Nerves crackling with adrenaline from the tense interaction, Nick didn’t want to venture too deeply into the main press of bodies. After meeting Jim and Ken, he felt just as threatened by other people as by the beasts roaming the bog, although everyone nearby seemed friendly enough.
Instead, he followed Sophia past a pair of massive makeshift tents pitched in the middle of the gathering and began walking toward the periphery of the campground. When he noticed that no one was resting below the canopy, Nick turned to the closest person and asked, “What’s the deal with the empty tents?”
“You must have just arrived,” a woman holding a staff that was taller than she was replied. “I’m sure that you’ve had to deal with the blackmist and the redfang hunters while crossing the marsh.” Nick nodded his agreement.
“The tents are reserved as shelter for whenever a big patch of mist hits us. The hunters can’t see inside with their echolocation. So far, they haven’t figured out our trick and tried forcing their way in. Jim has set up some nasty surprises for the first ones that do, but hopefully we’ll all be in the tower before it comes to that.”
Nick thanked the woman and hurried to catch up with Sophia, who had found a campsite away from the crowd and was busy removing rocks from the area. While they would still be sleeping on the ground, it seemed that they would be able to stretch out tonight without stones and roots poking into their backs. It was a small luxury in the grand scheme of things, but he was looking forward to it anyway.
He let Sophia know what he had learned, then suggested that they split up and try to find Devin, Veronica, Kenji, Sarah, Bret, and Paul. While they were at it, they would learn whatever they could about the tower and the group organizing the people camped out along its base. Nick waved farewell to his partner for now, then began heading over toward the central area.
Before he could begin the journey, a cry resounded from the lookouts, followed by another. “Blackmist incoming! Take shelter and prepare to fight off the hunters if they breach the tents. Do your best not to draw attention to yourselves. We can’t afford to take any losses. ETA four minutes.”
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Everyone began heading for cover in an orderly fashion, most of the people moving toward the big tents he had seen. It seemed this wasn’t the first time this had happened. Although everyone looked nervous, no one was panicking or trying to shove their way through the crowd.
At least Jim’s planning seems competent, even if I don’t trust him an inch. Nick drew his wand but left his sword in his pack. He didn’t want to accidentally stab anyone in the press of bodies. He followed Sophia into the closest tent, curious to see what was about to happen.
When the shelter was full, someone pulled the entrance closed, the interior lit up by dozens of personal light sources. A minute after the flaps were tied shut, a wave of darkness broke over the canopy, blotting out the sunlight like a river of ink.
“Keep as quiet as you can,” a guard ordered. “Prepare to defend yourselves, but don’t do anything to draw attention to our position.” Everyone turned to face the exterior of the tent, leaving a space in the middle that was filled by the injured and exhausted. Nick drew his dagger for good measure then took his place in the outer ring.
The air was tense, and he could see licks of blackmist peeking through the gaps in the covering, but the enchanted vapor seemed unable to enter an enclosed space. The crowd flinched when an abrupt cry rang out, followed by another, as the redfang hunters began prowling the sky above.
But no one screamed, panicked, or lost their shit. A testament to the courage of the volunteers from team Earth. Clearly, they had undergone their own trials over the last few weeks, just like Nick and his friends. These experiences had transformed them from civilians into warriors, or at least the first strong step in that direction.
The blackmist engulfed the tower for a good twenty minutes before the sun emerged once more, signaling that the bank had blown past. “All clear,” a voice from outside confirmed a few seconds later.
“The mist has passed us by for now. We took no casualties this time, thanks to your orderly behavior. Well done!” With that welcome bit of good news, someone opened the flap and people began filing back outside. I suppose the people in charge are good for something after all, he decided. This could have gone so much worse.
He bid farewell to Sophia and started walking around the periphery of the gathering. He felt a momentary surge of lightheadedness, realizing that he had left the range of her aura. He had grown so used to having the buff that her ability provided that it had become his new baseline.
Just as Nick was about to head into the market, he felt a hand on his shoulder.