[12]

smoke rose from the crumpled Kingdom, all is people had fled to neighboring Kingdoms looking for shelter, as for the Royal family, they had been separated by the war. "Papa, Will Dad be okay?" Astra asked quietly, Sophia and Elios slept soundly in the wagon with Cleo looking after them. "He will be, he and your uncles are strong, and your aunty also," He said, turning to her he giving a small smile. "Try to sleep, okay?" She nodded before climbing back to her spot, her head resting near the children's. "River, you should rest as well, I have just woken up, I can drive the wagon for a bit," Pyro said, his hand gently placed on his shoulder.

A full turn has passed since Philo, Geordo, Roland, his wife, and Theodor left for battle, and only two nights since they had to flee the castle, only a day after their people had all escaped. in their three wagons were the three children, Hannah, Pyro, RIver, Cleo, young Prince Rowan, and three knights. River awoke when the wagon came to a halt, they had traveled into the darker part of the infested forest and had found a small clearing at the base of a mountain. "Fresh water needs to be found, then food must be hunted, set the wagons up as a temporary shelter, and a barrier needs to be placed, never go outside it alone, understood?" Pyro ordered, Hannah, nodding in agreement.

River took Elios with him to collect herbs and berries, Astra assisted in finding water, Cleo guarded Hannah, Sophia, and Rowan as she made a barrier, Pyro and a knight set traps for animals as they hunted small game, and the remaining knight worked on setting up shelter. Just as they returned with baskets of herbs and berries, and a few vegetables, River stumbled a bit as exhaustion washed over him. "Your Highness!" Cleo hurried to catch him as he fell, and Astra rushed over with Hannah, She picked the baskets up as she ushered Elios over to Sophia and the baby. "Oh dear, he is warm, hurry and grab the Knight, we need to move him into the shelter," Both knights carried him into the shelter as Cleo kept watch over the children and Astra, Hannah dipped a cloth into a bucket of cool water before placing it on his head. "I want one of you to go assist Prince Pyro and his Knight in hunting, and the other can prepare a fire," She ordered, her hands grasping one of Rivers. She sighed with relief as his eyes opened, she smiled as she brushed aside a stray strand of hair from his face. "You are sick, why hadn't you said anything?" She asked, he hummed tiredly as she patted his face with the cool cloth. "I truly thought it was just my worry, not a true illness, I am sorry," He said quietly, she shook her head before kissing his forehead. "Don't you worry, and if you are sorry for frightening a pregnant woman, then don't worry about that either," He smiled tiredly as he nodded, she then told him to rest before leaving.

a fortnight passed quickly, and River hadn't gotten much better. "Papa, Look, I made bundles of bait for the fish traps, and Sophia made ones for the rabbits," Elios said eagerly, River smiled as he gently clapped for them, Hannah had placed him on rest, he isn't allowed to do very much. "Great job you two, and look what Rowan can do now!" He said eagerly, the baby in his arms was able to hold his head up on his own, he was now three cycles old. "Amazing!" Sophia cheered, and Elios clapped for the small boy. Astra returned from collecting water with the two knights, the third was out with Pyro and Hannah foraging, and Cleo was left to watch over River and the children. "Papa, you look like you are feeling better now, have you gotten sick again?" He shook his head, a smile on his face. "I feel better than I did yesterday, still tired though, fetching water went well, no attacks from those pesky little frog monsters?" she shook her head with a small smile, one Knight scoffed. "One tried messing with us, but after what Her Highness did to it, i doubt the others will bother us again," Astra grinned a bit as she shrugged, River smiled as he shook his head.

That night, while the adults sat awake around the fire, River felt an ache in his stomach, which caused him to lean forward. "River? is dinner not sitting well?" Pyro asked, He shook his head as he leaned back with a sigh. "Not that, just a light cramp is all," Hannah's eyes widened a bit, she hurried to grab his hand as she took care in looking him over. "Have you noticed any changes besides tiredness and nausea? swelling?" She asked, he hummed as he thought. "My ankles swell a hair if I am up too long, and my chest has been sore, I just thought it was from being sick, that could explain it all," Hannah shook her head, a small smile on her face as she pressed a hand to his lower belly. "I believe you are pregnant," His eyes widened as he placed his hands on his belly, tears filling his eyes as he looked down. "G-Geordo isn't here to learn this... what if- what if the baby never meets him? we haven't heard anything yet," Pyro placed his hand on his back, Hannah smiled sadly as she placed a hand on her own belly, her stomach barely showing. "I fear the same thing, but we cannot dwell on that, we must stay positive, not only for the children but for our health," She whispered, the Knights congratulated River on the pregnancy.

Early morning arrived, and a small portal appeared to spit out a letter from the battlefield. Roland and his wife had fallen in battle, but they had also killed a good number of enemies. Their bodies were unsalvageable for burial. They were all saddened to learn this, Hannah decided she was to raise the young Prince as her child. No news of the others was given, which gave them all some hope that they were well.