Mosley: A Different Path
A/N: Hi everyone, Sonicfighter here with an all-new chapter of Mosley: A Different Path. In the last chapter, Mosley, Bera and Dudley meets Warnie, Deaver and Gailin. Three Uprights from the city of Kinesareth, whom they agree to help in taking them to the city to ask for aid in freeing the rest of the enslaved Thoriphants. But Dudley notices that the two are hiding something. What that is, will be explained soon enough. Before I begin, there's something I like to address first. This chapter will contain Lemon, so the story's rating will be changed to M just to be on the safe side. Now with that out of the way, let's begin with the story.
Chapter 5: Growing Danger
While Mosley, Bera and Dudley, who now meets Warnie, Deaver and Gailin, travels to Kinesareth to ask them for help, back at the estate, Rue is playing ball with his friends as he kicks the ball to Abby. Abby in turn, passes the ball to Jim, who bounces the ball on his head a few times before he passes the back to Tailor. Tailor, using his head, passes the ball to Oskar, who passes the ball back to Rue.
This pattern repeats for a few minutes, with Joseph watching the kids play. He smiles, seeing the young ones having fun and not being forced to work. Speaking of work, Joseph help plows the field like how Mosley did. He even hauls load to and from the barn. He enjoys working in the estate. It's a whole lot better than living in Simon's farm.
"Hey, Joseph, mind giving us a hand?" Stanley called. Joseph can't help what chuckle. "Was that a joke?" "Maybe." Stanley said as Joseph looks at the children playing one last time as he walks to help with whatever Stanley need.
Mosley can hardly contain his excitement. Not only that the Uprights are real, but he, Bera and Dudley are going to a city full of Uprights. Mosley runs out of the settlement, leading to a valley with waterfalls and a statue of an Upright holding a sword. Mosley shouts as his voice echoes throughout the valley.
"This is amazing." Mosley said as his wife, best friend, Warnie, Deaver and Gailin walk pass him. Mosley then look at the statue as he runs to catch up with the others.
"Hey, wait up!" He said as the others stop.
"Enjoying yourself, Mosley?" Bera said to her husband with a sly smile. "I can't help it; we're going to a city we only heard about as children." Mosley said to his wife.
"I can't blame you." Dudley said as he chuckles.
Mosley look at Warnie's hands, much to the Upright's confusion as he holds the map Dudley gave him, since he's the expert.
"Uh..." Warnie said, trying to understand why Mosley is staring at his hand, only for the Thoriphant to answer. "Hands. If only Rue was here to see this."
"Yeah, I bet he and the other children would be thrilled to be a living, breathing Upright." Bera said as well.
"I bet your army uses their hands to fight and hold weapons and stuff." Mosley said to Warnie, who is hesitant to say something. "And make big fists." Mosley said as he stomps his hooves on the ground. "And smash things."
"Their fists are very smashy, yes, yes." Warnie said as he continues to walk.
"Isn't that what all armies do with your hands, Mosley?" Dudley whispers to Mosley. "I mean, you seen me using my sword before."
"Yes, I know that." Mosley whispered back.
Deaver, who's been hearing the conversation between his brother and Mosley, walk backwards while having his hands behind his back.
"Do you how what's the best thing about having hands?" Deaver asked.
"Fingers?" Dudley asked.
"That correct!" Deaver said as he shows Mosley and Bera his hands and wiggles his fingers in front of them and bopped their noses.
"Why are fingers the best thing about having hands?" Mosley asked.
"Well, a hand without fingers is like having no hand at all. Each finger has its own job." The Upright said to the Thoriphants as he holds out his pinky finger. "Now, this little finger, it's sort of a decorative number really. It doesn't do much, but it's quite cute."
Dudley can't help but chuckle. "Well, there is one thing you can do with a pinky finger, you can make it disappear."
"I thought we agree you'll never mention that again." Mosley angrily hisses to Dudley, remembering when he makes a trick to make his finger being removed, much to Mosley's disgust.
"Well, yes, there's' that too." Deaver said. "Don't get any ideas." Bera said to Deaver is a low, threatening tone.
Deaver gulped, knowing how a pregnant woman can get when she's angry. He clears his throat as he continues as he holds out his ring ringer. "Now, this finger is my ring finger, because you can place a ring on this one. Then you'll be like a royal king, or queen in your case, Bera." He then speaks in a deep voice, acting like a king. "Hello. Hello, my subjects!" Mosley, Bera and Dudley chuckles at Deaver's roleplaying.
Dudley stops when to notices something. "You know, you can also have a wedding band on that finger to symbolize a union between two people."
Ah, that's right!" Deaver pointed out. "I almost forgot!"
That gives Bera an idea as she speaks to her husband. "If we have hands, we can have wedding bands on our ring fingers to make our marriage official."
"I like that idea." Mosley said as the two nuzzled.
Deaver chuckles as he continues his lesson. "Now, the next two are you most important fingers. They work with Mr. Thumb." He said as he shows them his thumb. "Look at him! Look at Mr. Thumb!" He when speaks in a gruff voice. "Hey, where are my workers?" Deaver holds out his middle finger and index finger. "Here we are." Deaver said in a light pitched voice, causing Mosley and Bera to laugh. "These three works together, doing wonderful things."
"Like what, for example?" Bera asked.
"Yes, yes, like what? I am breathless with anticipation." Warnie said sarcastically, hearing everything Deaver said to their guests.
"Like say…pick your nose?" Deaver said to his brother as he turns his finger against his nose to illustrate that he's picking his nose.
Upon hearing that, Warnie stops in disgust and turned to Deaver as he gets into his face. "You couldn't resist that, couldn't you!? Showing off, being disgusting?!" He turns to Mosly and Bera while pointing his thumb at Deaver. "104 years old, and he still acts like a little brother!"
"I do not!" Deaver protested while getting up in his brothers' business. "Yes, you do!" Warnie shouted as the two blow raspberries at each other like immature 5-year-olds. "With knobs on it." Warnie said.
"Unrealistic." Deaver said as Warnie scoffed and continues to walk.
Bera can't help but chuckles at the brother's banter. She can imagine Rue and his soon-to-be-born brother or sister arguing like they do.
"Don't let him fool you." Deaver whispered to Mosley and Bera. "He does it, you know, I've seen him."
"Really?" Mosley asked.
"Oh yes, right up there. Right up there." Deaver said as he places his finger next to his nose. "That's disgusting." Mosley said to Deaver, as the old Upright chuckles.
Mosley then changes the subject. "Just wait till Rue meets you guys. You have to show him how to pick your nose."
"Please don't, Mosley." Bera said in disgust. "It's a bad habit."
"She's right, you know. I've been there." Dudley said in agreement.
"Well, that's easy, well now about this?" Deaver said as he snaps his fingers, much to Mosley's amassment, even though he had seen Dudley and several of the workers back home snap their fingers.
"And look at this." Deaver said as he moves his hands around. "Snap, clap, cracked knuckles, all part of the package."
"Well, what if you have this itch you can't reach?" Mosley asked.
"I would do this." Deaver said as he begins scratching his back.
Mosley chuckles as Dudley joins in as he scratches Mosley's side. Bera chuckles as she felt her calf kicking inside her. "Yes, papa's having fun." She said to her unborn calf.
Gailin chuckles as he handed Warnie his walking stick and walks towards the laughing Thoriphant, with one of his hind legs jerking like a dog.
"Come on guys, I'm ticklish." Mosley said as they continue to scratch him as Galin scratches his front. This goes on for a minute until the trio stop scratching Mosley. "Thanks guys." Mosley said with a smile.
"No problem, Mosley. After our encounter with Warfield, you should use a good laugh." Dudley said.
"Warfield?" Deaver asked.
"He's bad news." Dudley explained to the Upright. "He hunts Thoriphants who run away from their owners. He even cuts off the horns of male Thoriphants and collected them as trophies."
"Goodness!" Deaver said in shock.
"Humans cutting off a Thoriphant's horn. How diabolical!" Warnie said in disgust.
"I know." Dudley agrees. "But I'm just glad he's the only one who does that."
Mosley and Bera nod in agreement. Warnie handed Gailin his walking stick, but the old Upright declined as he pats Mosley's back.
"Well, it looks as if Gailin prefers you to his walking stick, Mosley. You've made a friend." Warnie with a smile as he places Gailin's walking stick on his backpack as the group continues to walk.
"Do you mind?" Bera asked.
"I'm afraid Gailin's a bit slow on the trail." Deaver said to Mosley.
"No, no, it's fine. It's my pleasure." Mosley insisted.
"Hey, look at this." Deaver said, as he shows a trick of 'removing his finger', much to Mosley, Bera and Dudley's disgust.
"Oh, come on!" Mosley groans.
"We told you not to do that!" Bera said, equally disgust as Deaver laughs.
Warnie groans by his brothers' antics as he looks at the map Dudley gave him. "I'm curious, where did you get this map?"
"Oh, I got it from this strange merchant who sets up his tent outside of town. I didn't get a look at his face since he was obscured by a hood. He also has items I've never seen before." Dudley answered. Warnie knew who the stranger was, but he decided to keep to himself for now. "I see." Warnie said as the group ventures on.
Meanwhile back at the falls, Warfield climb up the rocks and up to a ledge. The hunter sees a bunch of old chairs and pottery as he looks forward to the falls. He walks through the falls to find an old ruin. The hunter bends down and rub her fingers on the ground and glares, knowing his quarry is far ahead of him as he walks towards the ruins. No Thoriphant had ever escaped him, and he won't let this be the case.
The group continues walking with Mosley behind Bera. He can hear the brothers arguing about something, but Mosley didn't listen. He's enjoying the view of Bera's behind. Watching as her expanded belly sways from side to side. Mosley can feel his excitement rising, he wants to take his wife somewhere private for a bit of love making. Yes, Bera is due in a while, but that doesn't mean they can't have fun.
Seeing that her belly and butt is being looked at, Bera smiles at her husband. "Like what you see?"
Mosley snapped out of his thoughts and look away, his face blushing red as at the Upright's clothes. "Uh, n-no, just admiring the view." Mosley said, trying to change the subject. But Bera wasn't fooled as she chuckled at her husband. Gailin can't help but chuckle at Mosley's predicament.
The group ventures across a river with Dudley helping Bera across first, followed by Warnie, Mosley, Gailin and Deaver. Mosley help Garlin while Deaver slips and falls. He chuckles as he gets himself up as they group continue of their travels.
A little later, the group stops for a break as Warnie handed several muffins to Deaver. He handed one to Mosley, who eats it while Deaver handed another to Bera, who also eats it. Dudley also enjoys a muffin and his surprised on how good it is. He takes a mental note to ask a baker in Kinesareth about the recipes for these muffins to bake back home.
The group walk down a field as Deaven runs to catch up with the others. That very night, as they continue walking, Mosley and Bera look up at the Waxing Moon, indicating the couple has only a week before their new child is born.
Bera smiles at the Moon and look at her massive belly. "It won't be long now." Bera said to her unborn calf as it kicks in response.
Back at the Estate, Joseph looks at the Moon as he sees Rue getting tucked into bed by the other Thoriphants. "It won't be long now, Rue." He said while smiling, knowing he's going to be a big brother soon.
The next day, the group walks to a massive forest with trees as tall as mountains. "What's this?" Mosley asked.
"According to this map, this is The Great Orchard." Dudley said, who now have the map. "Kinesareth is just on the other side." He said as he looks at the large forest in front of them.
"Well, then we go through it, right?" Mosley said to Dudley. Clearly crossing through this orchard shouldn't be a problem. "Yep." Dudley said as they prepare to go in, before Warnie stops them by placing his walking stick in front of Dudley.
"I wouldn't recommend it." Warnie said. "We go around it."
"Around it? Why?" Bera asked.
"It's haunted." Deaver answered in a scared tone.
"Haunted, really? Mosley said in complete skepticism. Uprights he can believe, but a haunted forest? That's drawing a line.
"Oh yes." Warnie said in a grim voice as he looks at The Great Orchard. "They say the world actually began here, in this very spot."
"What happen to it?" Mosley said to Warnie, even though just stated that the idea of the Orchard being haunted.
"The Great Corruption." Warnie continues. "A curse that stared here and spread all over all living things. Perhaps even bending the backs of your ancestors." He said to Mosley and Bera. "But there's nothing in there now. Only decay and ruin."
"And ghosts." Deaver said, adding to the tale.
"Ghosts?" Bera asked.
"Well, there is a spirit to be sure, guarding the one viable tree that is left in the orchard." Warnie said.
"Thoriphants go in- "Deaver said.
"But they never come out." Warnie said. "Return." Deaver said in a grim tone, before hearing what Warnie just said. "'Return' is what I was going to go with."
"I was going to say 'out'." Warnie argues with Deaver.
"Here we go again." Dudley said as he rolls his eyes. While he does enjoy their banter, it's starting to get annoying.
As the brothers argue, Mosley notices a cave that goes under the Orchard.
"Hey, follow me, I think I see something." Mosley said as they group follows him near the entrance of the cave. Dudley looks into the cave and get a bad feeling inside his stomach. Like something malevolent is waiting for them within the dark abyss. He looks up to see the roots of one of the trees above the entrance, like teeth of a massive creature waiting to bite down on them at a moment's notice.
"I don't think this is good idea." Warnie said, expressing his concern.
"Well, going under the Orchard isn't the same as going in, Warnie." Deaver said. "Perhaps the spirits won't mind."
Warnie then takes the map from Dudley as he looks over it. "The map doesn't tell us much. It may have been a shortcut once- "
"Oh Warnie, why is it that somebody else has an idea, you become so- "
"Ipso-dipso-facto." Warnie cuts off.
"Guys?" Bera said, but the brothers ignored her as they continue to argue yet again.
"I have enough, Warnie! That's it!" Deaver shouted.
"GUYS!" Bera shouted, finally getting their attention as she sights out of mental exhaustion. She had enough of Warnie and Deaver acting like children. "Look, in case you forget, me and Mosley are in a hurry. Me especially. My legs are shore, I felt like I got a boulder inside me, I had to stop to pee at least 20 times today and my emotions are through the roof! So, unless you two stop acting like children, I'm going to lose it!"
"What Bera's trying to say, we really need that army and if this is a shortcut." Mosley said to the two, who understand both of them.
"Alright, we'll go under. But cautiously." He turns to his brother. "Deaver, you go first." Deaver didn't argue as he walk into the cave as the others follows behind him with Warnie, followed by Dudley, Mosley, Bera and Gailin.
"Bera, are you alright?" Mosley said to his wife about her outburst earlier.
"I'm fine." Bera said. I'm just tired of hearing Warnie and Deaver argue all the time."
"I don't blame you." Dudley agreed.
Gailin then walks pass the group as he sat down in a rock.
"Are you tired, Gailin?" Mosley asked, but the old Upright didn't answer.
"Hello." Gailin said to a rock that look like it got a face, with the opening looking like a grin. "My, you're a stern looking fellow. How you like a grape?" He said as he put a grape into the rock's 'mouth'.
"Hey, Mosley, do you think The Great Corruption had something to do with our ancestors enslaving the Thoriphants centuries ago?" Dudley whispered to Mosley, wondering that Warnie said earlier about a curse.
"Maybe. I don't know." Mosley whispered back.
"If it's true, there be a way to break the curse. Like showing the spirit that not all humans are evil." Bera suggested.
"Or we can replant the orchard using seeds from the fruits to break it." Dudley also suggested.
"Guys, both sounds like good ideas, but let wait till we actually reach our destination and get our army." Mosley said to the two.
"Fair enough." Bera said as Dudley nodded.
While the group are distracted with the rock, Warnie and Deaver ventures deeper into the cave.
"This doesn't feel right to me." Warnie said to Deaver, getting a bad feeling about walking under the Orchard.
"Oh, and did it feel right for you to tell Mosley, Bera and Dudley a whopper like you did?" Deaver said to his brother.
"What? What are you talking about?" Warnie asked.
"You lied to them." Deaver said, getting straight to the point.
"I didn't lie to them!" Warnie firmly said.
"Well, you didn't not lie to them." Deaver said.
"What did that even mean?" Warnie argues, not understand what he's saying.
"Raining trees, you say?" Gailin said to the rock, with the 'mouth' stuffed with more grapes.
"Ok, I think your rock friend is already full, Gailin. Are you ready to go?" Mosley said to the old Upright.
"Raining trees? What's what supposed to mean?" Bera whispered to Dudley.
"No idea. I rather not stick around to find out." Dudley said as they prepare to follow Warnie and Deaver, who continue to argue with-each other.
"I was just waiting for the right time to tell them." Warnie said to his brother.
"Now seems like a pretty good time!" Deaver, putting his hand on Warnie's arm.
"Stop touching me!" Warnie shout, moving his arm away.
"Oh, you mean like this?" Deaver said as he pokes Warnie's arm, much to his annoyance.
Suddenly, the ground above them rumbles, startling the group, save for Gailin.
"What the?" Bera said in surprise as they saw one of the trees rumbling.
"He says, 'You shouldn't have come here.'" Gailin said in grim voice.
The tree continues to rumble as it drops and landed next to Warnie and Deaver, stopping the group from advancing further into the cave.
"Deaver, are you alright?" Warnie asked before another tree landed behind the brothers, cutting them off from the rest of the group. They look up to see aa opening where the tree has fallen from. "Climb Deaver, climb!" Warnie said as the brothers begin to climb up the tree.
"Everyone, get Garlin out of there!" Deaver called to the group as he and Warnie keep climbing.
"Garlin. We need to go!" Mosley said to the old Upright, but he remains where he is.
Bera then lowers herself next to Dudley.
"Hop on!" The mother of Rue said to Dudley.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Dudley asked, worried about her safety and the safety of her unborn calf. A rock landed next to Dudley, answering his question. "Ok, you made a good point." He said, knowing there's no time to debate as he climbs on Bera's back as she lifted herself back on her feet.
Meanwhile, Warnie and Deaver climbed up out the hole and into the Orchard.
"This way!" Warnie said to Deaver. But before the two could run back the way they came; a low growling is heard in the wind and everything became dark with the trees blocking out the sunlight and the scaring the brothers.
"Which way do we go?" Deaver asked, as they lost the way.
"Gailin, we need to get out of here!" Mosley asked again, but again, no response. Groaning in annoyance, Mosley helps Gailin on his back as Bera and Dudley follows as another tree falls behind them.
"Someone really don't like visitors!" Dudley commented.
"Not the time!" Bera said as she caught up to Mosley despite have a calf growing inside her and a human on her back.
Warnie and Deaver, despite not being able to see the exit, decided to take their chances as they run across the Orchard. As they ran, Deaver saw one of the trees creaks and beginning to sink into the ground. The brothers suddenly fall and landed on the ground next to the mouth of the cave.
They look up and sees the tree in front of the cave starting to collapse.
"Hurry, everyone!" Warnie urged the group as another tree falls in front of them. Mosley and Bera avoided the roots.
"Quickly!" Deaver also said. Dudley looks up and sees the tree in front of the cave is close to fall.
"We're not going to make it!" Dudley said, fearing they'll get trapped and crushed.
"Yes. We. Will!" Bera shouted as with incredible speed, both Moley and Bera rushed out of the cave, just before the tree falls and closed the cave behind them. The force from the tree knocked Mosley and Bera down, dropping Garlin and Dudley respectively.
The group pants in exhaustion, lucky to escape with their lives as Gailin gets back on his feet while Mosley help Mosley and Bera up.
"Definitely not a shortcut." Deaver said.
"No, you think?" Dudley said sarcastically.
Just as Dudley said that, the group hears the sound on wood cracking as they saw the tree in front of them starting to fall. The group quickly moved out of the way, but Garlin remain where he is.
"Gailin!" Deaver shouted. Mosley saw the old Upright about to be crushed as he rushed and knocked Gailin out of the way right as the tree cashes into the ground, causing dust to fly everywhere.
The group coughs from the dust. "Well, that could've been worse." Dudley joked.
"That'll teach you! Hm?" Warnie said to Deaver, who bended down on the fallen tree and glares at his brother.
"W-well is could've been a shortcut." Deaver said, trying to defend himself.
"You knew there were a very grumpy…something in here." Warnie said as he walks under the three and faced Deaver.
"Oh, it's grumpy alright." Deaver said to Warnie as he turns to the Orchard and shouted at the spirit within. "Well, you needn't bother about us! We'll go around!"
"Don't provoke it." Bera said to Deaver. Don't wanting to anger whatever dwells within the Orchard.
Dudley reunites with Mosley, who looks at the Orchard. "Mosley, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Mosley said.
"What was very brave of you. Saving Gailin's live back there." Dudley compliment as he smiles.
"Well, I can't just watch him get killed." Mosley replied with a smile of his own.
"My hero." Bera said as she kissed Mosley on the cheek.
"Grape?" Gailin said to Mosley, handing him a few crushed grapes, causing Mosley to roll his eyes.
Back at the Estate, Rue carries a bucket full of water with his teeth, much to the amusement of the others who are witnessing.
"Hey, Rue, do you need some help?" Osker called to his friend.
"No, I got it under control." Rue said through his teeth as he struggles to carry the bucket. A chick jumps on the bucket, surprising the young Thoriphant as he started to lose his balance.
"$5 say Rue doesn't make it." A farmer bet, while eating apple.
"$10 say to does." Another farmer said, putting her own bet.
Rue struggles to regain his balance, but fails as he crashes into a chicken coop.
"Told you." The farmer said as the other farmer handed him the $5.
"Rue, are you okay?" Joseph asked.
"Yeah. Nothing broken, except my pride." Rue said as everyone chuckles at Rue's misfortune. He gets up and shakes the dusts off and walks back to the water pump. "Ok, let's they this once more." Joseph chuckles as he shook his head. Rue is trying way too hard to be like his father.
That every night many miles away, the group are resting in an old ruin with a statue of an Upright holding a scale. They decide to settle for the night as Deaver entertains the group with shadow puppets while Warnie prepares a kettle of tea for the group.
"See, that's the eye there and the thumb is the ear." Deaver said as he shows the group a puppet.
"It's a-what is it?" Deaver said as he moves the puppet, making babbling sounds from the mouth.
"I still don't, I'm not sure what I'm seeing here." Mosley said honestly, not understanding that it is.
"Yeah, I'm at a loss a few minutes ago." Bera also said honestly.
"Same." Dudley said as well. At first, he thought it was some kind of dog, but gave up at the third try.
"Yeah, I've got no idea what that is either." Deaver admit.
"Well, we lost a lot of time today with shortcuts and vengeful spirits." Warnie complained as he looks into his travel bag and pulls out a cup, which is made out of jade. "It's no wonder we didn't get ourselves killed."
"I know, I know." Deaver said as he pulls out his own cup, which too is made from jade. "I mean, how could any of us have known it would suddenly start raining trees?"
Gailin chuckles at Deaver's question.
"Well, I guess somebody knew." Mosley said.
"Yeah, guess Gailin really does have visions." Bera said as well as Dudley nodded.
The three look up at the Moon, seeing how it's nearly full. Mosley and Bera can't help but think about Rue back home.
"Mosley?" Gailin asked, getting the Thoriphant's attention. "What's in here?" He said as he points at Mosley's chest.
"What?" Mosley said confused, before Gailin pointed at Mosley's chest again. Mosley now understands that the old Upright was talking about his heart.
"Oh, yeah. Um, I can't stop thinking about Rue." Mosley admitted.
"Yeah, neither can I." Bera also admitted. "We've been gone for so long, he thinks we may not come back at all."
"Don't worry." Dudley said, trying to lift their spirits. "This trip will be worth it once we brought back an army and help free the rest of the Thoriphants."
"Yeah." Mosley said as he smiles. "Imagine the look on Rue's face when we come home with an army."
Warnie and Deaver gets up in shock when Mosley mentioned an army, much to Dudley's confusion. "Um, guys?"
"Um, I suddenly got a craving for a muffin." Warnie said, completely avoiding the question.
"Muffin!" Deaver also said, following his brother's example.
"Does anyone fancy a muffin?" Warnie asked, but none of them answer. That's twice the brothers avoided the question about an army. Dudley plan to get the answers out of them.
"Muffin Time!" Deaver said while Warnie looks through his bag to find the muffins while the kettle hisses, saying that the tea is ready. Dudley decides to put his frustration on the back of his mind but he will talk to them first thing in the morning.
The group drank the tea, with Dudley giving her a tea cup from his right hand as she laps the tea like a dog. Mosley does the same as Gailin holds out a tea cup.
"I think this is the other reason why two should get hands." Dudley said as he sips his tea from the other cup on his left hand.
"Mosley, tell us about children." Deaver said to Mosley.
"Yes, tell us about Rue." Warnie also said to Mosley.
"Rue?" Mosley asked, before getting the idea. "Oh, he's the greatest kid. Adventurous. He's into everything. I mean, you know, how kids are, right?"
"Oh yes. We know that too often." Warnie said.
"You got kids in Kinesareth?" Bera asked.
"Yes. Hundreds in fact. Some of them are about the same as Rue." Deaver said to the two Thoriphants.
"Really?" Bera said in awe. Hundreds of Thoriphant children in a city. She would love to see that once she gets there. She can already picture dozens of tiny hands feeling her pregnant belly.
Mosley can't help but chuckle as he thought of something. "You know, I bet even right now, he's probably poking around he doesn't belong."
"I'm sure his friends would stop him from doing something stupid." Bera said.
"Or they'll go along with it." Dudley also said, knowing those kids.
Speaking of, back at the Estate, while everyone is asleep, Rue and his friends look at Bemus's wagon.
"Rue, I'm not sure if this is a good idea." Oskar protested to Rue.
"Yeah, this is Bemus the Slave Trader we're talking about. What if he kept Thoriphant horns like Warfield? Or even eat Thoriphant meat?' Jim said to Rue.
"I agree with Jim, Rue. We don't know what secrets he has in there." Abby also said to Rue.
"Yeah, aside from his snake oil skin lotion. We can make better ointments than what he's selling." Tailor said as Becca nodded
"Come on, guys, it's just a quick peek. We'll be in and out before anyone knows we're even here." Rue said to the group.
Seeing how nothing would persuade Rue, Abby sighs. "Ok. Me and Jim will keep watch while your rest of you go with Rue." They nod in agreement as Rue, along with Oskar, Becca and Tailor enters the wagon.
What the young Thoriphants found are not remains of Thoriphants as Jim feared, but rather bottles of Bemus's Salve ointments a fishbowl, a poster that has Bemus's face on it, and a plate of cream puff.
"Huh, not what I was expecting." Tailor said, feeling both revealed and disappointed.
"Are you kidding? Look at all this stuff." Rue said excitedly as he moves to a fishbowl that's labeled 'poison' on the front. Inside the bowl is a small blue fish. Rue makes a silly face as the son of Mosley and Bera chuckles.
"Is that a Blue Spine?" Becca asked, recognizing the fish in the bowl. "How does a smile ball like Bemus get his hands on such a rare species?"
"Oh yeah, I remember reading about it. It's one of the rarest species of fish in the world." Oskar said. "They said it's spines contains a toxin that's lethal to most people."
"Guess Bemus must've somehow uses it as an ingredient for his ointment by refining the poison for it be became non-lethal." Becca pointed out as the mentioned fish shouts out it's spines from its top fin and tail, shocking Rue for a bit before calming down and places his front hoof on a bag as the bag moves around with a yowl.
"He got a cat in there?" Tailor asked as Rue bumps on a stool, causing several bottles to fall down. "Rue, keep it down." Becca said to Rue.
"Sorry." Rue said, before he looks at the food on the plate. He sniffed it before he took a bite.
"Mmm." Rue said, favoring the cream puff.
"Rue, that's someone else's food." Tailor scolded, before realizing who the food belongs to. "On second thought, same some for us."
"Yeah." Oskar, and Becca as said as they all eats the cream puff, until only crumbs remain.
"Well, this wasn't a total waste." Becca said as the others nodded. Taking Bemus's food felt pretty satisfying.
Rue then sees a jug with a straw as he takes a few sips. Rue stops as he gagged in disgust. "Yeah, not a good idea to drink an unknown liquid, Rue." Oskar said to Rue, who runs out of the wagon and vomits. The others walk out of the wagon as reunite with Abby and Jim just as Rue recovers as the group quietly gasps.
"Rue, get down right now." Abby whispered to Rue. Rue is confused before he notices he is standing on top of Bemus, who is asleep. Rue climbs down before he slips with a yelp and falls. Luckily, Jim saved him by using his back to break his fall as both boys fell to the ground.
The group is worried the noise would make him up, but Bemus is sleeping soundly like a baby.
"Geeze, he sure is a heavy sleeper." Becca pointed out.
"Kids?" A family voice said as the Thoriphant children sees Turpin with a piece of parchment. "What are you doing out so late?"
"We can't sleep, Mr. Turpin." Tailor said to the old Thoriphant.
"Yeah, we thought that the night air can help us ease off the stress of Dudley, Mosley and Bera being gone for so long." Abby said as they look at the parchment and gasps
Rue looks at the drawings on the parchment as he gasps as well. "Uprights!" He said quietly. "Are those pictures of Uprights?"
"Why, yes they are." Turpin said as he chuckles before a question came to the old Thoriphant. "How do you know about the Uprights?"
"Oh, we saw some murals in a cave with Dudley and Mosley once." Jim explained.
"But Papa said they were fake." Rue said before smiling. "But then, he, Mr. Dudley and Mama went to go look for them. So maybe they're not fake."
"Maybe they're not." Turpin said as he chuckles.
"Would they come to rescue us?" Oskar said as he and the other sat next to Turpin.
"There's an old verse that says: 'Through the fields one Summer Day, we'll see the Uprights come, postures straight and massive hands, that dwarf's the size of any man's, removing yoke and chains and bands, our toil will then be done.'" Turpin said to the children.
The young Thoriphants look in awe after listening to Turpin's words. "We can't wait." Rue said, as his friends all nod in agreement, all eager to see an upright to liberate them.
Back at the camp, as the fire dies out leaving only embers, the group as all sound asleep, with Dudley in a sleeping bag and Mosley and Bera with blankets over them. Mosley heard rustling as he wakes up. But to his relief, it was only a mouse scurrying on the crumbling walls of the ruins. Before he can go back to sleep, he saw his wife, who is wide awake.
"Bera?" Mosley asked before Bera shushes him. "Follow me." She said waddles out of the camp. Mosley, puzzled, gets up as he follows his pregnant wife into a patch of wood.
"Where are we going?" Mosley said to his wife, but Bera didn't answer as he continue walking deeper into the woods.
After several minutes of walking, the two Thoriphants find themselves in a clearing that has a small pound with fireflies dancing in the evening breathe.
"Wow, look at this place." Mosley said in awe. "Yeah, it is." Bera said.
"How did you find this?" Mosley asked his wife.
"Oh, I found this when the rest of you guys were setting up camp." Bera answers with a smile as she then whispers into his ear. "I thought it would be a nice place for us to be alone."
"You mean- "Mosley said as Bera nodded, knowing exactly what she's referring to.
"B-but you're due any day now." Mosley protested. "And what if the baby pops out?"
"Don't worry, Jenny tells me that sex can help a pregnant woman ease off stress." Bera said before smiling at her husband. "Beside." She shows her large butt in front of Mosley's face and shakes it as it wobbles, causing Mosley to blush. "You know how bad you want this after everything we've been through."
Mosley gulps, he knows he can't deny it as he felt a familiar feeling under him. "L-let be gentle. I don't want to hurt you."
"No promises." Bera said as the two begin to make love to each other.
(Warning: The following contains lemon. If your sensitive to this kind of thing, please skip now.)
Mosley sniffs Bera's behind as his wife blushes and giggles. "It's been so long. Please, I-I need this." Bera said, begging him.
Mosley started to lick the inside of Bera's butt as she moans in pleasure.
"Ooh, M-Mosley!" Bera moans. Mosley keep licking his wife's pussy, causing Bera to moan louder as her eyes rolls on the back of her head.
Mosley continues for the next 5 minutes when Bera felt a familiar feeling creeping inside her she hasn't felt in a long time. "Mosley, I-I'm gonna cum!" Bera screams as she gushed between her legs, getting some on Mosley's face. Mosley gets off of his pregnant wife's behind and jumps on top of her as his penis enlarged to 9-inch. He slowly inserted his penis into Bera's pussy, as she moans. "Ooh, I-it's as big as I remembered." Bera says in pleasure as Mosley groans. "And you're just as tight as I remembered." Mosley said in pleasure as well. He begins to thrust his member into Bera as the two moans in complete bliss.
The two Thoriphants are in heaven, free of worry and with no hunter on their backs as husband and wife continues to fuck each-other like there's no tomorrow. "Oh fuck, Mosley, I needed this so bad." Bera moans. "Bera, you're amazing. I-I can fuck you forever. Make you more pregnant." Mosley said as he moans as well.
Mosley continue thrusting his wife's pussy as he felt a familiar feeling. "Bera, I'm gonna cum!" "Do it inside me, Mosley, filled me up!" Bera begged as Mosley groans as with a final thrust, Mosley and Bera screams in pleasure as Mosley's semen spurts a few gallons inside Bera's womb for several seconds.
Mosley and Bera both paints in exhaustions as they both collapse on the ground.
(Lemon Over)
"Wow, that was amazing." Bera said to Mosley, who kissed her in response. "Yeah." Mosley said to his wife. "Why don't we do this more often?" Bera asked. "Because I don't want to hurt you since you're pregnant." Mosley answered. "I'm not a fragile flower, dear." Bera said with a sly smile. "I can handle myself."
"I know." Mosley said.
The two continue to rest for 10 minutes before they clean themselves up in the pound and walk back to camp.
Upon reaching the camp, Mosley notices someone missing from the group. "Hey, where's Gailin?" Bera look around and find the old Upright walking away from the camp, who is following a group of fireflies.
"Found him." Bera said. "What's he's doing up so late?"
"Guess this is one of his visions Warnie mentioned." Mosley said as he turned to the sleeping group. "Warnie, Deaver, Dudley, wake up." The three wakes up from their sleep.
"What is it, Mosley?" Dudley asked with a yawn.
"What is it?" Deaver also asked.
"Look." Mosley said, pointing at Gailin.
"Gailin!" Warnie said to the old Thoriphant, but he doesn't respond.
"Maybe it's just his overactive bladder." Deaver brushes off, as Warnie looks at his brother with an unimpressed look.
Without delay, Dudley, Warnie and Deaver gets up as they along with Mosley and Bera follows Gailin.
"Gailin!" Warnie called, but again, he didn't answer.
"Gailin, wake up!" Deaver also called. "He is awake, Deaver." Warnie said to his brother.
"Maybe he's having a vision." Mosley said to the group. "Yeah, like you told us how Gailin is one of the few who can see visions." Dudley pointed out.
"Well, let's see where he goes." Bera said as they group continues to follow Gailin.
Back at the now abandoned camp, Warfield enters the camp and start investigating for clues.
Back with the group, they followed Gailin to a cliff, much to Warnie and Deaver's horror as the latter grabs Gailin before he can walk over the edge.
"This is as far go, Gailin!" Deaver said. "Wait a minute!"
"Are you okay, Gailin?" Warnie said to Gailin, holding his shoulders and looking him in the eyes. "Are you having a dream?"
The old Thoriphant didn't answer as he try to walk to the cliff's edge where the fireflies are hovering, only for Warnie and Deaver to hold him back.
"Come on, Gailin, time to wake up! Gailin, wake up!" Warnie said to Gailin, trying to snap him out of the trance as Deaver try to help 'wake him up' while Dudley, Mosley and Bera watch.
"I don't think he's dreaming." Dudley whispered to the two Thoriphants as they nodded in agreement.
Back at the camp, Warfield is inspecting the campfire as he rubs the ashes with his fingers. The embers are still warm, meaning they haven't left long.
His thoughts are interrupted when he hears shouting in the distance as he went to investigate.
Back with the group, Warnie and Deaver continue to try to 'wake up' Gailin' but their efforts are in vain.
Mosley gets a bad feeling in his guts as he looks back. "What is it, Mosley?" Dudley asked as he and Bera look back at the camp.
"G-guys?" Mosley said to Warnie and Deaver, but the brothers didn't answer as Gailin bites Warnie, causing him to shout in pain.
"Guys!" Dudley shouted. "What, what, what?" Warnie said to the group.
"I think you should lower your voices." Bera said in a whisper.
"Why? What's wrong?" Warnie asked as he holds Gailin's shoulder.
"Do you remember about the hunter we told you about? Well, he's after us." Mosley admitted.
"What?" Deaver said in shock.
"And we are leading him back to our city?!" Warnie said in shock as well.
"Look, we didn't tell you before- "Mosley said before stopping then he heard footsteps approaching.
"Who's that?" Deaver said curiously as he walks next to Mosley and Bera. Dudley looks as he slowly places his hand on his sword's grip. Soon enough, Warfield walks into view, scaring Deaver and shocking Moley and Bera. Dudley draws his sword, ready to fight the hunter.
Seeing this, Warnie comes up with a plan. "Mosley, Bera, stay with Gailin." He said as he pointed to the old Thoriphant as the two wasted no time stopping Gailin before he walks over the edge, with Mosley stopping him from the front and Bera biting on Gailin's robe. The fireflies' scatters as Mosley look to see how long of a drop the cliff is as he gulped.
Meanwhile, as Warfield continue to walk towards the group as he draws his sword, Warnie said to Deaver. "You distract him."
"Me distract?" Deaver said, confused.
"We'll ambush." Warnie said as he grabs his walking stick and as a weapon. "Your entire life has been a distraction. "He said as he and Dudley hid behind a rock.
"That's kind of harsh, don't you think?" Dudley whispered to Warnie, referring to what he said about his brother being a distraction. "He is your brother."
"Not now." Warnie said to Dudley, not in the mood to talk. Dudley just nodded. Now's not the time to talk.
"Look at me! The distraction!" Deaver said as Dudley just facepalmed. "This is not going to work." He muttered to himself.
At the same time, Mosley and Bera look down at the cliff.
"What do we do? We're trapped!" Mosley said, knowing they're no way out.
"Warfield got us right where he wanted us!" Bera said, fearing what he'll do to her unborn calf.
"Believe." Gailin said as he pointed to the fireflies, much to the two's bewilderment.
Deaver continues to 'distract' Warfield. "What are you doing?" Warnie said, puzzled by his brother's action.
"They are leading us." Gailin said to the two Thoriphants as the fireflies as they fly around the group.
"Leading us? Is this like with the falling trees?" Mosley said, knowing what happens the last time.
"Maybe this one's different?" Bera suggested.
Deaver continue with his distractions as he shakes his behind at Warfield. "Nanny-nanny, boo-boo!" He mocked. Warfield look at see Deaver and its puzzled. He never seen an Upright Thoriphant before, aside from the pictures he saw in the cave. No matter. He walks towards Deaver as nothing will stop him from claiming his prize.
Molsey and Bera look as fireflies flew around their front hooves as they hover them next to the cliff.
"Oh boy." Mosley said nervously as he and Bera closes their eyes.
"This is for you, Rue." Bera whispered as she prayed for her son as they prepare to make the leap all while the fireflies' glows brighter.
Warnie saw what's going on and gasped in shock. "Mosley, Bera, stop!"
"What are you doing!?" Dudley said in horror as Mosley, Bera and Gailin fell over the cliff. The three gasped in horror as they rusted to the cliff, fearing the worst.
"Rue will never forgive me." Dudley said, fearing that he'll tell Rue the bad news of his parents' deaths and the death of his unborn brother or sister when he gets home.
But what happens next is a big surprise as Mosley, Bera and Gailin, all unharmed are not flying, thanks to the fireflies under their feet.
"What the?" Dudley said, completely speechless by what he's seeing.
Mosley and Bera laughs by the fact that they're flying. "Come on, guys, hurry up!"
Warnie and Deaver look back and sees Warfield running towards them. Not needed to be told twice, Warnie run to the cliff and jump. Like with Mosley, Bera and Gailin, he's safe due to the fireflies behead his feet. Deaver jumps on Warnie's back as they follow.
Dudley is the last one as he looks back at the charging Warfield. He could stay and fight to buy them time to escape. But Dudley isn't the type to stay behind. Dudley sheaths his sword as he runs to the cliff and jumps. Dudley his surprise as the fireflies saves him as they fly under his feet.
Warfield stops as the 5 Thoriphants and humans flew away, with Mosley, Bera and Dudley glaring at the hunter, knowing this is far from finish as the hunter glares back in return as they look forward.
Warnie laughs at how he's flying. "You could lose some weight, you know." Warnie said to his brother as he whimpers.
"Wow. This, wow." Dudley said, not sure how he can describe this experience.
"I know, this is amazing." Bera said as she laughs. This is the most fun she had in years, aside from being married to Mosley and being pregnant with Rue, of course.
"Oh, look Deaver." Warnie said as he points to the trees as the group flew pass them, much to Deavers amusement. The brothers laugh, having the time of their lives. "I'm alive, I alive!" Warnie cheered.
Mosley looks in wonder seeing how the world is so small from this height as Gailin gets his attention by patting his back. "Mosley." The old Upright said as he pointed to a light in the distance, which is nestled within a mountain range.
"Is that Kinesareth?" Mosley said to Gailin, who simply nodded.
"We're so close." Bera said, she can already see the Uprights now, of many ages and agreeing to help her and her husband.
Deaver chuckles as the groups started their decent down. "Look at that."
"We could be the first flying Thoriphants and human." Warnie said. The group are soon back on sold ground as the fireflies flew from their feet
"Well, it sure beats walking." Deaver pointed out.
"Indeed." Dudley said.
The group saw the fireflies disappearing into the woods. "Those weren't just fireflies, weren't they?" Warnie said to Mosley and Bera. There's no way ordinary fireflies would carry them to safety like they did.
"No." Mosley simply said.
"What are they?" Warnie asked.
"We're not so sure." Bera said, unable to find the right answer.
"Then how do you know?" Warnie asked the group as Gailin chuckles.
Before the two can answer, they look back to see the silhouette of Warfield high on the cliff with the Moon on his back as he walks away.
"We need to keep moving." Mosley said as the others nod in agreement as they started walking.
Dudley looks back at where Warfield once stood on the cliff as he glares. The next time the two meet, he won't run away. He soon follows the rest of the group as they continue on their journey to Kinesareth. If he thinks going to the city of the Thoriphants would be the of the journey, he's poorly mistaken. This is just the beginning.
A/N: Cut and print.
Well, that took a lot longer than I like it to be. The group manage to escape from Warfield by traveling on fireflies, but those fireflies are more than what they appear. We also got a small sex sense between Mosley and Bera, and I say that the two deserves to unwind after everything they've been through so far. I also added a few explanations bout The Great Corruption, like how it was the greed of man is what caused the Thoriphants to lose their ability to stand on two legs In the next chapter, the heroes finally made it to Kinesareth, but what they'll find there would be more than that they expect. Until then, read and review.