I didn’t respond to her, knowing exactly how I looked. I looked like someone who had never scaled a tree in her life. If I stayed like this, then the fake concern in her voice would turn into suspicion. I spared a glance down at her and almost instantly regretted it. I had scaled to the top of the tree before remembering my old fear of heights.

So I was more than twenty feet off the ground. I did get a quick glance at Lady Bluebird when I glanced briefly down, and suspicion was definitely blooming on her face. Knowing I couldn’t stay like this much longer. I gripped onto the muscle memory that I had felt earlier before closing my eyes and just jumping. The wind hit me, and I could feel my stomach drop as I let go of the tree.

Part of me. Despite being in a character that has done this thousands of times that she could easily do it with her eyes closed. I still felt like I was going to fall. I didn’t, though. Instead, I landed in a crouch.

My hand automatically gripped a tree branch to keep me from falling. I stayed there for a second. Not even bothering to open my eyes. Once it had finally caught up with my mind that I hadn’t fallen. I opened my eyes again and just jumped to the next tree.

Instead of stopping for a second this time. I made myself push through my fear and use my momentum to leap from tree to tree as Ravenhood does. As my body got into the rhythm. I noticed that it was actually quite easy. Not only that.

But there were subtle shifts in the way this body moved. As if it already knew where I was supposed to go. I just let it take me. Knowing that wherever it was. It was where I needed to be for the plot to continue. 

Soon enough, I heard the faint hum of voices coming from the clearing that I was approaching. If I remember correctly. This is where Ravenhood stumbles onto a group of soldiers. She sneaks into their camp to figure out why they are this far in the woods. I hadn’t gotten to write this part.

Though I do vaguely remember how I wanted it to go. Though I don’t actually remember the reason, the soldiers are out here. I slowed down. Not wanting to get too close as I maneuvered through the trees at the edge of the clearing. I am looking for a tree that was close enough that Ravenhood would have used to perch on and could hear them talking.

It didn’t take me long to find it. I laid down on the branch. Placing my hand under my chin just like I imagined Ravenhood would have, and peered into the soldier’s camp. There were just about ten of them eating, drinking, and chatting around a fire. Whatever animal they had hunted was still turning over the fire.

If they hadn’t been wearing the king’s armor. They would just look like a group of travelers. Most of what they were saying was about ladies, and well. Let’s just say I wanted to scrub those foul words out of their mouths. The more they talked. 

The more I started to think that there was no information to find here. I was just about to slip off the branch and go find Lady Bluebird when a conversation caught my attention. 

“So what exactly are we here for? There’s nothing but forest for miles.” One soldier asked someone whom I couldn’t see from the angle of my branch. 

Curious, I slid to the edge of the branch, trying to see the one the soldier was talking to. 

“Why are we here? To burn the forest to the ground, of course. The prince figures that if we burn the forest down, that Robinhood will no longer have anywhere to hide. Eat up; we will burn it down when we’re done.” 

A gasp that definitely wasn’t my own came from down below. One that thankfully none of them heard besides me. I didn’t have to glance down to know it was Lady Bluebird. Instantly, I jumped down from the tree, landing right in front of her. Her eyes widened, and another gasp would have slipped from her mouth.

If I hadn’t covered it with my hand. I pressed one finger to my lips. Telling her she must be quiet before I grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the clearing. My thoughts were racing. Because the fire isn’t part of the plot that I am on at the moment. 

I thought having them know nothing would give me an advantage. But one of them still figured out the other plot that I had thought of writing. There is nothing I can do now that the orders have been given. I just need to go with it. Once we were far enough.

I clasped Lady Bluebird’s hands in my own. I stared her in the eyes as I spoke. 

“Go back to the others for help. I will do everything I can to stop them.” 

She nodded her plan for me, completely forgotten at this recent development. Though she had been going to betray me. Even she would not condone this.  

I squeezed her hands once as I whispered. “Birds speed Lady Bluebird.”

Then I released her. Watching as she ran back to where the others still were. They wouldn’t have left until later at night. I know she made it in time to tell them. Of course, that doesn’t mean they will make it in time for the fire.

Spinning, I made my way back to the clearing where those soldiers were. One thing is for sure. I was going to kill whichever of those four assholes activated this plot. I had decided against it because when the fire grows out of control. Too many die. Not just soldiers and Ravenhood’s people.

The fire spread to some villages after the soldiers couldn’t control it. Killing so many innocent people. I know these stories were dark romances, but I didn’t want that for this story.