course being the only thing to stand on before entering a forest. Eventually, after an hour of traveling, Hendrix woke up again.

"Where am I?" Hendrix yelled as he struggled to escape Valentina's embrace, remembering falling asleep on the ground, not in her arms.

"Shh, it's okay, Hendrix. It's us." Valentina replied while gently ruffling Hendrix's hair and rubbing his back, and softly smiling as she kissed his forehead.

"I don't trust you all either." Hendrix replied while beginning to shiver again.

"We know Hendrix. You don't need to remind us." Natasha replied while patting his head.

"Just because we're keeping you safe doesn't mean we trust you either." Allura stated in self-denial while turning her head to the side and pouting.

"That's fine." Hendrix replied before looking at his surroundings the best he could.

"We started moving without you. Also, did you stitch up Kiannah's wounds?" Valentina questioned while slightly grinning.

"Do I look like I can do that?" Hendrix replied cryptically.

Allura, Natasha, and Valentina looked at each other and sighed.

"No, you don't, Hendrix. However, you killed, cleaned, and cooked those varmints. So I'm suspicious of your abilities." Allura stated while narrowing her eyes at him.

"I am as well, and I'm curious. Why didn't you show more strength in the fighting competition back at school? Why hide all your capabilities?" Natasha asked while sighing.

Hendrix sighed and formulated his thoughts.

"I will not share. Besides, why should I?" Hendrix countered.

"Good point." Allura remarked.

"Because we're caring for you, and we want to know how strong you are to know you better." Valentina stated while tearing up, seeing how much Hendrix didn't trust and feared them.

"We promised and showed we won't hurt you. So why can't you let us get to know you?" Natasha asked while tearing up as well.

"Because what you'll find underneath my facade will scar your souls. I'm not someone to get to know." Hendrix replied cryptically.

Natasha, Allura, and Valentina all sighed again and continued to walk.

For the entire day, the group walked except when Hendrix hunted and prepared food for them.

Meanwhile, in an undisclosed location, a burrow lay, and the sound of snoring ceased, and a chuckle sounded.