Hello readers! I'm back with a new update to this Dota2 story. I hope you all enjoy!
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Part III
The next thing I know, my alarm goes off and I heard a loud yelp…followed by a weapon being readied! I jolted up from my curled position to find the squirrel known as HoodWink aiming her crossbow at me!
Looking over to my phone, and upon remembering what it is, she soon softens her stance. Judging from her reaction, it's clear to me that she's used to having to act fast to sudden noises. I suppose that makes sense…given her context.
"Sorry" I apologized, reaching for my small device. Upon looking at my screen, I can see that my battery is almost out…about a bar left. Since there's no way to charge my device in this world…the technology I have from my world will be useless soon…
I sighed softly as Hood, after placing her crossbow on her bed, made her way to me, "what's wrong?"
"My…my phone…will be dead soon."
"Uh, dead as?" She tilted her head, her long cone-shaped ears fell in that direction.
"Well…you see…I have no way to replenish its energy" I explain the best way I can.
"Is that so?" She raised a furry brow. I guess she understood enough.
"Unfortunately," I nodded back. I sat down on the very small couch I slept on. I stare at the rough wooden floor for a few moments. I decided to carry on without worrying about being stuck here, deciding to be optimistic instead, "so…"
"Ye?"
"Since we're both awake now, should we go about looking for a way to send me home? I think we could head to that cliff where I woke up."
HoodWink shrugged, but sure enough, she holsters her crossbow on her back, packing her nets and magical acorns as well, "cliff?"
I nodded back, "I think we could start by going back to where we first met. I reckon you have a good sense of smell and stuff, so you'll be able to lead us there, right?"
She smiled, "Chur can! Come on!" She gestured as she opened the door, and I was met with the same magical woods as the day before. It's early morning, with the sun having just risen. Birds are chirping loudly, and the wind is calm: with foliage rustling all around us.
Suddenly, it hit me…I forgot something.
"HoodWink" I said, looking down at her. She glanced over, waiting to hear what I had to say.
"Thanks for doing this…I would like us to start over, fresh. I think we got off on the wrong foot."
She tilted her head in confusion before I sighed, "I would like us to have mutual respect if that's okay."
The squirrel nodded in return, "you got it, mate."
I gave a light smile in return.
Once we left the vicinity, we made our way through a trail to begin. She seemed to know EXACTLY where to go. I asked the squirrel about it, and she confirmed my suspicion when she said her pink nose is leading the way. Imagine having a good sense of smell like hers, that would be nice…heh.
Sure enough, we stumbled upon the forest glade where I rested before my encounter with the Durana. Here, we found it: the bike…unfortunately, it's torn to pieces…and so is everything else like my backpack…
"Everything's gone…" I said silently. Before HoodWink could join in my momentary sorrow, her ears perk up and she got my attention, "Caleb…danger's creeping about…"
"You've got to be kidding me…" I whispered back, looking all around for any sign of trouble, but I didn't see a blasted thing! HoodWind, however, is a different story. She knew EXACTLY where they were…for you see…she's the hunter, not the other way around.
"This way, gotta stay by the trees, mate." She led the way as I followed behind without objection. Once we're under cover we see them: several large beasts on all fours with dark fur and dark red eyes that shine brightly. Their appearance almost sent me into a state of panic…and I yelped in response. HoodWink saw this, quickly patting my side in desperation, "d-don't look into their eyes! It's a spell!"
Needless to say, my reactions got their attention.
"Jeepers!" She jumped in surprise as the monsters started charging us, "Ah well…might as well make this fun" she grinned mischievously, her two cuspids are in full display.
"W-what?" I shake my head, the spell wearing off. I don't have much time left; I jump out of the way as one of them slammed into the tree I was against...uprooting it.
"HoodWink!? What now!?" I said as I tried dodging the other beasts. One acorn hit a creature chasing me and they are momentarily stunned.
"Here, use this!" The squirrel shouted, throwing me a pair of her acorn bolas to use. I look down briefly to see them, "I-I don't know how to use these!"
"Well, there's not a better time to learn than now, bro!" She retorted, jumping in the air to avoid one attempting to tackle her.
I again narrowly dodge the two creatures chasing me. As I turned to release my weapon, my eyes widened as I was tackled by one, having missed my shot. With enough strength, I managed to hold them in place as they tried biting into my neck. Before they are able to kill me, they are dragged away by Hood's magical bushwack and the two are now pinned. I quickly stood up to find another charging at me. I narrowed my eyes and without any thought: I punched the creature hard. To my surprise, my powers allowed me to land a powerful blow…sending them back! HoodWink saw this and her eyes suddenly glowed at the sight, her mouth gaping in excitement/awe. She couldn't hold that feeling for long, however, for one of our foes tried to get her. Quickly, she brandished one of her acorns and quickly tossed it at them, "acorn in your eye!" She had said, it's as if she is enjoying the thrill of the fight.
With the other two wrapped around the tree and the other two stunned, HoodWink and I joined together once again. She hopped to my side; she, without lack of a better term…is positively beaming.
"Remind me to pick up one of them moon shards next time!" She quipped as I chuckled back, "finders' keepers!"
"We'll see about that!" She retorted. Before we can do anything else, we hear the ropes that are keeping the two beasts against the tree snap! Hood's ears moved in that direction as I jumped at the sound. We both look behind us to see the two are now free and charging at us!
"Duck!" The Squirrel said as I crouched down. She suddenly jumped on my back as I grunted loudly. Before I could even react, she already had her crossbow out. A green projectile speeded past us and struck one beast: killing them! As the creature went limp, the girl quickly said, "gotcha!"
The other one made it to us, but I decided to push them away. Again, my newfound strength sent them against another tree. Behind us, the other two monsters (that were stunned earlier) now went for us. One had their claws out for HoodWink, but I stepped in the way and grabbed them. To my surprise, I managed to hurl them away as she looked with amazement at what I had just done. It's as if they didn't weight anything at all to me…I just threw the creature as if they were light as a feather! The second came in but HoodWink used another bolt from her crossbow to finish them off.
Now it was just the other two.
"Caleb, try getting 'em to a tree, I'll do the rest!" Hood instructs before scurrying off. I turned around in momentary confusion, "wait, where are you going!?"
"Trust me, mate!" She shouted, disappearing into the trees. I am left to deal with the final two opponents, both slowly approaching me with their fangs bared.
"Maybe if I just…" I didn't have time to finish, for they both charged at me. I widen my eyes, but I stay grounded…getting ready to retaliate.
As soon as they were just a few feet away, I rush forward with both fists extended and the force of my attack sends both beasts backward toward the trees again! Hoodwink darted along the branches, getting her signature weapon ready. She pulls out her bola and upon acquiring her targets she throws it at them: pinning them again against the trees. In a fraction of a second, she aims her weapon, cocks it back, and fires a particularly strong bolt at them!
It's over, the last of the "wolf" pack is gone. I sighed loudly, collapsing onto the ground to welcome the respite. HoodWink jumped down from her branch to join my side, her face filled with joy from winning the battle.
"Stoked!" She happily chittered, patting me on the back as I look up at her, "that was…something else."
"Wasn't it?" She closed her eyes with a grin running up her snout, "you did pretty good back 'here."
"T-thanks" I looked away, breathing rapidly from exhaustion.
"Don't worry, I'll get'cha in 'chape, mate."
I decided to stand up and dust myself off. I looked toward her, "you are really something else, HoodWink…you took them out like it was nothing."
"Yeah, I'm mean as. What can I say, ye?" I chuckled back at this.
…
And so, we continued our journey to the place where I first woke up. My scent from the day before aided the Squirrel in taking us there.
Every now and then we saw the twin moons in the sky. Like before, it's a grey moon like Earth's but behind it is the (larger) half-destroyed moon. HoodWink explained to me what happened to their second moon and how it was destroyed. The descriptions sounded too complicated and absurd and I ended up not understanding most of them. I narrowed it down to something I could follow: two mythical entities are constantly at war with each other and somehow resulted in the moon's destruction.
It was not long before we came across a clear pond. I'm thirsty, so we decided to stop for a few minutes. After having a bit to drink I stare at my reflection: now that I think about it…I look like a hobo, don't I? It's a good thing facial hair for me is nonexistent, but my hair…it's long. I haven't really had a cut for a long time, after all.
I glance over to the squirrel, who seems to be collecting berries from a tree…I guess she's hungry like me, "you wouldn't happen to have something I can groom myself with, would you?" I asked with a raised brow as I stayed crouched by the shore. She shook her head. Sure enough, she began to quip back at me, "I'll never understand why 'yer kind always got to cut your fur."
"We just…do…we look clean that way" I grumbled, "I look like a mess…"
"Ya look like a mess either way you look at it, bro" she laughed as I rolled my eyes.
"Here, catch this, ey!" She threw a blue-colored berry at me as I catch it.
"Those are the ones you 'wanna eat, the others you tried to bite into yesterday…they're poisonous."
"W-wait…what!?" I jumped at that.
She giggled, amused by my reaction, "yup."
I look away…you mean to tell me that had I eaten those berries just before meeting HoodWink I could have died? In a way she saved me from my predicament, "I guess it's a good thing you showed up at that moment."
She shrugged before I grumbled back, "how do I know THESE aren't poisonous?"
"Because they're blueberries, 'ya drongo" she laughed loudly at this. I looked down to examine them and indeed they are blueberries like she says. I shrugged, throwing it in my mouth. Sure enough, she gave me more, both of us sharing the pile she had gathered for the afternoon.
"You know," I said in between bites, "I could really go for some protein."
"I'll probably catch a rabbit for us later."
"For us-us!? Aren't you a squirrel!?" I moved away.
"I am, doesn't mean I can't eat meat every now and then, ye?"
"I…I thought squirrels were vegetarian…" I looked away.
"Technically, we are omnivores, mate."
I couldn't help but laugh at this, the absurdity of it, "that's GOLD…I'll never get that thought off of my head now…"
"You make it sound like I'M the weird one…you humans barely got sharp teeth as it is, and you eat meat…"
"Blame whatever made us, I guess" I shrugged it off, finishing the rest of my pile. She couldn't help but hide her smug grin. HoodWink seemed to enjoy our banters more than anything else, it felt fun to her unbeknownst to me. She never really did have anybody around for that, after all.
After about an hour after leaving the pond, I had to rest from walking for so long. Jeez…I am out of shape, aren't I? Hood decided it would be best to get us to higher ground given the area we're in. This section of Tomo'kan is much like how HoodWink described it: dark, creepy…haunted even. The trees had no leaves on them but barely any sun came through strangely enough, for there's a deep fog that had descended upon the place. The air is moist and chilly, to say the least, which had me shivering madly as a result.
Either way, the anthropomorphic creature helped me climb a tree, but it's easier said than done. It took quite a bit of effort to pull it off but after a few minutes (and frustration from the squirrel) I finally rested on a thick branch beside her: away from the dangers below.
As we rest on the branch, the squirrel looks over to me and asks, "if you don't mind me asking, you have family back home?"
I look over at her slowly, and I sighed softly, "no."
She tilted her head. I guess she expected me to say yes…tell her about my amazing time with them, and maybe share a few happy stories. While there were certainly fun and happy times when I was younger, more recent ones aren't as bright and colorful. I read her expression and I scoffed silently afterward, "I was disowned."
At that moment, she stared into my green eyes…empathy filled her immediately. HoodWink had the distinction of knowing her parents, at least getting to know them before they were killed, but at least she was on good terms with them. Caleb's family abandoned him…left him to fend for himself, she thought solemnly. Despite the fact that most animals in this forest do the same, they are feral and not anywhere near as intelligent as her, near-human species, or humans themselves. It didn't seem right at all…now she felt really sorry for asking him.
"I…I'm sorry" she said in her heavy accent, pain in her voice. I looked away, sighing softly, "I was different…they didn't like the way I was…"
"W-what do you mean?" The squirrel just had to ask. I turn to face her, and again our eyes never blinked once during our exchange, "I had some…interest in a guy…we both liked each other."
"I-I don't follow…" she said. Wow, she doesn't? Do I have to spell it out for her?
"HoodWink…I'm Bisexual" I deadpanned.
She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head, "uh-what?"
I am also equally confused now, "don't you guys have such terms in your world?"
She shrugged, but then it hit her despite not knowing what LGBT meant in her world, "mate, you mean to tell me…your family abandoned you…because you loved a male member of your species?"
I just had to nod back at this. She seemed flabbergasted, and furious at the idea. How absurd, HoodWink thought, "so…in your world…having such relationships is…taboo?"
I looked away. Her face darkened, even more, shaking her head madly at the ridiculousness, "Caleb…I…I don't know what to say."
"I guess that's something I can look forward to if I end up staying in this world, no discrimination" I scoffed, still facing the other way.
"There's discrimination…just…not that" she explained. Suddenly, she just had to hop toward me, using her small paws to redirect my line of sight to hers, "listen…my kind were persecuted…murdered or imprisoned…I know a thing or two about prejudice…it's what led me here…to this forest…to Tomo'Kan."
This is when my eyes finally focus on her unnatural blue eyes…something inside of me opened as if I wanted to open to her finally, and I did.
"I guess we're both alike in some respect…" I muttered.
"Yes…yer one of the few humans I can relate to."
"I ought to appreciate that, I reckon" I nodded.
After a few moments, I took this time to check my phone… it was almost dead. HoodWink could sense my despair…looking into my bleak expression.
What if my phone dies? What if I never get to see my world ever again…everything…the modern world…the people…the cultures…everything. All the normal things I took for granted will be gone…replaced by the unnatural…supernatural…the bizarre. I'll never get to see the things I loved to see; hear the songs I love…enjoy the things I did…will that all be gone?
With the last of the battery on my flip phone being drained, I glance over my photos…the most precious ones I can find. HoodWink leans over, quietly sharing the moment with me. Even if it's not her world, she won't be able to see it ever again probably. With my phone dying, there's no way I can share my photos in this world…
Despite her dislike towards civilization, this one (mine) felt different than the others she had seen. It almost seemed a bit cleaner and more optimistic compared to the ones she was used to.
"HoodWink…" I suddenly blurted out, "…if…I can't go home…what will I do?"
"I…" she wasn't sure herself but having known me this long she didn't just want me to go off on my own without knowing I would end up safe. She knew, however, if I were to adapt to this universe it would be an uphill battle, "we'll find a way to get 'ya back, Caleb…"
Sure enough, my phone's screen finally shut off, maybe for the last time ever, and I slowly lowered it from my face.
"That's it…" I muttered softly.
"Caleb…" she said, getting a bit closer as if to comfort me, "I don't know much about your world, but it's your home. I'll do what I can to help you, you deserve that much, ye."
I said nothing back. Despair filled my entire façade…tears fell, and I covered my face, and buried it between my legs. It's been a while since I fell apart like this and I felt embarrassed to show it, to say the least…
To HoodWink, it somehow reminded her of when she was alone…in this very place she now calls home…how she had lost her parents. She remembered how she didn't know what to do, whom to turn to…she had NO ONE…no one in her life to comfort her when she was at her lowest point. Now, she had the opportunity to help someone who was in a similar position as she was. One of her earliest memories was hearing a lullaby from her mother. Hood is one to serenade for the sake of entertainment and what not. Knowing that this strange human may never hear the psalms and hymns that he enjoys hearing to lift his soul, the squirrel needed to lay down her own to help him.
And so, I heard the anthropomorphic squirrel sing a song unfamiliar to me. I lowered my hands and looked over to her. She continued, happy that she got my attention. My bright green eyes and HoodWink's blue orbs met: our eyes locked, far longer than I ever held such a gaze with her. Her voice is unlike anything I've ever heard before…
I couldn't help but cease my sorrow and listen…hear her song and once she's done…I'm blown away by it, my breath taken away. I must take a few moments to gather myself, "t-that was…nice…" I said in between my sobs, wiping them clean with an arm.
"Chur" she responded, which I guess meant 'thank you' in her slang. After a minute or two, we decided to rest before continuing our journey.
Unfortunately, it would happen a lot sooner, for HoodWink's ears suddenly catches the sound of scurrying legs all around them…above and below us. She started getting nervous…knowing exactly what they are, "mate…I'm sorry but…we got to go" she whispered to me as I began getting worried.
"Trouble again?" I asked, starting to shake.
"Yup."
Then we heard it: we looked above us to see several large black spiders crawling/moving down from the branches above! Their red eyes shine brightly as they are followed by hissing. HoodWink and I gasp in surprise and dread.
Despite wanting our moment to last longer, we are both forced to run and fight again…
Hopefully this doesn't become a daily occurrence…
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Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed this recent chapter. I'm having fun writing this short fic. Let me know how I'm doing by leaving a review if 'ya like! Take care and have a great weekend!