Blursed Roadtrip Vibes

Exiting north towards Fallowfield was much the same as approaching from Ter’aquit to the east. Drab-coloured fields of grains lined the road as far as the eye could see, providing little to look at.

Luckily, it was a beautiful day to walk the countryside, though I was no longer the same fool of a few weeks ago. I knew well that there were roving gangs of bandits, monsters, and environmental hazards galore that wanted us dead. But at least it was cloudless and the temperature was fair.

Enjoying pleasant conversations as we walked off the early morning booze, the four of us remained cautiously vigilant. But, eventually, even the talkative Aesandoral struggled to find things to chat about.

After all, we had just spent nearly a full week of close contact leading up to this.

Then came the fact that after looking at the same golden fields of grain for two hours, only occasionally interspersed with rows of fruits or vegetables, it began to feel like we weren’t progressing forward. Add in the lack of clouds to break up the monotony, I slowly experienced an emotional burden weighing me down with every step forward.

I’m so bored!

“How about a game?” I eventually asked. “Maybe I spy?”

“No!” Their response was unanimous.

“How about we play a game of I spy my surroundings.” Rionriv offered from the front of the pack. “That way we don’t get ambushed by predators…again.”

“That’s the definition of I spy…” I grumbled to myself as I looked forward at the endless plains.

We walked for a while longer like this. Sporadic conversations popping into existence, mostly school gossip, all inevitably fading into quiet.

At some points I butted in, using my all-powerful understanding to spill tea on major school events that had been covered in my story. The triop loved these moments, but they also led to more questions that I had to dodge without overtly lying.

All the while, Rionriv’s ever present gaze watched me like a hungry animal.

“How about a song?” I finally said at one point to dodge the question of what Tahvin’s occupation had been. “Any requests?”

“That one about the ledge.” Sharzin jumped in quickly.

Almost too quickly.

Like, has Zin been waiting for this moment? Or did she just really like that song?

“The one by the bards with the third eye. You know, from the music box in your apartment.”

She was talking about the CD player that Phyllis created from all the memories I wasn’t forced to retrieve from trauma dreams.

When the girls would come over and study in my too-small-for-four-people apartment, it was usually going. And, if I wasn’t mindful of my surroundings, Sharzin was playing disc jockey from the shadows.

“U-um, okay.” I stuttered, as I brought the song to my mind and began to hum.

Gently bouncing to the beat, I found the right moment and began to sing. After a few verses and hitting the chorus the performance nerves melted away. Giving it my all, I truly believed I was doing well.

That was until I hit the second chorus.

“Iz, stop.” Rionriv insisted, looking around. “Remember what I said about getting ambushed by predators? That racket is the literal definition of monster bait.”

Ehg—Gods, the embarrassment. I thought, as I got quiet and looked down at my feet. Worse than being pantsed by a succubus.

That was when Sharzin tugged on the side of my shirt. Glancing down, I stared the big glimmering eyes looking up at me.

Oh good, at least she appreciated it.

“That was the worst singing I have ever heard.” She spoke frankly. “You are not ever allowed to sing again. Ever.”

Aaahhhggg—Et tu, Sharzin?!

“Sharzin, that’s—” Aesandoral stopped herself.

She remained quiet long enough to become embarrassed and look away from me.

And Aes?! If Aes won’t even defend me, it was truly terrible.

I became silent after that, doing nothing more than walking and keeping watch.

We marched the remainder of the day in awkward tension only breaking around lunch for a bite to eat and then again when we decided to bed down for the evening.

Stopping at the edge of a salt marsh that marked the entrance to the Greybrine Lake region, we decided it was as good of a spot as any. After all, the last thing we wanted was to get too far into the boggy landscape before darkness set it and spend hours struggling to find an appropriate place to bed down.

Grown accustomed to setting up camp at this point we jumped into our roles. Rionriv and Sharzin foraged before preparing food while Aesandoral and I established our camp and concealed it from threats.

Finishing my tent, I sat for a moment and looked up through the skeletal branches of the leafless brineland willows. It was the last night of the full moon, and being so far away from the lights of the city meant was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

Since it was still cloudless, I was able to admire the silvery disc in its entirety. It wasn’t completely different from the one that graced the sky of World Eighty-Two, but just enough to make it alien to me and take my breath away.

This was a singular large disc, not too dissimilar to my inspiration, though this moon had its own satellite that made orbits around it. A moon with a moon, the thought made me smile to write it and even more so to see it.

“Iz, supper.” Sharzin called out to me, pulling me from my blissful moment.

“Coming.”

Arriving to the campfire, I looked at a wooden bowl and fork waiting for me. It was filled with a variety of leafy greens, seasoned griffon meat, and freshly foraged veggies procured while in Squalls Crossing.

Having learned my lesson in the dungeon, I didn’t bother inspecting the meal as I sat down next to Aesandoral. Instead, gripping the fork, I began to eat and was immediately surprised by the delicious flavour.

“Sharzin, what is this?” I asked excitedly, watching as she sat down across the fire from me.

“Deconstructed burrito bowl.” The rogue responded proudly, taking a bite. She chewed thoughtfully before continuing, “Hmm, I could adjust the spice ratio and cook the meat slower to improve on the flavour.”

“Look at you, Zin.” I remarked as I shoved another spoonful of the meal past my lips. “I think you found your calling as cook.”

A dagger cut through the flames and planted itself in the ground between my legs.

GYAH! What the hell?

I looked from it back to Sharzin, who sat with a burrito bowl in one hand and another blade poised to throw in the other.

She appeared nonplussed. No. It was a fiery fury that I had not seen before on her often unimpressed face.

“Take it back!” She demanded. “I am not destined to be some pregnant housewife slaving over a cooktop.”

“Whoa that is not what I said.” I raised my hands, bowl included. “I was merely meaning you could probably open a restaurant and make some serious coin off this.”

Her demeanor quickly shifted as she lowered the dagger.

“Oh, I think overreacted.”

“Yuh’think?! You want to talk about it?”

“You have secrets too.”

“Yep. Yep. Mmmhmm—fair.”

I dropped the subject, moving on to a more campfire appropriate conversation. Talking again about our dungeon dive, I enjoyed a hearty second helping of burrito bowls.

With dinner done, we set up our watch schedule before I settled into the position around the fire for the first stretch. Following me would be Sharzin and finally Aesandoral taking the remainder of the night and early morning.

The nights this close to the lake became cool, but the fire kept me warm as I maintained my vigilant watch. The sounds of small nocturnal animals and insects came to life as the evening continued to pass. Occasional fireflies blinked to life before disappearing into the marsh where little will-o-wisps dancing past the trees.

At one point, I did hear something in the distance that made my hair stand.

A loud feline yowl silenced the world around the midnight hour. More howls went on for about ten minutes, as additional tiger-like creatures joined in. But they eventually fell quiet, and only then did the sounds of nature return.

“I don’t remember putting tigers in Moal’aw.” I grumbled, as I approached Sharzin’s tent. “Nor did I put anything about tiger orgies.”

Reaching in, I gave her foot a shake.

“Hey, your watch. Watchout for tigers, they be fugging tonight.”

“What?” She mumbled groggily.

“Your watch. Night.” I said and stumbled away towards my tent.

Slinking in, I fell asleep immediately.