Hours and hours later, Ilithya was finally reaching the other side of the forest. She could see the trees thinning into the light ahead. She gave a weak smile, exhausted. Her feet were aching crazily, and her arms were sore from the weight of Wolf.
Suddenly feeling herself beginning to sway, she halted abruptly and leaned carefully against the stallion, breathing in and out slowly. She wouldn't allow herself to stagger or fall. Wolf leapt from her arms, dropping to the ground. He padded forwards, going ahead.
Ilithya opened the basket strapped to the horse and took out a piece of bread. It was slightly stale, but she wasn't going to be fussy. She sat down and began to eat it as her painful limbs rested.
'Arf! Arf! Arf!'
She looked up to see Wolf bounding towards her. He was barking excitedly, running around her in circles, trying to communicate to her something he had seen.
'What is it, Wolf?' the girl asked curiously, standing up. Wolf barked some more and rushed back ahead to the end of the forest. Ilithya grabbed the horse's rein and walked after the dog.
She stared at what she saw. It was a city, far off in the distance across the sand. The enormous gates were thrown wide open, and she could just make out the coloured dots of people walking around, going on their daily business.
Karieyn, thought Ilithya. The capital city.
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