John
I brush down my horse as Remus takes off the horses equipment. It was calming to do. Remus and I had ridden them when we abandoned the wagon. They were good horses and I hoped we’d have a use for them in the future.
I was annoyed though. When Briana jumped at the beast, I was useless. I could only stare as Briana was tossed around like a doll. We were all worthless.
I started to space out as I pondered what I could do. She was so burdened and it never felt like there was a place for me to help her.
“Something wrong John?”
“Its nothing, I just wish I wasn’t so worthless.”
“What makes you say that John. I bet none of your friends think you’re worthless.”
I finish grooming the horse and set my brush to the side.
“I just wish I could help alleviate some of Briana’s problems. She seems so troubled and I can’t figure out how to help her.”
Remus sets the horses equipment to the side and walks over to me.
“Look, John, I won’t lie to you. The tasks and people you are going to encounter will not be easy. Hell, even I’m not sure what awaits you all. But, what you do have is each other. You are all bound to her and to her to you.”
“But will that always be the case?”
He pets the horse in front of me and smiles.
“Nothing is guaranteed John, but my guess is she won’t ever leave you behind.So, just make sure you don’t leave her and you should be fine.”
He walks away and I’m left there contemplating his words. I wish we had more answers, but he was right. I just hoped I wouldn’t let her down.
Teage
“Flush!”
“Full House! Sorry bud, that pot’s mine!”
I grab the large pile of gold lying in the middle of the table and sweep my earnings into the bag of holding.
“You leaving? Scared you’ll lose the next game!”
“No, I just don’t want to see you naked.”
“Hey! I still got more left!”
“Sorry kid, not interested.”
The man picked up his cards and threw them in disgust as he picked up and drained his glass before stumbling off. I made my way to the bar to pick up another drink. Hopefully something a bit stronger now that I was done playing.
“Barkeep, I’ll take a bottle of your best stuff and something to eat!”
“All we got is cheap vodka and some handmade smoked sausage. It’s hard enough just keeping this place stocked.”
“Ah, don’t say that barkeep. Don’t pretend that you don’t like robbing us with your high prices.”
Blake was drinking a glass at the bar. He looked sad though and his bottle looked to be almost empty. Briana still hadn’t come back with the others yet, but it appears there at least weren’t any further hostilities. I rubbed the spot where the phantom pain had appeared as Barkeep handed me a glass and bottle.
“That’ll be one gold.”
I grunt as I flick him the coin and join Blake at the bar.
“You worried about the lass boy?”
“Nah, I’m just, I guess I’m a little worried but I know he’s good. I just wish he’d trust his friends a bit more.”
I pour myself a glass and take a large sig. Barkeep’s stuff might be expensive but it was strong at least.
“The lass is just worried about you. She’ll open up with a few drinks of this stuff don’t you worry.”
“Is it really okay for her to drink though?”
I turn to see John behind me and turn to Barkeep.
“Another glass please!”
He rolls his eyes before throwing me a glass across the bar. Catching it I fill both of the glasses passing one to John.
“Ah don’t worry about it. The lass is old enough.”
“But she’s only a child!”
“A little alcohol never hurt anyone John. Now take the glass and stop worrying.”
John takes the glass and takes a large gulp before spitting it out.
“That isn’t water!”
“Of course it isn’t! You thought I would be drinking water at a bar? Hahaha, you’re more stupid than I thought.”
He brushed off the insult as he relaxed in his chair. Blake looked at us in curiosity.
“So you’re both players right?”
“Yeah.”
John was about to say something but I kick him and he gets the message as he turns away to look at the few girls that populated the bar.
“How’d you guys meet Brenner then.”
“We met the lass when we were traveling the plains. It’s a simple as that. We haven’t been traveling together for long so if you want to hear more you’ll have to wait to hear it from the lass herself.”
He looked disappointed but didn’t look he expected to hear much else from us. I felt sorry for living to the kid, but that for the lass to talk to him about, not us.
Two guards then walked in. Everyone quieted down for a second before returning to their drinks and business. They looked around before making an announcement in the center of the room.
“Excuse me, but are the adventures Teage and John present here?”
I guess something went wrong with the lass. What did she do this time?
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Taking the last swig of my drink I see John approach the men and realize I probably was going to be dragged into this no matter what I did.
“Yes sir, my name is John and the dwarf over there is my companion Teage. Is something the matter?”
“The Queen has requested that both of you are to meet with her immediately.”
Time to see how big of a mess we’re in now I guess I pocket the Vodka and make my way to the men as I hope the lass is okay.
Briana
“That’s all I know Queen Tana. I’m sorry that I can’t explain anything more.”
She stared me down as she pushed a glass of wine closer to me. I ignore it as I tried to remain calm under her tense gaze.
“So you’re telling me. You have no idea how you came to find Matt or Elizabeth here and that they just magically appeared in your head one day. That you are a kitsune from another dimension who is also an adventurer while you were born on this world? Honestly, it feels like you're just wasting my time here fox.”
She looks like she doesn’t believe a word I told her. I can’t really blame her, but I at least need her to believe me. If I don’t get her to do that at the very least I might end up in prison or dead. Either is not really a good option at the moment. Come on, save me guys!
“It’s true Tana, all of it. We came here because I remembered this place. We were hoping I would be able to remember more, but I’m afraid it’s still a little hazy.”
Tana looked at her brother in concern but still turned back to me with her tense gaze.
“You sure I can’t just kill her?”
I’m turned to the side as Elizabeth shields me in her arms.
“Of course you can’t! We won’t let you!”
Although her protection was nice I still felt cramped as she held me tightly in her arms.
“Queen Tana the two others you requested us to find are here.”
“Let them in. I want to see them for myself.”
Teage and John entered the room with mixed feelings. Teage seated himself in a corner pulling out a bottle of water? While Teage bowed to the Queen.
“It is an honor to meet you, your highness. My name is John and I am at your service.”
“The do me a favor and sit down and shut up.”
He looked dejected as he sat down next to Matt not sure what to do or say after that.
“So Briana, do you know what is in the center of this forest?”
“No, I do not, we came here to help Matt. We really didn’t know much else other than the fact that he once lived in this forest.”
Tana took a drink of wine before she started her story.
“Our parents were friends with a kitsune. I believe her name was Velouria or something. She had come to visit my parents and they went together with Matt somewhere in the forest. I never found out where though because all I knew was that my parents had somehow died in the forest. Something had appeared and turned the forest into what we know of it today.
“Matt and a few guards survived, but they were all heavily injured with Matt being the only one surviving his injuries. I was devastated and never left his side so much so that I neglected the duties that had fallen on me with both of my parents passing. By that time I had acted I was to late.”
She took another long drink as Matt grabbed his head as if remembering something.
“I led a large force deep into the forest to find my parents a month later. But what waited for us was pure hell. The geography and wildlife were distorted beyond recognition and we soon became lost slowly being culled off by this twisted place. I should have tried to contain the situation better.”
She gestured to her arm as her face grew more and colder.
“We were constantly attacked and one day during a battle something ate my arm clean off and threw me backward. A flame then appeared and cooked the wounds stanching the blood loss. But the pain consumed me as I writhed on the ground in pain. I don’t remember much else after that. Someone carried me back to the capital and when I woke up Matt had disappeared.”
She turned to Matt but failed to look him in the eyes. Out of shame or sadness, I could not tell.
“You had left me a note about going to find help, but the years dragged on and I had slowly started to lose hope. But to find out that you were still alive.”
She wrapped her arm around Matt pulling him closer to her.
“I’m just glad to know I didn’t lose you too.”
Her face loosened as Matt seemed to naturally calm her down. Hopefully, she stayed calm but she did look a bit tipsy.
Matt, on the other hand, seemed unsure how to reciprocate the feeling as she was still a stranger to him.
“So what the hell does this have to do with us?”
Of course, Teage here can’t seem to read the mood. Tana grabs a knife resting on the table and inspects it before throwing it into Teage’s shoulder.
“YOU BITCH!”
I jump at Teage ignoring the pain as he rips the knife from his shoulder and charges towards Tana.
Two guards appear with bows drawn and John joins me in trying to stop Teage.
“Why did you do that he didn’t do anything wrong!”
Elizabeth looked appalled at Tana’s attack, but Tana didn’t seem fazed as she continued to drink her wine.
“He pissed me off. Besides, you can heal him can’t you.”
Teage gritted his teeth as he slowly came back to his senses.
“LIKE HELL I’M STAYING HERE WITH THIS BITCH I’M LEAVING!”
Making his way to the doorway Tana makes a motion with her hand and one of the guards hits him on the back of the head knocking him out. I reel in pain and I walk over to him.
This woman is crazy! How insane is she! She points at me and they bow aim their bows at me. I freeze in a panic unsure how to respond with John jumping in front to protect me.
“You have one month fox. If you can’t figure out what happened in this forest I’ll pry both Matt and Elizabeth out of you no matter what it takes.”
I really hope that’s just the alcohol talking. If it isn’t then we really will have our hands full. But if this forest has something to do with Matt’s disappearance then maybe we can learn something to shed some light on our situation.
“Guards, take them away! Once the dragon has healed the dwarf give them two personal quarters with. One for the women and one for the trash. Matt will be staying in my quarters.”
They then knock John out before he can react and they begin to drag the two boys out of the room.
“I do hope you’ll cooperate with them girls. It would be a shame if you didn’t.”
She slyly smiles as she twirls another knife in her hand. I look at Matt to look of horror on his face. I felt sorry for him but there was no way I was staying in the same room as this yandere. Sorry Matt, you’re on your own.
Elizabeth rushes after Teage and I join her as we escape the room. After she heals Teage they drag them away and we are escorted to an empty tent. Once inside the guards stand sentry outside the tent leaving us alone unsure what the hell we’d gotten ourselves into.
‘LOG OUT’
I wake up back in bed unsure what my next plans would be.
(M) ‘So apparently I’m the first prince and my sister the Queen is insane and missing an arm!’
(T) ‘And an eye. She could really use the other to help see her insanity.’
(J) ‘OH! SICK BURN!’
(E) ‘Will you guys please take this more seriously! She just tried to kill Teage!’
(M) ‘I also have a feeling she’ll be pissed about our sudden departure.
(B) ‘Look I can’t deal with this all right now. Just make sure to not piss her off next time Teage.’
(T) ‘I can’t help it if she can’t take an insult. She needs to learn to grow up.’
(M) ‘Honestly, I think she has grown up more than you. Just not in the right way.’
I roll out of bed and take out my Brenner clothes.
(B) ‘Guess I’ll need to make a phone call to Blake and apologize for missing our meeting.’
(E) ‘You mean your date.’
(B) ‘Look I don’t need that right now okay.’
I transform back into Brenner and put on my clothes. (This sounds so weird)
I then open the door to my room and make my way to the phone I had used earlier. The moon lit the way dimly but it still provided enough for me to see the way. Making my way I soon see Ms. Oak along the way.
“I see you figured out how to transform back, but you do know you’re breaking curfew right.”
“I just need to make a phone call. I’ll head back to my room after I’m done.”
She simply nods and shadows me all the way to the phone.
Once I reach it I tap in his cell number and wait for him to pick up. But he must still be in SQO as it sends me to voicemail.
“Sorry I couldn’t make it back to explain everything. Tomorrow at 8 I’ll explain things at 100 rads.”
I end the call and make my way back to my room but I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Ms. Oak behind me with a menacing look on her face.
“Where are you going tomorrow? I don’t know off a place called 100 rads.”
“It’s in a game a brought with me. He’s a friend of mine.”
She eased her grip as she patted me on the shoulder.
“Just some advice Briana, but some things are better left in the shadows.”
She then disappears and I continue back to my room.
Once inside I change back into Briana and lay in bed hugging my tails thinking about what to do. What was waiting for me in that forest? Answers or just more questions.