Capítulo 2: Forest Overture I
They moved quietly, taking care in every step as they ventured through the forest. The moist summer air was still, gathering sweat and evening drew over their brows. Leon followed Seth close, turning his head every so often to keep an eye on the rear as well as to quickly cut a marker into whichever tree they passed- a small arrow pointing in the direction they came from.
Cicadas screamed and owls called out, piercing the atmosphere of any tension.
A soft, throaty growl rumbled from Leon's salamander. There was little need for the lantern they had with them thanks to the warm, pleasant glow the overgrown lizard cast from the stripes on his back.
One soldier's hand rubbed smoothly along the hilt of the sword on his hip, finger tracing its silver guard. The slightly tattered leather of his glove ran smoothly across it for him to grip at the hilt, tight. Leon was anxious, itching for something to happen other than hearing another bat screech at the shadows around them. "Are you sure you know where we're going?" he whispered ahead of him to Seth. "We've been traveling for some time now. Surely we would have found a lead by now!"
Seth looked back and lifted the cover of his helm to reveal his face. He raised a brow, barely visible in the lantern light as Leon held up the flame. Seth's dark, sun-kissed skin glowed in the fire. Its flicker reflected off the polished steel of Seth's spear and teased Leon the way it danced in the center of the man's bright yellow eyes.
Though he smirked, there was a confused look in his eye. "We left Scaleshire's gates only a few minutes ago, didn't we? We've not even traveled beyond the kingdom's hunting grounds. I'm sure everything will be much farther out even if we do manage to locate a witch's cottage." He paused for a moment to look back ahead and pressed on. "Besides, there is no proof of anything living in the kingdom's domain. We're being sent out here on suspicion and precaution alone. The entire guard is exploring these woods. Who's to say they won't discover a witch in any number of directions?"
Silence befell them for a moment.
"I just don't like this. It's like everyone is blind and still marching forward. I understand that we can't sit around and wait, but something like this just seems like wasted time and energy, don't you think?"
Seth was hesitant to respond and marched forward, rubbing his shoulder as he did so. "Orders are orders. We can't do much else but obey. We're only going as far as just outside the hunting grounds for tonight so we'll be in bed before daybreak if we're lucky."
A few minutes passed and unable to stand the uneventful search any further, Leon grumbled as he halted in his tracks. "Let's split up," he suggested. "We'll cover more ground if we spread out, won't we? It'll get the job done faster!"
"That's a terrible idea, Leon. What will you do if you find this 'witch' we're looking for? Or worse...how do you plan on finding your way back to the gates?" Seth spun on his heels to face Leon as the other already took a few paces in another direction. He crossed his arms over his chest, armor rattling slightly. "I won't come looking for you if you get lost."
"I'll be fine! We've been marking the trees as we go. I'll know the way back for sure!" He held out his arm towards Seth. "You take the lantern. You'll need it more than me." His salamander crept up beside him, rubbing his body against his leg. Immediately his armor became hot, and he seethed, uncomfortable before giving the animal a small shove. "As you can see, I've all the light I need. Sal here can help me find the way back!" There was no stopping him. Leon was already marching off the trail through the forest thickets, marking trees as he went. His salamander followed close at his heel, lighting the way.
Seth could only massage the back of his head before he turned to continue along the trail. The night carried on as Leon's footsteps grew distant and faded away. Nearly a full hour of exploration ticked by and still, he couldn't hear anything save for forest frogs croaking, birds cawing, owls hooting, and the gentle summer breeze brushing past him. Tired, and almost ready to collapse, Seth was eager to admit Leon might have been right. There had been no trace of a witch within Scaleshire's borders. No doubt the phenomenon was due to sickness or something else that had already been ruled out….
He sighed, gripping around his lance which he was half-using as a walking stick by now.
"Just…what are we to do? Live under a witch's curse until death?"
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