As we dashed through the woods, our laughter echoed amidst the lush greenery, the vibrant world around us bathed in the warmth of the morning sun. I marveled at how quickly I had become a part of their group, and Thamolin, who had always been fast, was enjoying that he had now found a match in my swiftness.
I darted up a tree with agile grace, reaching a sturdy branch, and shielded my eyes from the sun's radiant beams with one hand. Peering out like a scout, I proclaimed, "All clear!" The fresh forest air enveloped me, filled with the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers and the soft rustling of leaves.
Thamolin, his curiosity piqued, inquired with a playful tone, "Do all elves climb that fast, or is it just you?" I descended from the tree with effortless finesse, moving with a fluidity that was second nature. "Most of us would prefer to be addressed in our native tongue," I added, "just in case you meet another elf. In my case, it doesn't really matter since I'm half Velmar from my father and half Llevian from my mother."
The three of us continued our leisurely walk, ascending a moderately steep incline, ensuring we maintained a pace that allowed Rachel to keep up. Thamolin's curiosity still lingered as he asked, "How can I tell the difference between the two?"
I took a moment to explain, "The Llevian look quite similar to Humans, but slightly shorter and with pointy ears." My words flowed through the air, accompanied by the whispers of the breeze rustling the leaves. "Velmar, on the other hand, are taller and often sport unorthodox hair colors."
Thamolin furrowed his brow, his face an image of puzzled intrigue. I elaborated, "Crazy hair colors, like green or blue. And their skin is generally more pale."
With the landscape alive around us, our little group embraced the diversity of our backgrounds, united in the wonders of nature and the bond of friendship.
I couldn't help but tease Thamolin, his ax, an ever-present companion. "You might match my climbing speed if you didn't lug around that crude ax, though not as gracefully." He instinctively pulled his ax closer as if safeguarding it from any slight against its honor. "Hey, it's not crude! This is a fine weapon, fit for the greatest knights in all of Broeri!"
In response, Rachel and I erupted in hearty laughter, the woods filled with the joyous resonance of our mirth. "You can keep telling yourself that, but that ax is barely suitable for cutting wood. How would you expect it to take on an armored knight?" Rachel's playful taunting only added to our amusement.
Amused by the banter, I joined in. "Well, Rachel, even a finely edged ax wouldn't cut through an armored knight, unless it were enchanted in some way." Both Thamolin and Rachel raised their brows in astonishment. "Really?" they asked in unison, and I nodded in confirmation. Thamolin, however, remained skeptical. "That doesn't make sense. If sharp weapons can't cut armor, how do knights fight?" His inquisitiveness was endearing, and I answered with a smile, struggling to hold back a laugh. "If armor were so easily cut through, why would knights wear it?" Thamolin pondered this for a moment but eventually decided to let the matter rest.
Turning the conversation, he declared with a touch of naiveté, "In any case, I need to carry this ax to protect us. What if we're attacked by a bear or goblins?" Rachel's eyes widened at the mention of Goblins. I quickly reassured her, thinking such encounters were improbable on this day. "True, there's no need to fret, Rachel. Goblins wouldn't pose much of a threat to our hulking friend here; they're even smaller than you."
Rachel visibly relaxed, and Thamolin, filled with newfound confidence, puffed out his chest and walked with an air of grandeur befitting a giant. Our camaraderie remained intact, enlivened by our differences and the shared adventures of the day.
Shortly after, we were serenaded by the gentle melody of running water, a sure sign we were nearing a river. Thamolin, with his innate sense of direction and enthusiasm, led the way as we ventured westward through the dense foliage. Rachel followed him closely, and I brought up the rear, my keen senses attuned to the rustling of leaves and the hushed whispers of the forest's inhabitants. Even the skittering of tiny creatures like squirrels and chipmunks didn't escape my notice. With me as their vigilant protector, the group felt secure from the potential threats lurking in these woods.
As Rachel grew more at ease in the company of her friends, I couldn't afford to let my guard down. The forest held its share of dangers, and complacency could lead to disaster. Thamolin, too, showed an astute awareness of his surroundings. His strides were calculated, and his gaze swept through the trees as if he were a novice hunter. Yet, even in his efforts, he couldn't match the innate gifts bestowed upon me.
Within moments, the shimmering river came into view, its tranquil waters beckoning. Thamolin's eyes, however, were drawn to a lone deer, quenching its thirst at the river's edge. "I bet I could touch it without it noticing," he boasted with youthful exuberance. I couldn't help but smile as I approached Thamolin slowly. "Take no offense, my friend, but you lack the grace and experience." Thamolin, sporting a grin of his own, accepted the challenge. Without a second thought, he made a daring dash toward the deer. His swiftness and confidence were evident, but a careless misstep betrayed him. A loud snap echoed through the woods as he stepped on a dry branch, startling the majestic animal, which bolted away. Rachel and I couldn't help but burst into laughter at the turn of events. Thamolin turned to us with a finger pressed to his lips, attempting to salvage his pride. Despite his bravado, it was clear that patience wasn't his strongest suit.
Thamolin resumed his approach, this time displaying a heightened level of caution, his movements deliberate and measured. He inched closer to the deer, tiptoeing, and I couldn't help but admire the skill he displayed. He almost had me fooled, coming within just a few meters of the beautiful creature before it became aware of his presence. The deer gazed up, revealing its graceful features, and locked its eyes onto Thamolin's position. An unspoken connection hung between them, a fleeting understanding, and they remained motionless for several moments.
As Thamolin dared to move forward again, the deer responded by hopping away, although not as far as in its initial escape. Determination radiated from him as he resumed his cautious pursuit. But it became evident that something was amiss. The deer reacted to a sound, its ears twitching with unease. It halted and gazed into the depths of the forest, a sudden wariness clouding its demeanor. With haste, it fled from view, eluding our sight. Thamolin vented his frustration with a vigorous kick of the ground, cursing as he often did. Rachel found amusement in his theatrical frustration, an element of her character I'd come to recognize. However, the deer hadn't fled from Thamolin; it had seen something else.
Using a gesture, I implored him to lower his voice, extending my right hand toward my ear and then motioning to the nearby trees. It was essential to convey that he should stay quiet. Thamolin met my gaze, his eyes pleading, his body language mirroring the helplessness of a thwarted pup. "But I was so close! I had it right there, within arm's reach."
I signaled to my ear and the surrounding trees, then beckoned him to rejoin us. I needed him to comprehend the urgency of the situation. Meanwhile, Rachel remained curious, her gaze oscillating between us. "What's happening?" She inquired, unable to decipher the unspoken signals we exchanged. Thamolin, still oblivious to my concerns, couldn't help but keep talking as he turned toward the trees. "What, did you hear something from that direction?" Rachel, equally puzzled, questioned my intentions. My response was an expression filled with concern, my face conveying the urgency of the situation. "Rachel, go and get help."
"But why?" she pressed further. Thamolin, with a lack of awareness, refused to remain silent as he turned to the trees once more. "Did you hear it coming from that way?" Rachel, in her own way, challenged the need for action.
"Thamolin, shut up for a moment and get over here. Rachel, run back to the village!" I shouted urgently.
Thamolin hesitated for a split second, then something in the forest caught his attention. He spun around, his ax gripped tightly in both hands. Meanwhile, Rachel, still flustered, stood frozen in place, her panic palpable. I couldn't afford to stay and comfort her, though. The situation demanded swift action.
Three fair-sized, brown canines emerged from the dense shrubs, their eyes gleaming with hunger. Thamolin found himself instantly encircled by the cunning predators, and Rachel, heeding my plea, began to sprint back to the village in search of help. But her movement provoked the Zul, a native breed of canines to Kal'emsha, to give chase.
Thamolin seized the opportunity to lash out, swinging his ax at the body of one of the beasts. Though its fur absorbed most of the blow, the assault diverted their attention away from Rachel.
The other two Zul reacted swiftly, lunging at Thamolin with bared fangs, their teeth gleaming with menace. Yet, he displayed remarkable agility and footwork, managing to fend them off using the shaft of his ax. I hastily picked up the sturdiest branch I could find, preparing to strike from a safer distance.
Thamolin's broad, sweeping arcs kept the Zul at bay for a precious few moments. "Damn wolves! Who's going to meet their end with me, you miserable beasts?" he roared, defiance in his voice.
I clenched my hands together, channeling my Essence into a bolt. With a focused effort, I released the energy, propelling the magical projectile toward the nearest Zul. It connected, sending the creature tumbling back a few feet. The magic proved more effective than the ax, but it also incited the beast's fury, causing it to charge at me.
Thamolin, attempting to intervene, aimed a strike at the attacking wolf, but the canine's jaws clamped onto his left forearm. I reacted swiftly, discharging another Essence bolt to force the Zul to relinquish its grip. Though the beast let go, it left behind a nasty gash, despite the gambeson Thamolin wore for protection. But I had no time for another magical assault. Instead, I faced a beast of my own.
Clutching my makeshift club, I prepared to strike, but the creature was faster than I had anticipated. It snatched the stick in mid-motion, yanking it from my grasp. Its piercing gaze locked onto me, filled with murderous intent, seeming to pierce into my very soul.
At that moment, I realized our fates hung in the balance, and I couldn't help but accept the grim reality. Both Thamolin and I were merely trying to stave off the inevitable, buying ourselves a few more fleeting moments against the relentless march of doom.
In that moment, I was jolted back to reality by Thamolin's anguished cry, his pain resonating through the air like a death knell. It snapped me out of my momentary shock, and then an idea struck me, a glimmer of desperate inspiration. Shock. It was the key.
The zul that had disarmed me sprang toward my throat, its menacing jaws poised for a lethal bite. But in my fear-fueled reflexes, I channeled my control of Essence, summoning a potent surge of electricity that enveloped my hands. I quickly thrust them in front of my throat to fend off the savage attack. The canine's fangs sank into my hand with a vicious grip that might have severed it if not for the jolt of my spell. The electrifying shock jolted through the Zul's body, causing it to recoil in agony, granting me a precious moment to retaliate.
Gathering my remaining energy, I conjured another Essence bolt and released it with a swift motion, striking the Zul once more in the chest. The creature's life was extinguished by the magical assault, collapsing to the ground with a lifeless thud.
Gasping for breath, I clung to my injured hand, tears mingling with the sweat on my face as the searing pain threatened to shatter my resolve. It was nearly unbearable, but I couldn't afford to surrender. Thamolin's life hung in the balance, and his fate was intertwined with my determination.
I turned my gaze to him, witnessing the relentless battle he waged against the beast. Bites marred his arms, shoulder, and leg, and his once pristine gambeson was now drenched in bright red blood. Despite the overwhelming odds, the resilient human didn't falter, growling with unwavering resolve. His courage, or perhaps his recklessness, struck me with admiration in that dire moment.
In my weakened state, I mustered the strength to unleash three more Essence bolts, each one targeted at the relentless assailants. The third bolt finally brought the beast to the ground, ending its threat. However, my efforts took a toll on my Essence reserves, and I was suddenly assaulted by a throbbing headache, a stark consequence of my overexertion.
As the world seemed to spin around me and the edges of my vision blurred, I was on the brink of fainting. Then, I heard Thamolin's voice, weak but resolute. "If I die, I'm taking you with me," he muttered.
These words jolted me back to consciousness, though I couldn't be sure how lucid I indeed was amidst the delirium. It appeared that one of the wolves had latched onto Thamolin's arm, which no longer clutched his ax. In a frantic response, the defiant young man bit the creature's ear, his actions born from sheer desperation.
I grabbed the club and hurled some sizable rocks at the persistent beast, but it seemed impervious to harm. Thamolin, however, grabbed one of the rocks and began relentlessly bashing the Zul's head.
I rushed in, using all the momentum I could muster, and swung the club toward the creature's skull. But before my strike could land, Thamolin had already crushed its head with the stone, and he continued the brutal assault without pause.
In that harrowing moment, I found it impossible to discern which was more chilling—the Zul that clung to my friend's arm even in death or the unyielding fury of the young man who refused to surrender to the darkness.
"Thamolin! It's done. You killed it." I shook him by the shoulders, trying to bring him back to reality.
Tears ran down his face, creating red streaks as they mixed with his blood. He didn't respond at first, but then he started hitting the Zul's corpse again, over and over again, pounding on its mangled body.
I caught his wrist with my good hand as he was rising to prepare for another blow. "Thamolin! It's over," I said firmly.
He looked at me, his eyes wild and unfocused. He dropped the blood-stained rock as I opened the beast's jaws and removed it from his arm.
"Come on," I said gently. "Let's go."
We started walking back to the village without saying any words to one another. Thamolin's shoulders shook with silent sobs. I put my arm around him, but he didn't respond. After some time passed, William Tavis came striding full speed towards us, crossbow in hand and claymore on his back scabbard. He gave me a quick look, then walked over to his son.
"Are you boys alright?" He asked as he reached over to grab Thamolin's arm.
Thamolin flinched away from his father's touch. "I'm fine," he said gruffly. "Let's just go."
William grabbed onto his son's arm again. "Thamolin, I need to tend to your wounds, or you might not make it back."
Thamolin tried to pull away again. "No, I'll be fine. Let's…"
William placed his hand over Thamolin's mouth. "I could have lost you today, boy. I still can. Let me patch your wounds, please." A tear ran from Thamolin's eyes, but he did not resist.
"Veralien," William said, turning to me. "I am going to trust that you will tell your father what happened today."
I nodded. "Yes sir, I will tell him at once. Thank you for tending our wounds."
William's own eyes appeared watery. "Never enter the woods without proper arms," he said. "And if you have to, for any reason, always be alert. There are monsters that roam the woods who put those dogs to shame. You lads were lucky."
I nodded again. "Thank you for your wisdom." I turned and walked home, my heart heavy with the weight of what had happened. But I was also grateful to be alive and to have my friends by my side.