We walk for a while, the dense canopy of tents slowly fading behind us as we continue deeper into the wilderness. The air is cooler here, but the weight of everything we've just witnessed hangs heavily over us. Ryu glances down at Nikko, making sure she's okay after the tense interaction with the villagers. Her cat ears twitch slightly, but she seems fine. "I'm okay, Papa," she says, her small hand gripping his larger one. She offers him a small smile, grateful he helped those desperate people.

  Ryu nods, but I can tell he's still checking on her, making sure she's truly all right. His gaze shifts to Elizabeth, who walks quietly beside us, her usual calm demeanor shaken. "You okay?" Ryu asks her softly.

  Elizabeth nods, though her steps are a little slower, her body language showing the tension she's been holding in. "I'll be fine," she says, her voice firm, though there's a shakiness to it. "It was very... kind of you to help them," she adds, though I can see in her eyes she's still processing everything.

  As we walk, the atmosphere remains heavy, the faint rustling of the forest the only sound for a long while. My mind is swirling with the weight of what just happened. I glance at Ryu, curiosity gnawing at me. I can't hold it in anymore. "Let me see the parchment you pocketed."

  Ryu pauses, looking at me for a moment before reaching into his cloak. He pulls out the folded piece of paper and carefully unfolds it. My heart sinks as soon as I see it—Wanted: Dead or Alive. The bounty is a staggering one thousand gold coins, and there, staring back at me, are sketches of all of us—Ryu, Nikko, Apollo, and me. The drawings are disturbingly accurate.

  The words beneath them accuse us of releasing the plague that's spreading across the kingdom. My blood runs cold. The thought of being wanted for something so terrible, something we didn't even do... It's horrifying.

  I glance at Nikko, who stares wide-eyed at the parchment. Her ears droop, and her tail curls tightly around her leg. "We didn't... we didn't do that..." she whispers, her voice trembling.

  "I know," I say, my own voice shaking slightly. My eyes dart to Ryu, his expression unreadable under the shadow of his hood, but I can sense it—he's not pleased either. "We need to leave these lands now," he says, his voice low and firm. "No doubt they'll send mercenaries after us."

  I feel a chill run down my spine. Mercenaries? How did it come to this? We're innocent, and yet here we are, labeled criminals. My thoughts race, and I can't help but wonder if this is what Ryu felt like after the Jedi Purge, when he was hunted for simply surviving. It's terrifying.

  "You're welcome to accompany us," Ryu offers, his gaze shifting to Elizabeth. "We can take you wherever you need to go."

  She hesitates, the weight of the situation clearly taking its toll on her. "I appreciate the offer," she says quietly, "but I'd just slow you down. My daughter is only a day's walk from here."

  Ryu frowns slightly. "At least let us give you a ride. It's faster than walking."

  Elizabeth sighs, clearly torn. "I appreciate it, but—"

  "No," Ryu insists gently. "We'll take you. It'll be safer."

  Finally, she relents. "Alright," she says with a heavy sigh. "Where is your carriage?"

  Ryu gives her a slight smirk, raising his left arm. "It'll be here soon," he says, earning a puzzled look from her. He taps something on his glove. "DP-7, I'm sending you our coordinates. Bring the bike here as soon as possible."

  Elizabeth's eyebrows knit together in confusion, her eyes darting between Ryu and his glove. "What are you doing?" she asks, her tone laced with uncertainty.

  I smirk at her confusion, remembering how strange all of this seemed to me at first. "You'll see," I say, unable to keep the amusement out of my voice.

  A series of beeps emit from Ryu's glove, startling Elizabeth, but before she can ask anything more, a familiar sound starts to fill the air. The hum grows louder, and then, emerging from the depths of the forest, the speeder bike appears, speeding toward us.

  Elizabeth's eyes go wide, her face a mix of awe and shock. "By the gods... what is that?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Before she can fully process it, DP-7 pops up from the seat of the bike, beeping happily. The droid zooms toward us, its chirps and whistles filling the air, but when it approaches Elizabeth, she takes a quick step back, her hand flying to her dagger. Her eyes widen in fear, unsure of what to make of the small flying droid.

  "It's okay," Ryu says quickly, holding his arm out to reassure her. "This is DP-7. It's friendly. It's just saying hi."

  The droid hovers back, sensing her unease, but beeps a cheerful greeting nonetheless. Elizabeth stares at the droid, then back at Ryu, her eyes filled with disbelief and hesitation. She takes a deep breath, clearly struggling to make sense of everything. "I... don't even know where to begin," she says, her voice quiet and shaky. She looks at the speeder, then at the droid again, baffled by the strange technology. "This... this is beyond anything I've ever seen."

  She pauses, her brow furrowing as she tries to gather her thoughts. Finally, she meets Ryu's gaze, her expression uncertain but resolute. "I have so many questions, but..." she hesitates, sighing softly, "I trust you."

  Ryu nods, not pressing further. We begin to board the speeder. Ryu climbs onto the bike itself, while I settle into the sidecar. Apollo, Nikko, and a still hesitant Elizabeth climb into the wagon attached behind. Nikko glances over at Elizabeth with a grin, her tail flicking slightly. "Hold on tight!" she warns playfully.

  Elizabeth's face says it all—she has no idea what she's gotten herself into.

  The speeder darts off, and before we've even cleared the first stretch, Elizabeth lets out a shriek, her hands gripping the edge of the wagon tightly. I smirk a little, unable to help myself—it reminds me of my first time on the speeder. I shrieked like that too, though I feel a little bad for her.

  Nikko, however, isn't cheering like she usually does. Her ears droop and her tail is wrapped tightly around her waist, her worried expression unmistakable. I can't blame her. After everything we've been through, the weight of it all must be sinking in for her as well. The road ahead feels uncertain, and I can sense her anxiety as clearly as I feel my own.

  The wind whips past us as Ryu pushes the speeder faster, the forest a blur of green as we zip through. Elizabeth clutches the wagon so tightly her knuckles turn white, her face pale and her eyes wide with disbelief. Her breaths are short and panicked, and I can tell this ride is completely overwhelming for her.

  After what feels like a long stretch, Ryu slows the speeder as we approach a clearing, the landscape finally coming into view. He brings the speeder to a stop, and we all begin to dismount.

  Elizabeth, pale and visibly shaken, climbs out of the wagon with wobbly legs. Talia steps over to her, feeling a bit concerned. "How was it?" I ask gently, even though I already know the answer.

  Elizabeth raises her hand toward me, still catching her breath. "Give me... a moment," she says between deep breaths, as though the ride has taken everything out of her.

  Ryu approaches, offering her a water pouch. She takes it gratefully, bringing it to her lips and drinking deeply. Once she's had her fill, she passes the pouch to Apollo, who declines with a polite shake of his head.

  "You need to drink," Elizabeth insists, her voice firm despite her state.

  But Apollo simply takes the pouch and hands it to Nikko instead. "I have no need for water," he says, his voice calm as always.

  Elizabeth crosses her arms, her gaze sharp as she looks at Apollo. "Of course you do. Everyone does."

  I step in gently. "Um, Lady Elizabeth... Apollo really doesn't need water."

  Elizabeth turns to me, her expression one of disbelief. "How come?" she asks, still too rattled to fully comprehend.

  "Because Apollo is a droid," I explain, pointing to the small details she might have missed in all the chaos, "like DP-7."

  Elizabeth sighs deeply, the kind of sigh that feels like she's resigned to accepting the impossible. "Of course he is," she mutters, rubbing her temples as if to ward off the headache forming from all these revelations.

  While she processes this, Ryu fiddles with his glove, and a bright blue hologram of the surrounding landscape appears above his arm, projecting a bird's-eye view of the area we're in. The clarity of the image surprises even me, though I've seen him use it before. Elizabeth, however, is utterly captivated, her eyes fixed on the hologram.

  "Where does your daughter live?" Ryu asks, but Elizabeth is too engrossed in the hologram to respond.

  "Lady Elizabeth?" Ryu repeats, his voice snapping her out of her trance.

  "Fur—further south," she stammers, shaking her head slightly as if trying to clear her thoughts. "Near a creek. Her husband is a hunter, so they live pretty isolated."

  Ryu nods and manipulates the hologram with a few taps, the landscape zooming and shifting until it focuses on a small clearing deep in the forest where a single house stands. "That's the one," Elizabeth confirms, her voice steadier now.

  Ryu deactivates the hologram, and it disappears with a soft flicker. He looks around at the group. "Everyone ready to go?"

  I notice Elizabeth hesitates as the rest of us climb back onto the speeder. She looks a little more reluctant this time, staring at the wagon with apprehension. "Oh no," she mutters under her breath, clearly dreading the ride but knowing it's necessary.

  Finally, after a long pause, Elizabeth climbs in and sits next to Apollo. I see Nikko turn toward her, holding out her small hand with a reassuring smile. "You can hold my hand if it's too scary," she offers sweetly.

  A small, grateful smile tugs at Elizabeth's lips, and she takes Nikko's hand gently. "Thank you," she says softly, her voice touched by the little girl's kindness.

  As we speed off again, I glance back at Elizabeth. She doesn't shriek this time, but I can still see the tension in her face, her eyes wide as she grips the edge of the wagon tightly. She's trying to hold it together, but the ride is clearly still unnerving for her.

  ?????

  The journey comes to a halt as we arrive at the house. It's made of stone, sturdy and well-built, standing solitary in the clearing. The walls are rough-hewn and weathered from years of exposure to the elements, giving the house a rustic yet enduring appearance. Wooden beams support the roof, and several animal pelts hang drying on a rack nearby, a clear sign that this is the home of a hunter. The faint smell of woodsmoke lingers in the air, and a small stack of firewood rests near the door. A well stands to one side, while traps and tools are scattered near the front, indicating a life lived in harmony with the forest and the hunt.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  As the speeder pulls to a stop, the door of the house swings open, and a man steps out, a bow already drawn and aimed directly at us. His appearance is rugged, his face weathered from years of outdoor work. He's of average height but muscular, his dark hair tied back from his face and a few days' worth of stubble covering his jaw. His eyes are sharp and alert, scanning us with suspicion. He wears a simple leather vest over a tunic, with thick boots and a belt filled with tools of his trade. There's no mistaking the hunter in him.

  "Whoever you are, I suggest you turn back," the man warns, his voice firm, bow still aimed as Ryu steps off the speeder.

  Ryu, always calm in these situations, raises his hands slightly to show he means no harm. "We're not here to harm you," he says calmly, his tone disarming, though the hunter's grip on the bow remains tight.

  The rest of us climb off the speeder, and I notice Elizabeth still a bit shaken from the ride, her legs slightly unsteady, but the moment she sees the man, her expression softens into a smile.

  The man's stern face melts into relief the moment his eyes land on Elizabeth. He immediately lowers his bow. "Alisa!" he calls into the house, his voice filled with emotion. "You need to see this!"

  From within, a young woman steps into the doorway, her hand resting protectively on her pregnant belly. Her dark hair is pulled back in a loose braid, and her eyes widen in disbelief as she spots Elizabeth. A tear rolls down her cheek as she rushes forward. "By the gods..." she breathes, her voice cracking with emotion. She embraces her mother tightly, her relief palpable.

  "I'm so glad you're here," Alisa says, pulling back slightly but still holding onto her mother, her smile warm and full of love.

  As they embrace, something catches my eye in the distance. A flicker of movement, something dark darting between the trees. I quickly glance over, my heart skipping a beat. There, perched on a branch, is a crow. Its beady eyes seem to watch us intently, the black feathers gleaming in the light as it tilts its head. I feel a chill run down my spine, but I shake it off, trying to focus back on the moment.

  As Elizabeth and Alisa break their embrace, Alisa looks at us, her eyes filled with curiosity. "And who are you?" she asks, her voice still shaky from the reunion.

  "We're adventurers from the guild," Ryu says, stepping forward. "I'm Ryu, gold rank adventurer," he adds, flashing his identification badge.

  Apollo steps forward next. "Apollo, gold rank adventurer," he says, presenting his badge as well.

  I follow suit, though a bit more hesitant. "Talia, silver rank adventurer," I say, showing my own badge.

  "And I'm Nikko!" Nikko chimes in excitedly, eager to introduce herself.

  Alisa smiles warmly at Nikko before introducing herself. "I'm Alisa," she says, her hand resting protectively on her belly once more, "and this is my husband, Theo," she gestures toward the man at the door, who now wears a friendlier expression.

  Theo, still standing by the doorway, nods at us, his posture more relaxed but still cautious. His bow is now slung over his shoulder, and the tension in his body has eased, though he remains watchful.

  Just as introductions are being made, DP-7 emerges from the speeder, beeping loudly in excitement. The sound startles Alisa and Theo, causing Theo to instinctively reach for his bow again.

  "Don't shoot!" Elizabeth quickly assures them, raising her hand in a calming gesture. "This is DP-7."

  The droid hovers toward Theo, beeping in what I can only assume is a friendly greeting. Theo, though still wary, lowers his hand from his bow, his brow furrowed in confusion.

  "What... is that thing?" Theo asks, his eyes locked on the droid.

  "A droid," Nikko says cheerfully, clearly excited by the idea of explaining it.

  "A what?" Alisa echoes, her gaze shifting between us and DP-7, a curious smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, though her eyebrow is raised.

  She shakes her head slightly, as if deciding it's better not to ask more questions for now. "I'm being rude," she says after a moment. "Why don't you come inside? You must be exhausted from traveling all this way."

  "We appreciate the offer," Ryu says, shaking his head politely, "but we must leave. I'm sorry."

  Alisa frowns, clearly not wanting to see us go so soon. "Are you sure? You can rest for a while."

  Elizabeth steps in before Ryu can respond. "They can't stay," she says, her tone calm but firm. "I can't explain it, but... they have to keep moving."

  There's a moment of silence as Alisa studies her mother, then us. Finally, she sighs, accepting her mother's words. "Very well," she says softly. "I won't press further, but... thank you for bringing my mother here safely."

  "Of course," Ryu responds, his voice gentle but resolved.

  Before we leave, Ryu reaches into his pouch of holdings and pulls out the ancient tome he read from earlier. "Here," he says, holding it out to Elizabeth. "For when you see the King."

  But Elizabeth shakes her head, concern flickering in her eyes. "I think it's best if I lie," she admits, her voice heavy with the weight of the decision. "It would be safer in your hands."

  Though hesitant, Ryu nods and tucks the tome back into his pouch.

  "Thank you for saving my life," Elizabeth says, her voice filled with genuine gratitude as she holds out her hand to Ryu.

  Ryu takes her hand and shakes it firmly. "You're welcome," he says, his tone sincere.

  Elizabeth approaches Apollo next, who takes her hand in his usual formal manner. "Best of luck, Lady Elizabeth," Apollo says, offering her a respectful nod.

  Her smile softens. "Thank you," she replies.

  When Elizabeth reaches me, I extend my hand, and she shakes it with a warm smile.

  But when she approaches Nikko, instead of a handshake, Nikko rushes forward and hugs her tightly, catching Elizabeth by surprise.

  "You take care, little one," Elizabeth says, her voice tender as she hugs Nikko back. "And listen to your father, understand?"

  Nikko nods eagerly. "I will."

  With our goodbyes said, Elizabeth, Alisa, and Theo stand together, watching as we climb back onto the speeder. As we dart off into the distance, I glance back to see them waving, their figures growing smaller with each passing second.

  The air feels heavy, but there's a sense of accomplishment in knowing Elizabeth is safe with her family. Now, we just have to keep moving forward.

  As we dart through the dense forest, the wind rushing past my face, I can't help but let my mind race. What would our next course of action be? Seeing the King is out of the question now that we're wanted. A bounty on our heads. I glance over at Ryu, his expression focused as he steers the speeder through the thick underbrush. The trees blur as we speed by, but my thoughts are too tangled to focus on the scenery.

  Ryu is powerful. I know that. He could easily take on the entire kingdom if it came to it, but what would that accomplish? It would only make him look like the villain they already believe him to be. The thought fills me with dread. What if this ends with him being hunted, not just by mercenaries, but by everyone?

  The speeder jolts over a fallen log, and I tighten my grip on the sidecar, glancing over at Nikko in the wagon. She clutches onto Apollo, her eyes wide but her trust in her father still firm. For her sake, for all our sakes, we need to find a way out of this.

  I lean forward, shouting over the roar of the engine and the wind. "What will we do now?" The question burns on my lips, fear and uncertainty gnawing at me.

  Ryu's eyes remain forward, focused on the path ahead, but I catch the faint lines of tension in his brow. "I'm not sure," he shouts back, his voice barely audible over the noise. "For now, I just want to put as much distance between us and Eldoria as possible."

  His words hang in the air, offering little comfort. I nod, though he can't see me, my thoughts still swirling. We're fugitives now, running from a kingdom that blames us for a calamity we didn't cause.

  ?????

  Suddenly, a metal net springs up between two trees, too fast for Ryu to react. The speeder slams into it, sending us all flying through the air. My heart leaps, but instead of feeling the hard impact of the ground, I feel myself hovering. I open my eyes to see Ryu on the ground, his arm extended toward me, the Force gently lowering me down. Apollo lands deftly on his feet, still cradling Nikko protectively in his arms.

  "Is everyone okay?" Ryu asks, pulling himself up and checking on Nikko.

  "I'm fine," I manage to say, still a little dazed.

  Apollo's calm voice chimes in, "We are unharmed."

  Apollo gently sets Nikko down, and she quickly rushes to Ryu's side, her voice trembling. "I'm okay, Papa."

  Ryu nods, patting her on the head. "Good. Stay close."

  I glance around at the wreckage of the speeder, trying to make sense of what just happened. "What was that?" I ask, standing by Ryu.

  Without a word, Ryu draws his sword, his eyes scanning the tree line. "Get behind me, Nikko."

  Apollo, ever the sentinel, readies his spear and shield, his imposing figure bracing for what's to come. Then, without warning, arrows rain down from the trees, coming from every direction. I rush to Apollo as he raises his shield, blocking the incoming volley. The arrows bounce off his metal shield, failing to penetrate.

  Ryu swiftly raises his left arm, and a glowing shield of energy materializes from his glove, deflecting the arrows aimed at us. He moves into position, back-to-back with Apollo, Nikko and I tucked safely behind them. The ground is soon littered with arrows as the onslaught continues.

  One arrow grazes my cheek, stinging as it cuts through the skin. I flinch and press closer to Apollo, trying to stay behind his protective shield. The barrage finally ceases, and the forest falls eerily silent once more.

  "Everyone alright?" Ryu asks, his voice calm but alert.

  "Affirmative," Apollo replies stoically.

  Nikko, though shaken, clings to Ryu. "I'm okay, Papa," she says, but I can hear the tremor in her voice.

  "I'm fine too," I add, wiping the small trail of blood from my cheek.

  Before we can gather our bearings, a voice rings out from above. "By order of King Bjorn, you are to throw down your weapons and surrender at once!"

  I scan the treetops, trying to spot where the voice is coming from. The tension in the air is thick. We stand our ground, ready for whatever comes next.

  We stand our ground, weapons ready. The voice responds, "So be it."

  There's a chuckle from the shadows, followed by the rustling of leaves and the snapping of branches. Figures emerge from the trees, stepping into the open—there are about twenty of them, all bearing the same emblem on their leather armor: a twisted fang crossing over a clenched fist. Mercenaries, no doubt, each one more brutish than the last. They're equipped with axes, swords, and longbows, and they move with the confidence of seasoned hunters.

  "Well, well," one of them says with a crooked smile, hoisting a large battle axe onto his shoulder. "Look who's fallen into our trap. Seems like we'll be getting rich tonight, boys."

  The rest of his gang lets out a coarse laugh, their eyes gleaming with greed as they eye us like prey. The leader's gaze lingers on me, and then to Nikko. He licks his lips in anticipation.

  "You don't want to do this," Ryu says, stepping forward, his voice calm but deadly serious. "Just walk away."

  The man laughs again, louder this time. "Or what?" he sneers. "We outnumber you. But I'm a fair man," he adds, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Surrender now, and I promise no harm will come to you... or your woman," he says, his gaze settling on me with a leer.

  My blood boils. Without thinking, I draw my short swords, glaring at the man. His grin widens.

  "I like a woman with fight in her," he says mockingly.

  Before I can respond, Apollo steps forward, towering over the man. Though Apollo is easily a head taller and far more imposing, the leader stands his ground, clearly unfazed—or trying to seem like it.

  "Did I hit a nerve, big guy?" he taunts, tapping his finger against Apollo's chest plate. "Better step back or—"

  His words are cut short when Apollo grabs his hand, squeezing tightly. The man's face contorts in pain, and a strangled cry escapes his throat as he tries to pull his hand free.

  "What are you waiting for?!" he yells to his men, his voice breaking with pain. "Get them! Now!"

  The mercenaries spring into action, weapons raised as they charge toward us.

  Apollo holds onto the leader's hand a moment longer, then throws him aside like a ragdoll, his massive form casting a shadow over the battle as he spins into action with his spear. Meanwhile, Ryu unsheathes his sword, his posture deadly calm as he prepares for the incoming fight.

  The mercenaries rush forward, but Ryu and Apollo move in unison, their combat precise and deadly. The leader, cradling his injured hand, struggles to get back up as his men launch their attack. Apollo slams his spear into the first man who comes close, sending him crashing to the ground in an instant. Ryu's blade is swift, cutting through the air as he parries and counters with deadly accuracy, leaving no room for mistakes.

  But these mercenaries, though desperate, are skilled. They fan out, trying to surround us. I grip my swords tighter as I brace for the next wave, determined not to let any of them near Nikko.

  Another lunges at Ryu, who deflects the attack with his sword and counters with a swift strike to the soldier's abdomen. Blood splatters as the soldier falls. Another swings at me, but I parry and slash across his chest, his body crumpling to the ground.

  Apollo thrusts his spear into an advancing soldier, lifting him off the ground before slamming him down. Nikko clings tightly to Ryu, who decapitates a mercenary attempting to strike her. Arrows fly again, and Ryu's energy shield deflects them as Apollo covers our flank, his shield absorbing the impact of multiple arrows.

  One rushes at me, slashing wildly. I dodge, but he manages to cut across my face. The pain is sharp, but I grit my teeth and retaliate, plunging my sword into his heart. Ryu deflects a sword aimed at Nikko, slicing through the attacker's arm, then his throat.

  The fight is brutal, each clash of steel sending sparks flying. Blood soaks the ground as more mercenaries fall. One mercenary tries to stab Nikko, but Ryu disarms him with a flick of his wrist and cuts him down. Another charges at Apollo, but the droid bashes him with his shield, shattering his skull.

  I fend off two attackers, slashing one across the chest and kicking the other in the knee before finishing him with a thrust. Ryu and Apollo continue their deadly dance, cutting down anyone who gets too close. The forest echoes with the sounds of battle, the ground littered with bodies.

  The leader, seeing his comrades fall, tries to flee. Ryu extends his hand, using the Force to pin him against a tree. He struggles, but Ryu's grip is unrelenting.

  We stand amidst the carnage, breathing heavily. The forest is silent once more, save for the rustling of leaves. The air is thick with the smell of blood and sweat. Ryu's face is hard, determined, as he approaches the pinned leader, ready for answers.

  ?????