~The Walking Forest~

Matthew didn't mind walking. In fact, he quite enjoyed it. He'd walk for miles with no reason at all and enjoy every bit of it. But now, as he walked behind the knight, who pulled at him using a thick rope tied around his hands, followed by the girl who'd just announced that she was the princess of the human kingdom of Solestia, and a talkative guy whom he now knew to be a messenger of sorts, thanks to the princess' constant emphasis on the fact, he hated it.

Every step he took put him further away from the city and his quarry. The human girl, who may be responsible for his mother's death, was drifting further and further away with every moment and there was nothing he could do about it but listen to the constant bickering between the princess and the messenger.

He wondered what he had done wrong to deserve all that had befallen him within the past few days. It actually amazed him, how fast his life had changed. It amused him how he had sometimes complained at the boredom that filled his life. Only then, as he walked towards the unknown, did he realize that the boring life he was not too fond of, was the only life he wanted.

The thought worsened his aching heart and he allowed it to. It was as if he was starting to enjoy the pain. Was he going insane? It didn't matter. No one would care anyway. If no one would care then why continue living? Was revenge worth it? Was it worth living through all these memories? His mother weaving leather strips from different hides and telling stories that, as she said, even human children had never heard of, her warm smiles that only then he wished he'd held on to and savored every moment of.

Yes, it was the happy memories that hurt the most. Everything he had ever done was for her. Every choice made with the intention of making her proud. And now she was gone. Maybe he should give up and-

He laughed. The thought of him killing himself felt so ridiculous that he had to laugh. Maybe he was going insane. He looked up at the knight, stopped walking, and continued to laugh.

The knight stopped immediately when he felt the rope go taught. He turned back and looked at him questioningly.

"Walk feline." he commanded.

Matthew continued laughing. Suddenly the knight looked all sorts of funny. Standing there, full of bravado, protecting the realm of mankind.

What an utterly ridiculous concept! Did he think that a single corny statement justified his harming and mistreating of other creatures and killing of his own?

Nadia pulled the reins on her horse to stop it from hitting the crazed feline.

"I think something's wrong with him." she said.

Matthew turned and faced the princess. Up there on her horse all lofty. It was all so pathetic. Daniel had to walk around the horse to see what was going on. When Matthew saw him he stopped laughing. There was nothing funny about him. Not his blonde hair, not his blue eyes and not even his worn cloak.

It was Daniel who burst into laughter this time. He laughed so loud it spooked the horse and Nadia had to fight to keep it at ease. She almost fell in the process and found the idea of her falling off her lofty steed funnier than it should be. Before she too could join in the hysterical laughter, the feeling vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

The knight stood there wearing a confused expression on his face and a smile now decorating his lips. Matthew seemed somewhat distorted and Daniel had to lean on the horse's saddle as the world spun beneath his feet and then it all stopped.

A silence fell upon the whole group. The knight reacted first, unsheathing his sword though uncertain how he was going to defend himself against a feeling.

"So, so sorry about that. I did not expect anyone to cross paths with me today."

The group jumped and spun around to face the man whose melodic voice had rung like a bell.

"I do apologize for that too. I certainly did not expect to startle anyone today." the man said.

He looked old. His hair had turned from white to almost colorless with not a trace of it having been red at all despite the burning conviction that it had been so which engulfed anyone who stared at it. His wrinkles had tired and sagged and his equally colorless beard was almost at his knees.

It was the longest beard any of them had ever set eyes on. If they had not seen it themselves, none would have believed its existence. Not only was it insanely long, but it glowed with a yellow buzz, flickering in and out of phase. And now that they noticed this, his hair too seemed to glow.

"I've read somewhere that it is unwise and rude to stare," the old man smiled at them. They quickly looked away from his beard. The knight was first to gain his wits.

"Who are you?" he asked.

The old man grinned.

"I believe you already know the answer to that."

Nadia's mouth spoke before she even had time to think about what she was saying.

"The fire that does not burn,

The flameless fire,

The first fire,

The second fire,

The last fire,

He who is Arson."

"What an introduction!" the man exclaimed. Thank you, your young highness." He bowed slightly to acknowledge her.

"You are... real." Nadia said as if trying to convince herself.

"As real as the pages you read that on, your little highness." The old man chuckled to a private joke.

"How do you know her...?" the knight asked.

"No need to worry Mr Sir." Arson chuckled again. "Now move on along, you've got a ways to go and the night approaches."

"You are...you are the hermit." Matthew gawked.

All eyes turned to him. The feline had not spoken since they bound him and forced him to follow them. It had been either that, or they would have had to kill him to ensure that their travels remained a secret. Why the princess had announced herself and given him the information he was now being held prisoner for, he had no idea.

He was just glad she had stopped the knight when he suggested he be executed. Attacking the princess justified it apparently. And so their mission stayed discreet, they had tied and taken him with them, and now, there was the old man...

Arson's head snapped to Matthew.

"Ah yes. I almost forgot about you. How goes your grand adventure my young feline. Not as fun as the ones in your father's books is it?" Arson looked at the feline sympathetically.

He lifted his hand and placed it on the feline's shoulder. His white knuckles seemed paler against the feline's brown skin. When he lifted his hand, Matthew's shoulders felt lighter, his mind clearer.

"A heavy burden you are carrying there, young one. You ought to throw some of that away."

"If you really are Arson...the hermit... aren't you supposed to give us three gifts to help us on our journey?" Daniel asked.

"The legendary messenger... not legendary yet, though. Look at you all trained and ready, yes, yes. You are well beyond what we'd even hoped."

"Uhmm..."

"Forget my mindless chatter. I have gifts. Yes. Important gifts for my travelers."

In one swift motion, Arson's arm sprung up and before anyone could stop him, he had the princess' hand in his own.

"For you, dear one. Protection and a knowledge." He kissed the back of her hand.

"Wha-?"

Arson darted away from her and was again upon Matthew, holding his hand up.

"And for you, fire and knowledge."

He darted back to where he'd been standing looked back at the travellers.

"Sir Night Sir, or knight? Night? knight!" Arson laughed at a joke no one else could comprehend. "To you, I will give a knowing, as a reward. Yes, a reward."

"I think the famous hermit is just a madman." Daniel announced.

"Oh, no my young ass-, messenger. You'll find you are the madman, if you do not tread carefully."

Daniel froze. He stood, planted firmly in the ground. He lost the charismatic, lowborn, messenger aura he carried around and a more menacing mood swirled about him.

"Now is not the time to bare your fangs young one." Arson turned away from Daniel, "Your knowings will come to you when you need them, Sir Knight Sir. For now, keep protecting my dear ones and get them out of this forest before the storm."

"A storm is coming?" Matthew looked skeptically at the clear blue sky. He had not noticed the sudden change in Daniel's composure. The knight seemed to have missed it too as only Nadia shifted on her horse, suddenly more afraid of Daniel than she was of anything else around them.

"Do not trust blindly in what you see. Life is full of surprises. Now go. I've wasted enough time with you. I have other matters to attend to." Arson responded to Matthew.

And with that, Arson turned around, his black robe waving in the wind. Its golden rims shone as it reflected the sunlight. His hair gave one last buzz of light, before he disappeared into the forest.

~*~