Chapter 13 - Thirteen (1/2)
I woke up to the sound of a flute. It was a windy sound, like it came out of a piece of bamboo, the respiration of the caster joining the rhythm, forming a smoothing song.
I open my eyes, feeling sore and numb, like if I had swam an entire day, all the muscles hurt, even from the back.
The music stopped as I looked around at the cave we were in. Than all came at once; the battle, the rage, my brother.
I tried to stand but my members gave out under my weight.
” *****! ******,***?”
Someone was talking, and I automatically raised my lips and showed my fangs at him. He stops, his back to the entrance of the cave and to the light, making me able to see only his silhouette.
He then crouches down and lowers his hands to the ground.
”Can understand now?” He says with a strange accent in the Common Language. ”Not good with it, but can?”
What? Is he trying to communicate with me? Does anyone in this world would try first things first speak to a dog when they see one? But it didn't end well when I spoke to the humans before, so maybe…
”Nature and Night told, dangerous for magical creatures. We guardians. We save.”
”Guardians?” So the Voice of the Night asked for help? How? Maybe they can communicate with each other, like spirits perhaps?
Then who is this in front of me?
He nods, and continues: ”We mean no harm. Cure, save.”
He points at my wounds, and just then I realize they are clean and bandaged.
”What about my brother? And who are you?”
He approaches slightly, and sits closer to me and in front of the fireplace. Wow, he is an angel or something? He has pointy long ears that bend a little at the end, flat white snowy hair that goes down like a waterfall, framing his face, the hair been pushed out with a bronze diadem on his forehead, full of leafs drawings and branch like design.
He had a gentle smile and a pair of shiny green eyes. He speaks in that strange tongue again, sounding as musical as the flute he played before.
Ding – Elven Tongue 1
”So sorry for my lack of manners, is just very unpleasant for my tongue to utter such barbaric language.”
…
Wait, this is the difference between mechanic translation and human translation? Totally the opposite! Some words I can't even understand!
”Answer my questions.” I say in his tongue, which surprises him, but he continues:
”Yes, of course, let me clarify then. We elven race are the Guardians of the Forest, at the a.d.u.l.t age we pass tests and rituals so that all our kind may hold such title. These days the Voice of Nature warned us about animal smugglers coming and going from this part of the woodlands.
The night before one of our sears voiced that the Voice of the Night asked assistance from the Voice of Nature, as one of its child's were in great danger, and we found you and the smugglers.
However unfortunately I was accountable with the mission to rescue one of the creatures hold in captive as the others deal with the smugglers. I do not know any information of the others magical creatures, forgive me.
So my brother was still missing? Alone in that state in the middle of the forest?
No, I got to go, I have to find him. I try to stand again, but he stands first and says:
”No, you must rest, you were under paralyze effects as well as blood lost, fatigue and hunger, Even if you wish to you won't go far. And don't burden yourself; I presume that one of the others must have already found your brother.”
”But you are not sure?”
He looks at me and diverts the eye contact. ”No”
Ah, I think I'm going to puke from stress and worry. He should be fine right? He must be.
”If…” He starts, as if thinking carefully on what to say. ”If I went out to search for him or any information, would you stay here?”
Yes ”No”
Wait, what? He sighs.
”It's impossible to lie in our tongue, little hound.” He smiles kindly them, and smoothly goes around the stone he was sitting on and brings me a pot of water and some food; no meat tough, just a strange… fruit?
”What is this?” I ask and start drinking.
”Pepper, Red Chili Burning Pepper, to be more specific, a Hell Hound's favorite.”
I raise my eyebrow at that, I mean, my brown spots above my eyes. I go a little closer, and take a sniff out of it.
Wow, it smelled amazing! I take an eager bite, and it burns in my mouth. Delicious! And probably deadly for others!
Licking my lips for the aftertaste I realize that he was staring at me with kind eyes.
”We mean you no harm, really. I'm just preoccupied with your health, so forgive me, I promise that I'll search for your brother as fast as I can.”
Forgive? Forgive for… Oh, wait, I'm suddenly getting sleepy, and my limbs feel even more heavy. This time, however, I don't pass out, I simply fall asleep.
~~~~
Next morning I wake up with a comforting height on my back. I open my eyes, happy for the familiar too hot sensation of my brothers body lying beside me, this legs wrapped around me in a tight hug as if I could disappear in his sleep.
Someone poke the fire beside us, and I quickly find a pair of green leafy eyes in the darkness.
”He was already taken care for once I found him, and I though better to bring him here. He hasn't let go off you since the moment I brought him in.”
I look back to his sleepy face and almost cry myself to sleep here and there, but couldn't stop myself from shivering slightly. He is alive, we are alive, unharmed, and together again.
I bring him into a closer hug, burying my head on top of his, felling his hearth beat against mine, hearing his sleepy deep breath.
I swallow dry when the thought of almost losing him forever passed my mind.
”I suppose we own your kind a debt for saving us them.” I say, not looking up at him and not liking how the words sounded out of my mouth.
”Of course not, it was our mistake that lead to this situation. What guardians would we be if we cannot protect our on forest from intruders? We are the ones who own you an apologize. We are sorry. No… I'm sorry.”
I look at him only to see him bowing, his forehead touching the ground and his long hair cascading sideways.
”The image of a grown man like you bowing isn't good for my conscious.”
He gives a little laugh and sit straight again. He puts his hands together in front of him intertwined, supporting his chin while he thought of something.