“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Jaina smiled, scanning the forest around them. She thought she could see it thinning a bit. “Let’s keep moving, it shouldn’t be much further now.”

The pair of fighters strode forward in silence for the first time since their meeting. It wasn’t an awkward silence; it hadn’t quite a companionable feel to it but neither was it uncomfortable. The dry forest leaves crunched beneath foot, the rhythmic march playing out in an orchestra of forest sounds, the chirping of little bird, the whistling of the wind, the steady crunch crunch of leaves and the buzzing of insects. The forest didn’t seem at all hostile. It was a pleasant place. Jaina doubted the rest of this journey would be so peaceful.

The trees were defiantly thinning now. Rays of light bathed their path, breaking effortlessly through the gaping holes in the canopy. Jaina lifted her pace, she could feel herself drawing ever closer to her goal. She knew it was still far off but every footstep brought her one nearer. Her lithe legs hopped gracefully over roots and fallen branches. Finally, she felt a blissful breath of wind swirl past her. They were out in the open again. A small town lay before them.

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~Fabulous Siggy by Insaney~