●Under the shade of iron palms,
What grows is not a glorified soul
But the pawn of rusty doll●
"We got these snacks from home, where should I dump them." Zoya's hands were full of cookie pack and chips crunching across each other, placing her hand bag on the dusty mat beside she approached the corner with 7 barrels.
Entire house was build of misshapen wooden planks, except occasional patch of rocks, which was fascinating for Zoya as her disorganised, messy nature kicked in, this pace felt like home with no fancyness to feel uncomfortable around.
"You might wanza put those up, there's attached kitchen with the bar."
Hendoor, already beside the barrels, lifted the lide of one and drop the sword on his back into it, leaving the extra length visible over the edge.
"What are all these barrels for? Except for that one, which is of course for a sword."
"Private stuff, don't touch." Sudden change in demeanor of, so far excited and welcoming Hendoor seemed weird and alarming to Zoya but she let go of the chat.
"Sure think dude, I won't. Chill up now, just like a minute ago."
Hendoor twisted his lips into the expression of disagreement before giving out a chuckle to dismiss further nagging.
"I'll go up and share this foodling with others." With a last suspicious look at the barrels, she left for the wooden ladder where Mikesh was checking out the broken bottom most step. On the couch were Dadi and Imam having discussion over something that involved the triangular marble piece sitting on the table cause that's what they were examining so intently.
"Leave the nerd buds for a while you two, this place is freaking cool." She called out on her way to the ladders.
"Go ahead Zo but we find this couch more cool and clean." Imam said taking a disgust look at some red stain visible on the floor from under the mat.
"It's an animal blood." Hendoor said from across the hall.
"What?" Imam, confused at the sudden unquestioned answer, looked up in confusion.
"The thing you are so staring at, is an animals blood. Thought I might clear your misunderstanding, if something's creeping up in your mind." Hendoor walked closer to where they were sitting, Dadi looked up from the marble piece.
"No, no, I did not thought it to be anything like that."
"I'm sure you didn't but, just to be out a bit here, I have killed other than animals too."
Dadi gestured for him to take one of stools as they got ready for the Q and A with this new friend who seemed more invisible than visible despite the complete physical presence before them.
"You don't need to be in place to share everything with us at the moment but, your green friend, wolf friend and that woman with tens of tattoos gave us nothing except the assurance that you all are gonna help us."
"I feel you grandmother and as about your concern of being in dark, then there a lot you need to come across and accept as reality before moving to the real shit. You understand?"
"I do but you don't."
"Hey Hen, you read Maze runner? You are my spirit animal." Zoya yelled out form above, her voice echoed through the wooden ceiling.
"Gotch ya Zoya." Hendoor replied and turned his focus back on the conversation at hand.
"The hell that means?" He asked.
"We deserve to know what's that you talk about cause we are sick worried. Your suspence make us restless."
Hendoor leaned forward on his stool, interlinking the fingers of both his hands, he huffed a sigh before speaking,
"What we have been talking about so far is how to inform the fam about you all and doubts if they would want any sort of involvement. Along with that there's whole lot of information that we'll discuss on dinner tonight."
"That's too long man, it's most probably like," Imam glanced at his watch for the exact time.
"It's broken." He said frowning as the needles of the watch seemed to have frozen hours ago.
"Don't bother, these devices go crazy once you enter the Latebrosa." Hendoor left the wooden stool where it was and got up to take a leave but stopped at the confused expressions on the two's face.
"Oh, Latebrosa is what this forest is called."
"We roamed inside this forest for hours, isn't that the basic information you should've provided to us before." Imam said, now more irked at the nonfunctional watch sitting on his veiny wrist.
Hendoor pretended to consider the thought for a second before replying,
"Will remember to, next time."
And he took off with the speed of sound, straight towards the door and left them wondering.
"This spontaneity creeps me out. What do you think that information is gonna be about?"
"Oh dear, we'll find out tonight. Now Imam would you mind making space here. I need to stretch my body for a while." Dadi said pulling the legs up on the couch as Imam stood up and rubbed the dust off his pants.
"You rest Dadi, I'll go see how Mikesh is holding up with ladder repair work."
"Oi hot cakes," Imam heard Ariem's dry husky voice but couldn't spot her inside, after looking around in confusion he heard the voice again—
"Here here, outside." Imam walked towards the door and found Ariem accumulating the dried leaves and broken twigs for fire at the face of house.
"Preperation for the night?"
"Guess so, wanna join?"
Imam approached her, it still felt weird to be around a non human but now that they had a werewolf and a wizard in the group along with a human who would snap anyone's neck if addressed as one, they better accept it as new normal.
"You know we had a saying among us Keolzar, Life suck in the light." She giggled before continuing. "Have a hell of questions, don't ya?" Ariem asked, her wavy fingers sweeping the dry leaves closer in the form of hump.
"Are you going to answer?"
"Nope."
"Then I don't have any."
"Smart! Everything will be answered tonight. Now go and cut some bushes from backside of the house." She ordered and Imam nodded with pursed lips.
"What should I cut them with?"
"Here take this." Ariem pulled a dagger out of the waist band of her pants and handed it to Imam, who examined it closely before walking off around the house.
(In town Ratri—)
"Elothere daughter."
Shivani's voice echoed inside the cabin, Evesa and Ray, who were still on the floor chatting animatedly, turned to see her standing on the doorway, wet and covered in blood.
Evesa was stunned, as she had now realised that her daughter has figured out something that wasn't ment for her so soon.