something happen up there?” she added, quickly lowering her voice.
“The caravan leader is a bit boastful is all. Keep your eyes open for trouble. I know you can see further and in clearer detail than we humans are able to. Let Rusga know, too, wherever he might be.” She nodded slightly before turning her head to scan the plains to the east. Beyond them loomed pale blue blocks that stood against the clear sky like jagged teeth. The mountains trekked across the sky toward the north where they disappeared over the horizon.
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
“The Broken Tooth Ridge,” Rusga said, emerging from the brush at the roadside and looking the same direction as the wizard with cautious eyes. “They're quite a sight, aren't they?”
“You know them?” she replied, brow furrowing. “How?”
“Kida and I come from the forest on the other side of there. Our trip to Taft took us several days and we came through Orkrist Pass. It's to the northeast of here about two days' travel but it's the safest route through the mountains. My mentor suggested that path to ensure that we got to your village safely.” The catfolk sighed, gazing longingly toward the pass. “Someday we'll head that way again but until then all I can do is remember the forest in which I grew up.”
“Aww, don't be sad Ru-ru!” He winced as he heard that, as if it was painful to his ears. “We'll go back one day and we'll take these friends of ours with us. There's all sorts of neat things there, like the springs and the rockfalls that formed in the valleys. And during the winter the Fursha Falls freeze over and you can skate on the river! It's lots of fun!” Her eyes fluttered and closed as she smiled, thoughts of her childhood clearly dancing their way through her memories.
“I thought I told you not to call me that anymore,” Rusga scowled. “I don't like that name. I'm too old for it.” He grumbled under his breath, muttering about how it was too childish to use in front of people like this.
“Oh, you're no fun anyway. You're a big stick in the swamp. Kunya understands this, right?”
Kunya paused and her mouth hung open dumbly. “I ...err... I am not sure actually. What is this about and why is he so grumpy about it?” Kida looked confused. “I do not really know about this sort of thing. I was always alone as a child so I never understood the concepts of nicknames and teasing.”
“Oh goodness...” the kitsu answered. “I need to teach you the ways!”
“Oh gods, not another one...” Rusga mumbled, shaking his head. “This isn't going to turn out well at all.”
Kida sat down with Kunya atop one wagon and started with the basics. “Teasing and nicknames are one way that a girl can show affection to someone, whether that someone is a girl or a guy. I tease Rusga a lot because I like him and because he's a close friend of mine.”
“I see... and how do you describe being … close friends?” the human replied, tilting her head and trying to understand.
“Well... it's someone you care a lot about. Someone that you want to protect so that they don't get hurt. It's not just about protecting them in battle, either. Things can happen and sometimes people feel hurt deep inside themselves, in their hearts because of those things. When family or friends die, people hurt in their hearts and that's not something you can fix with magic. It's an emotional pain, a kind of pain that aches in one's very soul.”
“I … think I understand some of that. Like if my mentor were to pass away I would feel sad because he was a big part of my life and influenced how I perceive myself?” Kunya tried her best to hide something else, and to her relief Kida didn't notice it.
“Exactly, yes. Rusga helped protect me when I was younger until I learned how to defend myself better, and even then he still helps to keep an eye out for me. He's stubborn and temperamental but I'm glad he's around.”
“So even though he expresses himself negatively around you, particularly when you show your affection toward him, you still like him? That is beyond strange … why do you do that?”
“Well, I don't really know. All I know is that I do like him and that even if he says those things he's still glad to have me around. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have asked me to come along on this adventure, or have said that he felt safer with me than without.”
“That is similar to how Algan looks at me now, I think. He does not particularly like speaking to me, but he appreciates my help and my abilities. He scoffed at me at first, probably because I am a woman, but now he respects me. I think he respects you a bit too because of what I have done for him and because you have similar ability. He does not show it though.”
“I think so too. I wouldn't say you two are very close though. Just friends along for the journey with each other right now.” Kida nodded vigorously and smiled. “At this point I think you and I are closer than anyone else here, except maybe Ru-ru and I or Algan and Riun. Those two don't speak a lot but they understand each other and they'll defend each other to the death. Guys are a bit different. They don't say so much, but they prove their loyalty with their actions. They'll be together until the end I think.”
Kunya nodded. “I think I am beginning to understand... They watch each other because they enjoy having one another around. They drink and enjoy company together and understand each other on a level that I could never understand either of them. You and Rusga are different though. You two do not seem to get along on the surface but you both stay together despite how it appears. Why is that?” Her face looked steadily more puzzled as she spoke and she shook her head in confusion.
“I think it's because he and I aren't the same sex. Girls and guys tend to think differently and show their emotions differently from each other. He gets frustrated because I'm open and flagrant about showing my compassion. He would rather I act more like Algan and Riun act with one another, I think. A silent understanding. I can't be that way though. I have to express myself or I feel trapped.”
“I have noticed. You love to sing and dance and put yourself on display so that the whole world can see you for what you are. I … well, I don't know how to do that yet. Perhaps I think too logically or too much. Or maybe I'd prefer not to be noticed like that.” She looked down, staring at the earth quietly. Kida seemed to understand though and moved closer, embracing Kunya for a moment.
It's unusual, the wizard thought. But it's not a bad thing to relax like this. I'll have to do it more … wait, I'm thinking about this over my studies? She shook the thoughts free and lay flat on the wagon roof, eyes relaxed and half-closed. Kida had retreated to find other ventures.
The next five days of the trip passed uneventfully and the days went by mostly the same: Breakfast, break camp, march until midday, lunch, march until evening, camp again. It wasn't until they were a day away from Deswern that Rusga spotted something in the distance. Kida was continuing to teach Kunya about expression and the different forms of it when the catfolk called out. “Orcs! In the distance, maybe two kilometers away!” The elves among the caravan noticed also and readied their longbows as a dust cloud slowly came into view toward the horizon. The humans prepared shields and swords while the six of the hired party armed themselves as well.
As the orcs approached an increasing rumbling noise rattled the ground, shaking the wagons ever so slightly. Kunya and Kida opted to drop down from their perch rather than sit on a shaky surface as they came into view. No less than four dozen approached, about half armed with shields and cruel rounded blades while the rest carried massive axes. All wore crude armor made of stitched animal hides. About a hundred fifty meters from the caravan the archers fired their first volley of arrows, taking down a couple here and there.
About fifteen had been taken down in all when the melee began, the familiar clashing of steel and wood rising above the open plains and echoing back from the forest to their rear. Roars, groans, and hissing filled the air as the humans and elves fought hard to drive the orcs away. Kunya, normally excellent with her healing and protection magic, felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of combatants on both sides. Kida too was pushed