In the shining bright light of the forest, the air hummed with urgency as Isgram and Fang raced through the underbrush, the soft crunch of leaves beneath their feet loud as the forest drained of life.
Sunlight filtered through the dense net of branches, casting mottled shadows that danced around them.
Isgram, his stout frame moving with surprising agility, glanced sideways at Fang. "You sure this is wise? They might not take kindly to us showing up after the mess we made."
Fang, his golden eyes sharp with determination, pressed on. "We need to make contact. If we can offer aid, it may show them we're not the monsters they think we are. It's not just about the elf's well-being; it's about building a bridge to peace."
The words hung in the air, a fragile promise of hope amidst their recent conflict. The weight of that ambush still pressed heavily on Fang, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.
If he left such matters to Isgram he needs to shoulder the responsibility too without fleeing from the consequences.
As they navigated through the confusing terrain, the forest grew quieter, the chirping of birds and the rustle of small creatures falling into an uneasy silence. Isgram slowed, instinctively tightening his grip on the satchel slung across his shoulder, filled with medical supplies. "Do you really think they'll listen?"
"They must," Fang replied, his voice firm. "This is our chance. If we don't take it, we risk losing everything. I wish I had such ambitions as we claim to have but truth be told, The only thing I am interested in is survival right now."
Finally, they reached a small clearing, the remnants of the skirmish still evident in the broken branches and scattered leaves. Several steel balls were strewn all over the place.
In the center, the injured elf lay propped against a tree, his face pale and drawn, blood still seeping through the makeshift bandage wrapped around his shoulder. Fang's heart raced as he noticed them:
2 elves, one a beautiful girl with a resentful look on her face, her eyes piercing into his soul.
Her long ponytail was dirty and unkempt, and her clothes were torn especially in the leg area.
A small quiver steadied with a leather rope kept her arrows in place, and a small wooden bow with long drawn sculpted lines ran along the length of it from both sides.
Next to her is a behemoth of a man, who looks to be almost twice the size of Fang and a head or so taller than him. His muscles bulging but he looks extremely tired and judging his reaction to this situation, surprisingly calm too.
The girl was the first to address the chosen duo:
"I suggest you return to your cave before the mage squad returns here, cause you might be able to take us out but you have no chance against their magic. Walk away." her tone was spiteful and tired, but very vigilant of any sudden movement.
She knew they had no chance in such conditions, but the mage squad who helped the village nearby put out the fires was in no way weak.
They would probably lose more than one or two mages, but there were 10 of them so she was certain fang and isgram stood no chance.
The first to speak up was Isgram:
"Such strong words for some weaklings who got injured so badly from traps, nonetheless. Aren't traps supposed to be your forte, considering elves are scouts and hunters?"
He stroked his beard, as his mocking tone which he justified through the wounded elf on the ground has pierced their pride and painful look.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, fang intervened, worrying the mentioned mage squad would arrive soon.
What he didn't know was that the mages were busy putting away the fire which seemed to spread towards the villages so their time of arrival is unknown.
"I am Fang, son of the god of thunder and the representative of my friend here.
I also represent the thunder god's will in this world to maintain peace between the god's chosen ones. I have come here to deliver medicine to be used to heal your friend so you won't seek revenge later on. In any case, take this satchel from my friend here and save his life."
Alyssa's face was suspicious, to say the least, chilling her excitement at the possibility it might be poison disguised as medicine.
On the other hand, she knew the mages didn't have any medicine to deal with such injuries and that the only way to save him from dying was to stop the bleeding completely.
Isgram's inner thoughts were resonating deep inside his heart:
'We caused this. Damn it, Isgram, you and your bloody traps. But it wasn't meant to go this far... We were just protecting ourselves. Hell, if I wanted 'em dead, they'd be lying in a grave right now, not gasping for life. But that doesn't change what's right in front of me. He looks to be younger than Fang, certainly much more gentle. That is no killer, that man was never a threat to us...'
He watches the other elves closely, their narrowed eyes filled with mistrust. Every muscle in his body wants to react, to be ready for a fight, but he knows they didn't come here for more bloodshed. His face softens into regret, though his mouth remains pressed into a firm line. He wants to say something—an apology perhaps.
But he can't quite get the words out.
So he stays silent, his gaze not leaving the young man on the ground.
He holds out the medicine cautiously, his body tense with the anticipation of how the gesture will be received. He's careful to avoid any movements that could be seen as threatening.
He puts it on the ground and then opens it slowly.
Hans knows fully well that if they wished to fight them they had safer ways to kill them.
'There is no need for them to be kind nor cruel. They knew very well we were no threat to them anymore. So why help? Or rather, why not kill us as last living witnesses? Did Alyssa actually manage to scare them with her mage squad threat?'
Opening the satchel they saw a small steel box with a lid made of some wood bark, and the dwarf opened it and smelled it looking them in the eyes, showing them it wasn't a poison.
Then, he put it on the ground with the lid open waiting for Fang to explain to them how to use it.
"This paste was made by me for closing wounds. It is made by a special flower I grow in our cave. It is very small scale right now but if in the future you'd be open to peace and trade then we would be more than happy to trade for it. Rub it on his wounds thoroughly and leave it to dry under a clean bandage. If you don't possess any bandages... Well, that isn't my problem anymore. Stay safe and tell your king we wish no harm but mark my words.
If you DARE thread in our forest then know we won't hold out again. You saw only a couple of small traps. We have bigger weaponry in our arsenal.
Send an ambassador to talk with us next time and maybe we'll have a chance for peace."
Alyssa couldn't hold it anymore, her lips were shaking in shame and anger.
Her hands were tight and fisted close, her knuckles white.
"YOU DARE THREATEN OUR NATION?! IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU-"
But then Hans put a hand up, signaling her to zip it. There were very few times that she saw him use such a gesture with her.
"I apologize for my comrade's words. She is tired from this day. My name is Hans and I thank you in the name of the royal bear hunters for the provided medicine. I will relay the message to our king that you seek peace and would prefer to stop our skirmishes. I can not promise anything but I rather not fight you. At least not alone. Whether the king will accept your proposal, I can't speculate. He is convinced your power will pose a threat to our kingdom. I myself won't underestimate you, especially after this day.
Don't mistake my words, I think you should be prepared for war.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to treat our friend."
They nod and start sprinting towards the cave. After 100 meters, they slow their pace.
As they walk away from the tense encounter, Isgram is the first to break the silence. His voice is gruff, but there's an underlying weight to his words.
"Well, that went about as well as a wolf in a sheep pen."
He spits into the dirt, still uneasy about the whole exchange.
"I don't like the sound of that. 'Be prepared for war'? We hand over medicine, and we're still lookin' down the wrong end of a blade."
Isgram pauses, casting a glance toward Fang.
'Fang thinks this peace talk will work out. Maybe he's right, but I've seen enough to know that hope alone ain't worth a damn when you're staring at an enemy's sword.
I didn't sign up for this to get us killed. But what other choice do we have? If we don't make the effort, there's no chance at all. Still, the thought of facing an elven army… it turns my gut.'
Fang walks in silence for a moment, letting Isgram's words hang in the air. His expression is more contemplative than usual, as though he's still digesting everything that just happened.
'We knew this was a possibility. Hans was honest—he'll deliver our message, but whether it sways the king is beyond our control.'
He glances at Isgram with a steady, though grim, look.
"But we had to try. What would have been the alternative? Let them die? Leave the message unspoken? You and I both know that would've brought war to our doorstep for sure." Fang's voice is calm, but there's an underlying tension there, as though he's struggling to convince himself as much as he's convincing Isgram. Knowing that Gaia's fate is under their responsibility is a big enough reminder that they aren't carving only their destiny, but her's as well.
Isgram stayed silent knowing Fang had more to say:
"The path to peace is never clean. We've made our move. Show them we're not the heartless killers they may think we are.
But I saw the doubt in Hans's eyes. I could feel the weight of his mistrust. Can we really change the mind of a king who may already be leaning toward war?"
"If this fails… if war does come… how many lives will be lost because of decisions we made? We will take the lives of dozens of elves, maybe hundreds by the time of war. I don't think I will live that easily with such decisions, Fang."
"If war is the only option, we must wage war. I will not go down without a fight, Isgram. We should start with the next step of the plan tomorrow in the morning. I will hunt in the morning, right now I desperately want to go to sleep. tomorrow I will ask Gaia to help me haul the meat and half the firewood we have stockpiled to the nearest village." Said Fang blinking a couple of times reminding his body it's still not sleeping time.
"I just hope you're ready for what happens if this goes sideways. Medicine or not, the next time we meet them, it might be on a bloody battlefield. If the king's already itchin' for war, nothing we say or do will stop it.
Are we prepared for that? I've got no problem hurling fireballs till the end of time, but even I know this is bigger than us. If they go big we stand no chance."
And Fang... their king bears the weight of this more than any of us. Their king is the only one who can take the blame for this war.
I just hope he's not blind to the storm that's coming."
Fang listens to Isgram's concerns, but his gaze is fixed ahead. He's thinking not just of the immediate moment, but of the bigger picture—their long-term survival and what kind of legacy they will leave behind.
"You're right. We need to prepare for the worst. There's no denying that. But if there's a chance. A sliver of hope... to avoid a full-blown war, then we owe it to everyone to pursue it."
He lowers his voice slightly, more to himself than to Isgram.
"I don't want the blood of innocents on our hands, Isgram. Not again. Not if we can help it. It is one thing to kill adventurers who are after money and see us as a sack of gold but killing farmers that have nothing to do with us? I still regret razing that village when I escorted Gaia here. I was too blind to our power, our influence. We should keep the fans of war folded.
The first to be recruited will be the nearby villages for sure."
The next thought remained a thought in Fang's mind, not daring to utter it:
'But what if I've miscalculated? What if this king is beyond reason? Am I leading us toward peace… or into a bloodbath?'
But his thoughts were once again disrupted by the rough voice of his friend:
"Aye, Fang. We'll be ready either way. But know this—if it comes to war, I'll stand with you. Every step of the way."
He offers Fang a firm nod, one that carries the weight of camaraderie and loyalty. Even if he doubts the success of their peace efforts, he won't abandon his friend or their cause.
However hopeless it may be.