Squinting Norbert turned his head, stretching as he came to the land of the living. Blinking the sleep from his eyes as he rubbed them, not believing that he slept so much. For months he hadn’t needed to sleep properly, but here he was, his groggy head now coming around as he looked about the jungle.
Obsius, sitting on a vine on the nearest tree, chirped at Norbert as the bird fluttered down, meeting him on his chest. Norbert getting onto his hands and knees, looking around as he got his sense of direction, looking around putting his thoughts of the night before in their place.
Remembering the chase with the smoke, rushing through the jungle, dropping down the hole and nearly falling, climbing back up and passing out from sleep, and waking up again when the sun shining through just a minute ago.
GRRRRMBLE
Broken from his train of thought Norbert looked down to his stomach, not believing the sounds he heard from it. The pains hitting him from lack of food, having woken up later than he was used to before. Ruffling through his bag Norbert pulled out the food, seeing the bread as he scarfed it down, before reaching for the biscuits next and having those as well. Thirsty Norbert made his way to the flask, sculling the water down as it soothed his thirst.
Placing it back in his backpack Norbert leaned backwards, resting his hands behind him as he started up Obsius.
“What is happening to me?” Norbert asked the bird.
Obsius fluttering its wings came down and rested on his stomach, as she pecked at Norbert. Pecking at his shirt again Norbert stared down at his stomach. Nodding his head “Good thinking, lets see the damage.”
Taking his jacket off again Norbert lifted his shirt up, examining his solar plexus at the black spot. Nodding his head in understanding as the purple around it was even darker now, possibly the black spot about the same size or slightly smaller.
“Guess I cant push myself so hard for now until this goes away.” Norbert said to the bird as he lowered his shirt. Obsius chirping in response as Norbert went to his feet.
“Yeah, time to head back. Sure you can lead me back here?” Norbert responded. Getting a peck on his ear as Norbert rested there in response to his remark about her tracking skills.
“Ok, I leave the return trip in your hands. Now time to get some food and notify the others.” And with that Norbert made his trek back the village, taking out the compass to point him in the right direction. Not wanting to force the energy anywhere within himself to shorten his journey, just focusing on keeping it circulating around his body, feeling it move about his body as he walked, remembering what Azalea said about practicing magic with constant use and pressure. Well, now he had its own pressure, best to make use of the handicap.
***
The sun starting to fall in the sky as Norbert stood on the outskirts of the village, waiting for Martitia or Dousan to come, having called one of the two already. The villagers around him staring, acting nonchalant as they made sure that he wouldn’t enter any further into their domain.
Whistling with Obsius, knowing it best not to push it any further, hoping that they would bring some food and water out as well, not knowing when next he would need to eat, as currently he wasn’t feeling hungry at all, hoping to himself that he wasn’t losing it, having no power and magic. He shook his head lost in thought.
“Never seen you so down Norbert!” A voice cried out from behind him.
Turning around Norbert just smiled “Just something personal that’s all. And what are you even doing here Dobert?” he asked the man.
Dobert stopping several meters back just sighed “Been going through the jungle. Strict curfew not to be out at night so we all come back earlier. Makes the search take that bit slower.” Dobert replied to Norbert. “But enough about that, your back early so you must have found something?”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Norbert just nodding “Yeah found something. What seems to attack is this blue mist, only seen with magic and sends waves of itself out at you. Guess that’s what hit me the first time.” Norbert said as he poked at his chest.
Dobert just nodding “Well, I don’t know about you but I’m starving. Haven’t had anything since breakfast. I’ll let the others know that you’re waiting out here.” Dobert said as he started walking off.
Norbert nodding “Thanks for that. And tell them not to forget the meal and bring some torches for light. Don’t know how long I’m going to be away this time.” Norbert responded.
Dobert waved his hand in confirmation as he walked through the village making his way to one of the trees as he began climbing up the ladder.
Tapping his foot again on the ground Norbert continued his whistling, waiting for his food to arrive before heading out again.
***
Raising his arm in the air in salute, spotting Martitia walking along the walkway above before reaching the ladder which she deftly slid down, Norbert seeing the sack on her pack as she slid down. Landing on the ground with a thud she made her way over to Norbert before stopping just out of arms reach. Staring at the villagers around the area Norbert noticing all slowing down in their tasks, some completely stopped as he could almost feel the ears trained on him.
Throwing the sack to Norbert she stood there nodding as Norbert bent over, opening up the sack as a smile split his face. Taking his backpack off Norbert started moving the food over, adding the water flasks as well.
At the bottom Norbert saw the torches inside as well that he requested to be added, taking one up to eye level as he examined, not seeing any spell there, just a simple rag wrapped around the end. Nodding his head in approval Norbert moved the dozen off over into his backpack, reorganising everything to fit.
“So, want to add anything?” Martitia asked him.
Norbert continued to pack as he quickly explained what happened, leaving details out that he didn’t want the villagers to know. Finishing his story of the chase and finding the hole he asked her “And have you found anything at all?”
Receiving a shake from her head Norbert just nodded in return “Well, let me know if something does happen. I’ll be heading in that neck of the jungle. Don’t know when I’ll be back but will be a couple of days.” Norbert said, pointing to the direction he just came from.
Martitia just nodded “Stay strong, we’re all here for you.” She finished as she saluted him, index finger pointing straight into the sky.
Norbert nodded his head “And to you all as well.” As he copied the salute.
Nodding off Norbert placed his backpack on his shoulders before turning to Obsius sitting on his left “Well, guess that’s everything. Time for you to lead the way.” Norbert said to the bird.
Obsius fluting its wings as it alighted from his shoulder, brushing against his head as the bird shot forward. Hearing its chirps in response Norbert took off at a steady jog “Yeah, yeah I’m not going to lose sight of you.” He said, calling after the bird as he left the village behind, Martitia still staring at him, before turning around, not looking at the villagers staring at her as she made her way back to the command cabin, notifying what Norbert had found there.
Now deep in the jungle, Norbert many a time checking to make sure that he wasn’t being followed by anyone, that the villagers wouldn’t be breaking into their conversation anymore. Staring up at the bird, fluttering ahead as it waited for Norbert to catch up, staring at him he asked it “So, you see anything else following us?”
Receiving a tweet in reply Norbert nodded along “Yeah, didn’t seen anything else either. And I did purposefully leave info out. Don’t trust those villagers at all and neither does Martitia and the rest from what I gather.” Norbert replied back.
Obsius chirped in response, landing on his shoulder. “Yeah, I only told them what they wanted to hear. The villagers all stared back at me, tense when talking about the hole I found. So whatever happened is in those ruins with the smoke.” Norbert said back to Obsius.
The bird tweeting in response “And yes, you will be coming with me and we will be doing this all later. For now let’s just get to the area then find a place to rest for the night.” Norbert replied.
Following through the jungle Norbert turned his vision to darkness, wanting to still see in the fading light, not caring about if the smoke appeared this time.
Finally making his way to the hole, leading to the ruins bellow. Staring about Norbert saw no smoke as he changed his vision to magic, confirming that there weren’t any traps hidden by his sight in the increasing darkness. Confirming that it was just a normal clearing Norbert looked up at the trees, not wanting to sleep on the jungle floor at night again, not knowing what creepy crawlies could be about.
Carefully Norbert climbed up another vine, slowly making his way to the branches of the tree far above his head. At the top Norbert poked his head out of the leaves, watching the starry sky far above him. Taking a piece of biscuit Norbert broke several pieces off, handing them to Obsius.
The bird on his hand nibbling at the pieces as Norbert stared up at the constellations, mapping in his head where he would be in their position. Finding himself to the west of before and closer to the south Norbert broke a piece of bread for himself as he chewed on it, wondering what Luck was thinking about his predicament right now.