Arctos

As the two brothers start down the trail, Wilhelm desiring to speak about his earlier encounters decides that now is as good a time as any. “So Joshua, now that they’re finally alone and since you’ve become our de-facto captain, I just wanted to let you know something that happened a few days ago.” Curiously Joshua raises an eyebrow nonchalantly replying as he continues to use his blade as a cane. “Let me have it.”

“Okay; so, a few days ago when I was out with Vil collecting wood and stones for the camp." Joshua nods his head. "I ended up stumbling into a hole in the ground. However instead of just getting stuck and having to call him for help I was able to squeeze through and wandered into a strange corridor inside the mountain.”

Draxis and Joshua focus in on the conversation as Joshua stops and turns to him. “Continue, what was in the corridor and where did it lead?”

“Well, I remember walking for almost fifteen minutes before I reached a large cavern. There were a bunch of strange symbols and words carved along the walls, a massive pond, a very luscious tree, a bunch of flora and there was even a variety of fruits and vegetables just growing down there.”

“Anything else?” Joshua questions out as a strange yet familiar roar to him was heard off in the distance, the two of them however choose to ignore it.

“As I was saying, there was also a tiny little white creature down there. It ran up to me, made some cute noises and then just ran off before I could even react. Shortly after that encounter I decided to make my way out.”

“Do you remember where the entrance is?” Wilhelm nods his head as he continues. “I remember, but the last time I went to where I fell, there was no longer an entrance.”

Joshua pauses as he asks Draxis a question mentally. “Any idea what this could be?”

“Off the description, it sounds like either space distortion or there’s actually a hidden oasis inside the mountain. The only way for me to check would be for you to find the entrance yourself.”

Joshua nods his head as he turns to Wilhelm. “Thank you for letting me know this information. It could be very helpful later if we can find another way in.” With a sigh and look of relief Wilhelm lets out the breath he had been holding. “Thank you for believing me, Joshua, Vilhelm thought I was crazy when I told him. On top of that, he said I’d only been missing for twenty minutes, but I was down there for way longer.”

Looking down at his own feet Joshua begins to think about the scenario. “Both spatial distortion and time displacement… What kind of creature would even be able to do such a thing.” Shaking his own head, the two end up looking around for about another hour as they eventually spot something resembling a medium sized creature in the distance.

As his eyes widen, Joshua calls out to Wilhelm. “Stay on guard, there’s an arctos nearby. This must be what we heard earlier.” “It’s time to hunt.” Joshua thinks to himself as he takes a deep breath and starts circulating the aura within his body. As the visible signs of pain on his face vanish, Joshua’s eyes begin glowing red.

Beside him, Wilhelm tilts his head as he brandishes his mace as light green aura crackles over its flanges as he grasps the shield on his back.

Quickly the two rush the beast attempting to get a jump on the large creature. Feeling their presence the arctos twists it head as it goes on the offensive, throwing itself towards the two of them as it roars with ferocity saliva spewing from its mouth. “I hope your body is still usable Joshua, I don’t think this one going to go down without a fight.” The bulkier of the two calls out as he shield-bashes the beast staggering it back.

Following that, Joshua instinctually spins around swinging his blade across the beasts chest. However its hide is a bit stronger than expected as the only thing Joshua did was piss it off. Jumping back, Wilhelm takes charge by drawing the aggro of the beast by roaring, a deep primal energy rises from his diaphragm as its empowered by his aura. The arctos immediately turns its attention towards its him. As the beast rips through the ground, Wilhelm pulls up his shield as he gets pushed back. Reeling his right arm back, he slams his mace into the side of the arctos’s face as its head twists around.

Taking his chance to injure the beast further, Joshua launches a red slash of aura with his sword from a few feet away. A blast of pure concentrated energy hits the beast blinding it in one of its eyes.

The creature cries out in pain as blood begins to ooze from where its left eye used to be as its other eye goes bloodshot, its gaze directing towards Joshua with unadulterated malice.

“Joshua watch out.” Wilhelm screams as he himself jumps out of the way of a broad front paw strike. Joshua with ragged breaths looks towards the beast swinging his blade down at its front legs. As his sword tears through the arctos’ left foreleg the creature continues to get more reckless.

Wilhelm then swings his mace sideways landing a blow on the beasts side tearing even more of its flesh apart as it reactionary swings its right claw towards him. Clearly it succumbing to its pain. Seeing this Joshua rushes in trying to aim his blade for its throat, however the cut ends up being too shallow and misses the artery. Instead the beast lands a heavy strike on Joshua tearing through his shirt as it launches him back into nearby shallow water. His blade likewise crashes into the nearby rocks.

Watching his ‘little brother’ get sent flying flips a switch in Wilhelm’s head as he instantly takes his chance at the opening. rushing forward with newfound strength, his aura explodes outwards easily blocking the strike sent his way. In response the arctos reels about in pain. “Seems you’re a tank, too bad for you, you mindless beast, so am I!” Slamming the edge of the shield onto its face, his body gets coated with a lime green light along the adrenaline pumping through his veins. Quickly, he swings down hard with his mace tearing through the beasts right foreleg.

The beast roars out in pain, extending its neck out as it bears its fangs only for a massive shadow to creep over its sight as Wilhelm slams his aura infused mace into its skull. The sickening sound of bone and flesh crunch together as the beast goes limp. Letting out an exhausted breath he falls on his rear end. Taking a moment to himself to breath, he plops over looking towards the sky. As he blinks a few times, he remembers that Joshua had been sent flying to the water by the beast.

Scrambling back to his feet, he runs over to where Joshua landed, he also notices that he’s knocked out. Holstering his mace, Wilhelm reaches into the shallow pool as he grabs his brother by the waist as he pulls him up and out. As he sits him down however, that small white fox bounces along towards them. “Oh, it’s that little fox from earlier.” He thinks to himself as he turns to face Joshua. As he reaches to shake him awake, he suddenly feels a strange sensation overtake his mind and body as his vision gets blurry as he goes limp himself.

A pink glow then emanates from the creature’s tiny eyes as it approaches the arctos’s corpse.

A little while later he awakens with a jolt and looks around making sure Joshua is safe. Not paying much attention to the weird pile of bone off in the corner of his eye. However when he eventually notices he hears the little fox squeaking out with what Wilhelm perceives as a thank you for its meal as it bounces back off into the distance. “What the hell. Did that tiny thing just eat a monster over ten times its size?”

“Captain!!!!” He screams as he turns back to Joshua as he shakes him awake.

Groggily Joshua opens his eyes as he responds while feeling like he just got knocked into next week, “Yeah, what is it Wilhelm?”

““I killed the Arctos, but besides that do you remember that little fox I mentioned earlier?” Joshua nods his head. “Now look at the corpse.” Wilhelm replies as Joshua turns his head before going wide eyed. “What the fuck ate it?”

“That little fox Joshua, it even said thank you before bouncing away.” Wilhelm looks towards his brother with fascination, slightly off put by his foul language.

Joshua looks at Wilhelm with bewilderment not even understanding what was going on. “What… How… Why?”

“I have no idea captain, but at least it seems non-hostile to us.” Joshua shakes his head as he eventually finds the strength to stand back up. As he walks closer to the bones and hide, he picks up its fur rolling it up and tying it to his bag.

“I found my door…” Joshua chuckles aloud with a shit eating grin.

Wilhelm however looks at Joshua with a blank stare. “Really that’s what you’re focused on?”

“That is why we came out in the first place.” Not being able to deny his reasoning, Wilhelm drops the topic as they both decide not to talk about their strange little friend with the others.

A little while later, the two make their way back to camp quietly after Joshua recollects his blade. However shortly after crossing through the gate Joshua collapses again; his body unable to go any further. Susanna and Vilhelm run over to them wondering why they the hell look so beat up. Wilhelm begins explaining that as they went out to look for something that could be used as a curtain/ door for Joshua, they encountered an arctos and got into an altercation. Leading to their captain being in his current state. And him worse for wear himself. “How in the world did you skin the thing in your condition?” Susanna questions with a shocked expression.

“I had some help.” The two of them stare at him puzzled at his response, but choose to ignore it as Susanna takes Joshua back into his quarters and the twins hang up the arctos’ hide as a sort of curtain giving their captain some much-needed privacy.

A few hours later, as Wilhelm’s stomach growls, the three conscious members of wolf squad walk over to where they had stored the stag’s body. As they approach the crevice in the mountain, they notice a soft blue light illuminating the entire area. As this occurs the three the make their way further inside. “It’s chilly in here.” Vilhelm comments as he rubs his hands together, his breath becoming visible.

Eventually the three of them carry the stag out and work together skinning and preparing it for cooking as Joshua is still out cold. A bit later, Joshua stirs back to consciousness to the pleasant scent of roasting meat. His stomach grumbles having not eaten for a while.

As he begins struggling back to his feet, he looks around to see that his little cavern was covered by that arctos’ hide. “Thanks guys.” He thinks to himself as he rolls it back as he makes his way over to the fire pit. Quickly sitting down as he rubs his face.

“Feeling any better Joshua?” Susanna looks at him with concern. Wanting to reassure her that he’s fine he lights his face up with a smile.

“Yeah, I’m alright. Still a bit tired from today and yesterday’s events, but I should be able to recover. I think the barrier I made should hold up just fine.”

“What about the night watch.” Vilhelm asks knowing that it would be his turn.

“Don’t worry about it, we should be fine now. At least for now, none of the beasts in the area should be able to breach it. Thankfully there isn’t much activity near the top of this mountain.”

The twins perk up hearing that. “Sweet, I wasn’t looking forward to that anyways captain.” Vilhelm comments as he tips his non-existent hat towards Joshua.

Shaking his head, he decides to explain to them how the barrier itself works and the few issues with the setup they currently have. After explaining everything Susanna raises her hand wondering what kind of creature can break through it.

“Well, that albino wolf can, and really any monsters that are ‘elite’ and up. As far as I know though there shouldn’t be anything that strong in these mountains, or nearby forest. So, we should be able to breathe easy for now and continue focusing on our training for the time being.”

“What will we be doing next then captain?” Wilhelm questions while stuffing his face.

“Don’t talk and eat Wil, we’ve already discussed this.” Susanna chastise him while giving him a look that a parent gives their disobedient children.

“Yes ma’am.” Wilhelm looks down as he finishes his meal while Joshua answers his question.

“That’s quite simple, we’ll just keep doing what we have been. There’s not much more we can do here aside from hunting and training our bodies and minds. I mean we can continue reinforcing the campsite if you guys want, but it’s not necessary.”

Susanna looks at him before raising another question of her own. “So, Joshua besides that, where did you find a place to bathe?” The twins look at her oddly as she asks. “I can tell by your scent; you smelt different yesterday.” Joshua looks at her while chuckling not taking her question seriously.

“I found a small grove further down the mountain covered by thick brush. It’s out of the way and off the beaten path, but I’m more than happy to show you if you’d like.”

Vilhelm falls out of his seat laughing at the conversation as Wil attempts to catch him.

“What’s so funny?” Susanna questions as she side-eyes Vilhelm.

Replying while attempt to sit back up, Vilhelm answers. “It’s just that you blatantly told him that you’ve been smelling him.”

With that realization, her pointy ears turn red and as her face becomes beet red. “Yeah, kind of strange thing to do Anna.” Wilhelm's joins in on his brothers antics.

Responding to their antics, she starts jumbling her words together and after failing to form a coherent sentence just up gives up. She then quickly throws her hands up and runs off, “I’ll take you up on your offer captain.” She clamors out as she hides in her tent feeling completely embarrassed.

This incites a small chuckle from Joshua as he responds to Vil. “Guys, that’s just mean. Dark elves have heightened senses, don’t bully the poor girl.”

“Their logic was fair.” A voice echoes in his mind.

“Says the century old dragon.” Joshua replies mentally.

“Says the overgrown brat in a child’s body.” Draxis snickers.

Not paying attention much attention to his surrounds, Joshua looks upward as he starts waving his hands around as he speaks. “Hell, you say to me you overgrown lizard, I’ll show you a brat.”

The twins look at him before mumbling to each other. “Yeah, he’s completely lost it, I see why he’s a captain now.” Nodding his head Vilhelm continues. “They’re all crazy.” The two of them quickly sneak off while Joshua is lost in his tirade. Looking back down he notices everyone’s left him there and he now stuck with cleaning duty.

“Damn it Draxis, your timing is either perfect or a pain in my ass…”

“What else am I supposed to do, I’m stuck with you after all.” Draxis snarkily responds before going quiet. As he shakes his head, Joshua spends the next half hour cleaning and transferring all the uncooked meat back into his ‘Ice Box.” He then promptly seals it off while disposing of what scraps remain by casting them into the fire. Following this as Joshua looks to the sky, he makes his way over to Susanna’s tent and questions if she’d like to go check out the spring before sunset. Responding gleefully, she quickly climbs out of her tent grabbing one of her bags in the process. Joshua on the other hand, too tired to actually bathe just brings himself along.

As the two make their way out of their campsite, Susanna follows Joshua’s lead as he walks alongside a haphazard path he marked down by dragging his blade through the earth. Raising a question, Susanna questions how Joshua even found the spring. “Honestly, I’m surprised I found the place myself. Not that I’m complaining though, it’s nice to have a place to relax after a long day.”

Joshua following this raises his right hand pointing in the path they’ll be following. "Once you make it halfway through the path I’ve marked down, just veer off into the forest sticking to the side of the mountain.”

Looking perplexed she questions him further, “Shouldn’t there not even be a source of water in this part of the mountain, huge swaths of it are dried up blackwood trees and thorny shrubs. I remember Layrn telling me about it.”

Nodding in agreement he continues answering, “I thought so too until I used aura sense on all of our surroundings. Hell I only randomly noticed it in the first place.”

“Actually I found it, but carry on.” Draxis mentally speaks up as Joshua intentionally ignores him.

“It’s almost like there’s life hidden in Shiraia.” Joshua replies his voice full of intrigue and elation. Susanna, noticing this nods her head as she suddenly remembers how she embarrassed herself earlier.

Stopping in her tracks, Susanna turns to him and bows her head. “I apologize if my comment earlier was inappropriate and if I offended you three by running off.” Placing a hand on her shoulder he responds with a smile.

“Don’t sweat it Anna. Things happen, frankly speaking I’m surprised the conversation didn’t escalate further knowing Vil.” Turning her head away, Susanna blushes at Joshua’s ‘kindness’ as the two continue on the path as they cross through the natural barrier on the mountain. Translating from dreary and dead to fertile and lively.

Eventually the two reach a deep aquamarine section of brush in the forest as they head towards a dense brush of trees, bushes and vines. Lifting his arm up, he stops the two of them before directing her towards the entrance. It is a small opening between two berry bushes, a multitude of blackwood trees as its overcast by large flora blocking any excess sunlight.

Reaching its entrance, he jokingly announces. “This is my hidden spring; however, you can come here any time you’d like. Just let me know in advance so we can avoid any awkward run ins.” Susanna thinks to herself as her ears turn red. She wouldn’t really mind any run ins having seen his physique multiple times by now.

Running forward with the intent to distract herself from her childish thoughts, she nearly nosedives into the water before Joshua catches her by her waist. Her face burns brightly as his breath tickles her neck. “Thanks….”

After pulling her back to stable footing, he lets her go. “Yeah, I meant to mention how the ground is uneven here alongside the roots cutting through the soil. Rubbing the back of his neck he cheekily grins before stepping back. Shooting her a smile, he lets her know that he’ll be heading back to camp and that she should have at least another hour before the sun fully sets. Grateful for his help, she wraps him in a hug, before quickly turning around and entering the spring.

Draxis begins laughing inside Joshua’s head as he hits himself in the head as an attempt to shut his master up.

Placing her burning face into her palms she internally screams. “Get a grip Susanna. He’s just being nice, stop overthinking everything and making a fool of yourself.” Closing her eyes, Susanna takes in the sounds of nature surrounding herself as she finally calms down.

Taking in a deep breath, she undresses and washes herself in the spring. Submerging herself in the water, she lets the water flow all around her as bits of steam obscure her vision. Finally able to relax in a peaceful environment, she starts practicing what Layrn taught had her in their most recent lesson alongside how dark elves can reach out and feel the mana circulating around them.

As she closes her eyes and slows her breathing, she begins to see everything in her mind’s eye. Everything's stained a crystalline blue and green, the water she’s immersed in refracting light as it peeks through the small cracks in the groves canopy.

“This is incredible. Everything is so clear, If I can master this, I could even fight without needing my sight. Also didn’t she tell me that everything should be in black and white though?” Susanna questions to herself as curiosity overtakes her.

Peering outward across the landscape, she starts to practice locating specific presences. After doing so for a few minutes she decides to test herself and find Joshua. With glee, she eventually locates him making his way back up the mountain as a small white blur bounces around him. “What is that? It’s presence is overwhelming.” Susanna tries to take a closer look as a pink energy overwhelms her sight. As she loses her concentration, her head starts to pound. Slowly opening her eyes, she takes a moment re adapting to her surroundings.

Wriggling around in the water, she's left curious about what she saw. “Why was Joshua glowing red and purple? I’ve seen his aura before but, that’s doesn’t seem right.” Confused, she shakes her head. Lifting herself out of the water, it cascades down her slender form flowing through her long black hair. Getting re-dressed quickly, she starts her trek back to camp.