Daniel

Cassie didn’t keep them waiting long. They were soon airborne as Kenta healed the mild damage to his arm.

The theory about crossing the ocean, as Rana explained it, was that large bodies of water thwarted most trackers. She threw in something about moving water disrupting the magic of other domains. Rana seldom had the details he’d prefer on advanced theory.

Skimming above the waves, they tried to forget that their futures depended on this plan.

:Woah!: Cassie the giant bat yelled in their heads as she banked right. Seconds later, a huge shape mirroring their speed breached the ocean surface.

:What was that, Cassie?: Daniel sent, unable to shout over the wind. His distress was understandable, considering Wendi had to squeeze him tight through the turbulence. :We could have used a little more warning!:

:Apparently, my Clairaudience doesn’t do well with the ‘Entire Freaking Ocean’ is what happened! I knew from last year I had trouble hearing deep down, but I figured my danger alarm would still work!:

:It’s the effect of the Water Domain,: Rana reminded her. :You’d have to master a fishing-bat form to fight over water.:

:Whatever!: Cassie sent, frustrated. :Point is, I am never going swimming again!:

Kenta interrupted, :More importantly, shouldn’t we deal with this creature?:

Below them, cutting a frothy white wake like a motorboat, was some kind of giant enemy crab. Daniel couldn’t identify it as any single species as its form borrowed from several. It was wider than Cassie the bat’s wingspan, the length of a small schooner, and seemed more comfortable in its weight class.

Its four pairs of legs churned water like propellers, ends flattened to paddles for efficient swimming. Two massive, skull-crushing claws tucked close to its thorax gave an impression of strength without violence. Arthropod eyestalks tinted in gentle hues of green and blue surveyed them.

:Well, it’s not attacking—You need glowing red eyes to be a monster, right?: Daniel sent.

:They’re not attacking,: Rana sent, earning her a collective pause as they realized what she meant. :A Crustacean below—:

:—And a Cnidarian above,: Kenta finished. :A formidable pair.:

Tiny hairs bristling on the crab’s shell gripped the drab base of an inactive sea anemone. After breaching the surface, the Cnidarian bloomed in a riot of color. A forest of sinuous tentacles now waved atop its white-and-rouge-striped body. Some were thin and purple, others had bulbous beige tips, some had feathery red bushes, and a few arms with green tips like exploding fireworks, all positioned delicately as a flower arrangement.

These tentacles floated in the air as if underwater, incongruous with the wind whipping at them in their high-speed nautical chase. A bright aura distorting light like a limpid liquid encased the anemone and sheathed its appendages. It reminded Daniel of their run-in with the lake of airy water.

The crab wore six Water Rune Mani on its claws, three each. However, the orbs appeared dormant.

:Cassie, shouldn’t you be able to hear their attack before it happens now they’re in the open?:

:You’d think so, but all I’m getting is noise. I think the trouble is they don’t know what they’re going to do. They’re not monsters… maybe these Wildlings noticed my active magic aura and decided to check us out? They don’t have any real goals for me to predict. In any case, I’m not giving them any chances,: she finished and began to climb higher.

As they rose, Daniel couldn’t help appreciating the power on display. These two were older and stronger from years lived in the harsh Wilderness. They’d survived every mage, monster, and demon they’d come across. Daniel beheld veterans.

:Wait, I want to talk to them.:

:You crazy?: Cassie replied. :Staying anywhere near them puts us in danger.:

He defended his decision. :It’s a sign of confidence, trust, and a peace offering if we’re going to negotiate.:

Paul spoke up, :I don’t think we should mess with them; we’re in the middle of the ocean. That’s not a good position to be in if things don’t go your way.:

On the other hand, Wendi. :We could always use more friends!:

:I have to admit,: Rana sent, :If this works, it’ll save our butts.:

:Someone has to make the call, Daniel,: Lea stated, no judgment in her voice.

He made his decision.

Daniel focused on his Rosetta Stone necklace to transmit a sending, :Greetings fellow travelers, and thank you for coming to meet us.: A nice start, all things considered. If this went well, they might be adding two more to their group. :Would you care to stop by some neutral ground where we can exchange information, news, and trade?:

The Wildling pair continued to study them, curious but wavering as the bright tentacles meandered above the crab’s shell. They appeared on the verge of answering when a new aura bloomed on the horizon.

:It’s the Tracker!: Cassie sent.

:What race?: Rana demanded.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

:Black Dog.:

:Cursed luck of the Wilderness!:

Daniel didn’t understand. :What’s the problem?:

:We played right into their hands.: He still didn’t get it until Rana explained, :Black Dogs are Water Domain!:

As their enemy swept over the beach and hit the ocean, the horizon exploded with mist, and the Tracker’s speed doubled in an instant.

After a moment of shock, Daniel noticed the Wildlings’ reaction to the newcomer hadn’t gone unnoticed. The waving tentacles’ tempo became agitated, and the crab no longer looked so friendly. He tried to explain, :We’re being tailed by some mages—You wouldn’t mind lending a hand by chance?:

Rana shook her head. :Bad move, Daniel. Always negotiate from a position of power.:

He heard a primal shriek as Cassie failed to dodge her premonition as she fought the inertia of her friends’ added weight. The crab sprayed them with opaque droplets that expanded into seafoam on contact. From the flecks hitting Wendi and Kenta, Daniel saw they stuck fast but dealt no damage. However, to Cassie, already battling the wind, this increased resistance was a millstone around her neck. She slowed, struggling to stay aloft.

:What happened?: Daniel couldn’t believe it, weren’t all Wildlings against the black-cape mages?

In a private sending, Rana told him, :They decided we’re worth more to them as merchandise for the Nephilim than as allies. It’s nice you think the best of people, Daniel, but you need to remember everyone looks out for themselves in the Wilderness. Stop trying to find ‘good guys.’:

As their group drifted lower, tentacles reached up—ready to sting them into submission.

:Careful of the Cnidarian,: Rana sent. :Its touch can paralyze:

In response, Paul the lantern shone from where he dangled by a strand of Kenta’s hair. He lashed out with rays of light that burned and sizzled tendrils, cutting through flesh as they neared.

Kenta unfurled his hair to defend, but Cassie stopped him. :Don’t, Kenta! Any more wind resistance and you’ll drop us in the sea!: The Kaminoke contented himself with brushing away the foam that landed on them one section at a time between grumbles. Wendi frowned, hands full, holding onto Cassie’s bat claw and Daniel’s torso.

:My caramboles are useless at this speed,: Lea the balance scale sent from Rana’s hand. :You can use my Charm power!: Before Rana could speak, the Libra girl added, :Be careful about giving them direct orders. Remember, they are not technically monsters.:

Rana shouted over the ocean’s roar, “Maybe you don’t want to do this! Can’t you leave us alone?”

Despite the non-committal nature of the words, they had a profound impact. The tentacles stopped, and the crab slowed, falling behind in the chase for a moment. The two Wildlings floundered in doubt while reconsidering the situation.

Daniel and the others made the best of the respite, scraping off crab foam, but the pair soon redoubled their efforts. :I’m sorry,: the crab’s feminine voice came through in a bittersweet tone, :I’m sure you won’t agree, but we need the mani from selling you more than you need freedom.:

The six Water orbs on the crab’s claws formed balls of pressurized water. Daniel pumped his fists for small, targeted shots that ignored wind resistance and burst the budding liquid knots.

Sea anemone arms regenerated as quick as Paul’s lantern lasers cut them, darting forward like a nest of vipers. Cassie, Rana, Wendi, Kenta, and Lea would’ve been paralyzed in seconds without him. If Cassie fell and they landed in the water, all would be lost.

Daniel looked again at the crab, confused and angry. He searched the Wildling’s eyes for meaning and found none. Of course, he wouldn’t agree! What kind of sense did that make? The Nine of them would be better off together! Maybe they could’ve helped each other, but now they’d never know.

In his frustration, Daniel struck. A crab claw the size of a truck caught his blow. Its shell cracked but held against him, locking the two in a head-to-head struggle. The Tracker neared; he had to win!

He screamed in frustration over the wind and waves, “We could’ve been friends!”

Daniel pushed against a wall of shell and found that well of power within himself. It fueled him, granted him strength far surpassing his limitations, allowing Daniel to overpower the older and mightier crab woman. He’d been made for this.

Shell shattered, and ichor drooled as he crippled the crab’s left arm. The Wildling pair shrieked in pain and rage as they retreated.

Plowing trenches in the water with its speed and ferocity, the Black Dog drew close. They caught glimpses of its dark canine silhouette through the rolling mist sweeping over the waves. The ocean boiled beneath its paws, engorging the fog as it ran. Their enemy swelled with power with every step across the water, more phantom than flesh, snowballing into an avalanche.

Their encumbered speed couldn’t match their dread pursuer though Cassie the bat finally flew free of foam. With chances of victory in battle over water bleak, they had no choice but to flee towards the distant hope of land.

To Daniel’s surprise, the crab and anemone turned to fight the Black Dog. :They can’t catch us if the Black Dog does first,: Rana commented as Cassie extended their lead.

The six Water orbs reversed their flow in a way Daniel hadn’t imagined possible. Instead of producing fluids, they drained moisture from the air—sucking away the encroaching mist like dehumidifiers on turbo. Meanwhile, the crab spewed a floating foam blanket to blockade the fog.

The advancing Black Dog left concealment as it stepped onto the foam carpet. Its pointed ears, long skull, and lean body landed somewhere between Doberman and greyhound. Large as the beast they’d fought and slain hours previous, this foe felt far more intimidating for its pure black fur and intelligent eyes. The hound lunged forward despite being a fraction of the crab’s weight.

A crab claw uppercut sent the canine arcing overhead. Airborne, dozens of anemone tentacles struck the dog’s flanks to no paralytic effect. However, they swarmed and grappled the dog to restrict its movement.

While the Wildling pair seemed to have the advantage, the Black Dog’s sharp white teeth struck with speed and devastation. It chomped sea anemone arms to free itself and batted at the crab with its paws, avoiding the next claw swipe with a well-timed leap. The further the children fled, the more things slid toward the dog’s favor until the battle dipped below the horizon.

Miraculously, they’d gotten away.

The seven of them did not cheer for victory. They rode in an uneasy state of impatience and anxiety. Rana must’ve sensed his mood. After a half-hour, she sent, :Don’t worry, a Healing Coin can repair her claw. They can submerge to retreat, and they’re faster underwater.:

Unable to help it, Daniel unloaded. :I feel so awful. I can’t believe I hurt someone like that. There’s no way I can apologize… Do you think they helped us out of spite? ‘If we can’t have them, neither can you!’?:

:Maybe they felt bad. I dunno.:

Daniel sighed. :That wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I screwed things up.:

:Yeah.:

He furrowed his brow. :You’re not helping.:

:What’re you going to do about it?:

He sighed again. :I’ll have to figure out how to be a real leader.: Daniel listed the primary qualities, :Have confidence, have a plan, and have a clue.:

:Few leaders have that last one.:

:You want to try these shoes on?:

:Sounds terrible. No way.:

:Seriously, Rana,: Daniel was frank with her, :How are we supposed to fight that thing?:

Rana took a second to think it over. :On land. From high ground. With traps. Back-to-back.:

:We could use a few of those reverse-flow Water orbs as well—we do have the Cintamani.:

:Won’t work.: She frowned. :No matter if we had the Water Rune, we’d need to purchase a Scribe’s services for a Taotie that follows orders.:

He mulled that over. :I at least want an escape route. This cut it too close. Cassie’s faster, so we’ll need her fully charged.:

Rana nodded again, this time with satisfaction. :That’s a plan if I ever heard one.: