"No."

"Yes."

"Are you out of your mind? No!"

"You're not the boss here."

"You're right, but my plan is safer than yours."

"Your plan will take too much time."

"Cyrus, think realistic here. How will a bunch of strangers, and may I add, who doesn't share the same features as the others, at all, look in a strange camp, just walking around? I mean, nothing suspicious right? They will find out and then we will soon dig our own graves."

"Yara, it will be faster and-"

"No. And it stays no. Except if you want to challenge me for it."

"Fine we'll stick with your plan, not because I want to, but because I will be the better person here."

Yara watched the brown headed man walk away before switching her attention in the direction of the camp.

Cyrus wasn't what she expected. At all. When the King told her that she will have to do this mission with a partner, she was upset. She got the impression that he thought a woman alone will not succeed, and that he will not give her a chance to prove herself. The next morning, she was called to meet Cyrus. A brown haired, blue eyed and mischievous man. Very young too. He and the King got close when Cyrus, as a stable boy at that time, defended the King in a assassination attempt. From then on, he never really got a title like a warrior or a soldier, he just served the King as a fighter.

At this moment, they were a couple of miles away from the Royal gate. While a mile ahead of them were the camp they're supposed to spy on. It was quite a large camp. Definitely a camp for a large army. But whose army?

Yara already pondered on that thought. On this whole piece of land there were just two royal kingdoms. Elide, kingdom of Dimitri, and the other, descendants of Dimitri's great parents, the Lysandra kingdom. Both the two kingdoms were at peace with each other; trusted each other. So much, that Lysandra's army was away at war right now with another kingdom, leaving them completely vulnerable.

This camp couldn't be Lysandrians, as Lysandra's army departed a week ago.

It couldn't be Elidians because there wasn't any number of soldiers sent out in 3 weeks.

This left just one man. Rafael. No king will visit another kingdom with just a small number of guards. That king acted suspicious most of the time. She didn't trust him at all.

It was night time now and she and Cyrus together with a couple of other soldiers, now waited silently for the laughter of drunk men to quiet down. If she was Rafael, she wouldn't give her army alcoholic drinks, weakening them. You could hear them miles away, same with seeing the soft yellow glow of a bonfire.

Reckless men.

"Are you going to get down from there any time soon, Pocahontas?"

Yara glared down at the smiling Cyrus, before climbing down from the tree.

They were in the northern woods. The woods were quite large. Tall trees, small rivers and even a couple of caves.

"Did you and the men get a safe place to sleep in?"

Cyrus looked back from where he came from before answering.

"Yes. A cave nearby. An escape route is also in place. For emergencies of course."

"Good, go tell them to stay there. I'm going further in. You can come with."

"Don't you want to rest and do it in the morning? It's quite late...and dark." He muttered while eyeing the dark trees that loomed above them.

Yara mouth turned into a straight line. "Are you telling me you're afraid of the dark? The sun literally just sunk behind the mountains a couple of hours ago."

Cyrus huffed "Do you honestly think I look like a scared little boy?"

"Yes"

Cyrus' eyes widened. "Ex-excuse me but correction: It's called being cautious. You never know what things are hiding in those bushes, watching you, getting ready to slaughter you, ripping your..."

"Cyrus.."

"...throat, eating your brains, smashing you...-"

"Cyrus."

"...head open, then pulling your lifeless body along with..."

"Oh for God's sake! Cyrus!" She shook her head before sighing. "There's nothing there. Just wildlife. We'll go in the morning then, but you're guarding tonight. Time to get over your ridiculous fears."

She sidestepped him and began making her way to the cave.

Cyres stared at her retreating form and quickly followed, but not before he mumbled.

"Of all the fears I could have, why  darkness?"

"Even the greatest men have fears., Cyrus." Called Yara from in front.

|◇|

It was close to midnight, the night breeze swaying branches from side to side, while tickling the leaves on its way. Stars glowed down from the heavens, winking at a lonely Cyrus sitting at the cave entrance.

Inside the soldiers were asleep, dreaming about their wives and children at home.

"Yara."

A groan slipped from Yara. "What Cyrus?"

"Snake. There's a snake."

Yara huffed. "Just kick it back in the bushes."

"No way"

"Kill it then."

"But..."

"Cyrus if you don't leave me now, to rest in peace, I swear.. I will personally feed you to that snake myself!"

"Noted."

There was a moment of silence. Just enough silence to put Yara on the brink of sleep.

"So...what's your favorite animal?"

Yara just quietly debated which death for Cyrus will be easier. Stabbing maybe?

"See that knife over there?"

"...yes?"

"Do you also wonder how it will look like, sticking out of your leg?"

"...no not really-"

"Cyrus!"

"Fine yes, I'll be quiet."

|◇|

》sidenote: above is the meaning of Dimitri's kingdom name.

Also.

I know the movie Pocahontas didn't yet existed in their time..but think of it as a night tale for the little children of the villages.

|◇|

Again, also,

This is what I'm imagining Cyrus to look like. Just..more happy and less serious.

But feel free to imagine him different. ♡

Song: Echoes in rain by Enya