Chapter Three
What followed was a blur of noise and activity. The winners were marshalled to a rostrum, and once the announcer had restored a modicum of order he commenced the award ceremony. Pablo received the gold medal with aplomb, beaming into the crowd and even spreading his arms wide to bask in their adoration. Heather stood quietly beside him to receive the silver medal, her face expressionless. The bronze was awarded to a skeleton archer named Boris who, having no face, was also unemotive. Though he seemed to glance sidelong at Heather, and she imagined that he resented her bumping him out of second.
Heather herself felt nothing but exhaustion. The day had held profound emotional highs and lows. As the award ceremony was wrapping up, a great hulking blue-skinned man and a petite green-skinned woman came up to embrace Pablo, and he began chatting excitedly with them. His family, perhaps? Heather let them be and vanished into the crowd. She made her way to the edge of the fairgrounds and found a tree to sit under.
She examined her silver medal and considered. She should be thrilled, she reasoned, to have even placed on her first try. But no, she could not deny that this outcome had not been satisfying. And what of Pablo? What would she say the next time they saw each other? Would this somewhat arbitrary conclusion make things awkward? He had been so cocksure, would he become an obnoxious braggart?
Heather was somewhat embarrassed to find her thoughts turning to Pablo. Why? She wondered. Perhaps her mother was right. She was at "that age," and as she envisioned his face she could not help but admit he was handsome. A warm feeling came over her, and she smiled.
"Heather? Hey, Heather! Uh, how's it going?"
It was Pablo. Heather jumped to her feet, embarrassed to have been caught off guard. She stammered a greeting.
"Oh! P-Pablo! Um, hi. Fine. I'm fine."
Pablo seemed relieved, and gave her a knowing grin.
"I really enjoyed competing against you, today. My parents and I are going out to dinner to celebrate. I was wondering if you'd like to come with us?"
"Uh, okay. I have to ask my mom first, though…" she said.
She regained some composure and smiled back.
"You know that tie-breaker was a bunch of bull-gonk, right?" she said.
Pablo chuckled.
"Yeah, it kind of was. Mostly luck, really. You should know I consider you every bit my equal."
"Aw…!" said Heather, "Well, I'll just have to find some other way to show you up."
They made their way back towards the stands, and soon they found their parents talking with one another. Pablo noticed them first and called out. The massive blue-skinned man saw him and waved.
"Heyyy! There's my boy! My ace hunter!" he bellowed.
Tabitha smiled at her, and Heather moved closer to her. They embraced, and Pablo did likewise with his own parents.
"I'm proud of you, Heather," Tabitha whispered, "Though, that gold totally belongs to you."
"Mom! Shh! Don't say that!"
Heather pushed her away, and Pablo's father spoke again.
"Get outta here, is that really Heather?" he said.
The man was well over six feet tall, and broad. He had a voluminous beard of gray hair and wore a white tunic and gray cloak. A pair of spears were strapped to his back. He extended a massive hand towards Heather.
"Well, put-a-there, kiddo! I haven't seen you since you were a knee-high! You probably don't remember me, though."
"Heather, this is Thunder Joe, an old hunting buddy of mine," Tabitha said, as Heather shook his hand.
"And I suppose you haven't met my wife," said Thunder Joe, indicating the green-skinned woman.
"Hi. Lena, pleased to meet you. I run the Bell and Robot tavern in Greenville."
The contrast between Thunder Joe and Lena was almost comical. Lena was green-skinned, like Heather and Tabitha, but blonde. She was even shorter than Heather, and petite.
"So Dad, I was wondering if we could bring Heather and her mother with us to dinner this evening," said Pablo.
Thunder Joe clapped his son on the shoulder.
"Great idea, son!" said Thunder Joe, "Of course, you two are more than welcome to come."
Thunder Joe grinned, and gave Heather a knowing look.
Tabitha grimaced. Heather knew how much her mother hated Greenville, and crowds, and people in general. Anticipating an excuse or an objection, she spoke up.
"Please, Mom?" said Heather.
"It would be on us, of course!" said Lena, "And don't worry if you're not dressed; with so many hunters in town you surely won't stick out."
With no further excuse, Tabitha sighed.
"Alright, sure. Let's go."
And with that, they set off. Greenville was just a short walk away, and they soon fell into a line of fair-goers streaming off in that direction.
Heather had been to a restaurant maybe a dozen times in her life thus far, though certainly never one this fancy. The place was called "The Burning Sword" and was a long stone hall with soaring wooden rafters. The walls and ceiling were decorated with a plethora of weapons, hunting trophies, and relics from the old world. In the center of the hall was a huge fire pit surrounded by racks of roasting meat, each skewered on a sword. Waiters would come around with a sword and carve strips of meat directly onto the platters of the diners.
No surprise, then, that the place was packed. The patrons were all manner of beings, clearly hunters from out of town, though the staff were mostly green-folk like Heather. On any other night, Heather would have found this overwhelming, as her mother probably did now.
Nevertheless, they were conducted to a table where the adults sat on one end and Heather and Pablo sat on the other, across from each other. The conversation began with the expected remarks about Pablo's extraordinary victory, then to some idle small talk, and soon the adults were off reminiscing amongst themselves. They seemed to sense Pablo and Heather's desire for a more intimate conversation.
Heather was finding it difficult to think of anything to say. Pablo, meanwhile, was more than willing to lead the conversation. Over the course of the evening, Heather learned that Pablo had lived his whole life in Greenville at his mother's tavern, while his father went on hunting expeditions across Ooo. Pablo liked to hunt on the weekends, especially with his father when he was in town, but throughout the week he helped out in the tavern.
Unlike Heather, he had continued his education to study mathematics, history, rhetoric, and the fundamentals of business, sometimes in school and sometimes with a private tutor. He also had a private tutor for the lyre, an instrument in which he was quite proficient.
Which, of course, led him to travel. He had been to the Candy Kingdom for a recital, and to the Mountain Kingdom with his father for the mountain men's annual games. He had also been allowed to accompany his father and friends to the Haunted Swamp, hunting hydras.
Heather listened to all of this in fascination, which soon became awe, tinged with an edge of a less pleasant emotion. Heather realized she had nothing to say because she had never done anything worth talking about. Pablo was just two years older than her, yet he had lived a life she could never have dreamed of. She was sick with envy.
Tabitha, it seemed, was sick of everything else. As the evening wore on her voice became increasingly monotone. She responded to questions tersely, sometimes with a single word, and soon the other adults left her alone.
Eventually, the meal was over, and everyone stood milling about in front of the restaurant. Pablo and Heather stood off to one side.
"I had a really great time tonight…" said Heather.
"So did I! We should hang again, sometime," said Pablo.
"You could come hunting with me and Mom this weekend. You know, if you're free."
"As wonderful as that sounds," said Pablo, "I was thinking we might meet a little sooner."
He leaned in close and whispered in her ear:
"There's a ruined tower atop a hill overlooking the river, due south of Greenville. You know where that is?"
Heather nodded.
"Meet me there, tonight at midnight. I'd like to show you something."
"Show me what?" Heather said, out loud.
Pablo only grinned, and placed a finger across his lips.
It was time to go. All bid each other good night, and Tabitha and Heather set out for home.
They were silent the whole walk home. Heather knew how much her mother disliked company; she was much the same herself. But Heather sensed that something else was bothering her.
They got home, a crude a little cabin in a clearing deep in the forest, just as the full moon was rising. Rather than go inside, Tabitha seated herself on one of the chairs on the porch, and sighed. Heather stood nearby, and hesitated.
"Mama?" she said gently, "Are you mad about something?"
"Oh, Heather. I'm not mad at you, it's just, that rude little boy did nothing but talk about himself all night!"
"Well...so what?" said Heather.
"'So what?' Heather, I can tell you like him, but if a boy is really interested in you, you know, the whole you, he'd show it!"
Heather could feel herself becoming angry, and tried to keep her voice level.
"But what if I'm more interested in him, Mom?" said Heather, "I mean, what am I supposed to talk about? My amazing life? Hunting? The thing I do every day? 'Oh, hey, Pablo, I skinned a deer real good this one time! It was great! You should have been there!'"
Heather realized she had failed to keep her voice level. Tabitha had stood up, and frowned down at her with her hands on her hips.
"Don't talk to me that way, young lady!" Tabitha snapped, "I'm just trying to keep you safe!"
"I don't wanna be safe!" Heather cried, "I want to live! Before today, I never realized how much I'm missing out on. I want to, I don't know, see the world! Do something besides hunting and chores all day! I want a life like Pablo's!"
"You barely know him!"
"Well it was your idea for me to get to know him! Remember?"
Tabitha sighed and looked away. They were both silent a long moment. Finally:
"You're right, of course. I did ask you to get to know some kids your age. I just didn't expect things to go so fast…"
Tabitha sniffled, and Heather could see her eyes were shining in the moonlight. Heather stepped forward and embraced her.
"My baby girl's growing up…" said Tabitha, "Don't forget, you only met Pablo today. Just promise me you'll be careful."
"I will, Mama," said Heather.
"I don't know Pablo very well, but I know his father well enough. Thunder Joe's not a bad man, but he's kind of irresponsible. He has like, eight kids across three marriages. And he was quite a philanderer in his youth."
Despite her immense curiosity, Heather knew better than to ask for details. Instead, she said,
"You don't know that Pablo's like that…"
"No, but that's just another reason to be careful."
"Please, just give him a chance."
"I will, I will…"
Tabitha turned to enter the cabin, but paused in the doorframe.
"And, by the way, I know he asked you to meet him out tonight…"
Heather froze in place, aghast. Tabitha did not look back as she continued.
"If you were thinking of sneaking out...well, don't forget your bow. It's the full moon tonight; whywolves will be out. Don't do anything stupid."
The time came, and Heather set out for her rendezvous. She wore a dark cloak and carried a flashlight, though she mostly left it off. She was long accustomed to moving through the forest at night, and was afraid that it might attract monsters.
She reached the open grasslands, and soon spotted her destination. The ruined tower loomed above the plains atop a hill, a crooked spike of rusted metal girders. Whatever purpose it had served to the old world, Heather could not guess.
She mounted the hill and looked around. A thicket of bushes had grown up around the base of the tower.
"Pablo? Are you here?" she said.
"Hm? Heather! Yes! Over here!"
Pablo appeared from behind a row of bushes and waved. He had changed from his hunter's garb into a blue and red minstrel's costume.
Heather approached and saw that he stood in a small clearing among the bushes. He had spread a quilt over the ground directly below one of the great concrete blocks that made up the foundation of the ruined tower. A basket sat by his foot, and he carried a lyre. He performed an exaggerated bow when Heather drew near.
"Good evening, m'lady," said Pablo.
Heather blushed, and stifled a laugh.
"Oh my Glob, were you going to serenade me by moonlight?" she said.
"That's the plan!"
"That's so corny! I love it!"
He gestured for her to sit, and she did. He joined her, and produced a bottle of wine and a pair of glasses from the basket. He spoke as he poured them each a glass.
"I wanted to show you my skill with the lyre, but you know, there was another reason I asked you here."
"Oh really?" Heather said, playfully, "I can't imagine."
"I wanted a chance to speak to you in private. However," he paused, and held up his lyre, "I've been told I don't speak half as well as I sing."
And so he played her a song, She Will Be Loved, a love song from the old world.
So many virtues, and he could sing. Heather sat mesmerized as she sipped her wine.
With his song finished, he took a gulp of wine and grinned.
"You play beautifully," said Heather, "If I'd known, I would have brought my flute."
"We'll have to have a jam session, sometime," said Pablo, "Yes. Second date."
"Oh, was this a date?" said Heather.
"Yes, I think so," said Pablo, "But maybe we should check, just to be safe."
He inched closer and placed a hand on her cheek.
"Would you kiss me, Heather?"
She set her wine glass aside, leaned in, and kissed him on the mouth. And he kissed her. And again. And again. And soon they were laying beside each other. Time slowed to a crawl.
As thrilled as she was, Heather did not forget her promise. She felt Pablo fumbling with the leather strings at the front of her tunic. She placed a firm hand on his wrist and stopped him.
"No," she said, "Mama said to be careful."
Pablo grinned, but it was a thin and pained expression. No doubt he was bitterly disappointed.
"Ah. Of course, of course," he said, and seemed to relax, "We'll go steady, then. Whatever you want, baby."
He pulled himself up and sat with his back against the concrete block. Heather joined him.
"Mothers, eh? But you're lucky to have her, I guess," he said.
"Yeah. You're lucky to have both your parents," said Heather, "I never knew my father."
"I was wondering about that. Do you want to tell me?"
"My dad's the Ancient Sleeping Guardian of the Glowing River. Like a god, or something. He's been sleeping at the bottom of a river since before I was born."
There was a brief silence. Then:
"Seriously? Your dad's a river god?"
"I know, right?"
"Is that why you're so...divine?"
"Oh, stop!" said Heather, giving him a playful shove.
"So why haven't you ever met him?"
"Normally he can only manifest for a few hours a year, at most. That's what my mom liked about him. Anyway, after they'd been dating for a while, he gave her a magic mushroom, and when she ate it she became pregnant with me. But then, my dad's so old, using that magic tired him out so much he's been asleep for 15 years."
"Wild," said Pablo, "Is that why you look so much like your mother? Are you like, her clone or something?"
"Maybe," said Heather, "I sure don't have god powers. Believe me, I've checked."
"Yeah, well. My dad isn't all he's cracked up to be, either," said Pablo.
"Why's that?"
"I mean, I love my dad, but he's hardly ever around. He's always out hunting and adventuring and stuff. In fact, just tonight he met up with some of his hunting buddies at the archery tournament. They're all going off to the Shiney Isles to hunt some monster called 'The Farm.' They're leaving tomorrow morning. He's only been here three days."
"Why not go with him?"
Pablo was frowning, now. He shook his head.
"He won't take me. Not since…" He winced, "Well, that hunting trip to the Haunted Swamp didn't go quite as well as I may have implied."
Heather waited, but he did not elaborate. She held his hand, and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Well, it's not so bad. If my dad had agreed to take me with him, I wouldn't get to see you for a while."
"You want to come hunting with me and Mom this weekend?" said Heather.
"Absolutely. And maybe after that we'll have our jam session? I'll bring my lyre."
"Sure, just wear something else," said Heather, touching the poofy sleeve of his minstrel's outfit.
Pablo recoiled in mock outrage.
"Ah! You wound me. Don't lie girl, you know I look mad fresh in this get-up."
She laughed, and they kissed again. And with that, she bid him goodnight.
Author's Notes
Oh, wow, Tabitha dating a guy you can literally only talk to once a year or so. Big introvert mood. FYI, the "magic mushroom" thing is a reference to Alan Moore's depiction of Swamp Thing. Moore has a fondness for gross monsters hooking up with hot girls, and in that Swamp Thing comic, the Swamp Thing gives some girl a spore pod that causes her to have erotic dreams, since they can't have sex the normal way.
Just so we're clear, my aim in depicting teen romance in this story is verisimilitude, not necessarily endorsement. If you find any of this behavior objectionable, that's kind of the point. Keep in mind, teenagers are stupid. Protect them.
Also, hopefully by now you've all figured out which myth inspired this story. I think it's pretty obvious, but I also don't feel like spelling it out. That would spoil the fun for those of you who haven't figured it out, and need to do some sleuthing.
