“The items for storage have been transported and the supplies we need are being packed up right now,” Jal told Dr. Gyasi.
“Yes, we simply need to speak with Mink Faber.”
“We asked him to be here, and I saw him about an hour ago, so I reminded him.”
Sage Elvan stood waiting with its very full pack. “Sage Elvan, do you know who Mink is?”
“Of course.”
“Would you see if you can locate him? Send him to us here.” They saw that Pari and Cirus were ready to go and asked them to join in the search for Mink. "Sage Elvan went that way. Would you go to the tents over there?”
It wasn’t long before Sage Elvan returned to the transportation site. Mink followed it.
“Good morning, Mink,” Dr. Gyasi greeted him. “We’d like to hear you decision about whether to continue on with us.”
“I guess I’ll stay here and continue on.”
“All right,” Jal said. “Here is a set of basic charms that you’ll need. And here’s a wand. Most of us carry them in our belts for easy access. Kir has agreed to take you on as a student. Please see him this afternoon about thirty minutes after we stop for the day.”
Dr. Gyasi addressed the group before they started off. "We’ve encountered one risar so far. Since we are in their territory, I want everyone to avoid contact with them. They live here and this is their home. Our goal is not to kill them, but to leave them alone. If you see activity, tell the person in front of you and behind you. If one of them initiates an attack on us, try to confuse them by going from tree to tree. Retaliate only if one tries to attack you or someone else in our party.”
Almost everyone’s head nodded in agreement. Jal noted to itself that the fighters that had been employed as security for the expedition did not acknowledge the instruction. It hoped there wouldn’t be a problem.
The group hiked for nearly four hours before stopping. They had seen “antelopes” that had odd horns, tree rats, black and white spotted felines, and numerous birds, but no risars. It was noon, and most people were ready to eat. A good portion of dried meat had been divided equally put into cloth bags, and had been given to each of the expedition members. The extra was packed into large bags and fit into the packs of those people who weren’t carrying a tent.
In the early afternoon, Zamani noticed motion to her left. She spoke to Luk, who was in front of her, and Mink who was behind. Word was passed through the rank, and everyone watched to see what it was.
“Just some old bear,” Zamani muttered.
An animal rose to its feet and seemed to pound on the tree with its front paws. “Look! There’s a beehive above it,” Luk said.
“Let’s get going!” Mink urged. “My pack’s getting heavy.”
“We’ve not walked that long since we stopped,” Zamani countered. “What’s up with you?”
“Nothing,” he muttered.
Word that there was a feline to the right came from the front of the line.
The hikers were mostly quiet as they walked through the woods. As they passed through, the birds above them would call out loudly. Golsho stopped suddenly and those behind wondered why. “Two risars to the right. One adult, one smaller.”
The hikers went in an arc around the beasts, slowly and carefully, trying to avoid detection. Part of the group had passed by them and was breathing a sigh of relief that they had avoided a fight. A short time later, Dr. Gyasi saw several of them lumbering through the thickly treed area. They were headed toward the string of hikers. Word was again passed down the line.
Zamani and Mink stepped out of the way of the hikers behind them, trying to see the unusual creatures for themselves instead of hearing about them. At least a dozen people passed by them as they stood watching. The line of hikers kept going, but the two adventurers were engrossed in watching the risars. Suddenly they realized that there was a big gap between them and Elodi.
In an effort to catch up, the two didn’t consider that they needed to walk quietly. Sticks crackled as they hurried to rejoin the group. They were no longer paying attention to the risars who had now headed their way. Mink smelled the fire and saw the smoke and turned to Zamani. Her pack was on fire and she struggled to take it off. Mink tackled her and rolled her onto the ground as she screamed for help.
The two lay on the ground as the risars lumbered toward them. Afraid to move, believing that they would be seen, Mink froze. “Should we get up and go behind the trees and take the chance of being hit by another strike? Or should we stay where we are, and hope that the risars don’t recognize that we don’t belong here?”
“Stop screaming,” he put his hand over Zamani’s mouth and whispered in her ear. “Don’t move. They might not see us. We’re covered with dirt and leaves.” The two lay, hardly breathing, as the creatures searched for them. Finally, the pair turned and went back in the direction they had come from.
They lay for what seemed like a long time, scarcely daring to breathe. Finally, Mink carefully got to his feet and offered a hand to Zamani. Everyone else was out of sight. “How do we find them?” Zamani whispered.
“They were going that way,” Mink responded. Slowly and carefully, they made their way from tree to tree, looking for signs where they others had stepped. “Here,” he said. “Here we go. I think this is the way to go.” He boldly stepped from tree to tree, trying not to crunch any limbs. They walked for what seemed like a long time, believing that they would eventually catch up.
Meanwhile the group had stopped. They gathered along a small stream and filled their canteens. Jal walked along, counting. “Twenty-two,” he said quietly to Dr. Gyasi. “We’ve lost two people.” It took them a bit to figure out who was missing. “Oh, no!” Jal groaned.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“What is it?” Dr. Gyasi asked.
“Mink may be a fighter, but I’m convinced that it’s only in the ring, and that he lied on his application. I don’t think he’s got the outdoor skills that he bragged he had.”
“Do you know if he has a compass and knew the general direction we are going?”
“I don’t think so.”
“They could be anywhere,” Jal muttered. “Dead for all we know. I thought I smelled smoke, but we had gone over the rise. I didn’t think one of our people would be in trouble.” It tapped its communicator.
“Hello, Jal,” a familiar voice answered. “How can we help you?”
“Two of our people have been separated from the group. Can you give us an indication of what direction they are from here?”
“This might take a few minutes.” As Jal waited, it slid its backpack off and filled its canteen.” They are about two kilometeres straight west from your location. It looks like they’ve headed north.”
“Thanks Walee.”
“I’m going after them,” Jal said to Dr. Gyasi. “I’m taking Golsho with me. One of us will contact you, once the four of us are together.”
“Should we keep going?”
“Please wait until we’ve rejoined the group,” Jal said quietly. It found Golsho, explained the situation, and they stepped through the trees away from the group. Golsho led, and Jal easily kept the pace he set. It wasn’t long before they saw the duo headed in the wrong direction.
“Pssssst!”
“Did you hear something, Zamani?” Mink spoke softly, but Jal could hear him clearly.
“Pssst!”
“There it went again.” They stopped behind two trees and studied the forest around them.
“Stop right there,” Jal said quietly. It stepped from behind a tree and motioned to them. Neither saw or heard Jal or Golsho.
“Stop!” Jal said louder. The two looked around.
“It’s Jal and Golsho,” Zamani whispered. “Come on!” She tried to hurry toward Jal, and he signaled for her to slow down, she thought.
Jal tapped his communication device. “Dr. Gyasi, we found them. We’re on our way back to you.”
The sun was on its downward arc as the four rejoined the group. “What happened to you?” everyone asked.
“We can talk later,” Golsho said. “There’s a clearing about four kilometers this way. We can camp there tonight.”
“Wait,” Jal stopped him. “Zamani, are you injured?”
“Why are you asking me that, Jal?”
“Because this side of your pack is black and you smell like smoke. “Take off the top of your fighting uniform.” She refused. “You will take it off, or I will remove it for you.”
“Don’t get weird on me, Jal!”
“Where’s Lallo?” Jal looked around. “Tell Lallo that I need her.” Word quickly spread through the group and Lallo immediately responded.
“What is it, Jal?”
“I believe that Zamani was burned when she was separated from the main group. Would you look her over please?”
Zamani refused to take her fighting gear off. “I’m going to say this once to you. You will remove your gear and be treated for your injury, or I will have you transported to the Emergency Room in Pejaru. Do you understand me?”
At this, Zamani followed Lalo a short distance from the group. Zamani slid the top of her suit down, Lallo looked her over and Zamani put her top back on. Lalo returned to Jal. “She needs to be treated as soon as we get to a stopping point. I’ll need to clean the burn, put a salve on it, and give her a healing potion. I think she can finish the hike for today.”
“Are you certain? I don’t want her to think we’re punishing her.”
“I think she’ll be okay for an hour or two.”
Jal sighed heavily. “Let’s go,” it said to Golsho. “It would be good if there’s water at our next stopping point, but we’ll take what we can get.”
For the rest of the hike Zamani and Mink walked in the middle of the group.
***
“You can’t keep that!” Zamani argued with Lallo.
“You can’t put it on right now. It’s dirty and you’ll get infection in your arm. We have to clean this, then put ointment on, and put clean bandages on it. If you give me a minute, I’ll give you a healing potion. You’ll be back to normal in two days.”
“I can put my uniform on over the bandages!”
“No, you can’t,” Lallo said firmly. “This is too snug. We’re not going to take the chance of you disturbing the bandages. You’ll have to put something else on. Where’s your backpack? Here, find something else to wear. I’m going to have someone wash this. I’ll be back in a few minutes with some clean water to wash your arm.”
Lalo took care of Zamani, then waited for her while she pulled a shirt on. “What’s that?” she looked at Zamani.
“It’s my sleeping shirt.”
“That’s not going to give you any protection outside. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Lallo went to Kir. “I need to to share a tent with Ladi Woer, just for tonight. I want to keep an eye on Zamani.” Kir had no problem with that. Lallo next went to Ladi. “I need you to share your tent with Kir, just for tonight.”
“But he’s a male!”
“Yes, he is. But I need to make sure Zamani had good medical treatment. If she doesn’t, she may have to drop out. I need you to wash this for me. If you need extra soap, come and see me.”
Lalo went back to her tent. “Go ahead and unpack your things for tonight. You’re staying with me.”
“But-“
“But nothing! I don’t want any argument from you.”
“I need to see Mink.”
“Why?”
“I just do.”
“I’ll have him bring you food when its ready. Is that okay?” Zamani nodded. “Put a clean shirt on, that way he won’t get any crazy ideas.”
“He won’t. He’s my brr-“ She stopped. “All right. I’ll roll out my sleeping bag and stuff.”
***
At the beginning of meal time, Jal asked Sage Elvan if it would supervise the food bowls it had prepared. It slipped away when it saw Mink leaving with a plate of food for Zamani. It stood behind some bushes a short distance from Lallo's tent and listened.
“Zamani, are you okay?” Mink asked when he saw her.
“I’ll be okay. Hurry, get in here! Lallo promised to give me a healing potion for the pain. I’ll be okay,” she said reassuringly.
“That was crazy, Mon. I can’t believe all that happened.”
“It was pretty stupid of you,” she accused him.
“You’re older than me. You’re the one who’s stupid.”
“Be quiet! If anyone hears us, we’re going to get in big trouble.”
“Eat!” Mink told her. “What do you need for tonight?”
“I need to use the fighting uniform.”
“No way! That’s mine!”
“Lalo wants me to put a shirt over these bandages to keep them in place. It needs to be a clean shirt that's not so snug.”
“I don’t have a clean shirt.”
“Please, Mink!” she begged. “It’s just for tonight.”
“If Lalo sees it, she’ll figure out that you’re my sister.”
“Sh! Just let me borrow it. I’ll hide in my sleeping bag until it’s dark. She’ll never know.”
At this, Jal went back to its spot by the fire. People ate freely of the rabbits and wild vegetables they had found. “I need to see you when we’re finished here,” Jal said to Dr. Gyasi. After the meal, Jal caught Lalo and asked her to join it. The three sat down within sight of the fire but out of earshot of the others. “Lalo, I want you to tell me something. Has Zamani entered puberty?”
“That’s between me and her, Jal.”
“No, it's not. She and Mink are brother and sister. I heard him say to her that she was the older sister and she should have known not to stop to watch the risars. Has she entered puberty?”
“No.”
“So, she’s not even six, Dr. Gyasi. And he’s younger than her, which makes him less than six, likely five.”
“But they look so different!” Lallo didn’t believe Jal.
“One parent may be Maz, and the other an Eza.”
“That would account for the unusual coloring they have,” Dr. Gyasi said slowly.
“If they’re five and six, then how can he claim that he’s an advanced fighter?”
“He’s bluffing,” said Jal. “I’ve seen him fight. He fights like a beginner. Holds his weapon high and tries to act real tough. They’re both pretending. He doesn’t know any magic, he said that at the interview. I don’t know whether she’s lying, or she actually knows any. They want the currency and apparently, they’ll do almost anything for it. They need to be sent back. There’s too big of a chance they’ll put the other members of the expedition in jeopardy.”
“You’re right, Jal,” Dr. Gyasi agreed. “We don’t know what’s ahead.”
“I’ll talk to them tonight, so they can leave right away in the morning.”
“I think you should talk to them in the morning,” Lallo said. “I have a feeling that they may try to run off.”
“To where?”
“I don’t know, but do you want to take that chance?”