SURVIVAL OF THE SMARTEST
Summary: The altered version of Roots of Terror.
Chapter three: Escaped Prisoners
Author's Notes:
Hope you like it!
I can't wait to post this!
Okay, here's the story now:
As Eir tracks the Mordrem southward, Caithe explains her actions regarding Glint's egg.
"It was my Wyld Hunt - to get to Tarir, preferably with a chosen champion. The Pale Tree impressed upon me heavily the importance of this, and how vital it is that it not fall into the dragon's hands. I felt the importance of the task was suffocating, and I desperately wanted it done and gone, as soon as could be."
"So desperate not to explain?" the Commander asks incredulously.
"I felt I couldn't trust anyone... I was already feeling the Call, faint as it was. I knew not to trust my thoughts, but they still got me cautious and paranoid. I forgot to trust my own advice and talk to people."
"Mordremoth is more dangerous than it seems at first sight," Eir comments.
"Dragons always are," Rytlock says grimly.
"We know," Kasmeer says softly.
"They made camp here for a few hours," Eir says, pausing to inspect a patch of flattened grass, and the freshness of the tracks farther on.
"If we hope to catch up, we can't stop," Caithe says urgently.
The trail had led the group into a winding cave system.
"This place is a maze!" Eir declares in frustration. "I can't tell if they stopped here or not. This area indicates they did, but the tracks beyond are no fresher."
"There's another trail this way," Braham says, from near a passageway to the northwest.
Eir goes over and inspeacts the tracks. "There's no Mordrem among them, but there are signs of a disturbance on the other side of the cavern, and almost none here. Those marks are by that southeastern passageway, but no tracks lead down it."
"No residual traces of magic, either," Marjory adds.
"Logan and Zojja were here, at least," Rytlock says, quite certain. "They caused this commotion, I'm sure of it. Eir, where does the Mordrem trail continue?"
"Through that southwest tunnel," Eir replies.
"Logan and Zojja were still with the Mordrem when they left," Rytlock confirms.
"Those who escaped through that passage might have some answers," Rox suggests, gesturing to the northwestern tunnel.
"They might," the Commander agrees. "Can you follow the trail?"
"Yes.. but it'll be tough and slow, on this terrain." Rox says doubtfully. "What about you, Eir?"
"Probably," Eir says. "This should be easy enough. This way." *
"How fresh is it?"
"Very. I doubt they got far."
"There's the camp," Caithe says.
"Commander!" calls a norn in the colors of the Order of Whispers. "the Pact - "
"Crashed, yes." Eir interrupts.
"Eir Stegalkin! I'm glad you're alright. Captain Thackeray, Zojja, and Marshal Trahearne were worried about you." *
"They're not here, I take it?" the Commander says resignedly.
"No. They sacrificed their own chance at freedom so we could escape."
Eir nods. "That fits the tracks."
"You seem to be gearing up for something," Rytlock notes.
"Yes, a large monster keeps attacking us. We're going to try and kill it." **
"Can it wait? Did they leave a message?" Taimi asks.
"Yes and yes. Zojja approached me with a message from the Marshal just before the escape, with instruction to tell no one but the Commander, personally, for fear it would fall into enemy hands."
"And?" Canach asks testily.
"You can trust my companions, Magister," the Commander tells him.
"They say to hurry, that they won't have another chance to escape. Apparently Captain Thackeray overheard the route the Mordrem are taking, and that there's a short cut if you go straight south from the pass to the north, rather than tracking them in the westerly direction. The pass in the mountains to the south is in that direcction it's the only one."
"Thank you, Magister. This information is - "
"Magister, look out!" calls another Whispers agent.
"What is that?" Canach asks.
"A giant... bug... thing?" Braham suggests in confusion.
"That's what's been attacking out camp!" the magister declares. "Kill it!"
With the whole team there, plus the Whispers group, the beast is defeated quickly.
"Our problem is dealt with, but you need to hurry and catch up to the Mordrem!" the magister tells the Commander.
"You're sure you'll be okay?"
"We'll be fine," he assures her.
"We'll tell the first Pact camp we come across that you're here," the Commander replies. "Alright team, let's go."
When they arrive back at the four-way fork where Eir last found signs of Mordrem, the team stops.
"Cut south when the trail leads southwest?" Kasmeer asks.
"I know, it sounds risky," the Commander agrees. "Let's find a aPact scout - or an Itzel one - and see if it is the only southern pass, and the quickest way to it."
"There was that Whispers camp a ways back, near the northern pass," Rox suggests. "They're sure to have charted the area extensively."
"Great. We'll go there, then." the Commander decides.
Author's Notes:
Yes, short chapters, but... it's the best place to stop. I stop in good places.
And I still haven't got the slightest idea what to name the fanfic! 'Course, by the time you read it, it'll have a name... but still... or it might not. I could always name it 'no idea what to name this' or 'Eir doesn't die' but you know, I don't like doing things like that.
Whatever. (whatever you! Oops, wrong story...)
Okayy. The stars: *
I put several throughout this chapter.
* Eir being able to track better than Rox - Eir has been tracking for ages. I bet she got used to tracking crystallized terrain back when the group was fighting Kralkatorrik (before Snaff died) and so tracking even in caverns would be easier than that. Even if not, Eir's been tracking a lot longer than Rox, and can probably do it faster and easier than Rox.
* The Magister's gladness that Eir is alright - Eir was captured along with everyone else, including the magister, and when she got left at the prison camp a while back everyone was worrying. Plus, Eir's got this legend, and the magister is also a norn, and he'd respect that. You know, norn culture and all that. Eir's basically famous in the Shiverpeaks, you know how it is.
* Check my profile for my ramblings about discrepancies.
That's all of them.
I hope you don't mind I like rambling. (I took out half of it, too.)