Soft light illumined Celest’s white hair in a golden colour, as she slept peacefully in the moving wagon. She tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable on the wood. Erix lent her, his jacket so she had some sort of a bed. The only sound was the clattering of hooves and movement of the wagon.

Carlos rubbed his eyes as he yawned as his eyes drifted along the horizon. He could no longer still the burning remains of Asin. They were still in the grasslands but in the distance was dense forest.

“When are we arriving at the forest?” Carlos asked Erix whose eyes scanned the surrounding areas.

“Hopefully before nightfall,” Erix turned around to meet Carlos, “I don’t like being in the open like this.” Carlos couldn’t agree more as peered into the back of the wagon. He notices the rise and fall of Celest’s chest and her tossing and turning. He takes note that next time to braid Celest’s hair, so it doesn’t get matted.

Carlos could feel the eye bags that seemed to be a permanent feature on his face. No matter how much rest he got recently didn’t get rid of the years of nightmare plague rest. Most of the time he couldn’t even fall asleep, just staring at the ceiling till the sun rose.  

It felt weird to feel the wind in his hair and the taste of fresh air. In Asin, it was air that reeked of all types of garbage and burnt your throat. He never thought he would breathe and not have his throat protest for so long.

Carlos also had to admit it was nice just to sit next to someone and they only offer silence. No glances with judgement, or malice, just a peaceful silence.

“You should take some rest,” Erix said not looking away from the road.

“Why? You’re the one who been awake the longest. I think you should have some rest.”

“You’re going to bed,” Carlos opened his mouth to protest but one stern glare from Erix shut him up. Mumbling to himself, Carlos sat next to Celest letting himself close his eyes. If he didn’t fall asleep at least his eyes could rest for a while.

...

They started to enter the forest with dense trees and bushes. You could barely make out what was in the woods. Thankful a path was cut out, but the trees still covered the sky. Carlos wanted to take back the previous comment about how the forest was better.

It felt like eyes were watching but when he looked around, he noticed nothing. On the other hand, Erix relaxed his body and started to hum a random tune. If it was any other person, Carlos would have sprinted far away from them.

In the back, Carlos heard Celest get more restless and get more concerned as the minutes passed. Somehow, her skin got even more pale and sweat started to pour down from her face. Before Carlos informed Erix about his concerns a shout interrupted him, “Duck!”

Erix jumped on Carlos knocking them both off the wagon just missing an arrow. Carlos’s voice died in his throat as his eyes were stuck on the arrow that was embedded in the wagon. Locating the source of the scream, he saw Celest stumbling out of the wagon.

“Celest, where did it come from,” Erix's eyes scanned the surroundings but couldn’t see anything. Celest eyes started to faintly glow and pointed directly in front of them. Carlos glanced over to Erix who shrugged and pulled out his weapons.

“It’s an illusion spell,” a periwinkle colour started to leak from Celest’s hand, “but it's simple to break.” When Celest swapped her hand, it slowly revealed rotten corpses that surrounded them.

“Great walking corpses,” Erix sighed as he pushed Carlos behind him, and raised his sword. Carlos fumbled around until he decided to hide behind the wagon.

Celest twirled a dagger in her hand, “What are you afraid of them?” Erix ignored her as swung his sword at one of the zombies. His eyes flashed crimson colour and the sword seemed to suck the blood out of the zombies. Slashing, the zombies in half, it fell to the floor.

Though she saw the aftermath of Erix’s fighting, she never says it up close. It was sight to see someone cut down foes like it was just a dance. Turning back to spot Carlos, he watched the fight with wide eyes. But it didn’t have any fear in them just pure excitement.

As soon turned back an arrow went flying right next to her. It embedded itself onto a nearby tree. Her eyes focused on a zombie who was already preparing another arrow. Darting over, she grabbed its hand and ripped the arrow out of its hand.  “Are you going to kill it already?”

“Shut up,” she stabbed the zombie with arrow, “Some aren’t made for these types of fights.” She watched as Erix slaughter the rest of the zombies without hassle. Remembering when they first met, Celest could not be gladder that she didn’t pick a fight with him.

Erix started to look over the corpses, Celest notice he was curious with something. But she didn’t pay it to much mind. Before she could walk back over to Carlos and scream rang out.

“Celest!” A Fresh hot pain ran through her head as the world around her became blurry and distance. She heard the others calling out to her, but she couldn’t understand. Her eyes started to feel to heavy to be open. Slowly, she closed them hearing one last scream.