Marius's Point of View828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzPt6spMCz
A few days had passed, and once again we were deep in the wilderness, sitting around a campfire beneath the petal of a large flower. It looked like a morning glory. Veran and I worked on skinning some creatures that looked like a rabbit, but they had little antlers on its forehead.
"You know... I have a confession to make," Veran finally spoke up. I looked up at him, my brows furrowed.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ5XfQOpqK
"Oh? And what is that?" I finally pulled off the last bit of skin, dropping it aside. Reaching for a sharpened stick, I began to impale the skinned critter.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDyqQBAfGG
"Well," Veran began, his voice a bit shaky. He let out a great gush of air in frustration as he struggled to find the words. I paused in my actions, sensing that it was something very serious. "Are we really friends, Marius? I mean, if I tell you this, I don't want you to hate me for it."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzTCGgUkDU
"Tell me," I insisted. I leaned forward somewhat, resting my forearm on my knee. "You haven't murdered anyone, have you?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcdtKuGlrz
"No, no, of course not." Veran sighed again, reaching up to scratch the back of his head. "I suppose I should start off by apologizing for how I've been acting towards you. It's just... Calavius's death..." Veran trailed off, looking down at his feet.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBctBMoPKEg
"It's fine," I said. "Of course I forgive you. You had every right to be angry. I can be a downright arse about things, I know." I finished impaling the antlered-rabbit-creature, and held it out over the fire to begin roasting. "I know you two were best friends."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB2p7Z6UEY
"We were more than that though, is what I'm trying to say."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTi40DwT9O
I looked up at him, raising a brow. "More than that? You mean...?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutuqvCFsY1
"Yes, that's exactly what I mean," Veran said, his words rushed. I dwelled on that for a few moments, shocked that Veran was so bold as to admit such a thing. Though, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. He and Calavius had a bond unlike anyone else I knew. It explained why he seemed to break after his death, how he lost his cool so easily. I didn't say anything for at least half a minute as I contemplated this information.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuZ1BwJ7Sb
"Please say something," Veran stammered.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZQb4f7jEo
"I'm not entirely surprised, really." I slowly turned the antlered rabbit critter over, letting the other side roast for a bit. "I'm not going to shun you for something like that, Veran. We've been through too much together."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6RVNbVEpC
Veran sighed in relief. "Thank you for understanding."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivnaYRKBOf
"Of course. Now hurry up and roast your rabbit, you idiot." I looked up at him from my rabbit, grinning. "We've got places to be, you know."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R1BZwsHEN
Veran rolled his eyes. "Right, right. I can't wait to be back on the other side of the Weygate mountains and somewhere less strange."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ISyKDBZuc
"Neither can I."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uw8rauOXG
~828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1fG5IOyuR
A couple more days of traveling passed, and I could sense a bit more ease from Veran. It was peaceful, and I tried to not think about our fallen friends. Constantly, I reminded myself that there was a time to grieve, and during the mission was not that time.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC25Bz5Wezs
In the distance, I spotted the familiar misty pass that led back into the Weygate Mountains. As we drew closer, the air itself seemed to take on a more somber feeling. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ9J0tIebb
We were just starting up the mountain, when the ground began faintly shaking. The tremors were getting steadily worse. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddYTFdowJP
"What the..." I trekked up the hill closest, which was pretty tall. Looking over the rocky countryside, I spotted exactly what was causing the tremors. A great beast, easily the size of a mammoth with a horn upon it's nose and a ridged back was stampeding about, trying to gore the small figures around it. Just as Veran came up next to me, the creature managed to impale one of the figures on its horns. With a shake of its head, the individual split in half. That left two individuals left, each firing arrows at the beast, and trying to avoid the fate of their comrade.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC50WFnSJ6K
"We have to help them," Veran said, looking over at me. I nodded, pulling my my backpack and reaching down to unsheathe my blade. Veran pulled his bow around and an arrow from his quiver, and we began to make our way down towards the fight.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcoxZxifPm
As we neared, Veran began to fire off arrows, one of which hit the beast right by the base of his tail. That drew its attention to us. It stomped it's feet, and opened it's maw wide to let out a ferocious roar. Even from here I could spot rows of jagged teeth. I recognized it's similar mannerisms to a bull almost immediately. I'd taken part in plenty of pit fights against bulls. This would be easily. Definitely.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EUUBEAhb1
I stood, tense, watching as the creature charged, kicking up great swaths of dirt as its massive feet slammed against the ground. I waited until the very last second, when it had built up enough speed...828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfs71ErLc2e
I threw myself into a roll to the side, using my own momentum to get back to my feet. The creature stormed on by. I looked back to see Veran had done the same, thank the Gods.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrunYNFH4OW
The creature skidded to a halt some feet ahead. I heard the faint fwip of more arrows slamming into the creature's side, drawing it's attention to Veran. It reared its head, and stomped it's feet again. I ran up to it. And right before it got the chance to charge, I slashed at the back of it's ankle, my scimitar cutting deep to reveal the crimson flesh beneath. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWnxR4gTiI
The creature buckled as one of it's achilles tendons had been severed. As it tried to turn and bite me, I ran for the other leg, slicing through the other tendon, and completely crippling it's back end. It's entire back half collapsed.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bNg8gBe7W
Another few fwip's sounded as more arrows were shot into the creature. It roared, attempting to drag itself away using it's front feet. I looked over my should to see two tall, slender figures approaching, bows in hand. One a female, the other male. What shocked me most, was the long ears that protruded from the sides of their heads.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrH96d2sco
Elves.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleNPwA2xRL
