Breaks:
[L1,2 or 3] represents the beginning of a flashback to one of Elena's past lives. There is more than one past life, which is why they're numbered. Though, these memories are usually told as she sleeps and Elena herself cannot remember them.
[/L1,2 or 3] represents the end of a flashback to one of Elena's past lives.
[P] represents the beginning of a retelling of a memory in Elena's current life.
[/P] represents the end of a retelling of a memory in Elena's current life.
~3~ is just a timeskip
AN: Enjoy the story!
Time was a funny thing. When it needed to be slow, to enjoy a moment or have fun for longer, it ran away with the speed of an island bird diving after their prey. Yet when it needed to be faster, to get past boredom or even have the next day arrive sooner, it refused to do so and instead traveled at a snails pace. Once again, I found myself battling with time.
After the party had their fun at the spring I'd patched up any more open injuries; namely Evangeline's back and Rule's arm. Amalia's small burns got covered in healing jell, and Dally's sores had kept him in the water for an extended period of time so he could forget about them. Now we all traveled through the forest again. As the party gladly discussed their plans of fixing their boat with or without the villager's help my thoughts had spiraled into fantasies that would grant me more time.
Over the moons I had gone back to the village many times, despite being banished. I had to if I wanted to survive. From afar I watched what they did, in the few fields that they had, to keep plants alive. Or high above when medical plants were foraged from the forest. Sometimes if I listened hard enough I could even catch snippets of conversation and learn things that way.
When I became more adept with my portals I was able to use them to get small things that I wasn't really able to make on my own that the villagers had extras of. My mortar and pestle for example, or the small knife I use with the flint. I did my best not to be seen. If I'd be caught in the act I'd flee as fast as I possibly could, before something could happen.
Now as I marched around the mountain range towards the village, stalling for time- so I didn't have to be there any sooner than I wanted- became a very big temptation. I could simply say that I heard the noise of a (non-existent) animal in the distance, that we would need to go around their territory to avoid needless violence, then lead the party off in loops around the island that would (might) eventually lead to the village. The closer we got to the village's location, the more sweet that fantasy seemed and the more that heavy venomous pit of dread within my stomach grew.
A sigh left me, somewhat muffled by the mask Botan had gifted me. I needed Moon's steady assurance.
Back at the spring my little monkey friend had spotted the small yellow bird that belonged to Yugo, fluttering about above the water and generally avoiding being wet. Like the curious one he was Moon sped off after the new animal, alarming the ball of feathers. They both disappeared into the woods. When we left the spring, it was assuming that we might run into them along the trek towards the village.
Even if we didn't, Moon always had a way of finding me and I was sure that Az- the name Yugo had called his bird- would follow along happily once the 'danger' Moon posed was neutralized.
Nervously my eyes cast about the trees around us. Maybe Moon-
My breath caught, eyes widened. I hadn't realized that my steps had stopped too, until I felt someone bump into me lightly. The conversation- which had devolved into Amalia complaining about the weather and how it was too hot for trekking about- died.
"Something wrong?" Yugo asked, moving over to be in my line of view.
I tore my gaze away from the markings carved into the trees. "No." I met his gaze, then started walking again.
As I heard the others start to follow again, much quieter now, on edge, that pit of dread in my stomach had turned to ice. I hadn't realized we were so close. How did we get here so quickly? It felt like the time had slipped by as though it were nothing, like grains of sand through open fingers. Every step I took felt forbidden, unwelcome. Desperately I wanted to go into the trees to, at the very least, be less vulnerable.
But the party needed to go to the village. They needed the Bone Healer. They needed a way to fix their ship. They needed Botan Ficus and I was the only one with them who knew the way.
...why was I the one chosen to do this again...?
Strictly speaking, I could simply tell them to keep walking then be on my way. They knew how to walk just fine and even if they somehow got lost while going straight, someone from the village was bound to find them easily enough. I didn't have to be here. Besides, they'd be shown to the village with minimal problems- escorted as allies or enemies- and be presented to Botan as something that needed to be dealt with. My anxiety spiked- if I knew all this, why was I still with them?!
Just as my mouth opened to tell them to keep walking and that I might see them later, a voice suddenly sounded from the distance ahead. With a jolt of fear that made me numb, my body had reacted before my mind could catch up. A flash of blue crossed my vision and suddenly I was no longer on the ground, beside the group of travelers. Instead I was up high in a tree, safe, stood on top of a sturdy branch, and able to see the travelers some distance away from my new location.
Hands against the tree trunk, I leaned over to peek around the plant to watch the group. My breath came out unsteadily, shaky. It made me dizzy.
Down below I saw how the party had cast their gaze around, clearly confused, as they (presumably) tried to see where I had gone. At the same moment that I consciously wondered why I was suddenly watching others from a tree, I also knew that they had not heard the shout from the villagers.
"Elena?" Yugo called out first. The pure confusion in his voice mixed with worry had my stomach lurch.
"She just left?" came Amalia's voice, the incredulity saturated in it was enough to make me wince. Then everyone seemed to turn to Evangeline with various expressions on their faces as she said something too quiet to be within earshot at my distance away.
Before they could do anything more, a group of five villagers appeared around the travelers then, bodies seemingly produced by the very plant life of the forest. Their hunting spears lowered, pointed at the party threateningly, (most probably) drawn over by the noise that had been made. Immediately I noticed the orange and purple colors on their masks; they were a patrol of hunters. As the party lifted their hands in surprise, showing that they were not armed, I found myself clenching my fists against the tree's trunk.
"Hey now, we helped you guys out just the other day!" came Amalia's alarmed tone, which immediately made my nerves rise.
The villagers began to poke at the group with their spears, "what do you think you're doing here?! This is the back entrance to the village! Did you plan to steal our livestock?!" one of them questioned, and forced their spearhead directly under Yugo's chin. The entire party tensed at the threat. I held my breath.
Hands up in surrender, I watched as Yugo's 'ears' practically lay flat when they moved backwards against his head. From my vantage point I couldn't see his eyes but I could see the frown that appeared on his face.
"No! We wouldn't do that!" Yugo defended.
A heavy sigh left my mouth then, and I realized that I was shaking. I hadn't had a 'proper' encounter with the villagers in a long time. Helping out with Saul had been the first in many many moons that I'd stepped into the village- even to steal something unimportant. I hadn't stayed long after that, for obvious reasons.
The thought had occurred to me that now was the perfect opportunity for me to flee. With the villagers occupied with the party they'd not bother with me- let alone notice- and I'd be free, knowing that they were about to be brought to the Shaman, to do whatever I wished with the rest if my day. I could just go. I should.
It was a lot easier to do. Less hassle. No feathers needed to be ruffled. Old wounds didn't need to be rehashed or brought up.
But... I couldn't. I couldn't just leave them like that. Abandon them. At the villagers mercy no less. The very thought abruptly felt like acid, now that I was faced with the reality of that choice.
It had felt nice, welcome, the way these travelers treated me. With kindness. With trust. No fear.
And I didn't want these people- who are nice to me, who are trusting of me and who relied on me- to suddenly be injured or even be put in a position that was considered to be dangerous. That felt like it crossed some invisible line that had been created between me and them. A line that I didn't want crossed.
So with a fortifying breath, I lifted a hand and summoned my magic into my palm. The villagers below jumped back, away from the party as though they were burned the moment they'd spotted the portal. When I stepped through and appeared beside Yugo, I could feel how the villagers tensed just as much as I could see it in their bodies. And even though I didn't turn to look, I could sense how the party had used that moment to shift behind us and be around both Yugo and I.
My body was still shaking. I could feel the tremors run up my legs and threaten my stability. Slowly my legs were going numb and I quickly locked my knees lest they suddenly give out. There was a knot in my stomach, like a pit of venomous snakes, that made me queasy. Yet I knew I couldn't back down or run away like I still so desperately wanted. Instead I held my arms up, palms out in preparation to use my portals if need be.
"We've come this way to seek out Botan Ficus," I told the villagers firmly. Somehow my voice was unwavering, despite how I felt on the matter, and I was silently thankful for it. "He has already given his permission to both these travelers and I to enter the village."
Tense silence rang through the area as the party and I waited for the villager's response. I didn't relax, my own 'ears' back like an angry cat's.
Then there was a scoff, the sound from the youngest of the patrolling villagers, that drew my eyes to the person. He lifted his spear but the tension that was still in his shoulders told me how he was ready to use the weapon again if he felt that he needed to. Mask uncolored, I realized that he was probably apprenticed to one of the villagers present, training to be a hunter. As he straightened I noticed the long scar on his arm that looked like claws and was abruptly reminded of the boy that had fallen off the cliff all those years ago.
"How can we be certain that you didn't simply carve that mask yourself?" colorless-mask asked, irritating me. "It could simply be a trick to allow you to enter and see our Shaman so that you could kill him yourself!"
"What-?!" the party all gasped together, momentarily shocking me. My already speeding heart somehow quickened it's pace.
All at once the party seemed to step forwards with protests against this idea, but the villagers took their advancement as a threat and immediately jabbed their spears at us again. The villagers yelled as they stabbed the air in front of us, the party grabbing at their weapons- despite their injuries- in response.
For a moment I was frozen. They were... defending me? It was such an odd concept, it took me a moment to realize that I needed to say something. Stop it.
"If I had wanted to kill the old man, he wouldn't have returned to village when he did!" I stated loudly over everyone's voices, causing silence to reign once more. Then I continued at normal volume, only adding a little bite to my words, "he came close to death many times while he was in my care, but I didn't let the reaper take him. If you still don't believe me, I invite you to send one of you back to the village and ask Botan himself. He will think you're ungrateful fools for treating the people who helped free you from Saul's rule as such."
"How dare you utter his name!" Colorless bit out, infuriated. "Who are you to say what our Shaman thinks?!"and his scar seemed to become all the more pronounced on his shoulder as muscles strained when he clutched at his spear tighter.
Despite being around the same age as me, I could see that he had trained hard to develop the muscles on his body. Like all the men in the village, he wore no tunic of any type, just the customary kilt of leaves. It was odd to see a person so young and yet so completely toned. There was no ounce of baby fat to be seen on him.
Behind Colorless, the other hunter villagers whispered amongst themselves for a moment, before one of them stepped forwards to put a hand on the younger villager's shoulder. Colorless had tensed, but didn't say anything more.
"You may all come," the man spoke, and I could tell from his voice that he was a young adult. On his mask was carved the face of someone who had their left eyebrow permanently risen in question, mouth closed, nose pointed like a bird's beak with feathers expertly carved on the cheeks and forehead. He then lifted the hand he had put on Colorless' shoulder and pointed at me, making my already tense body go still, "but the Demon will have it's wrists bound."
I swallowed. No more escaping. My hands already itched from the idea.
"No way." came an immediate response from my right, gaining my attention. It was Yugo who had spoken, much to my surprise, with a deep frown on his face. He had stepped forwards as though to block me from the villager's line of vision.
"That's right!" came Dally's voice next, "Elena is part of the reason why we defeated that despicable Saul as well!"
"Without Elena's help, it's very likely that Saul would still be your Shaman." Evangeline stated then, sounding as though she were directly behind me.
"Unless you'd rather Elena not to have helped Botan out and had left him to die?" Amalia questioned sharply, which didn't sit well with the villagers.
"So you admit to wanting to harm the Shaman?!" Colorless demanded then, having only heard what he wanted apparently.
"I said no such thing!" Amalia replied hotly, "how dare you accuse me- Princess Amalia Sheran Sharm of the Sadida Kingdom- of such atrocities!"
"We're not in your kingdom, Princess." Feathered Mask answered coldly then, causing Amalia's eyes to widen with her shock and both groups to tense. "You and your party may enter the village due to your heroic acts against Saul. But if the Demon comes, it's hands will be bound."
My gaze was immediately drawn to Yugo then, who's 'ears' had flattened all the more at this. "Why are you-?!" he started, only to stop short. Wide eyed, he glanced over at me and only then did I realize that I had put a hand on his arm.
"It's fine." I stated, voice soft as I retracted my hand. My heart hammered wildly in my chest in it's attempt to escape from here, but I kept still and held out my wrists for the hunters to bind obediently. When I addressed the villagers, my tone was hard. "Take us to the old man, wont you?"
Colorless went over to the nearest tree and pulled down a vine. It snapped due to being pressed against his spear's sharpened stone head, and he coiled it within a single hand before approaching me.
"Be more respectful, Demon." he spat at me as he tightened the vines around my wrists painfully. "Or those words might be your last."
I was glad for the mask then, as it hid when my lips began to tremble. My breath had started to come short again, and I worried that my chest might look like I was heaving for air so I opened my mouth to breathe more properly. Quickly I clenched my hands into fists to hide the tremor in them. I was scared.
Then, stupidly, "I'll speak as I wish." I bit back, hating how scared I was of the village. My voice didn't tremble, it sounded strong and stern; everything that I wasn't at that moment.
Suddenly, everything seemed to happen all at once. Colorless turned swiftly, his spear risen as though to hit me with the end of it. A hand grabbed me by the shoulders and begun to tug me back. Yugo moved as though to summon a portal, the palm of his hand alight with his magic. The sound of Rubliax's grunt registered in my ears before a white and red shirt appeared in my vision-
"Enough." came the calm demand from Feathered Mask, and everyone stopped short of what they'd been about to do. Eyes wide, I stared at Dally's back with my mouth agape. Only to swallow when my eyes darted to Yugo- who stood just beside Dally- and I saw the dark look on his face.
There was a noise of anger, one that I assumed came from Colorless Mask, and Dally shifted slightly in front of me. His sword was gone from his belt, only the red leather sheath that he uses as a scabbard still present. A hand now rested on my collar, pressing me back into a body. When I tilted my head to one side to see, I was met with the black and white of Evangeline's clothes.
"I said enough." Feathered Mask repeated sternly, "the Demon's hands are bound. Now come."
There was a moment of tense silence before people began to move. Dally returned Rubilax to his belt, and Evangeline let me go. They began to walk forwards, following the villagers. Amalia appeared to my left with a frown on her face. She seemed to look me over, her eyes lingering on my wrists, then my arms, before she looked away again. Both Yugo and Rule followed a moment later.
"How come you disappeared like that?"
The hunters had slowly begun to spread around us like an escort, and the party had silently done the same, leaving only Yugo and I in the center. As we walked, I could feel the fabric of his sling brush against my arm. It took me a moment to register Yugo's whispered question, volume low enough that neither the hunters nor his party could overhear. His mouth had barely moved when he'd spoken, only his proximity to me allowed me to hear.
My head dropped forwards minutely, and I could feel my 'ears' twitch backwards within my hat. "Sorry," I whispered back, a guilty feeling twisting in my stomach. Suddenly it felt like he just knew every thought I had before I came back, even though I know that wasn't possible.
Still I tried to explain, "I heard them approaching and I..." I let out a breath and my hands curled even tighter in front of me. A lump formed in my throat, it felt like an old wound in my chest had suddenly been probed. Other images flashed through my mind- of when I hadn't moved fast enough the first few times and had to get away on my own. But as I recalled the way the party defended me only minutes ago... maybe I wouldn't have needed to.
"I simply acted." I continued, voice hoarse as I forced the words past the lump in my throat, still whispering as low as he had. "There were no thoughts."
It was quiet before I felt a firm nudge on my shoulder. When I looked over at Yugo, I didn't know what the look on his face was. His lips had tilted upwards slightly and there was a look in his azure blue eyes that made me feel calmer.
He spoke so soft, I wouldn't have heard him if I hadn't been straining to hear. "S'okay 'Lena. You came back." Then Yugo's gaze hardened as he looked to my bound hands, the upward tilt gone from his lips. His tone became determined, "and we'll get that off you."
~3~
The rest of the way to the village was spent in a tense silence. I focused on my breathing, to steady it, the closer that we got to the Shaman's hut.
Like all the other homes hung in the trees, it was as round as a kokonut. The walls were made of stone, a special clay hardened between the pieces so they were kept together firmly. It's sloping roof was made of leaves that interlocked over one another like the scales on a fish. And at the center of the roof was the thick pillar that both allowed the house to be suspended in the air and was the main support for it's wooden floors.
When we finally arrived in front of Botan's wooden door, the hunters smashed the butt of their spears on the wooden balcony loudly. From other huts, some curious villagers poked their heads out to see what was happening. Most villagers however, had seen us enter the village and had begun to form a crowd (well, as much as they could amongst the different walkways within the trees) that had followed us to the hut. Their stares felt like little needles that pierced through me.
There was a familiar groan that came from within the hut, it was a sound that I had come to associate with Botan every time he got up from the table during his stay at the Summit Tree. Briefly I wondered if his injuries were still bothering him- or if the noise was just due to age- but quickly shoved the thoughts aside.
The door to the hut swung open then, Botan revealing himself, and the hunters stopped the noise they had been making.
"If it isn't our heroes! I had been wondering at what time you'd all come down the mountain." Botan greeted leisurely, as though this were a common thing. Then he seemed to spot me, "and you brought Elena along with you too, that's good-" he stopped short, seemingly to finally notice how the air was thick with tension. No one said anything for a good two minutes, waiting for him to speak.
"Why are Elena's hands bound?" Tone light, like the question was out of curiosity rather than annoyance or anger, it was difficult to tell what Botan was actually intending with the way he asked the question.
"The Demon was found near the livestock pen along with the travelers. For your protection, the Demon's hands were bound before we brought it before you so you may cast your judgement."
"...I see," was Botan's reply as he turned back into his hut.
"Surely you won't simply leave this be, Botan Ficus?" Amalia voiced loudly then, tone hard with barely suppressed anger. She clearly did not like the way that she had been treated, as she shot a look to Feathered Mask that could have caused even the slowly prettifying structure of the Summit Tree to catch fire.
"There will be silence as the Shaman decides." Colorless Mask growled out at Amalia in response, which only seemed to darken the look on Amalia's face.
My body tensed, nerves high. I didn't like my position between the two, and felt like backing away. Only Feathered Mask was somewhat in front of me and another hunter- his mask carved out square at the chin, nose flat like a bow meow's, eyes slanted, mouth puckered but shut tightly, and something that looked like ears carved into the forehead- was behind me. Effectively, I was trapped.
Luckily enough, Botan choose that moment to turn back towards us, something now in his free hand. In one swift movement he lunged forwards. I only had time to register something that looked sharp and glinted as it caught the light, before I instinctively raised my hands. Multiple shouts rung out all at once, my name amongst them, as people moved around me. But my attention stayed firmly on Botan as the sharp thing in his hand finally registered.
Wide eyed, I stared as a knife was stuck between the vines that tied my wrists tightly together. Everyone went deathly silent as the knife tugged at the bonds only slightly before they easily came undone. As the vines fell at my feet, my red wrists now exposed to the air. A sting caught my attention, and I realized that there was now a fine cut that went from the knuckle of my thumb down to the ball of my wrist. The knife had been so sharp that the abrasion had yet to even bleed. Botan held up his knife high in the air for everyone to see, it's blade clean.
"Let it be known that I have pardoned Elena of any accusations against her, as should be seen with the gift of a mask that she now wears proudly amongst you!" Loud whispers broke out amongst the villagers scattered in the trees, but it quickly died down as Botan continued. "When I was injured it was she that guaranteed my well being until I could come back to you safely. Elena dressed my wounds, and kept me fed and watered- even though she had every right to leave me be to the mercy of the island- as we had once left her! From now on, there will be no more talk of the past as it no longer has a purpose here amongst you!" Hand now lowered, Botan let the knife thunk against the deck at his feet. Then the put his hand on my shoulder, an action that had me stiffen in my surprise.
His next declaration had so much conviction in his tone that it made silent tears spill over from my eyes and fall down my cheeks. My heart pounded my chest, where a heat began to build like a fire that threatened to turn me into ash.
"Elena's heart is good."
~3~
After the announcement Botan had made outside of his hut, he invited me and the adventurer's party inside. The hunters were dismissed, as were the rest of the village that had been present to watch.
The few tears that managed to escape me prickled my cheeks and my nose slowly clogged up. Desperately I wanted to reach under my mask and wipe at my face but couldn't find the strength to actually do it. Despite my best efforts at seeming unaffected, Botan must have noticed something was off with me as he easily gave me something to do that allowed me to escape for a bit.
Now with a wooden bucket in my hands, I played with the rope handle between my fingers absently as I finally allowed myself to calm down. My legs were spread on either side of a large branch on a tree that was several feet away from the village, my back barely brushing it's trunk. I had pushed my mask aside in favor of swiping at my face, my arms now as wet as my cheeks, and the small cut on my wrist was now covered with a thin layer of my green healing jelly.
My chest was warm. It was a pleasant feeling this time, much less like the inferno it was and now much more like a warm fire. Before today, I had no idea how nice it would feel to be told that I was good.
A flurry of wings caught my attention and I turned my watery gaze towards the direction it came from. What looked like a blot of yellow fluttered around a blob of brown. The yellow twittered in a way that sounded playful, only to be answered by the annoyed sounding monkey chatter. I wiped at my eyes again, more focused on the two that were making their way towards me, and saw how the brown followed after the yellow purposefully. Somehow my movement must have caught their attention, as both froze for a moment before the brown let out a questionable sound and darted towards me.
"Hi, Moon," I greeted quietly when the little monkey stopped on the same branch that I was on and stood directly in front of me. He let his hammer down to balance on the thick branch before he put a hand on my collar for balance and reached up and put his other hand on my face.
Oddly enough a small laugh left my throat, even as Moon's actions made more tears run down my cheeks and my chest warm all the more. "It's okay." I told him softly and ran my fingers through the short fur on his head, "I'm not sad."
Even as he leaned in to my touch, Moon still cooed at me softly. In response I continued to pet him, letting the tears gradually slow again. As I did so, I noticed the little yellow bird that Moon had been chasing. He hovered nearby, wings working double-time to keep him in the air.
With a tilt of my head in his direction, "what did Yugo call you again...?" I wondered aloud, and the bird seemed to narrow it's eyes at me. With all the commotion I'd forgotten. "Buz?" It squawked at me almost angrily, and I took that as a no. "It ended with a 'sss' sound, didn't it?" I hummed, glanced down at Moon as though he'd tell me (he did chitter at me, so maybe he tried) before I managed to remember it myself. "Oh! It's-"
Instead of simply speaking the bird's name, it came out as a yelp as a large island bird swooped down from above with it's claws outstretched to grab the little bird straight out of the air. With a squeak of surprise, Az darted out of the way just on time for the larger bird to catch itself out of it's dive and fly back up. It turned, a predatory look in it's eyes as it kept a firm gaze on Az, and the yellow bird squawked with fright as he flew around frantically.
Without thinking much of it, I lifted a hand to help. As Moon let out an indignant screech and lifted his hammer in threat, I twisted my wrist in a small circle to summon a portal and made it appear before the island bird as it dove down, seconds before it would have grabbed Az. A second portal made itself known in the sky and the island bird shot out of it with twice the speed it had gained from it's dive. I watched as it stumbled in the air, it's wings off beat from one another in it's disorientation, before it managed to catch itself.
The bird looked positively sick as it flew away, shaking it's head, before it promptly threw up it's stomach contents over a few trees in the distance. A grimace formed on my face in light of witnessing the event, before I became surprised at a sudden new weight on my head. My hat tilted forwards a bit as I felt something small and round snuggle in the space between the belt and the fabric on the hat's rim. Az let out a few chirps, as though to finalize his decision to stay where he was, his body shaking uncontrollably.
I lifted a hand and stroked the now warmed fabric in the area where Az rested under the belt on my forehead, "s'okay, tiny one, you're safe." I told him, only to get a small 'cheap' in response. The heat in my chest returned, and I suddenly felt honored that the little bird had decided he was safe with me. I let out a sigh, and Moon tilted his head at me as I wiped my eyes again. They were still wet, but I didn't feel in danger of crying again. Instead, that heat in my chest simply kept me warm.
Bucket in hand, I steadily stood up onto my feet and felt my own mouth tilt upwards as I looked to Moon. "I think it's time I should actually go fill this with water." I stated to him, then held out a hand in invitation for him to climb up onto my shoulder, "did you want to come with me?"
With a happy chitter Moon jumped up and landed on my arm. I held my limb steady for him as he went onto my shoulder and tucked himself under the sock of my hat to get onto my opposite shoulder. He rubbed my cheek with his own as his tail curled around the front of my shoulders so that his hammer (which was held by his tail now) could be near his hands if he needed it.
Sparing only a moment to scratch at Moon's head, right under his jaw where I knew he enjoyed it most, I then called upon my magic to transport us to the nearest drinkable water source.
"That should do it," I stated as I lifted the now full bucket from the water by it's rope handle. Moon made a noise of agreement from his spot on my shoulder and rubbed his cheek against mine again. "Okay, enough of that," I giggled, and the sound felt good to make. I then moved the mask Botan had made me back into place over my face- careful not to jostle the hidden Az- and blinked as I readjusted to both it's weight and the vision it allowed.
As though he could read my thoughts, Moon simply held on to my clothes a little more tightly as I created my portals again.
Only two were needed before I arrived at the tree I had sat on just outside of the village, then a last one was made to appear directly inside of Botan's home and just under the roof. This way the villagers who were closely watching Botan's hut wouldn't realize that I had left and I also wouldn't accidentally open my portal in a spot that could cause harm. As if I had fallen through a hole in the roof, I lightly landed on Botan's wooden floor but gained the attention of everyone present.
The inside of the hut was extremely simple. Completely rounded, the bare walls bowled outwards slightly and gave the effect of being in a bowl- much like the sitting room of the Summit Tree. In the very center of the hut was the wooden pillar that balanced everything. Directly ahead of me was the north side of the hut. It held the small kitchen area in which Botan could store and prepare food for himself. To the south of the kitchen was a cot, just large enough to fit Botan's aged body, that was high enough from the floor to not give the old man trouble when he got up. A single chest lived at the foot of the bed, where items could be stored. Off to the left side of the bed was a single rounded window, no glass present, but instead a hung pot of land on the outside of the windowsill, filled with plants that kept unwanted insects away.
At the center of the hut just beside the main pillar, was Botan's table. The band of travelers had sat themselves around it, steam rose from the wooden cups set in front of each of them.
They all had expressions on their faces that I hadn't seen before, each one a little different from one another as their attention turned to me. Yet I couldn't help but feel the disturbed atmosphere that seemed to permeate throughout the hut. It made the warm feeling in my chest instantly chill in a way that put me on edge. Even Moon could feel it, as I felt his fur rise a little from his position on my shoulder.
Without spilling a single drop of water from the bucket, I slowly straightened my knees from the bent position I had caught my balance in when I landed, and addressed them all with a mixture of curiosity and seriousness. "What's wrong?"
The party seemingly didn't know what to say as I watched everyone except for Evangeline and Dally return their attention to the cups in front of them. Those two simply shared a look that even I could tell conveyed worry, before they both looked to Yugo, their mouths tilted down and lips pressed together firmly. However it was Botan who let out a sigh, which caught my attention a moment later.
"Thank you for fetching that for me, Elena, you've saved this old man a lot of work. If you could set it down by the crate over there for me, where you found it?" Botan directed, and I complied with the order before I joined everyone at the table, sitting down in the empty spot between Evangeline and Dally. Moon let out a small noise before he crawled into my lap, depositing his hammer on the table in front of me and curiously peeking over it's edge to stare at everyone else.
No one spoke as Botan filled the sole cup that sat in the middle of the table, then slid it over to me. I loosely held it between my palms as my eyes landed on Yugo, and my mouth tilted down as I decided that I didn't like what I saw. His shoulders were hunched forwards as though to shield himself, fingertips white as he held onto his cup, a vacant look in his eyes that told me he wasn't aware of how the cup could burn his palm, brow furrowed and lips pursed, 'ears' nearly flat on his head with how far they were pushed down in disapproval.
"What's wrong?" I questioned again, my tone much softer than the blunt one I had used only a moment ago for the same question. It got Yugo to look up, and his eyes locked with mine. My heart skipped a beat in my chest. That feeling of familiarity washed over me again as I held my gaze with his, even as that same feeling pushed me to make whatever negative feeling he had go away.
"The villagers took a look at our ship yesterday." It wasn't Yugo that replied, but Amalia. Her voice had us break our concentration on one another and give our attention to her. "We can't sail. It's broken beyond repair."
"We are not a fishing village..." Botan finished solemnly, hands in his lap and cup left unattended on the table in front of him.
"The..." I paused as the word escaped me for a moment, until I remembered, "...keel. It's broken?" When I received looks that can only be described as confusion, I felt my 'ears' go back as my nerves rose. "What?"
"What's a ke-al?" Amalia questioned me, slowing her speech in a way that made the word sound odd in her mouth.
Nervously, I glanced around the table. The energy turned expectant as they waited for my answer. I fidgeted with my cup, using the pads of my fingers to turn it on the table top and push the boundaries of how long I could do so with a single finger before the heat would start to burn me.
"Keel." I corrected Amalia's pronunciation absently as I fidgeted, recalling what I had read from my favorite book of so long ago. "It's um, the 'backbone' of a ship. A ship can't sail without it... it- it makes a ship... a ship."
"Wow! How do you know of this, Elena?" Dally asked from beside me, his purely curious tone somehow had me relax. I hadn't even noticed how tense I had been, as though I were anticipating something.
I tilted my head in his direction, so he'd know I was answering him as I spoke. "Well, I read about it a long while ago."
"Read?" came Botan's incredulous voice, tone almost mystified. "But how?"
"...it was in Moth- Momiji's library. A book about ships. How they are structured and why."
"How fortuitous!" Ruel crowed, his teeth exposed as his lips were stretched wide in an upwards tilt. "Perhaps that book is still here in the village."
As the group began to perk up at the news, I noticed how Botan's demeanor hadn't changed. Before they could get too excited, "Botan?" I called out.
Slowly another silence came to the table, eating away at the little hope that had manifested in the atmosphere to replace it with worry the longer the old man took to respond to me. My eyes went to his worn fingers as they gently tapped the surface of the wooden table. Then he inhaled, his entire core displaced with the movement, and seemed to hold it in before he spoke.
"Elena, I'm not sure if you knew..." he began and his tone alone was enough to make my heart stutter from the anticipation of something awful. "Not a day after you were banished, Momiji disappeared. We looked for a long time, but never found her... Eventually her things were distributed among the villagers and her hut was taken by-at the time- an expecting family."
Muscles in my arms preformed a small jerk at the information, making the tea in my cup lick at the edges of it's confinement. I had not known that Momiji had joined with the many other villagers who had disappeared at that time.
A huff left me, dangerously close to a scoff. "Oh?" I questioned tightly, "is that so."
Botan was silent for only a moment, "yes." Then he directed his words to the party, "I can put the word out for that book. I'm sure it's the only one like it here and can be recognized fairly easily because of it. You may feel free wander if you don't want to stay in here, it shouldn't take too long."
"Hey Botan," I called as the old man got up with another groan. He grunted, grabbing his staff from behind his chair so he could hobble along his way. "Some need a visit with the Bone Healer."
"Come along then," Botan invited, waving a hand to follow to the others, "I can bring them there."
Evangeline stood, "yes of course, thank you."
Then she grabbed Dally when he didn't bother to stand, and (ignoring his protests) dragged him with her as she followed after the old man. As the door snapped shut behind them, Moon slipped off my lap with a noise of curiosity and absently left me to watch over his hammer as he went to poke about. My own attention went back to the tea between my fingers, how it seemed to be just cool enough for the first tasting sip. I drew it back to me and lifted it under the chin of my mask. A wisp of steam brushed against my nose, it's smell hinting at the herbs that had been so carefully chosen to steep.
"Moon! You shouldn't go through people's things!" Amalia called, a hint of embarrassment on her tone, and halfway stood up from her chair. From my peripheral I could see how the little monkey was lifting the lid to the chest at the foot of Botan's bed and had stuck his long arms inside to rifle around. When Moon ignored the green haired teen she turned her head to me, "aren't you going to do something?"
Blinking, I carefully put my tea on the table and shrugged. "He's not hurting anyone." And suddenly reminded, I began to gently poke at the warm spot in the brim of my hat. It let out a small noise of protest.
Straightening at the sound, Yugo eyed my hat. "Is that..?" At the sound of his voice the little bird gave a full chirp before I felt it wiggle around all the more. A smile grew on Yugo's face, "Az! What are you doing in there?"
"I think he just got a bit scared." I supplied as the little ball of feathers finally popped out of my hat, wings working madly as he made his way over to Yugo. The boy giggled when Az snuggled up to his face in greeting before diving down to the pocket on the front of Yugo's shirt.
"What of?" Yugo asked with a surprised tilt to his tone, eyes wide and directed towards me.
"An island bird." I stretched out my hands in front of me to show the animals approximate wing span. "They can be pretty big."
A noise of disappointment left Moon and he soon made his way back over to me. He crawled into my lap, gave me one long look and used his tail to retrieve his hammer.
"Say now, I've been meaning to ask you something." Rule slid up next to me, leaning against the table enough to off set his chair to only two legs. I tilted my head in his direction, curious. "Have you seen anything that's worth a fortune, here on this remote island?"
Boredom seemed to radiated off of Moon. Then his eyes seemed to catch something just above my face because he slowly began to make grabs at whatever it was. Hoping it wasn't a string to my mask, I carefully evaded his grabby hands.
"No?" I asked, unsure what the old man was talking about.
"Are you sure? No other travelers have come through here have they? Ones with shovels? And chests?"
Amalia rolled her eyes to the ceiling again. "Can't you think of anything better to do with your time Rule?"
"Most ships sail right on by." I answered honestly. "Yours is the first that I've seen so intact when it landed on the shore."
"So... intact?" Rule pulled away, tone dripping with his incredulity.
"Un huh." I gave a nod, dodged another attempt for my mask. Moon cried out indignantly as I gathered his arms into one hand and began to tickle his furry belly. "Probably because it's so small compared to all the others that passed through. Might be the reason why you guys are alive too."
"What...?" Amalia voiced, and I watched with interest as she seemed to loose a few shades of color. In my distraction, Moon managed to slip from my hold and make a leap for my shoulder.
"Not gonna happen!" I told my little friend, catching him at the last second and holding him aloft. "What's gotten into you?"
"There's a feather sticking out of your hat, Elena." Yugo voiced.
I bent a little to one side and peered at him around Moon, "huh?"
He pointed at a spot on his own hat and I noticed for the first time how he didn't have any band there to help tighten it around his head. "A blue feather. I think Moon's trying to get at it."
Curiously I lifted up a hand and felt around my hat's belt. Something soft brushed against my fingers and I grabbed it, tugging it loose gently. It really was a blue feather, the color so pure it reflected light as though it were some sort of crystal. Even though it was odd that a feather of this color came from a very yellow bird, the oddest thing I found about it was how it seemed to be warm to the touch. Before I could examine it anymore the feather was quickly snatched from my hand by an overly excited Moon, whom hopped away and began to dance triumphantly on the floor.
My amusement (mixed with only some annoyance at getting things snatched from my grasp) quickly halted as Moon suddenly froze. His eyes were wide as the feather in his hand began to fade away, like it had never been there in the first place. Shocked I blinked, still staring at Moon's empty hand that was still positioned to hold something between his two fingers.
"...does your bird's feathers normally do that..?" I questioned Yugo uncertainly, turning myself so I could see him for his reply. He shook his head, wide eyes trained on Moon. "Hmm."
Not even a second later Moon began to tremble. Concerned, I turned myself away from the table in my seat and called out to him. The moment that Moon heard he seemed to jolt, as though being pulled back to the present abruptly, before he turned to me with big wet eyes. He gave a small cry before he bounded forward and crammed himself back onto my lap. I wrapped my arms around Moon's tiny trembling frame immediately and rubbed his back as consolingly as I could. His tiny hands fisted my tunic tightly while he brawled out a cry that made my heart wrench with pain.
"Why is he crying like that?" Came Amalia's concerned voice, but I had just as much knowledge on the subject as she did. "And over a little feather?"
"Perhaps he'll stop if we give him another." Rule suggested and I could see how both he and Amalia immediately turned to Yugo. His azure eyes widened impossibly more before he put his free hand over his front pocket protectively.
"We're not plucking Az!" Yugo declared firmly as he gave them both a hard stare. "He doesn't even have blue feathers!"
"I don't think the color would matter..." Amalia stated and Rule nodded.
"That's right, animals are color blind." At Rule's confirmation, Yugo shrunk back all the more.
"No way!" He argued back indignantly, "it's not happening!"
Just as the other two began to look as though they'd pounce on the boy, I quickly spoke up to stop them.
"Another feather won't be necessary." At my words they all froze then turned to face me. I lifted one of my hands and revealed Moon's face, his now limp body draped heavily over my lap. "He's asleep now, see?"
They all leaned forward to peer closer and I didn't stop my gentle petting with my other hand where Moon had wrapped his tail around my wrist. Even asleep he still had a very good grip of my tunic. After a moment, Amalia was the first to lean back.
"After all that fuss over a feather, he just falls asleep?" With an incredulous tone to her voice she crossed her arms in front of her and looked away with her nose up.
"He's never cried like this before..." I tried, but I had no idea why he had sounded so heartbroken either. A sigh then left Amalia as we all settled back down around the table (with Yugo discretely putting distance between himself and his companions).
"I hate to be the one to say it Yugo, but even with the ship being only partially rebuilt we'll be here for a while. Will you be okay with putting our adventure off like this?" Amalia brought up her steaming cup to take a sip of her tea when she'd finished speaking but her eyes stayed on Yugo as she waited a response.
He let out a short breath, "well, it's not like I have much choice right?" Yugo pointed out rather incredulously. "Besides, my family has waited twelve years already. What's a few moons added to that?"
"Your family?" I found myself questioning aloud, mind going back to that morning when I had spoken to Yugo. Then I remembered how Amalia had explained that her group was traveling in search of Yugo's family when she'd introduced herself. "Are they missing?"
"Not... exactly." Yugo shook his head. Both Amalia and Rule seemed to tense and I noticed how they looked between Yugo and I with an intensity that I couldn't understand. Did they expect me to attack him or something? "I grew up with my dad, Alibert, yes. I love him dearly and wouldn't want to change anything about it. But he isn't my blood. He found me when I was just a baby, see, and took care of me since. And, while I wouldn't want anyone else to have been my dad, I'm still curious to where I came from.
"There was an attack on Emelka one day. Polters had come from the forest and started to turn everyone into statues..." An old anger came to Yugo's eyes then and he ground his teeth for a moment. Then he shook his head, as though to disperse the emotion he'd felt. "That day dad told me that there was a message left behind for me. It'd tell me where I needed to go to find my family." He'd let out a sigh, eyes distant. All tension left him within that moment and I found that I couldn't look away. His azure eyes moved to meet my own and I saw how curiosity grew there. "Have you ever heard of Oma Island?"
"Oma?" The name felt familiar, but at the same time I knew that I'd never heard of it before. I shook my head, "no. Is that where your family is?"
"Yes." Yugo nodded, "our map, Skribble, said that the island is near here. We were nearly there when that tornado appeared out of nowhere-"
"It was because our dear Iop friend chased away our protection!" Rule suddenly cut in, a hard look in his eyes as he said it. "He just had to go and chase off the Albatrocious with his crazy Iop ways seconds before the storm hit us!"
I looked to the other two but neither seemed to be concerned about Rule's outburst. "Albatrocious?"
"It's a big sea bird." Yugo explained to me and gave a shrug. "Apparently they protect the boats that they land on."
"That's right!" Rule cried out, clearly distressed. There were tears at the corners of his eyes. "And now my precious is in pieces..!" he sniffled, "it's going to take forever to get her back together again! Never mind the effort it'll take to get all the wood for it! Months- bah! It'll be years before she sails again!"
At that Yugo seemed to wilt while Amalia's eyes widened with alarm.
"Years?!" Amalia squawked loudly, causing Moon to flinch in my arms. Her hands flew up to her green hair in a panic, "it can't take years! My father would never allow me to be away for so long! He'd send my brother after me for sure- if he hasn't already!"
Annoyed, "what are you talking about?" I demanded even as I tried to sooth Moon. The noise had woken him. Now he clung to me like he never wanted to let go, cooing and sniffling all the while. The other two stared but Amalia sent me a glare.
"Do I have to remind you that I am a princess?!" she declared angrily, "normally I would never be allowed to leave the palace- let alone the kingdom! While I can spare a month or two of a season, I can't stay away for several years!"
I grit my teeth, hating how she spoke down to me. "I think you're the forgetful one." I stated firmly, narrowing my gaze at her. Amalia's body tensed like I'd struck her. She opened her mouth, clearly ready to retaliate, but I spoke before she could utter a syllable. "The villagers may be selfish, but your group did help to remove Saul. I'm sure with the promise that they can keep the extra materials that don't get used, they would be happy to help reassemble your ship."
"And just where are we going to get the materials, if these good people will only help us with putting the ship together?" Amalia bit back, "you can't possibly believe that our group can do that all by ourselves!"
"Like I said, you're forgetful." I gave a shake of my head. "Yugo and I can get the materials easily enough."
Amalia's tone suddenly went flat. "Just the two of you?"
"Yes. That should be more than enough. And," my gaze slid over to Yugo. His eyes were wide with shock, "if we add cutting the materials to the right size, it should take us- perhaps- one moon cycle."
Rule made something like a choking noise. "How will you do that...?!" he spluttered and his eyes darted between Yugo and I like he waited for Yugo to voice a similar opinion. Yugo's eyes were on me, however, clearly awaiting my response.
I stated the obvious, "with our magic, of course."
A/n: Whew- I'm not dead! Thank you all so much for your favorites and follows, it's good to know that this story isn't too boring so far! I hope this new chapter made them worth it ;)
