That night, the trio sat around their campfire at the neck of Mt. Krals. They sat silently as the sound of the crackling fire filled the night. While their journey had never been warm, up where they were- more than halfway up the rocky face of the mountain- the wind was especially cold. Rachel thanked the Stars for her warm clothing.

She walked over to the fire, removing one of the rabbits that were skewered over it.  Al’tun had hunted a wide variety of game for them down on the lower slopes, but such food was becoming scarce and they had to be careful with what little remained.

“They’re ready,” she called to Alexia.

Even though it was cold away from the fire’s heat, the Elemantist sat outside of the warm glow. Alexia had her back to the fire, staring out over the edge of the mountain. Rachel waited for a response, but when none came she sat down, digging into her meal. The meat was tender and juicy and gone before Rachel realized. Her stomach rumbled as the smell of cooking meet drifted towards her from the fire. She looked over and saw that Alexia had not moved.

“If you don’t grab it soon, the meat’s going to burn.”

Alexia didn’t move as the smell of burning meat grew stronger. Rachel got up from her seat and snatched the burning rabbit from the fire. There was still a bit left un-charred. Her stomach grumbled as she stared at the remainder of the rabbit, but after a moment’s thought, she walked over to Alexia.

“Here,” Rachel said, handing the rabbit to the mage.

Alexia started, seeming to just remember that Rachel was there. She grabbed the rabbit without a word. One bite was all she took before she cried out, dropping the rabbit onto the cold ground.

“That’s burning!”

She rounded on Rachel. The Beast Tamer took a step back. She had never seen such a fierce look in Alexia’s eyes before. A soft glow gathered around the Elemantist, gradually gaining in intensity as she spoke.

“What are you planning Beast Tamer? Are you trying to kill me too? Are you another assassin? I saw the way you and that rabid mongrel have been watching me. Try it Beast Tamer. Try and take me. I promise you, I will not be easy prey.”

“You know, maybe everyone is right,” Rachel said, feeling an anger of her own start to boil.  “Maybe you are just a horrible person. You stand there, accusing and threatening me, but what have I ever done to you, huh? Name one time in the three years we have been together that I have done anything, anything at all, to hurt you. As for watching you, of course I’ve been watching you! We’re out here- alone!- in this forsaken place. The only thing keeping either of us dying from one of the hundreds of different things that are trying to kill us is each other. So yes, yes I have been watching you. But if letting me nearly die is how you thank you me, then fine! I won’t watch out for you anymore. Next time an ice goblin strikes at your back, or a snow wyvern tries to freeze you, Al’tun and I will just let them!”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Rachel was breathing heavily, her face flushed with heat and anger. It, it felt good. She had never lost her temper before, and she felt exhilarated. That is, until she saw the way Alexia shrank under her. Immediately, regret and shame flooded out all of her good feelings. Rachel wanted to go to Alexia, to apologize for her angry words, but before she could, the Elemantist spoke up.

“Thank you.”

“What did you say?”

“Thank you. For helping me.”

Alexia stood up and walked towards the fire. As she passed Rachel, she saw tears running down the Elemantist’s face. She reached the fire, and kneeling down, started to poke at it with a stick. After a moment, Rachel walked over and knelt down next to her.

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a horrible person,” Alexia continued. “It’s just, it’s just so hard sometimes. You don’t understand. How could you? The pressure, Stars the pressure! Some days it’s all I can do just to get out of bed. It’s awful. Everyone’s expecting something of me, everyone’s saying how I’m going to save the world.”

Alexia turned to Rachel, the normally reserved and calm Elemantist was crying unashamedly by the light of the fire. “What if I don’t save it? What if I can’t? Ever since I was born, everyone told me I was going to save the world, but no one says how, or when. I can’t ask for help; the professors expect me to be able to save the world already, and the other apprentices hate everything about me. I wake up every day wondering if this will be the day that the world needs me, and all I can think is I’m not ready!”

The future savior of the world collapsed onto Rachel. Deep, heartfelt sobs racked her thin frame.

“So many people want me dead,” she said, her voice muffled against Rachel’s coat. “Everywhere I go, I’m always worried if I am in danger – ‘Did that inn keeper poison my food?’ ‘Are those merchants planning my death?’ – every person I meet could be hiding a knife. I’m just so tired of it. I never asked to be a hero, I never wanted this responsibility!”

Alexia broke down, sobbing even harder into Rachel’s shoulder.

“I can’t speak for anyone else,” Rachel replied, “but I never wanted you dead. Stars, I kind of admired you. I mean, the way you strolled up to that drake the other day, that was pretty amazing. I don’t know, maybe this will help, but as a Beast Tamer they always tell us to ‘worry about the beast in front of you. Not the one around corner.’ Focus on the problem at hand, you know? Instead of worrying about saving the whole world, just focus on helping a small part of it. If you’re destined to save it, you’ll be ready when the time comes.”

Alexia raised her head. Her face was tear stained but the smile on it was warmer than the fire.