Aaron awoke to one foggy morning in pain. Jezebel was on watch yawning, sitting up with a groan. the pain wiping away the tears before anyone noticed. He didn't want Jezebel to see. being carried all day was bad enough then she wanted to feed me like some kid it’s embarrassing something occurred to him. I'll just levitate while laying down. I'll try it

  “How are you holding up?” William asked

  “I’m fine,” Aaron said, a little more angry than he’d like. Getting up on his good lag and levitating three feet off the ground while William handed him some breakfast of flat bread and cheese. Falkner took the lead and continued their journey in silence. Aaron laid down and levitated four feet off the ground belly first. please let this forest end soon I still can’t see more than six feet in front of me the only sound was everyone's footsteps, then a sound like a screeching sound everyone looked to the left where it came from

  “What was that?” Safiya asked

  “I don’t know” Hector said

  “it sounded far off” William pointed out they continued walking a little faster or in Aaron’s case moving while laying down. weapons draw Jezebel had to hand Aaron his spear floating to a standing position

  “we should wear our armor during the day” Falkner said everyone agreed after whatever that was yesterday was there’s more and who knows what else well Falkner, Nyssa, and William did he could not due to his wounds and Jezebel Safiya and Hector didn’t have armor were not in Saxohdale anymore we're not dealing with goblins and trolls anymore at least with those I know what to expect now I have know Idea sweat poured down his forehead

  “stop” Aaron said dropping to the ground “I’m almost out of skylight and if I run out I can’t use it against monsters” Aaron said out of breath great Jezebel is going to carry me she picked him up over her right shoulder again since she held her shield in her left he watched Falkner look at him I look silly but I can’t do anything closing my eyes to hide the shame

  “open your eyes” Falkner said “we need all eyes to keep lookout” fine!. opening them why is he so bossy? Lords. Another screech louder witch means closer. everyone pointed their weapons to their left waiting for whatever made that noise

  “Put me down” Aaron said Jezebel set on the dirt and drew her mace as more screeches were heard William threw him his spear and leaned on it. Wish I had my armor holding it in a one-handed grip several seven feet tall wolfelk came towards them out of the mist there had to be six or seven of them Falkner had two on him slashing and throwing fire Aaron threw skylight at the nearest one then one came right towards him holding his spear in front of him bracing trying to use skylight but only a wisp came out of the spear point I’m out! getting tackled by it avoiding the point using the shaft as to trying not to get bitten, a spear point took it in the neck William pulled the dying wolfelk off of him everywhere Falkner stood alone with two dead wolfelks sword ablaze but there were three more came in Hector tried to get away from them leading as many wolfelks away as possible. why? The beast, if he turned into the beast we're doomed than he was lost in the fog pulling himself up from the ground

  “Jezebel help Falkner!” Aaron called “help!” Safiya called Nyssa ran to help her and Jezebel ran past him leaving Falkner alone to die

  “what are you doing!” Aaron screamed limping to help Falkner as he took a blow to the head. William ran to help but was blocked due to a wolfelk. if he dies our hope to restore the gods will be gone, throwing his spear into its side. anything to help Falkner. the wolfelk roared then leaped away hitting Falkner in the process there were no more wolfelks the dead beasts lay still and the dying ones were too injured to move Nyssa, William, Safiya, and Jezebel walked towards him well Jezebel limped from a scratch on her thigh Hector came out of the fog with a blow the head how did he survive he had two on him! Falkner lay still holding his neck his face was scratched up leaving his cheeks almost gone and he could see his teeth his calf lay torn William came over with the badges and herbs

  “What were you thinking Jezebel!” Aaron screamed

  “I was saving Safiya” Jezebel said meekly

  “I was closer to Safiya, why did you run to her and not Falkner!” Nyssa snapped

  “if he dies you doomed us all!” Jezebel grew stiff

  “I’m sorry but a friend was in danger so I helped”

  “this bad he needs healing” William said gravely good luck magic is dead and will remain dead

  “Who else is injured?” Jezebel asked everyone but they weren't severe. It turned out

  “Hector, help me carry him” Nyssa asked William bandage Falkner's wounds as best he could before turning to everyone else Nyssa’s calf took a hit Hector's head injury was just a scratch that bled a lot Safiya was uninjured due to using her sling as much as possible Jezebel’s leg was wrapped. With that they continued we’re running low on bandages. Everyone looked worried, especially Nyssa Falkner’s head was covered with bandages. They walked until nightfall with their only break was lunch Nyssa and Hector set Falkner on his blankets and still had not moved since the attack. His face and leg looked worse Nyssa was by his side just staring at him tears fell from her cheeks what do we do! We can’t heal him and who knows how long he has

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  “So this is how it ends” Hector said William looked depressed

  “I’m sorry” Jezebel said

  “Why didn’t you help him? You were the closest to him Aaron had to limp over to him!” William accused walking up to her and slapping her face. Aaron looked on in shock

  “I didn’t want Safiya to die and he hates halfbreeds, stop ganging up on me!” Jezebel cried holding her cheek. I’ve never seen William slap someone before things are becoming dire.

  “So what happens if he dies?” Safiya asked softly so Nyssa didn’t hear

  “what happens is the gods will forever stay dead and we go home” William said

  “home how? we’ll never make it?” Aaron said I will have to find a new home

  “stop talking like that and figure out a way to save him he’s not dead yet” Nyssa scolded “wherever or not it’s Jezebel’s fault won’t help and next time she will help us other than Hector and Safiya” Nyssa said with such intensity everyone looked at Nyssa with shock

  “magic isn't completely dead, is there a monster that could help us?” Nyssa asked

  “I don’t know” Hector said they ate a cold dinner nobody looked Jezebel in the eye as she cried

  “I’m sorry I’m sorry” Jezebel whispered she took first watch as they went to sleep Aaron woke up to someone shaking his uninjured shoulder

  “It’s your turn” Safiya said, getting up with a groan limping over to the middle of the camp as Safiya layed down on his blanket and fell asleep so he got the last watch. What's the point? Falkner is dying. I can't see more than ten feet in front of me and none of us are fighting as a unit, only each other if only Falkner and Nyssa could be humbled and Jezebel and Safiya weren't so hung up on half breeds as if they're the only ones who face hardships. Safiya’s arm took a large cut Hector took a blow to the head and William is also limping from a blow to the knee and I’m too sore to walk let alone fight. The sun began to rise providing gray light though the mist. I miss home and now I’m not even in the same kingdom then mother and Jessica and I’m just getting farther away from them

  After breakfast they continued seeing only trees and more trees never ending.

  “I can’t take it any more of this forest” William said angrily

  “Jezebel, can you climb a tree and see if we’re almost out of these woods?” Nyssa asked out of breath from carrying Falkner. Jezebel climbed slowly until her hooves she came back down

  “I can’t see an end to the trees in every direction” Jezebel said sadly every face fell. three days with no change exempt for Falkner he was getting worse they stopped on the trial inspecting Falkner.

  “he has an infection” William concluded “he has two days if that” they continued onward with hopelessness Nyssa was softly crying. then Aaron dropped to the ground in shock

  “There's a hut over there!” Everyone looked over his shoulder except for Hector and Jezebel who were carrying Falkner. The hut was small with bark tiles and old wooden walls. A crow was perched on top of the roof. It looked big, three feet tall with a wingspan of eight feet.

  “what do you think it is?” Safiya asked

  “a hag” William said everyone looked at him

  “which is?” Aaron asked

  “Priestess of Vita they got together eighty years ago demanding more power from her, she agreed but as a price for their pride she took their youth and so they looked like their in their late seventies for decades they all grew bitter”

  “Can she…..heal Falkner?” Nyssa said out of breath

  “maybe for a high price if they kept their magic at all”

  “so there’s a chance” Nyssa said

  “a little yes but they will ask a very high price” she started towards the hut and they followed her William didn’t look happy about this as if we have a choice. they stopped five feet from the door

  “welcome travelers we get so few these days” the crow said in a creaky voice everyone looked at the crow in surprise then he cawed at them than an old woman opened the door wearing a yellow green dress with sewing patches everywhere oily white hair sticking to the side of her head like she just got out of a bath but she smelled like she hadn't one in years.

  “Welcome, what brings you to my humble home?” the hag asked

  “We need your help, can you heal him?” Nyssa asked, pointing to Falkner

  “Do you now” the hag laughed. She didn’t sound too concerned about their plight “yes I can but what do you have to offer me?”

  “I have a celestial iron ax” Hector offered

  “an ax made by the gods that is indeed a fine gift but I have no need an old woman like me can’t swing it like you can”

  “But I thought you hags are always old,” Aaron remarked. The hag frowned at him then he noticed William looking at him. Aaron headed to the back so as to not be seen as much “you are a child of Hiems right?”

  “yes” Nyssa answered

  “and you are a half demon?”

  “Yes,” Jezebel answered as the crow landed near her and they spoke softly to each other

  “I will accept one eye and one of the half demon's teeth to heal the boy and lead you out of here. That is my only offer” the hag said with a grin shocked at the request Jezebel looked scared but Nyssa had to give up an eye Aaron came up to Jezebel and Nyssa

  “you don’t have to do this we will find another way”

  “there is no other way” Nyssa pointed out I didn’t want to admit it but she was right

  “I’ll do it” Jezebel said with confidence

  “I’ll do it” Nyssa said sounding scared

  “Good come inside and bring the boy” she went into her hut William handed Jezebel a small bandage before Nyssa and Jezebel carried Falkner into the hut and closed the door. they could do nothing but wait and hope she kept her word.