Chapter 4: Scar Story

Ivan didn't remark on the eavesdroppers around them, but said, "The best way to begin is to tell you my story. So, here it is: I arrived here by dragonfly after I fell asleep on a hiking trail. When I came to, I was staring at a dragon's snout. I thought it was a joke and kicked it. That's when I got this." He pulled back the hair from the side of his face. A portion of his cheek and ear was red and wrinkly. "He was too sleepy to work up a full breath of fire, so I got out before the cave really heated up.

"Unlike you, there was no one to greet me and show me the ropes. I got in all kinds of trouble – which, if you're smart, you'll take note that Kapyn's cave is not a place to explore, the gorge is extremely tricky and not advisable as a drinking source, and the nighttime is not a great time to be prowling about." Standing on the overlook outside his hut, he pointed to the cave some distance behind his residence and a distant ribbon threading its way through the thick vegetation which Casey assumed to be the gorge.

"And the worse mistake I ended up making was using my knife to catch a small animal for food the first morning. That's when I met the pixies. I was bit twice. I have no idea what happened the first few hours; but when the paralysis finally left me, I had this." He was unbuttoning his shirt.

"Another scar?" Casey said, and added, "Really, you don't have to show me."

"It's just on my side. Are you squeamish about scars?"

"No, I'm squeamish about filth."

"Oh, well, you'll get over it."

"No, I won't," Casey argued under her breath, and was grateful that he had decided against continuing with his scar exhibit.

"The only drinkable water available is in the dragon's cave." He eyed her soberly and repeated it like a flight attendant. "Kapyn's cave has the water, but you risk waking him to get to it."

"What do you drink then?"

"Mostly the juices from the fruits. The pixies also transport the water, and bring it to a public reservoir. They allow the forest animals to drink from it. We can draw water there, too, as long as you only take the amount they allot to you." His tone held a modicum of chagrin.

"As far as the mud goes, it helps not to be clean. The smell wakes Kapyn and irritates the animals." Casey looked down at her soiled shirt, feeling proud of her acclimation, when Ivan commented, "You may think you have blended in with that smudge there, but really you smell very sweet and – like fresh human. That will have to be dealt with sooner rather than later." The fleeting expression in Ivan's eye ruffled her more than the thought of donning more stinky mud. He was enjoying her discomfort far too much.

"Well, being constantly bathed in sweat and yuck has to be unhealthy," she asserted.

He shrugged. "It's far less compromising than being hunted by a dragon night and day."

"So, why isn't he hunting me now?"

"Ah, yes," Ivan smiled eagerly. "That is the next bit of information – very important information – that we need to cover." His business-like tone was getting old fast. "Each of us in this forest has a job. The pixies carry the water and care for the plants, et cetera. The monkeys fetch fruits from the trees. The birds bring seeds and things. The tigers, jaguars, and leopards hunt the meat for Kapyn. And…you get the gist."

"I'm sure Kapyn appreciates this," remarked Casey, hardly believing her ears.

Ivan ignored her. "Kapyn likes to eat, but he likes to sleep more. At least, in the past he did. He's been eating more lately because those irritating dragonflies keep waking him up. Ahem," Ivan cleared his throat importantly, and it occurred to Casey that though he looked older because of his dirt-embedded wrinkles, he couldn't be more than a couple of years ahead of her. "As I was saying, Kapyn needs food. You will have the job of delivering it to him when he wakes."

"I will what? No I won't!" rebelled Casey. She was nodding her head and shaking her finger at him. "You're not giving me that job. You've been doing that job, haven't you? Oh, it's not happening! I will not-," Ivan had turned his back to her and was leaving the hill. She quickly followed behind him, repeating, "I won't. Kapyn will have to starve. I'm not doing it!"

"I understand your reluctance," he spoke with a superior tone, "but it will be necessary since I cannot do that and work our escape."

He halted as he heard her steps cease behind him. Casey's eyes were big with the terror of the task, but they were also filled with hope. "You are planning our escape? You mean we don't have to go by dragonfly?"

"Oh, the dragonflies are just the entry method. When they enter, the portal – I call it that – stays open until they fly out again. But that is when Kapyn is awake, and you can't very well do the dance of the seven veils to get past that hungry booger when he's in bonfire mode." Casey was taking in every word eagerly, when Ivan paused and stared straight into her eyes. "We're a team now."

"What about the others?"

"What others?" He said, as he began to walk again.

She quickened her pace to walk beside him. "The lady and the baby."

"Oh." Ivan looked uneasy. "This is a jungle, you realize."

Casey gasped as the thought entered her head. "Please, oh please, tell me that baby didn't get eaten."

"Oh, the baby crawled back through the portal. Maybe a little charred on the feet, but otherwise made it, as far as I know. That's when I got this scar." Now Ivan was lifting up the back of his shirt.

"Really, I believe you. I don't need to see the – Yeah, that's pretty bad."

"One of the hardest to heal from." Casey grimaced in sympathy, while Ivan dropped his shirt back down, put his hands to his hips, and stuck out his chest. It was everything she could do to keep from laughing. 'Really,' she told herself, 'he's been through a lot, and he's so skinny, his ribs stick out; but his attitude – his pride in his scars – is just too funny.'

"So, tomorrow we'll scope out the cave together."

"I thought you said not to go in the cave."

"I did. Don't go into the cave unless you know what you're doing. Now, let me show you where you can sleep tonight. It's a bit of a walk." And it was. Casey was out of breath and feeling sick by the time they reached it.

It was a stone enclosure, not quite deep enough to be considered a cave. Around it was a fence of misshapen pieces of wood. "This is your home away from home. You won't be bothered here. The wildlife knows to stay out."

"That fence keeps the animals out?" she asked dubiously.

"No, but this place is off-limits for them; the pixies see to that. They also use a special tree sap to drive away the non-complying species. Remember, this is your side. The pixies' entry is on the other side of this rock. If you even walk around to their side, they will consider it an invasion. They are very sensitive about sharing the quarters around their domicile. Consider it an act of great hospitality and don't make them angry."

"I don't really know what pixies are. Are they like fai-," He clamped a very dirty hand over her mouth. "Ah! Why did you do that?" Casey began spitting vehemently. "Oh, that is so gross!"

He grabbed her upper arm and drew his mouth to her ear, as she continued to wipe her mouth. "Never – Never! – use that word."

"What word?"

"Fairies," he whispered ever so quietly. "They hate it. They detest it. For years they have been mistaken for them, and those are creatures of fancy and pixies are not. Respect their beliefs, or you will regret it." He pulled away from her abruptly.

"Okay! So, you know where you're staying; you have all the etiquette down. Our plans are set for tomorrow. And the last item on our checklist today?" He held out his hand to her in a manner to show that she should answer.

Casey sighed. "Take a mud bath."

"You can call it a beauty bath, if it helps. That's what the fat one called it, although there was absolutely no beauty in that. It was more like watching a rolling hippo."

"I'd prefer if you didn't watch me." Casey said, suddenly self-conscious. He nodded and motioned for her to follow him. "You never told me what happened to that lady," observed Casey.

"I'd rather not think about it," answered Ivan. Casey didn't press the subject.