“Are we there yet?” Once again Farre asked as the three women stepped over a particularly dense spot of vegetation. With every day of their journey, the jungle became more and more oppressive. Wilder, one would say. Thankfully, the beasts that went after them were nothing in comparison to the bialrys encounter they had three days ago. After that, even the biggest, longest and most fiery latavi appeared to be a small fly in comparison.
But, as Farre pointed out one time, “even the flies here are enormous.” She said as a particularly nasty and juicy one landed on top of her arm. Larisa scared it off and told Farre that of all the bugs in the jungle flies should be avoided. Apparently, they could carry nasty and deadly diseases. If one of them got sick, things would not be well.
When it came to everyone's health, Larisa’s arm has started to become a little bit more functional. Her fingers were able to move back and forth, although, making a fist was still a bit too much for her. Ha’na had even said that she’s been healing quite fast for such an extensive and deep burn.
“Well, how far away are we?” The question. Once again. Larisa had said to both women that they were nearing the spot. They made good time as it is and Larisa believed that two days, no more, and they would reach the cave.
“Two days.” She’d say and Farre would sigh and tiredly follow after the other two women.
At camp, one night away from their destination, Larisa remembered something that happened at camp. An image of a nachtak like her appeared suddenly in her mind’s eye and she promptly asked Farre about it. About that woman - Rowela - she thought her name was.
“Farre?” Larisa has noticed that approaching a subject slowly with Farre made her forehead creases less visible.
“Yeah?” Medium crease. Larisa thought of a water skin half full.
“I have a question.”
“Shoot.” Another one of their silly expressions. It meant ‘go ahead’.
“At the camp, there was a woman. She looked like me.” Larisa subtly prompted.
“The camp? Oh.” No crease. Larisa was wary. She hadn’t researched yet what that meant. “You mean Rowela, I assume?” Farre’s voice was gentle to Larisa’s ears, but for some reason it made her heart clench slightly in her chest.
“I think so. Ha’na called her the ‘weaponsmaster’.” Larisa remembered that. She had a good memory when it mattered.
“Yeah, she’s a blacksmith. What do you want to know?” Farre asked the taller woman. Ha’na was looking at some stringy piece of plant in the corner of Larisa’s vision, so they could talk without interruption for now.
“Was she like me? A nachtak?”
Farre paused and said. “I guess.” It seemed to Larisa as if she was weighing something in her thoughts. She considered it for about a good couple of seconds. It felt like minutes to the blond woman.
“I’ll tell you. You should know.” She breathed out and started saying. “We met when I joined the army. We hit it off pretty quickly since she’s an orphan and I’m an orphan, you know? We both didn’t know our parents, too. So basically she is similar to you in that regard. Nachtak but not really.” A pause and a deep breath. “I’ve met a couple of Nacht people that were truly from the Nacht. They sucked ass. Not that you or Ro suck ass, but you look the same as them to me.”
“Ro?” Larisa asked.
“Rowela. It’s a nickname.” Larisa nodded with understanding.
“Anyway, I’ve never been there, obviously. To the Nacht I mean, but what I've heard and what is widely believed is that the people there are as cold as the place they live in. It’s an unforgiving and a harsh place and it births the same kind of people. I guess that’s why they - you - are so kurnet big. So you could beat the snow up, I guess.” A chuckle followed by a sad sigh.
“Ro’s not cold. She’s one of the best people I’ve met. She’s always been good to me, you know? My heart fucking broke for her when we left.” A tremble in exhalation. Larisa moved closer. Touch helped, she found out.
“You know, I was fucking terrified when I noticed that you were a nachtak. That’s the reason leaving Ro sucked. Just because of how she looks like people act like she’s a fucking fire breathing dragon and they avoid her with a wide berth. I didn’t care.”
Larisa reached out to grab Farre’s hand. She flinched but didn’t move away.
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“She’s going to be fine and you’ll see her again.” Larisa hoped.
“I sure damn hope so.” Muttered Farre. The Essence swirling around her was heavy with sadness but also alight with some specks of flowery hope. Larisa wished for things to be easier.
“Come on.” Farre got up and stopped the hand holding. Larisa was glad for even the small amount of the touch. Touching felt nice. “I want to sleep and get going early in the morning.” She said.
Larisa called Ha’na and the two women went to sleep. Larisa wasn’t tired so she held guard. The Moon was wide and bright. Larisa imagined a person there. One who watched and cheered her on. The thought filled her with strength.
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“That’s the place.” Larisa pointed to a light green spur jutting out from the bottom of the mountain. They were close to their destination. Three, maybe two hours if they were to hurry.“
“Thank fucking Hal!” Farre exclaimed cheerfully.
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes!” Ha’na repeated as she jumped from right to left.
Larisa was surprised at how much energy they had left. Ha’na especially. Out of the three of them, the black-haired one was the one with the least amount of stamina. Maybe the relentless trekking from the past week made her stronger?
“Shh!” Larisa shushed them. They were being way too loud. Yes, they were near a relatively safe place, but it would not matter if a bear jumped on them, would it?
“Alright! Hal, you’re like my mother sometimes.” Ha’na said and it made Larisa think about her own mother. If she had one that is. She didn’t want it to be a ‘red lizard’ as Farre has put it before.
“What’s with the sour face, big girl?” Farre noticed Larisa’s mood change.
“Do you really think my mother is a red lizard?” Larisa asked the shorter woman.
“What??!” Farre's face twisted with panick and surprised. Red color blossomed on her cheeks. No crease. Wait. A light crease. “When did I say that?”
“The tent. After I got naked.” Farre slapped her face. A groan soon followed after. What a strange reaction, Larisa thought worriedly.
“Right. Right. So, I don’t think your mom’s a red lizard.” Farre explained. The Essence was feeling embarrassed for Farre. “Buuut, it is a passibility, no?” Now it was Larisa who felt a crease form on her forehead. Ha’na felt the need to add something as well.
“I know you don’t want to think about it this way, Larisa, but this is the reality. One of your parents was a beast. That’s the fact. I personally believe that your mother was a dragon- Wait. Do dragons have gender?” Ha’na seemed to start off nicely enough but then she asked a question that Larisa really didn’t care about. Maybe her mom looked the same as her? Who knows? In the end pondering it is not going to answer that question. Going to that cave might.
“-the texts refer to dragons as ‘he’ but did anyone ask the dragon? Maybe it’s a figure of speech-” Ha’na seemed to be off to somewhere again.
“Let’s go.” Larisa prompted the two other women. She had to make Ha’na go next to her or else she would get lost again. It happened twice now and both times Larisa felt as if her whole body was breaking and aching and dying. It was not a healthy feeling.
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After two hours, like Larisa predicted, the women arrived at the bottom of the spur. The trek here proved to be uneventful, for which Larisa was thankful for.
She regarded Farre and Ha'na. Both of them appeared to still posses some energy.
“We move up the rocks. Step where I step.” The blond woman said as she turned to the spur, trying to remember the most optimal path to climb.
“Are you sure you’ll manage, Larisa? Your arm is still tender.” Ha’na asked a good question.
Larisa tried to make a fist and it hurt. Badly. But, she believed she’d be able to at least hook her arm on the edges that jutted out. Her other arm was strong. She could do it.
“I’ll be fine.” She assured the other women. They looked a bit sceptical, but their excitement made that go away pretty quickly.
“Wait. Let’s tie it between us. For safety.” Farre took out a piece of rope. Yes. It was a good idea.
As they came closer to the bottom of the rocky spur, Larisa’s heart started to beat slightly faster. She was curious what she would find there, by looking at the cave with a different perspective.
The climb was laborious, to put it lightly. Larisa was at the top, with Ha’na in the middle and Farre at the back. It was decided based on physical ability. It was safer for Ha’na to be in the middle if she were to fall off.
But, because of that placement climbing the spur took at least thrice as long compared to how long Larisa used to climb it by herself.
Thankfully, the three women reached the edge of the cave in one piece. It was set deep into the spur and its entrance was wide enough for three of them to fit at the same time. Larisa remembered the cave to be spacious and enormous, but with the passing of time it was starting to feel smaller and smaller. Larisa wondered if it was going to fit the three of them and how they would separate the jobs they had to do. Someone would have to climb down at one point to hunt and gather some food. As well as to get water. That was going to be the toughest challenge. There was only so much water Larisa could carry on her back after all.
“It’s beautiful!” Ha’na exclaimed as the three of them stood on the edge of the cave. The view was beautiful, Larisa had to agree. Every time she stood in this spot she imagined herself to be a bird, flying over the verdant and luscious canopies of trees and palms. She’d feel the cold mountain air flow from the peak to the bottom of the mountain, and carry her on its fresh gust far and far away. It would be magnificent.
“Umm. Is that smoke?” Farre asked, and the other two women broke out of their imagination.
“I believe it is, Farre.” Ha’na said as she came closer to the red-haired woman.
Larisa strained her eyesight and was able to see a tower of grey smoke climbing up towards the clouds from one of the places in the middle of the jungle.
“‘Nobody’s going to follow us’. ‘We’re going to be safe’.” Bitter and vicious tone taunted Ha’na with her own words. Larisa felt fear and anxiousness come off of Farre. She could see the same feelings on Ha’na’s face as well as feel them rising within herself.
That smoke meant danger. Larisa didn’t like that.