Peak 2: The Gilded-Bark

"Gilded-Bark, please, y-you've done enough!" one of the petaled-thorns glows to me as I hoist another chunk of debris onto a wheelbarrow. Turning to face her, I stare them down as I curl up a bicep and pat it.

"There is work to be done." I answer as I take more pieces of shattered marble. Filling the modest transport up, I grab the handles and start to push forward. Heading towards the necessary petals, I hand it over to them so they can recover what they can.

"Is it wrong for me to feel happy this has happened?" I hear one of my fellow men ask another as they dually lift up a boulder as tall as me.

"I get what you mean, this all feels so right." the other nearly laughs as they urge each other onwards to get the fallen piece of mountain out of here. Nodding to myself, I leave them be as I swing a large barrel over my back. Tightening the ropes around it, I walk on towards the bulb we've been keeping those who escaped the osibindah hive.

Walking on inside, all the little children look up at me as I put the barrel down. Cracking it open, I start to hand out supplies. Dicipling some of the children as necessary, their remembered good manners see them well fed. A small hwardgon child takes her food last and my gaze follows her.

She sits down, but her fingers linger on the container. She looks around with what appears to be a held-back request. Setting the barrel's remains aside, I go to them and sit down. Initially, they pay me no mind as her fingers idly scratch at the box.

"Are you alright, little one?" I ask them as I open the little package for them, just in case that is the problem.

"Nasty monster..." she answers as she shuffles about nervously, her mouth an upside-down curve. I place my thick-skinned, calloused hand on their head and stroke their spines in a downward motion. The little spikes tickle my palm as I move it back up to repeat the action.

"They're gone, the monster was defeated." I remind her as she looks up at me with wide, unsteady eyes. She stands up and wobble-falls onto my arm.

"Human monster..." she whispers close to my ear and I pay close attention to her disappointment. Helping her back down so she doesn't fall off of the carved log we share.

"That's right, we found you with the Champion, didn't we?" I question, but she carries on staring.

"I saw him... The monster..." she explains as she puts her food to the side, still having not touched a morsel.

"It's okay, little one, the Valkinvar got rid of it." I try to say as warmly as I can, but, she doesn't seem to like knowing this.

"I liked that human... He was nice." she tells me as her little, almost black snout sniffles. She scratches a bit of her arm and I look over at the other children.

"A few people did, a few people really did." I comment with a nod as I stand up after ruffling their head.

They look up at me as I hand them back their food box.

"Make sure to eat this up, you hear? Can't have you getting weak because you're being silly." I explain to her as she slowly starts to chew on a small piece of vegetable. Leaving the children be, I sigh to myself as I look in the direction of the Ivy-Mother's bulb. My seed is missing, I don't know where it could have gone, but no one has found even its crushed remains.

Walking away back to my bulb with a heavy frown, I offer what help I can to those around me. The men get pats on the back and quiet encouragement whilst the women are encouraged, often forced to go back to resting. They're too used to keeping us safe and handling everything, but, this time, we will handle it. Those who need to mourn will get time to do so, no matter the workload we have right now.

Gesturing a thorn to relax as I pass by them, I head on into my bulb and clutch my head. This headache I have is getting worse and I might need to rest for the moment. That thorn from earlier was probably right, I do need to take a minute. Just like everyone else.

Falling onto my bed, I sigh as its wide girth, meant for two, is occupied by only one. Rolling over slightly onto my side, I look out across my bulb and all the things I have done to it over the years. Little bits of decoration chosen by my love, my precious Dandel'lhia and me in preparation for our child. Surveying the room further, my eyes land on a table at the far end.

Blinking, I sit back up and walk over to it, picking up the oddity once I arrive. Stroking the leather cover carefully, I feel out the decorative picture as best as I can. Then, opening the book to the page it is bulging up at, my mouth opens a little. I stare at the yellow-stained paper and slowly pick up what is there.

"Dandel'lhia..." I breathe as I suddenly feel too weak to stand. Stamping one point down as hard as I can, I keep myself upright as my eyes turn to the written down message. It's her handwriting, how could I ever forget it? I've seen it too many times, far too many sweet letters from her for me to lose my memory of it.

'It's not safe for me here, I am taking our son with me. The Valkinvar will take care of us. I am still alive, my precious Oak.'

Pinching the brow of my nose, I slam the book shut with one hand and put it down again. A thoughtful noise escapes my mouth and I glare, then smile warmly. She's alive, my dear, Flower of Ihtuntar is still alive. But what is so dangerous that she needs to escape with the Valkinvar?

Does she doubt my strength and that of our flower? Can we not fulfil our duties as protectors? What dreads her so much that she needs to run and hide? She's only ever been safe until she was taken...

"Awooooo!" something chilling echoes.

Looking up, I feel a disturbance on the wind and head outside into the open. Many have stopped what they're doing and looking out, beyond the top of our flower. Walking to my throne, I take up my spear and grasp its shaft firmly as I walk out to meet whoever is arriving. The sound of armour fills my ears with echoes coming from both directions.

Meeting a strangely familiar figure, I plant my spear's base into the ground and stand tall. Thorns, wild-seers and meadow-maidens join me and the lone figure keeps on looking about. Lifting up his flat cap, the strange man dusts it off as he also straightens out his coat. Perfectly white hair makes itself known and I notice a pole-like object made of wood and dark iron.

Gripping my spear tightly at the sight of the gun, I have my troops move around the strange individual as he puts the flat cap back on. He turns to us and stares as he picks up his weapon again. The front flicks down and he loads two mostly red, gold-capped objects into it. With a clear snap, he makes it clear the gun is loaded.

"Put the weapon down, Human." I warn as I take up my spear and point it at them.

"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" something howls in the distance, but it sounds almost immediately close. I turn to face it with my spear, whatever beast it might be, but find nothing.

Turning back to where the man is-

Was...

I stare at the empty spot as a patch of ice starts to melt under the heat of the day. Strangely, I laugh quietly, as if I have just seen a close friend for the first time in a long while. A frown overtakes me as I recall how I also have never had such a friend.