Chapter 4

Johnny threw the assailant out the window, jumping along with him. Johnny was glad that this time he used someone else’s body to break all that glass. The Dwarf bounced on the gravel road and was promptly bounced off of by Johnny. A sharp crack let both him and Johnny know he would not be able to continue on living, let alone hunting him and Urlug down. Once he landed on the street, Johnny began to sprint towards the source of the salty breeze. He was then alerted by Urlug’s presence when sounds of cracking wood and stone exploded behind him. A, “Hey!” combined with a crunch of bone let Johnny know what happened.

Urlug stomped towards Johnny and shouted, “So we are gonna get a ship? Can you sail or steer then?”

“Probably, can’t be that hard!”

“What?!”

“I’ve done more complicated things like actually moving the wind. Can’t be harder than that!” Johnny grinned.

They turned a corner to find a familiar Baimon with a mangy Raskshasa guarding the way out. The Baimon pointed at them and shouted, “There! Those are the assholes with the big ass bounties!”

“Ya still owe me twelve coins, asshole!” Johnny shouted back.

Mortals of all kinds charged the duo with cudgels and cheap blades. Johnny crouched, placing his hands flat on the ground. When he touched the earth, a pillar of stone jutted from the ground, propelling him soaring above the heads of the bounty hunters. The thugs gazed up at the spectacle, then turned their attention to Urlug and began to fan out. “Grab the cheating bastard later, this one is the easy bounty.”

Urlug snorted in anger, blood boiling at the memory of his own wanted poster. Letting out a primordial roar, he snatched the pillar of stone as if ripping out a splinter of a giant. The thugs stopped in terror, unable to react as Urlug lobbed the chuck of stone. The pillar slammed into the taller mortals, stones crunching bone. Knocking them back into the Baimon, Urlug then swatted Dwarves into the buildings in the alley as he charged the final foe. Throwing his compatriots off, the Baimon began to hold firm but was greeted with a foot to the face, knocking him back down onto the Rakshasa, a pitiful yelp signaling his final moments. Urlug kept stamping and heard the angry trumpet of the Baimon’s call to arms.

Johnny heard the same as he turned the corner. While the noise behind spelled doom, the sight before him was less inviting. He saw no boat leave for the sea off in the distance nor anchored in the docks. Johnny turned back around to find Urlug being followed by a procession of mercenaries and thugs. Looking back towards the harbor, Johnny groaned and faced the ensemble of mortals. Johnny breathed in and as he exhaled, flicked fire bolts at Urlug’s assailants.

Urlug saw the hellish streaks rage across the sky towards him and could not understand or comprehend. He can only react. Diving face first into the ground, Urlug felt the heat bolt across his back, followed by a bang, crackles, and a body thumping hard onto the ground. Urlug launched himself up and kept going towards the harbor.

Johnny jumped onto a dock pillar, constantly flicking little fire bolts at the goons. The Biamon kept his distance, fearing the ease of a target that he was. Johnny was worried about approaching Orcbai. Seeing the size difference next to their cousins, he also saw that they were similarly gifted as Urlug. Embedded in their faces were stone splinters, yet they showed no signs of stopping. And they kept dodging and weaving his bolts. “Urlug! Behind!”

Urlug turned to have a fist slam into his face. As Urlug staggered and turned, his vision quickly became filled with a maul barreling towards his face. Urlug ducked, went low, grabbed a Human by the waist, and lifted him upwards. He slammed his attacker onto the ground. Whilst still holding him, Urlug threw the thug towards the crowd. Urlug turned, then heard a thunk. He felt something stab at his calf and saw a crossbow bolt lodged in it. He looked up to see a couple of the Dwarves reloading crossbows. Urlug yanked the bolt out and tossed it into the harbor. More bolts peppered his body, his anger flaring up to uncontrollable levels.

Charing the mob, Urlug began hacking mortals apart. Dwarves getting their own axes stuck in, Humans and Rakshasas alike clubbing at Urlug with their cuddles and even the Baimon getting in hits with his fists. Urlug’s pain tolerance started to buckle, his eyes shut from all the pain. A mighty gust of wind nearly knocked him over, but most were not as lucky as they flew through the air. Urlug peered up to find the only two left standing were him and the Baimon. The Baimon’s eyes went wide. He held up his hands, “Wait…!” but Urlug swiftly cut off his trunk.

Blood spewed everywhere and covered Urlug in a red sheen. The Baimon grasped at the torrent of blood, in shock that his trunk was replaced with said torrent. Urlug sliced at him once again, cutting open his neck. As the Baimon began choking on the blood, Urlug pushed him over, a loud slam echoing through the streets. Urlug turned around and gave a thumbs up to Johnny in appreciation. Johnny returned the salute but then quickly cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Duck!”

Urlug’s sadistic glee shifted to concentrated maliciousness as he lowered his weight. A spike in an offending maul scrapped his head, letting out a little trickle of blood. Urlug drove his axe blade in a sweeping motion, colliding with the parrying maul. The face of another Orcbai grinned devilishly at Urlug, and Urlug returned it in kind. The two Orcbai pressed their weapons against each other, sparks leaping from both their steels and tempers. Urlug pushed harder against his foe, and the other Orcbai responded in kind, both in snarls and strength. Urlug's grin fell into a line of concentration. Letting go of some pressure, Urlug stepped to the side. The other Orcbai tumbled down and off the pier, a torrent of water reaching up from his unwilling dive.

Urlug turned to Johnny and gave a thumbs up. Johnny returned the gesture half-heartedly. He began to open his mouth until a hand crashed through the boards underneath Urlug. It grasped at his ankle and yanked downwards, pulling and forcing Urlug through the already shattered wood and down into the sea. Johnny ran towards the hole and looked down to see the Orcbais clawing and biting at each other before the waters obscured them.

Johnny blinked in awe, stunned at the more extraordinary viciousness of the Orc subspecies. Johnny strolled around the harbor, kicking down a small shack. The owner, a Drakin, jolted up in surprise. The owner brought a crossbow to bear only to find Johnny was pointing a finger coated in flame at him. Johnny hiked his other thumb towards the door, and the merchant understood and complied. Johnny slammed the door behind him, raising a stone slab to enforce.

Johnny slumped behind the counter, grabbing some dried fish. Johnny hated the texture of river fish, but better than cat, he reckoned. He began to think he would thank Urlug for appreciating the small things in life they reunited with Urlug in the afterlife. But another part of him began to doubt that. As if to confirm it, the door slammed open but got caught by the pillar. A loud grunt followed with the grunt being followed by the sound of stone crumbling. After a minute, a familiar voice pipped up, “Johnny?”

Johnny waved his hand from behind the counter. Urlug stomped over and sat down next to Johnny, dripping in seaweed and dripping with scummy water. He shook furiously, knocking both types of abrasion off himself and onto Johnny. Johnny kept munching on the stolen fish, noting that some flavor had been added. Urlug asked, “I lost my provisions.”

Johnny kept munching on his fish, offering Urlug only a blank stare. Urlug stared back. Minutes passed where the only sounds were their breaths and Johnny’s crunching and chewing. Finally, Johnny simply replied, “That sucks.”

Urlug coughed, “I’ll owe you back.”

“Ya can literally grab whatever you want. Isn’t that ya did with that old man.”

“Don’t be rude.”

“Don’t be stupid?”

“I’m asking as a brother-in-arms.”

“I’m asking as ya can grab whatever you please here. We’re moving out in the morning.”

Urlug tilted his head, “How? If not the bounty hunters, the guards will come for us soon. We have to get ready for a scrap.”

Johnny wiggled his finger and swallowed the dried fish, “Except these guards are lazy. Even after hunting me for years at this point, they barely have the want to come grab me even if it’s obvious where I am. Thinking it has to do with me not being near their post.”

“What about the bar we met at?”

“That pit? Sorry, not sorry, even these guards don’t go down there.”

“No, I mean the topside bar! Where I saved you?

Johnny tilted his head this time, “Saved me? I thought that was another Orcbai?”

Urlug began to open up his mouth, but stopped when he saw the shit eating grin on Johnny’s face. “I wish my brother wasn’t a shithead.”

“There’s a joke there, but I’m too tired. Urlug, watch the door. I need to gather my magics, kay?”

“Don’t they come natural?”

Johnny glared, “Really?”

Urlug shrugged, leaned his bulk over the counter, and watched for any intruders to their stolen hovel.

Urlug awoke laying on the damp floor. Peeling his face off the ground, he stretched and yawned. The yawn, being more akin to a rumbling roar, promptly woke up Johnny. He glared at Urlug and said, “There’s no ships nearby this rundown dock, so there’s no need to warn them of the shore yar bellowing!”

Johnny turned his back to Urlug and pulled his hood over his face. Urlug scratched his head. He guessed Johnny was not a morning mortal. He went to stand and the pain in his calf set off a chain of pain through his body. Battle scars of the previous engagement began to voice their complaints. Urlug went to grab his pack, but remembered what happened. He slowly turned to Johnny and sheepishly said, “Johnny? Do you happen to have any Mother’s Te..uh, healing potion?”

Johnny grunted and pointed to his pack. Urlug whispered, “Thank you,” and tipped toed his way to Johnny’s pack.

Johnny finally opened his eyes. Urlug’s stomping sounded like the beating of the drums of war. Urlug uncorked the divine drink and threw the vital contents down his gullet. Giving an intoxicating smile and collapsing on the floor, Urlug allowed the drug to work the wonders on his body and mind. The high encompassed his being and guided him back to sleep with a careful hand. Hearing the slowing and the deepness of Urlug’s breath, Johnny joined him as he slumped to the floor.

This time Johnny opened his eyes first, but his yawn was more modest. He turned to see Urlug still on the floor sound asleep. Standing up, Johnny peered outside the doorway. He found no one in the immediate vicinity, guessing the he was a blessing for the merchant. Not every day do you have an excuse not to go to work, but a psychotic duo does help out.

He began a meditation cycle, hopefully finishing before Urlug woke up. Once completed, he casually walked to Urlug and nudged him with his foot. As expected, nothing changed. Johnny kicked a little harder, enough to put in some effort. Urlug scratched the spot, and as he began to open his mouth, Johnny covered his ears from the roar. After the minor shockwave, Johnny uncupped his ears and asked, “Morning sleepy head!”

Urlug looked up at one of the windows, “It is night. Look there are the stars.”

Johnny quipped, “The stars are just mini-suns, so its daytime. “

Urlug stared back, unamused. Johnny broke the silence with a question, “So...have any ideas on how to get out of here?”

Urlug looked puzzled, “I thought you were waiting on me and then we would sail out once we rested?”

“Uh, we don’t have a boat. There’s not a ship on this harbor.”

“And?”

Johnny just stared, “And?”

Urlug held up his hands and wiggled his fingers, “Your magics control the elements right?”

Johnny shook his head, “Yes, but trying to influence the sea to carry us is another matter. She’s a bitch who don’t listen to no man, nor woman. And we don’t even have any sort of raft, let alone a fully seaworthy...Urlug?”

Urlug tromped over to the entrance of the lighthouse, grabbed the door and ripped it off its hinges. He inspected the quality, put it on the ground and sat on it. Johnny just stared, “Maybe,” he looked around the shack and found another advantage. “Urlug, find a beam or something similar...wait. Find a beam and don’t tear it up yet.”

Urlug glared, “I’m not stupid Johnny.”

Johnny continued, “Sure. Once you find it, we are gonna bring everything outside and make a makeshift raft. I can push the wind to our favor and we can sail away from this rotten city.”

“With what sail?”

Johnny began to collect maps and charts from the counter, holding them up in the air and waving them about. Urlug nodded and began to search and test possible beams to serve as their beam. Johnny snatched a sewing kit and started to patch the sturdy and large pieces of cartography together. Hours went by, and Johnny shouted, “Alright, think this can work!”

He turned to Urlug, finding the Orcbai resting against a beam. Johnny grabbed the makeshift sail and went to the heavy door. He put his hands on the door and began to push, “Come help me bring this down.”

Urlug grinned and charged. Johnny panicked, “Wait, wait, wait, EASY!”

Urlug kicked the hinges with the sole of his boot, and the door exploded outside the force barreling it towards the ocean. The absence of solid material sent Johnny falling towards the hard road. Keeping his composure, Johnny grabbed each of the corners of the jury-rigged sail and blew toward the ground. The wind he conjured barely stopped his face from being splatted on the stones below. After a couple of moments of blowing air, the now parachute slowly lifted Johnny upright.

He whirled towards with annoyance but closed his eyes as dust raced towards him. Reopening his eyes, Johnny saw Urlug effortlessly carrying the beam over his shoulders. Urlug stated, “I just thought of this, but how are we gonna keep the sail up?”

Johnny pointed right back at him, “Ya’re gonna hold it, I’m going to push the wind. If it gets too tiring, just give me a heads up and I can stop. Just don’t let the sail drop in the ocean or we will be S.O.L.”

“Sol?”

“It means short on luck.”

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Landing on the shore, Urlug dropped the mast onto the beach and dropped onto the beach face first himself. Johnny walked up to him and smiled, “Ya could’ve had a break, I have enough rations for a week or so. We didn’t need to do it within a day.”

Muffled by the sand, Urlug whined, “Sssh, I need sleep.”

Johnny shrugged and walked away towards the jungle. Urlug propped his head up and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Not at the beach. I still have that bounty on my head and I would rather not take my chances anyone seeing me exposed.”

Urlug just layed there for a minute and realised that Johnny was serious about leaving him there he growled, lifted himself up and began to catch up with Johnny. Johnny himself began to admire the scenery. Green was something more often than not absent in his life, and he felt soothed by it’s presence. He walked along the unpathed floor carefully not to trip on the roots weaving in and out of the ground, jutting out like fingers of giants. Johnny went to reach out to touch the stagnant life, when Urlug smacked his hand. Of course, the smack was more than that so Johnny gave the appropriate response. “SHIT!”

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Johnny was clutching his hand and turned to Urlug, eyes full of fire and a hand ready to be the same. Urlug pointed at the spot on the tree, “Don’t touch that moss.”

Johnny spat out, “The fuck ya mean?”

“The moss is known as Slayer Moss. Come close, but don’t touch.”

Urlug ushered Johnny over and Johnny hesitated, but bent down anyway. Urlug pointed from a reasonable distance at the moss. “The moss in cities and rocky shores are flat and completely green. So is this Slayer Moss but there are little needles dotting along the surface. These are not a problem for most jungle animals because they know better. Us ‘smarter’ mortals who do touch it get stung and suffer mad toxins.”

Johnny turned to Urlug, “Were ya a hermit or a druid before this?”

Urlug shook his head, “No, I raised pit fighting animals before I joined the previous clan. Slayer Moss is a common poison ingredient around here, but we altered it to make a rage inducing drink for the animals.”

Johnny nodded and stood up, “So where is yar clan now?”

Urlug just stared at the moss for a bit. “Urlug?” Johnny prodded.

Urlug looked away for a minute, stood up and said, “Come, we need to make camp before midnight. Some nasty predators stalk and prowl then.”

“Nasterier than ya?”

Urlug began to walk back into the forest, leaving Johnny there to stare. Johnny himself reexamined the moss then proceeded to catch up with Urlug.

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“Here, underneath this Cave Tree.”

Urlug beckoned Johnny over to an imposing tree that had an opening where some thick roots were exposed. “Is this type of tree hollow enough to light a fire inside?” Johnny asked.

“If the fire is small, yes. But we ain’t gonna lite one because the fire would be both too small for comfort yet large enough for some predators to see.”

Johnny tilted his head, “What kind of predators have gotten you spooked?”

“Mainly one called a Visavisa. They are giant lizards, bout,” Urlug held up his hands, “Couple of meters long but their venom is what’s really nasty. Their bite can paralyze you and you’ll lay there as they eat you alive.”

Johnny looked down at Urlug’s hands and back up at him, “You do know that a couple meters is more than a fist distance?”

Urlug frowned, looked down at his hands and exclaimed, “Oh my bad! I was thinking of a Bisabisa for my hands. So yes, Visavisas are like this big.”

Urlug let his entire wingspan unfurl and placed both hands at opposite ends to give a better visual. Johnny smirked. He walked into the hollow part of the tree. The thing was massive, covering the stars with its canopy. The leaves sheltering most of the raging storms wrath letting only a fraction of the ocean of water nurture the ground. “When I was in the Order, there was an elder, a Rakshasa if I remember right, that told me about the story of these trees. He said that the Goddess Aranyani planted the trees herself to shelter wanderers and guard the forest in her absence.”

Urlug pressed his hand against the entrance frame of the tree, “Did he give them a name, like how I call healing potions Mother’s Tear?”

“Aranyani’s Guards I think. Really I’ve been in the mountains and cities, so this jungle thing is new to me.”

“Who’s Aranyani?”

Johnny shrugged, “Beats me.”

Urlug nodded. They went deeper in the tree and began to pull out their camping supplies. Johnny felt minimalist with his bedroll but looked over at Urlug. “Ya gonna sleep on something?”

Urlug cocked his head, “The ground?”

Johnny shrugged and took off his rags. Urlug shouted, “Hey! We may be brothers…”

He stopped when he saw Johnny having another set of clothes. Urlug noted they were more detailed and colorful than the beggar’s rags. Golden orbs hung around Johnny’s neck and silver around his waist. A red sash held up golden wraps and leathers. Bracers and feet guards gleamed the same shine as the orbs and wrappings. Urlug kept staring in amusement, then quipped, “Seems like you haven’t completely let go of your clan.”

Johnny narrowed his eyes at Urlug and snipped back, “Well, it seems like ya’ve done so for yars.”

Urlug spat and growled, turning his back to Johnny, and slumped onto the ground. Johnny sneered back at the tantrum and rolled out his bedroll. The two companions had their backs to each other, drifting off to spite filled dreams.

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Johnny pressed his body against the branch, ensuring that the leopard did not see him. The creature has been elusive and skittish the entire morning but the need for drink was finally getting to the animal. It went by the river, slowly slurping up the precious liquid. Johnny seized this opportunity.

He leapt down from the tree tops and lifted his hands in an upwards motion. The leopard tried to flee but two tendrils of water reached for the creature’s throat. They clutched its neck and dragged it down into the water, submerging the head of the beast. It thrasted and clawed at the river bank desperate to break free. Soon desperation and fear began to burn out and the leopard’s sporadic efforts slowed, then ended. Johnny pulled his grasped hands towards him and the water handed over the kill. Nodding in satisfaction, he lifted the deceased beast over his shoulders and proceeded back to Urlug.

Resting up against the tree, Urlug was reading a piece of paper. Johnny dropped the kill on the ground in front of him. “Whatcha reading?”

Urlug looked up and said, “Something to do with an X that is marking a spot. Don’t know what the spot is marked as but it’s…”

“Treasure,” Johnny’s eyes gleamed, “Lemme see that while you prepare the leopard.”

“Thought you were done with eating cats,” Urlug jeered.

“Shut up and gimme the map dumbass.”

Urlug rolled his eyes and handed the map to Johnny as he walked towards the leopard. He inspected the animal, seeing no abrasion or wound. “How did you kill this leopard?”

“Huh?” Johnny turned around and looked back at Urlug.

“How did you kill the leopard?”

“Oh,” Johnny wiggled his fingers, “Choked it with the water.”

“Ha!” Urlug grinned and turned back at the leopard, “Nice.”

Johnny returned to studying the map and Urlug began preparing the animal. Slowly skinning the kill with one of his hand axes, Urlug asked, “So what can you understand bout it?”

Johnny turned towards Urlug and walked backwards till he rested against the tree, “The area will most likely take us north in the mountains, more specifically the Frozen Plateau.”

“What’s that?”

Johnny peared over the map, “A place where only masochistic holy mortals go to practice self reflection and blah blah blah,” spinning his hand in a circle while explaining.

“Basically it’s not worth anything for most people.”

“Except for maybe hiding a treasure,” Urlug pointed out.

Johnny grinned, “Maybe and hopefully.”

Urlug returned to the carcase, using his little hand axe to cut shallow wounds, “So I’m gonna guess that you’ll use some of that treasure to pay off your debts?”

“Hells no.”

Urlug looked over his shoulder, “Don’t tell me you’re gonna gamble it all away?”

Johnny scoffed, “No, well, maybe. Listen, everyone of my debtors are scumbags and I don’t mind cheating them of their money. Besides, I’d rather use my mini fortune to find better drinks and drugs.”

“That’s not very monk-ish of you.”

Johnny sneered, “Having ya and me as the only members of your clan ain’t very Orc-ish of you.”

Urlug snorted and spat, then returned to dealing with his project. Johnny returned to deciphering the map. After a long silence, Johnny briefed, “Other than it being on the Frozen Plateau, the map has four little symbols near the X.”

Urlug grunted, “Ok?”

Johnny shrugged, “There’s no legend on this, maybe because it wasn’t made for us….”

Urlug laughed, “Ha! Is now.”

“But these markings are distinct enough. They have lines with some things jutting out of them, like…”

“Jutting?”

“Uh, sticking out of.”

“Oh, gotcha!”

Johnny continued, “So these marks have some squiggles or something, looks like water damage distorted them.”

Urlug lifted up his chin, “That Orcbai was an asshole and weak, so he did something sneaky and dishonorable. Didn’t fight with honor and strength.”

“Ya beat up an old Human to get breakfast and to look at his, as you called it, “Scribbles.”

“The weak get preyed on and the strong prey, like what you did to this leopard.”

Johnny frowned, “That’s different.”

Urlug shrugged back, “Only that you wouldn’t eat the old Human, least I would’ve. That way, he wouldn’t have been a waste.”

“Ya calling me a hypocrite? I ain’t a hypocrite, I just have some sense of right and wrong, not hungry and angry.”

“Ha! I get that joke! It’s because you’re a murderer too, right?!”

Johnny began to open his mouth but decided to let Urlug have this one. Johnny put the map away in his small travel sack and stared up at the canopy far above. He wondered if the trees was close enough to the heavens to converse with the gods and goddesses in their stars. Maybe they sheltered not only the mortals below from the elements, but from the wrath of the divine so their sins may be redeemed one day. “Liver’s mine!”

Urlug greedly tore through the black meat and Johnny curled his lip. Maybe it kept the deities from looking down at the mortals too much.

Johnny woke up from his nap with something thrown upon him. He looked down to find a leopard pelt and a hunk of meat. Johnny looked up to see Urlug pointing at the meat, “Your kill, so you get the heart.”

“Huh?”

“You killed the leopard, so the heart belongs to you! Not only is good eating, but some of the spiritual energy is gifted to you. Might help with your,” wiggling his fingers, “powers.”

Johnny looked down at the meat and pelt, “And this is?”

Urlug tilted his head, “Your kill?”

Johnny grabbed the heart and handed the pelt, “I don’t want it, you can have it.”

Urlug happily snatched it and tied it around his waist, “Thank you!”

Johnny gathered kindling needed for a fire. Urlug asked, “After you’re done with that, you wanna go look for that treasure?”

Johnny lept up with child-like energy, “Yeah!” then pausing momentarily, “Wait, why do ya want it?”

Urlug raised an eyebrow, “Some mortals need more intensive than just honor, glory and bloodshed. A lot need coin, so I need a lot of coin for my clan.”

“Fair.”

Lighting the fire with a simple point of his finger, Johnny grabbed a stick and impaled the heart. “Meat is meat after all,” he muttered to himself.

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The duo were still following the riverbanks. Johnny pointed out on the map that the river they were on fed into a larger one. Urlug recognized it as the Paahau, a major trade route for all kinds of civilizations around here. When they arrived at the confluence, the pair could barely count the astronomical number of merchant and trading vessels swarming the waters. Every now and then, they hid in the deeper parts of the forest as they saw military ships floating along. Whatever tranquility the river’s edge was supposed to bring only showcased a reason for constant anxiety and nervousness.

“Next boat I see with merchants, we board,” Urlug ordered.

Johnny turned and grinned, “Of course! We can bring up our dingy...wait. We don’t have a dingy, do we?”

Urlug snorted, “We got something better, you.”

“Ya want me to use the waters for some deadly pranking, huh?” Johnny nodded.

Urlug nodded furiously, glad to see Johnny understanding the utility of his skillset. Johnny smirked, “Maybe, but I say finding that treasure is not only safer, but more likely profitable.”

His Orcbai companion cocked his head. Johnny sighed and said, “No. I could, but I don’t wanna.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t wanna raid a ship, too much work for too much heat.”

“Why would you wanna use your fires?”

Johnny groaned, “Not that, I mean I don’t want the attention of the lords than I already have.”

Urlug groaned back, “But they can’t stand against our might!”

“Correction, we can’t stand against theirs.”

Urlug cocked his head again, “How?”

“Magics more powerful than mine are under their payroll. They hire a bunch of sorcerers and whatnot to guard them and enforce their employer’s will in the most extravagant of ways. And before ya say anything,” Johnny held up a finger at Urlug, who quickly shut his mouth, “They have powers that can nullify mine. So unless you have the strength of a rhino or bear or something, no way.”

Urlug perked up, “Give me a moment.”

Urlug darted inside the deep heart of the forest. Johnny paused, then lept towards him and followed Urlug on his blind charge. Then, a creeping sensation crawled up Johnny’s spine, “Urlug, what are you doing? The treasure isn’t this way.”

Urlug didn’t respond; just kept charging through the forest, knocking over juvenile trees and kicking bushes underfoot. Leaping and bounding over the newly corpsified plants, Johnny did his best to keep up with his rampaging companion. He thought about stopping and just turning back to find the treasure himself. There was nothing keeping him. Well, except for the extra muscle, and Urlug’s muscle have been helpful.

The pair did their dance with Urlug leading and Johnny maneuvering until Urlug stopped at the edge of a clearing. His stop was followed by deep, heavy breaths, with Johnny bounding behind to add his chorus of quicker paced puffs. The two added their sounds to the contiguous, eternal band of the forest. A distant buzzing noise sang quite close with a revolting, putrid smell accompanying it. Johnny stopped his hurried breath and gagged. Pulling up his rags to help hold back the tide of fetid air, Urlug looked down at Johnny’s attempt to shelter against the stink. Urlug grinned and mocked, “What’s wrong? Never smelt rhino shit before?”

Johnny looked back with a hateful stare, “Now that ya mentioned it, it reminds me how ya breath smells.”

He looked to where the pile of dung was and outstretched his hand. The flies around it flew off in the distance, and the air Johnny conjured snaked its way away from the dung. Johnny then pointed his two fingers at Urlug, grinned behind his rags, and flicked his fingers upwards. The invisible acrid air then wormed its way up the nostrils of Urlug, fully ingraining itself into every part of his sense of smell.

Urlug’s sparkling eyes and grin that mocked Johnny quickly changed into a contortion of repulsion. Urlug began to dry heave and blow out any air out his nostrils as hard as he could, snot ejecting like bolts being released from crossbows. His ears rang with a peal of hideous laughter; then his water-filled eyes caught sight of Johnny pointing and mocking Urlug’s pitiful state.

Johnny opened his teary eye to spot an angry Orcbai that had closed the distance faster than he had any right to. Urlug reeled his fist upwards to smash down on Johnny’s head, but Johnny did not feel like getting another bruised lump. He hurriedly tucked himself in, than sprung backwards, soaring through the air. Urlug rammed his fist into the earth, upheaving chunks of stone and debris along with whatever plant matter was not reduced to goopy liquid.

Urlug looked back up to find Johnny perfectly landing the tips of his toes upon a boulder. Johnny held up with arms and positioned his body similar to a Y. His mocking grin overflowed with confidence and arrogance. Urlug went to resume the assault, but halted after the first step. He peered at Johnny and slowly grinned back, showing more teeth than he needed to. Johnny then sniffed the air and jabbed, “Is that smoke I smell? Is the empty skull ya call a mind starting to burn with an idea?”

Urlug crossed his arms and said, “Nope. Just enjoying the powers of Karma.”

Johnny began to ask what he meant when the boulder started to shake and wiggle. Johnny jumped off in a hurry then turned to find the boulder was more fleshy than previously thought. The horned head turned to Johnny and shook its head to wake itself up. “You know rhinos don’t like to be touched in the ass? It’s a place of vulnerability.”

Johnny started backing towards Urlug, “Ok, Urlug, I get it.”

“And the few creatures that do touch their ass are predators of some sort and if the predator doesn’t kill the rhino….”

The rhino finally faced Johnny and snorted. It scrapped the ground to signal its intentions for the would be attacker. Johnny readied himself, slowly concentrating his magics to be ready at the right moment. Right fist in front, left behind. Arms and legs bent to be flexible and sturdy enough. He felt the earth yawn awake at his command then jostle to attention when the rhino began its charge. The spirits awaited his orders, ready to hold the line when called. But they needed not to be summoned as Johnny saw a speeding Urlug bolt past and catch the rhino by the horn and chin.

Dust and pebbles flew from the giants, locked in a struggle, pushing against each other, snorting in frustration and anger. Urlug kept his eyes locked to the beast and it returned the look with a stare of fury. Johnny loosened his control and the spirits returned to slumber. Standing straight and upright, Johnny watched as the two pushed themselves against one another. Sweat, hot breath filled their vicinity, and the sounds of hooves and boots scraping the earth below dominated the forest. Urlug pushed the rhino back enough to give them space. The rhino snorted and shook its head. It stared blankly at Urlug and Urlug stared back with his arms to his side. “Uh, what are ya..?”

“Shh.” Urlug whispered to silence Johnny.

Urlug continued to stare at the rhino, but then relaxed his shoulders. The rhino scraped the ground again and immediately Urlug’s shoulders shot back up and the rhino went to try to gore Urlug again, but again failed. A short contest followed by another push. The rhino snorted, frustrated at the Orcbai. Urlug raised his hand slowly and calmly walked towards the beast. It swung its horn at Urlug, which he moved along with it, letting it be a guide towards the rhino.

Urlug grasped the base of the horn and looked directly into the rhino’s eyes again. This time they were not hard and defiant, but relaxed and impartial. The rhino blinked and calmly stared back. Urlug slowly reached his hand towards the rhino and it began to snort and shake. Urlug pushed down on the horn and kept his other hand still. Once the slight defiance was suppressed, Urlug continued reaching towards the rhino. Inch by inch, letting the rhino know where his hand was at all time, Urlug went behind the ear. He slowly rested his hand on top of the rhino’s head and began to scratch. The rhino finally relaxed, closing its eyes and leaned into the welcomed relief.

Crossing his arms, Johnny mocked, “Wow! You finally found a kindred spirit! Ya both are big, dumb and shit everywhere! Maybe you can ‘mount’ it if you treat it nicer!”

Urlug glanced over his shoulder still holding onto the horn and scratching, “First, I’m not dumb. Second, that’s gross. Third, maybe I will properly mount if I had time.”

“What do you mean if you had time?”

Urlug stopped for a moment, prompting the rhino to lean in further in protest. “Oops! Sorry,” and continued to scratch and he spoke, “Because while this is welcomed, it will not last. This rhino is an adult and they are loners by nature. It will take the scratches behind the ear, probably removing some parasites along with dead skin, but then leave. It has no need for me other than mild relief.”

Johnny stood there for a moment and took in the sight. He never heard of anyone having a rhino accept care, let alone let a mortal near them without being skewered on their horn. Urlug returned to lecturing, “I would need to kidnap a baby rhino.”

“What? Why?”

“A baby rhino, like nearly all animals, are reliant on their mothers. I would have to put the mother in a pin and keep her rear boxed off during expected birthing time. If it’s a male, I give to mother. Males are always solitary, but if the rhino births a daughter, I have’ta convince the babe that I’m her mother.”

Johnny burst with laughter and quickly cut off when the rhino jumped a bit and grew agitated. “Sorry but how are ya gonna do that? Strap some fake boobs to ya and let her suckle?”

Urlug shifted uncomfortably. Johnny blinked, “Wait. Are ya serious?”

“It helps when they’re babes. It ain’t dignifying but they properly bond that way. Besides, female rhinos stay with their mothers.”

Johnny gawked, “Ya’ve done this before?”

Urlug shook his head, “No but I always wanted a rhino to ride into battle. One of the reasons why I became a pit breeder. Learn how to deal, breed and tame more aggressive animals.”

“And having them suckle ya like…”

“Yes! Now hush, lemme enjoy bonding with this beast!”

“First tell me if you knew that ya couldn’t tame the rhino, why search for it? Wasn’t the point to use it against a boat or something?”

Urlug snorted, “Rhinos can’t swim Johnny. That’s a stupid plan.”

Johnny shook his head, “I meant...ya know what, nevermind. Hurry up with yar ‘bonding’ so we can get back on track for that treasure.”

Urlug groaned and released his hand from scratching. The rhino looked at him intently, almost asking for him to continue. Urlug slowly stood up straight, walked as far back as he could and released his other grip on the beast’s horn. The rhino stared at Urlug and he returned the gesture. “Uh, Urlug?” Johnny prodded, “What the hell are ya doing?”

“Waiting.”

“Why?”

“Be a sign of weakness if I turn my back first.”

Johnny returned to his crossed arm stance, only with more agitation. After a couple of moments, Johnny began thumping his foot, kicking up a bit of dust in protest. Finally after grueling minutes, the rhino broke it’s gaze, turned around and headed down the path. Urlug grinned, then yawned and stated, “I’m tired, let’s camp first then we can head our way.”

Johnny yawned back, “Fair, ya can take first watch.”

Johnny gathered the wind, lept high and grabbed a hold of a tree branch. He pulled himself up and walked his way towards the trunk, seeming careless about the speed of which he walked. A primal joy swelled up in him. There were few times Johnny could really test his balance like this, yet every time seemed as fresh and wonderful as the previous. Once he reached the trunk, Johnny turned, plopped down then rested his back against the tree while letting his feet dangle down along the sides of the branch. Urlug shouted, “How am I supposed to wake you for your shift?”

“What?!” Johnny held up his ear.

He was grinning ever so slightly, careful not to show his teeth. Urlug swatted up at Johnny and began building a fire and campsite for himself. Johnny chuckled and rested his hand on top of his hands.