145 A Ticking Time Bomb

Her head turned to the direction where the blast came from. It was about an hour journey from where they were currently.

She saw a blue light shining from where the blast just happened and slowly faded into the night. 

That was her lead. They weren't that far ahead, her soft lips curved up into a half smile, she couldn't have been happier, she gave herself away.

"I've found you. You're a ticking time bomb, princess. What can I say? This is my lucky day!"

She looked down at the soldiers and called him out.

"Lieutenant Callum, we leave in two minutes." 

He looked up at the Princess as she gave her order and so did the soldiers.

"They would be on the move any minute from now," she added and jumped down from where she stood o the tree branch.

"Yes, Princess."

Quickly, they got up and prepared to leave.

******

White-Fire and its cub quickly got up at the blast. They felt they were under attack, but what they saw, shocked the big beast more.

Jareth held Astrid down as she fought with him. It was after a minute of fighting, well more of struggling because he was stronger than her and his talking to her that made her to calmed down.

"Ástrid! Come on, calm down," he said to her amidst her struggle.

He grabbed both of her hands and locked her underneath him as he hovered over her.

"It is I, Jareth, you are safe now."

"No." Her eyes were closed as she tried her best not to look at him, she didn't want to him to deceive her. She still thought she was dreaming and struggled to break free.

Lifting one leg, she kicked him hard on his knees, making him fall on top of her. With his full length pressed on her, his face was just some an inch close to hers.

He moved in close to her ear and whispered. "Please stop, you are safe. It was only a dream. Stop struggling, Astrid."

His voice was like a remedy to her frenzy state. It was like a cure to her ailment, a healing potion to her wound. Her struggles lessened, she stopped fighting him and began to calm down.

He still held her hands and it was pressed between them on her chest. He could feel her heart beat thud against her chest.

Gabum! Gabum!

It matched his, truthfully he was a bit scared just now and he still was. He decided to let go of her hand, one at a time, to ease the discomfort.

He release one of her hand carefully, watching to see her reaction but she didn't resist and then he proceeded up to gently stroke her head with his free hand.

After two minutes, he was sure she was calm and sober now, then he got up and released her. He stretched out his hand towards her to help her up, she accepted it, taking his hand, he pulled her up at one go.

She lost her footing and fell on his chest, he caught her without any effort and steadied her.

"Are you okay? Can you stand on your own?"

"Astrid!"

She stepped back from him and turned to look at the beasts. Up until now, they stood in place watching the scene unfold before them.

White-Fire was tempted to intervene and help Jareth calm Astrid down, but stopped on a whim and watched him pacify her.

"How do you feel?" White-Fire asked, its gaze lingering on the child in its front.

Astrid seemed disturbed, rather than answering the big White Tiger-Phoenix beast, her eyes was fixated at something else.

To the side, some broken pieces of wood and ashes were all that remained and stood in place of a once tall tree. She had done it, she totally destroyed the tree from an attack she conjured in her dreams.

White-Fire and Jareth followed the line of her sight and came upon what she was so fixated on.

"It wasn't your fault, child." White-Fire spoke to her calmly through their minds.

"It was, I could have killed Jareth. I am getting out of hand. Look at that tree, that could have been anyone of you who tried to stop me."

"Luckily, he knew better than to block your attack."

"But I ended up giving away our position," she replied almost instantly.

No matter how hard she tried not to think about it, she couldn't help but blame herself for everything.

"Ever since that time in the mist, I have almost hurt Jareth twice now, It'stoo risky. If I hadn't fallen in, then perhaps…"

"Don't do that to yourself child. Not all things are under our control."

"We must leave, the risk just got more bigger."

He didn't look at them, he just said what he needed to say and got ready to leave. 

"Jareth, I–I am sorry. So sorry," she apologized to him.

"Don't be, it wasn't your fault. I am glad you are alright."

He comforted her but as much as he tried to hide it, she could vaguely see the pain in his eyes. She kept on hurting him with her actions. 

Everyone and everything was set to continue their journey, taking the lead, he walked first, followed by the little cub, then Astrid and White-Fire behind. 

"You look so tired, Climb up on my back and rest for some time."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because, I do not want to sleep."

White-Fire raised its brows questionly at her, waiting for her explanation, because truth be told, using her powers like that and projecting it from dream to reality, took a toll on her being and she looked... 

"You kind of look frightening right now, Astrid."

"Thanks, White-Fire, you're not helping."

After some seconds, she sighed and her gaze darted over to him. 

"He was used to test me and I keep on seeing the fake one. I... "

"Hey, don't beat yourself up. What matters now, is that you are safe and you passed the test."

It sighed as it looked at her. What happened to the jovial, funny girl that saved it and its cub?"

They walked on in silence for another one hour before its voice seeped into her mind again. 

"Look on the bright side child, we are so close."

She had her head down before, but at White-Fire's words, Astrid looked up to see the majestic sight in front of her...