Marius's Point of View827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsODDuBCxPR
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qrZ4eezPP
"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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTaVT2nyY8
"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."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2tO3MDn7X
"Tell me," I insisted. I leaned forward somewhat, resting my forearm on my knee. "You haven't murdered anyone, have you?"827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x3DRStyvT
"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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWddtG0erbf
"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."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm8D9uHbbV
"We were more than that though, is what I'm trying to say."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs5TdINGXq
I looked up at him, raising a brow. "More than that? You mean...?"827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaL2ybyBdI
"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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPWamDE2CN
"Please say something," Veran stammered.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTE0lnrLSV
"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."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PsEW78SkP
Veran sighed in relief. "Thank you for understanding."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPppFNn6gNW
"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."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZkjtpVUEr
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."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4nB4i3NmB
"Neither can I."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVO6aez8TG
~827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7es2WF6sOi
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1lQMeMq1O
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeWyAAVZ3B
We were just starting up the mountain, when the ground began faintly shaking. The tremors were getting steadily worse. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhAhRQofvy
"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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7QOhFHMyQ
"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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2NyJiO0tS
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PqvqdLRtF
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...827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXag4LtXJgI
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1K6sbQvtS
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. 827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj5U3b4joV
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtTYT2jIze
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.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmj9ylcmPD
Elves.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6LkXWMPzI
