POLISHED DRAFT

Finished: 2020-07-09

Chapter Twenty: In Search of Food and Comfort

Some days had passed since the band of five travelers had come together in the strange magic-sodden forest. They had suffered an entire night among the white-trunks and under a canopy of cerulean and amethyst leaves, but by late afternoon the next day, they had finally reached its end. When they had slipped past the last of the white-barked trees with silver-tipped leaves of indigo, they were welcomed into the burning heat of a different wasteland. The Shift's destruction nearly half-a-moon ago had not reached this barren land. Plants grew in this wasteland, albeit small and sparse. The sky also did not possess such a harsh yellow glare, having changed to a soft, subdued teal. Overall, it wasn't as desolate, but food and water were still hard to come by. The land was still dying.

The last reserves of the disk-shaped fruit and whatever else was packed had been devoured the previous morning. Tired, thirsty, and hungry, emotions were running high between the band of five. With Aaralyn on an empty stomach and the earth and air as dry as it was, she was struggling to provide enough water. It also didn't help that any form of food they had encountered in the past day-and-a-half had been sabotaged by the unforgiving heat or devoured by another creature.

"When are we going to get to this stupid Ring, Rahib?" Rekka grumbled, shaking sweat from her dark red hair. "I'm starving because those stupid dawn-horses ate all the fruit. Serves them right for getting eaten by that terror-bird. I just wished I could have burned that thing too." She clenched and unclenched her outstretched hand, a tiny red flame flickering in her palm. "It would have made a good meal."

"You wanted to eat rotten fruit, Rekka?" Irfan asked, only to squeak in fear when the Fire Elemental sent him a heated glare. "I mean…it couldn't have been good for us since it was rotting… and that terror-bird wasn't a good thing either. They're dangerous. It could have killed us. What if your fire didn't work? I've read books about terror-birds gutting people with their claws and ripping them to shreds. They have huge talons and deadly hooked beaks. Even if—"

"Shut up." Rekka rolled her eyes in exasperation, the small flame in her hand gaining a more orange hue. "I've seen terror-birds before. I know what they can do. Didn't you watch it thrash those stupid dawn-horses before ripping them in half?" She let out a bark of laughter. "That's what they get for eating my food."

"No," Irfan looked away, tapping his index fingers together. "I didn't watch." During the event that had taken place an hour or so ago, he couldn't stomach the sight of the massive bird killing the poor horse-like mammals. He had looked away and covered his ears, not wanting to hear the smaller animals' screams.

"You're morbid, Rekka," Aaralyn mumbled, looking a little green herself. She had also caught a glimpse of the terror-bird shaking the dawn-horses like ragdolls before it tore them in half and choked down chunks of bloody flesh in one gulp. It had been starving as much as they were. In the end, it was best the bird had gone after the small mammals, or the band of five may have lost a member to a starving, man-sized, predatory bird. It may have chosen the easier prey because of Garreth's giant frame, which stood nearly as tall as the terror-bird, or Rekka's flames, which she had conjured the moment she had spotted the small horse-like mammals.

"How else did you expect us to get anything to eat, water-lover? Just because you thought they were cute; doesn't mean we can't eat them. Maybe you and your kind should learn to eat more than fish and water greens. Living out here in a wasteland like this means you have to eat anything that crosses your path, even if it's a piece of half-rotten fruit or eating raw carrion-vulture meat."

"I haven't been in the wastelands for long, Rekka. Less than a moon ago, I was living with my family as happy as ever until something caused an uproar in my village." Aaralyn rubbed her arms, blowing a droplet of sweat off her lips. "I don't know how to survive unless I'm by water," she mumbled the last part, drawing sweat from her short, dark hair.

The Fire Elemental snorted. "I figured that the moment I met you. You're too soft to be out here."

Rekka's words held some truth. While her skin was sun-touched to a deep golden tan, Aaralyn's naturally bore a darker sienna-tone, though it had not seen the brutal sun of the Wastes. The Water Elemental was slender and willowy, standing nearly a foot shorter than Rekka. In contrast, Rekka's powerful six-foot frame was only a few inches shorter than Mirth's tall, lanky built and possessed more well-toned muscle than the Rahib she currently walked just paces behind. Between the band of five, the Fire Elemental exuded the most power, albeit, mixed with an air of arrogance. Aaralyn and Rekka were opposites in every other sense.

Aaralyn stayed silent, slipping passed Rekka to walk beside Mirth. She opened her mouth to say something but then noticed the irritation rolling off him in waves. She hadn't seen the warm, friendly side of him since they had found each other at the oasis. The Water Elemental couldn't help but blame Rekka, but she also felt a minor resentment toward Irfan and even herself. Ever since they had entered the strange forest and Rekka had joined them, Mirth had been in a bad mood.

Aaralyn's heart lurched when she noticed Mirth was digging his fingers into the palm of his injured hand. Yet again, she found herself wanting to say something, but she couldn't bring herself to form any words. Mirth's seemingly ever-present anger since Rekka joined their journey to Bénipryroda's Ring made the words catch in the back of her throat. So, all Aaralyn could do was watch as he tinged the bandages red with his blood. She had so carefully wrapped his hand, made sure the never-healing wound was clean, and even applied the tiny amount of salve she had buried deep in her bag to the injury. The Water Elemental had been caring for his injured hand since Rekka joined them, and every single day, the bandages ended up soaked in blood. And there was nothing she could say to prevent him from breaking open the skin.

"Mirth…" The young woman managed to speak only his name, her eyes locked on the bandages. However, Aaralyn could say no more when his sharp eyes locked onto her. There was no more softness in his eyes. Only anger, irritation, and frustration filled the russet depths. Aaralyn lowered her head as if to apologize for speaking.

When Mirth turned away, the young woman dropped to the back of the group where Garreth and Irfan were walking. Immediately, Garreth's large sage-green hand fell onto her shoulder. She looked up and couldn't help but return the gentle smile he was giving her. At least there was someone that understood her pain and worry. Squeezing the Orc's hand, Aaralyn turned to Irfan.

As always, the wingless Tianshi was fiddling with the hem of his silken violet shirt, which had accumulated numerous stains and dirt over the past few days. His dark gaze wasn't focused on much of anything as he stared in the vague direction of the setting sun. Even as tousled brown hair fell into his eyes, he seemed not to notice, fully withdrawn into his own little world. Words hung on his lips as he mouthed nonsense, hands working his shirt almost akin to a kitten kneading its paws against its mother's belly. Watching him for a moment longer, Aaralyn couldn't bring herself to break his trance. It was one of few times she had seen him without fear and anxiety painting his features. In the end, she settled with humming a sweet tune that her aunt had always sung.

By the third time through the song, Aaralyn's mood had lightened. Garreth had joined her humming with a much deeper thrum from the back of his throat, along with a steady beat of his hands against his thigh. The others seemed to not take notice, other than Rekka's stride wasn't so ridge with irritation, and Mirth had stopped jabbing his fingers into his wounded palm.

But then, on the fifth repeat of the song, Aaralyn felt something.

It was subtle, just tracing her fingertips, but she recognized the sensation. Without a word, she stopped humming and jogged passed Mirth. She swept her hand through the air, a thin ribbon of water rising from the parched earth. Aaralyn turned to the rest of the party, a smiled lighting up her face. "I found water."

Relief settled over Mirth's features. "That's great, Aaralyn." His voice was tired, even his shoulders slumped with the exhaustion weighed down on him from the past few days of traveling. "We can follow it, and hopefully, there will be something to eat too."

"With our shitty luck, we'll find a meadow of deadly nightshade," Rekka grumbled, the dark red flame she had summoned earlier slowly crawling up her arm. "Maybe I'll still eat some so that I can finally end the torture of traveling with pathetic idiots like you."

"Rekka," Aaralyn snapped to the taller girl. "How can you talk like that?"

"What?" The flame grew larger, moving back to the center of her hand. "Are you that offended that I insulted you, or that you don't like me talking about killing myself? Don't worry, stupid water-lover, I want to see my family again too. There's no way I would actually end my own life." A fleeting softness washed over Rekka's visage, even her voice wasn't rough as she whispered, "I really miss my sisters and my parents. I just want to see them again."

Mirth stiffened at Rekka's words. He stayed silent as he led the band of travelers along the length of the ever-widening river. Aaralyn fell into place beside him, wanting to be close to the water as possible. Just seeing it rejuvenated her. After days of walking through the dry, deserted wasteland, she couldn't wait to take a swim and replenish herself. Water Elementals felt their best when near water.

It wasn't much later when Garreth grunted and pointed to something in the distance. Aaralyn followed his finger to a cliffside to which Garreth grunted again, jabbing his finger harder. The water, which had grown into a swift-moving river, poured down the cliffside. However, it was too steep to see over, and the party didn't know what could be lurking in the waters or gully below.

Just as Rekka started walking toward the waterfall, Aaralyn dipped her hand into the water. She let the cool liquid flow over her skin, taking a moment just to relax and breathe. Just being in contact with it washed away the stress from the past few days. It was as if she was back with her family, splashing in the waters with her siblings.

Rekka had turned around and stared at the Water Elemental in exasperation. "What in the name of Sasba are you doing?"

Irfan shushed the red-haired woman, watching intently as Aaralyn reached further into the water, her hand seemingly disappearing. Her eyes had fallen close, but behind her eyelids, they were moving as if she were looking at something.

"There are some trees with large fruit on them but—"

Before Aaralyn could finish, Rekka shot off toward the cliffside. Mirth ran after her, Irfan following steps behind. Aaralyn opened her eyes, shoulders slumping as she watched the three gather at the ledge. Rekka had nearly careened off the edge, sending small rocks tumbling down into the small forest below. Garreth patted Aaralyn on the shoulder and helped her to her feet, leading her to the others.

Rekka turned on Aaralyn, face twisted with fury. "I thought you said there were trees with fruit?" She pointed to the mostly barren trees below them. Men and women with pale blue skin and elegantly pointed ears were weaving through the trees. Many carried several large, dark fruit in their arms while others were still busy picking the fruit from the high reaches of the tree's branches. "They're eating all the food. Stupid…" Rekka trailed off, unable to identify the race of the people gathering most of the fruit. "Maybe I should give them a piece of my mind." The flame that had still been smoldering in her hand grew into a blazing red-orange fire.

"Rekka. No." Mirth gave her a sharp glare. "Everyone in the Wastes is starving. They got here first. There's no point in starting a fight with an entire tribe."

Garreth grunted, pointing to the tall, slender figures of the blue-skinned people who were slowly disappearing over the crest of the hill. He then took Aaralyn's hand and pulled her down into the ravine with him, carefully sliding down the loose rocks.

A ragged sigh sounded from Mirth as he ran a hand through his long dark brown hair, undoing the ponytail that kept the sweat-damp locks away from his face. "We should go down there too. Hopefully, there's something left." With that, he stumbled down the cliffside after the Orc and Water Elemental, forced to use his energy manipulation to strengthen his legs, so he didn't go tumbling face-first down the cliffside when several rocks gave way. But then Irfan plowed into his side, sending him into Garreth's back. The Orc merely looked over his shoulder with a confused grunt.

"So-sorry," Irfan stuttered, scrambling to his feet and staring at Mirth with wide, fear-filled eyes.

The Rahib's eyes were dark with anger, fists clenched so hard that blood trickled from his bandaged hand. "How many fucking times do I have to tell you, Irfan? Get away from me!" Before anyone could say anymore, he charged off into the trees, swearing and kicking any object in his way.

Rekka's laughter filled the air above them. "Bad luck with the cursed one, huh?" She slid down the loose rocks with ease until she was grinning down at Irfan, a near malicious glint in her pale eyes.

Garreth tried to return the glare, but it didn't hold anywhere near the same burning intensity of Rekka's eyes. The Orc did manage to take her attention from the small boy when he clapped a hand onto Irfan's shoulder and pulled him close to his chest. He huffed at Rekka, jutting his chin out and letting the dying sunlight reflect off his white tusks.

"Whatever."

Aaralyn pressed her face to the Orc's arm. "Let's go find some food, Garreth. I'm hungry." The exhaustion in her voice was mixed with defeat and almost cracked with the tears she was trying to hold back. She couldn't handle the disputes between the group anymore, having worn her resilience thin.