The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 293: Leaving Heartland

Chapter 293: Leaving Heartland

By the time we left the church, night had fully descended upon the city, filling the streets and alleys with inky blackness. The last vestiges of gray had left the horizon, leaving the sky a sea of twinkling stars. I gazed up a moment, eyes wandering the depthless vista, searching for something–anything that might indicate Fate was watching.

Korra nudged my arm, her voice soft. "You sure you’re alright? We can find an inn or something for the night, if you’d rather start in the morning."

A fleck of light sliced across the sky, threading between the stars. In the blink of an eye, it was gone, leaving a rapidly fading trail behind, a transitory white smudge against the darkened canvas. A shooting star.

With some effort, I lowered my gaze and found Korra watching me, a look of concern spread across her face. As she opened her mouth, intending to ask the question again, I gently shook my head.

"I’m fine. Just...wondering. If she’s up there, waiting for me."

Korra shifted on her feet and folded her arms, a faint smile teasing the edges of her lips. "There’s someone else waiting for you, too. I wonder how much longer it’ll be before Fable attacks the city on his own, looking for you."

With our soul bond, Fable must have sensed my discomfort, not to mention the divine presence of the god. If I didn’t make it out soon... Images of the monstrous wolf tearing through the streets flashed through my mind, and I paled, a shudder running through my tail. Perhaps it would be better to save my stargazing for later.

Even compared to the late hour of our entry, the city was still and quiet. The night breeze carried the chill of the anomaly, chasing the usual nighttime denizens indoors, leaving naught but a few homeless beggars to witness our passing. The hollow echo of our footsteps amid the silence was disconcerting, and I found my feet growing hesitant, unconsciously softening my steps. Korra made no such effort, strolling along as confident as a queen in her garden. She’d been in a good mood ever since the shard, hiding a gleam in her eye and humming an unfamiliar tune.

I still hadn’t been able to figure out the brown-haired girl. She was quick to anger, yet just as swift to grasp a good mood. It would be days before I regained the optimism I held before meeting the usurper of Fate, yet she seemed to have forgotten it entirely. It wasn’t true, she just refused to allow things like that to get to her. The only time I’d seen a glimmer of what went on inside was when we first met, and she shared the anguish she felt at being betrayed and killed in her first life. And again, when she stormed the Divine Throne, trying to free me.

A small, wry smile made its way onto my face as I recalled the things Fate had told me in the Council of Gods. Each hero had been handpicked by their god, a perfect representative of their nature and agenda. Perhaps that explained it. Water had found a soul as capricious and willful as a summer rainstorm, yet with the unseeable depth of the endless seas.

Korra caught me watching and flashed a smile. "I’ve heard I look better in the daylight, when the sun catches the green in my eyes. Normally, I don’t like people staring, but if it’s you..."

With a little squeak, I tore my eyes off her and stared at the ground, feeling my cheeks grow hot. "S-sorry. Just thinking."

She laughed, a bright, clear sound, that cut through the muted tension of the darkened street. "You’re so serious all the time, I was only teasing. We’re on a serious mission with a lot on the line, but that doesn’t mean you have to be so dark and brooding. Sari is going to be okay. If you only look at the dark, you’ll never have a chance to see the beauty in the light. Like that, for instance."

I raised my head and followed her pointing finger, finding we’d already reached the gate again. Light spilled through the open doorway of the guard house, revealing the room beyond. Several armored men bobbed and floated against the wall, one of them entirely upside down. The moment we made eye contact, his face, which was already red, turned purple, his mouth opening and closing in what appeared to be a violent bout of cursing. Fortunately, whatever he was saying was caught by the winds that bound him, leaving the air still and peaceful.

"How did they even get here?" I asked softly, peering into the guard house. Hadn’t I bound them in the primary inspection room down the hallway?

Two of the guards were still struggling, having failed to notice our arrival. They grunted and groaned, moving their bodies like worms, squirming until the ridges of their armor caught against the stone walls and slowly inching forward. Korra let out a peal of laughter, quickly smothering it with her hand as they froze, finally realizing they were being watched.

I looked at her, then back at the guards, who were now glaring at us. Warmth blossomed in my chest as my lips twitched into a smile. I didn’t really understand what was so funny, but her smile was contagious. It was a different kind of smile than I’d experienced before, but, as we pushed past the struggling guards, I decided it was nice. Smiling together was definitely better than smiling alone.

Scarcely had we left the city then a flash of silver streaked through the trees, practically bounding into me. I let out a surprised yelp, stumbling back, as a massive, ten-foot wolf barreled into me. As much to catch myself as embrace him, I threw my arms around Fable’s neck, burying my face in his fur. With any luck, this position would stop him from–before I could even finish the thought, his tongue rasped across my cheek, warm, rough, and very wet.

"I’m glad to see you too, but–"

My tail stiffened as Fable whined softly and pushed forward, throwing me off balance. Caught beneath his weight, I landed on the grass, sitting with his head looming over me. I gasped, struggling to push him away, but he wasted no time covering me in wolfy kisses. Korra’s laugh echoed in my ears, but I couldn’t so much as glare at her until Fable gave me a final sniff and backed off, letting me scramble back to my feet.

"Hey, careful now," Korra said, reaching over to brush some leaves from my hair. "I spent a long time brushing that out this morning!"

Turning red, I tried to glare at Fable but found him calmly sitting on his haunches, wearing his most dignified look. Only the slight wag in his tail gave any indication of what he had just done. Had I not been able to sense his smug amusement through the bond, daring me to make a scene, I might have scolded him. Instead, I could only let out a breath and give him my best stern look.

"Life goal right there," Korra said, shaking her head in amusement. "I want to find someone as happy to see me as that."

Despite his enthusiastic greeting, Fable’s eyes swiveled onto me, filled with reproach. Shaking my head, I let out a sigh and stroked his head, running my fingers around the base of his horn.

"Sorry I worried you. Were you able to get some rest?"

After a few more pets, his expression loosened and he nuzzled his head against my chest. A small smile made its way onto my lips as I hugged him close, feeling another surge of warmth in my chest. Was this what being in a party was supposed to feel like?

Somewhat reluctant, I gave him a final squeeze and pulled away. "Alright, let’s get moving. Sari’s counting on us."

Fable barked and sprang back, landing some dozen feet away. Taking a deep breath, the wolf closed his eyes and surrounded himself in a blinding veil of starlight. Within the space of a few heartbeats, his form extended, growing to reach his full, forty-foot length. The ground trembled as he strode over, leaning over to nudge me with his nose. I smiled, patting him as a blast of hot air escaped his nostrils, lifting my hair and stirring my clothes.

Mere seconds later, we were flying through the forest, winding between the ancient towering trees. Despite Fable’s size, the trees were even larger, thick as buildings and tall as mountains. It took almost five minutes to crest the top of the valley. I couldn’t help but cast a final glance behind us, taking in the lights of the city, before we bounded down the other side, making our way east. The forest stretched on, vast as an ocean, lit only by the stars above.

A chill ran down my spine. When faced with the endless expanse of dark nothingness, I felt rather small and insignificant. Could I really find Sari in all of that? What difference could two weakened heroes make?

Korra snuggled closer, arms wrapping loosely around my neck, her breasts soft against my back. "As long as we stick together, everything going to be fine. Let’s just focus on making it to Brithlite. That part’s going to be hard enough."

I glanced over my shoulder, brow knit in confusion. She only shrugged, and I turned back, staring at the sky through patches in the rapidly passing trees. She was right. There was no need to worry. As long as I had her and Fable, and fate willing, everything would work out.