Chapter 197
The group was doing well at first, M'redith passed through the portal and immediately stepped to the side before looking around her. She was followed by Jay, who did much the same thanks to T'lly's past lessons on how and why to stay out of fatal funnels.
A portal is the very definition of a fatal funnel – an opening through which only one person can pass at a time. Should a person fail to move away from the portal once they had passed through then it would create an issue should another person follow them through the portal.
And that was exactly what happened. After Jay had stepped to the side and began to scan his surroundings he was quickly followed by Sha'li, who did not know any better. No one had informed her what to do after going through a portal. No one had bothered to even ask her if she had ever been through a portal before.
She hadn't.
So Sha'li came out of the portal a bit stunned and overwhelmed. She stood where she was when she appeared and looked about in wonder at her new surroundings.
She was quickly followed by Aiden, who was deposited by the portal in to the very same space that Sha'li was currently occupying. The two went down to the ground in a jumble of limbs. Aiden's staff became trapped under him between him and Sha'li.
As the two were attempting to untangle themselves Norri suddenly appeared in the very same space where Aiden and Sha'li lay on the ground in a confused mess. Norri fell down as well, her feet had caught on Aiden's leg.
“And that ladies and gentlemen is why you don't stand in a fatal funnel,” Jay said with a smile as he helped Norri up.
She quickly stepped aside and dusted herself off. Aiden was pulled up next by M'redith before Jay helped Sha'li to her feet.
“So something to keep in mind about portals – the person behind you is going to end up in the same spot as you when they go through so it's important to keep moving once through a portal. Don't stop,” M'redith pointed out with a smile.
Sha'li was chuckling and blushing at the same time. “Information that would have been helpful before we went through the portal!”
Everyone smiled, it was all in good fun and no one was upset.
M'redith nodded briefly, “You're right. I apologize, I hadn't considered that it would be your first portal. Why didn't you say something though?”
Sha'li smiled shyly and shrugged. Being outside Sha'li's scent was much less strong and had a softer edge to it. Still, the entire group was suddenly surrounded with the smell of sour fruit, the acrid odor of sweat, and...thyme?
Some of Sha'li's scents Jay could almost understand how they related to what was going on. This scent set was too confusing for Jay to make any sense out of it. The others were confused as well.
Sha'li noticed their confusion and pointed out kindly, “Shyness, embarrassment, frustration.”
Norri tilted her head sideways, “Thyme is frustration?”
Sha'li shrugged, “Sometimes. I don't much care for thyme.”
The three untangled themselves and stood up to dust themselves off. They were in a forested area, not thick forest, there was no dense underbrush to interfere with their movement, but there were plenty of trees and other plants around them.
The fog wasn't as bad here. Perhaps the thicker fog had already passed through on its way to K'tharkle City. Or perhaps the opposite was true, and the thicker fog was on its way to their current location. They'd find out as time wore on.
M'redith looked about the forested area they were in. “The portal mage had said that the ruins should be visible from our place of arrival. Anyone see some ruins?”
The fog wasn't as bad as it had been back in the city but that didn't mean that it was good fog. It still restricted their vision to a hundred feet or so. A hundred feet sounded like a lot of feet until you couldn't see past that same length. Then it seems a bit more... problematic.
Sha'li stood off to the side with a hesitant smile. “Does it often go wrong like this?”
Jay laughed, “Every time I've been on an adventure something has gone wrong. You never know what it is going to be, you just know that something will happen. As far as things go we're doing pretty well so far.”
Sha'li wasn't so sure about that but didn't argue. She would wait and see how things went, at that point she didn't have much of a choice.
M'redith took out a flat square and set it on the ground for a moment. It had a single dial on it and a free floating strip of metal balanced on a pin.
“Oh hey! A compass!” Jay said with glee as he recognized a bit of familiar technology.
“You have these back on... where you come from?” M'redith asked as she stopped herself from mentioning Earth in front of Sha'li, who was not yet in their circle of trust.
Jay nodded, “Sure. Best way to figure out which way you are headed. Well, it was – until we came up with other ways. Still, very handy and easy to use.”
M'redith smiled and nodded, “Well, according to this we need to head that way,” she said as she pointed off towards her left. “North.”
“Are we close?” Norri asked as she picked a thin stick out of her hair that had gotten tangled up in it when she had fallen earlier.
M'redith nodded, “The portal mage said we'd be close. That's good enough for me. Let's form up and head out.”
Everyone got back in to line and they even helped Sha'li get in to her correct place before they moved on. They made quick time until they approached the edge of the forest where it switched from trees to green grass and gentle rolling hills. Nestled among those hils were a maze of buildings in various states of collapse.
The buildings weren't all the same. Some were made out of stones whereas others were made out of bricks, all carefully and evenly laid out. The brick buildings were for the most part in a shambles whereas the buildings constructed out of stone were still standing. This made for a confusing jumble of shattered buildings with a number of still standing buildings sprinkled among them.
M'redith suddenly dropped to the ground and Jay followed her example as quick as he could. Aiden tugged Sha'li down to the ground just as Norri ducked down too.
Jay crawled up next to M'redith and peered through the fog to try and find what had alerted her.
She didn't speak but carefully pointed with one finger off to their right. Jay couldn't make anything out at first, the fog was too thick, but it also swirled in places, possibly due to movement. As Jay focused he could make out a very strange creature as the fog parted.
An oblong body was covered in feathers and stood on two thick scaly legs. It's feet were comprised of three taloned toes that flexed and grasped the ground it stood on, the middle talon of each claw significantly larger than its neighbors.
Out of the dark feathery body extended a sinuous neck. The head held a beak of average size and as the beak opened Jay could make out rows of teeth. Along the top of the head was a sharp looking crest of bone.
The creature was taller than Jay and slightly wider than Aiden.
As Jay watched the bird two large feathered wings extended from the creature's body and it opened its beak to let out a gargled screech.
“What the hell is that thing?” M'redith asked as the rest of her group crawled up to her position.
Sha'li had to be reminded to stay down but looked incredibly worried and excited all at the same time.
Jay grunted. “I think that is some type of cassowary. I haven't seen one exactly like this, but something close to it.”
“Is that bad?” Norri asked before Sha'li had the time to do so.
Jay shrugged, “Depends on the cassowary I think.”
“What the hell is a cassowary?” Aiden asked a little too loudly and Norri shoved and shushed him. He gave her an apologetic look and flashed a quick smile.
Jay shook his head slowly, “Big bird. Modern day dinosaurs. Where I came from they're called the world's most dangerous bird. See the feet? That middle toe has a claw like a dagger, four, even five inches long. They kick with that claw to eviscerate their prey. They're fast – they can easily outrun a carriage, they can jump almost as high as Norri, and can swim too.”
M'redith turned to face him, “You sure know a lot about cassowaries.”
Jay shrugged, “I used to love watching the nature channel as I'd fall asleep. There were tons of shows on strange creatures, and the cassowary is one strange creature.”
The group had no idea what Jay was talking about. Shows? They were all too focused on the large bird in the fog though to ask about anything other than the cassowary.
“Do we fight it?” Sha'li asked having finally found her voice. As she spoke a scent rolled over the group that reminded them of lazy days spent laying out in the sun. And mint.
Thankfully Jay was well aware that cassowaries hunted primarily with their sight and hearing. Their sense of smell was underdeveloped. Or at least the ones on Earth were like that. Jay reminded himself that this was Eden, not Earth, and things might be different here.
Jay smiled. Mint? Sha'li was interesting to have around for her scents if nothing else. “I sure hope we don't have to fight it. Let's see if it wanders off on its own.”
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The group stayed quiet and watched the bird as it fluttered its wings and called out repeatedly. Eventually the bird grew bored, turned away from the watching group, and wandered off in to the mist.
“So we're safe now?” Sha'li asked, being careful not to speak too loudly.
Jay shook his head, “There was one other thing about cassowaries I neglected to mention. Their one defining trait. They are fiercely territorial. Aggressive doesn't even begin to describe it. We'll have to run to the ruins and hope the bird doesn't notice us. If it does chase us we'll all line up behind M'redith in our standard order and fight it. The last thing we need is to get attacked from behind by that thing.”
Sha'li's face had grown flush and she was breathing heavy not just from exertion but excitement - and a touch of fear, which was always good to help with one's focus.
The distance between the tree line and the building that M'redith pointed out in the ruins that was still standing appeared deceptively small. “That's where we need to get,” M'redith said quietly. It looked as if it were just a short jog away from them. Fog tended to distort distances and made everything seem somehow closer.
“Ok. Form up, get ready to move,” M'redith ordered and everyone carefully stood and got in to line behind her. “Moving,” she said and stepped out of the tree line. She waited until everyone was out of the tree line before she increased her speed to a light jog.
The ruins, which had seemed so close when they had been in the tree line, still seemed as if it were just outside of their reach no matter how long they ran.
Jay was beginning to really hate fog.
A cassowary call sounded from somewhere off to their left and M'redith increased her speed a bit. The group was running at a steady pace across a plain of rolling hills towards the ruins spread out in front of them. The sky was still a nondescript gray, no sun to be seen, just a moderate haze.
“Faster!” M'redith called to the group behind her as she increased her speed again.
A second cassowary call came from off to the right and M'redith began to become worried. Suddenly M'redith pulled up to a stop and everyone piled up behind her due to the unexpected change in speed.
Ahead, between the group and the ruins, now stood a cassowary colored in black and dark blues. It's beak clacked open and shut a few times before it lowered its head and took a step forward. Then another.
M'redith was just about to draw her sword when suddenly a red and blue cassowary shot out of the fog from off to their left. The bird shot through the air with its legs pointed out in front of it. With a sudden jerking motion the bird landed on one leg and lashed out with its other leg lightning quick.
The black and blue bird jumped back out of the way just in time and the cassowary's neck sac inflated before it deflated all in one movement and made a harsh booming sound. It was loud, like hearing a far off explosion. The booming sound turned in to a rumble that reminded Jay of an engine idling.
The rumbling was clear. This area is mine. Stay out. Or else.
The red and blue cassowary fluttered its wings and let out a series of short sharp grunts as it raised one leg a few inches off of the ground – a threat. A challenge.
The two birds circled each other and as they did so they gradually moved away from Jay and his group as the birds tried to establish dominance over one another.
M'redith didn't dare to speak. The last thing that she wanted was to distract the two birds from one another. She motioned slowly to the others before she led the line of group members carefully past the two enraged cassowaries.
M'redith broke in to a jog and the rest of the group increased their speed so that they would keep up with her. Behind them they heard another loud and deep boom as one of the cassowaries inflated and deflated its neck sack as a final warning.
The group had just reached a patch of broken ground strewn with fallen bricks and overturned stones. It acted as a sort of courtyard for the building they had been running towards. M'redith was about to body check the doors open when Jay tugged on the back of her armor.
The group came to a stop at the door as Jay twisted the handle and it opened with a loud creak. Everyone pushed in to the room as fast as they could and Norri shut the door once she was through. As she did the group could hear a loud whine and hiss from the cassowaries outside.
It sounded as if one of the birds had given up and submitted. It was a good thing Jay and his group-mates had already gotten past them or they would have most likely been noticed at that point.
The group was suddenly enveloped by the scent of a mother's embrace, a feeling of warmth, and the clean scent of daisies.
“We're safe!” Sha'li said with a grin. “We are safe, right?” she asked just to be sure.
The building was dark inside and it took M'redith a minute to get out a firestarter from her pack and light the torches in the room. She removed a lantern which she lit using the firestarter before putting the small device back in her pouch while she hung the lantern off of her belt.
“Ok,” M'redith said as she looked around the room. It was empty save for a solid block of stone that looked as if it was once used as a table perhaps. “Looks safe-ish. Jay? Want to check the room please?”
Jay smiled, “Love to, one second,” he said as he shrugged out of his backpack and got out a trap tool. He worked his way through the room a little at a time but found nothing of interest. “Looks clear.” He put his backpack back on and began to search the room for secrets.
“Great! Everyone take a look around. Jay will look for secrets and hidden valuables while the rest of us do the same, just not as well.” M'redith said in jest and with a smile directed towards Jay.
The group laughed, even Sha'li who wasn't quite sure why it was so funny but didn't want to be the only one not laughing.
It had been a bit since the last time Jay had used his ability Treasure Sense. He noticed Sha'li looking a little confused and explained. “I have an ability to find treasure – a Class Ability. Here,” he said and explained his ability.
Treasure Sense (uncommon) – You may detect treasure within a 12' radius – this extends in all directions from the user. The treasure must be hidden from view and not easily reachable. A locked treasure chest out in the open and easily viewable might not trigger this ability but a gold piece buried in the dirt definitely would.
“That sounds so amazing!” Sha'li said with an impressed expression on her face.
“I can heal!” Aiden volunteered and everyone turned to stare at him for a moment.
Aiden looked embarrassed. “Sorry,” he said and flashed a quick grin.
Norri shook her head at Aiden but didn't tease him. He'd done enough already all on his own she thought. She'd have a word with him if he didn't calm himself down a bit soon.
Jay and Sha'li continued their conversation while Aiden listened in attentively.
“Well that explains it then,” Sha'li said with a grin as a cloud of scent surrounded them. Citrus and pear.
Jay couldn't remember ever smelling a pear before but he somehow knew the scent when Sha'li put it out around them.
Sha'li smiled, “Amused. Pleased,” she said as she explained the scents around them.
Jay thought back to their first meeting. Sha'li had given off scents then as well but she had never explained them before as far as he could remember. That was something she had only started doing that day.
“Thanks,” Jay said, “I appreciate the explanation but I hope you don't feel like you have to explain yourself. We're happy just to have you along as you are, scents and all.”
The others made sounds of agreement. There wasn't a lot of searching getting done but they were making some headway in forging a new friendship with Sha'li – the more important of the two activities.
Sha'li blushed and nodded before she smiled warmly. “I don't mind.”
M'redith looked about the room a second time as if looking for something before she was sure and turned back to the group. “This is it. Lucky us – we managed to pick the right building. There are records of a stone bed, others called it an altar, still others a table – that when moved opened up the entrance to the area under the ruins. That is where we want to go.”
Everyone turned back to face the stone block on the floor. It was roughly the size of a single bed with just enough room for a person to lay on top. Or, alternatively, the table had just enough room for six place settings if everyone moved carefully while they ate. It was six feet long, four feet wide, and was a few feet off the ground. It was a little too high to be a table or a bed. That left one other option.
“So...altar perhaps?” Jay wondered aloud as the others all examined the block.
“An altar to who?” Norri asked in confusion. There were no religious iconography in the room or on the 'altar,' which itself was featureless. No depiction of worship or of heavenly beings graced any object in the room.
“Whatever it was we need to figure out how to move it. Let's go over it one surface at a time,” Jay said and the group all gathered around the stone block and did everything they could think of to move it.
“Do you often become stuck in rooms on adventures?” Sha'li suddenly asked and the rest of the group laughed.
“Let's just say,” M'redith said with a smile, “that it is not exactly a rare occurrence.”
Sha'li grinned as the room filled with the scent of freshly washed linen and peaches. The group suddenly had flashbacks to times when they had been happy and content – the experience was different for each of them.
“Whoa. That one was a bit stronger,” Jay pointed out before he could catch himself.
Sha'li blushed and apologized, “I'm already trying to hold it in - I can't really control it.”
M'redith made a throw away gesture with one hand as she shook her head, “You don't have to. You're fine just as you are, no need to apologize. No one here has any problem with you or your scents. It really is ok – you can relax.”
Sha'li laughed and the scents around them changed to ginger, dead fish, and salt water. The group all made pinched faces – the scents were sharp and impossible to ignore. “I do not think you would be able to handle what it would feel like should I 'relax,' but I appreciate the gesture.”
M'redith shrugged, “Maybe just relax a little then? Keep just enough control over it that you don't hurt us – anything else is perfectly fine. None of us want you stressing out over it.”
Norri nodded and looked up warmly at Sha'li with wide eyes and her look was so genuine that Sha'li smiled in spite of herself.
The group was momentarily overcome with a longing for home, so strong it was almost painful, the scent of polished hard wood and the first day of spring. After a few seconds the intensity lowered to almost nothing before it soared once again before it settled in to a much more manageable strength.
The scent wasn't the only thing distracting them – strong memories and emotions were often triggered by scents that had nothing to do with them. It was as if Sha'li's emotions shined through the scents somehow.
“Is that good?” Sha'li asked everyone in the room.
Norri rubbed her eyes and turned so that no one could see her face as the others in the group each said in their own way that the strength of Sha'li's scent cloud was perfectly fine. After a minute or so Norri turned back around and it was clear from her red eyes what she had just been doing.
M'redith noticed first and looked over at her. “You ok, Norri?”
“Yes.” she stated flatly. It was a tone of voice that said that the current topic of discussion had reached its end.
The sharp scent of mud and sour milk filled the room and the group looked as if they were about to be sick before Sha'li toned it down.
Norri forgot all about what she had been crying over and laughed. “That was awful! Do it again!”
Sha'li frowned and then laughed. “I have to smell it too you know!”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “You do?”
Sha'li looked at him as if he were a bit slow. “Why wouldn't I? I have a nose too!”
The group all laughed, even Aiden who smiled in embarrassment.
“Come on, let's focus back up on getting into the basement!” M'redith prodded the group and everyone returned their focus to the stone block as the scents of freshly buttered popcorn and heated sugar wafted around them.