My beta reader is my sister and I love her (shhhh she doesn't need to know) but she really takes her time in getting to read my chapters. So for now I'm pushing all blame for this chapter's delay, and some of the previous chapters, onto her. 3 I am glad she's my beta, though, if for no other reason than I get to see her scalding comments towards Sera. She rips my poor boy to shreds. But once she got around to it, she gave high praise for this chapter, so that's pretty swell. Let's jump into it, shall we?
Turns out these people have a house dedicated to visitors, which Jiakair and the volunteer escort us to. Killua steps inside and examines the place in fine detail. I barely glance at it. It's hardly anything but a roof and a bed. I lean back against the outside wall and eyeball our volunteer.
If the villagers I used to play with were this enthusiastic about putting themselves in danger, they hardly would've been any fun. The situation makes me grimace. Of course, with the way things have been going, now I'm the one doing the things I don't want to do, and going where I don't want to go.
My point: this very much isn't that cowardly little village, and I very much don't mind this male's enthusiasm.
I've never tried this kind of partner.
From inside, Killua says, "I'll be back as soon as I can. They say Chwara's super accommodating to their visitors, so you'll be well taken care of. If you get lonely, I bet the Baj kids would love it if you helped them learn our language."
"I'll practice Nen while you're gone!"
"Alright, just don't hurt yourself."
He emerges, and Alluka appears in the entrance. The sight gives me mixed feelings. On one end, she doesn't have to go skipping into near certain death, but it's clear that for some incomprehensible reason she wants to. I'm not entirely sure why it doesn't sit well with me; I made humans do things they didn't want to do all the time for my amusement. It never gave me a bad feeling back then, but her...maybe it's because our current oppressor is one and the same.
"So," Killua starts, hands in his pockets, "do we need to do anything to prepare?"
"Bachan always provides for guests," Jiakair states. "There is no need." He turns to the volunteer, and rests his hands on both of the younger man's shoulders. In unfamiliar sounds, he says something to him, and the other replies shortly. Releasing him, Jiakair addresses us one last time. "I give you my luck for your journey, so that you all may return safe."
When he leaves, the volunteer takes over. "My name is Omim. I am happy to guide Killua, Sera, Naii." The weird inflections in his voice are more unstable than when Jiakair spoke, his tone equally deep, but softer. Contrast to when he spoke up in the hut before, his voice now is almost quiet.
"Happy to be guided," I respond, sending him a dazzling smile. He grins in return.
Killua prompts, "Let's get going."
"Yes, come." Omim waves for us to follow, and the three of us fall in line behind him. I glance back at Alluka. She smiles and waves.
"What's bothering you?"
I turn my head back forward at Naii and Omim's backs and refuse to look at the boy beside me. "I dunno, maybe the fact that apparently this Bachan place has been killing people, and you're dragging me to it?"
"We'll have to be careful." His tone is as if he's agreeing with me, even though his response is nothing of the sort. I stop ignoring him to glare his way. "We can't let our guards down. This jungle's already caused two Hunters to disappear. It's not certain they're dead, though. It's possible there's some other reason they can't leave."
"I'm so sure they just built themselves a house and are just peacefully living out their days."
"Yeah, doubtful. This is definitely going to be dangerous, so stick close to me. Your senses may be better than a human's, but that probably won't be enough to keep you safe."
I glance at him again, but he's still looking forward. Lowering my voice as quiet as it can go, I hiss, "And what about Naii?"
He doesn't say anything for a moment, gazing at Naii's back. Then, "She probably won't try anything soon. She still doesn't know what to think about you. That's even more reason you should stay close, though." He finally meets my eyes. "You being an Ant won't be enough to keep you safe from her, either."
Like I didn't know that! How is any of this fair?
We approach the large forest behind the hut we gathered in. Its trees easily reach twice as tall as the forest behind us, its greenery so thick the light within looks like the shadows of early morning even though the sun's already high overhead. Branches hang out over the edge of the giant forest, and vines dangle down like arms, limp at the moment, but ready to lash out at prey. A cacophony that sounds like a mix of locusts and cicadas emanates from within. They said no creature ever comes out, but clearly there are insects in there. Are they seriously claiming no fly ever slips out?
No wind rustles the leaves.
On the verge of entering, Omim stops and turns to face us. His expression doesn't carry the slightest hint of concern for the danger we could step into. "Guests, this is the land of Buchan. Stay close. Wander and you will be swallowed. I ask what time we will be in the land for."
Killua glances at Naii. She stands a bit to the side, and meets his gaze when he looks. "How long were you here when you came?"
Without explanation, she answers, "Forty-seven days."
The boy huffs as if sighing, his head tilting in thought. "We won't need that long...how about seven days? If we don't run into anything by some weird chance, we'll leave after a week."
"And if we do run into something?" I bite.
"Then we'll deal with it and leave when we're done."
"Seven days," Omim repeats. Then, after reminding us again to stay close, he pushes aside a tangle of vines and steps through, waiting on us. Naii steps in first with the same indifference she always has. Especially with her leading the way, I'm loathed to follow after.
Killua steps up next. Under the vines still held up by Omim, he turns around. His cat like eyes are right at home surrounded by dense foliage, and his stance is ever-confident.
"Coming?"
I simultaneously curse and praise him for his good looks and follow him in.
The ground is as lush as the treetops. Every step is a wade through underbrush that scratches at the skin and snags on clothes. Giant leaves at face level have to be pushed away to move forward. From Omim to me, leaves are held and place and passed back. After a while I just start snapping them off and throwing them behind me. It's easy to see why Omim said to stay close. A moment of dragging my legs, and I'd easily lose sight of the others.
My saving grace is that the air is warm, even in the heavy shade, and full of moisture. Even with only one night of sleep out of three, the temperature gives me the energy to keep going.
Killua continually checks behind him as we go. He seems concerned I'll vanish, but he always moves his eyes away the second he's made sure I'm there and it makes me boil. Would it kill him to look at me a little longer?
We stop at a river to drink, but the water's just about as green as everything else. I don't take a sip. The other three do and I can only grimace in disgust.
"That can't be clean."
"Water in Bachan is clean," Omim replies.
"It's fine so long as your stomach's not sensitive," Killua says between a handful of mossy water. "Or is your stomach weaker than a human's?"
"It's not!" Pressure floods my face. "That doesn't mean I'll lower myself like you!"
"It is okay," Omim interjects. He pats my shoulder, his large, hot hand covering it entirely. "Do not force."
The pressure in my face retreats, and I smile as I lean into him. The human seems surprised at the motion, but he doesn't move away. Feeling a bit triumphant, I snap at Killua, "Yeah, have a little courtesy. It's bad to force people."
"Like you're one to lecture me on morals." He stands from his crouch by the river and wipes his hands on his shorts before returning them to his pockets. "Let's keep moving." Omim moves away and I let him. As we're leaving the river, Killua adds, "And stop flirting with our guide."
"Why? Jealous?"
"He's probably something of a lifeline. Even if it's changed, in the past people have only been able to safely enter here if they're with a Baj. We're probably safer with him than without him. So don't distract him."
Instead of responding, I step over the plants a little faster and catch up to Omim. I wrap an arm around one of the Baj's and whine, "I'm afraid of getting lost! Can I just hold onto you?"
"Ah, yes, you will be close holding on."
Consent given, I clutch on tighter and relish the dissatisfaction in Killua I don't have to witness to know is there. Naii's eyes are still on me, but at this point, I might as well ignore it. As annoying as he can be, what Killua said about her not acting yet is probably true. Let her stew it over for as long as she wants. So long as it's a long time.
In this position, I only have to worry about the plants obstructing my legs. Omim moves all the plants at face level for me, even disregarding plants that hit his own face in favor of protecting me. I soak in his body heat, content for now. Really, humans are best used as heat sources. Their meat is yummy and the sex is sweet, but their warmth is really just the best!
But really, it does seem like there are no animals around. I haven't heard a single bird or seen a single lizard this entire time. No animal droppings, either. There are bugs, though. Gnats and ants and plenty of other little insects flitting from tree to flowering plant.
That's another thing there's a lot of. Half dyed in shade, flowers of white, maroon, and dark variations of blue seep their scents into the omnipresent smell of damp soil. The aroma sticks in my mouth like honey. The sensation's almost unpleasant, but I find myself breathing deep and licking my lips repeatedly to grab ahold of the gummy scent.
"The land of Bachan is nice, yes?"
Omim smiles at me with that handsome face of his, and with my head swirling in the scent, I smile and nod and rub my chest a bit against his arm.
"You fond of nature?"
I hum, "Very." Nature is food, the sun's warmth, survival and sex. And there are other nice things, like the smell of flowers, the buzz of insects, deep, pulsing waters… It's doing what I want when I want, because there's no reason to hold back.
"That is good. I can tell you are true. Sera is a fertile human."
Fertile...fer…
As soon as it sinks in I burst into laughter. In my ears my laughter blends into the buzz of insects and swirls, twisting around with the scent of damp soil and flowers in my head until it's made me dizzy. My possessive hold on Omim turns into one of support as I lose my balance in a bush, and I keep on laughing.
"Did you hear that? I'm a fertile human! Isn't that just—"
When I look behind to talk to Killua, he and Naii are gone.
*enter mischievous laughter here as author rubs her hands together maniacally*