story(unamed)--chapter 15

Chap. 15
The next day was pretty boring, according to Serenity. They traveled as soon as they got up, had some rabbit stew, and took off. Jason asked once if Serenity would like him to teach her how to ride Esmera, but Serenity was still afraid. After that, Jason didn’t ask her again.
They stopped somewhere close to the Kothari Mountains, but still not close enough to go around it. Finally, after much trotting on their horses, Jason stopped and said, “Okay, everyone, I thought it would be nice if we took a break, as we are ahead of where we are supposed to be. We can stay here for the rest of the day, tell some stories, and then take off tomorrow morning. Sound okay?” Everyone agreed.

As the sun was starting to set, the group sat around a brightly lit fire. They had gone swimming and Serenity raced Jason on horseback while Shinku raced Esmera in the sky. Now, with their stomachs full from deer, they relaxed as the sun slowly drifted down beneath the horizon. 
“Tell me a story, please,” asked Serenity.
Yes, please, begged Esmera.
Jason sighed, then said, “Okay, fine. The story I am about to tell you is about my stay at Albyra with Isabella. I had arrived there in the winter twenty years ago, almost at the brink of my death, as we had traveled so far. She found me when Shinku flew around in circles to get her attention. She had her servants carry me in.
“I stayed in bed for about a week, and that’s when Isabella started questioning me. She has already heard of me—”
“From who?” questioned Serenity.
“Uh. . . who, you ask? Um. . . from my. . . dad. My dad was old friends with Isabella. Anyway, she asked me if anyone from my family had survived, and I said only my sister. And then—”
“Oh yeah, I was meaning to get back to you on that. What is your sister’s name?”
Jason looked at Shinku for some reason, but Shinku just snorted and turned his head away. “Her name? Yes, her name. . . her name. . . is. . .” Jason couldn’t finish what he was about to say, because at that precise moment, ten Malks and armored men flooded out of the woods and surrounded Jason and Serenity.
The Malks raised their bows, but Jason was too quick. He pulled out his sword and slayed half of their throats. Shinku roared—which scared two men and they ran away—and clawed at the closest enemy he could reach.
Serenity didn’t know what to do, neither did Esmera. However, Jason and Shinku finished all the Malks and men off in a few quick slashes and roars. “Whew, that was close,” sighed Jason. “And a lot of fun, too.”
Yes, I needed some action, although I barely got to do anything, Shinku agreed with Jason.
“Fun? You thought that was fun?” shrieked Serenity. “You guys could have gotten hurt, or worse!”
“Relax, Serenity. Shinku and I, we are an experienced team. We could take on at most, thirty Malks and men combined,” Jason soothed.
A rustling sound came from the woods. Jason turned and raised his sword, expecting at most, ten more to come out. Instead, about fifty rushed out and charged, faces ugly and fierce.
The smile which was once plastered onto Jason’s face was wiped clean off; he said he and Shinku could take on about thirty men and Malks, not fifty. Shinku flew off into the sky, and breathed a line of fire separating Jason from the enemy.
Jason turned to Serenity, and shouted, “Serenity! You have to get out of here! Now! While they’re distracted.”
“What? I am not leaving you behind! Don’t even think about it!” Serenity shot back.
Jason opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted when the Malks broke through the fire protecting them. Shinku was about to create a stronger one, but the Malks were too fast. They threw a metal web into the air, and it caught onto Shinku’s wings. He struggled, making them tangle more, and fell to the ground. Go! He ordered.
“No!”
Go! Forget about us! Go! He growled from under the web. Shinku opened his mouth to breathe fire once more, but some men tied his mouth tight with more metal.
He struggled against his bind, but a Malk kicked him.
“Serenity! Please, go!” pleaded Jason as a stabbed a man.
Serenity, came Esmera’s voice. Remember what Isabella said. We have to go!
Serenity looked around, tears streaming down her face. “No!” she argued. “No! I will do no such thing!
Shinku, Jason, came Esmera’s voice again. Thank you, we will always remember you.
“Esmera? What are you talking about?” shrieked Serenity, afraid of Esmera’s answer.
I’m sorry, was all she said. Serenity opened her mouth, but Esmera suddenly grabbed the cuff of her shirt with her mouth and flung Serenity on her back. Hold on!
Esmera gave a loud roar and took off, taking one last glance at Shinku, who was on the ground bound, and Jason, who looked up and smiled, tears running down his face. He dropped his sword and surrendered to the many men upon him.

Esmera had flown into the mountains, not the Kothari, but a smaller one. She had let Serenity off her back and let her be. She was too sad and angry to notice that was her first time flying so high up in the sky.
They had stayed there for three days, Esmera hunting for them both. Finally, Serenity spoke up. “Esmera, we have to go back. What if Jason and Shinku had managed to survive? Please.”
No, that may as well be Rellark’s plan, or whoever sent them. Serenity, don’t you see? They want us to go back to that place. So they can capture you.
“If you won’t help me, then I’ll go alone.”
That convinced Esmera; she wanted to be there for Serenity, although she knew what Serenity was asking was foolish. Esmera dropped down on her belly and told Serenity, Get on.

By noon, they had arrived. Serenity hopped down from Esmera and ran to the middle of the forest. The scene shocked her. There was blood spilled all over the ground. Serenity looked around for Jason or Shinku, but only found the corpses of dead men and Malks. She saw a big dent in the ground where Shinku had fallen, but no sign of Shinku himself.
Thinking of the worst, Serenity fell to the ground and started sobbing uncontrollably. A rustle was heard from deep in the forest. Then a voice came in Serenity’s head. Oh dear Serenity. What ever is the matter?