frightfiction Chapter 187: Rest
Chapter 187: Rest
Felix looked up at the sky, catching a glance at the gray clouds hovering above the trees. Reaching for his waterskin canteen, he popped the flask off and enjoyed a brief swig before wiping his lips clean and tucking it away. Spi'Reto had led the group through a little hike through the woods, venture downhill until they arrived at a large stream.
The young elf dropped his gear and spun around, facing the others. "We'll rest here for now. Grab a snack, rehydrate, rest your legs."
Felix looked around, feeling exposed in this place as the forest pulled back several yards leaving nothing but piles of smooth rocks outlining the stream of running water. "Feels like any slime could slip through and find us here."
"Slimes don't come near running water." No'Vak answered swiftly, planting his boot on a large rock to lean on.
Sans approached from behind him, letting the straps of her pack slide down her shoulder before rummaging through them. "He's right. Won't be finding nothing but wildlife coming in for a drink."
"Why is that?" Asked Felix, "I thought fire was their weakness. Won't they soak up the water to grow?"
No'Vak scoffed and shook his head, catching an apple tossed over from Sans. "Running water would destabilize their shape, make it harder for them to stay whole. They'll liquify and turn into a green stain in running water soon enough. You human peasants are poorly educated."
"It's a miracle you've survived this far without us." Sans added, sinking her teeth into a ripe pear while glaring at the two.
He frowned. "The hell is that supposed to mean?"
Felix shot them a look when Nyitzcha tugged at his leg, waving a hand under her neck.
Spi'Reto kneeled down, cupped his hands into the stream and washed his face. Felix looked back at Nyitzcha before settling down and choosing a clear spot to sit. The dwarf sat beside him, planting her bag on a large rock and taking out a dry chunk of salted meat before passing it to him. As he ripped off a chunk, the pair froze as the bag began to move closer to the stream.
"Wah-" Nyitzcha jumped. They were a foot away from the stream, so it can't have been running water carrying it away. She scrambled over to scoop up her bag, staring as the large rock continued moving forward. "Oi! Dam rock's got legs 'ere!"
Sans and No'Vak snickered in the back, laughing to themselves while Felix reached out carefully and scooped up the rock. Tiny pairs of little arthropod legs danced around with pincers at the end, snapping in the air.
Spi'Reto held out his hand, bobbing his eyebrows at the two until Felix passed it to him. The woodland elf carefully placed the arthropod down on his palm for the rest to see, feeling one of its pinchers between his fingers before lowering his hand under the stream. It paused before crawling out, submerging itself as it sunk under.
"Stone Crab." He explained, setting his bow and quiver aside. "They settle near large bodies of water and feed on algae, worms, and mollusks. Streams, rivers, lakes, the like. They're harmless."
"Hm." Felix leaned forward, chewing on his dry meat. He offered it to the elf only for him to turn it down. "Do you guys not like meat?"
"We eat it sparingly, like for celebration. Or a stew." He licked his lips. "I could go for a good rabbit stew."
"With some salt 'n rum." Nyitzcha grinned, rubbing her tummy. "Oooo I'd whip me up a good stew back home."
Spi'Reto leaned forward, his eyes settled on her. "When we first met, you snapped your fingers and caused the air to combust. How did you do that, you some sort of sorcerer?"
"Really, a dwarf? Her?" Sans scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous."
Felix looked back giving her a look, but his friend waved her hand back in retaliation before resuming. "Nah, nuthin' like dat. Got me d'ese."
She reached into a leather pouch, scooping up a handful of black marbles. "Gunpowder sealed in tight. Give it a nice burn 'n watch it go."
The elf plucked a marble and held it up to his eye, rotating it. "So, these make the explosion?"
"Well, nut without a spark." She clarified, snapping her fingers and igniting a small fire over her thumb. The elf stared in wander, watching its tiny flame hover over her skin with a faint swirl of essence swirling around the root like pixie dust. "Best thin' 'bout it, don't need much warmth in de air. Ya know, s'long as d'er be no snow. Too much moisture in de air."
"You believe this?" Sans asked, nudging her friend beside her. "They teach them fire magic now."
No'Vak shook his head. "Essence used to be a sacred thing. Now they treat it like sport."
"Ignore them." Spi'Reto sighed.
Felix scooted closer. "What, you guys can't do that? Seriously? Your mother made walls sprout from the earth and had vines lash out at Reta."
"It's not like that," He explained, scooping up a pile of soggy dirt from the stream. "When it comes to essence, you either have it or you don't. Some can learn it through strict schooling and practice, like Wizards. And some are born with a natural affinity to it, like Sorcerers."
"So which is Alma?"
"Mom's neither wizard or sorcerer. More of a mage fighter. Our magic comes from the wildlife we protect, Felix. We're limited to what nature provides. Earth, Water, Air. Those are the three given elements that we are granted access to wield in her name."
"Alma's?"
He shook his head. "Tierra, the Goddess of Nature."
Nyitzcha cracked a smile and chuckled, hiding her grin when Felix slapped her leg.
Spi'Reto smiled back. "That's okay, not everyone acknowledges her wisdom. That's why we're here, to preserve this forest in her name and maintain that legacy."
"So you guys can't use fire because of her? Is she the reason you can use magic?"
"It's just a belief, lad." Nyitzcha muttered, "Don't believe everything ya here."
"Big mouth for a small brat!" Sans shouted. "How about you show some respect to our Goddess?"
"How's 'bout you's," Nyitzcha flashed a grin looking back at her. "Kiss me tiny dwarf arse, princess? Right on de cheek."
"Both of you settle down." Spi'Reto raised his voice, flashing Sans a look. She scoffed and relented, averting her gaze.
The elf leaned back, setting his attention back on the human. "Point is, none of us can cast fire magic here so you're friend's gift is rather special."
"Really?" Felix asked with a look of surprise, watching as Nyitzcha seemed proud. "Does it matter that she can barely produce a flame at all?"
"Oi!" Her grin fade as she sucker-punched his arm. "Still good enough to save yer arse, boy!"
"She's right," The elf laughed in return, slapping his thigh. "We've been on the receiving end. However, you use your gift, it's still useful. As is your knowledge with alchemy, those arrows you gave me proved most useful in our escape."
"So who gets to decide what magic you can and can't use?" Asked Felix.
"Don't know." The elf replied truthfully. "Magic is still new to us. We can use it, but we don't know enough about it. Some magic can be passed down through your bloodline, and others develop a knack for obtaining it through teachings."
"Well, I ain't ever read no book to do dis." Nyitzcha mentioned.
"That make you a sorcerer?" Felix asked, receiving a laugh from the others to his annoyance.
"Yer givin' me too much credit, lad." She shook her head, patting his leg. "Truth, I do hears of a distant great grandmum who did sumtin' similar. Maybe she fucked a dragon er somethin, back when there were dragons."
Spi'Reto leaned back, whistling at her remark. "Dragons in this age? We'd be proper fucked. Though I suppose that would mean Perdilius would share the same fate as ours, so not all bad."
"Getting back on topic, does that mean Alma's not a wizard?"
Nyitzcha kicked her feet idly while looking up in the sky. "I sorta thought she be some sort a druid."
"A druid?" Felix turned to her.
She blinked before acknowledging him. "Ye know, a nature-themed wizard."
"She's not a wizard." Spi'Reto stated.
The dwarf frowned and crossed her legs, turning to face him. "She casts magic, uses de forest fer her spells, an' needs glyphs to cast her spells. She's definitely a druid, lad."
"She's- " Spi'Reto sighed, glaring at her. "She's not a druid."
"All dats missin' is her turning into animals."
Felix turned to him. "Can you do that?"
He stood up, agitated. "Look we are Rangers, not Druids. We had Druids in the old days, but those days are long gone. We are hunters, trackers, and we can communicate with animals. Like I said, Rangers. No more of this druid crap."
He walked away, getting some space while the other two shared looks.
"What's his problem?" She asked, finishing the last bite of her meat before rinsing her hands clean.
Felix shrugged, munching on his piece of meat while staring off at the stream. He peaked over his shoulder to see the other two elves chatting among themselves before nudging his friend. "You know, there's still time to turn back and go home."
"What, Kershin Market?"
"Huh, no-no I meant the tree huts. Unless you wanted to go back?"
She rolled her eyes, taking a moment before coming with an answer. "Would be nice, ay. Ehh, tavern keeps me comfy but I be missin' all dis. Runnin' around, gettin' into life o' death battles, makin' weapons. Takes me back."
Felix raised his brow. "One of these days, you outta tell me about this war you were in. You make it sound big."
"Someday." She quickly added, patting his thigh.
Spi'Reto was staring off at the stream, skipping rocks over the surface to clear his head when something caught his eye. Grabbing another pebble, he threw it at the same spot only for the rock to bounce off with a metal ting!
That noise was enough to alert the others. One by one, they gathered around him as he walked across the stream before retrieving a metal helmet from below.
"One of his." He stated, passing it to the others. "They're getting close. Alright, break is over. Gather your things, we're snaking back around."
"Shouldn't we cross through, see where it came from?"
Spi'Reto made his way toward the bushes on the other side, peaking over them. With a heavy sigh, he shook his head and grabbed his bow.
"Remember, those Slimes won't be crossing the stream here. But they're eating well enough that they've evolved, so keep an eye out. From now on, any animal that moves might be a target. Be aware, but don't panic. Leave it to us, we can differentiate between a squirrel and an Imitation. Just stay close to us, alright? Let's get that formation going on."
"Don't panic, he says." Muttered the dwarf as she picked up her pack.
Felix lifted up his bag over his shoulder, following behind the young elf. "You guys know anything about Genki?"
"What?" He asked as the group began retreating into the woods again, their voices trailing off.
"Genki. It's a practice where you use magic to amplify your punches."
"You made that up."
As the group left out of sight, the remaining corpse hidden under the bushes stared lifelessly with an arrow protruding from its neck when suddenly it was dragged away.