Genesis : Knights of Salvation Series
Chapter 15: Wondering Willow's

The grove, To say I was expecting a large menacing forest towering up over us just like the walls would be an understatement but what I found as we came to a small rocky cliff. Our horses lined up on the rocky cliffs. The drop is small only about six feet from a fall, the rock is a mix of black’s and brown’s. Behind us, the spread of large empty fields but from the cliff to the large forest sprawled out in front of us it’s pure green. The forest itself stands tall the canopy spreading out on top. The forest circles around us, the wind making the branches shake melodically as birds sing out loudly.

The lack of human impact on the world has left so much room for the animals to take over once again, including the hundreds of birds fluttering around and singing. Their chirping seemed to fill the air around us as our horses huffed out loudly. I can feel my horse breathe out fast as she welcomes the rest. We’ve had them running for three hours straight without a break. The sun is up and beating down on us now, prompting the sudden slowdown. We have about half to go before we reach the outpost.

“We will have to walk our horses down this small cliff, but we’re going to stop here and take a break,” Enyo says, his eyes not leaving the forest. Orion and the rest of the team back their horses up farther away from the cliff but I don’t move. I want to stretch my leg’s because at this point I can barely feel them. Suddenly I just closed my eyes, was almost done with our first leg of the mission. I take in a long large breath the smell of the open and the sound of the birds, so many birds it’s amazing.

A slight quiver shoots through my left hand causing it to slight spasm. I need to take my medicine, which will be hard to do during the trip if we don’t want any questions. Finally, I pull my horse back and direct it to the small group of horses all grazing on the high risen grass. I climb down and walk a few feet away from the rest of the group. Orion and Enyo stand farther away whispering over a map in their hands. Everyone else is sitting around together on the grass, Talon is standing over them his weapon at the ready. Talon has a large machine gun, and I’m not too sure how it works but talon look’s terrifying with it.

The moment my leg’s hit the ground they feel more like noodles than legs. I let my horse begin to eat shake my legs then stretch out. My sore muscles from training are terrible enough but tomorrow my back end will be excruciating. I lift my arms up stretch out my midsection and lean to the side stretching out as best I can. As I finish stretching and pull my arms back down my left-hand goes from a small tremor to my whole hand beginning to shake wildly and uncontrollably.

I grab my hand trying to still it before anyone sees it. I look up and replace Clare, she sits next to Harrison as the both of them munch from a small packet of nuts. Harrison is chatting away with a broad smile while Clare seems to just nod once in a while. I try to catch her eye or something but her attention is on Harrison.

“Clare,” I call her. The problem is that I get the rest of the group’s attention too. I try not to get fidgety under all their eyes. Clare finally excuses herself from the group and gets to me. The moment she gets to me I grab her arm pulling her farther away from the group.

“Yes?” She says her brows furrowing. I look down at my hand and back up ready.

“Tremors in my hand.” Whisper looked over quickly to see if anyone was paying attention to us. Clare nods her eye immediately falling to my hand and taking it into hers. She brushes off my other hand as she gets a better look at it. My hand’s shaking has slowed already as Clare look at it. It shakes slightly as she holds it in her hand, she turns it back and forth akin sure it’s not causing anything else to happen. Her soft hands slide over mine as she evaluates me.

“You will be fine, it’s just because of the long ride and holding the reins for so long. I’ll give you some moon serum.” She explains dropping my hand as I hide it in my other hand. Clare heads to her bag sitting next to Harrison grabbing it and bringing it back to us. She pulls behind the horses blocking us from the view of the rest of the group. She unzips the front pocket trying to replace the bag of medicine. She finally replaces it pulling out a glass vial with a light blue colored tint to the liquid. She pulls out second a syringe, shakes the vial places the needle into the vial, and pulls out the moon serum. A slight squirt comes out as she gets the air out of the syringe. Without a word, her hand’s grabbing my arm as she quickly pushes the serum into my vein.

Unlike the other medicine, the moon serum burns as it courses through my veins until it hits my heart. I don’t know what any of these medicines do or even what they are meant to help with. All I know is once a day I take a small pill in the morning and every so often I have to take a shot for some side effects of the mutant’s disease. Fire burns through my body as a small groan is pushed through my lips trying my best not to be too loud. After a moment of excruciating pain, the burning finally eases and I can finally breathe.

When I look at my hand the tremor is gone and I bring in an easier breath. After she stuff’s the may medicines in the bag we step out from behind the horses. I look around to make sure no one’s paying too much attention to us, my eyes land on Enyo who I had expected to still be looking at his map but he isn’t but watching me and Clare. All day Enyo seems to be on edge and even more distracted. Since this morning he has not spared me a glance or Clare and I’m not sure why he’s acting so odd. Or could this be the way he really is? Maybe he normally likes this?

I look at him and he seems to be watching us or more like evaluating us. His uniform is tight and like mine, conforms to his body. The uniform hugs his muscular arms and his broad chest. Unlike mine, his uniform has patches on his shoulders proclaiming him the captain. He looks handsome and deadly. Our eyes connect and for a moment there’s a curious softness I hadn’t expected. He looks back to the map as Orion begins speaking again.

Clare and I head to Harrison who is still sitting down relaxing stretching out in the warm sun. I sit beside him my back to Enyo and Orion as Clare sits on the other side of him.

“There you are Aspen, how are you holding up?” He asks kindly giving me a warm smile and glancing over at me. His head falls to the side as he watches me.

“I’m fine, tomorrow I’ll be sore but for now I’m okay,” I say giving him a small smile.

“I have to say, I have never seen such large open spaces like this,” Clare says his eyes taking in the open world. It’s hard to see this space and beauty knowing that all those people are squished up and may never know how it feels to be able to wander free with no walls in the way.

“We’re heading out now get set to go.” Orion’s voice pulls our attention.