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Allison lets the story fade into the air and sat in silence as Uriander stared silently at her. Allison realized how much of her story had been weighing on her. She almost found it comical how unguarded it made her.
"It is a story you do not tell often," Uriander said. "I can tell that much."
"Sometimes it's good to hear yourself talk," she said.
This gave Uriander a smirk. "Well, It's plain to see where your strength comes from. You've been through a busy life in this land."
"Something like that," Allison returned his smirk.
"I guess I owe you a story too. I'm not as good a teller, so it won't be quite so...elaborate."
Allison relaxed in her seat and nodded. "A story for a story never was too picky with the quality of either."
"A fine way to excuse it," Uriander laughed. "Well, I guess we got similar backgrounds. Hopping from place to place is what we do best here. Been on the road pitching up camp wherever we can find a comfortable place to do so. Been like this for years, can't ever find anywhere to settle permanently because of those Duscran neanderthals. They roam and hunt the area and always seem to find us no matter where we go."
"Have you thought of joining up with the folks over in Tauten, maybe help fend them off together?"
"Considered, even attempted. Thing is, we don't want anymore harm to come to the Tauten folk on account of us being there."
"What's got them so dedicated to hunting you down?"
"The kind of hate that transcends the end of the world," Uriander said. "The denial of humanity to anyone different. For a time we used to all be inhabitants of Tauten. We left when the Duscrans ran us out. They're...well, to put it bluntly hopped up on the idea of blood-purity. Inbreed and you can assume the kind of people who take their familial identity that seriously."
"What did you mean by different?"
"Well, I won't speak for everyone else here because it's not my place to say, but for myself, I'm trans. Who I am, and the people here support me, as I them. Duscrans..."
Allison nodded. "I understand. I...actually understand that kind of hatred more than you might think."
Uriander shook his head, "No need to say more if you're not comfortable. Like I said, these folk here are sensitive to these kinds of problems."
"Well, I can help with those idiots that have been chasing you, get them to stop and let you guys not have to fear—"
"Slow down," Uriander said. "We're not looking for a savior, honestly. There's a reason we've lived this long. The last thing we need is them getting any motivation to come at us harder."
"But you understand I could take care of them," Allison argued.
"I don't doubt that, but in the chance they surprise you, I don't take kindly to having that blood on our hands for allowing it. Or if you do, their blood. I may not like 'em, but I'm not keen on sinking to their level either."
"But you wouldn't—"
"Conversation's done," Uriander said. "Let's return focus to your dragon hunt, shall we? Something we can both agree can be run out for good."
Allison bit her lip, but the thought of leaving the problem with the Duscrans to fester didn't sit well with her, either. But it was true she was here for a purpose, and she nodded, relaxing. "Okay. If you can promise you'll not let yourself be taken the better of them."
"Let me tell you something important," Uriander said. "I know you mean well, but you shouldn't care about me more because I told you about those parts of myself. Same with those people out there, should you get to know them. Care about them because they're people—and good ones at that, and not because of what they identify as, and don't even take my word as the final! Because I'm not a representative, just someone who cares about our community here."
"Our experiences shape how we think about it," Allison began. She thought about her own experience and how she would have loved to think so ideally when she was younger. She knew how harsh the world tried to veil ideals, and knew that one day the Duscrans would catch up and bring on a terrible tragedy to these people. It didn't make sense that they wouldn't accept help when it was offered. At this point, she knew that she couldn't force them to think like her. "Well, I do thank you for the meal. I know food nowadays isn't as easy to come by as it used to, so I do appreciate the offer. I'm ready to tackle the hike up if you are."
"Finally accepted me as your tag along, now have you?"
"You haven't given me much of a choice, but I do say I enjoy your company more than most of those I've encountered lately."
"Then my plan is coming together nicely."
"What plan is that?"
"Well, the plan to kill a dragon, of course. You know how awesome that sounds?"
Allison shifted in her seat, stretching before standing up fully. "Killing second, answers first, but you get the idea."
"Answers, what kind of answers could you expect from a dragon?"
"Know the wolf from my story? Dragon's like that."
"Hm...I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting it could communicate."
"Got much experience with dragons, have you?"
"Guess not. Well, while that's a little deflating, if it can be communicated with can it be reasoned with? Not saying I necessarily enjoy the thought of a beast like that flying around at all times, but if it's able to be..."
"Allying yourself with a demon is apt to infect your insides with black demon gunk, don't you think?"
Uriander thought about it, "What's your definition of demon?"
Allison's eyebrows furrowed.
"I mean, I consider a demon to be something stronger than any ordinary person. Not necessarily evil mind you, but just...otherworldly."
"What's your point?"
Uriander shrugged. "Guess if I'm going by that definition I consider you a demon."
Allison's reaction was expected, so Uriander didn't change his own expression to consider it an insult. She thought on his words, and the things she'd seen in her life. "Yeah, I guess you have a point, going off of your definition."
"What's your definition?"
"I add the evil back in there...or at least, would kill you to meet their goals."
Uriander sat in silence for a moment longer. "If I blocked your path right at this moment would you kill me?"
Allison knew where he was leading, but she shook her head. "Not if I knew you were looking to prove a point. I'm not going to say I haven't killed anyone or won't in the future—this is a much different world than the one we grew up in. But, I only resort to it if I'm pushed and have no other option."
"I see, well, I have no quandaries with traveling with a demon then, but your points are duly noted about the dragon."
~...~
Uriander waved a farewell to a few of the people standing around the exit to the path up the hills. Allison hiked her bag up and saw that they were playing some sort of game involving chalk and a large flat stone. It looked to be a rudimentary version of pictionary. It made her smile and think of simpler times. She looked back up the path and saw the sun set high. The days felt much longer than they used to a few years back. It was easy to assume that there simply were more hours in the day now, but the science behind it was gibberish to her.
It wasn't like we were sending people up to space anymore or had any connection to the satellites up above...if they're even still remained up there.
As they continued forward Allison straightened her cloak and pulled up the sleeves to adjust her armlet. She knew after this hike she'd need to stop to properly wash her clothes. She couldn't imagine an encounter with Sakonna going any different.
"Should have mentioned something, we got spots you could have cleaned up with," Uriander said.
"Not now, moreso thinking for after."
"Ah, yes that makes sense."
"It is kind of you, but I am going to be moving on after this trip."
"Where to?"
"I don't know yet. I think that's going to depend on the answers I get up there," Allison cocked her head.
"Ah, I see. Trying to find the boy you hooked up with?" Uriander asked.
He must have noticed the look she flashed, because he backed off real quick on that topic. "No, he's made himself more than available as of late. It was the wolf that she was looking for."
"Hm, a bit curious, but I won't pretend to assume it's my business," he shrugged.
That much Allison was thankful for.
Half an hour passed as the terrain under their feet grew rougher and rockier. The terrain was only made harder to hike up because of her leg—the uneven terrain slowed her pace. Uriander either pretended not to notice or it slowed him just as much. She assumed it was more of the former—his build suggested he kept in shape.
"Well well well," A higher pitched voice called from Allison's right. She looked over to see two older men straddling the backs of mutant bulls. Rough fur almost hardened to spikes extended off the beasts' side like quills. They had ugly mugs that constantly drooled. It could be easy to assume they moved purely as a response of the stimuli of their riders and didn't exhibit any free will. "How can you just wander out here all alone, pretty?" One of them cooed to Allison.
"No, she's not alone she's got her monster there. Guard dog and such." The second remarked.
"Oh, yes, I see it. Quite a shame. You know it's not quite legal round these parts to walk em unleashed?"
Allison's brow furrowed, but she was pulled back by the arm. She looked to see Uriander trying to pull her away from the conflict. Allison gave some resistance, but he let go when a shot fired and narrowly missed him. He jumped back and Allison went with him.
"Fucking idiot," the first yelled at the second. "how could you miss such a large target?"
Allison ripped her arm free from Uriander's grip and moved in a flash. In the span of five seconds she had her lance extended and held it tight from one end and cracked it out like a whip. The metal swung out and wrapped itself around the first beast's legs. It tried to buck upward but it only succeeded in knocking off the rider and upsetting the second beast next to it.
Allison recalled the lance to her side and she put it to the first man's throat as he tried to roll over.
"Hell are you..."
She pressed it into his voice box which made him cough intensely.
"You're going to go back to your little camp and bring your friend slash brother with you. Hear me? You're going to stay there. And you're going to leave us alone."
The man squirmed, so she let off him slightly. She saw him reach for his gun, so she kicked it out of his hands. Rolling her eyes, she figured this was going to take some extra convincing. The lance melted from her hands and wrapped around his legs in an intricate shape, crossing over and under. His arms were free and he tried grabbing at her leg, but she didn't so much mind.
"You have a single chance to save whats between your legs, you're wrapped up in a little trick I whipped up for especially ignorant people like you."
He stopped scrambling for a moment and felt the new weight around his abdomen. "What..."
"You're going to agree to my terms, or the metal there's gonna get real hot, real quick. Not around your entire body of course, but the worst part of you, you hear? You've got about...ten seconds to agree and I'll let you go as you came...well, without your gun of course. No need for that now."
"Step off of him!" The second had finally gotten off his joy ride. A little later than she expected.
"Ern, d-don't," the first sputtered out. "My...my dick."
Allison smiled. She'd broken him. She was almost certain she'd have to demo her trick. "Ern" looked down to see the situation he was in and lowered his gun. "What kind of witch are you?"
"Consider me more a demon. But, I'm fair. Go away from this place, these people, and he goes free. Otherwise, I work a little harder today."
"Throw it away Ern, I don't...I don't want to lose..." the first started to cry.
He tossed his gun to the side. "Sorry Ma'am."
"You're sorry you picked a fight with someone stronger than you, but for now that's okay. Leave." She recalled the metal back to her side and spun it a single time, retracting it back to her armlet. The man on the ground shuffled a few feet back when he was freed like a crab after the rock it was hiding under was overturned. His brother yanked him up and the two started sprinting away from her as fast as possible. Just how she liked men like that.
She turned back to Uriander who was looking at her with a look like daggers.
"What was that?" he asked.
"They shot at us, what did you expect? If I didn't stand up to them they might have actually hit their target."
"Think for just a second about what is going to happen next..."
"Next? They go back, you're not bothered. Win win."
Uriander sighed. "Do you honestly think people like that take violence as a lesson to learn from? That fear will really cause them to not do anything in return?"
Allison deflated.
"They, specifically those two might be out of commission for a while, but their fear will lessen. They'll remember though. Them and all their family members share that same hatred. What happens when we finish and you go on to lord knows wherever you go onto and we have to deal with the pieces of their anger on top of what we're already dealing with."
"I just wanted to help," Allison started, but she saw it was the wrong response.
"You've only ensured that the cycle will continue. You should know when your help is needed." He shook his head, "I need to go back and help the others pack up now...I'm sorry, but you're on your own from this point on."
Allison looked at him, dejectedly. She knew she desired to seek out her goals alone because that's how she best worked, but she would be kidding if she didn't enjoy the company for once. He started to walk back to the outpost and she felt a black anger—mostly at herself boiling up. She clenched her fist and kept from letting it spill over. He was right. She had overstepped. She took in a deep breath and let the tension fade from her—but she knew deep down it was another scar—if not a minor one—to add to the collection.
She resettled the bag on her back and continued walking through the rough terrain. The one positive if it could be called that was the fact that she wouldn't have to be paranoid about slowing anyone down. It was a minor inconvenience, but she had to take small graces where she could find them in this world. She continued her pace as the sun bleated over her head.
Allison unfastened the clasps of the cloak around her neck and stopped to stuff it in her bag. With the sun out in full force it would get much too hot for her to continue wearing it. Although, with how humid it was she feared the intense heat would lead to a flash flood. Being without shelter in that situation would be less than ideal. Maybe there were alcoves up on the mountain she could escape to...but anything more than that thought would lead her to nothing more than speculation.
The mountain peeked out over the horizon and she knew that she was getting closer. Sakonna was getting closer. She could feel it in the air—there was a sort of...magnetism that made the tips of her hair stand on end. She stopped on a dime and felt uneasy. She was definitely approaching, but it was concerning that she was already starting to feel the effects when still there was so much space between them. She tied her hair up and continued forward.
The sun was up for another hour and a half before the sky's oranges started to shift to the dim purples of night. She could see the brightest stars start to line the horizon and knew she'd have to find a place to stop soon. The energy in the air was slightly heavier than when she entered. If she was still it felt like wearing a weighted blanket. She was set on the idea that climbing the actual mountain would be a lot harder than she imagined, but still she had to press on. The mountain was much closer now, on the good end of things.
She found a stone overpass that she could use for cover for the night. It was as good as she was going to get considering everything else was out in the open. She stepped in the shade and took off her pack.
The purples above her only grew darker as she set up her camp. The stars were out in full effect, but they weren't as bright as they used to be in the old world. The skies used to be so dark...it would be dangerous to be out where you could barely see ten feet in front of you. Things were different here...and now they've been different longer than not, but still she felt a fond reminiscence for the old skies she used to sleep under.
It has been over twenty years since she's slept under these stars, and still the aches of the old world rung in her heart. She had hoped that with time she would get used to the way things were. In some aspects, she has been able to find comfort with her situation, but in many ways still she felt she was trapped in some alien world.
As she lay on the cloth she spread out she comes up from her thoughts staring back up at the sky. A sound nearby caught her attention. She focused intently for any sign of movement outside. There was a flicker of light and immediately she jumped up and wrapped her hand around her armlet, removing and extending the lance in a flash. She held it out to her side and froze, waiting for another sign of movement. A shadow dashed in the distance and she honed in. She would fire a single warning shot—no more, no less. She hurled the lance—aiming to land just before them, but suddenly she saw the figure speed up. The lance seemed to puncture right through—but the figure dissipated, and the lance stuck hard in the ground. She recalled it back and it flew to her side. She scanned the horizon. The figure reappeared on the left bank. It was dashing toward her, fervently.
She held her ground.
"If you come any closer I'm going to defend myself with everything I got!" She called out. The figure didn't slow. As it got closer she saw it didn't look human. It ran on two legs, but the entire figure was cloaked in darkness. It really was a shadow from head to toe. It approached her camp soundlessly and the energy in the air seemed to coalesce all around it. Allison readied herself and as it approached she thrusted the lance through the shadow. It dissipated just like before, but remaining were echoes that rang through her head.
"You should have stepped back. You were only trying to help. You didn't mean to ruin everything."
She took a step back—so she was aligned with the back wall, her eyes scanning all around her. The area remained empty but still she held her station. When it seemed clear nothing was going to change she lowered her guard. She didn't feel comfortable sleeping here, not with something like that around.
She opted to start a fire and keep watch. The area was clear as she left her site to gather kindling. There wasn't much around to use, but she did manage to find some brush on the ground she could start one with. She felt the metal of the lance start to melt as she shaped it as a base for the fire to keep it contained. Inside the pit she tossed the kindling and started it up. It wasn't the world's largest fire, but it'd do to keep her warm as the temperature dropped dramatically outside.
She sat hugging her legs close to her chest. She was scared. For the first time in a long time she felt like she was thirty years younger and staring out at the big, scary world full of monsters. She tried staying awake as long as she could, but when her eyelids started falling more easily she knew she wouldn't be able to stay up the entire night—she'd done too much walking and the energy of fighting Uriander did expend quite a bit of energy. She stamped the fire out and melded the lance's metal into as much of a cover from the outside as she could. There wasn't a lot to work with, but it was enough of a block to hide behind. As her eyes closed she caught a glimpse of the shadow figure again, dashing toward her from the distance.
Son of a bitch....
Her heart started pumping again and her head started to ache. She was sure this phantom was hellbent on chasing her down. For a moment she considered letting it claim its prize. She was much too tired to continue to defend herself against it, but that reverie broke quickly. She forced herself up, and found gravity felt...heavier. She had to work harder to stand to her feet. She groaned as the makeshift shield in front of her rose up and thinned out back into the lance.
"Starting to really piss me off now," she muttered. She didn't think they could hear her, or if they could—they didn't care to anything she had to say.
The shadow approached, and when it got within a ten yard distance it split into two halves, identical in form to the original. She thrust the lance out like before at the first, but the second reached out an arm and grabbed hard on her wrist as she was pulling back. She instantly heard drowning thoughts spilling out everything else. She was in her mind's eyes staring as scenes flashing by at a million miles a minute. Every horrible situation over the past thirty five years was looping on her mind and every horrible thing anyone has ever said was echoing louder and louder.
She screamed and swung the lance like a bat. It swung clean through the shadow and its grip on her faded.
She was breathing heavily. She realized she wasn't going to be able to stay here at all. She was exhausted, but if she didn't want to get lost in the darkness she had to move, now.
She grabbed her back and quickly stuffed everything she could fit back inside and latched it tight. Throwing it on her back she turned to see two more shadows darting from the distance. She hurled her lance at one of them, vanishing it on the spot, and catching the other as the second shadow passed the lance—she recalled it to her side and it flew through the shadow to reach her. She began running, but it felt like she was running through a bog—not to mention the rough terrain looked to only continue moving up the mountain. She cursed her leg, and felt a soreness in her side that came from not resting that side of her body. Still, she continued. She bit down hard and found a pace she could continue consistently at. She kept turning back, expecting more shadows to appear, but after the last two they seemed absent.
She continued climbing up but found great resistance as she reached the base of the mountain. There lead a trail that cut through some of the climbing, but a significant portion of the trip up would involve climbing up steep inclines. A thought most unpleasant in the most optimal of conditions. She looked down at her leg and heaved a sigh. Her insides were burning, but she knew stopping to fend off more of the phantoms was worse. Much worse—she didn't know the limit of their division. She thought of fighting off a hundred of those phantoms every few moments. She wouldn't last. She needed to make it up.
She took in a deep breath and continued hiking up the path. She shifted the lance slightly to act as a walking stick—it helped more ways than she could have believed with the uneven ground. Up she hiked. It felt like she had surpassed her limits five times over. About an hour and a half had passed and she kept hiking. She was drenched in sweat, but the fear of stopping still pushed her forward.
She was about halfway up the mountain when she collapsed. The ground was too rough for her to take a good step and she fell forward. She let out a small sound as she hit the ground. More than the pain of the fall her brain was thankful she stopped moving. Her chest went in for air for longer than she could count. She coughed and everything inside killed. Looking up her vision was shaky. If it was hard to stand up down below, it felt impossible now. Even lifting her head took considerable effort—of which she was not in high supply of. Then over the edge at the base of the mountain she saw what she feared. The shadow was running in her direction, it had split into four copies now. A fifth branched off as they trailed out of sight. Based on their speed...if they kept running continuously they'd reach her in about twenty minutes. The thought of waiting alone for the inevitable end terrified her. It also angered her. She looked up to see the peak was another...twenty to thirty minutes at her pace. It ate away at her that she was so close...that this was where she was going to die.
She knew she couldn't lift herself up. Even with her lance—there wasn't anything she had energy left to do. She was out of tricks, and just because she fucked it up she lost the only help that could have gotten her out of this situation. Everything she had gone through—all the heartache, the hope, the stress, the pain, was supposed to lead to something better than this. She lived long, but not nearly long enough, and not nearly enough of it was worth it.
She closed her eyes and let out a pained sound as she tried to power herself up. The fear of regret was stronger than the fear of death—this she knew, but it still wasn't enough. She could get as far as putting the weight on her arms by lifting her chest up—but her lower body felt numb. Even if she could muscle enough strength to get her entire upper body up, she couldn't feel anything below her waist at all. And even then, walking seemed like too arduous a task. Maybe...Maybe just resting here forever would erase all of the pain away.
The coldness she felt was immediate, she saw the hand wrapped around her forearm, her eyes scrolled up to see the shadow figure perched over her. Its face was blank, empty. The cold thoughts began spinning in her mind, and her entire body felt cold as more and more of them covered her. In the end she was encased in darkness—figures piling over each other like a cocoon. In the cold, she faded, and fell under.