Chapter 13: Hasty Choices

Eris

The group heads further into the Hold of Belkzen, passing Shadefield on their right.

"Keep the fire blaze low," Kosh informs the group as they gather wood and some kindling.

Kosh goes about catching whatever animal or critters he can manage on the Blood Plains. Few trees and bushes scatter the terrain. Kosh spots a watering hole where two pumas are drinking. He kills and dresses them away from camp. They cook, eat, and keep the fire as low as possible as not to attract attention but keep them warm. It's quite chilly and despite the barren wasteland they were currently traveling, Eris finds the sky as beautiful as ever. She lays down and admires the stars, remembering the stories her mother used to tell her. She smiles to herself. Thinking of them made her happy and sad at the same time. The wounds of her past had yet to heal and she isn't sure they ever will. She places her hand on her chest and closes her eyes. She couldn't quite remember what they looked like anymore. She isn't sure when it happened. She had nothing but memories and barely that. Time was making her forget. Tears well in her eyes and she turns over away for the eyes of the group. This is the worst part of traveling so closely with others. No privacy. After a few minutes, Eris drifts to sleep.

Eris

Eris tossed and turned all night. She needs space, a place to think on her own. She stands up and walks over to the closest body of water a kilometer away. It's still pretty dark causing her to walk cautiously. Eris gathers the little amount of water she can to bring back to camp and boil.

Grrrrrr…

Eris freezes and slowly looks up. Approaching across the small pool of water, are two houndlike creatures. Atop each is an orc. One is garbed in a dark cloak. The hood covers most of its face and the bottom hemline is heavily frayed. The wind gently blows revealing vials and flasks lining the orc's belt. Some glow blue, green, and yellow. He or she was thinner than the other. What the hell made her get up without telling the others. Damn. Eris's heart beat faster and her breath quickened. On the mounts, hell even without them, getting a safe distance and the boys coming to her aid would be impossible.

The big one is the first to speak. "You won't last too long but," he looks her up and down... Slowly, taking his time around her more sensitive areas. "I won't be picky."

As the orc lunges for her, A shimmering circle appears to encompass her. The orc smashes against it with his ax, but it does nothing to damage it. At the same time behind the other orc, Kosh pounces out of nowhere and stabs the houndlike creature in the hindquarters with his Kukris. It rears up and the orc atop the beast struggles to maintain its grip.

The hound turns its attention towards Kosh. It strikes out towards him and swipes Kosh's arm when he blocks. Kosh remains unfazed.

Kith rushes past Eris to the orc who taunted her. He slashes his sword across him, catching the orc's throat as he leans back. A slight line of blood two inches wide beads with blood.

Ren flicks out his hand and the warrior orc grabs his head and groans in agony.

The hound the bigger orc was on leaps towards Kith who slashed his master. The beast bites Kith's hand as its fangs catch one of Kith's hands holding his blade up to defend his body. Kith punches him in the face causing the hound to dislodge his fangs. He edges backward and growls at Kith. Kith responds with a growl of his own.

The cloaked orc grabs a vial and chucks it at Kosh. The green liquid splashes on the ground and sizzles. The grass turns black and dark vapors float on top of the affected area.

The warrior orc swings his axe at Kith who side rolls behind Eris.

"The shield is coming down, Eris" Ren announces.

She nods.

Kosh rushes the alchemist's hound again. Stabbing him in the sides of its neck. The hound stumbles to the ground, the orc going with him and his leg is caught under it. Some of the vials break from their weight. The orc screams and flails. Whatever in the vials causing him extreme agony.

"Shut him up. We don't know who else is out here." Kith loudly whispers over at Kosh.

Kosh executes him and rushes over to Kith's side.

The shimmering circle around Eris dissipates and electricity crackles from her hand lashing at the hound and the orc that threatened her.

The warrior falls to the ground seizing on the floor, foaming saliva sputtering out his mouth.

Kith looks at the hound, who looks at his master laying in a twitching heap on the ground next to him. Kith ends its life quickly and painlessly.

"What the hell were you thinking," Ren asks throwing his hands in the air and walking closer to her.

"You could have been killed, Eris," Kosh says calmly, placing his hand on her arm. He looks at her with worry and a slight disappointment.

"You could have been killed," Ren repeats.

Eris lowers her head than realizes the Kith hasn't admonished her yet. She looks over at him. He looks at her for a few moments. His face is empty of any expression. He walks back over to the camp and starts to pack up there things. Kosh and Ren also depart, Ren, muttering under his breath. I'm so stupid. Eris feels embarrassing warmth spread across her cheeks.

Kosh

Eris's rash decision to go off on her own made Kosh realize how much he has grown to care for her, for Ren. The only one he has ever worried about was himself and Kith for so long now. He thought his heart had hardened for other people. He liked others sure. But never really cared for them. He would never cry over them. When did I get so soft? Kosh asks himself. He had even gotten teary-eyed in the prison room in Wrath's Blade Outpost. They still have a few more days until they reach Urgir. He looks over to Kith, who just like always looks as though he's about to punch someone. They traveled a few hours now and not once has he spoken to Eris even after her numerous attempts. He is still stubborn as ever. Kosh was angry with her too but for some reason, the look she had in her warm bright amber eyes as she looked down at him, kept him from reacting the harsh way he knew he would have with anyone else. Ren is unusually quiet too. Normally he and Eris would talk a bit; chuckling and telling small jokes. He wonders about Ren. How will he react if he gets the chance at tome? How will the others react? Uncertainty continued to fill Kosh's heart and mind.

Kosh hears something in the distance and crouches low. Kith and the others notice as well. They stop and stoop low. Kosh crab walks forward a ways and lies on his belly looking further ahead on the off beaten path they're following.

He makes his way back to the group. "Varisian merchants," he informs.

"We should restock some of our supplies." Eris offers.

Kith looks at her. His face still just as expressionless as before. "I'll go check it out and gather up some supplies."

"I should come with you," Eris says hesitantly. "They may be," she pauses a moment, "reluctant to speak with you."

"They're in Orc territory," Ren replies. "It would be normal to see someone of Kith's ilk."

"No, she's right. Better to get this over quickly, not linger too long." Kosh offers.

Kith

Kith nods to Kosh and starts in the direction of the caravan.

"Are you still going to ignore me?" Eris huffs. "I know you're upset with me."

"You don't know how I feel." Kith snaps.

Eris grabs at his arm but Kith shakes her loose and pulls his arm from her grip and continues to walk, leaving Eris to stand there alone before rejoining him.

As they get closer, Eris takes the lead but stays close enough to Kith in case things go sideways. "Hello there friends!" she says putting up her hands to let them know she poses no threat.

Kith scans the caravan group and counts 5 merchants. On the other side of the caravan lays an orc corpse.

A middle-aged Varisian male walks over to meet them. He is wearing a colorful cloth tunic and leather brown leather pants. His boots are dusty and clumps of dirt cling to the edges "Greetings fellow travelers" he says with a smile and an underlining wariness that Kith is accustomed to. The man looks at Kith and must notice him looking at the dead corpse.

"Tokens matter not here. Unfortunately, she killed one of the oxen before we could get her down."

Eris nods her understanding. "We wonder if we can peruse some of your wares to purchase," Eris says, walking with the man closer towards the cart.

"I'll tell you what you and your friend here can accompany us to the next settlement. Provide us with protection and we can work out what I can some sort of trade."

Eris turns to look at Kith. He steps up to the man and speaks loud enough for the others to hear. "If you do anything I deem as a threat towards me and mine. I won't hesitate killing you all."

Eris rolls her eyes and looks at the man who is now fully showing signs of wariness. "Of-fff cc-course," some say and others just nod in agreement.

Kith whistles to let Kosh know that it is safe. The two others make their way over to Kith and Eris. "I'm Marcius." he says for the group to hear but keeps his eyes on Eris. He places his hand on the small of her back to urge her forward and walk with him. Kith grabs his hand and does his best not to snap it off. He's pretty sure she wouldn't like that. He doesn't say anything just stares at the man as Eris looks on in embarrassment. She looks to the others and sees Kosh's hand on his blade and Ren's hand up, as black wispy vapor swirls around his feet whipping at his clothing.

"Please excuse them. They get rather protective." Eris giggles flippantly. The man walks on and Eris turns to mouth unladylike words at the three overbearing jerks.

This causes Kith to smile, quite happy with himself and his friends.

Eris

The rest of the day is uneventful and the group is about two miles from the next settlement, Glar. "We will part ways here, Marcius." She states.

Marcius looks at them confused at first then shrugs.

"What is it you need?"

"Rations and water offhand," Ren replies.

"We cut up and salted the oxen. Would you like some pieces of that as well?" one of the other merchants ask.

"Yes," the group answers simultaneously.

The group packs the items they received. "We will be moving on to another village in a few days if you need anything else." Marcius waves to Eris and walks off with the rest of his travelers.

Eris smiles and waves back.

"Let's get ready for tonight," Kosh says.

This last stretch had been rather tiring and Eris was grateful for the conversations with Ren and Marcius. Even Kosh contributed a bit.

They knew it was just rations and a cold night for them. Making a campfire could attract too much attention and they didn't want to risk it.

Eris set about divvying out food and drink to the guys. She ate and took off her shoes to rub her feet. She would be really glad for a soft comfortable bed right now.

Ren and Kosh are already laying down their backs to her and Kith, who was now looking at her, a weird expression on his face. Crawling over to her, he takes the foot she's rubbing and places it in his lap. Compared to his hand, her foot is so tiny. His hands callous but warm. He begins to rub her feet and she drops her head back, moaning softly at her pleasure.

"I know I ignored you today. I acted…" he shook his head. "It's something I'm working on."

Eris lifts her head to look at him, goes to her knees and kisses him. His hands run along her back and he pulls her closer to him. Soft mewing sounds escape her.

"You know we can hear you, right," Ren says gruffly.

Kosh snorts and snickers.

Eris scurries away and lays down, covering her face.

Kith picks up a stone next to him and throws it, to land inches away from Ren's face. He yawns and rolls over towards them, a smirk on his face.

"Night sweethearts." Ren sighs.

Kith lays down next to Eris. He pushes a lock of hair that fell across her face and she uncovers herself. She shifts towards him but only close enough that she can feel the heat from his body. She dare not touch him again. They would only be able to rest a few hours as Kosh would get up to allow Kith a chance to rest. She hopes they will make it through this town too. She silently sends up a prayer for safety.