Faye awoke to Jyri nudging her. "Get up!"
The two had traveled until dark, and camped out under a tree. Faye's feet still ached from walking, and she had slept with her knife in hand. She blinked at the rising sun. "It's barely light out."
"I want to get an early start." Jyri tugged at her blanket. "Come on."
Faye swatted his hairy arm away, and slipped her knife back into her pocket. She sat up, and grabbed her pack she had used as a pillow.
After the two packed up, Jyri took the saddlebag over to Holger. Faye trailed behind, frowning. "You have hairy arms."
"A lot of men do," he said, attempting to tighten the bags to the saddle. But Holger kept moving around, and Jyri yanked at his collar, scolding him.
"I don't remember yours looking that hairy."
Jyri glanced down at his arm, then shrugged, and went back to Holger. After successfully tying the saddlebags on, he climbed up, leaving ample room in front. "Let's go."
Faye squinted at his strong jawline, covered in stubble. "Are you growing facial hair?"
"Like I've had time to shave. Hurry up."
"Calm down." Faye climbed up in front, and Holger raced off.
After an hour of riding in silence, Jyri commanded Holger to a stop. Faye gave him a questioning look, but he only scratched his chest, before flicking the reigns. Only to pull them again after several paces.
Faye turned around. Jyri continued scratching himself. "You okay?"
"It's just an itch." He slipped his hand up his shirt, then froze.
"What?"
Turned away, Jyri lifted up the side of his shirt, and swore under his breath. What he was looking at, Faye couldn't see. She tried to catch a glimpse, but he yanked down his shirt.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. Let's... I'll be right back. Uh, bathroom." Jyri slid off of Holger, and hurried past the cluster of trees near their path.
"What's his problem?" Faye asked Holger.
A gurgling sound escaped Holger, and he flopped to his stomach. Faye didn't bother commanding him up.
Shortly after, Jyri emerged from the trees, hands pressed against the sides of his head. Faye thought he had gotten another headache, but the panic in his eyes said otherwise.
"What-"
"I'm fine!" Jyri shouted, pacing back and forth, hands still clutching his head. "I'm fine, I'm fine. This is fine."
"Did your arms get hairier?"
Jyri held his arm up to his face to inspect, then dropped it. "Yes, and it's fine. It's all fine." He smiled painfully. "Everything is going to be okay." He ran his fingers through his hair, but froze. His hands trembled as he rubbed the top side of his head. "What's this lump?"
Faye dismounted Holger, and Jyri dropped to his knees so she could get a better look. But she didn't even have to feel for anything.
"Can you see it?"Jyri asked, his pitch rising.
A grin spread across her face. "I see it alright."
"What is it?"
"What are they," she corrected. "You've got two of them."
Jyri ran his hand towards the other side of his head, rubbing at the second lump. His mouth fell open, and he turned to look at her. "Don't tell me... They're not... horns? Are they?"
Faye could only manage a nod as she covered her mouth, forcing back laughter.
"Horns!" His eyes widened. "Why am I growing horns?"
Laughter filled the air, but not from Faye. The two looked up, and the leader from the previous night approached them. She smirked at Jyri. "I told you you'd regret it."
Jyri grabbed her shoulders, and shook her. "Why do I have horns!"
Nose scrunched, the leader pushed him away. She looked him in the eye, pointing a finger at him. "Don't you ever touch me again."
"Why!" Jyri fell to his knees, face buried in his hands.
"What'd you do to him?" Faye asked.
"Just a little spell."
Jyri ran his fingers over his new horns. "Let me guess. If I want to return to normal, she has to go with you."
"Smart boy." The leader turned to Faye. "Have I convinced you?"
Faye shrugged. "I like my men hairy."
The leader frowned. "I thought you didn't like men."
"I changed my mind. Found the right one. I'm not your savior." She put her hands behind her back. "Can you remove the spell now?"
The woman folded her arms, squinting. "You're lying."
"I'm not." Faye whipped her head towards Jyri, who hadn't moved from his position on the ground. He stared up at her with a blank expression. Heart thumping, she looked back to the leader. "I'll prove it."
"How-"
Grabbing his shirt collar, Faye yanked Jyri to his feet, and pressed her lips to his.
Her gut twisted, and not in a pleasant way. The hair on his face scratched against hers, and she could taste last night's dinner on his lips. She wanted nothing more than to shove him aside, and run for the hills. Away from the musky odor that engulfed her. But she pulled away, forcing a smile, and turned to the leader. "See? I'm in love."
Jyri smiled in a manner similar to Faye's. "True love's kiss. Did it break the spell?"
The leader looked between them, then folded her arms, jutting out her chin. "I can't break it myself. You have to take a potion."
Jyri groaned.
"You'll have to come with me, if you want to be cured."
Faye shared a look with Jyri. He nodded at her, and Faye turned to the leader. "I'll do it then."
The leader beamed, uncrossing her arms. "Perfect. I'm Marka. And you?"
"Faye."
"Jyri."
The leader walked off. Jyri grabbed Holger, and led him by the bridle. Faye followed the two off the path, through the clustered trees. Spitting, Jyri fell back next to her, wiping his mouth, and whispered in her ear.
"Don't you ever kiss me again."
Faye scrunched her nose. "I'd rather die."
After what felt like hours, they stepped into a clearing. A line of huge trees grew to the left. Although they looked more like huts. The diameter of the tree trunks were the size of the average bedroom, and each tree had a door carved on the outside. Jyri gasped next to her.
"How could I have forgotten about the Arlua?" he asked himself under his breath.
Faye frowned. "The Arlua?"
"They're a tribe here," Jyri whispered. "They make their homes in the trees." He nodded towards one of the hut trees, where a woman opened the door, and stepped out.
"They live in there?"
"The trees are hollowed out. It's a small living space, but it works for them." Jyri smiled. "And they know magic."
"I wouldn't have guessed, goat man."
Scowling with heavy eyebrows, Jyri scratched his new beard. Faye noticed that his arms had gotten worse, but didn't comment.
They continued following Marka to the opposite end of the village. Children playing outside stopped to stare, but stayed away. Marka didn't stop until they arrived at the largest tree. It towered over the rest, and had windows cut into it. Faye had a feeling this particular tree hut had more than one floor.
Marka spoke for the first time since they left. "Welcome to our home."
"Beautiful," Jyri said, paying more attention his itchy chest than his surroundings. "Where's my cure?"
"All in due time." Marka turned to Faye. "First, we need your help."
"I told you, I'm in love, and can't be your savior."
Marka raised her eyebrow. "You're lying."
"I'm not."
Marka continued staring, eyebrow still raised.
Faye let out a breath. "Fine. What's the problem?"
Avoid her gaze, Marka bit her lip. "We don't know."
Jyri's mouth fell open. Faye blinked at her. "You don't know?"
"We were given a prophecy, long ago, about the girl who could see Rako's true form, and she would save us." Marka closed her eyes, and put her hand over her forehead. "We need you to stay here, for when the bad thing comes, and we need our savior."
"What, so you want us to live here?" Faye asked, voice raised.
Jyri shook his head. "That's not happening."
"Good thing you're not part of the prophecy."
"I'm only here so you can cure me. So where is it?"
Marka stepped towards him, and crossed her arms, eyes narrowed. "You don't deserve to be cured."
Her tone was flat, in a foreboding sense, causing Faye to shiver. Jyri took several steps back. Marka turned to Faye. "This man has done evil, and you're better without him."
"What kind of evil?" Faye asked.
"You're just trying to get your savior to stay with you." Jyri's voice trembled.
Faye frowned at him."What did you do?"
Jyri raised his palms. "Nothing!"
"I cannot tell what, only that he has." Marka moved her gaze from Jyri to Faye. "Are you staying or not?"
At this point, Jyri looked more like a goat with human features. The horns had grown out, and almost every inch of him was covered with hair. Faye would've laughed if the situation weren't serious. "If I stay, you'll turn him back to normal?"
"I will."
"And if I don't?"
"He'll spend the rest of his life, looking like," Marka flicked her hand towards him, "that."
Faye's stomach grew heavy as she shared a look with Jyri. She wished to stay with him, to Dorendi. And there was the matter of the guards, who would have an easier time finding her stationary. But Jyri's eyes looked tearful, and he clasped his hands together. Maybe I can say yes, and when he's cured, I can run away.
Faye drew a heavy breath. "I'll do it.
"And don't think you can just run away after I've fixed him. You'll be bound to us for the time being."
There goes that plan.
Jyri looked at Faye. "I can't stay here."
"I'll miss you." Faye smiled at him, her throat constricting. She swallowed, and scolded herself. Nice as he had been, Marka confirmed her suspicions. Faye probably was better without him. Safer, even. She fingered the outline of the knife in her pocket with furrowed brows. Were the Arlua any safer?
A woman from last night appeared, holding some sort of cuff. She handed it to Marka, and Marka unhooked it. "This is to ensure that you don't try running away. Hold out your leg."
"Where'd she come from?" Faye asked, gesturing towards the woman. "How did she know to bring-"
"Hold out your leg!"
Marka's voice was loud, and commanding. Faye complied, and Marka snapped the cuff around her ankle, then straightened. "If you try to exit the perimeter of our village, you will be teleported back to this spot. And you." Eyes closed, Marka pointed her finger towards Jyri, muttering something under her breath. "It will take time, but you will be back to normal."
Jyri rubbed one of his horns. "I thought I had to take a potion."
"I lied." Marka gestured towards Faye. "Come. I'll show you to your new home."
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