Chapter Three

Tempers flare while traveling through the woods�

The three girls walked up to the town's boarder much later then what Jade had originally planned. Since the little incident within the school took place, they were all ready off schedule, leaving her rather impatient.
"Are you two ready to go?" Jade asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Sure, I think so." Star answered, a little unsure of herself as she checked inside her bag to make sure she had everything they may need for their journey. You could never be too careful, especially when traveling into unknown territories.
"You better be sure, because there is no turning back the further we go into the Forbidden Forest." Jade said nastily, her eyes narrowed down into an angry scowl.
"Calm down, Jade." Tygra said, her patience thinning the longer they were all together. "It's not like we've done this before."
"Whatever.” She commented with a sigh as she began to walk away from the two girls. “Let's just go if you're ready"
Star looked to Tygra; frustration of her own was beginning to build up within her ocean blue eyes. “Can’t we just turn around and go back home?” She whispered quietly in her ear.
Tygra shook her head slightly, with a small grin crossing over her face. “No…I’m curious about what she said earlier…” she paused as she glanced over at Star. “Aren’t you?”
She gave a slight nod. “Of course I am. There’s a lot of questions I want answered, but-”
“But nothing. The only way for us to find out is for us to follow her.” Tygra began walking away from her before turning back. “Come on.”
After spying Jade only a few feet before them, the two girls followed her cautiously into the forest, walking closely to one another; a little frightened. This would be the first time the two girls have been outside of Helonious. Which made them think; how does Jade know of this route? She was sixteen, just like them; never once leaving the safety of the city...How could she learn of this route in such a sheltered life? Or, had she really been sheltered as they had?
Whatever the case may be, they were following her now. Curiosity had hit them, and hit them hard. They wanted to know what exactly the real reason was for going to Drake's tower.
It seemed that the deeper they walked into the forest, the darker it had become. Around the girls, the trees seemed to come in on them with each passing step they took, blocking out the sky above them, leaving only patches of light blue here and there.
Star shivered. Is it getting colder? Or is it just my imagination? "We should have brought torches..." She said with a shiver.
"I can zap one up for you if you want." Tygra offered sweetly.
"No torches." Jade said sternly, keeping up her fast pace.
"What? Why not?" Star wined, wrapping her arms around herself, trying to keep warm.
"Because demons are drawn to fire. Or at least, they know that wherever there is fire, there are people." She glanced back to her, amusement in her eyes. "You don't want to be eaten alive do you?"
Star swallowed hard, shaking her head at the thought of a demon making a meal of her.
Tygra tsked. "Why must you tell her those things; getting her worked up like that?"
"Because they're true." She answered shortly. "Would you rather have me tell her that we have absolutely nothing to worry about? Because I won't. We're in a dangerous place right now, and there is no time for sugarcoated lies."
In the distance, they could hear the faint laughter of one of the bloodthirsty demons Jade had been speaking about. The laughter soon became a low growl; a warning growl. It was a sign to the girls that the demons knew where they were and it was only a matter of time before one of them would make their move.
Star shivered again, but this time for a different reason other then the cold. She was frightened that any minute one of the demons may jump out at them, killing them all in an instant. "C-can't we just make a run for it?"
"Bad idea." Jade said with a shake of her head. "They’re watching us. If we take off now, that'll only guarantee an attack."
"And why is that?" Tygra asked smugly, tired of Jade’s psycho babble. "If they wanted to kill us, why not just come after us now? Why wait for us to run?"
"Because they love the chase." Jade answered matter-of-factly. "Demon's would rather eat stray animals then people." She glanced back at the two of them, an icy look in her deep black eyes. "They're not vampires."
"Then why-" Tygra began.
"Because they get hungry. Humans are usually easy prey since they do not know the ways of the forest. Think about it," Jade said with a pause, "What would you rather go after? A pig on the farm, or pre-cook bacon?"
"Makes sense." Star said, her body beginning to get use to the chill in the air.
Tygra let out a little huff. Jade had won this battle, but not the war.

A few moments had past as they walked on in silence. Star raised a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle back a yawn, but to no prevail. She lowered her hand, sighing tiredly. "Do you think that we should set up camp and get some sleep before it gets any darker?"
"So that some demons can rip our throats out while we’re sleeping?" Jade asked, glancing back to her once again. "Do you really want to die like that?"
"Don't worry about it." Tygra said, waving away Jade's comments. "I can make a force field around the camp to protect us."
Jade took a quick glance around their surroundings. "Fine. We can set camp up here." She said in a plain voice, and then looked to Tygra. "Tygra, work on the force field and Star, you can help me set up camp."
"Fine." Tygra said, immediately beginning to work on the spell, taking the bag from Star for her supplies.
"Yeah, ok." Star said, and started helping Jade with the tent.
Only a few seconds past before a war began between the two girls; tempers exploding mouths firing off. This had had to be the bloodiest of all wars within Hellinous.
"That part goes over here!" Jade yelled angrily, pointing to a spot on the ground.
"No, over here!" Star yelled back. "I know how to put a tent together!"
"Well, you aren't doing it very well!"
"Shut up! Now give me that!"
"No!” Jade protested, holding up one of the rods to the tent threateningly. “Don't make me hit you with this!"
"SHUT UP!" Tygra screamed, raising a hand out toward the tent pieces.
The parts of the tent began to float in mid air and slowly put themselves together, without any help from neither Star nor Jade. Then, when the pieces were altogether, the tent landed back onto the ground with a slight thud.
"Thank you." She said calmly, closing her eyes.
"You know, we could have finished this ourselves; without your magic." Jade said in disgust.
"Yeah, right. All you two were doing was fighting. We are never going to make it to Drake's Tower if all we are going to do is fight with one another." Tygra said with a smirk. “Besides, you’re just jealous because you can’t cast spells or use any form of magic at all." Yes! Strike one up for Tygra!
Jade glared at her as she took a step forward. “Magic is for weaklings, Tygra. Where you are strong in magic, I am strong in strength and stamina. I could knock you out before you even start your little spell. Just remember that." She said with pure confidence in her own strengths, and then quickly turned from her, as Tygra stomped off towards the tent. Chalk one up for Jade...I guess…
Jade walked over to a small lake they had set camp by. Her heart was pounding loudly within her chest; the sound of rushing blood filled her ears. It had to be happening. There was no doubt about it. She knelt down, and peered into the lake.
I was right, she thought as she studied her reflection. Her eyes were a bright red and her necklace was glowing faintly against her dark shirt. Careful. I have to watch myself. They just might get hurt; and that can't happen. I need them for this; especially Tygra.
Jade looked back to Tygra, who was now lying within the tent fast asleep, not taking notice to her own necklace, which was now glowing as well. She then looked to Star; she was asleep as well, now transformed as the small black cat from before. Her sleek black form was curled up upon a rock, the demons’ laughter no longer affecting her deep within her dreams.
Jade shook her head slightly. No, not just Tygra. I need both of them the same. If one's gone- She closed her eyes tightly unable to bare the thought of something happening to one of them. But she did need them. She hated to admit it but, she needed their help to complete her own journey which began so very long ago.
She took one final look at herself in the lake. Her eyes were now back to their normal color; her necklace still glowing its eerie glow. Well, at least we're going in the right direction…
Jade remained at the lake's edge, staring up through the clearing in the woods at the darkened sky. She sighed at her dilemma, the one she had bared for the longest time...alone. But she soon found that she was no longer alone, and after her little performance in the school, she was surprised she wasn't. She had to give credit to the girls. Maybe, she would tell them what was actually happening tomorrow. Perhaps Tygra won't be so willing to start any more confrontations with her after she knew the truth…
Even so, she couldn't tell them everything, at least, not right away. There are still some secrets she must hold, just until the end. Then, she would tell them everything.