"Where are you Caleb?" she looked towards the window.
Albain wrapped Lielay in his arms and kissed the side of her head. She fell asleep minutes later, utterly exhausted from crying and searching for her lost child. Albain laid her down, walked over to the window, and looked down into the black alleyway.
*****
The bushes snagged his pants and shirt as he ran into the Commonlands. The trees were getting denser as the morning sun rose. Little light shined through the trees, making it hard to see anything. Oc was pursuing Caleb, but in the trees he lost the tiny elven child. Swearing in his deep, stupid, ogre voice, Oc turned back towards Freeport giving up on the chase. Caleb watched from behind a thick tree, panting heavily. Once Oc was out of sight, Caleb came out and gazed around at his new surroundings.
"Mother where are you?" tears and sweat mixed together on his little wood elven face. Following the footprints of the giant ogre, Caleb grew extremely tired and could not walk no further. He looked at all the trees before deciding on one and climbing its branches. Nearing the top, Caleb stopped, curled up on a thick branch, and fell asleep.
*****
It was a horrible nightmare. Lielay was in Crushbone with the orcs surrounding her, Lord Vic'Nance sneering above, Rocky and the elf translator stood in front of her with a bloody dagger. Danny was there in a cell crumbled on the floor; blood covering him, eyes open, motionless, dead. She looked at Lord Vic'Nance again, he laughed. Her attention went back to Danny who was now Caleb lying there with Oc and Glynn holding the dagger, smiling. She screamed.
"Lielay.... Lie.... Lielay," Danny was back again, "Lielay.." he chanted her name.
Lielay sat up screaming.
"Lielay!" Albain shook her.
What... what happened?" she shook.
"You were screaming in your sleep, I was trying to wake you." Albain's face was pale.
"It was horrible." She covered her face.
"What was it about?" he soothingly caressed her hair.
"I don't want to think about it right now. We must find Caleb. I will not let my only child die out in the cold." Lielay swung her legs over the bed and got up. Pulling on her wolf-skin cloak, she stepped out of the tavern with Albain following close behind. They continued the search for Caleb where they last left off, but still after hours of work and questioning people, there was no sign of him.
At the front gates, the two elves stopped to have a quick rest since neither had much sleep the night before. Lielay held her head in her hands; tears fell down her cheeks like a constant river would flow. Albain took the bandages off his head and examined his healing knuckles. Around the corner, Aubrey came skidding to a halt in front of the two; sweat covered his face and worked its way down to his tunic.
"They killed him! Those bastards killed him!" Aubrey was hysterical.
"Who," Albain flung his hand back accidentally, " oww, shit." He began to nurse his new wounds.
"My baby!?" Lielay jumped up.
"Those bastards killed Yumil! My only sibling, my older brother!" he fell next to Lielay and crumbled into a ball, crying.
"Who killed Yumil!" Albain growled, forgetting his injured hand.
"Glynn and his gang." Aubrey straightened out a bit.
"Tell us about it, please. So we can help." Lielay hugged him.
"Yumil and I went to go look for Caleb earlier and we saw Oc walking. So we followed him to Glynn and watched. He said that he chased Caleb into the Commonlands and lost him in the trees. We started to head out to tell you, Lielay, but Papsworth spotted us and yelled. The next second, I jumped behind some barrels and Oc grabbed Yumil. Glynn demanded his money. Yumil said he didn't have and wouldn't give it, and then he spit in Glynn's face. Then Glynn snapped his fingers and Oc took Yumil's neck in his hands. Yumil struggled and yelled for me, but I was too terrified to come out. Oc then laughed and broke Yumil's neck. Yumil fell to the ground, dead! The group laughed and kicked his body and left. I did nothing to prevent his death. I failed my beloved brother." Aubrey said all this through tears.
"My gods, Aubrey. I'm so sorry." Lielay held the weeping human.
"We'll get them." Albain wiped his eyes. "Yumil was one of my best friends."
"Caleb is in the Commonlands." Aubrey pulled away from Lielay and told her again.
"We know now, thanks to you." Her eyes watered.
"Let's go get him." Aubrey slowly got up.
Lielay helped Aubrey walk by putting his arm around her shoulders. Albain led the two out the gates and towards the Commonlands. They estimated that it would take less than an hour to reach their destination since the Commonlands lay so close to Freeport. Aubrey whimpered occasionally, but tried to hold in his emotions. Lielay felt pity for him and comforted him in the best way she could. Albain watched for any wild beasts around them so they wouldn't have any more unexpected surprises.
*****
Caleb was shivering. He awoke with clouded eyes and looked around. Climbing down the tree he stretched and walked, not knowing where he was going. He did not know where Freeport was anymore. He whistled the tune his mother had taught to him when they had walked through the Butcher Block Mountains to pass the time. The bushes behind Caleb shook, he stopped and turned. Eyes, a deep red stared at him, watching every little movement he made. Caleb took a step forward in curiosity.
"Hello?" Caleb whispered. It responded by growling. It grew louder and the leaves around it flew. The creature thrusted itself out of the bushes and leaped toward Caleb. "Help! A lion!" Caleb stumbled back screaming.
The lion stocked forward ready to pounce on Caleb. Caleb ran with his back to the lion; it chased after him, pounced, and threw him to the ground. It tore at him, its claws dug into his back as blood soaked his shirt. Caleb, screaming, turned over and tried to push the lion off, picking up a sick nearby, he held it high. He shoved it into the lion's eye; more blood covered Caleb as the lion jumped up and ran away roaring. Caleb stood up and ran. He didn't know where he was going, but he ran. After he had left the attack spot, he noticed part of his shirt was gone. The lion tore off pieces of his shirt in the back. Crying from the pain burning in his upper and lower back, Caleb tried to ignore it and continued on.
*****
Still Lielay, Albain, and Aubrey searched for the missing Caleb; still they had no clue where he was. They entered the forest and walked deep into it. The trees thickened and out of the corner of their eyes, they spotted wild animals lurking, trying to find some morsel to feast upon. Stopping, Lielay pulled out a flask of water and passed it to the other two. Albain sat on the ground and pulled a small book out of his pack and began to read it. Aubrey looked up at the treetops and stared at the sun penetrating the leaves below, he faintly smiled. Lielay gulped down another sip of water and peered about. Her eyes fell upon a clump of bushes nearby.
"What is it Lie?" Albain stood up and stretched out his arms.
"There's something over there." She replied as she shuffled off towards the bushes.
Albain scanned the ground; a bloody torn piece of cloth caught his eye, it was fresh blood. He went ahead of Lielay and picked it up. Lielay turned to him and started to walk over, he quickly hid the bloody cloth behind his back.
"What do you have?" Lielay held out her hand.
"Ummm, nothing." He was shaking.
"Let me see it." Lielay demanded of him.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Positive." He held out the cloth that was dripping with blood slowly. Lielay's eyes widened and her mouth dropped. She took the cloth in her hands and examined it, turning it over to get a better look, when her hands touched the blood she flinched. "This is Caleb's." Lielay choked.
"How do you know?" Aubrey asked.
"He was wearing this yesterday." She clutched her neck.
"How can you tell it's his? It's covered in blood." Aubrey crossed to the elves.
"It's his, I'm sure. I dressed him."
"Oh, Lielay." Albain was interrupted by a growl from behind.
They spun around and faced a one eyed lion that was very angry. Blood fell down is mane and covered its face and its front side. Albain drew his sword and pushed Lielay behind him, Aubrey stood next to Lielay still terrified. Albain mimicked the crouching lion as it started to circle him; Albain did the same. It growled and its one eye grew red, it moved its shoulders then leaped at Albain. Shoving his sword into its underbelly, the lion died immediately. Its heavy body fell on Albain who pushed it off and wiped clean his sword on the lion's fur.
"That thing was the one that did this." Lielay held up the bloody cloth.
"Lielay Liltreehuggr, you are one of the most bravest elves I've ever met. Just keep hope that Caleb is still alive." Aubrey said hopefully.
"Shall we ask the guards in this area to search for Caleb?" Albain put his sword back in its sheath.
"Yes. I would very much like that, but I doubt they would stop to help us." The three walked towards Freeport where they were sure they would find a guard. What they didn't know was that Caleb was walking in the opposite direction at that very moment.
*****
Caleb had no idea that his mother and two others were in the same place looking for him, but in the other direction. He trudged through brush and pushed his way past branches that got in his way. Wandering out of the East Commonlands, he entered the West Commons after a couple of hours. He looked around at the wide-open plains. There wasn't a big forest like behind him. He sighed and began to look for some help.
*****
Hours after the attack with the lion, the three were back in the city of Freeport. They had found Yumil's body and Albain and Aubrey carried him to the Breskin house. Lielay picked up a tiny bag that fell out of his boot. Inside the contents revealed herbs of some sort. She shook the bag and from the bottom platinum showed through.
"Why was he carrying herbs with money hidden in it?" Lielay asked while running to catch up with the two.
"It was his spare cash, I guess." Aubrey opened the door to his house.
They placed Yumil's body on one of the beds and lowered their heads in mourning. Lielay stood shocked from all the trauma that had happened. Albain shed a few silent tears for his dearly departed friend, and Aubrey began to howl again, a puddle of tears formed at the base of his feet.
*****
"Oh no, another wild beast, probably dangerous too. They are everywhere." Caleb said to himself as he ran away from a monstrous bear that came out from behind a tree.
Caleb noticed that the bear paid no attention to him, so he stopped running. He walked instead of ran, his little legs burned from running so much. A glint passed behind him, but he only saw a glimmer of it. He twirled about and faced a shimmering globe. It buzzed and moved about franticly. Caleb reached his hand forward to touch it. Once his fingers touched it, a sharp zing traveled through his body. He pulled his hand close to his chest and backed away slowly.
"Nice glimmer bug, good. I didn't mean to hurt you, if I did." Caleb tried to calm the globe, but more likely himself.
The shimmer followed him, buzzing angrily. Caleb ran backwards to avoid the bug injuring him. Not knowing what was behind him, he turned around. His whole body slammed into a large stone. He fell back, hitting the ground hard. His mind went blank and he saw someone stand over him and cast a quick spell. Caleb then passed out.
"Child? Are you all right?" a tall man picked Caleb up.
Albain wrapped Lielay in his arms and kissed the side of her head. She fell asleep minutes later, utterly exhausted from crying and searching for her lost child. Albain laid her down, walked over to the window, and looked down into the black alleyway.
*****
The bushes snagged his pants and shirt as he ran into the Commonlands. The trees were getting denser as the morning sun rose. Little light shined through the trees, making it hard to see anything. Oc was pursuing Caleb, but in the trees he lost the tiny elven child. Swearing in his deep, stupid, ogre voice, Oc turned back towards Freeport giving up on the chase. Caleb watched from behind a thick tree, panting heavily. Once Oc was out of sight, Caleb came out and gazed around at his new surroundings.
"Mother where are you?" tears and sweat mixed together on his little wood elven face. Following the footprints of the giant ogre, Caleb grew extremely tired and could not walk no further. He looked at all the trees before deciding on one and climbing its branches. Nearing the top, Caleb stopped, curled up on a thick branch, and fell asleep.
*****
It was a horrible nightmare. Lielay was in Crushbone with the orcs surrounding her, Lord Vic'Nance sneering above, Rocky and the elf translator stood in front of her with a bloody dagger. Danny was there in a cell crumbled on the floor; blood covering him, eyes open, motionless, dead. She looked at Lord Vic'Nance again, he laughed. Her attention went back to Danny who was now Caleb lying there with Oc and Glynn holding the dagger, smiling. She screamed.
"Lielay.... Lie.... Lielay," Danny was back again, "Lielay.." he chanted her name.
Lielay sat up screaming.
"Lielay!" Albain shook her.
What... what happened?" she shook.
"You were screaming in your sleep, I was trying to wake you." Albain's face was pale.
"It was horrible." She covered her face.
"What was it about?" he soothingly caressed her hair.
"I don't want to think about it right now. We must find Caleb. I will not let my only child die out in the cold." Lielay swung her legs over the bed and got up. Pulling on her wolf-skin cloak, she stepped out of the tavern with Albain following close behind. They continued the search for Caleb where they last left off, but still after hours of work and questioning people, there was no sign of him.
At the front gates, the two elves stopped to have a quick rest since neither had much sleep the night before. Lielay held her head in her hands; tears fell down her cheeks like a constant river would flow. Albain took the bandages off his head and examined his healing knuckles. Around the corner, Aubrey came skidding to a halt in front of the two; sweat covered his face and worked its way down to his tunic.
"They killed him! Those bastards killed him!" Aubrey was hysterical.
"Who," Albain flung his hand back accidentally, " oww, shit." He began to nurse his new wounds.
"My baby!?" Lielay jumped up.
"Those bastards killed Yumil! My only sibling, my older brother!" he fell next to Lielay and crumbled into a ball, crying.
"Who killed Yumil!" Albain growled, forgetting his injured hand.
"Glynn and his gang." Aubrey straightened out a bit.
"Tell us about it, please. So we can help." Lielay hugged him.
"Yumil and I went to go look for Caleb earlier and we saw Oc walking. So we followed him to Glynn and watched. He said that he chased Caleb into the Commonlands and lost him in the trees. We started to head out to tell you, Lielay, but Papsworth spotted us and yelled. The next second, I jumped behind some barrels and Oc grabbed Yumil. Glynn demanded his money. Yumil said he didn't have and wouldn't give it, and then he spit in Glynn's face. Then Glynn snapped his fingers and Oc took Yumil's neck in his hands. Yumil struggled and yelled for me, but I was too terrified to come out. Oc then laughed and broke Yumil's neck. Yumil fell to the ground, dead! The group laughed and kicked his body and left. I did nothing to prevent his death. I failed my beloved brother." Aubrey said all this through tears.
"My gods, Aubrey. I'm so sorry." Lielay held the weeping human.
"We'll get them." Albain wiped his eyes. "Yumil was one of my best friends."
"Caleb is in the Commonlands." Aubrey pulled away from Lielay and told her again.
"We know now, thanks to you." Her eyes watered.
"Let's go get him." Aubrey slowly got up.
Lielay helped Aubrey walk by putting his arm around her shoulders. Albain led the two out the gates and towards the Commonlands. They estimated that it would take less than an hour to reach their destination since the Commonlands lay so close to Freeport. Aubrey whimpered occasionally, but tried to hold in his emotions. Lielay felt pity for him and comforted him in the best way she could. Albain watched for any wild beasts around them so they wouldn't have any more unexpected surprises.
*****
Caleb was shivering. He awoke with clouded eyes and looked around. Climbing down the tree he stretched and walked, not knowing where he was going. He did not know where Freeport was anymore. He whistled the tune his mother had taught to him when they had walked through the Butcher Block Mountains to pass the time. The bushes behind Caleb shook, he stopped and turned. Eyes, a deep red stared at him, watching every little movement he made. Caleb took a step forward in curiosity.
"Hello?" Caleb whispered. It responded by growling. It grew louder and the leaves around it flew. The creature thrusted itself out of the bushes and leaped toward Caleb. "Help! A lion!" Caleb stumbled back screaming.
The lion stocked forward ready to pounce on Caleb. Caleb ran with his back to the lion; it chased after him, pounced, and threw him to the ground. It tore at him, its claws dug into his back as blood soaked his shirt. Caleb, screaming, turned over and tried to push the lion off, picking up a sick nearby, he held it high. He shoved it into the lion's eye; more blood covered Caleb as the lion jumped up and ran away roaring. Caleb stood up and ran. He didn't know where he was going, but he ran. After he had left the attack spot, he noticed part of his shirt was gone. The lion tore off pieces of his shirt in the back. Crying from the pain burning in his upper and lower back, Caleb tried to ignore it and continued on.
*****
Still Lielay, Albain, and Aubrey searched for the missing Caleb; still they had no clue where he was. They entered the forest and walked deep into it. The trees thickened and out of the corner of their eyes, they spotted wild animals lurking, trying to find some morsel to feast upon. Stopping, Lielay pulled out a flask of water and passed it to the other two. Albain sat on the ground and pulled a small book out of his pack and began to read it. Aubrey looked up at the treetops and stared at the sun penetrating the leaves below, he faintly smiled. Lielay gulped down another sip of water and peered about. Her eyes fell upon a clump of bushes nearby.
"What is it Lie?" Albain stood up and stretched out his arms.
"There's something over there." She replied as she shuffled off towards the bushes.
Albain scanned the ground; a bloody torn piece of cloth caught his eye, it was fresh blood. He went ahead of Lielay and picked it up. Lielay turned to him and started to walk over, he quickly hid the bloody cloth behind his back.
"What do you have?" Lielay held out her hand.
"Ummm, nothing." He was shaking.
"Let me see it." Lielay demanded of him.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Positive." He held out the cloth that was dripping with blood slowly. Lielay's eyes widened and her mouth dropped. She took the cloth in her hands and examined it, turning it over to get a better look, when her hands touched the blood she flinched. "This is Caleb's." Lielay choked.
"How do you know?" Aubrey asked.
"He was wearing this yesterday." She clutched her neck.
"How can you tell it's his? It's covered in blood." Aubrey crossed to the elves.
"It's his, I'm sure. I dressed him."
"Oh, Lielay." Albain was interrupted by a growl from behind.
They spun around and faced a one eyed lion that was very angry. Blood fell down is mane and covered its face and its front side. Albain drew his sword and pushed Lielay behind him, Aubrey stood next to Lielay still terrified. Albain mimicked the crouching lion as it started to circle him; Albain did the same. It growled and its one eye grew red, it moved its shoulders then leaped at Albain. Shoving his sword into its underbelly, the lion died immediately. Its heavy body fell on Albain who pushed it off and wiped clean his sword on the lion's fur.
"That thing was the one that did this." Lielay held up the bloody cloth.
"Lielay Liltreehuggr, you are one of the most bravest elves I've ever met. Just keep hope that Caleb is still alive." Aubrey said hopefully.
"Shall we ask the guards in this area to search for Caleb?" Albain put his sword back in its sheath.
"Yes. I would very much like that, but I doubt they would stop to help us." The three walked towards Freeport where they were sure they would find a guard. What they didn't know was that Caleb was walking in the opposite direction at that very moment.
*****
Caleb had no idea that his mother and two others were in the same place looking for him, but in the other direction. He trudged through brush and pushed his way past branches that got in his way. Wandering out of the East Commonlands, he entered the West Commons after a couple of hours. He looked around at the wide-open plains. There wasn't a big forest like behind him. He sighed and began to look for some help.
*****
Hours after the attack with the lion, the three were back in the city of Freeport. They had found Yumil's body and Albain and Aubrey carried him to the Breskin house. Lielay picked up a tiny bag that fell out of his boot. Inside the contents revealed herbs of some sort. She shook the bag and from the bottom platinum showed through.
"Why was he carrying herbs with money hidden in it?" Lielay asked while running to catch up with the two.
"It was his spare cash, I guess." Aubrey opened the door to his house.
They placed Yumil's body on one of the beds and lowered their heads in mourning. Lielay stood shocked from all the trauma that had happened. Albain shed a few silent tears for his dearly departed friend, and Aubrey began to howl again, a puddle of tears formed at the base of his feet.
*****
"Oh no, another wild beast, probably dangerous too. They are everywhere." Caleb said to himself as he ran away from a monstrous bear that came out from behind a tree.
Caleb noticed that the bear paid no attention to him, so he stopped running. He walked instead of ran, his little legs burned from running so much. A glint passed behind him, but he only saw a glimmer of it. He twirled about and faced a shimmering globe. It buzzed and moved about franticly. Caleb reached his hand forward to touch it. Once his fingers touched it, a sharp zing traveled through his body. He pulled his hand close to his chest and backed away slowly.
"Nice glimmer bug, good. I didn't mean to hurt you, if I did." Caleb tried to calm the globe, but more likely himself.
The shimmer followed him, buzzing angrily. Caleb ran backwards to avoid the bug injuring him. Not knowing what was behind him, he turned around. His whole body slammed into a large stone. He fell back, hitting the ground hard. His mind went blank and he saw someone stand over him and cast a quick spell. Caleb then passed out.
"Child? Are you all right?" a tall man picked Caleb up.
