As Davina got deeper into the forest, the trees surrounding her got taller and broader. Some looked like they could fit a lot of people inside. There were times she'd look back to check and see if the ship was still in view. Then she'd run again and tried to find any signs of the Inarians. She saw them going through this direction earlier, she was certain. But as she took each step, she was starting to doubt herself.
Once again, she looked back and saw the ship still docked from a distance. She stopped for a moment. Her eyes darted from the forest and the ship. A scream pierced through the silence. Davina jumped. Her legs went into action and bolted to the sound of the scream.
Before she could get any farther, a roar echoed through the forest. The ground shook. Davina had no idea what could've created such a powerful roar. But whatever it was must be connected with the scream.
Davina couldn't tell if the ground was still shaking or if it was her body. Against her better judgement, she tried once again to go to the sound of the scream. She wanted to get the Inarians as fast as she could. Drag them back to the ship and leave this forest. Another second spent there was a second too long.
After some time, she caught sight of a figure in a cloak jumping from one branch to another. She squinted her eyes and saw a familiar shade of brown hair. She let out a breath of relief when she saw him. She was about to call him, but then the ground started to shake again.
Davina hid behind one of the barks of the trees. She had no idea if whatever was making the ground rumble was near or far. She slowly inched to the side, trying to see what she was up against. When she was almost about to see the creature, someone grabbed her wrist and covered her mouth before she had a chance to scream.
"It's me. It's me."
Davina's dark eyes were met with grey ones. Her body was pinned on the tree by Quinn's body. He took out his gloved hand from her mouth when she calmed down. His face was filled with dirt and grime. Davina tried to silence her heavy breathing, it would certainly give them away. She was glad no one could hear her heart hammering through her chest.
"Are you alright?" He asked. "Are you hurt? The scream…"
"It wasn't me. I'm fine. Where are Kira and Arlo?"
"I don't know. I lost them," he looked sorry about it.
"Let's-Let's just go back to the ship and wait for them there." Quinn seemed hesitant about the idea. "What was that thing out there?"
"I'm not sure, but I think it's an ogre."
"Ogre?" She's heard of that before. Felix always tried to add them into their games of pretend. Although sometimes they were good and sometimes they were bad. "Is it a threat?"
"Yes. They like to eat humans and have a keen sense of smell. It caught my scent and I've been trying to get away from it," he indicated to his dirt-filled body, "but no success."
Davina cursed in her head. "So, now what? Can't you use your magic to do something? Or that sleeping dust."
"I don't know. I'm not sure if my magic can be any help and I left my dust in the ship."
Davina wanted to suggest that they go to the ship and get the dust. But judging from Quinn's demeanor, she wasn't sure if he could do it. He was practically leaning on her. His head lying on her shoulder. She could feel his every breath. They were heavy and ragged. There was also the possibility of accidentally leading it to ship if they do so.
"Is there any way to kill them?"
Quinn looked at her with shock. "You're planning to fight them?"
"Do you have a better plan?"
"Not at the moment." Quinn stopped to think. "I don't remember reading anything about how to kill them. I don't…"
Davina sighed. Guess he even drew the line in killing what he thought were fictional creatures. "Well, tell me something about them. Maybe I can find a weakness."
"Their eyesight is really bad. They're practically blind, but they make up for it with their sense of smell." The ground shook once again. They heard another roar that sent their hearts pounding. Quinn tensed. "I think he caught my scent again. I'm sorry, now it'll look for you too."
"That's not a problem." Davina's eyes scoured the forest for a good path to run to. "Be my eyes Quinn, do you see it anywhere?"
Quinn let his head peek from the trunk and he saw the ogre just a few feet away from them. It's skin was dark green like the ground they were standing on. It was why he didn't notice it earlier when he accidentally stepped on it, waking it from its slumber.
"It's very close and it's coming this way."
"How fast?"
"It's walking pretty slow, but one step is like twenty steps for us."
"Alright. You stay here and wait for my signal," she took the sword out of her person.
"Where…" Quinn followed her gaze on the ogre. "You're not serious."
"Stay and come when I call you. "
Davina didn't stick around to pointlessly argue and darted closer to the ogre. Quinn only watched wide-eyed as she sneaked in through the trees. He had no idea what she planned and what signal she was talking about. He could only sit and wait until she'd call him.
"What are you planning to do?" Felix pestered Davina as she hid behind another tree.
"I want to see something."
"See how fast you're going to die?"
She ran to another tree closer to the ogre. She thought that it was still fixated on Quinn's scent to notice her. It made her doubt about their keen sense of smell, but it was an advantage. Sneaking a peek, she saw that it was around five times her height.
When the orge was close enough, Davina charged in at the ogre and thrust her sword at it's leg. She was able to dig it deep that it roared and kneeled in pain. Davina had an expression of victory on her face, contrasting the expressions of horror on Felix and Quinn's faces.
Her victory was cut short when the ogre formed its hand into a fist to smash her. She pulled out her sword—resulting in another roar of pain—and rolled away, narrowly missing it's fist. She shot up and started to run back towards Quinn.
"That was your plan?" Quinn shouted as she tried to outrun the limping ogre. He was still hiding behind that tree.
"Wait!" Davina yelled when Quinn was about to run. "Don't move from that spot."
"What!" His eyes landed on the ogre who would certainly break him in half without hesitation.
"The ogre won't touch you. I won't let it touch you. When I tell you, make me fly. Use your magic and make me fly to its head."
"But-"
"Just trust me!" He's hesitating again. "I'm in charge of protecting you right?" She never thought she'd say those words to an Inarian.
Quinn was still confused with Davina's overall plan, but he was starting to understand it. He could see she was sincere and had a plan in mind. He wished that she could execute it.
His hands were shaking with each step the ogre took. He watched as it waved its arms, trying to catch Davina. The unsure movements of the ogre confused Quinn. It was as if it couldn't see her and was relying on its arms to find her.
He remembered the ogre was like a beast when it was trying to catch him earlier. Quinn wondered maybe it was disoriented because it got stabbed or maybe…his eyes widened in realization when he saw the green gem on Davina's bracelet shining.
"Quinn!" Her voice broke through his thoughts. "Make me fly!"
Quinn took in a deep breath and summoned the air to lift Davina from the ground into the ogre's head. When she was being lifted up, the ogre swung its arms once again. Quinn tried to hasten her ascension, but the ogre's huge hands hit her and sent her flying a few feet above the ground and away from Quinn. Her back hit a tree and she started to fall.
"Dana!"
Davina's head pounded as she fell. The wind rushed through her arms and legs. She tried to move, but her body wasn't cooperating.
Someone took her in their arms and caught her before she hit the ground. She opened her eyes and saw a string of blond hair flying through the wind. To her relief and dismay, it was Arlo who saved her. He didn't look too thrilled about it either.
When the two landed on solid ground, Arlo dropped her on the ground right beside Kira. Davina shot up and hit him on his shoulder. He was about to do the same if it wasn't for the ogre coming their way.
"Where's Quinn?" Panted Arlo.
"I saw him on the way here. He's safe," said Kira. "The ogre is following us now."
"Sure he's safe now but what about us?" Davina jumped over a log and almost tripped. Her desire to wipe the grin off Arlo's face made her quick her pace.
"Ummm."
These Inarians and their half-baked plans.
The ogre took a different route. It no longer followed the three of them. They stopped to take a breath, but only until they saw what it was following.
"Quinn we had it under control!" yelled Arlo.
Not really.
She had no idea if Quinn had a plan. He didn't count on it as she watched him rest on a branch of a tree. He looked like he was out of breath. The ogre tried to reach out for him, determined to get him.
"Someone take me over there fast. I have a plan," Davina pressed.
Kira looked at Arlo who wanted to protest. "You are the one who can go there fast. Go take her!"
Arlo groaned as he went on his knee. "Climb on my back."
Davina blinked. Quinn was now in the ogre's arms and was trying to fight it off. Davina got on his back and held tight as they flew towards Quinn.
"Drop me on its head."
When they were close, Arlo dropped her on the ogre's head and stayed clear of the ogre. It was still fixated on Quinn that he didn't notice her. Mustering all the strength in her body, Davina swung her sword and swiped the ogre's head clean.
Victory wasn't theirs yet.
Without the head, the body was collapsing. The body that held Quinn in it. Arlo and Kira were watching from below. They were trying to see where Quinn could fall.
As the body started to fall, Davina made her way through the ogre's arm and pulled Quinn out of its grip. To her surprise, Quinn pulled her to jump from the ogre's collapsing body. As they were getting closer to the ground, she pulled Quinn close to her and switched their bodies so that she'll be the one who'll receive the impact. She only closed her eyes as she waited for the pain to strike her entire body. But it never came.
Instead of a painful landing, she and Quinn landed softly on the grassy ground. She felt Quinn shaking in her arms. His palms were wide open. She let out a breath. It was all over.
Kira and Arlo ran over to them. The two dragged Quinn's body off her. They seemed to be scolding him or fussing over him. She couldn't tell. They left her alone, which she didn't mind.
She closed her eyes for a second. Then when she opened them, she saw a woman with pointed ears above her. Davina sat up and saw many others like her. They were all peeking in through the trees. They may differ in height and color, but they all held the same ethereal beauty and frightened expressions in their eyes.
Davina followed their gaze to the decapitated ogre just a few feet away from them. The sight of it brought tittering and whispers among them. She reached out for her sword but Kira gently laid her hand on hers.
The little girl Davina saw earlier looked between the ogre and her. Then to the bloodstained sword beside her.
"Did you do this?" She inquired.
Davina could only nod. "All of us," she followed.
No one spoke for a while, waiting for the other to make the first move. Then the silence of the forest was broken by praises and cheers.
"Praise be to our saviors!"