Two days had elapsed since the duo narrowly avoided capture by the mounted elves. With little time for rest, they pushed on, barely pausing to replenish depleted mana, snatch moments of sleep, or nibble on the remnants of berries and fruits they found along the way.
Their relentless pace had left them on the brink of shutdown, but their determination had paid off; either the guards had abandoned their pursuit or they had left the zone that the guards were scouting.
The forest had changed slightly; before, it was overwhelmed by towering trees and long grass with massive bushes, but now the trees had become sparse and there were signs of people nearby, footprints, both a good and bad omen.
"Rumble, rumble." Ryan's stomach made never-ending rumbling noises, signalling him to hurry his ass up on finding food. His situation wasn't very dissimilar to Eleanor's.
A footpath! Wait, I meant to say that out loud. Ryan wasn't thinking very clearly...
"A footpath!" Ryan said, excitedly.
Finally, something interesting has happened! For the past two days, we've been walking around trees and bushes while being assaulted by bugs.
"Don't be too excited, doofus; although we're next to a human kingdommmm, we're still deep innnnn elf territory." Said Eleanor, her eyelids kept on trying to close and her speech slurred.
Just as Eleanor finished her sentence, a rickety cart came trundling down the path with a strained, old horse carrying it along.
People! Huh, of all the things to be the same as Earth, they are horses and millipedes? The two things I dislike most!
10 years ago, Ricklebury Park, Earth.
"Hahaha!" A middle-aged, blonde-haired man was laughing, slapping his knee in the process, while his wife was sighing, preparing a meal on a checkered blanket.
What was he laughing at? A young Ryan had just run straight into a low-hanging branch.
"Owww, where did that come from?" A little, squeaky Ryan said.
Suddenly, a small herd of wild horses, no more than 10, appeared, trotting a few metres away in an open part of the forest they were settled in.
"Oooh, Ryan, Look, I've heard about these wild horses on Youtuby!" His mother said.
Ryan jumped up, and hopped over to greet the cool-looking animals… but the milisecond the poor victim was within the horse's calculated range…
"Neighhhhh." The horse rose up, and kicked him in the chest.
10 years later, Foles Forest, Delar
There was a man in the cart—an elf.
Crap! We're done for, he's already seen us!
Eleanor hopped in a bush to try hide from the cart, her head stuck out like a sore thumb.
"Hello, you two! What are you doing alone out here?"
Eleanor climbed out the bush, realising she was caught, "Just follow my lead," she whispered, not very quietly; her mental faculties were… lacking due to the lack of sleep.
The elf shook his head, his black hair, streaked with white swayed from side to side. "I heard that... but you need not worry. I am a gullible Elf that believes every word of propaganda the Nobles feed us. I will not lay a hand on you."
Great, though why the hell should we believe you?
Well, if he is lying. Ryan cast a glance towards Eleanor, who was gazing at a flower infront of her. Then we're both dead. I can't defend us... and she can't either right now.
"Flower," said Eleanor.
"Hmm, is she… uhm.. how do I put this delicately?" He halted his horse. "Is she slow?" The old merchant asked Ryan.
"Very slow, a complete idiot if you ask me." Ryan responded, nodding his head enthusiastically.
"Poor soul… it seems you both need some food and maybe a nap? There are a couple of apples back there; feel free to have them." The friendly elf gestured to his cloth covered cart. "And just so you know, I am heading for the border town of Elerea. So tell me when you want to get off and I'll stop."
Ryan and Eleanor jumped into the old elves' cart, no questions asked.
If he is lying to us and is leading us into a trap, I don't care anymore! Just kill me! I cannot stand another minute on this bloody planet!
"So, what are you two doing out here?" The Elf asked, trying to make conversation.
*Silence*
"Hello?" asked the elf.
Snoring sounds began emanating from the back of his cart.
"They hadn't even ate the apples yet!" Said the elf, looking behind the curtains of the cart.
Ryan woke a couple hours later, disturbed by the rickety old cart bumping along the street.
It was around midday now, and Eleanor was still asleep.
Well, that wasn't the nicest nap I've ever had, but it'll have to do. Oooooh, an apple!
"Munch, Munch"
Within seconds, the apple was evescerated.
"Finally awake, hmm?" The elf said.
"So what were you two doing over at Foles Forest?" asked the elf, raising his voice slightly so that he could grab Ryan's attention, stopping his search for more apples.
"Weee… were lost?" Said Ryan, who was peeking out of the curtains, unsure of what he should say.
"Haha, that sounds like a good enough excuse." Responded the jolly, old elf.
Eleanor stirred, disturbed by the voices.
She patted Ryan on the shoulder, "Why are we in an elf's cart?" She whispered, now sufficiently quiet enough that the old elf wouldn't hear.
"He's just helping us out, this elf doesn't approve of the discrimination against humans. And to be honest? We needed this, we wouldn't last another day in tha-"
"Oooh, an apple," interrupted Eleanor, who was starving to death.
She interrupts me every damned day, I wouldn't be surprised if it's all on purpose, sighed Ryan.
"What are you murmuring about back there?" The old elf spoke.