"Inch by inch, we're getting closer," Alec whispered in the darkness, his voice gravelly yet determined. He stood with his hand pressed against the cool surface of a massive granite boulder, his eyes closed in concentration. Deep within him, he could sense the faint tendrils of minerals coursing through the bedrock below.
For days, Alec had been journeying towards the relentless pull he felt, navigating in a straight line. Leaving the forest far behind, he now traversed the dense grasslands. His connection with the elements heightened as he focused on finding the young Elementlet. Without protection, the youngling would struggle, and possibly even perish. So Alec kept his mind open, attuned to the nearby elements, searching for something suitable to provide sanctuary. With the aid of the green gem in his hand, his mind's reach extended farther than he had expected.
Yet, as he continued his journey, Alec grew more cautious of the stone's flickering ink within, keeping him on edge. The gem was darkening, its ominous transformation uncontrollable. A flicker of movement in the clouds drew his attention skyward. Kraid had scouted ahead, searching for any signs of their quarry.
Alec knew the youngling would possess little energy and would likely be tiny, just as he had been when traversing the plains with Karn. It had taken him nearly four days to absorb enough power from the leaking book to form his current shell. His thoughts briefly wandered to Akana, wondering if she could harness the power likewise. Shaking off the distraction, he refocused on the task at hand.
Uncertainty shrouded his senses, as he felt something exceptional. He hadn't encountered one of these stones in a very long time, not even when he dwelled among the ancient Elementlets. As he dived into memory, he recalled this place differed vastly from the grassy plain that stretched before him. He knew that this entire area had once been an inland sea.
When he initially felt the pull of the buried mineral, he realised it would take him off course, slightly delaying his search for the youngling. But he deemed the delay necessary, unaware that it would cost him nearly a day and a half of tireless searching before he would narrow down its approximate location.
And now, as he rolled the massive granite boulder aside, he could feel it. Alec focused his mind, channelling the power of the green gem, and pushed through the layers of rubble, his fingers searching. With a triumphant exclamation, he declared, "Ah, got you!"
The ground rumbled beneath him as the soil parted, and a rush of stones and dirt poured out, forming giant mounds to either side. He strained under the sheer multitudes of rock, focusing so hard it made him shudder. There was a mountain of debris separating him from his prize.
Then, suddenly, the rumbling ceased as Alec clasped the treasure tightly in his hands. At first glance, it appeared to be an unremarkable rock covered in mud. However, a grin spread across his face as he gazed upon it. He had encountered only a few of them before, and they’d been much smaller. This one had to be ancient. Older than old. Any smaller, and he would have missed it.
With a careful motion, he wiped off the mud, revealing its true form. Carved in a time before a man walked on the land, the stone had been shaped into a perfectly smooth water drop. Even as he held it, beads of water dripped through his fingers. Its surface was clear, but within the crystalline stone, thousands of tiny aqua blue lines swirled like suspended rivers. On one side of the teardrop, a perfectly circular hole had been carved, providing the ideal spot for a heart stone to snugly nestle.
Alec caught the flutter of wings, signalling his trusted travelling companion had landed nearby. He turned to see Kraid, assuming his human form, his gaze fixated on the treasure in Alec's hands.
"So, you've found it then?" he asked.
Alec nodded, a sense of achievement. "Indeed, a time well spent. Did you spot anyone out there?"
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Kraid shook his head, his yellow eyes scanning the dense grasslands. "I detected smoke on the horizon, but I couldn't discern any figures. The many hills and valleys obstructed my view, cloaking their shapes within shadow."
Alec, listening attentively gestured towards the south. "The pull persists, but it briefly paused, as if the youngling itself was aware of our presence."
A spark of determination ignited in Kraid's eyes as he responded, "Shall we…”
In an instant, the wind ceased, causing both Alec and Kraid to freeze in their thought. It was as if the very air around them held its breath, signalling an approaching danger. Abruptly, the wind shifted, blowing from an unfamiliar direction.
Kraid's head snapped towards the source of the wind towards the south, his irises flickering and widening with alarm. Sensing his companion's unease, Alec pressed his hands against the ground, attuned to the subtle vibrations beneath him. Faint rumblings of footsteps reached his heightened senses, accompanied by a pungent blend of blood, sweat, and decay carried on the breeze—a clear warning.
Without hesitation, Kraid ascended swiftly into the sky, his wings beating urgently to propel him towards the south. Alec's heart stone raced with panic as he clutched the precious crystals tightly in each hand. With a burst of energy, he bounded after Kraid, tearing through the tall grasslands, his every step infused with purpose.
⚔
"Oh wow, that reeks," Charles remarked, his nose scrunching up in disgust as he observed the pot of unidentified bubbling slop Arthur was preparing. The large farmer had been boasting all day of his so-called secret recipe and had finally prepared the special pot only for the camp to screw their noses up at it.
Arthur defended himself. "Hey! It’s an old family recipe. I’ve never gotten any complaints!"
Charles remained sceptical, taking a step back to escape the noxious fumes, only to realise that the stench was carried not by the cooking pot, but by the wind.
“It still smells,” Charles said, making a face that spoke of his revulsion.
Maze inspected the pot with disapproval, wrinkling his nose as he sniffed its contents. He leaned back and inhaled deeply, his senses on high alert. Suddenly, a spark of recognition ignited in his mind, causing his head to whirl with realisation.
"Grab the weapons! Gather all the women and children to the centre!" Maze shouted urgently.
The surrounding people flinched at the severity of his words, struggling to comprehend the gravity of the situation.
"I said MOVE, damn you! Swine are coming!" Maze's voice trembled with fear.
Panic registered on their faces as they scattered in every direction, scrambling to retrieve their weapons. The chaos unfolded within seconds, with Maze's expression of terror spurring them into action. Arthur and Charles charged to the outer reaches of the camp towards their wagon and dived inside.
Rose, who sat inside poke her head out, bewildered by the sudden panic asked, "What's wrong?"
Each seized a newly fashioned pickaxe in a panic.
"Where's Ellie?" Charles demanded, his voice spiked with worry.
Rose stammered, a growing sense of panic etched on her features, "Ah, what... She's by the stream with her rock."
"Fuck!" Charles cursed, his heart pounding. Arthur swiftly placed a long spear in Rose's trembling hands, instructing her, "We'll go get her. Get to the centre of camp."
Without a moment's hesitation, Charles sprinted off, with Arthur close behind him. Maze had mentioned the swine a few times in the past, and every tale sent shivers down Charles's spine. The creatures were notorious for raiding human settlements, driven by the scent of food, attacking in large packs under the cover of darkness. Whenever they appeared, they stole food and animals and worse of all women and children went missing.
Charles ascended a nearby hill, then descended, the putrid odour of decay growing stronger with each step. As he reached the top of the second hill, he spotted Ellie kneeling by the stream. Dozens of dark shapes surged through the dense grass, parting it like a school of sharks through water, closing in rapidly.
He shouted her name, desperation in his voice, but she remained oblivious, her lack of hearing creating an insurmountable divide between them. The ominous shapes drew nearer, mere feet away, yet he felt agonizingly distant.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Charles sprinted at full speed, his pickaxe gripped tightly in his hand. The ground shook beneath him as Arthur's heavy footfalls reverberated behind him, the sound of their desperate pursuit filling the air.
Just as a monstrous snout emerged from the swaying grasses, Charles propelled himself forward with all his might. He soared over the babbling stream, landing with a resounding thump beside Ellie who looked up in shock. His eyes locked onto the creature; its beady black orbs fixated on him with clear intelligence.
The creature slowly lifted its massive torso off the ground, revealing its towering stature. Standing at least seven feet tall, it bore a grotesque semblance of a hybrid between a human and a boar. Its naked, sinewy arms rippled with bulging muscles, while a swollen belly jiggled with its weight. With a malevolent gaze fixed upon Ellie, the creature's intentions were clear as it lunged forward, driven by insatiable hunger.