Chapter 2: The Swamp
Summary: A fledgling unicorn, injured Champions, and a confused party. What a way to start a journey. And the Champions make it through the first obstacle only to land right into a second one.
xxx
The unicorn looked at Uni with his dark eyes, confusion and fear emanating from his trembling body. He opened his mouth then closed it and finally settled for bobbing his head in misery.
"Oh, Eric," moaned Sheila.
Hank frowned and in a steady voice claimed, "We leave in one hour, Gang. Now we've got four cures to get." He gave his friend a sympathetic look then headed into the main healing tent in search of their weapons, Bobby following.
Uni reached over slowly and touched Eric's velvety nose, fingers just below the sapphire and silver chainmail around the horn on his forehead. The unicorn seemed uncertain at the touch, but he remained standing there. His dark eyes, wide in hesitant fear, met Uni's and he finally shut them, lowering his head with a soft whisper of chain links in what looked very much like defeat.
"Come on, Uni. Eric," Diana said, her voice steady if gentle. The Acrobat picked up Eric's pack, hesitated, then turned to Ayesha. "We'll need to repack for him." She turned as the princess nodded, picking up the dropped net and following the Acrobat towards the supply wagons.
Presto approached Eric and put a hand on his friend's forehead on the armor near the gold and ebony horn. "That was brave, Eric," he said as softly as Diana had spoken, "taking the hit for Uni without your shield. You saved her life." He moved his fingers under the protective barding on Eric's neck and stroked once, lightly, as Eric opened his eyes to watch the Magician warily.
The red-haired Elf nodded, burying her face in Eric's neck, ignoring the metal; she trembled as much as he did. If she'd become a unicorn from Kelek's spell, her neck would have been too large for that loop of vine. The realization of just how close to death she'd been made Uni's head spin. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she began to fall.
Eric let out a sharp whinny as Presto leapt to catch Uni, picking her up in his arms. Sheila and Terri hurried to help him, but Presto seemed quite able to lift the petite Elf without aid. The Magician turned to the former Cavalier and frowned at the shock in Eric's rolling eyes. "Hey! Don't you pass out, Eric! I can't catch you!"
In answer, Eric shook his head, mane flying in raven-dark ripples. His eyes showed less panic, less confusion, though Eric still seemed uncertain. He stamped his right front hoof in a surprised reaction when Bobby walked over with club and shield.
Uni slowly come around but remained in Presto's arms for the moment, and Bobby looked confused by the sight. "Uh," the Barbarian looked over at Eric then behind him at Hank, who followed with bow and javelin. "What do we do with Eric's shield?" Bobby turned back to Eric who gave the teen an unreadable stare.
The group paused to think and finally Uni looked at Presto. "Let me down?" He complied and she walked over to Bobby, still a bit unsteady. "I'll carry it. Once Airk's cured, we'll give it back." She reached for the Griffon Shield.
Bobby nodded, unsure how else to react, handing the shield to his former pet.
Suddenly, Terri shook her head and whispered, "this is wrong." Bobby and Uni turned to her while the others looked surprised. Terri, sounding troubled, said, "I saw Eric with this unicorn. He even had his shield."
The Barbarian frowned and glanced around the camp as if for answers. He saw Lorne walking with Avah between howdahs and looked relieved. Bobby nodded his head in that direction. "Maybe you saw Lorne? From behind they kind of look alike. I got them mixed up just this morning before breakfast."
Terri looked towards Lorne, studying him, then shook her head, adamantly. "No, it wasn't Lorne. The build's wrong. Eric's thinner and shorter by a couple of inches." She turned to Eric, studying his equine form. "Well, at least he was," she added, frowning.
Eric let out a snort.
Looking hopeful, Presto asked, "was that a laugh, Eric?"
The unicorn rolled his eyes and looked at his friend but didn't give any indication of an answer. Instead, he restlessly dug at the ground with his right front hoof. When his friends merely stared at him, he swung his head sideways with a soft rattle of chainmail, knocking Presto into Uni.
Presto grabbed Uni's arms, but the former unicorn began to laugh, even though she sounded close to tears. "What?" Presto asked, desperately wishing he could understand Eric now. He wondered if Varla or Kosar could pick up on the former Cavalier's thoughts.
"I think Airk wants to start the quest now." Uni smiled tremulously and reached over to touch Eric's nose.
The unicorn settled his restless movements and bobbed his head in return. Then, slowly, as if afraid of displaying any awkwardness, Eric bent his head low and touched the tip of his horn to Uni's hand. He lifted his head to gaze at her solemnly.
She looked down, studying the hand and the alicorn it gripped. A heartbeat passed. Then another. Suddenly she laughed and held up the silver alicorn. "I can use this to talk to Airk." She smiled proudly at Eric and he bobbed his head enthusiastically, letting out a soft nicker. As if embarrassed, Eric shut up just as quickly, eyes meeting Uni's, miserable. She stroked his nose consolingly.
Hank stepped over as he transferred the javelin into the same hand that held his bow. He placed a hand lightly on Eric's metal-covered withers. "Well, if no one's got a problem, let's leave now."
"Wait," Ayesha ran forward, followed by Diana, both carrying saddlebags. Diana smiled at Eric's look of sheer indignation: no other word could describe the haughty look in his fine brown-black eyes and the stiffening in his gold-flecked cream body. Ayesha reached over and grabbed Eric's barding near the neck. "You'll need supplies and, like it or not, My Brother, this is the best way for you to carry them." She began strapping on the bags. "Eric, were you aware you are wearing a saddle to go with your barding?"
Eric's eyes widened in shock again and he tried to turn his head to get a look at the equipment his armor had apparently been changed into. He caught a glimpse of a crimson saddle blanket and metallic-sapphire-colored leather saddle worked with silver embroidery. He turned his head and curled his lip but didn't make a sound.
Hank grabbed the chainmail covering the back and sides of the unicorn's neck and tugged, drawing Eric's immediate attention. "Hey, Buddy, we won't make you carry a rider unless you have to." The Ranger and the unicorn stared into one another's eyes for a long moment, some unspoken message relayed between them. Finally, as Hank let Eric go, Eric bobbed his head in agreement.
Ayesha folded the net and slipped it into one of Eric's bags. "Remember, Eric, equines are not meat eaters." When he turned uncertain eyes on her, she added, "you'll need to get used to the idea that your body is made to process grains, grass, and soft leaves. Let Uni guide you as to which are edible." At the misery in the former human's eyes, the princess stroked the exposed underside of his neck. "You will make a fine unicorn, My Brother. May your journey back to yourself be quick and peaceful." She patted him again then stepped back, right into Presto's arms.
Turning, Ayesha threw her arms around Presto, unaware or uncaring of the surprised reactions of those around them. Presto hugged her tightly to him. He kissed her forehead and whispered, "we'll come home as soon as we can, Ayesha." She nodded and they clung to each other for another long moment before Presto pulled away and stepped back. He turned to Hank and nodded his readiness.
The rest of the Champions took leave of the travelers as quickly as they could and soon the eight were on their journey, hindered by Eric's cautious, stumbling movements as he tried to get used to walking on four long legs. His balance off, he looked graceless and awkward. No one laughed as they took the south road away from the valley. They knew that Eric's uncertain movements could endanger them all.
xxx
As they moved further south, the road became easier. The dry, hot baked earth gradually smoothed into undulating grasslands strewn lightly with trees and bushes. The wind picked up as the time passed and grey clouds began to build on the horizon, though far enough away not to seem an immediate threat.
Disinclined to talk, they moved in silence, Eric and Uni in the front with Hank and Sheila in the rear. The Ranger felt this was best so Eric could be helped if he stumbled.
Perhaps an hour had passed when Sheila reached over and captured Hank's hand. "I'm worried, Hank." She looked at him.
He glanced at her then nodded, but asked "about what?" There were so many things wrong, such potential for disaster, he wasn't sure which troubled her more - - or if it was everything combined.
Sheila sighed. "About Eric and Uni. I know they were a - - problem couple before, but now?"
The Ranger shrugged since there was nothing he could do for the star-crossed pair. "We'll worry about curing them both first. We can deal with the emotional repercussions later." He gently squeezed her hand, offering a small smile. "Besides, being a unicorn might teach Eric a thing or two."
"Yeah," chimed in Bobby from right in front of them. "Like how to chow on grass and take a du. . ."
"Bobby!" Sheila hissed, flushing.
Her brother grinned unrepentantly at her and hefted his club to his shoulder. "Well, he will."
"I don't care. Poor Eric!" she glared at the teen.
Ahead of Bobby, Presto glanced over his shoulder with a frown. "For a kid nearly grown, you sure haven't got manners, Bobby."
The blond youth flushed but had to grin at Diana's quip of, "that's why he's the Barbarian." She walked with certainty next to Presto, right in front of Terri.
"Can it, Guys. No picking on each other this early in the quest." Hank sounded more teasing than stern.
"Well, how about answers then?" asked Terri. "I'd like to know what happened to everyone after Bobby came home."
As the others hadn't had time to discuss their separations no one protested. Even Eric perked up at the idea. The six humans moved up to spread on either side of Uni and Eric so they could talk, and the next several hours passed quickly.
'Catch up' came to a halt when Hank said, "I think we're going to get soaked."
"And it's getting pretty dark," Sheila added, gesturing to the setting suns.
The Champions looked around for the first time in hours. The grasslands had given way to thick, springy marshland on either side of a compact rocky path picking its way further into the bog. The questionable route looked hazardous at best. The clouds had continued building until they loomed low and close, threatening a strong storm in the very near future.
"Uh, Guys?" Terri gestured to a cloaked figure standing to the side near a shelf of stable ground, apparently watching them. It stood about five foot nine inches, swathed in a dark grey hooded cloak, and leaned on a five foot wooden staff.
Uni stepped closer to Eric, restlessly adjusting the golden shield she carried on her left arm. Frowning, she looked at Hank, avoiding the figure. "If we don't continue, we'll have to backtrack into the storm some ways to find shelter. But we don't know how big the swamp is or the trail through it." She eyed the deepening dusk and the rapidly approaching storm clouds, a sheet of grey angling down in a torrent of rain.
The figure turned as if to look at the horizon then turned back and began to approach.
"I think he's coming closer," Presto's soft tenor sounded worried.
Eric restlessly pawed the ground, watching the cloaked figure distrustfully. He began to move to block Uni with his body, but Uni put a steady hand on his armored neck. "We don't have to speak to him," she said in a low voice.
Hank looked at his friends then stepped forward, cutting off the stranger before he could get to the others. "Hello. Is there something we can do for you?"
The cloaked figure stopped, leaning on his staff for a long silent moment. Finally, slowly, the stranger reached up and pulled the hood down, revealing a long fall of blonde spiral curls and thick lashed blue eyes in a round-cheeked, pixie-like face. She didn't smile, but the unknown woman wasn't frowning either. "Much Dara do you."
"And what would that be?" Diana stepped forward, a friendly smile on her face though her eyes remained wary.
The woman looked towards Diana and nodded, offering her first smile, lighting her face. "You storm cave."
Nodding his head slightly, Hank asked, "how large is that swamp? We need to get past it."
The woman tilted her head, eyeing the dark clouds laced with bright flashes. Her smile dropped away as she looked at Hank. "Possible hour good." She turned her smile on Diana once more. "Cave fast."
Realizing the woman responded better to her, Diana stepped beyond Hank and smiled again at the stranger. "Do you know someone who can get us through the marsh safely?" She felt Hank step back and silently approved the Ranger's understanding.
Fingering her staff, the woman turned her eyes to the rocky path into the bog. She looked at the Acrobat and smiled again. "Dara guide. Most straight on stone." She looked beyond Diana to her companions, her eyes running over each member and ending on Uni and Eric, though none of the Champions were clearly visible in the growing darkness. "Not good rain dark."
Uni spoke up from behind Hank. "Straight? We can do that," she sounded unhappy, distant, drawing Hank and Diana's attention.
Having learned about Uni and Eric's relative isolation from much contact over the last few years, Hank thought he could understand the former unicorn's reluctance to trust any stranger. But they could use this woman's help. He softly said, "Uni, we can use a guide."
The woman looked back at Hank, frowning. "Make pay?"
"We don't have money," Presto said, stepping forward.
The frown grew, and the woman stepped back once, watching the Magician warily. "Most straight. Fast. Storm now." She tugged her hood up and turned, hurrying off towards a copse of pines.
"Wait," Diana called, frowning. She began to run after the woman but stopped at Hank's hand on her shoulder.
"We should go." He let go of the Acrobat and turned towards the dark path. "If we're lucky, we can stay in front of that storm." He gestured behind them but walked forward toward the stones. After only a couple of steps, Eric and Uni passed him to take the lead; Hank let them, falling to the rear once more.
xxx
A half hour of fighting driving wind and cold pelting rain had the Champions drenched and muddy. Presto had loaned his robe to Diana, as she'd been the least dressed of the group, but no one was truly less soaked or miserable than the others.
The stone path had been fairly discernible until full night fell. Now, they warily followed in single file, Eric still picking his way in the lead. He held his head down as he carefully watched the mud and occasional large stone in front of his feet.
"Eric?" Sheila shouted to be heard above the roaring storm. "What's that?"
Looking up, the unicorn narrowed his eyes to try to clarify the slowly bobbing lights ahead. There were two of them, at about waist height on a human, moving at a steady pace, like someone walking. The lights were almost directly ahead, slightly to the left of where Eric headed. Stopping, the former Cavalier turned his head to look at those behind him. He curled his lip slightly and offered a soft whinny.
Uni turned and looked at the others. "Do we pick our own path or follow the lights?" She sounded doubtful but didn't explain what made her uncertain.
Bobby wiped a hand down his face, trying to brush the pelting water from his eyes. "Is it people or a house?"
"I - - I'm not sure, Bobby," Uni looked back at the lights with a shiver.
"We don't want to wander off the path." Hank advised. "Eric, are the lights on the stone path?"
The unicorn looked back to the bobbing waist-high lights and looked back at the Ranger. He curled his lip again and blew out, pawing his right front hoof.
Holding up her silver alicorn, Uni closed her eyes and concentrated. It began to glow with a soft metallic gleam. Eric's eyes fell on the former unicorn and he stared intently at her. Finally, the Elf turned back to Hank. "The lights aren't straight ahead, but they could be on the path. It has turned briefly before." She shook her head. "I say we go our own way."
Bobby shook his head, blond hair plastered to his head in freezing strands. "I saw we follow the lights, Uni. Those people can help us." He shuddered and looked straight at the woman who had once been his pet unicorn. "I know you've been alone for years with only Eric, but you've gotta learn to trust again sometime, Uni."
She opened her mouth, eyes widening, then shut it again, turning forward. She shook her head, the long red mass hanging wetly about her slender figure. "Whatever you say, Bobby." Her tone sounded soft, almost inaudible, though Presto, right behind her, heard.
The Magician turned and spoke to Bobby. "She said you choose."
Narrowing blue eyes, Bobby nodded and gestured towards the lights. "Then let's go ask for help. We'll freeze if we stay out here much longer. And Eric might slip and break a leg."
Flattening his ears back against his head, Eric shook his head and let out a sharp, short whinny. He didn't look back but merely turned his not-so-steady steps towards the bobbing lights. After only three steps, the error became quite evident as Eric began to sink fast, his front legs sliding down the slick stones and into the sucking bog. His greater weight pulled him down and he thrashed, screaming in terror.
"Airk!" Uni jumped forward, trying to grab for him and wishing his armor had included reins or a lead rope. "Airk!"
A bright light temporarily exploded high over the scene as Hank let loose an arrow into the sky. The bobbing lights had vanished as if they'd never been: will-o-wisps to lure travelers to a watery demise. He lit the sky again as Presto pulled off his hat, trying to think of a spell, and Sheila began going through her pack, looking for rope.
A dark figure darted past the group and slopped into the mire next to the flailing unicorn. Her hood came off in her mad dash, revealing the reluctant stranger of earlier - - obviously she'd been following them since they entered the swamp. Now, she ripped the long rope belt from her waist and tossed part over Eric's neck, catching it and pulling his head towards her.
"Whoa! Easy big fella!" She moved out of the thrashing range of Eric's hooves and horn; he was too scared at the rapid sinking to register that he was being helped. The woman tugged again.
Uni jumped to her side and began to help her with the improvised lead. "Airk! Stop fighting us." She yelped, a braying sound, as Eric swung his head and dragged her closer to the deeper mire. Uni let go and scrambled back onto the dubious safety of the path. She gripped the alicorn in both hands and willed her unicorn magic to reach beyond his fear.
Suddenly, a glowing rope shot out and around Eric's neck, circling tightly, but not choking. Hank called out, "help pull him free!" He began tugging his energy arrow-rope one handed.
Sheila, Diana, and Terri joined in. Presto gave up on his spell and joined in, as well, tucking his hat into his waistband instinctively from long years of hiding it. With a groan, Bobby dropped his club to the path and surged into the muck to help the stranger with her rope lead. Uni mentally reached soothingly to her longtime companion.
'Airk. Stop fighting. We are helping. Calm down. I'm here, Airk.'
Slowly, Eric seemed to register their efforts and Uni's thoughts, and he stopped fighting them. He tried to help them pull him from the mire, pulling at his feet and leaning into their tugging ropes. Long moments passed.
With a sucking reluctance, the swamp gave up its prey and Eric nearly toppled his rescuers as he came free. He'd been struggling so hard, he nearly overshot the path and landed in the other side of the bog but caught himself in time. With a loud whinny, he shook his head, pulling the rope lead from the hands of Bobby and the stranger; Hank's energy rope dissipated.
Bobby scooped up his club as Hank wrapped an arm over his painful chest wounds, reopened once more in their efforts. Sheila's bandages hung bedraggled and dirty.
"Follow Dara." The woman's voice sounded gruff, her glare pure annoyance, as she turned to lead them the rest of the way from the storm-tossed swamp; they fell in behind her, Eric and Uni right behind, with Bobby limping heavily, and Hank once more in the rear. She ignored the return of the bobbing lights, staying on the hard-to-see path. With one hand, she gestured to the dancing globes and grunted "death trick light."
"Tell me about it," moaned Presto, earning a wary glance from the stranger and a poke of warning from Diana. He shut up, remembering that this woman seemed to dislike men. He certainly didn't want to wind up stranded again.
xxx
Within half an hour the blonde woman led the eight travelers from the swamp and towards a small hillside cavern. It had a doorway barely big enough to allow Eric, ducking, to enter, but inside the cave opened into a sizable room, rather dry and fairly warmer than the driving rain outside.
To the rear rain splashed down the interior wall, denoting air vents, and to the left a cold stream ran along the wall, providing fresh water. To the right a large furred skin hung on the wall, smelling of dried spices and smoked meat, and sitting beside were a battered trunk and rolled sleeping pallet. Near the front entrance, but away from the open doorway, a large stack of firewood and a smaller crate of kindling sat. Beyond the wood spread an even larger clear area with a massive wooden rack for drying skins and meat. A self-sufficient hunter could hole up in the cavern for days or even weeks against harsh conditions.
The woman began building a fire in a blackened, rock-encircled pit using quick sure movements. It blocked most of the entrance way but the chill from the storm began to dissipate as the flames licked at the wood.
When she had the fire going, she stood and moved back to the others, beginning to remove her soaked grey cloak, her silver shot grey breeches and tunic matching her silver and grey knee-high boots. "Strip. Dry." She stretched the cloak over one of the drying racks. Opening the trunk, she took out several luxurious furs and embroidered woolen cloaks and brought them to the group, dumping them in a dry spot close to the fire. She went back to the trunk and gathered long swathes of soft linen fabric, bringing those back as well and holding one out to Diana. "Dry," she repeated, offering a smile to the pretty Acrobat.
Diana smiled back and took the cloth. "Thanks. You saved us." She removed the worked gold headpiece she wore and began to dry her hair then looked at the woman. "I'm Diana."
"Dara," the woman said and handed a cloth to Sheila then Terri. She offered another to Uni, who hesitated before taking it with a small "thank you." Dara put most of the other cloths down on the ground then moved to Eric's side with two in her hands. Hank, Presto, and Bobby didn't argue, helping themselves.
Uni stepped up to Eric's side, frowning at Dara.
The woman turned to look Eric over and reached to unbuckle his head piece. "Steed you?" She looked at Uni.
Maroon eyes widening, Uni quickly tried to translate the woman's broken Basic. Finally, she realized what the question meant and nodded. "Yes," she said firmly. "He's mine." She began to unbuckle the soaked barding on Eric's back, not daring to look her friend in the eye after saying he was a possession rather than a companion. The former Cavalier didn't respond, hanging his head in exhaustion and stepping slowly from one hoof to another as the two women worked.
Unperturbed by Uni's possessiveness, Dara nodded and patted Eric's throat where the armor didn't reach; he opened his brown-black eyes and watched her with a deep wariness. "Beautiful," she said, her voice full of approval, drawing a surprised look from Uni. Dara finished unclasping the armor and slid it from Eric's head then dropped it in shock when she'd revealed the bloody bandage around Eric's head and horn.
"Oh!" Sheila looked horrified. "I didn't think to check! Oh, Eric! That must hurt!" The redhead stepped closer to the trio but stopped at Uni's head shake.
Eric bobbed his head wearily, in agreement that he hurt, closing his eyes, but continued to stand and let Uni remove his chainmail barding. He trembled with cold and fatigue. At the sudden release of the rest of his armor, he let out a neighing sigh. Uni began working on his despised saddle.
Dara stepped forward. "Unicorn?" She reached out a hand, paused, then touched the ebony and gold alicorn carefully. Eric turned his head to watch her with wary brown-black eyes, suspicion evident in his stiff stance; she didn't seem to notice his distrust. Instead, she turned and headed quickly into the skin-covered side cavern, returning with a basket. She moved to Eric's side once more and shot a glare at the still dripping Champions. "Strip. Dry," she ordered then turned back to Eric.
Presto flushed lightly but removed his tunic and trousers, not looking at his friends as he continued to dry off, leaving on only his underclothes. He wanted to be dry, and that wouldn't happen if he stayed in the wet clothing. He felt relieved when he saw the others begin copying him, undressing to their skivvies, except Uni who still tended Eric. Hank's bandages were soaked with blood and travel dirt once more and Presto knew the Ranger would be their next patient, followed no doubt by Sheila with her cheek injury.
Uni finished Eric's saddle and moved to block Dara who had reached for the bandages on Eric's head. Instead, the former unicorn began unwrapping the old soaked cloth. She felt guilty for not thinking that the claw injury from the vampire would remain after Kelek's transformation spell. Gently, Uni stroked Eric's velvety ears as she worked to carefully ease the bandages off. She didn't want to cause him more pain than he already felt.
The blonde woman shrugged at Uni's continued possessive behavior and moved to begin drying Eric with her cloths. She glanced back at the huddled humans, approval in her eyes when she noted they had undressed and dried. When Bobby reached for one of the warm furs, she nodded and turned back to the unicorn she helped tend.
Presto looked at the others and whispered "why'd she help if we can't pay?"
Sheila shook her head, but turned to the woman before Presto could make the mistake of asking for them. Dara had responded better to the women - - even Uni who acted blatantly hostile to her. "Dara? Thanks for coming after us. That was awfully nice since we couldn't hire you."
Dara looked over at her and smiled suddenly, her face softening again. "Help wander. Pay late."
The Thief looked at the others then back to their unusual host. "I'm not sure how we'll be able to pay you later. Maybe we could do some work for you after the storm clears?" She recalled that Hank had said he'd survived on his own by working from town to town.
The woman laughed and shrugged. "Possible."
Uni finally spoke again, her voice soft, still distrustful. "You're wet. I can take care of Airk."
"Airk?" Dara looked at Uni, eyes curious.
"Actually," Terri jumped in, seeing anger flare in Uni's eyes at Dara's unwitting mistake. "His name's Eric. Uni's the only one allowed to call him Airk."
"Oh." Dara nodded. "Eric." She offered Uni another smile, but the redhead merely turned and finished unwrapping the bandages, revealing the freshly bleeding claw marks across Eric's forehead and around the horn, which had appeared right on his injury during the transformation. Dara's eyes widened further. She touched Eric's shoulder with a trembling hand and breathed, "clawing - -"
As if slapped, Uni reared back and turned a look of pure hate on the woman. "Don't touch him!"
"Uni!" Bobby felt horrified by the hostility reverberating so noticeably through the normally gentle former unicorn.
In response, Uni shot the Barbarian an annoyed glare then turned to Dara. "Yes. A vampire hurt him." Her voice sounded reluctant, her face still twisted in disapproval.
Dara offered another smile, ignoring the hostility. "Beautiful," she repeated and took her hand from Eric. She pushed the basket towards the Elf and turned to her other guests, her smile slipping a bit. "Food." The still wet woman hurried back into her side cave.
Hank turned to the others and kept his voice low. "We need to be careful, Gang. I'm not sure what kind of payment she'll want for her help. Keep an eye on your weapons at all times."
Checking that her locket stayed hidden by the fur she'd wrapped in, Terri nodded, frowning. Absently, she said, "I wonder why she hates men."
"Not hate. Not trust," Dara said with a disdainful sniff as she came back out to the main room. She put a large cauldron on the fire and scooped water, using a bowl, from the stream into the pot. When she had it half full she began adding dried meat to soak.
Standing, she stripped down to her own skivvies at last, revealing a body covered in old scars, practically neck to ankle and over her arms. She looked at the others defiantly and turned so they had a good look before she grabbed a drying cloth and began to vigorously dry herself. "Violent beasts men. Greed. Lust." She deliberately pinned a look on Presto then Hank. When she turned her eyes on Bobby, she looked him over thoughtfully. "Young. Learn nice here." She nodded and wrapped in a fur, grabbing the ends and tying it toga-style so she could still move about with her hands free.
Bobby blinked and looked at the others then blushed lightly. "Uh - - yeah - - I want to be nice." Her Basic was hard to understand but he thought he had the gist of it: she felt he was young enough to learn not to hurt women. "Um - - Dara?" he tried, hoping he'd been right and she'd tolerate him for his youth.
She looked at him, eyes wary but not stepping back from him as she had Hank or Presto. "Want?"
"Uh - - just thought I'd say I'm Bobby. These are my friends. You met Diana and that's Uni and Eric and that's Hank and Presto. That's my sister Sheila, and this is Terri." He gestured to each then took Terri's hand, unconsciously trying to show he was a nice guy. Bobby didn't like being assumed violent, even if his temper ran hot.
Dara's eyes followed each introduction then she nodded, turning back to the meat on the fire. "Dry cloth," she offered to no one in particular.
Hank immediately started pulling their clothes from the soaking pile. When Dara indicated the drying rack, he nodded and headed over there with his bundle. Presto and Sheila followed, Bobby at their heels with Terri. Diana approached Dara instead.
"Want some help?" She slipped the golden headpiece back on her damp black curls. "I've been known to make a good stew. Even Eric's said so in the past." The Acrobat offered the young woman a friendly smile, hiding her anger at whoever had hurt her so badly.
Moving aside to allow Diana room at the pot, Dara smiled and nodded. "Unicorn talk?"
"Only to me," Uni called out, less bitterness and anger in her voice. She berated herself privately for her distrust of the stranger. Dara had done nothing but help them; she'd even helped save Eric's life. The woman didn't deserve Uni's distrust. The redhead couldn't understand why she felt such hate towards the blonde, but she would fight it.
"Unicorn eat stew?"
Uni blinked at Dara's question and recalled that Eric wouldn't be able to eat the meat in the stew, even though Diana had claimed he'd done it in the past. Making a quick decision, she sighed and turned fully to Dara. "He's not able to eat meat like this. He used to, but he's under a curse."
Dara looked confused, studying Eric with narrowed eyes. Her gaze traveled back up to the claw marks on Eric's forehead. "Hurt?"
Eric shook his head, mane limply clinging to his damp gold-flecked hide. He moved closer to the fire, trying for warmth, and Uni began drying him once more. He carefully nuzzled his nose against her shoulder and Uni lay her face against his damp neck, inhaling. A long moment passed before she lifted her head and began to dry him again.
She continued her explanation. "He wasn't a unicorn before. He was cursed. We're going to find a cure." She didn't mention her own curse or those on their friends back north. She didn't feel right giving out too much information.
Sitting back on her heels, Dara studied Eric with intense eyes. She finally stood without the need of her hands, displaying an acrobatic grace that pleased and surprised Diana. "Where cure?" Dara asked as she moved to her side cave, reaching for the draped fur doorway. She looked at Uni.
Uni looked to the others and Hank didn't disappoint. He nodded permission to talk about their quest. But he was the one who started to speak in a calm friendly voice. He, too, determined to show this skittish woman that not all men were the beasts she assumed them to be. "Our friends are hurt and Uni and Eric were cursed. We're going to find a healer who can help them. We've heard a healer's in the Singing Forest to the south of here."
Dara stiffened, hand clutching at the fur door. Her blue eyes widened and she turned her surprised gaze on Hank. Shaking her head, she whispered, "Heart Unity."
"That's right," Sheila stepped towards her softly, feeling odd in her fur toga and bare feet. "Um, we were told Heart's Unity is in the Singing Forest and can help us heal curses? Is that what you heard?" The Thief wanted to trust Raevonn's information but she felt a second opinion would be very nice; after all Sheila had only known the Elf Healer a few hours.
The blonde woman pulled the door curtain back and disappeared into the side cavern without an answer.
Sheila sighed and moved to help Uni dry Eric's chilled body. The former unicorn didn't protest the help this time, denoting that it was Dara she mistrusted. With another sigh, Sheila softly asked, "what's wrong, Uni? Why don't you like Dara? She saved Eric's life."
Eric turned his head to look back at Sheila near his hindquarters. He nickered softly, shaking his head. The two redheads watched him but neither responded to the former Cavalier.
Placing a hand on Eric's withers, Uni let out a slow breath. "I don't know why, Sheila." She turned maroon eyes to meet teal. "I just don't. I look at her or hear her and suddenly I get chills."
Bobbing his head in response, Eric whickered.
Sheila frowned and looked from Uni to Eric and back. "Is it because you two aren't used to people anymore?"
The re-entrance of Dara interrupted the private conversation and the blonde brought a rolled hide to the fireside, though not close enough to burn. She squatted down and unrolled the large material, revealing brightly colored patterns sewn into the hide. "South," she trailed a finger down the hide, skimming over trees and rivers and other topography marked clearly in fine, bright threads. Ending with one finger on a series of odd lines in what seemed to be a random set of twists and turns, she looked up and straight at Uni. "Sing Tree."
Uni stopped drying Eric to step over and look at the map, frowning. She scrutinized the varied lines. "It looks like a maze. . ."
A loud gasp drew everyone's attention and Terri shuddered. Her eyes lit up a bright metallic gold, and an answering gold shimmered from under the fur toga. The Dreamer dropped to her knees, unaware of her surroundings or the rack of wet clothing she knocked over. As Bobby gasped and jumped over the fallen rack to reach her, Terri began to shake horribly. She seemed unaware of even the Barbarian's arms sliding around her as she mentally spiraled into another place and time:
Weed choked gravel broken by reaching roots stretched in various directions, winding among overgrown thorny bushes towering overhead. The questionable path twisted beyond sight as the lonely sound of wind trailing through broken topiary swirled from all around. The curving corridor of greenery split into multiple twists, a looming shaggy trunk capped by an umbrella of fluted green and grey moss shadowed one of the left paths. The tall blond in the grey cloak gestured towards that line of gravel and the armored unicorn passed her by, heading directly towards the odd tree. His head was down, eyes watching the broken ground, and he didn't see the tree shift a foot closer to him. Someone screamed, the sound reverberating - - echoing in the confines of the cavern as Terri covered her face and fought the encircling arms around her.
"Terri! It's Bobby!"
"Leave Terri!" Dara's voice sounded enraged as the woman grabbed Bobby in surprisingly strong hands, pulling him from his girlfriend. "Leave!"
Sheila shook her head and grabbed for Dara. "No! Dara, Bobby's not hurting Terri." She wrapped her arms around the woman and pulled, trying to get her away from the Barbarian as he twisted in an attempt to pull out of her strong grip.
Hank knelt down and touched Terri's head. "Hey, Terri, we're here."
"It must be a bad one this time," Presto said, heading for the bowl by the stew pot. He grabbed it and filled it with icy water from the cavern stream then headed over to Terri's other side.
By then the Dreamer's eyes had faded back to denim blue, her locket dimmed to a dull golden gleam, and her skin paled as she trembled in the aftermath of the horrible vision. She accepted the bowl of water, sipping.
Diana moved to help Sheila pull Dara from Bobby. "Whoa, Dara. Relax. Terri's fine. It was a nightmare." She gripped the woman's chin and forced her to face Terri. "See? She's fine now."
Taking in the sight of the shaken brunette, Dara stopped fighting. She stilled under the two women, her blue eyes wide and watchful, her hands clasping one of Sheila's arms and one of Diana's. Finally, she nodded and dropped her hands completely. "Hurt Terri?" She pushed up to a sitting position, not looking at the seventeen year old she'd been fighting so roughly a moment before.
"No," Sheila said. "Terri has nightmares. Bobby was helping her."
"I'd never hurt Terri," Bobby added, his voice filled with disgust. He pulled the fur back into place over his hips, tightening the shoulder knot once more. Giving an exasperated glare to his hostess, he moved to Terri's side and took her into his arms. "Hey, Terr. I'm here."
Terri nodded and burrowed into her boyfriend, absently letting Presto take the water bowl from her limp fingers. "Bobby, it was horrible. There was this overgrown garden with hedges and a tree that was stalking Eric."
"Stalking Eric?" Hank frowned and petted the young woman's hair once more. "What kind of tree?"
She shook her head in answer, trying to get the vision out of her mind and knowing she couldn't let it go. It was important to remember these waking nightmares. These visions were one of the only ways the Champions of Power could be prepared for what would come. Taking a deep breath, Terri forced herself to describe the maze-like topiary garden and the looming hairy trunk with the fluted cap. "Like a huge mushroom," she finished and buried her face into Bobby's neck at last.
The other women allowed Dara to rise and the blonde once more smoothed out the hide map, though she kept a wary eye on her male guests, especially Bobby. Pointing to the dark curving lines once more, she said, "Maze Castle." Tracing her finger further down south of the maze to a pattern of differing greens, she said, "Sing Tree."
Uni called over from where she was drying Eric's legs. "Is there a way around the maze?"
Dara looked over then back at the map, tracing her fingers over browns and yellows worked around the black maze and green forest. "Mountain block. Quick maze."
"And how long's the quick way," Diana asked. She didn't want to risk Eric to some stalking tree, but Dekkion's life, as well as Ramoud's, depended on speed.
Nodding her understanding of the question, Dara brought her fingers back to the brown and grey area that denoted the swamp they were at the edge of. She trailed her fingers down the embroidered hide and touched a series of brown and grey oddly shaped marks that appeared close to their present spot. "Dance Rock two moon dark." She slid her finger slightly further to bright yellow and tan threads woven a great swath over the hide, but as thin as a finger nail's thickness. "Shift Sand three moon dark. Day possible wander. Two day possible." She moved her fingers over more green tree marks and caressed a rather large swath of varying blues with brown flecks. "Crystal Water five moon dark." She moved her fingers further south to the maze and looked up. "Maze Castle seven moon dark. Possible." Dara looked around at the group, her eyes quickly skimming over Bobby to land on Diana. "Not straight ten moon dark possible."
"Ten months?" Sheila said, turning troubled eyes to Hank. "Should we risk the maze if it's only seven months?"
Hank ran a hand through his damp blond hair then winced, curling his arm around his torso. "Since Terri was able to warn us, I think it'd be a good idea to go the shorter time. The others need those cures as quick as possible. We need to bring Heart's Unity back to camp."
Sheila took his arm and lifted it, frowning. "We need to get that bandaged, Hank." She began to pull him to Uni and Eric where the medicine basket still sat. She quickly unwrapped the soaked linens.
Showing sudden interest, Dara watched the pair move. "Hurt you?"
The Ranger sank to the cave floor and said, "I was attacked by a ghast. Sheila was hit." He didn't want to tell her a man hit Sheila, giving just one more example of how men hurt women.
The blonde woman nodded slowly then stood and moved to her side cave, appearing quickly with a pottery jar of something foul smelling. Without any permission, Dara dipped out a generous handful and plastered it across Hank's gashed chest. He winced, biting back a scream of raw pain, but Dara ignored his reaction and wound several clean linens tightly around him. "Heal rot touch."
"Rot touch?" Sheila gasped. "What's that?"
Dara looked at her then at the others. She shook her head at the confusion and worry she noted. "Not-dead rot touch. Kill slow. Die be not-dead." She looked to Hank. "You die be not-dead. Rosemary tincture heal rot touch. You live."
Hank paled at the realization that his injuries could easily turn him into a ghast. He hadn't known.
Reaching out to touch the pottery jar of goop, Diana looked hopefully at Dara. "Can it heal a demi-lich blast? Hank was hurt by ghasts and Eric by a vampire. But Dekkion was hurt by a demi-lich. He's - - " she forced herself to say it, "dying from it."
The hunter looked into her pot and shrugged. "Not hurt try. Not use demi-lich." She looked up. "Not heal vampire. Vampire much strong."
"Oh," Diana sighed. "A demi-lich is stronger." She frowned then looked straight at Dara. "But he's only a day away. We could try, right?" She looked at the others.
Hank nodded. "Sure we could. Dara can we please use the healing salve for Dekkion? They can pay you at the camp." He knew that the others could provide cloth, money, food, or whatever the woman wanted in return for her healing mixture. It burned like fire on his wounds, but he felt as if it was easier to move, as if the rips didn't go quite so deep anymore. It was very possible this woman could help them before they even got to Heart's Unity and the Singing Forest.
Dara's eyes lit up at the mention of payment. She nodded happily and offered the salve to Diana. "Take. Hand wound." She pantomimed slopping on an entire handful for a wound.
The Acrobat sighed. "Any more? It's his entire body that's hurt." She looked at Dara hopefully, but her face fell when Dara shook her head.
"No. Gone all. Much not-dead swamp. Make more dark sun."
Presto jumped into the conversation, asking softly, "you can make more during an eclipse?"
Warily, the woman nodded, but kept her eyes on Diana. "More dark sun two dark moon. Make wander."
"You want to travel with us?" Presto asked before realizing he'd chased her away the first time in the swamp by butting in.
Fortunately, Dara merely nodded. "Make tincture wander. Make pay you." She looked towards Presto.
He frowned and held his hands out from his fur-wrapped body. "We don't have money," he reminded her.
"Make pay camp?" She gestured towards the swamp. "Wander Sing Forest. Wander camp. Make pay."
Hank looked at the others then at Dara and nodded, offering his hand solemnly. "When we return from the Singing Forest to the camp, we can pay you. It's a deal."
Dara looked at his hand then nodded and moved to wash her hand off in the stream. She rolled the hide and tucked it under her fur toga then began to stir and poke the softening meat.
Diana looked at the others and smiled hesitantly, still worried. "Looks like we've hired a guide."
To the back of the cave Uni stood up. Eric pawed the rock ground with his right front hoof, nuzzling his nose carefully into Uni's hip. She stroked his ears, frowning. Neither appeared very happy with their newest member.
