Hello again. I'm riding the drive to write for this fic. Here's another chapter.
I have received a couple of questions regarding Claire's comment about she and Jim being unable to have children in chapter 3. Obviously I can't be certain, as we're not privy to Jim's new genetic structure, but it seems unlikely biologically that it would be possible for a human female and what is basically a troll to procreate, if intimacy is even possible. This is also an issue because we don't know much about the troll reproduction process. For obvious reasons, it being a "kid's" show. I may be mistaken, as Hellboy has certain monstrous qualities and he and his girlfriend were able to conceive (another tale Guillermo del Toro is associated with) but based solely on what we saw in the show, Jim is:
Unable to remove his armor.
Unable to eat most human food, or at least have any enjoyment of it, and possibly can derive no nutritional value from most of it.
Unable to be in the sunlight without some form of protection.
At least partly trollish in his anatomy, as his stone skin and increased defense indicate.
Between biology and the sheer question of whether he will canonically ever be able to remove the armor, I am relatively convinced that in his current form, Jim and Claire would be unable to have a child. That being said, the creators may address it and state otherwise. I am going only on my observations from the show. Hellboy at least was able to eat human food, had humanoid skin, and could go out in the sun. Jim may be half human by description, but all of the physiological traits appear trollish. If it is indeed possible for the two to conceive, it seems likely that it would be at great danger to Claire if it were even partly troll, something I don't think Jim would be willing to risk. He's much better than any Twilight guy after all.
Phew! Like I said, canon may blow this out of the water, but this is merely my thoughts on the matter. Of course this is a series where much of the logic is, "Because magic," so who knows? Either way, it's moot for this tale. I lack the ability to leave Jim stranded as a troll for centuries.
Chapter 4
Fear
"Ophelia, thank you so much. Walter Jr. loves strained peas baby food, it's the one thing he won't throw, and I've got a box full. Cradlestone will be fine in a warm, snug place. I don't think it actually affects the babies, but I like to put them somewhere cozy." Barbara grunted as she lugged out her suitcase. Her phone jostled against her shoulder. "Are you sure you don't mind looking after him for that long?" She pushed her phone back into position. "I'm sure Enrique will enjoy the companionship. I will definitely tell Claire she needs to visit soon."
Strickler opened the case for her, putting in items for her as she struggled to collect everything. "No, no reason to really worry. Jim just sounds down, and I know Toby and Aaarrrgghh went to visit. Walter and I are going to check on them. Walter is supposed to watch the area but he's not letting me go on my own." She rolled her eyes and he quirked an eyebrow at her. She'd grown to recognize his expressions behind the green skin and yellow eyes. He wore ordinary clothing in his troll form now – Strickler's teaching attire suited him strangely well, in spite of the holes in the back for his wings to exit in a hurry – and kept bringing items to the case. Toothbrushes, combs, claw files, shampoo, soap, a book or two. I was a massive suitcase, one she hadn't used since she and Jim's father had gone to England for their honeymoon. It had been stowed deep under the bed. Very, very deep.
"You're a saint, thank you. And thank Detective Scott too please, it's so nice of him to pick up the extra shift. Steve and Eli insist they have it covered, Toby has been training them. If anything seems strange, even a little, please call us and we'll come straight back."
"Barbara," Strickler began softly, "I need to tell you something." She hung up after bidding Ophelia goodbye, beckoning him with a finger to continue as she hurried into Jim's old room. "There is a rather odd situation back at New Trollmarket."
Jim's room had remained very nearly the same, save for some items Barbara had sent to Claire's apartment – as of yet, the trolls lacked a PO box – for her son. She didn't have the heart to move anything. It felt like Jim might come home at any moment, bed made, walkie-talkie in the drawers, several blue sweaters hanging up clean. She had nearly cried when the laundry hamper was empty and the last one was in the wash.
Walter had been a champ dealing with her the past couple months. He had his own home still, not quite demolished in the madness of Gunmar and Morganna's attack, but often enough he stayed here, on her couch. She had offered, with only a small catch in her throat, to let him use Jim's room so he didn't have to stay on the sofa. But Strickler refused. "I'm content in the sitting room. And it's nearer the middle of the house, I can hear better if there's an intruder."
Now he stood beside her, arm tucked cautiously around her shoulders. "It seems wrong. He's sixteen. He should be able to come home if something goes wrong," she said frankly. Without another word Barbara opened the drawers, aimlessly searching. "Would it hurt or help to have some of his things around?"
"I can't answer that Barbara. I don't know exactly what frame of mind he's in." Strickler peered under the bed and withdrew a squashy teddy. "What on earth?"
"Oh, Mr. Tiddleypom." Barbara accepted it, gently beating the dust off it. "A gift from my father. Jim used to love Winnie the Pooh. Of course, who doesn't love Winnie the Pooh? There's a part in the book where Pooh starts singing a song about 'Tiddley-pom.' He used to crack up whenever he heard that word."
Strickler was quiet and Barbara set the bear aside. The drop of sunlight extinguished, sank in despair. "Why can't I let go of this Walter? Why doesn't it feel any easier, coming into this room? Why can't I hate what happened any less? It's been six months. I should be coping." She looked at her hands. "I feel cheated. I tried to help him, and his friends, but maybe if I had stood in the way, or used some Krav Maga on Merlin, things would have gone differently."
He smiled. "Your Krav Maga is impressive." He took her hands. "Don't despair. I think something good must be around the corner. And I know seeing you will help him, and you."
Barbara nodded, kissing his cheek. "Thank you Walter. I've been so wrapped up worried about Jim…but you lost a lot too."
"Much less than I anticipated actually. Defense schedule permitting, I am going to be teaching night courses at the Arcadia Oaks Community College." He shrugged as she beamed. "The people of the town are much more forgiving of trolls than trolls are of humans…or changelings."
"That's wonderful!" Something so small felt like a savage triumph. One small scrape toward trolls being able to live in the human world, even in one place like Arcadia Oaks, was a huge leap forward. "I'm proud of you. You've been a rock through everything."
"Stone skin does make that easier. And troll nature isn't given to emotional outbursts." Strickler hesitated. "Again, I must warn you, there is something a bit…alarming in New Trollmarket. I meant to tell you as soon as I got the call, but it's not an easy thing to discuss." Barbara waited. "You see, J-"
His phone buzzed and the shrill voice of Eli Pepperjack singing split the air. "Creepslayerz! Creepslayerz!"
Strickler lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "I told him not to make that my ringtone when he calls." He answered the message, mouth set into a tight line. "Mr. Pepperjack?"
"Mr. Strickler! Are you still in Arcadia Oaks? We need a little assistance. We've got two gruesomes hanging around the dump looking for troll pieces from the battle. We need to get flour, but they've got a couple of workers cornered and we can't leave. Can…can you come help sir?" Barbara's heart wrenched – this boy was Jim's age. Toby and Claire's age. She held a breath until her voice was solid.
"I have some flour in the pantry. You're welcome to it." Strickler gave her a grateful look. "I'll just pack until you get back, then we can head out. Unless you think you need to stay?"
"No. I'll give them a few tips before I leave." He stretched his wings carefully, heading downstairs to find the flour. Barbara returned to her search, anticipation building.
After eight hours of contributing to society by pushing paper, Claire was always glad to leave. She dropped by her apartment to change, eat something, and then was out the door again. Alberto hadn't bothered leaving the driver's seat after dropping her off, reading an article on his phone. "Out to the caves again, Ms. Nuñez?"
"You know it. Thanks Alberto." He was a short man, dark-haired and tan skinned, and he had a kindly face. He also wasn't terribly nosy, which was extremely helpful. The drive was quiet, pleasant, and she watched the city pass by in silence.
Snow was coming. Maybe not in the next week, but in the next month. It was a far cry from the warmth of California, this city. There was so much to do and see – plays, restaurants, museums, malls, arcades, zoos, colleges – and not too far was New York City. It was insane to think that trolls hunkered underground so close to a huge human populace. When everything was settled she wanted to see it all.
I want Jim to see it with me.
Claire swung from optimism about the future to infuriated at it, but thinking of what had transpired between herself and Jim yesterday made her heart beat faster. He'd seemed so surprised that it was a little funny, but Claire had always thought him cute. Even when he tried his broken Spanish at school. That had been dorky, but excessively adorable. Adorkable? Yeah, that. She needed to visit home – she missed her parents and Enrique so badly, and Darci and Mary were sending actual letters – but the thought of leaving Jim for any length of time made her want to punch things.
The city sped by, buildings and people in bright coats and scarves colorful blurs. The sun felt good on her face, and Claire was left to her thoughts as the trip pulled them from the city, into more wooded areas, into rocky trails outside of the city.
"I'll be out for the night again Alberto. Meeting up with some friends to camp. Have a good rest of your day," she said, waving as he opened the door for her.
"You too Ms. Nuñez. Gimme a call if you need anything. Be careful out here, I've heard there have been some weird animals around." He inclined his head politely before getting back in the care and pulling into the road. She waited for the car to disappear before taking out the horngazel in her purse and making a semicircle on the nearest boulder. The entryway came open and she hurried down the stairs, wondering what Toby had been up to since his arrival.
"Hey Sis. If you're looking for ya sweetheart, he's working on some stalkling bait. Not sure where, but I smelled the scales. Nasty critters." NotEnrique was lounging on a small rock, reading a sock enthusiast's magazine. Not something she would ever have imagined existing before meeting trolls. "Don't know about the big fella, but Blinky and TP are in his study."
"And you're taking a break from helping out I assume?" She put her hands on her hips.
"Relax, my shift ain't for another couple hours. Not like any of the 'normal trolls' want a changeling around anyway. Nomura's working on the crystals now." He flipped a page. "Ooh, stripes. I prefer plaid myself."
She cuffed him affectionately over the head. "You behave."
"Only if I have no other choice," he said smartly. Claire wound her way through the tunnels and openings that would one day be a thriving city but now were just gaps of earth, and heard voices before she reached Blinky's alcove.
"…And if I'm right, that stuff grows near the pools of Avalon. It looks like that anyway." Mr. Lake? His voice was low, and she had to strain to catch it.
"Very well, we'll have to map the closest gyre location. Now fairies…"
"I have heard rumors about one place where they live. Rumors mind you. Merlin might be able to find them if we can get him on board. And basilisks, phew, those are the bad ones. I've never seen one but I've heard enough stories." Blinky and James talking? About what?
"And I told Chompsky about the skeleton thing. He found a collection of bones from gnomes that have died. Did you know they kind of do an ossuary type thing? Just a whole little room, full of bones! They put them in positions doing things they liked in life, like eating, sleeping, dancing. But he had no problem with us using it. So there's that." A tiny clatter made Claire finally step forward, toward the opening to the alcove. Toby immediately jumped in front of the items, onto the table in a reclining position. "And that's why stretching before training is very – oh, just Claire. Thank goodness."
He slid off the table and ushered her in. Blinky peered out beyond the doorway suspiciously. "Is Master Jim with you?"
"No. What are you doing? And – is that a hand!?" She pointed at a box that had what looked like a male, human hand sitting inside. It was nestled in a wad of ice cubes.
"Yeah, we keep adding ice. And we're moving it, Jim's nose is too good, he almost found it." Toby shut the case and met her eye seriously. "Okay Claire, so what we're doing, you can't tell Jim about. At all."
"Why not? Why were you talking about fairies and basilisks and…and whatever else?" Claire turned to the table, spotting pages and notes. "What are you trying to make?"
"A stone. One that will imbue Master Jim with the properties of a changeling." She froze, reading the list and mouthing the ingredients. It was a crazy list, with edits and notes to the side in red ink. "We apologize for not mentioning it to you sooner, but we've been debating on whether or not it's even possible. It's only now starting to that way." Blinky pulled another list closer. "It's based on the formula the Gumm-Gumms used to alter changelings, but since we won't partake in the black magic aspect, we've been planning substitutions. But many of the ingredients needed are exceedingly dangerous to get to. Hence why we will not tell Master Jim."
Toby nodded. "Yeah, you know Jim, he'd be all, 'I can't let my friends put themselves in danger for me,' and stuff." Claire slowly pulled the notes together, stacking them neatly.
"You're right. That's exactly what he'd say." She lifted her head, a flame of hope burning bright in her chest. "So how are we doing this? Where do we start?"
"We've begun with the smaller, simpler items." James Lake leaned over the table, resting his elbows on it. "Gnome skeleton, human blood and bone and flesh." He showed her his hand. "No worries, I got better. And some plants that have magical properties if you know how to use them. Which I don't, but Blinky seems familiar with them."
"Is Merlin helping? I'm sure he knows about a lot of these things." Claire meant to continue but the sound of approaching steps made her shove the notes to Blinky, who hid them in a book and slid it onto the nearest shelf. Toby grabbed the gnome skeleton and pushed it into his backpack. And James took the box holding his former hand and slipped it into a drawer.
Jim appeared in the doorway, glancing around at each of them. "Uh…did I not get an invitation to the party?" His tone was joking, and Claire relaxed. He hadn't heard.
"No party here Jimbo. Just chatting." Toby grinned, flashing his braces, and Jim rolled his eyes.
"Fine, keep me out of the loop. Guess it's not my business." Toby blinked – there was no hurt in his voice but it was so blunt. Jim held himself differently, in a way that seemed familiar. "I came by to say I plan on putting out stalkling bait tonight, so if anyone's in the mood to kill something, tonight would be great for that. I can handle it, but there's something very satisfying about it sometimes." Claire's eyebrows shot up.
"Jim? You okay?" He turned to face her and in a move that shocked her, drew her in and kissed her. In front of everyone. It wasn't so careful as his normal kisses but it was quick and he smirked as he drew away.
"Better than okay." Claire's voice failed her – his teeth hadn't cut her but they had scraped against her lip, leaving it a little raw. He didn't seem to notice. Jim would always notice.
James's eyes were dark. "Did that wizard do something else to you Jim? You're acting weird." Jim turned in a circle, catching their gazes and the uncertainty, finishing with Claire, who squinted. His eyes were darker…
"So the second I stop acting like a depressed baby everyone assumes something's wrong with me. Great, that's nice. I was thinking maybe it would be good to see me do something other than mope around." He shook his head. "Look, if no one wants to join me that's fine. Aaarrrgghh and I can handle it." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. Aaarrrgghh stood behind him, quiet, with an inscrutable expression on his face.
"I can go with you Jimbo," Toby said, injecting false cheerfulness into his words. Jim grinned at him, teeth gleaming. "Claire? Let's go help Jim."
"Right. Okay. Sorry, you just surprised us." Claire nodded at Blinky – something was wrong. "You're really feeling better?"
"I am. Haven't felt this good since before I got turned into a troll. Which, y'know, is not all that bad. I think it's my human side that makes me depressed all the time." James stared and Jim turned to face him. "What about it Dad, how does a human deal with all this crazy stuff? The immortality, watching everyone age around you while you're stuck the same? Running away from a demon that you can't stop?"
"Jim!" Claire grabbed his arm. "Why would you say that!?"
He shrugged. "Guess I'm not afraid of knowing the answer."
James folded his arms. "Kinda sucks. Knowing you'll outlive everyone you care about. Knowing that the world's going to keep changing, for better or for worse. Thinking that I'd never see my kid again until about eighty years passed and if I was lucky I'd get to attend his funeral."
The smirk slipped off Jim's face and for one second he seemed doubtful. Then he turned away. "Good to know."
"Want any extra help with the creatures? Stalklings, were they?" James's voice was smooth, calm.
"No thanks. My friends and I can take care of troll problems. If you want to keep watch for Mordred that would be great." Jim gestured to the door. "Come on guys, night's fallen. I want to get the bait out and get into position."
"Sure. Let me get Warhammer, we'll meet you up there." Jim nodded, moving past Aaarrrgghh back into the dark of the tunnel. Toby waited for him to go before putting his fingers together and resting them against his mouth in thought. "Grit-Shaka?"
"Grit-Shaka," Aaarrrgghh said with certainty. "Smell it. Been following Jim. Him say 'crispy' once." Toby groaned.
"Why would he use one of those? He knows what their effects are!" Blinky took out the book and rearranged the notes. "We need to speak to Merlin. The only way we can have safety is if there is a barrier defending us from Mordred, and he may have knowledge of the obscurer items. And we need to get that Grit-Shaka off Jim. Where would he have found one?"
"RotGut's. Saw him leave there, went to talk, already had it on. Didn't know what to do, didn't want him to run. Remember last time?" Aaarrrgghh turned uneasily to the tunnel. "Need to go with him, don't want him to get hurt. Blinky and James talk to Merlin, I go with Toby and Claire."
"Sounds good. But what the heck is a Grit-Shaka? Some kind of protein shake?" James seemed unshaken by Jim's words. If anything his mouth had set firmly. Claire wondered if letting him within ten feet of Merlin was the wisest option.
"I'll explain it to you shortly. Aaarrrgghh, Toby, Claire, please be careful and assist Master Jim. James, with me." Blinky held the notes tight and took off, James right behind him, whistling sharply. A distant bark signified Draig's approach, and Claire followed Aaarrrgghh, Toby a bit lost.
"So, we should probably not try to take that thing off Jim in the middle of a battle. And he's too fast to catch, so we should definitely not tell him we know he's wearing a Grit-Shaka." Toby groaned. "If he says crispy to my face I'm gonna hit myself in the head with my hammer."
The night was alive with sound and scent. Jim inhaled deeply, taking in the the leaves and animals. A brood of chicks in the nearest tree, an owl beyond his vision range, the rasp of grass under rabbit feet. His senses were filled with the trails, and he climbed out onto one of the branches where he had hung bait. It was little more than a sack of fur with stalkling scales around it and bits of raw meat inside. Enough to interest and drew the creatures in.
Toby clung to Aaarrrgghh, unable to keep still enough to avoid noise. The large troll was seated in heavy underbrush, shadows, only visible where moonlight struck his green eyes. Claire was a branch up, lighter and surer of foot. They were fairly close, but so was the bait.
Why hadn't he used the Grit-Shaka sooner? It was incredible to feel this confident again, this wild. All the emotions that had so harmed him were gone, buried in a wave of power. It had only been a few hours but it felt so good. A little time here and there wouldn't hurt anyone when he needed a break. He sniffed the air, bounding to the next branch over, not making a sound. The rustle of leaves excited him, made his heart pound.
It would feel good to obliterate something without any part of him holding back. He bared his teeth when he heard wings.
The first one was cautious, creeping toward the bait. Its snout was pointed, teeth glistening, eyes flashing red. Jim watched it nose at the ground, batting it with a wing, long claws digging into the ground.
Another emerged, larger and less careful. It hissed at the first, creeping around it. Jim grinned. Two was good, but three would be better. And one more landed near the two, cocking its head.
Now.
Jim shot out of the trees, Eclipse sinking into the side of the largest one. It bellowed in fury, swiping for him, but with a twist of his blade he separate the creature's torso from the rest of its body. The cautious stalkling tried to take off but Aaarrrgghh was on it in a second, crushing its head with his fists. The final one lunged for Claire as she dropped but she swung her staff, catching its nose and knocking it awry. Toby followed up with a strike to its wings, and Jim hurled Eclipse into the falling beast, cleaving its head from its shoulders.
It was all over in twenty seconds.
"Dude…three stalklings, that quick. Headrush." Toby winced at the sight of the bodies and Aaarrrgghh made a worried noise, gathering him close and tucking an arm around him. Claire breathed hard, cheeks flushed, staff out and ready for another strike if needed. Jim scanned the bodies and felt, under the rush of adrenaline and the hunt, disappointment. It had been so easy. Too easy.
"Well, if that's it, maybe we should go inside, take a breather." Toby wiped his hands on his armor, leaving sweaty streaks. Claire had forgone hers, save for the chestplate and helmet. The limbs made it hard to move, combined with the weight of the staff. She slipped the helmet off and Jim felt her eyes on him, concerned. "Pretty sure plain terror sapped five hundred calories."
Was there nothing else to do? Jim let Eclipse fade, but his ears pricked – a distant sound, the crackle of a campfire? Aaarrrgghh's nostrils bobbed as he sniffed, and the troll's expression became one of dismay. "Humans. Three. Camping here?"
Claire's face was stricken. "What if there's a - !?"
An unholy screech tore the air and a woman's scream followed it. Jim was filled with a blazing euphoria – one more beast. He sprinted into the brush, leaving the others behind, trees and leaves whipping past him. He moved like a wolf, intoxicated by the night, by the moon above.
The campfire came into view. He wasn't too surprised really, teens and college kids came out here with booze to act up, excited by the prospect of camping where there was "danger." A torn tent was crumpled on the ground and broken bottles glinted gold in shards. A man and woman were on the ground, though he smelled little blood. In the clearing, moon overhead, the stalkling's scales seared pale as it dove at the only moving figure. She was blonde, thin, a little older than Jim. Her jeans were torn and a long gash stained them red.
Jim roared at the creature and it lurched, head snapping to glare at him instead. The woman was curled in on herself, clutching a flashlight and nothing else. The beam trembled against the trees. The stalkling swooped down, claws bared, but instead of using Eclipse, Jim let it vanish.
He wanted to savor the challenge. The creature made contact and he grabbed the claws, hurling it up and over his head into the nearest trunk. The stalkling writhed before righting itself and landing, swiping at his legs. Jim leaped back, springing high, letting out a single laugh. Trolls were meant for this! For fighting, for battle, for war.
He heard Claire and Toby and Aaarrrgghh and decided that, in spite of his fun, he ought to finish the stalkling. The camper was bleeding too, that should probably get looked at. Jim scaled the nearest tree in the time of a breath and as the stalkling reared up, slashing at the trunk and leaving scores inches deep. In a twisting leap, Jim was clear of the bough and grabbed the stalkling's head on the way down, and with the sharpest move he could, jerked it down with his descent.
The snap was louder than branches breaking. The beast fell, dead, and landed beside him. Jim panted, excitement still flowing, trembling with the energy of it.
Then the woman shrieked.
The stalkling lay dead under Jim's feet, neck broken nearly clean off. Claire ignored the staring eyes, the vague puzzlement of the beast's face, instead focusing on Jim. It was hard to see him in the moonlight but he seemed to be shaking. The woman was still howling, an endless wail of horror.
Claire rushed to the woman, wishing she would stop. "Please be quiet, you're okay! He won't hurt you, he was protecting you!"
The girl dragged herself back, whimpering. "What is that thing!? Please, call the police!" It might have been all right if she hadn't shone her flashlight directly into Jim's face and caught sight of his features. Another scream, throaty and raw and frantic, sent a shudder through Claire's shoulders. Jim twitched and a soft growl emanated from his throat. "No! No, get away! It's a monster, help!" She grabbed a rock and pitched at him, hard, and it connected with his cheek. He jolted, like a dog that had been struck.
"Jim, no. She doesn't know. It's okay, it's okay." But when the moon caught his face all she saw was bared white teeth and scarlet eyes, pupils slits. She froze for a moment – not out of fear, but out of hesitation, unsure of what to do.
In the moment she was still, Jim was over the camper, lowering his head, and snarling into her face. "Help me, please," she gasped. Claire pushed herself between Jim and the camper, drawing his attention. Aaarrrgghh lumbered forward, alarmed, but she threw up a hand. A bigger troll was not going to make this better. "Jim. I need you to calm down. It's over, okay?"
Why were his eyes red? Was that a Grit-Shaka thing, exacerbated by the hunt? She put out a hand. "Come on, we need to help this girl."
"She hit me." The voice was guttural, through his teeth, and Claire pulled her hand back in disbelief.
"Jimbo, dude, chill. She didn't know, she's freaking out." Toby hesitantly approached, putting Warhammer away as he did so. Aaarrrgghh was still, edges of his eyes tinging black with fear. "Let's help her and these guys. That's what Trollhunters do, right?"
Jim snorted. "Trolls protect trolls."
Toby drew up short and Claire bristled at the sheer wrongness of that statement. Jim would never say that, not in a million years. "No, trolls protect whoever they darn well please. And even if what you said was true – which it is absolutely not! – you're not a troll."
"I am a troll!" His voice became a roar and the redness of his eyes intensified.
"This isn't troll! This is…I don't even know what! But it's not you. So calm down, and take off that stupid Grit-Shaka, it's making everything even worse!" Claire realized, in hindsight, that trying to grab the cord to break it was a bad idea. But as her hand shot out, Jim reacted instinctively and snapped his teeth like an angry dog.
She yanked her hand back, inspecting the injury. A small scratch, where his teeth had just grazed her, welled with small spots of blood. It did nothing but make her angry – that stupid Grit-Shaka – but Jim's eyes widened and the redness faded. "Claire…I just…no. No!"
He yanked the cord off, hurling the Grit-Shaka away, and held his head. "I hurt you, I hurt you. No – no – no." As if he'd been struck he crouched on the ground, head on his knees, still clutching his head. Claire shot Toby a frightened look, and Aaarrrgghh gently paced forward. He whispered his mantra over and over, rocking on his heels. "No. No. No."
"Jim. It's okay. It's just a scratch." Claire knelt to touch his face, bring his chin up, but he flinched and moved on all fours, backing away from them. "Jim, wait!"
"No. I hurt you." His blue eyes flicked from her to Toby and back. "I can't do this. I…I need to think. I'm so, so sorry."
He was gone in a rush of leaves and Toby yelled after him. "Jimbo, wait!" He turned to the campers. "We can't just leave them, but…but Jim!"
"You help these. I go after Jim." Aaarrrgghh dove into the underbrush and the sound of his heavy gait faded away. Toby and Claire turned helplessly to the woman, her face pale, looking ready to faint.
"Well. This is going to be interesting. Good thing I didn't fail first aid in health class," Toby managed. His humor was cracked, breath catching, but it was enough to snap Claire back into action. She wanted to help Jim, but three innocent people were injured. "Hang on lady, and stop hyperventilating."
Aaarrrgghh couldn't catch Jim.
He tried, and tried, and hunted for hours. But Jim was smaller, faster, able to move so far ahead him that he lost track of him in four minutes. His nose told him Jim was close, but he kept moving. And then the rain started.
Sleeting rain, chilly, nothing that would bother a troll. But it washed scent away, rattled on the leaves, dulled his senses. "Jim! Come back! Just Aaarrrgghh!" He turned in a circle, splashing mud on his feet and knuckles. He sniffed vainly, trying to catch his smell.
Two hours passed before the rain stopped, and Aaarrrgghh knew the sun was rising. For a second he panicked, wondering if Jim would notice. But of course he would, all trolls could sense the sunrise coming. He would know to take cover. Were his wingman and Claire all right? Surely he would have heard if something happened.
Aaaarrrgghh returned to the gateway to Trollmarket. Blinky had a phone, he could text Jim and Wingman and Claire. The humans would have to take up the search. How far would Jim have gone? Aaarrrgghh whined lowly; he knew how it felt to lose oneself to the darkest part of troll nature, to the warmonger.
As soon as he descended the stairs he heard shouting, Blinky among the voices. He barreled through the Grand Foyer, ignoring the mutters of other trolls, running for what sounded like it might be Merlin's alcove. Blinky and James had said they were going to talk to him…
" – Chance to make things right and you're not taking it! Why am I not surprised!?" James had a cold yell. "So what if it's dangerous? You're not putting yourself at risk, so why does it matter?"
"I would think you like me not wanting to put individuals at risk. Those children might get killed pursuing these ingredients! Basilisks are lethal, and if this doesn't work, it might have dire consequences for Jim! How are we supposed to test it?" Merlin was shouting as well, old face red. Blinky was standing between the two, pushing them apart. "I won't pretend I like the results, but I will not let things become worse for him out of misguided desire to help!"
"Gentlemen, this is hardly cooperation! If we can look over my notes and discuss this, I think we can come to an agreement – Merlin, stop shooting sparks from your hands!" Blinky used a spare arm to swat at the wizard.
"Jim gone!" Aaarrrgghh bellowed. The three froze, and the only noise was the bubbling of some concoction on Merlin's desk. It was smoky, hard to make anything out. "Jim fight stalklings, we help, but then campers were on trail and lady kept screaming, and Jim angry with Grit-Shaka, and bit Claire, then freaked out and ran, and can't find!"
"Wait, bit Claire?" Merlin began.
"The sun is rising! We must locate him!" Blinky pushed away from the two, running to Aaarrrgghh with all six eyes wide. "James, you can search the trails. Merlin, please cover the forest on the east side. Where are Toby and Claire?" Blinky pulled out his phone, scanning the screen. "Twelve texts from Toby, six from Claire. They're at the ER with the campers."
Aaarrrgghh panic ebbed just a little. "Coming back soon?"
"Yes, they're coming back shortly." Blinky's fingers flew. "If they can search as well, we should be able to find him. He likely took shelter in a cave. Don't worry Aaarrrgghh, we'll find Master Jim."
"What do you mean 'find him?' Where is Jim?"
Aaarrrgghh turned and saw Barbara Lake standing behind him in a jean jacket, red sweater, and blue jeans with hiking boots. Her eyes were wide and she looked faintly nauseous. The gyre, he realized, seeing Strickler behind her with a large case in his hands.
"Barb?" James leaned around Aaarrrgghh and Barbara's entire face became scarlet like her hair. There was no shock, only a pulsing vein in her throat. "I…take it someone told you about me being here." Strickler nodded faintly. James's face became uncertain, eyes bright. "Look, it's going to be okay. You stay here, we'll find-"
Barbara kicked him between the legs, rounded on Merlin and Blinky, and her eyes were lightning. James croaked and hit the ground, clutching himself. "Ah…I see…you kept up…with Krav Maga."
Aaarrrgghh shifted uneasily toward Strickler, who seemed a little pleased at her reaction. Barbara glared at Blinky and Merlin in turn, and with the ferocity only a mother could have, whispered, "So help me, I will obliterate everyone's gronk-nuks if you don't tell me what happened to my baby."
End of Chapter 4
Preview for Chapter 5
He wasn't in the first cave she found, or the second or third. But in the fourth, one she reached by sliding down the slope of of the crag and nearly falling into its opening, she managed to halt her descent and heard a noise she'd know anywhere. She gripped the walkie in raw hands and said quietly, "Found him. He's in a cave about two hundred feet from Kanjigar's Solitude."
With a careful motion she slide herself into the opening of the cave, plunged into darkness save for the beam from the opening. It was black, and she could nearly stand in the small opening, but the top of her head brushed the ceiling and she winced. The small noise continued; he hadn't heard her. Barbara crept deeper in. "Jim? Honey?"
The sound stopped. "Mom?" The scrape of stony palms against a stony face reached her and she hurried forward. "Mom!" He was in her arms, damp and cold, and smelling of the outdoors. Barbara sank into a crouch, hugging him close. "What…what are you doing here?"
Barbara showered his face with kisses. "Finding you, of course! Walter and I came to visit. After my last call, I needed to see you." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny flashlight. "Here, I can't even see you." With a few hard taps and the flick of a button, the tiny opening was filled with light. Jim was muddy and his hair was a wet wreck. He'd been running in the rain. And no matter how hard he'd wiped his face, there were still tear stains, indigo against his paler face. "Baby, what happened?"
"Nothing Mom. I'm just…it's been a bad few weeks is all." Jim buried one hand in his hair, but Barbara firmly removed it and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close, resting his head on her shoulder. "Mom, stop, I don't need…"
"Yeah. Yeah you do." Barbara closed her eyes, rocking back and forth. "Or I do at least."