MLTP Part 10- "The End Is Near"

"The End Is Near" is the tenth Part of "Miracula Luxia: The Prequel". It was released on 15.01.2020.
== Plot ==
After getting past the horrible obstacle which blocked their way to Paris- the long wall, our heroes had only one objective left to complete- to get to the city safely.
Their journey was nearing its climax.
== Story ==
Aleks looked ahead and smiled with newfound hope.
"We're near, everyone. Only a few days and we will be in Paris. This is so exciting!"
Seiko nodded.
"Yes it is. I can't wait to finally arrive in a safe haven and give birth to our child."
"You can, once we arrive there, honey."- Aleks said- "For now, don't worry about anything, because you might go in labor a bit earlier than expected. Okay?"
"You got it, hon'. I'll stay calm, but only if you make sure we're safe."
"I always do my best to keep every single one of you safe, Seiko. Now let us go forward."
Everyone nodded and proceeded walking forward.
After a few miles, Kayla's belly rumbled. She stopped and looked at Aleks sadly.
Aleks looked at her and realized something was not right.
"Is everything okay, Kay?"- He asked her.
She looked at her belly (which was still rumbling quietly) and shaked her head.
"I'm hungry, Aleks. Have we got any food left?"
Aleks and James checked their food reserves and shaked their heads.
"Sorry."- James apologized to her- "Looks like we'll be hungry tonight."
"Unless... "- Aleks wondered.
"Unless?"
Aleks looked at a nearby forest. He realized that he's never hunted for food before, but this was an urgent task. It was for a friend and it needed to be done at all costs.
"We can go hunting for food."- He suggested- "Meat, berries and so on. If you guys are okay with that."
James smiled.
"Well, it's better than starving to death and staying together. Let's see what we can do."
The four of them approached the forest and looked at it. Its vegetation was colored in a bright green color, really worth looking at. There were also few sounds coming from the forest- mostly of rabbits and squirrels, but also of some other wild animals.
Still, it was worth investigating. Who knows what the four of them could find in there?
Aleks looked at James and whispered something to him, leaving Seiko and Kayla to wonder why they're talking to each other like that.
Finally, after two minutes they turned to them.
"Me and Aleks have come to an agreement to go into the forest alone."- James began- "As for you, ladies, you should stay somewhere around here and make sure nobody follows us inside. What do you say?"
"That's madness!"- Kayla exclaimed- "You can't just go in there by yourself! Don't you know that wild animals live in those forests? And those wild animals can tear you apart very easily! That's why we need to stick together when heading into a dangerous place like this one!"
Aleks shaked his head.
"Listen, Kayla, I appreciate your concern, but we are better off separated. Besides, you ladies can protect yourselves when needed. And plus, we won't be away for long! We will come back as soon as we find some food and other supplies. We promise."
"He's right, dear."- Seiko stepped in- "We can keep each other safe while the boys find food for us. I'll protect you and you'll protect me. It's that simple."
Kayla looked at Seiko angrily.
"You don't have a say in this!"- She said- "And plus, you shouldn't just go with their plan! Whose side are you on anyway?!"
Seiko looked at her, concerned.
"Kayla, sweetheart, are you okay? Is... is something wrong?"
Kayla shaked her head.
"I'll be fine if I get some food. I'm hungry, for Goodness' Sake!"
"We're all hungry, Kayla."- Aleks interrupted her- "But someone has to stay with Seiko. And the one she trusts the most right now is you! So, do so and everything will be fine. Intellexerunt?"
Kayla nodded.
"Fine, fine. As you say. I'll keep your girlfriend alive. We're friends, after all. We need to look out for each other."
James smiled and patted her on the head, as if she were his dog. She blushed.
"That's a good girl. Now stay here with Seiko and keep her company while we finish this little mission."
Seiko and Kayla stood on a log near the forest as Aleks and James entered it.
Kayla looked at Seiko.
"Seiko, I... I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. I didn't want to say what I said. I just... didn't want to leave them alone in that godforsaken forest... "
Seiko smiled and placed her hand on her shoulder.
"It's fine, Kayla. I understand. You were just worried about James, weren't you?"
Kayla blushed when Seiko mentioned his name.
"J-James? Yes, but... not just James. I was... was worried about Aleks as well."
Seiko nodded, but noticed something which she didn't see prior to James's arrival- actual love for someone outside of her family. Care. Desire to protect them at all costs.
Yes, it was more than obvious now. Kayla was in love with James.
Kayla looked around, making sure that nobody was listening to their conversation and sighed.
"Yeah. I... I love him. He's so heroic, so beautiful. But... the problem is... "
"He's married."- Seiko added grimly.
"Yeah. He is. But I will still love him, no matter if he is."
"Just don't let his wife find out!"- Seiko said playfully.
Kayla smiled.
"I won't. Don't worry."
Seiko looked at her and sighed.
"The two of you will be a perfect couple. You're so caring and willing to love and he- brave and overprotective. I have no doubt that you would have loved each other very much if you ever had the chance to be together."
"Heh. I wish."- Kayla shaked her head- "But I'm sure that he's happy with his wife as well. She must be an amazing one if she managed to steal such a boy's heart for herself and even marry him."
"But I'm sure that I can find someone like him, too. There's plenty of fish in the sea. But I will keep loving him until the day I die."
"Such dedication. It inspires me to love Aleks even more."- Seiko said.
Kayla smiled.
"Then what are you waiting for? Love him! Stay beside him! Be his beloved for... well, forever!"
"I will. Thanks, Kayla."- Seiko replied- "And don't worry about James. I'm sure that you might get your chance with him someday."
"I hope so."- Kayla said and looked at the sky, dreaming about him.
In the meantime, Aleks and James entered the woods. 
"Hey Aleks."- James got his friend's attention- "About Kayla... "
Aleks looked at him.
"What about her. Is... is something wrong?"
"It's just... she's so caring. I've already realized that she probably loves me, just like I do. But... my wife is in the way and I love them both. I just can't decide!"
"I know it's hard, but you must get over it. I know, Kayla is indeed a beautiful one, but you shouldn't get charmed by her beauty and abandon your beloved wife just because of that! Besides, you already have a child! What if you actually abandon your wife and, years later, your child asks you about her. What will you tell him? Some complete nonsense, just to hide the truth? Don't be stupid, James! You have a wife. You have a son. You have a good life. Just... don't think about Kayla too much. That is what I can tell you. Now let's move on."
James nodded, looked down and moved on.
Aleks told him to keep his eyes open, but he didn't understand his instruction. He was just looking down and nodding.
That action proved to be his mistake as they almost stumbled into a trap.
Aleks looked at it and noticed that it was a bear trap, newly made.
"Why didn't you warn me about the trap?"- Aleks asked James. He shaked his head.
"Sorry. I was distraught for a moment."
"Anyway."- Aleks continued- "From the looks of it, we have some poachers around here, hunting for food with bear traps. We must be careful."
Having said that, Aleks and James tried to move on, but didn't notice a huge web falling right on top of them.
As they were trapped underneath it, they looked at who might have done this.
Five poachers approached them and grinned.
"It looks like we have some visitors boys."- One of them said.
The biggest poacher, most likely their leader, came closer and smiled.
"Well, well, well. Looks like its some wanna-be-heroes, entering our forest to hunt us down. Well, guess what, folks. Today, the hunted will hunt down the hunters. This is our forest and we are planning to keep it that way. Right, boys?"
The other poachers nodded and prepared their rifles.
"What we'll do with those two is kill 'em and take their thingies. More stuff for us. Get 'em, boys."
After saying the command, he raised his rifle at Aleks, ready to shoot him dead personally.
== Trivia ==
* The word Aleks says to Kayla- "Intellexerunt?" is in Latin and means "Understood?" in English.
* This Part reveals that Aleks knows at least a little bit of Latin, making him the most educated out of all four members of his team (Aleks, Seiko, Kayla and James) since neither of the latter three knows Latin at all.