Session 19: Sylvan Swarms, Missing Half of Conversation, Revealing Secrets of Secret Organization I swore to Keep Secret, Death, , Resurrection, Being on the Run, Sylvan Patrols, Boats, Tropical Islands, Lizards that Turn You into Rocks

General Summary

Goldenhome - Session 19 10/23/22
We make it back out of house (crossing acid pool is being much less fun in current condition) and through sewers, following trail of dead ratmen from before. Skreek keeps stopping in middle of path to look back over his shoulder, and at first I am gentle with encouragement for him to keep running, but after couple of times I lose the patience.
“He dies, Skreek. You and me, we make him beg to die. But we only get chance to do this if we run now. So, fucking run already, stupid bird.” I kick him in ass.
He runs. We all run.
Olden is dwarf of his word. Boat is waiting there for us at entrance to sewer and ferries us to ratty little dock where is waiting someone to get us to safehouse, which is even rattier. But who am I to be complaining?
We unload things we have taken from house, and Baermek immediately starts with reading of papers we have grabbed. Ingoria and I try to get into lockboxes again, but we are having no more luck than we did before. Maybe in morning, when we are fresh. If not, then we take sledgehammer to them. It is as they say – there is more than one way to skin deadbeat who is late on tithes.
It does not take Baermek long to translate papers.
From first floor of tower, there is map of western Yehlan, and on it are labeled names and businesses, mostly Dwarven. “Olden” and “The Practiced Lyre” are both on list. But even worse is there are four names on list that are already crossed out. Sylvans are cleaning up resistance. “We must get this information to Olden,” Baermek says, and no one is arguing with him, but I do not know how it is we are supposed to do this without also ending up back on prison carts or dead.
There are also pages that look like they are where someone has written down half of conversation, maybe from sending stone. It is easier maybe if I write down here translation that Baermek made for us. Here is first one:

Agner 1545.8.24
Asset in place. Recently closed building contains portal AVORTA. Reports of outsiders using it. They must have a cryptoporter. Dreg-Feredir confirmed.
They've returned. Plan in motion. Candidate being transported. Trap ready
Aleorman dead or missing and both teams eliminated. Sassafras claims mercenary attack, demands compensation for unpaid contract and damage. Possibly Unheard. Investigating.
Safehouse detonated. Belovs back in town. Aleorman still missing or dead. Please advise.
No further reports, probably used portal.

Second one is from six days before we arrived in Yehlan. It says:

Matvey 1545.9.12
Alabaster King proposed dissolution motion again, almost passed. We must solidfy our position. Additional catalyst allocation is required, must act rapidly.
No, identity still unknown but two candidates identified to establish majority. Novonikolayevsk portal located. Any progress on iblith restoration? Catalyst production?
How unfortunate. I have a valuable candidate in mind that could help solve that problem.

There is much discussion over these, much speculation. It seems like this is confirmation that there is spy in Lightkeepers, and that Sylvans now are knowing we have porter. And we think it was probably me who was “candidate” being transported to bait trap.
Second message is more troubling one for me. Whatever problem Grandfather and I are having with Unseen, I am not being comfortable at all with revealing inner secrets of organization. But Grandfather, he tells me that those in power are our enemies, we owe them no loyalty. And so I stay quiet while he explains to rest of group how there is faction in Unseen that is against alliance with Nightshades, and that they are called Unheard. Also, that Council is made up of nine assholes with stupid names and costumes: The Emerald Lady, The Ruby Lord, The Onyx Knight, The Sapphire Princess, The Alabaster King, The Silver Queen, The Golden Bishop, and The Harlequin. Clearly “Alabaster King”, whoever he is being, wanted to see end to alliance.
We are all agreed that “catalyst” is Glow, and "iblith" is nasty Sylvan word for non-Sylvans, but what does "iblith restoration" mean? Also, I am very worried that they have so much free run in Novo that they would be able to find porter room there. Unseen must be seriously compromised for this to happen.
But, with only one side to conversations, it is hard to really make agreement on what anything else might mean, and finally we run out of ideas.
Others flop down and are asleep almost immediately. Skreek’s eyes are last to close, exhaustion stronger even than rage. I settle into corner for meditation, while Grandfather keeps first watch as usual.
I am just closing eyes and slowing breathing, when he whispers to me, “You take too many chances, Granddaughter. Every time I see you go down, I…”
I wait for more, but I guess he has run out of words. I sigh, open eyes, and look at him. Same old man, same grim expression, same slight frown that is always there. But there is softness to his eyes that I do not like. It makes me uncomfortable, this softness.
“I am fine, Grandfather. I am always fine. Worry instead about yourself. You are old. You will probably die soon.” I give him big smile.
There. Softness is all gone from eyes now. Good. I close mine and get back to meditation.
But I cannot find peace. How could I find peace when pain and nausea are on me, and in my pocket there are syringes that Skreek has given me. It is not much, just tiniest bit in each one, but…
But!
But, where there was some… maybe there is more! They must have had more. What are chances they used up entire supply on Skreek’s brother? But where? Where would they have kept it?
I run through possibilities in head, but idea I cannot shake is that they were hidden in lockbox – lockbox that is sitting just over there. Maybe it is just wishful thinking. Probably it is wishful thinking. But maybe it is not.
I spend rest of meditation time focused only on lockbox, and how to get in to it. It is very hard lock to open. Ingoria and I, both, we have failed twice already. I do not think it is lock that will be picked. But four hours is very long time to think about problem, and withdrawal symptoms are getting much worse. Soon there will be the puking. This is good motivation to have idea.
Finally, finally, Grandfather gets up and comes over to tap me lightly on shoulder. I open eyes and nod to him, then stand up and take quick walk around house, checking to make sure everything is secure. When I return to room, he has settled into meditation, and I am sweating all over. I must wait, just little bit longer, just to be sure…
I make it, maybe it is 30 minutes more, before I cannot wait any longer. I use ki force to pull shadows to me, in way I was taught at Academy. But, it does not take such big effort this time, like it usually does. Shadows rush to me, wrapping around me with such love, like mother’s arms. I hold hand out in front of me and watch them swirl around it, then dance my fingers through air, expecting shadows to move like smoke. But they slide and ripple along my skin like oil – heavy, cool and slippery.
I reach into pocket of Grandfather's coat he has left draped over chair, and pull out vial of metal melting powder. I cross room to where is lockbox and crouch down to pour powder into lock, wincing at faint sizzle sound it makes when it touches metal. Sharp smell fills air around me. I bend down lower over box trying to hide it from view, and look around nervously, but no one is moving. Grandfather’s eyes are still closed. I give it one more minute, and that is almost more than I can stand, before I reach out and try latch.
It falls apart in my hand. I snatch up pieces before they can hit floor and set them down on ground next to box. Hand is shaking as I lift lid.
I did not really think it was possible. Not really.
Inside, each one in own little nest, are eighteen glass vials. Twelve of them are empty. Other six… other six are… Mater' Bozh'ya…
I reach out hand, and pick one up – so gently, so carefully – and hold it up where I can see it. Red – rich, beautiful red. Six bottles of svetit’sya. Six full bottles. Maybe last six in whole world.
It is not picture of myself I like to paint for you, but once I see this red, I do not think anymore of anything. I rip away wax that holds stopper in place and swallow down entire bottle in one long gulp.
Nothing. I feel nothing.
Another. Quickly. Another.
Still, nothing.
Fuck! I want to scream but all I make is quiet hiss. Maybe… maybe it is wrong that I am drinking it? Aleorman did not make me swallow it; he used syringes! I pull syringes out of my pocket that Skreek gave to me, still stained red from times before. I have not done this, no, when would I have ever done this? But I have seen it done, of course. To me, to others, many times. Many times.
It is not easy thing to do with shaking hands and only blurry memories of how it must go, but I fill up syringe and manage to get it into vein inside of my elbow. Ahhhhhh… there it is. As soon as it hits blood, I can feel it. Pain and fear fall away, past and future disappear. I spread my wings to fly…
And fall back to ground. Bliss drains away from me like water through my fingers, and I am just broken girl, standing in middle of run down room, surrounded by bunch of assholes.
No no no no no nonononnooo…
But, in middle of such despair, I remember there is other vial that Skreek gave me – one that is filled with strange, blue powder. Aleorman always was mixing that into my dose, every single time. I reach back into pocket and, for moment, I am afraid it has fallen out during long run from Triskian’s estate, but there, tucked into fold at bottom, it waits.
I pull it out and look at it. There is still part of me, even now, that is saying “Alyona, you do not even know what this is. You do not know what it will do. It is not for your health that they gave you…”
Fuck it. I dump powder into fourth vial of Glow, smash back in stopper, and shake until I cannot see grains anymore. Again, I stop to look around room. How could they all still be asleep? But there is no movement.
Second time is easier. I load up syringe, and find vein. Shadows are whispering to me, but I cannot understand them. There is only one voice I can hear now.
I slam plunger all the way down and gasp for moment in pain, before…
Oh finally, finally, finally…
Bright light seems to fill room. I stagger and fall to floor, crawling blindly over to corner and bracing myself against walls. Eyes are open, but all I can see is light. Brilliant white light, clear as conscience of St. Aloysius, cold as deepest caves. So beautiful, so beautiful. I feel myself come undone in light, everything I am, burning away in its glow.
Then slowly, stealthily, shadows appear at edges of my consciousness. They begin to circle around me, like wolves who have cornered their prey. Slowly at first, then faster. But, I am not afraid. Darkness is beautiful — maybe even more beautiful than light was. In darkness there is peace. Escape. Oblivion.
Light gets smaller and smaller, like I am falling into deep hole and watching sky disappear above me.
Breath slows. Heartbeat slows. I try to smile but I have no face.
Darkness.

********

“No, no,” he says cheerfully. “A resurrection is a terrible process. Much like birth, really. Take it slowly, my dear. You'll be able to speak soon, and, believe me, we’re all quite interested to hear what you have to say.”
Bbbbbbbbbbbuuuuu… I try again.
A sharp crack rings out, as the bastard slaps me. “I said, shut the fuck up bitch.” His voice is even, dispassionate.
Tears form in the corners of my eyes and the whole world seems to flex and bend around me, as I try to regain my equilibrium. I close my eyes and focus on breathing, but my lungs feel like sacks of sand — heavy, wet and lifeless. Each breath is a terrible labor.
When I open my eyes again, he is still there, silently regarding me.
“Belov’s granddaughter, aren’t you?” He smiles kindly. “Recently returned to the fold after a childhood spent in exile on the surface,” He leans forward as if inviting a confidence. “Isn’t it wonderful to be back home where you belong?”
I am lost in darkness.
I am lost in memory.
I am…
I am…
Alive.
And I am afraid for moment, that they have given up and buried me already, so heavy is air on my skin, so thick is air that I try to breathe into my lungs. I cough and sputter and my mouth is filled with taste that is like food that has spoiled. Is it me that has become rotten? How long have I been gone? Is it too late to change mind?
Eyes open, and I pant, exhausted from effort it takes. Above me is face that is so familiar.
Grandfather.
Shit.
There are many many things I would say to him in this time, but it is not my own words that come out of my mouth.
“Ya chernaya ruka smerti,” the voice growls, and Grandfather’s look of relief becomes confused stare.
I turn my head to spit, and there, on floor, is black oily goop and little bits of icy blue crystal. I shudder, remembering.
Terrible feeling starts in my stomach, like falling, and I feel all over such coldness. In front of me I can see thin place, where it is like world has only been painted lightly on glass, and behind glass is nothing but darkness and shadow. Real world is surface of bubble, and I am drawn through fragile membrane that separates here from there.
Darkness. Silence. There is terrible presence out there in blackness. It is all around me. Pressure builds and I can feel it smile, before I am gripped around waist by something I cannot see, and pulled backwards, back into world of light.
I am in opposite corner. Grandfather is still kneeling on ground where I was. I gasp and they all turn to look at me. Again, terrible feeling swells in my stomach, and again I am pulled through membrane.
Darkness. Presence. Nightmare voice. Tenevoy khodok, it whispers. I am grabbed and flung once more out into Light.
I am back in first corner, appearing in front of Grandfather, who has stood up and is staring around room in shock. I wait for feeling to come back, but it does not. Somehow, though, I am left knowing that I can make this feeling happen again. If I want.
Tenevoy khodok.
Grandfather is not man to let little thing like me disappearing and reappearing to faze him for long. He grabs me by shoulders and I want to cry at how solid his grip feels, how real.
“What did you take, stupid girl?” He gives me angry shake. I do not answer, just look over near table where open chest is still sitting.
He turns and looks, and I see his shoulders sink at confirmation. He tuns back to study me, then says with calm voice, “Are you all right Granddaughter? Do you need to sit?”
“Da,” I say, and collapse at his feet.

********

I have another little nap time, and when I wake up I think maybe it is that I am still dreaming. There is Baermek sitting at table, and he is talking to large black bird, who is talking back to him.
“Yeah Boss, them Sylvan bastards are swarmin’ da place. Bunch of ‘em up on da walls and a whole bunch more out patrolling da streets. You guys responsible for all dis? Cuz it’s impressive, is all I’m saying.”
Baermek gives worried look to rest of us. “Edgar, you need to…Edgar! Pay attention please.” But Bird has hopped across table and is looking at me with shiny, black eyes, head tilted to side.
“Hey toots! Youze sure hotter when youze warm, if you know what I mean. Howd’ya like da Big Black?”
“Kakogo khrena,” I whisper. “What is this talking bird, Baermek?”
“Name’s Edgar, Toots. Furry guy over dere says I’m his familiar, but I’d rather be getting familiar with you, if you knows what I’m saying?” It hops down on ground next to me. “So, how ya feel about feathers, dead girl? Wanna gimme a liddle pet?”
You are dead for little bit of time and everything just gets really fucking weird. He does look very soft though. I reach out hand…
“Alyona! Do not encourage him!” Baermek snaps at me. “Edgar, I require you to take this note to a dwarf named Olden. Can you see the location of his tavern?”
“Yeah, yeah, Boss. I gots it. You don’t have ta think it that hard.” Bird flaps wings once and hops back on table. He struts over to Baermek and takes letter carefully with his beak. “Mmmphph mphh,” he mumbles around paper. I cannot understand it too well, but I am pretty sure it was very dirty thing he just said – I make note of words I am not familiar with, for later. Then he gives little wink and poof! He is gone!
But it is not too long until he poofs back. “Hooboy, Boss! Youze guys really did shit da bed on dis one! Dat tavern you sent me to was completely surrounded by dem Sylvans! I didn’t find any guy called Olden dere, but dere were a buncha dwarf types lookin’ like they was gettin’ ready to make themselves a heroic last stand.”
“Anylyr was there,” Baermek adds. “I could see him taking up position outside the building.”
Everyone freaks out, especially Skreek, who is halfway to window, bow in hand, before we stop him. While Baermek is busy explaining to him that he is needed very much at home, and that we will have to come back for killing of Sylvans, Edgar hops back over to me and says with loud whisper, “Don’t worry, Toots. He ain’t always lookin’ through my eyes.”
“Her name is Alyona Belov, Bird, and you will show her respect she deserves!” Grandfather snaps at Edgar. Edgar closes his beak, and hops closer to check out Grandfather, before turning back to me.
“Who’s da old fart, Al?”
I start with laughing, which is maybe not appropriate given danger and all of situation, but it all of it seems ridiculous right now.
Baermek sends out Edgar again to look over Triskian’s house, and we are all very happy to hear that it is mostly burnt-out husk. When he comes back, he has with him poster that is hanging all over city.

500GP any for information leading to the arrest and capture of these terrorists:
[Imagine here is extremely unflattering drawings of us]
Do not apprehend yourself, they are extremely dangerous! Report them immediately to the Sylvan Authorities! Wanted for: · Murder most foul of dozens of people including a Royal Ambassador · Arson and Endangerment of the city by flame · Thievery and general burglary · Espionage and Sabotage

Well, isn’t that bunch of bullshit? Well… mostly bullshit. I mean, what is this about ambassador? And dozens seems like little bit of exaggeration. Also, 500 gp is just big insult.
While he was out flapping around, Edgar has also seen that there is blockade around harbor, and no ships appear to be going in or out. So, there goes plan with Captain Weasel, I guess. Which makes me think of Midnight Watch. What are they thinking of all this? If they are even little bit operators that they think they are, they are seeing golden opportunity in all this chaos. I have no doubts that they will turn us if they get chance to. Just more people we should avoid. It is getting to be very long list.
So, even if we wanted to stay in Yehlan, it seems like now is very much excellent opportunity to make little trip to Bird Island. Question is how? Answer is boat, of course, but what boat? Where?
Things are much too hot for us here, so we decide to sneak out of town as soon as possible, and figure out transportation later. Good thing sneaking is not too hard with spells that make some of us invisible or disguised or just very, very stealthy. And then we are traveling south along coast, looking for place where we can hire boat to take us across.
At first village we come to, blockade is still in sight, so we pass it by. Then we decide it would be better to travel at night, so Skreek finds us little sea cave to hide in until it gets dark. It is cold and damp and smells like ass, but it is very hidden, which is good.
Of course, all this sneakiness and hiding in caves is not very worthwhile if we are going to stumble onto Sylvan patrol just a little ways further down coast, and we are definitely going to do that.
It is hard to say who is more surprised, us or Sylvans, but again it is almost funny in moment where we come around bend and they see us and we see them.
Fight is mostly them trying to run away to where there is more Sylvans, and us trying to make sure alarm is not raised. I run in and out of shadows as we chase them, which is little bit, how you say, disconcerting? It is thing I am getting used to, but it is painful – like quick slice with knife. Sharpness that steals my breath, but pain is gone before I start bleeding.
We catch them. Of course we do, because we are very, very competent. Then we get hell out of there before other Sylvans start to wonder where it is their friends are being.
Further up coast we find other town called Gorman’s Landing, and here we have more success. Grandfather, who has known smuggler or two in his day, is sent in to make arrangements and apparently he does not fuck it up too bad, because very soon we are on ship called The Wavering Crest, captained by guy named Laszlo, who is very clever and does not ask any questions, even when disguises drop and bird guy lands on boat.
It will take couple of days to reach island – time to recover, time to think. I settle down that night on boat, close eyes, and for first time since I came back, I cannot see them staring at me, questions in their eyes.

********

As we approach island, heading toward western watch tower, Skreek takes off to warn his people of our arrival. He is gone several hours then returns with three of bird people – one who comes down to boat with him, and two others that stay high in air keeping watch over everything. One who comes down with Skreek is called Pa’ark. He is very unhappy with idea of us polluting bird island with our gross not-flying selves, but Skreek seems able to convince him that it will be ok, that it is necessary we come with him. I guess we’ll see if other bird people will agree.
Pa’ark tells us that Sylvan ambassador arrived in Feather’s Rest (main city on island) about two months ago. It is not name we recognize, and only details he really mentions about guy is that he has very small retinue, and also he has boots with little wings that let him fly.
There are many questions, but only one is important: when we kill this guy, who do you think should get boots? Ha! Can you picture Grandfather zooming around in sky shooting things with his gun? Or Baermek and Edgar dancing through air together? Or, fuck, Ingoria able to fly around looking for people to eat? That is terrifying fucking thought! We should definitely kill guy as soon as possible (not that I think there is other option with Skreek in state he is in, but I am just saying, in this case, he is very right).
Bird also warns us that island is going to be very dangerous for us. There are no roads or anything (for reasons that are obvious) and many creatures who birds do not have to worry about, but we will. Great. Why can’t we stay in city where, yes, I admit, there are many, many enemies who would love to kill us very dead, but at least we can sleep in beds? Why always is it marching around in jungles fighting stupid creatures? Life is unfair.
But better than alternative. At least for now.
Other birds take off and very soon Captain Laszlo is dropping us off on small rocky beach. From there it is long climb up steep ravine. Once we are on top, we can see ahead of us is huge mountain that is at center of island. It is many thousands of feet tall and also quite pointy.
We make camp not too long after that, and horrible creatures do not even wait for us to go to sleep before they attack us. We are setting up next to river when Grandfather hears scrabbly noise. Edgar looks at it and seems to not like what it is he is seeing, so I jump up on rock to also see what is trouble, and there is big lizard with eight legs coming toward us. As soon as I see its beady little eyes, something terrible begins to happen. I begin to turn into rock, like Grandfather teleporting into that campfire ring, only this time it is not funny.
So, there I am, turning into rock and not even able to help with fight while I try to shake it off. Three more of lizards come out and Ingoria also is turning into rock now. I finally manage to move again and come to fight which is good thing because both Baermek and Grandfather are starting to turn into rocks, too!
But finally we manage to kill all four of them and nobody has turned all way into rock, so this is good.
So far, I must say, bird island sucks ass. No wonder Skreek is way he is.

*******

After dinner as we are getting ready to bed down for night, Skreek wanders over to sit next to me, pretending like he does not have the agenda. For long time he just sits there, not even squawking little bit, trying to think of whatever it is he wanted to say. I continue writing in journal, ignoring him. Finally he speaks.
“Alyona?” he is sounding very much unsure of himself, which is pretty unusual.
I look over at him and smile. “Yeah, Skreek?”
“Are… are you Alyona?” he asks, not meeting my eyes.
“Am I…?” I give him confused look, even though I am pretty sure I know what it is he is getting at. “What do you mean?”
“You… I saw you… you were dead. I saw you dead. And then you seemed like you were some… Your eyes were black. And you were shadowy.” He looks down at where he is holding his bow in his lap. “I didn’t think you were Alyona.”
“My eyes were… black? Huh. This I did not know.” I nod my head, considering. That is kinda cool, to be honest. Unexpected side effect, and much better than hair thing – every time I jump through shadows, my hair, it turns back to white. Maybe it is purity thing? I don’t know. It fucking sucks though. I spent much gold on earring to make purple hair! “But yes, I am Alyona. Who else would I be?”
“A… a shadow?” he is almost whispering.
I look down at where shadowy tattoos swirl around my hands and forearms, then back up at him. So quick he doesn’t have time to react, I reach out and give him gentle thunk on his forehead with my knuckles. “Is that feeling like shadow?” I smile again.
“Wow! That’s fuckin’ cool! I think I saw you doing that earlier today. It’s so fast. But… You also moved… You moved that way.”
I chuckle. “I am always being that fast! But this now, well, this is little bit new.” I roll backwards, passing through shadows, then appear on other side of camp from where we were sitting, next to Grandfather, who gives very undignified yelp of surprise.“Stupid girl. Stay where I can see you,” he growls at me. I laugh, snag piece of fruit he was eating from his hand, and step back through shadows to be next to Skreek again. Taking bite of fruit, I grin at him.
For second longer he stares at me, then also he smiles, and holds out his hand. I shrug and give him piece of fruit which he takes huge bite out of. From across camp, grandfather is now cursing in Elven at both of us.
“You’re still you?” he asks, taking another bite.
“I am still me.”
“I thought you were gone.”
I shrug. “I was. For little bit. But then, who would look after you all if I was gone forever?” I reach out and give him little pat on his shoulder. He smiles at me sheepishly, before his smile fades.
“I have to tell my mother that my brother is dead.” His hand grips bow tight.
I study him for a moment. Always so fast to jump to conclusions this one, always too fast to act. “This is difficult thing,” I say. “But are you so certain he is dead? This thing they did,” and I wave over my shoulder at where scars are on my back. “There was reason for it, yes? It was not just for, how they say? Shits and giggles. Why would they do this, take this time, use up so much Glow, which is so very hard to find, only to kill him?”
“But there was so much blood!” he exclaims. Others in camp turn to look at us, but no one stops what they are doing. “And it’s worse, knowing that they did to him what they did to you!”
No, I would not like to think of someone I cared about going through that, but I do not tell him this. “You are bow guy, right?’ I ask instead. “You fight mostly from far away. Maybe you do not know quite how much blood is in body, and how it looks when it has all come out.” I sigh. I have seen more people bleed out than I can count, and — when I was lucky — I was one who was holding...
…the sword thrust takes him in the side. He turns into it, keeping it from going too deep, but an impressive spray of blood flies out as the blade completes its arc. “Motherfucker!” he snarls. But he does not fall…
I shake my head. He is too much in my thoughts since I came back. “I am not knowing if your brother lives or not, and I do not want to be giving you the false hope, but it seems very much like there is purpose to this bullshit. I am sorry that it hurts you to think of them doing this to him, but would that not at least mean there was chance you could see him again?”
“I would like so much to see him again,” he says wistfully. “Even if only to say goodbye.”
I am reminded of amazing things I have seen. “You know, when I was at Academy, there were people there who could talk to people from far away without using sending stones, or even spy on people, just by thinking about them. Do your people know of magic like this? Maybe there is way to see if he is still alive?”
He seems to perk up at this idea, but then gives big sigh and looks down dejected. “But we cannot do this before I am home.”
“No,” I admit. “There is no one of us here who can do these things. You will have to bring this uncertainty to your mother. I am sorry.”
He is quiet for long moment, then looks up at me with half-hearted smile. “Well, I am glad you are still you.”
I snort. “Me too. You should get sleep Skreek. Your island, it is maybe not so friendly for us without wings, and I am sure there will be more things which are trying to kill us tomorrow. We will need you ready to put many arrows in them.”
“Indeed,” he nods, standing up. He takes small step, then turns and whispers, “Maybe if you give the fruit back to your grandfather, he will not be so angry.”
I laugh, and look down at fruit he is handing back to me. There is almost nothing left but core. Taking last little bite, I step backwards into shadow, and pop up in branch of tree which is hanging over where Grandfather sits. Before he even notices me, I drop fruit right on his head. Then I pop back, and hear even louder cursing coming from other side of camp.
“No,” I say with smirk. “I think he is still angry.”

---

Mater' Bozh'ya = Mother of God
Kakogo khrena = What the fuck?

Report Date

14 Nov 2022