Welcome to Gaia! ::

Allwyn bolted through the onslaught of arrows and wished she'd stayed closer to the Guild. As she saw the looming building come into view she noticed that the barrage was slowly receeding and she slowed to a jog and then to a walk as she approached the gate. Once she was inside the building she broke into a run again thinking of Juunikyu. 'What if she had left the Guild, what if they have her?' Dodging the people filling the halls Allwyn turned the corner to Juunikyu's room and careered through the door and into a body on the other side of the door.

Allwyn looked up, flustered at her friend now plastered on the floor.

"I am so sorry!"

She clambered to her feet and giggled as she helped her friend up. The giggle soon disappeared as she scoured the room for her spare quiver and her satchel.

"I have to leave, there's bounty hunters after me which can only mean that my family are in trouble and I need to help them."

Pushing parchment and inks into her bag Allwyn looked at the remains of breakfast left on the dresser, she always picked up far more bread then she could ever eat and this habit now worked to her advantage. The bread quickly joined the parchment in her bag, as did the apple she found on the floor. She then strided toward the door grabbing a spare set of clothes on the way.

"Wha- What are you doing?"

Allwyn looked at the expression on her friends face.

"Alright you win, you wouldn't listen to me if I asked you to stay here anyway would you?"

She took in the stare she recieved back and turned to the door. Once they had worked their way through the halls and to the front of the Guild Allwyn checked for anyone at the gates who looked out of the ordinary. Seeing noone she started down the path to the main gate checking with every step.

"This is it."

Nightfall came not a moment too soon for the weary travellers; scouting the area Allwyn came to the conclusion that they would be safe here. For tonight at least. On returning to the small clearing Allwyn looked on at Juuni who was now perched on a tree stump preening dirt and bits of tree out of her hair, stifling a giggle she walked over and joined her friend. For what seemed like an age they both sat there in silence. Allwyn thought back over the course of the day and the events which had led to them fleeing the guild, looking back she wondered if she had done the right thing. The guild was protected, it was a sanctuary but she did not know what these hunters were capable of and just how many of them there were behind the four that found her. No she had done what was right. Deep in thought Allwyn stared into the distance.

Allwyn giggled and pulled out some fruit from her satchel and passed it across to her friend.

"We'll hunt in the morning, there'll be nothing worth catching now. Unless you eat fireflies..."

As Juuni tucked into the apples and grapes Allwyn looked out into the darkness beyond the clearing and a rush of adrenaline surged through her body. Thinking back to the events of the last few months she felt an uneasiness creep into the back of her mind. The memories of Lunar still stung even now, and moreso with her new persuers. Sighing deeply she leant against a tree, folded her jacket behind her head and closed her eyes.

Allwyn looked down at her lap and sighed. She felt a tug at her chest as she thought of what lay ahead and what she didn't know about her persuers. As she watched her friend sleeping she reached across to her satchel and pulled out a piece of parchment sealed with the royal crest. As she brushed her fingertips across the indentations in the wax seal a sudden warmth swept over her body and she was home in the Glade. She knew she would only have one chance to read this note and this seemed it, she glaced about, wary of prying eyes. Satisfied she wasn't being overlook she looked back down at the parchment. Delicately she pulled the seal away from the parchment and looked down at her mother's handwriting.

Your father and I have faith in you Allwyn. We know you will only do what is right. If you are reading this then what your father and I suspected is true and Lunar was not who he said he was. Your father and I can only begin to imagine how you feel, and we want you to know, the Glade will always be your home and we know you had nothing to do with what has happened. A heart can be a difficult thing to control and you have learnt this very early in your life, but don’t let it stop you becoming who you are. The Glade awaits your safe return from wherever you may be when you read this, just be careful and stay safe.

Mum

Allwyn looked down and reread the words in front of her. It was safe to go home! How long it would take and what may pave the way was still a mystery to Allwyn but now she knew she had to go back. If she didn’t, the changelings were sure to find her and that would spell disaster for her family. As she read the parchment over and over, dawn slowly crept over the forest.

"Indeed it is. Come on we'll hunt together it'll be safer than splitting up"

Allwyn rose to her feet and reached for her quiver and bow, shuddering as a morning breeze swept across the back of her neck ruffling her hair. As she stood up her bag was swept over her shoulder containing a change of clothes and a drying rag.

"Fancy a swim whilst we're gathering breakfast?"

Grinning like a small child she jumped through the clearing towards the lake, hoping that it'd double up as a hunting ground for thier breakfast... And pleaded that they would be safe from their persuers for just a little longer.