79

The SPACE Between Us

It is a well-known fact that the shortest distance between two objects is a straight line. This does not apply to people. Physically, yes it is true but emotionally? People have stood in crowds where one need simply turn to bump into someone else, yet they have never felt so alone. You can sit next to your lover, father or mother but depending on your relationship and feelings. The distance can feel like a chasm so far that the mere thought of touching the other feels like nothing but a dream. A dream so sensitive, so weak that one only whispers it for fear that the dream may disappear forever.

It is this distance, this space between herself and Slyfer that Luna finds herself thinking about. Lately, she had given her all to training and Slyfer had been too busy with doing things she does not understand, but Serena said is necessary

Luna had lost track of time while she trained, the day flew by and now it was almost dark in the small forest Slyfer created. She looks over at to the man helping her and not for the first time she starts to wonder why he is doing it.

Seeing her gaze on him the elf turns to her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Luna is wondering.” She replies, her head tilted at an angle with a finger on her chin.

The Elf raises his eyebrow, but seeing she is not going to elaborate unless he asks, he does so. “What are you wondering about?”

“Luna is wondering why Luna is being helped. Shady owes Luna nothing and was part of a group that was against Master.” She tilts her head to the other side.

The elf sighs. “Though I was part of it I did not support what they did.” He clenches his fists. “I dedicated my whole life to the cause, to the temple. It was my life. At first, I believed wholeheartedly in what we needed to accomplish, but as time went by I realised that everything was to fuel the Shaman’s agenda against her sister. Sure some of what we did was according to our beliefs but most of it felt… too personal. I think my comrades must have realised and that is why they did not tell me of their plans to betray Slyfer.”

Luna leans forward, her gaze suddenly serious. “Luna does not know if Master and the tiger will forgive you.”

The Elf nods. “I know that is why I have a peace offering.”

Luna’s gaze turns questioning.

Sighing, the elf gets up from his cross-legged position. “You people seem to not have understood the value of the outfits that were given to you. I went back to where you left it and retrieved them. Not only that but I know where the rest of the temple’s weapons and armour is. It is not a lot but it will boost some of your people’s fighting strength significantly.”

“Shady plans to use that as a peace offering?” Luna laughs. “Master may accept that, but Tiger will still shoot Shady with arrows.”

The elf flinches. “You know Luna sometimes you can be cruel without even realising you are. So why are you with me then? Will they not be angry if they find out?”

Luna shrugs. “Luna is here to get strong, Shady is the fastest way to do that. If Master is angry at Luna, Luna will just ask Green mama to talk to him.”

The man frowns. The girl has always had a strange way of naming people. He takes a few seconds to try and figure out who Green Mama is. Finally he just gives up. “Well if Green Mama will be able to help you perhaps you can tell her about my proposal?”

Luna smiles and stalks forward. She pats the Elf assassin on his shoulder and whispers. “Green Mama already knows, she keeps an eye on me the whole time I am with Shady.”

The man freezes and a worried look starts to grow on his face. –How can anyone sense me? Who is this person… It makes sense. The first day I came back Luna found me almost immediately.- His head turns to look at the smiling girl and for a moment he shudders. –If I had tried to hurt her, I would have undoubtedly been killed.-

Luna’s smile fades a little. “Still, it would not do to make master angry.” She bites her pink lower lip. Her face then turns to him unemotionally. “Perhaps Luna must kill you now?”

Goose flesh spreads all over his body and he has to fight the urge to jump back. With a bead of sweat on his face, he smiles. “Don’t joke like that… Uh anyway, I think that’s it for today’s training-“

“Wait! That’s cheating.” Small voices interrupt them and they both quickly melt into the shadows.

“It is not cheating; I was behind the starting line.” Says another voice proudly.

Luna and the one she calls Shady sneaks forward and looking past a thicket they spot the culprits.

Fairies, five of them sitting on what seems to be small stones are gathered in a circle. Two are arguing, one, a bright green female and the other a fiery orange male. Luna inspects the other three. One with barely any light is fast asleep. Another, with a soft pink glow, is combing her hair. Both are female.

The last one, a bright blue and carrying a leaf that mysteriously keeps the fairie’s gender hidden, is trying to push the stone that the sleeping one is sitting on. After trying for some time it turns to the others. “Guys, hey guys help me move-“

Its voice is drowned out as the argument between the other two picks up a notch. For a moment it just stands staring at them. It turns back to its snail and that of the sleeping one. Deep in thought, it places a hand between the two snails. A ripple runs through the small body and then it turns back to the others with a bit more determination on its face. “Guys the space, the space….”

They continue to ignore it and argue away. The determined face turns into an angry one. The leaf gets raised and in doing so a small cloud of dust starts to billow around it, covering what the leaf had hidden before. The arguing two abruptly stop and worry sets in.

The orange one is the first to speak. “We are sorry, what uh, what were you saying?”

Blue, now looking sinister points at the snails. “I said help me move the snail. The space between her snail and mine is too big. I cannot stand it, all the snails are exactly one hand width apart, but hers is one hand and two fingers away from mine.”

The sleeping fairy’s head lolls forward and it lets out a sleepy snort before her head snaps back, nose pointed to the sky and mouth hanging open. She continues to snore softly.

Blue takes a step forward and the wind starts to pick up, stirring the trees. A lock of Pink’s hair is shifted out of place and her eyes focus on the trio for the first time. “Tch, if you don’t stop right now you are going to regret it, my power is that good.”

Blue seems to waver for a moment but then ignores the other one. “Good, good if you don’t join in the fun it won’t be much of an exercise. It will give me a chance to fix the space between your eyebrows, you know they are not symmetrical, right?”

Pink’s hand curls into a fist. “Did you just say I am weak?”

Orange frowns, his eyes darting to the sleeping one. “Listen we can fight all you want but please don’t wake her up. You know what happened last time. Look she is already stirring.”

The wind abruptly stops and blue turns around slowly. She looks at the sleeping fairy but eventually her gaze lowers and she spots it… the space.

“We will help you move it, just stop okay.” Says green pleadingly, her eyes darting to the sleepy one that is now drooling a bit.

Pink huffs and starts to fiddle with her hair again.

Green lets out a sigh and walks over to the snail that Blue has been complaining about. “By the way, when are we going to say hello to our guests?”

Luna stops breathing. She was sure she hid her presence and Shady is even better than her at it. The other thing bothering her is that she does not recognise the five fairies. They are not the ones that have been traveling with Slyfer.

Pink stops fiddling with her hair and looks directly at Luna. “You can come out we stopped here initially when we sensed you, my senses are that good.”

*******

Slyfer has seen, heard and experienced anger before, but seeing Jade like this…

With feet planted apart and arms crossed, Jade glares at him from on top of her bed. Although she still has to look up while doing it, which only makes her angrier. She gestures at the papers. Her hard work. She had literally eaten paper while doing it and now…

Slyfer sees the gesture and scratches his head while holding tightly onto the squirming Schree in his other hand. If need be he will have a furry shield of cuteness to avoid Jade’s ire… or so he hopes.

“Listen, Jade, we were discussing something important and I sensed something so-“ He stops mid-sentence and looks down at Schree again. The monkey tilts her head and looks back. Sending his senses through her, he can’t pick up on anything and finds it strange. Before, he could have sworn he sensed something completely different from his old furry companion.

Jade shakes her head, too angry to talk. Some guards choose that moment to burst through the door with swords drawn and spoiling for the fight they thought was happening inside. The one in the lead gives the room a once over before asking a bit hesitantly. “Are we under attack?”

Slyfer: “No.”

Jade: “Yes.”

Answers Jade and Slyfer at the same time, causing the guards' eyes to flit between the two. “Umm.”

Jade gestures at the papers on the ground and says. “I was attacked by a large oath that hates furniture and hard work.”

Fira grabs the chance and walks over to the guards, gesturing for him to leave and in so doing escapes with them. Nirn realising the plan follows suite after the short delay of having to drag the human away from the vial still in Slyfer’s hand.

Jade still focused on her step brother lets out a sigh as she looks over the room once more. She takes a seat on the bed. “So, tell me what happened.”

*****

“My Lady we cannot!”

Trisha looks at the man. He frowns knowing it is not just a look, but she is taking in the measure of him.

“Luka, I understand your misgivings, but we cannot leave those people defenseless. We must attack, since when has the Blood pack been cowards?”

Luka starts to bristle with anger. “I am no coward, but a realist we are three hundred against nearly a thousand.”

Trisha frowns. “I do not see three hundred warriors here, I see six hundred. Every rider here has a wolf companion and they are worth more than one warrior.” At her words, the mostly tired wolves look and sit up. “I have seen what they can do and respect them for it. You should do the same.”

Luka is dumbfounded and not really sure what to say. Yes he had known about wolves and yes the relationship between the wolves and Dark Elves was supposed to have been changed, but what Trisha just said has made him realise something. –I still see them as simple mounts.-

Before he can decide what to do or say his own mount, no companion walks up to them. Trisha smiles.

“We will join you, Lady Trisha.” It says not only to her but him as well.

Trisha turns around and looks into the distance. “Put on your full armor Blood Pack tonight we hunt!”

*****

Kitup snorts before swearing to himself and spitting out a glob of snot and dust. They had been chasing the refugees the whole day. He smiles, they had finally caught up. Seeing their prey running in the distance he can’t help but feel excited. Turning to his eldest, one of his sixteen sons he gestures for him to come over.

His son soon reaches him, a short fellow even for their Penca kind, but a good warrior none the less. “Kito you will lead a hundred warriors to flank the fleeing lizards we will push them hard for about an hour to make sure their mounts are tired. Once we reach the flats I will blow the horn. This will be the sign that we have started the fight.”

Kito nods, his one remaining ear quivering with excitement. The other ear was lost in a previous fight. Seeing his father looking at the missing ear he bows his head. “I will not fail you father.”

Kitup puts a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Make sure that you do not and be careful.”

Looking at the back of his retreating son, Kitup balls a fist, if he had not lost the duel against his brother he would not be here now; exiled with the rest of his family. There would be no need to hunt refugees for food and resort to common banditry.

He goes over to and mounts his own hog before making his way to the front of the ragtag group. For a moment he looks them over a mixture of humans, Snow Elves and even some Lizzard folk. All rejects, all cowards or worse. They disgust him even though he is one of them. Seeing the gleam and need to kill in their eyes he lets out a sigh. –These people don’t need a speech.- Realising this he utters the two words that would spell death for those fleeing in the distance.

“Move out.”

An hour later he can smell the fear and desperation to such a degree that it sickens him. Passing another trampled body, by far not the first since they had been chasing the cowards, he snorts and spits out some more dust. Now nipping at their heels he decides it is time to start the massacre.

He takes out his horn struggling a bit because he can use only one arm, the other was lost in a duel that brought him to this state. Surveying his group once more he lifts it to his mouth drawing in a deep breath. He blows and for an instant, the world seems to freeze. The ones fleeing knowing their end has come glance back and the bandits around him let out cheers and growls in excitement urging their mounts to run faster and catch up to the tired refugees.

Kitup raises his fist most of the larger mounts already leaving him and the few Peca’s with him behind. Like always, seeing this brings a smile to his face. –Fools, those in front are always the first to die.-

His smile fades and his heart beat stills. Howls split the night air much like his horn did. A voice, in a language Kitub does not know, soon follows. He turns his head to the left and instantly wishes he had not. Demons, horned demons are sprinting at them from a hill, moonlight glinting off of their armour giving their dark forms an outline.

Another shout is followed by the twang of bows. “Raise shields, raise shields!” Kitub shouts, but most did not hear. Others that have seen the incoming attack respond accordingly, but those so filled with bloodlust and urge to kill. Those too focused on the hopeless refugees are caught in a cloud of whistling death.

Swearing at his own stupidity Kitub blows the horn twice. It is the signal that they are being attacked, his fears that the warriors will ignore it since it had never been used before fades as their charge slows down. Another volley hits. Many go down in screams of pain, but most arrows miss not having accounted for the sudden slow pace. His own hog nearly trips, its hooves crushing whatever it was that nearly tripped his mount with a sickening squelch.

He swears as some idiots come to a complete halt after veering off from the group. “Don’t stop you fools, turn to the right, turn to the right!”

Those that hear him carry the order on and the charge starts to turn and pick up speed once more. He spares a glance at the demons. Almost half have stopped halfway down the hill. He can see three contraptions. It takes him a moment to make out their shapes. “Ballista! They have ballista.”

Not a second later a bolt shoots directly past him skewering at least seven riders. More bolts follow with the same results.

Those in the front have already made contact with the fleeing Lizardfolk, but the rest have all turned towards the new enemy, however the line is broken and Kitub is nearly in the front and those in the front always die first.

One of the Snow Elves in front takes the initiative. “Form lines, form lines-“ His next order is cut off when an arrow takes him in the neck. Seemingly following the first more start to shout to form lines and to Kitub’s frustration every time one does, they die soon after. He scans the approaching enemies to spot the culprit and soon spots it or her. She is standing on one of the armoured monstrosities as if it’s the very ground itself. Golden eyes ablaze in the firelight underneath an open-faced helm. Another shout another death, but luckily the line has formed… for the most part.

When t they are close enough to finally see the enemy is riding wolves the archer drops down and like the jaws of a monster she gets swallowed up by the demons around her. A male shouts an order and their formation changes into a sharp point. Large lances are leveled at them and Kitub’s gut drops into his ass. He is still in the front and if he stops he will get trampled.

Swallowing his fear, he grabs the dagger on his belt. Those with spears level them at the enemy, but as instinct dictates the line starts to break once more, riders veering to the sides to avoid the front of the enemy formation. Kitub wants to shout to hold the line, but the memory of those that tried before keeps him from doing so and he follows the others. If they can sweep past and take control of the ballista perhaps they can make a difference.

The distance narrows with each heartbeat. The drum of paws, claws, and hooves create a cacophony of deafening sound. Kitub watches in part horror and part fascination as the two armies finally meet. Blood, blood and screams, the rending of flesh, the crack of bone and meat being pulverized become Kitub’s world. Ice crackles into existence not far from him. Seeming to grow right out of the earth as it snakes toward the enemies, seeking to penetrate their ranks.

A wall of earth grows to meet it and Kitub is nearly flung from his hog when fire billows into those in front of him. He has but a second before he gets pushed into it. He holds his breath kicking harder into the hog’s sides to get out of it even as the blue of human wards surround him.

Then he is out all thoughts of taking the ballista lost in the torrent of flames behind him and the dead in front. Those that survived like him, now the target for archers and ballista. He pulls on the reigns of his hog veering to the right just as a bolt thunks into the ground where he had been.

Those behind him follow, kicking their mounts to get out of the archers’ range.

More die around him and then the arrows stop. Not understanding why Kitub turns around hoping for a miracle, but what he sees is the death of his son. Kito had tried to circle around and attack the archers from behind. It would have been a great idea if not for the three fire mages now burning them to a crisp while the archers pick off the stragglers.

Kitub looks to the front and joins an even larger group now hot on the wolf riding demons’ heels. If they can box them in perhaps they can still win the fight. His world turns blurry…. Kitub realises he is crying.

****

Trisha slashes down with her elven styled sword cutting the random face that popped up in front of her in two. Then it is gone and another face pops up. Their charge had devastated the enemies. With Luka leading the juggernauts they had crashed into and mowed through the undisciplined bandits, but now the charge is starting to slow as more and more bandits surround them.

She watches as a few arrows land on the dark elves around her. Most not doing damage due to the thick armour, but some find soft targets. Her eyes search and she soon spots the few enemy archers staying at a distance and firing at them.

Like before she stands upon the wolf’s back, drawing her bow. She fires three arrows in quick succession but a sudden jolt makes her lose balance for an instant. The charge has halted.

She spots Luka. The Dark Elf is covered in gore and with every swing of his sword adds more. In front of him, she can see the reason the charge was stopped. A wall of ice and stone seemingly melded together. “We need to get to him.”

The wolf only grunts in response. And after trying replies in frustration. “I can't, we are too closely packed together and if I jump I may do more harm than good.”

She fires more arrows and enhances her voice with magic. “Push out, if we stay clumped together more of us will die! Fire mages clear the way.”

At her words fire sprouts on the sides of their compact group. Some enemies have the flare of human wards, but most don’t and they soon fall under the flames writhing in pain. A smell of cooked meat fills the air but Trisha pushes her disgust to the back of her mind.

With a bit more space their group gets some breathing room. “Clear a way!”

Wolves step aside and she rushes forward on her own mount, reaching Luka a few seconds later.

Her wolf pounces first crushing a human under its paws before locking its jaws on one of the Lizardfolk and shaking it around like a chew toy.

Luka spots her. “The Ice mage has blocked us off from Seolk.”

Trisha looks at him in confusion, but Luka realises his mistake and after blocking a blow with his shield, stabs down into his attacker's throat he finally gets a chance to shout again. “Seolk is our strongest mage with an affinity for earth. If he dies we will be sitting ducks for the Ice mages!”

Trisha looks at the ice and earth wall. Somewhere behind it, Seolk is fighting against one is not more of the Snow Elves. She pats the wolf. “Brace yourself.”

Before the wolf can reply, Trisha gets up. Power swells in her legs and sensing it the wolf spreads out its legs for stability. She jumps and as she does Luka swears. He is supposed to protect her!

His swearing turns into surprise when he watches her body grow. Fur sprouts and her legs seem to break for a second as they reshape into that of a tiger’s.

By the time she has disappeared from his view, her body is three times the size of that of the wolves. It takes a moment, but he soon springs into action again. “Juggernauts to me, trample them, crush them, but by the hell gates we must get past them!”

Order springs from the chaos and the juggernauts start to group up. “Push forward, break their bones, feast on their flesh if Slyfer loses his woman he will skin us all alive.”

On the other side hearing the words Trisha lands amongst a bunch of enemies crushing them all. Not far from her is a dome of earth being blasted with ice from three sides. She smells the blood, the fear, and death. She can almost taste it. A deafening roar spills over the battlefield causing more than a few to pause in their actions.

The wind starts to pick up, at first sucking in dust causing the otherwise invisible breath of nature, to take form. Ice magic gets directed at her, but she easily jumps over the freezing ground all the while feeding the air above her. She lands and after a second of hesitation bites down on the mage in front of her. For a moment the blood disgusts her, but then instinct takes over and she starts to revel in it.

Arrows dig into the Tiger’s side and it whips around. Wind blasts toward the culprits' direction and a moment later they are smashed into a pulp more bandits fumble as they try to draw their bows but the maelstrom of dust that had smashed them suddenly expands tossing them flying into the air.

The tiger lets out a growl in pain as her foreleg gets frozen by an attack from a Snow Elf. The voices scream in her head to get out, to run, but it’s too late. Trisha lunges forward haphazardly and crashes into the mage, her weight more than anything else crushing the elf.

In the back of her mind alarm bells go off and she turns just in time to see a large icicle barrelling towards her. She lunges to get out of the way, crashing into the ice-covered earth dome. More arrows sink into her flank and the attackers get ripped to shreds wind blades. –How did this happen?- She thinks to herself. –I was stronger when we fought the abomination, why…-

Her eyes grow hazy and the Tigers roar in her mind. The last Snow Elf is preparing another attack.

********

Jade topples over in freight when Slyfer suddenly jumps to his feet and before she can say anything. Slyfer sprints towards the tower wall breaking right through, throwing rocks and dust everywhere. A moment later she hears a loud roar causing the stones around her to clatter due to vibration.

The roar makes her heart stop not because of its ferocity but the seemingly bottomless anguish and worry within it. Something claps like thunder and the dust billow around her once more, she throws up her arms to protect her face as pebbles and stones are thrown around by a strong gust of wind. Then there is another clap but this time much further away.