The carriage had been moving for hours.
Athissa had long since stopped counting how many times the wheels had struck the same uneven stones, and every bump sent a dull ache through her spine.
The constant rocking of the carriage made her stomach twist.
Across from her, Mary looked equally miserable.
Mary had been sitting with her arms folded over her stomach for the past hour, and her usual cheerful expression was replaced by one of quiet suffering.
“How much longer?” Mary finally groaned.
Athissa glanced toward the carriage window.
Endless trees stretched along both sides of the road, and their shadows grew longer as the afternoon sun slowly descended, giving warmth in the carriage.
“I don’t know,” Athissa replied, looking down.
Mary’s eyes squinted.
“We should talk to the coachman,” Mary moved forward with eager eyes.
Athissa looked at Mary with hesitation.
She didn’t want to, but in their situation.
She had no choice left.
“Alright, I guess it’s time,” Athissa sighed and knocked on the small window behind her.
But there was no response.
Athissa knocked again.
Louder this time.
Then the carriage immediately stopped.
The coachman stepped down and aggressively yanked the door open with a sour expression.
“Yes?
What do you need?” The coachman asked, raising his brows while looking at the two women before him.
“Well, we’re going to ask where we’re going to have lunch?
And also a place to stay for the night?” Athissa asked politely as she didn’t want to escalate their situation further.
The coachman looked at Athissa as if she was stupid.
“Didn’t the alpha tell you?” The coachman asked.
“Tell what?” Mary butted in.
Athissa immediately raised her hand to stop Mary from asking.
“The alpha didn’t say anything regarding the travel plans.
So I wanted to ask you if you know,” Athissa stated slowly since she clearly had no idea.
The coachman closed his eyes for a brief second, followed by a deep sigh.
“It’s going to be a long ride to the north.
There are two towns nearby that we can stay and eat, but you need to wait until we arrive,” the coachman informed.
“I see.
It’s closer to lunchtime.
We hope that we can get something to eat first—”
Before Athissa could finish her sentence, Mary’s stomach growled loudly.
“Oops, hehe,” Mary laughed awkwardly and held her stomach in.
“You know you’re going to be on a long journey.
Yet you didn’t pack food?” The coachman snorted.
Athissa opened her mouth to reply, but closed it like a fish.
She knew the coachman was right, as she didn’t think of bringing food at all.
The coachman shook his head in disappointment.
He opened his bag and grabbed two soft buns.
“Pay up.
It’s five silvers,” the coachman said and handed the buns.
“Five silvers!?
That’s too much!” Mary exclaimed loudly.
She was flabbergasted at his audacity to sell two buns for a high price when you can only buy them for one copper coin.
“Then buy elsewhere!” The coachman yelled back and was about to leave when Athissa stopped him.
“I’ll take them.
Here,” Athissa grabbed five silver coins and handed them to the man.
“See.
It’s that easy to do business,” the coachman chuckled and returned to the front.
He then started the ride.
Mary and Athissa looked at one another.
“Doctor…” Mary looked down and played with her fingers awkwardly.
“It’s okay.
Here, have this bun.
We need the energy until we reach town,” Athissa smiled softly and handed the bun.
“I can pay you back,” Mary reached for her wallet, but Athissa prevented her.
“There’s no need for that.
Also, please stop addressing me as ‘doctor’ and just call me by my name,” Athissa smiled and took a bite of the bun.
She grimaced at the texture since it was definitely a cheap one.
“But…”
“No buts, Mary.
We’re friends after all, or are we not?” Athissa raised a brow playfully.
“We are!” Mary pouted, gripping the bun tighter.
“That’s good to hear.
Now, let’s eat,” Athissa smiled and took another bite.
She was used to eating cheap food before, but that didn’t mean she would get used to it.
Mary nodded and looked at the bun.
She took a bite when her stomach growled again.
“Don’t,” Mary raised a finger to stop whatever Athissa was about to say.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was only going to say that your stomach appears to be more impatient than you are.”
Mary sighed and rubbed her abdomen.
“But look…” Mary whispered and grabbed her bag.
She opened it and took out a box.
“I prepared a snack.”
Athissa covered her mouth in surprise.
She gave a thumbs-up and urged Mary to keep it for later.
Both of them silently ate the buns and took a nap afterwards.
The bun didn’t fill their stomach, but it was enough for a bit of energy.
As time went by.
They both fell asleep.
A huge bump woke Athissa up.
She groaned and immediately felt something was wrong.
She opened her eyes slowly, and the carriage was still moving.
That alone wasn’t unusual.
What bothered Athissa was the darkness outside the window.
She pushed herself upright and rubbed her tired eyes before pulling the curtain aside.
Nothing.
Only endless rows of trees passed by under the dim light of dusk.
“Oh my!
It’s nighttime!” Athissa’s eyes widened.
It was already past the usual time for dinner.
And they had been traveling for hours.
Far too many hours.
Mary was asleep, her head resting against the wooden wall.
Athissa hesitated before reaching her.
“Mary?”
“Hmm…”
Mary stirred.
“Wake up, Mary,” Athissa continued patting her shoulders.
“Are we there yet?” Mary hummed lowly.
“No.”
Mary immediately sat upright.
“What?
What do you mean?”
Athissa pointed toward the window.
“It’s almost night, and we’re still not there.”
Mary stared at the darkening forest.
Her sleepy expression disappeared.
“But… we were supposed to stop at the town.”
“I know,” Athissa replied.
Mary bit her lips nervously.
“What are we going to do?”
This chapter contains an unusually high amount of peace and happiness.
Side effects may include: Confusion.
Suspicion.
And the feeling that something terrible is about to happen.