Zelgadis woke at dawn, as was always his habit when traveling alone. He pushed himself up, yawning and stretching some before turning toward his campfire to make breakfast. He looked down to find a rabbit with its throat torn out set in front of him. Zelgadis lifted his eyes to find a silvery brown wolf lying on the other side of the fire, deep brown eyes gazing at him intently.
The Chimera man removed his gloves and pulled out a canteen, the cup he'd used for coffee the night before, his belt knife and picked up the rabbit, taking all four to the stream that ran nearby. Crouching at the edge of the bank, he washed out his cup first, taking a long drink from the water with it. Setting the cup aside, he refilled his canteen then set about skinning the rabbit.
Glancing to the side, he saw the wolf sitting nearby, watching him steadily. Zelgadis pretended not to notice it until he was finished and washed off his knife, taking what he'd brought back to his camp to awaken the campfire.
The wolf followed him back to the camp, silent as the wind between the trees. He occasionally glanced at her as he cooked the rabbit, scraping the skin off and throwing the fat into the fire. After casting a preservation spell on the hide, he shoved it into his pack. Finally, he turned his attention to the strange crystal that was strung on a piece of leather.
It took you long enough.
Zelgadis blinked once then looked at the wolf sitting across the fire from him.
Yes, I said 'that'. Zelgadis recognized the earthy voice of the woman from the night before. His gaze went to the crystal then back to her. She said nothing. He took it for 'Yes' and slipped the leather thong around his neck, tucking it under the neck of his shirt. Do be careful with it. I would rather my soul not be lost into the Abyss. Zelgadis turned his eyes toward her once again.
"Soul?" he asked softly.
My soul is bound with that crystal. Should it break, my soul would be lost. The wolf lay down once again, her mouth opening somewhat.
"I'll keep that in mind," he replied, reaching out and picking a piece of the rabbit off the stick it was strung on and tossing it to her. She sniffed but ate the offering, not one to turn her nose up at free food. A smirk touched his lips at that thought and he turned his attention back to packing the rest of his things, simply waiting for breakfast to finish cooking. It didn't take long before it was and he ate what he wanted, packing the rest of it away with a preservation spell on it.
Finally, he scuffed out the fire and pulled his gloves back on. Standing, he picked his cape up off the ground and flipped the dirt and leaves off it before clipping it on. Following the donning of his belt and sword, he swept his pack up, settling the strap on his shoulder.
"Well?" Zelgadis looked to the she-wolf who got to her feet, walking off into the woods, away from the road that lead toward the next town that sat on the edge of the stream that he'd just gotten water from. Zelgadis had intended to get more food in that town, but now that the she-wolf was here, it was obvious that she was going to make sure he didn't starve.
He idly reflected on his past as he walked. Not only had he become a Chimera in all his seventeen long years, but he'd met up and fought along side Lina Inverse, the 'greatest sorceress to ever live' as well as this generation's wielder of the Sword of Light, not to forget the spunky justice-crazed Amelia Wil Tessa Seyruun. He helped defeat a piece of Shabranigdu, killed a copy of his grandfather/great grandfather combined with the demon beast Zanafar, nearly defeated Gaav, and was with Lina when she defeated Phibbrizo. Even if he barely survived, he counted it as an accomplishment. He even helped defeat the Overworld demon DarkStar combined with Vorphied and Valgaav. Now he was following a she-wolf through the forest to get some weird stone.
Your thoughts are deep, she murmured into his head.
"And can you hear them?" Zelgadis asked as he pushed a branch away to keep from hitting his face.
I cannot, but I can see your expressions. She glanced over her shoulder at him, her ear flicking slightly before she turned her attention to the path that was little more then a game trail.
Zelgadis was silent once again as he stepped over the log that had fallen across the path and picked thorns out of his pants. He was glad he was stone and couldn't feel the prickly stems of the plants.
It is not good to keep such poison inside your heart.
"And what do you know of my heart?" he snapped, irritated. He hadn't traveled with someone in a while and her attempts at conversation were grating on his nerves.
You are correct, I know nothing of you. I simply know the ways of nature, she didn't look back at him this time, just continued forward at the same speed. We are coming upon humans.
"I noticed that," Zelgadis replied softly. "Stay here," he said and moved ahead of the wolf to confront the people. He stepped into the clearing that was the campsite of a group of at least three people. Only one was awake.
The man jumped to his feet and drew a gun, shooting it at Zelgadis, though his aim was slightly off and the bullet hit a tree trunk to the Chimera's left. "Who the hell are you?!"
"Simply a traveler, might I ask what you're doing here?" Zelgadis replied, walking forward, ignoring the gun that was held by the sleepy man. The Chimera almost wrinkled his nose at the rank smell that wafted off the man's body, extreme body odor.
"We's looking for the treasure an you's not gonna get it!" with that, he pulled the trigger of his gun but there was only a click. "Damn! You stoopid idiots! Get up! We's got a intruder!" the man turned and started kicking his companions awake.
Zelgadis shook his head sadly, looking towards the forest where he saw the deep brown eyes looking at him. "These men aren't a threat. Let's move on," he said and walked on through the clearing, the she-wolf loping to catch up with him.
The three men gaped as their visitor ghosted through their camp, the wolf following. "That guy's gotta be one oh them forest spirits! He sho as hell looks weird!" said one man. Zelgadis cursed his hearing, wishing once again that he at least looked human.
Zelgadis pondered actually giving the she-wolf a name but decided against it. She wasn't his. She was only his guide, even if she had given him a piece of her soul. He glanced to his right, seeing someone walking through the forest. Self-consciously, he pulled the neck of his shirt up to cover his face.
Another human, the she-wolf told him.
"I already noticed her," Zelgadis informed the wolf who looked at him over her shoulder.
You senses are keen. I do not understand why you insist upon thinking your body a curse.
"Just watch where you're going," he told the wolf. She flicked her ears and padded along the game trail, the Chimera behind her shaggy grey and brown tail.
It's not much farther to the mountain. Zelgadis muttered under his breath about mountains, but he really didn't mind them, he could always Rei Wing himself to the top. It would be best if you left your belongings with me. The journey to the cave is hard. None dare to come close to it. Many have died on the slopes.
"Oh wonderful," Zelgadis muttered, he knew they were being followed by someone but they could not hear the information he was receiving. "Are there any other surprises you forgot to mention?"
She looked at him once again. There is the matter of the guardian... None have seen him, but it is said he is a serpentine beast with breath of fire.
Zelgadis sighed, "I should have guessed."
And there's the labyrinth...
"Oh yes, it gets even better doesn't it. And at every dead end of this labyrinth there's a trap, making it literally a 'dead end'. Why is it that you want me to get this damn thing again? It seems rather well protected as it is."
Because I fear, as do my people, that the leader of the humans has the power to get past these traps. If the stone were not there, then he wouldn't be able to get it and gain control of the elements. The wolf did not look at him this time. Zelgadis heard the cutting of air and turned around just in time for an arrow to bounce off his forehead.
"Damn it. I hate it when people dent my hair," Zelgadis cursed and brushed the arrow off, glaring at the man who was dressed in green and brown, trying to blend in with his surroundings, the same man he'd seen earlier. "Just leave me alone," he told the man and turned around, hands busy trying to fix his hair. "These woods are absolutely crawling with morons. Why can't you just kill them all and be done with it?" he asked the she-wolf as she started forward again, her ears folded down.
It would be a waste of life. Though it would give satisfaction briefly, others would come seeking vengeance upon us....
"What are you staring at?" Zelgadis snapped at her when she looked at him.
I- I've never seen anyone brush an arrow off before and complain about their fur.
Zelgadis glowered, "Have you ever met someone who's part rock before? I didn't think so. What else is guarding that damn stone?"
The she-wolf kept her ears folded back and she continued forward, silent for while, It is said that the ghosts of all who died upon the slopes also help guard the stone.
"Great... ghosts... if Amelia were here..." Zelgadis pushed that thought away, "If she were here Lina would be too. What all is this stone capable of?"
None know. It is only said to have great power over the elements. The she-wolf changed her path to a different game trail that led up a slight slope. Zelgadis followed, though he knew the man who'd fired the arrow earlier was still behind him.
"Hold on a second." Zelgadis set his pack down, turned and walked back along the trail. "I warned you to leave me alone. Flare-" he looked around, catching sight of the man as he ran, "Arrow!" he drew back and threw his spell at the man, catching him in the back. There was a shriek of pain then nothing. Zelgadis sighed, returning to where the she-wolf was sitting, watching him, her ears folded down. He picked his pack up again and pulled it over his shoulder.
The she-wolf got to her feet again and turned, moving up the path until they came to a place where the path turned, headed back down the mountain. We must make our own trail.
"Fine with me." Zelgadis pulled out his sword and began cutting his way through the thick undergrowth that was completely untouched by animals. Inwardly, he contemplated how the animals could all be scared of what lay on top of this mountain. The she-wolf walked behind him silently, watching rather mournfully as he tore through the forest, but she kept her peace, giving him the silence he seemed to exist in.
No birds flew up in fear as he forged his way though the dense foliage; no squirrels scampered away. Zelgadis had the uncanny feeling that he and the she-wolf were the only beings in this part of the forest. The leaves didn't even have bugs on them, he noted. "How long do you think it will take to get to the top?"
At this rate, perhaps three days.
Zelgadis sighed, "Rei Wing would be so much easier." Yet, he was sure that getting there was part of the wolf's test of him. She was unlikely to let him carry her anyway. Once again, silence fell between them except for his smashing through the undergrowth. The light was diluted though the leaves tinged green. Zelgadis almost felt as if it were dawn still but knew that they had been walking at least half the day.
* * *
"He had the face of a beast I tell you!" shouted one man in the tavern of the nearby town set next to a stream.
"An he had a wolf with him! Talked to it like it could talk back," the man's companion raved.
The bartender shook his head, "You two've been out in the woods too long. Forest spirits are just legends."
The door suddenly slammed open and a man wearing the clothes of a woodsman staggered in, falling on his face. It was then that his back was visible to all who dared to look. Blackened and burnt, the skin flaking off, leaving bloody patches here and there with the leather of his vest melted onto it.
"Dear god! What happened?" asked someone in the back of the tavern. A woman staggered forward, dropping to her knees to try and peel the remains of the vest off the man.
"A- forest...spirit... with...a wolf..." the woodsman gasped then passed out from exhaustion and pain.
"I told you's!" shouted the third man from the group that had come in earlier that day, "There be forest spirits out there an they ain't nice! I says we hunt it down an kills it fore it kills us!"