Day Two: Early Morning

[Orion]

"I'm starting to get really tired."

Koola could barely keep his eyes open. Hunched over and dragging his tail, he found it hard to concentrate on simple straightforward walking. Cold didn't seem nearly as phased by their sleep deprivation as his son. He continued to walk proudly and confidently, unaffected by anything.

Suddenly, the melodic background chirping of the crickets was silenced. Something settled upon Koola, causing him to feel uneasy. He endured it for a moment, but coupled with the burden of his drowsiness, he snapped.

"What the hell's going on?" the prince yelled, spinning around to see nothing in particular. It was then that he noticed his father was gone. A ring of trees shot up around him.

"Dad?" the changeling called out, hearing nothing but the return of his voice. "Where are you?"

The sensation of a million eyes gazing at him sent a chill down his spine. Keeping a vigil in all directions, Koola started to feel the exhaustion overwhelm him again. Suddenly, a black shadow leapt from the treetops and charged for him. The prince dropped into a fighting stance, despite everything that happened, ready to battle.

----

"Oi. Wake up."

Koola stirred, lieing on the grass. King Cold pushed his sleeping son on the shoulder. It had been a few hours since he fell asleep.

"Ah..." Koola rubbed his head. "Wha- where are we?"

"Dante. You've been sleeping, remember?" Cold replied.

"I have? It doesn't feel like it."

"You must've had a bad dream. You were shuffling around a bit." The Cold emperor helped his son to his feet. "Now it's your turn to stand guard." Before Koola could object, his twelve foot tall father hit the dirt and almost instantly fell to sleep.

"Sleep well," Koola spoke quietly, standing guard. "You're gonna need it."