Heed My Warnings and Survive (Second Draft)

Chapter Thirty-One

It had been a few days since we had left Tarni’s castletown, and I missed our friends. Coan, and Phonwhin acted much like parents to us, and that comfort wasn’t soon forgotten, but eventually every child is separated from their parents, and it wasn’t like we’d never see them again, well that is of course if Devin didn’t kill us before we got that chance.

We were sitting around the fire one night, none of us really being able to sleep, when Kiara asked what we had done whilst searching for her. My eyes widened, and I smiled.

“We saw Ecorn’s,” I said. Her eyes widened as well.

“Really!? Ecorn’s? Like the legendary tree people?” She asked. I nodded.

“They were migrating,” I told her.

“That’s incredible,” She said in astonishment. I nodded.

“They were beautiful.”

“I’m not surprised. They were some of the most powerful magical beings,” She said. Finley chuckled.

“I used to tell Aster stories about them. She loved them, wanted to see them when she was older,” I said sadly. Staring into the fire. Finley curled his knees up to his chin.

“Draven. I.” He sighed. “I have to tell you something,” He said, not looking anywhere near me. I furrowed my eyebrows.

“Is everything ok?” I asked. He shook his head.

“That day, the day Aster Drowned.” Tears started in his eyes. “I was supposed to be watching her. It was my fault, I- I dozed off, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up to you screaming her name.” an emotion I had never felt toward Finley started in my chest. Rage, pure, blinding, rage,

“What?” I said disbelievingly, not letting my rage take over,

“I told her I would go to the river with, and I knew it was a bad decision. I knew after sparing all day I’d be exhausted, but I said yes anyway. I should’ve just told her to go home.” I was almost too shocked to say anything,

“You- you were there the whole time?!” I said, my voice getting louder as I spoke. I rose to my feet, as Finley nodded.

“I’m sorry, I tried to tell you on our way back from the river, but you were blocking everything out.” Now that he said it, I did vaguely remember him saying that.

“That doesn’t change the fact that you were there. You could’ve prevented it. Because of you I can’t go home, I can’t ever see my sister, my mother, or Zander again, because of you!” I yelled. Finley was shrinking into the shadows.

“I know, and I’m sorry,” He said, rising to his feet. I groaned loudly. How could he have let this happen? How could he have let my little sister die? I wanted to punch him, but at the same time I didn’t. My emotions were everywhere, and I was scared I might hurt him.

“I think you should leave,” I said. Finley looked shocked.

“What?” He asked, his voice failing him a little.

“Draven, think about what you’re saying,” Kiara said.

“I am thinking about it, more than you know, and I just. Can’t be around him right now. He needs to leave.” Finley took a deep breath, and nodded.

“If that’s what you want,” He said. Picking up his pack. “I’ve apologized, so you come, and find me when you’re prepared to accept it.” He gave a weak smile. Kiara took half a step forward toward him, but he put his hand up.

“Stay here, take care of him, he needs you.” She nodded, and gave him a tight hug.

“Be safe,” She told him. He nodded, and turning into the woods he vanished, little did I know how much I would regret that last conversation.

I didn’t sleep at all that night, and I didn’t particularly want to. when the morning came, so did the regret, I missed my friend now, I missed his dumb jokes, and his optumism, but then everything he told me came back into my head, and I couldn’t miss him, or regret my actions.

When Kiara woke she scooted next to me.

“How are you feeling?” She asked. I shrugged.

“I miss him, but I don’t at the same time. He’s like a brother to me, but right now I hate him,” I said. Kiara put her hand on my shoulder.

“It’ll turn out ok. I’m sure of it.” I nodded.

“I know I’ll be able to forgive him in time, I’m just not ready yet.” Kiara gave me a smile.

“Well he’ll be waiting when you are.” I nodded again.

The next few days were dull, and hot, and full of silence, no Finley to fill the void. We set up camp one night, and it was one of the worst nights of my life. I had fallen asleep quickly, and my dreams were uneasy, and worrying, but one in particular would keep me awake, enough nights for me to lose count. It started in the woods, at a small camp, where a familiar face sat alone, in the trees, next to a small dim fire. But the scene didn’t last long, it melted, and formed into something much much worse. It was the same face once more, but this time he was fighting three large men, there was no way he’d be able to hold them off alone. The scene melted again, and formed into a gruesome sight. It was Finley broken, beat, and bloodied on the ground, his eyes were closed, and his breathing shallow, I wanted to run towards him, help him, save him, but I couldn’t, this was a dream, and there was nothing I could do but watch, as my friend died in front of me.

I woke suddenly, tears starting in my eyes.

“Draven? What’s wrong?” Kiara asked, moving to my side.

“It’s Finley,” I said. She gave me a confused look.

“What about Finley?”

“He’s.” I choked, as the lump began to form in my throat. Kiara rubbed my back. “Kiara. I think.” I gulped. “I think Fin’s dead.” Kiara put her hands over her mouth.

“What?” Her voice shook.

“In my dream, he was dead. Or at least nearly.” Kiara’s breathing began to speed up.

“No. wait, but your dreams are future events, there could still be time to save him.” I shook my head.

“No. Something tells me this is the very near future, and we don’t know where he is,” I said. Kiara began pacing, and biting her nails. I curled into a ball, trying to calm the rising sea of tears that was beginning to form.

“This can’t be happening,” Kiara was muttering, over, and over. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t process anything that was happening. My head felt like it was about to explode. Kiara collapsed to the ground in tears. Nothing would ever be like it was, with the death of the last person from my old life, everything was gone, everything I had known, and loved then, had disappeared into the realm of pain, and sorrow.