Zenora

Emily’s point of view:

The next two days went by so fast. Brock never left my side, he actually sat behind me on Rhydon. He had told Nightwing to fly home and the black Gryphon had done so.

Also, I have been talking to Brock and Archeops about what had happened in the forest and what the Wood-Elves had said to me. In return, Brock had told me what happened when he woke up. It seems he hadn’t been able to find me anywhere, but when he finally did, the whole tribe of Wood-Elves held him back. He had been screaming and fighting like his life depended on it, trying to get through to me. It had been terrifying for him to be so helpless when he saw me walking up to that tree and portal, so now he would never let me go and always stay at my side, in fear of losing me.

“It all makes sense now though.” Archeops suddenly said and we both frowned at him.

“You have all these abilities, probably abilities that the hunters had hundreds of years ago. Some must have been able to talk to animals and others have been able to look through their eyes or see their visions. One of the abilities that I have seen personally is that someone could alter their shots with magic, but that was many years ago. But now that this Elf told you that your offspring will spread the abilities again throughout our race, you must be able to use all of the long-forgotten hunter-abilities yourself.” He said, explaining himself for everything that happened. “I have to read my books to find out what more those hunters of the old age could do, to see where your possibilities end, Princess.” He continued.

“Well, you have to start training me soon then.” I said with a smile, curious at what I could do more.

“My fierce little hunter, one day you will be able to beat me in combat if Arch makes you even better in what you can do already.” Brock said to me while showing a fake pout.

“Jealous much, are you?” I said to him when he started to smile.

“Nope, not at all, since I’m the one you will be making the so-called ‘offspring’ with.” He said with a huge smile on his face and my cheeks burned red from his bashfulness. I know I’m not a virgin anymore and I’m not a prude, but hearing him say these words out loud, is still something I have to get used to! But even though his comment, we couldn’t stop touching and teasing each other all day.

“Maybe we should get started to make this ‘offspring’ soon then.” I whispered to Brock and I could feel his arousal rubbing against my back.

“We will be home tomorrow evening, love, just wait till then. I finally get the chance to end what you started in the shower.” He said.

“The shower? No, I don’t think I can reach the bathrooms at all. I think you have to take a right turn to my room first and tie me up, just like you suggested at the Chasm.” I replied in hushed tones and Brock laughed out loud and hugged me tighter.

“Good morning Emily.” I heard a voice say in my mind the morning after.

“Cirilya! Your awake! Oh, I’m so happy you did!” I said to her.

“Thanks to you, I heard what you did to me and I’m really glad you got to me on time. By the way, how is Brock doing? Because Anna just told me, that Nightwing just got here and he is dancing in circles and stomping his feet on the ground like a young deer!” She said and I laughed out loud, waking up Brock who held me tight under the blankets.

“What is it?” He asked me.

“Nightwing just arrived at the castle and is acting all happy and strange. I guess his happiness is connected to you somehow. At least, that is what Cirilya is suggesting, I guess.” I said to him smiling and I replied to Cirilya that everything was alright.

He was glad that Cirilya was out of her coma and doing well. Then he gave me more kisses and hugged me closer to him. “Of course, I’m happy. You don’t need my Gryphon to know that, right?” He said to me softly at which I nodded.

One more day, then we will be home. It felt so strange that we had to send Dennis, Anna and Cirilya back to the castle while I just met them again after a few days. Now I had to wait even longer before I could finally hug them again. In a safe environment…

Anna had hugged me though, before leaving with the Gryphons. She was trying to comfort me, but it didn’t feel the same as I was so down with the death of Dolly. But now that I had a few days to think about her, I was able to let go of my sorrow just a bit. Of course, never would I forget her, but the tears didn’t flow over my face when I thought of her anymore.

We had stopped for lunch and we ate some bread and fresh soup. The soup was made of vegetables that we had bought from a local farm. The farmer was paid richly for the vegetables and his family was honoured to have met me, I even got some hugs from the farmer’s daughters.

I genuinely smiled at the girls as I saw that they were living so happily. And I was glad that we came across a few houses again as we had been riding on snowy terrain and grassy lands, crossed the Chasm and through the forest, for several days already and I was done with travelling for a while. And as much as I love Rhydon, I had a sore butt for sitting on his back all this time.

After lunch, we started riding towards the castle again, when halfway a storm approached us. The rain fell like it hadn’t been raining for years! It came down so fast and with such a volume that soon mud puddles appeared everywhere. We began to ride faster since it was only two more hours to reach the castle. Brock had tried to shield us from the rain with a blanket above our heads, but that didn’t last long. The blanket got soaked in seconds so we just threw it aside.

Finally! The castle was in our sight! I couldn’t be happier! I nudged Rhydon to go faster and he didn’t think twice about that. He started to charge onto the path that lead up to the courtyard of the castle and when we reached the gates of the outer walls, the guards were just in time to open them before Rhydon would run them down with his horn! The guards on the walls blew on their horns, signalling the castle of arriving people. I told Rhydon to stop and he left a skid mark on the ground with the sliding of his feet. Soon after, my father came running out of the castle, together with Dennis, Anna and Cirilya. I jumped off Rhydon’s back and ran up to the four of them, hugged them tight and cried loudly. Finally, home at last!

Brock walked right behind me and scooped me up.

“Sorry, but we got a destiny to fulfil!” He said and kept walking.

“Ask Archeops, he will tell you everything! We will talk later!” I said screaming with joy. All four of them laughed, completely confused but still laughing at what happened.