Finding Dmitria by Lauren Hinch (inspirational books .txt) 📖

silently, as Dmitria attempted to help Seryna off the ground.

“No child, I will be alright. You have to go without me; I will only slow you down. Please, go now.” said Seryna, pushing Dmitria away. Seryna looked behind her as Akota began to stur

They nodded their heads mournfully, for they knew that leaving was the right thing to do.

Ekaterina said nothing as the girls hoisted themselves up onto their horses.

As they rode off, they heard the heard the dying cries of Seryna Cartridge
Chapter VIII

Chapter VIII

Aria Isabelle, Dmitria, and Ekaterina rode for their lives. Their horses fled through the forest, dodging branches and trees. Once through the forest their horses came to a halt.

Ekaterina’s face was emotionless. “There is a port town just over those hills. If we continue over through this clearing, we will have a chance to stop for a few hours and rest for the night. If we hurry, we will reach the port town by tomorrow evening.”

“Ekaterina, are you alright?” asked Aria Isabelle

Ekaterina turned towards her companions, sadness in her eyes. “We should hurry. We do not know how much time I was able to give us.” Ekaterina pulled her horse around.

Dmitria and Aria Isabelle looked at each other sadly. Dmitria nodded her head towards Ekaterina, “Then we must hurry.”

With that the three girls fled on horseback through the clearing in the forest, to where the trees began again. I was late in the evening when they finally dismounted their stallions.

Ekaterina said nothing as she dismounted her steed, pulling a small blanket from her rucksack and spreading it over the grass. She was trying her best to be strong. So many things had happened in the last day that she could hardly keep her mind straight.
Dmitria looked over at Ekaterina, noticing her tear stained cheeks. “One of us should keep watch.”

“I will keep the first watch. You both have been awake for some time. I will be able to manage for another few hours.” said Aria Isabelle, walking over to a fallen tree at the edge of the forest.

Dmitria and Ekaterina nodded walking slightly deeper into the forest, laying down upon the cold grass for a much needed rest.

Aria Isabelle sat on the ground, leaning her small back against the fall tree. It was amazing to her the events that had occurred recently. For Aria Isabelle, everything seemed surreal. Then, in an instant, the weight of what had happened finally came crashing down upon her. Tears began to form in her eyes as she realized that she would never see that orphanage ever again – her old life was over. Aria Isabelle released a small sob, only loud enough as to no wake Ekaterina and Dmitria. So there she sat, tears flowing silently down her face, as she looked out over the clearing.

After a few hours, there was a rustled behind Aria Isabelle. She turned behind her to find Dmitria walking towards her. “What are you doing, Dmitri? You should still be resting.”

“I have had all of the sleep that I could manage for the time being. You look exhausted, Aria.” Dmitria stepped over the log, sitting down next to Aria Isabelle.

“I do not wish to sleep, Dmitria.” said Aria to her friend. “I am terrified that if I close my eyes, I may see things that I do not wish to see.”

Dmitria took Aria Isabelle’s hand in hers. “The nightmares will not find you tonight. “Dmitria smiled. “I will stay with you.”

Aria Isabelle nodded and rested her head on Dmitria’s shoulder, falling asleep the moment she closed her eyes.

Dmitria smiled at her friend and then returned her gaze to the clearing before her.

* * *

Akota growled angrily at Celina. “You let them get away!” He began to pace back and forth, wincing slightly at the pain in side.

“Akota, sir, I attempted to help you first. You were unconscious.”

“Celina, darling,” Akota began. “While I do appreciate your attempt to help me, it is far more important that I complete the duties given to me by Sadiron.”

“Of course, Sir. There will not be another lapse in judgment.” Celina bowed towards Akota. “What will be our next move, Sir?”

“Those girls will not go far.” Akota began, “Port Santiago is the only port town that is a relatively close distance to where we are now.”

“We will plan to intercept them there then?”

“Yes. Gather the men. We will leave at dawn.”

* * *

Aria Isabelle, Dmitria and Ekaterina packed up their rucksacks and began their journey once again just as the first rays of light began to grace the forest floor, and rode their horse through the forest, towards the port town that Ekaterina had spoken of only hours before.

They finally reached Port Santiago just as the light began to fall past the hills. Port Santiago was a small port side town that lay on the southern coast of the island. It a small community of fishermen who had inhabited the town since it’s founding over one hundred years before.

Aria Isabelle, Dmitria, and Ekaterina dismounted their horses on the outskirts of town, releasing the stallions back into the forests. With their rucksacks over their shoulders, Aria Isabelle, Dmitria, and Ekaterina entered the town of Port Santiago.

Imprint

Text: Lauren Hinch
Images: Lauren Hinch
Publication Date: 11-06-2012

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