She frowned. "He.. He didn't really want me leaving, I don't think. That and he uh.. He wasn't well."
"So he died?" August inquired, without his gentleness that she would have come to associate with him. Eli's head snapped up.
There was a silence before a blur broke through the woods, landing directly next to Aspen. It was some sort of arrow, carved from branches and stone. August and Eli both looked down at it for a moment before they both stood up immediately. The rabbits ran back to their burrows, August stood in front of Aspen protectively, and Eli pulled out his bow, eyeing the woods warily.
There was a figure in a long cloak who stepped out of the woods, tucking her bow into her side. She had dark brown hair pulled back over her face, hidden under her hood, and her eyes were a deep green that studied them. She began to speak in an unknown language, and Aspen's translator device beeped. Suddenly, it became clear. "You need to leave this place," she said, her accent still quite thick. She gestured to the arrow sticking up from the ground next to Aspen. "I didn't have to miss."
Eli watched her, one brow raised. August glanced back at Aspen, as if making sure she was alright. "Anya," Eli said coolly, lowering his bow. "This is not necessary." She gestured with a spare arrow towards Aspen. "You've added to your party, it seems," she said casually, slipping her bow over her shoulder. "Haven't seen her around before." Eli glanced over at her, his brow furrowing. "...yes. Anya, this is Aspen. Aspen, Anya." "Aspen," she said, turning to look at her. "Like the trees."
She eyed her for a moment before a small smirk crossed her lips. "Hm." She turned back to Eli and pulled back the hood of her cloak. "My party is shifting locations," she said, reaching into a pouch on her belt. "And we need to pass through. You all need to leave." August frowned, tilting his head. "That doesn't seem fai-" Eli raised a hand, stopping August's sentence. "We'll leave," he said, after a moment. "But it doesn't have to be this hostile, Anya." "Hostile?" she replied, a small laugh in her throat. "Hostile? This is downright friendly. Get a move on."
"Come on, Aspen," August said quietly, taking her hand and squeezing it once before going to fold the blanket. "We gotta pack up. Hurry, okay?"
