In the Darkness of the Night - Part 1

My stomach was still growling as I had depleted my food supply, and with a second mouth to feed, the situation had become quite difficult.

The Sun was starting to set, and the dark comes much quicker when the light is obstructed by these giant trees in the forest. So, I decided that Botto and I are going to spend the night camping in the forest.

I built a small campfire to light later, and piled up some dry leaves to sleep on. The food was now the only issue, so I decided to check the area for any food.

Sunlight pierced the canopy, spilling a warm orange glow across the forest floor. Creatures started to become more active at this time as crickets chirped in the grass, and owls’ hoots could be heard, along with the beautiful melody that the birds sang.

As Botto and I were searching through the forest, I heard water flowing. Must be a river, or a small creek. Upon coming closer, I realized it was a rather big creek, but not a river. Perfect! I’ve been craving some more fish ever since I ate that fish stew the other day. The only problem was that I had no fishing rod. And my magic would obliterate these fish, leaving nothing for us to eat.

“No worry, Kaerith! Graak!” He screeched. “Botto good hunter!”

“Alright, big guy. Let’s see what you can do!” I gave him a quick smile, quite intrigued as to how this bird would catch these fish.

Botto stopped flapping his wings, slowly returning to the ground. He then started taking slow yet heavy steps towards the creek with his small yellow feet. As he entered the water, he slowly bowed forward, as if to look at the fish.

Suddenly, this always sluggishly slow bird started moving as fast as a snake snapping at its prey. He snatched one fish, two fish, three fish!! - Before returning to land and dropping them into my hand.

Once again, Botto had left me speechless…

“See? Botto good hunter!” He took off once again, now flying next to me.

“Y-Yeah…” I muttered, still at a loss for words from what I had just witnessed.

“You did a good job!” As I pat him on the head. “Let’s return to the camp before the Sun completely sets.”

We started walking back to the camp, as I stared at the fish Botto caught. On the way back, the Sun’s orange glow had all but disappeared. The night had begun to set.

Returning to our camp, I stood before the campfire that I had previously built. I pointed my finger at it and sent a fiery spark straight into the firewood, lighting it in the process.

I then pierced the fish onto a stick, now placing it above the fire, until it cooks thoroughly. I’ll eat one, Botto can have the rest, since he was the one who caught them…aaand since he needs more food…

But, as we were cooking the fish, the crickets stopped chirping, and the owls stopped hooting.

Something must be wrong.

“Botto hungry! Botto loves fish! Goouuraaak!” He was still screeching. I tried to shush him up so that I can be able to hear better. Danger could be lurking around us.

Suddenly, a giant fireball flew right past us, missing us by the length of a hair.

I jumped up, ready to fight whatever had attacked us. From the treetops, fireballs started raining down on us in steady intervals..

I had just the tools to counter them, my hydromancy. I called upon the clouds above and rivers below, in my fists, the waters gathered and condensed.

I launched the waterballs straight into enemy shots, extinguishing each and every one of them. Botto was hidden behind my back.

The fireballs stopped as the enemy noticed I could control the waters.

A moment of silence came, followed by the shaking of the earth. From underneath our feet, creatures of pure magma emerged. “So this enemy can summon creatures as well.” I thought to myself, as it was the branch of magic I always struggled with.

No matter, I shall extinguish them too!

I gathered the waters to my fist once more, as Botto came from behind me, he seemed as though ready to fight.

In the moment I released my waterballs, Botto sent wind at the monsters, creating a tornado around them. The swirling winds pulled my water into his spiral, becoming a raging storm that smothered the magma beasts. They quickly dispersed and returned to the earth.

As the last of the magma beasts crumbled back into molten earth, silence rose around us again. My breathing was heavy, the air was thick with the acrid stench of smoke and scorched soil, making my breathing even harder. Botto’s wings nervously flapped beside me, but then I heard something else.

Footsteps.

Slow, deliberate, crunching against the forest floor. I tightened my fists as droplets of water still dripped from them.

From the shadows between the trees, a figure emerged. Long blonde hair, interrupted by the long pointy ears... Crimson colored robes, red burning eyes that glow in the dark…

She carried a wooden staff that pulsated a fiery glow at its tip.

I readied myself for an intense fight, but then… She spoke with an unyielding voice.

“I’ve seen enough! I guess you are the feared smuggler who's been kidnapping helpless creatures through the forest!” Pointing her staff at me. “I wouldn’t have gone easy on you if you didn’t keep that poor bird hostage!”

“Wait, what? I’m not a smuggler!” I tried to reason with her. “I was the one who saved this guy and many more!”

“Enough!” She yelled. “I don’t want to hear your poor excuse of a lie, you’ll pay for your sins!”

With her staff, she cast a wall of fire that separated me from Botto. I lost sight of her.

The area around me became extremely bright. As I looked up, I noticed a giant fireball powering above, ready to flatten me with the ground.

I was surrounded by walls of fire and a literal miniature Sun above my head. I had to think of a way to escape...