Chapter 72

Who was it that told Lucas my whereabouts? Who betrayed me? Was it Laura or that greedy bustard, Thorne? I was exhausted with the whole stuff but I needed to get to my mother so they wouldn't harm her. Why would Lucas want to kidnap my mother in the first place? I wondered. I couldn't sleep, not when my mother's life was in danger, so I picked up the little luggage that belonged to me and my mum, some mushrooms and the remaining water and headed for that path where I had last seen my mother. The path I was on could also lead me to Shadowcrest so I kept walking. I keep straining my eyes and ears to hear from her once again. I actually had no clear plan, only to keep moving and fight if I had to. The fear of losing my mother gnawed at me especially when I knew that I was the reason she was in the forest in the first place. I felt horrible and guilty as I kept walking, praying to see a track of her somewhere. I couldn't cry, not because I was affected but I didn't want to bring so much attention to myself when I was already in deep trouble. I wanted to scream out her name but that would still draw attention to me and it wasn't a good idea, not this late at night. I didn't have a plan but I kept walking. I walked until I was tired and I found a place to sit. As I thought of all the misfortune I had been through I shed tears and sobbed seriously. 'What was going on?" I cried like I had never cried before, literally pouring out my heart and not caring if anyone would hear me. The next morning, I woke up in a strange place. As I opened my eyes, I realised that I had slept off while crying last night. I stretched myself as I stood up, gradually. 'Where was I?" I wondered, yawning. I was tired and my neck was in pain as I slept on the bare floor. I took out some berries from my bag and put them in my mouth, trying to satisfy my hunger. I continued walking while I took a look at my map. I didn't understand where I was and where I was going to but I couldn't stop. Suddenly, I came to a farmland that looked quire familiar to me. I walked around trying to figure out where I had seen this similar farmland. 'Shadowcrest?" I asked. 'Is this Shadowcrest?" I asked myself again, not completely sure. 'I'm sure.. this is it!" I walked closer to know if I could find anyone that would help me find my way. No one came so I followed my intuition and heart and before I could say a word, I was in the clan already. People running, some working, the children playing. It was like the Shadowcrest that I knew. 'You're welcome." The people greeted me with smiles on their faces. As I walked further, I could hear people whispering. 'She's the one that would finally deliver our clan." 'She's the King's daughter.." I was proud to be addressed as this but it felt bad that this people were counting on me and all I was going to do is bring them heartbreak. 'Welcome Naomi." It was Chad, It had been a long time that I heard that cute soothing voice. 'Oh my baby. How are you doing?" I carried all the way up. 'I'm okay but Naomi, I'm not longer a baby. I'm a man now." He told and I burst out laughing, then joined by Diane. She looked tired and weak just by looking at her face. 'A man? A little man, you mean." 'No, there's nothing like a little man." He answered and we burrs out laughing again. 'Get down and let Naomi rest, okay." Diane told him. 'Go get some fruits for her." Chad ran off with that excitement while I gave Disne a hearty hug that lasted longer than it should. 'You don't look good." She told me after the hug. 'Come on, let's talk." She took my hands, trying to led me into her Chambers. 'Why do your hands feel hot?" I asked, grabbing both of them. She was obviously sick and that was why she couldn't open up. 'Come on, I'll use the oil ointment on you." I told her, now trying to led her into her Chambers. 'No." She stopped. 'What do you mean by no. I'll use the healing ointment on you and you'll get better." 'No, Naomi. This is different Come on in. I'll explain everything to you." As we walked in, I realised that I wasn't the only one that had been having a bad week. 'Why don't you want to get treated? Why?" 'Because what I'm suffering from can't be helped or healed." She responded, staring at me. 'I'm still waiting for you to say something I can understand." 'Orion says my illness can't be stopped and it's from the moon goddess." She said in a very quiet tone. 'How can a sickness be from the moon goddess? The one who's supposed to be protecting us? I'm going to see Orion now." I stood up with the speed of light. 'That's not necessary." She called out to me. 'What we need now, is for you to deliver this clan. How was your journey?" She asked, her eyes lit in expectation. 'I wasn't successful." I shrunk back to my seat. 'What do you mean?" 'It didn't work." I said simply but with the stare on her face, I knew she needed more explanation. 'I couldn't get those warriors on my side." For a few seconds, everywhere seemed insanely quiet as Diane looked away, shrugging her shoulders. 'Is this it? For Shadowcrest? Is this where it ends for us?" She asked, looking up to the sky. 'Laura and Thorne left and my mother was kidnapped too." I finally told her the most heartbreaking news of all. 'Your mother?" 'Yes, she was kidnapped. I guess by Lucas and his men. Currently, I'm confused and I do not know what to do." I said, using my hand as a support for my head that seemed surprisingly heavy for me to carry. Suddenly, Diane fell to the ground, fainting as she was still trying to process the whole situation. 'Diane? Diane? Diane!" I screamed her name multiple times but there was no response. At this moment, people started running into her chambers because of my screams. 'Oh No."