( I couldn't figure out what to do with them in duskwood, so I figured give them some laughs. This is marked as humor after all.)
They passed the rope bridge and just before the sun fell they stared into the black and haunted forest of duskwood. Ed's ruby eyes scanned the forest ahead of them. The jungle made him calm, it relaxed and tuned him in. It was strange to him to see such a place butted up against this evil looking wood. He tipped his head and saw the sky was being lost to them. Just as he'd feared. They'd be in this place in the night.
"This place gives even me the creeps" Alicia commented. Her sunken, yellowed eyes surveyed the land with distrust. Even Shiva whined at the idea of entering the forest. The red hyena, usually so fearless, gave Ed a look that said she would follow because she had to, not because she wanted to. Ed took a piece of jerky out of a saddle bag and tossed it at the hyena who devoured it quickly. Chloe looked at Alicia with stun on her features. "But, Alicia... your dead."
Ed snapped back to the conversation at hand and nudged Chloe in the ribs for her comment. They didn't need to lose the priest now because of the girl's stupidity. "So, just because I'm undead I don't fear eh? i don't have to worry about death or anything else? Well Let me tell you! I'd feel death just as well as you. I'd feel the wargen ripping me apart as much as you would." Alicia, feeling stung by Chloe's ignorance stopped looking at her. Ed shook his head as
Chloe stammered to apologise. "Jou don tink to good some times Girlie." He said with a short little laugh. Chloe lowered her head and stared at her dangling feet.
Ed took the time to get down off his raptor and put his hands on Chloe's hips. "What are you doing?" She asked, and he nodded toward the forest. "Ain no way jou tellin me jou gotta pee when we in dat place. Jou go now while we still an area i know. Do ja business behind dem bushes." He said, as though it were very plain to do. "I don't want to just go on the side of the road!" Chloe said, a little squeakier than she meant to. He watched her, she put her hands on her hips and straightened up. He mimicked her action and loomed over her at seven feet tall. "Well what will I wipe with?" She asked prissily. Ed gripped the nearest leafs without looking at them and jerked them off the bush. "Now jou got half a bush.. Better do what you got to b'fore you ain got no bush." He said seriously. She quickly went behind the rest of the bush and he turned away.
He walked up to Alicia, not wanting to be called any names for watching Chloe go. "Dat girl dont tink to good. I'm sorry Ali. I don let her say dos tings again." He said seriously. "Oh its alright Edjaba, I know she isnt that bright. I was like her once. Its an eye opening experience, traveling with us. I just hope you make sure she absorbs everything she can. It only takes one person to change the world." Alicia said. If he had to hand one thing to the forsaken without a fight, it was how sagely they were. Living past death did many things to them, but some, a very few changed for the better. He awed in their ability to see things so plainly, even when they'd seem so complicated to elders full of wisdom.
Chloe finished her business and gingerly approached the two. "I'm sorry Alicia." She said honestly. Alicia looked down at the human with a softness in her yellowed eyes. Her hand gently reached out and touched Chloe's shoulder. Her touch was cool and dry, like soft leather. The bones felt like Ed's tusks, which Chloe had touched one night in Grom' gol while he slept. She was surprised at the gentleness and care that went into touching her. Her heart went warm. The two females shared a smile.
Ed went back to his raptor. He'd pet shiva on the head and speak softly, in orcish whispers to the red furred hyena. Chloe came up to him and leaned forward, listening to his whispers. "What are you telling her?" She asked curiously. " I ask, if she wan to eat jou." He said, the grin around his tusks told her he was joking. "I tell her she is stronger dan any wolf or wargen. Dat she is best friend Ed ever have, and dat, she can have all da watermelon in orgirmmar if she help Ed get Chloe through dis forest alive." He didn't know why he threw in the last part, but he felt it was meant to be there.
Chloe thought about what he said for a moment and a redness crept into her pale cheeks. "Will you teach me?" She asked, dumbfounded, Ed asked "Teach jou what?" "Horde language." Chloe confirmed. Ed smiled, he liked that she was curious, though it did get her into trouble, he was pleased she didn't want to idly go by. He nodded. "Ed Teach." He said. He stood up straight and put his hands on her hips to lift her back onto the raptor. Ed then put his foot in the sturp and swing his leg over him self. He looked at her and grinned. " Jou fir lesson." He whispered into her ear. "Eu amo Edjaba. Eu quero montá-lo como um ela-diabo selvagem no calor." He said. Leaning back, he watched her, trying to hide the twinkle of mischief in his eyes. She repeated it, though broken, and Alicia began laughing so hard that she had to hold onto the saddle of her hawkstrider. "What did I say?!" Chloe demanded. "Ed, your terrible!" Alicia would say between gasps. "Ed what did you made me say?!" Chloe was turning beet red and Ed leaned down "Jou say Jou love Ed, Jou wan to ride him like a wil she-devil in heat." His voice was husky and he heard her heart beat faster. "You dirty troll! That's the rudest most sick thing... I cant... I'm never listening to you again!" She yelled. Ed couldn't help but laugh.
"Sua aprovação minha menina." Ed said, grinning still as he looked at Alicia, who smiled. This, wasnt as funny it would seem. Chloe dared not ask, fearing the worst. She crossed her arms and relaxed against him. "Your a total pervert." She told him. He nodded his head and looked at the sky. It was dark now, but they had to continue. Duskwood awaited. The looming forest still looked as black and murky as ever.