The Journey Continues

Ana untethered the horse and proceeded to mount on him. Sitri took the reigns and led them back to the main path. Once there, he picked up his pace. Once Ana got used to the horses pace. Sitri moved so that the horse was at a full gallop. Ana had never riden so fast and worried she'd fall. Lowering her body down so she could get a better grip around the horses neck to prevent herself from falling. "Why so fast?" Ana complained. "The horse will need to rest if we keep this up. And why have you decided to use the road now and not travel in the woods like before?"

Sitri stopped and turned to look at her. Looking at the horse now breathing heavily. "I suppose you are right. Let's us cover some more ground then we shall rest for a while. We'll will be further along in the journey at this pace with a rest than we would be if we just walked in the woods." Sitri didn't wait for Ana to answer. They took off as quickly as they stopped.

Another hour had passed. When Sitri stopped. "Here. We can rest behind the dense woodlands. No one will see us there."

Ana looked at where Sitri was pointing. Just a few yards off of the road was a ridge covered by thick trunked oak, sycamore and elm trees. Behind the ridge is where they would rest. No one would see them unless they decided to walk into the woods itself. No one did unless they were in a group. It wasn't wise to do so in case of predators. Reaching the top of the ridge Sitri looked down for a clearing for a place to rest. "There. We can take some time regain the horses strength. Plenty of grass for him to eat. Are you hungry?"

"A little. It will soon be noon. So you're going to go and kill more deer now are you?" Ana asked. The contempt was not there. Just mild curiosity as to how they would find food.

"No need to. I have brought some of the deer meat from last night to sustain ourselves with. While you slept, I cooked a second one to make sure we had enough to last us. Unless you wish to see me in action." Sitri left that option open to Ana. Knowing that last time she felt arousal at his abilities. Even so, she still wouldn't let herself acknowledge it. They sat in the clearing and ate. The horse grazed on the grass as they sat in silence, until Ana spoke. "Sitri. I've noticed that there are no birds singing in the tress since this morning. Are there none here?"

"That is probably down to my prescence Ana. Most wildlife will shy away from me. Only predators will dare come close. But as much as I am used to it. Birdsong would be nice to hear. I've only heard it from my subjects when mimicking their sounds. To hear it with my own ears from the birds themselves. I would like that." Sitri ponded what could be. It was true that he never heard the birds singing in the trees. "It appears as though you humans are lucky to be able to experience such things."

"Luck. No, not luck. They are scared of you. That is why they don't make a sound." Then Ana looked up. "Never heard them you say" Ana thought for a short time. "Pity. You are missing out on something there. Countless days in the temple I could relax when I wasn't busy and listen to them. Sometimes I would hear them go quiet when a hawk flew nearby."

"Then I am missing out as you put it." Before Ana could reply though. Sitri snapped his head around and stared to sniff the air.

Ana came closer to him. Worried that there was danger and knowing that Sitri wanted her to be safe. It was better than the potential alternative. "What is it?" She whispered.

Sitri stayed silent and raised his finger to his lips to indicate silence. When satisfied that it was clear, Sitri realxed. "It appears as though I am not the only demonic prescence here. Although this one has been created by magic. I can smell him. A cerberus."

Ana leant into Sitri for protection. "A cerberus. The hellhound."

"Correct. It will have to die if it picks up on our scent. Even I would not be safe from it's attack. They have a nasty bite. You would be killed in an instant if you were in it's sights."

"But don't cerberus have masters of their own?" Ana asked.

"Yes, normally they do. But this one is a rogue. And as such, nothing to control it from being the killer it was meant to be. We must leave as soon as it's far enough away." As he finished his sentence though, the horse reared and started bucking widly. Both Ana and Sitri turned in time to see another cerberus charging in their direction. Sirti was quick enough though to grab it by it's throat and rip its wind pipe out. As he threw the dying monster on the ground, the other cerberus leapt towards Ana. Sitri just managed to get to her in time to prevent her from being hurt. Instead, the cerberus bit down on his arm and drew his blood. Sitri roared in pain. His anger flaring up using his strength to lift the hulking beast off of the floor and swung the beast, still attached to his arm, into a nearby tree. Ana heard it's back snap as it howled in pain and let go of Sitri's arm. Ana now in survival mode leapt up and impaled the creature with a broken branch she found. Sitri admired her bravery. "Thank you Ana. You do the priestess' of your temple credit. Now we must leave. I fear that there may be more of these rogues around."