Escape from Celestial

by Tony Johnson

  The bruises on his face were darker, and his eye was still swollen completely shut. He groaned as he clutched at his shoulder, which was heavily infected.

  He’s far worse than yesterday. Kari felt bad for the warrior. It’s alarming how bad he looks. Many times, she had been on the cusp of complaining about her own soreness and uncomfortable sleep, but one look at Steve reminded her to count her blessings.

  Getting up, Kari’s entire arm, side, and pant leg were damp on the side she had slept. Waking up being wet is an annoying feeling. At first, she thought she’d been sweating from nightmares, but then she saw the dense fog surrounding their campsite and felt the moistness of the low valley’s forest floor.

  “I guess we picked a bad part of the year to go camping,” she muttered, moving uncomfortably in her damp pants.

  “Breakfast time,” Ty said, handing each of them the remaining pieces of venison. He set his canteen down on the log between them. It was full of purple berries. “I picked them this morning,” he mentioned as he began walking away from the campsite and towards the hill.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” Kari asked.

  “I already ate,” Ty said as he continued walking towards the coverage of the woods. “I’ll be back in ten minutes or so. I’m just going to head out for a bit to scout for some freshwater ponds in the area to fill our canteens.”

  “Ty, wait!” Kari cried nervously before he had even walked another five steps. She spilled out the purple berries in the canteen he had given them. “Tell me you didn’t eat any of these!” she pleaded, almost in tears.

  “No, I picked them for you two. I didn’t have any berries with my venison this morning.”

  Relieved, Kari asked, “Don’t you know these are poisonous? They’re Olenberries! If Steve and I ate even a couple, we’d be dead within minutes.”

  “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know!” Ty professed.

  “Herbology was one of his weakest subjects in Warrior Training,” Steve gave him the benefit of the doubt.

  “I’m so, so sorry,” the Elf apologized again.

  “It’s fine,” Kari exasperated, sitting down on the log. “I’m just glad you didn’t eat any. Phew, that scared me!”

  “I’m glad you knew about them. I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt either of you.” Ty walked back and took the canteen from Kari. “If I find water, I’ll rinse this one out. I might be gone for a little while. You guys eat breakfast and we can continue on when I get back.”

  Before he faded away into the fog, Kari saw Ty look at her and nod towards Steve. He’s giving us time to be alone together, she realized.

  Kari looked over to the warrior sitting next to her, who returned her gaze. They both smiled and nodded awkwardly towards each other while chewing on the meat.

  This is the first-time Steve and I have been alone together, at least when we’re both conscious, she thought, thinking back to finding him passed out the night before. Her heart began beating faster, her mind was racing for words to say, and she was worried about how she looked, especially because she hadn’t seen her reflection in two days.

  I feel a growing connection between us, and, last night, Ty said he saw it too. Somehow knowing Steve might like me back makes me more nervous than anything. I was daydreaming during the Joust, playing out the entire relationship in my mind, but would I be ready if this could potentially be real?

  Making eye contact with the warrior, she asked herself, Why have I not noticed his blue eyes or his soft, black hair, almost like my own? He looks taller today and stronger, even though all these injuries have weakened him. The cuts and bruises he sports look painful, but they’re also somehow attractive.

  For a moment, she didn’t know what to say to the man sitting next to her. Then, lost in time, she overanalyzed everything as her mind raced a hundred miles per hour. How long have I been staring? Has he noticed I’ve been looking at him?

  Kari ignored the awkwardness by darting her eyes to the ground and nervously shoving more of the venison into her mouth, even though she hadn’t swallowed her previous bite.

  “How did the watch go last night?” Steve asked, finally breaking the ice. “Any problems?”

  Kari answered after finishing her mouthful of meat that seemed to take years to chew.

  “No, it was pretty quiet. Ty took over for me a little early. He was having nightmares throughout his sleep. I think mine were as bad as his. I kept waking up, but then I’d fall right back asleep because I was so exhausted.”

  “I think we all had nightmares last night, myself included. It’s not surprising that the most horrific day that will ever happen in our lifetimes and probably our children’s lives will always linger in our minds.”

  Our children? The image of what her and Steve’s offspring would look like flashed in Kari’s mind before she, once again, realized she was taking too long to say something. Great, he’s probably wondering why I can’t carry on a conversation without awkward pauses. I’ve ruined this before it began.

  “Ty told me a little bit about you guys and the friendly rivalry you’ve had your whole lives. I thought it was cute to imagine you two as little kids always trying to one-up each other.”

  “Ah, yes, Ty and I have fond memories of growing up. I’m sure there are enough stories to write a book about. We often got in trouble and it was mostly his fault!” Steve whispered the last part in Kari’s ear to be funny, even though he knew Ty was out of earshot.

  Is he not nervous like I am? Kari questioned. Aren’t the same butterflies flying around in his stomach? Then again, he’s a warrior, he deals with nerve-wracking situations all the time. Why would he be nervous talking to me?

  “I look forward to hearing more of your guys’ stories,” Kari said, then, wanting to know more about Steve’s past, she asked, “So, back in Whitebark, you said you were abandoned at birth?”

  “Yes, that’s what Thatcher told me,” Steve shrugged his shoulders, pretending the subject didn’t bother him when it really did. “When I was old enough to understand, Thatcher explained that a young man with bright, red hair came to the watchtower where he worked and asked if anyone could take in his infant son. I guess I had been a surprise for him and his girlfriend, and for nine months they had tried to take care of me, but financially couldn’t afford me any longer. They were both blacksmiths who had trouble making their business profitable.

  “Thatcher pleaded with him to keep trying to support me. He directed him to agencies that would help, but the man was adamant he had tried all those options. So, despite having recently lost his wife in childbirth and already having two toddlers, Titus decided to take me in. He asked my biological father for his name, but the guy thought it best to cut ties with me completely. I guess he didn’t want me to try and find him.”

  “That’s sad,” Kari shook her head. “Couldn’t you have searched around for blacksmiths fitting your dad’s description?”

  “I did. I asked around, but the closest I ever got was hearing about a man and woman who moved their forge to Misengard. I wrote letters to the assistant Mayor there, but he had no record of them in the logbook. They must’ve either settled down somewhere in between or died in route.”

  Steve took in a deep sigh and continued talking about the difficult subject. “In the end, I always remind myself that I know who my real family is, the ones who love and care about me: Ty, Thatcher, and Darren. Whoever my parents were though, at least I know they were good people.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I figure they must’ve loved me if they tried for nine months to keep me, and it would’ve been selfish of them to keep me if they couldn’t provide for me. They knew what was best for me was to be in a financially stable home. Getting rid of me was what was in my best interest rather than theirs.”

  “Well, I know having a good character is based on upbringing rather than genetics, but, if it was hereditary, I would say that your parents were pretty good people based on
how you turned out.”

  “Thanks,” said Steve. “I really believe they were.”

  “Ty said his parents were murdered. Do you know anything more about that?” Kari asked, attempting to change the subject, but still wanting to learn more about her two companions.

  “Not too much. Ty and I are very close, but he has never talked about it in detail to me. Anytime I try to bring up the subject, he jokes around or changes the topic. He always uses humor to cover up the stuff he’s uncomfortable talking about.”

  “It’s easy to tell he’s that way,” Kari said. “It seems like a shield, a defense mechanism for him.”

  “Yes, and I’ve yet to break through it when it comes to his parents. Darren never talked much about the murder either. I do know his father was well-respected among the warriors that knew him. From rumors I’ve heard, it was another warrior that killed Caesar and his wife. The bodies were found in the Canard’s own house. It was Ty and Darren who found their bodies in the morning. They were only two and three-years-old. Warriors were never able to figure out who did it.”

  “That’s horrible!”

  Steve nodded in approval. “So, now you know about the tragic family stories of Ty and I. We haven’t heard anything about your family? Is yours happier than ours?”

  “Actually, it’s not. My father was a warrior archer. He taught me how to hunt.”

  “He must’ve taught you well considering your incredible accuracy with that bow.”

  “Thank you. Yes, he did,” Kari picked up her weapon from where it rested against a log next to her. “I carry this around everywhere I go in memory of him. People see me with my bow and tell me hunting and archery are for men, but my dad always told me I shoot better than they ever could. I found my motivation to continue to improve after my dad died to prove myself to everyone who thinks that way.”

  “Died?” Steve asked.

  “Well, murdered actually,” Kari said grimly. “Right before my fifth birthday. He was on patrol that night, and-” Even though it was eighteen years ago, Kari couldn’t continue.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” uttered Steve. Noticing she was holding the locket around her neck, he questioned, “So I’m assuming if your bow is a memento of your father’s then that locket you’re holding was your mothers?”

  “Oh, yes,” Kari said, taking it off and opening it up to show him.

  “Wow. She’s beautiful. She looks just like you,” Steve said honestly, hoping the story of her mother was happier than that of her father.

  “Thanks,” said Kari, whose heart did flips inside her chest at the notion that Steve thought she was pretty. “Yes, that’s my mom. She passed away too. She stopped taking care of herself shortly after my father died. There was nothing any of us could do to save her.”

  “I’m sorry,” Steve lamented, but then added, “That’s funny though.”

  “What’s funny?” Kari asked, not seeing what humor he could find in death.

  Steve quickly corrected himself. “Oh no, sorry. I don’t mean funny. I guess it’s more ironic, the fact that all three of us have experienced the loss of our parents. Who would’ve thought that the three people that escaped Celestial together would have that in common?”

  “It does make a stronger person growing up. Sadder, but stronger.”

  “That’s true,” Steve agreed. “You’re forced to become more independent.”

  After a brief silence, Steve mustered up the courage for what he was about to say next and turned to Kari. “You know, while I was jousting I noticed you in the crowd.”

  Kari smiled and blushed, but looked down at her feet, trying not to show it.

  “I was hoping I would get to meet you after the match. It looks like I did, although not under the conditions I envisioned.” For a moment, his mind went back to the moment the flaming boulders came down. “Despite all that’s happened, I’m really glad to have met you.”

  “I’m glad to have met you too,” Kari smiled. “I was hoping I might get to meet you after the match too. Not in some obsessive fangirl way though!” she clarified.

  “Yes, I had enough of those packs of young teenage girls following me around,” Steve laughed. “They’re scarier than direwolves.”

  Kari laughed in return. “That’s why I wanted to meet you. The farther you got in the tournament, girls like that, I mean, pretty much everyone got excited that you might win the trophy. You were the talk of the town. I started hearing all these stories from people you had helped, little things you did for them as a warrior. I wanted to see if it was all true or if they were just fabrications, trying to build up this hero that everyone in Celestial could believe in.”

  Kari’s tone was more serious and heartfelt as she went on. “After meeting you and just knowing you for this little bit, I can tell that the good things people say about you are true. You have a good heart. This Thatcher you and Ty talk about, he must have raised you both well.”

  Steve took a second to compose himself, overwhelmed by Kari’s kind words and the fact that any mention of Thatcher’s name instantly and painfully sent his mind back to his father’s death in the King’s Tower.

  “He did. He was a good father and a good man. It’s hard to believe he’s gone. It’s hard to believe everything that’s happened, but at least we found some good in all of this bad.”

  He didn’t have to say it, but Kari knew he was referring to the growing bond between them.

  “Yeah, we should hold on to the good things we find,” Kari agreed.

  Hearing a high-noted Elven melody being whistled, the two knew Ty was coming back into the campsite. “Well, I suppose we’ll be off soon. A new day. A new adventure.”

  Kari closed her locket and hung it back around her neck. “Can’t wait,” she said, feeling rejuvenated and excited to see what the day would bring. Before Ty came back into the campsite, as she and Steve were packing up what little belongings they had, Kari turned to the warrior she’d just had a nice conversation with and said, “Hey, Steve?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I hope someday you won’t be able to say you don’t have any family.”

  “Thanks,” he smiled. “I hope the same for you too.”

  Chapter 45

  It was early in the morning when the heroes made their way out of the valley. The sky was a bleak, gray overcast, threatening to rain at any moment. An eerie fog surrounded them wherever they walked along the trail.

  Damp, sore, and sluggish, they were still hungry and tired even though they had eaten and slept. They were also thirsty. Ty had been unsuccessful in his attempt to find water. Their canteens were completely empty. Each of the three prayed to Alazar that the clouds would burst open, but rain never came.

  Steve found himself in a state of perpetual discomfort, even more so than his companions. Eating the venison and relaxing for the night only temporarily gave me a break, it did nothing to heal these injuries. They are progressively getting worse, especially my shoulder. I don’t know how much farther I can go.

  He forced himself to continuously put one foot in front of the other, but the fastest speed he could maintain felt like slow motion to him.

  I feel like I’m back in Celestial when I would help the elderly carry their groceries while serving as a warrior. As I walked with them, I’d take half steps to accommodate for their lack of speed so I wouldn’t get too far ahead. I feel like that’s what I’m causing Ty and Kari to do. I can tell they’ve dramatically slowed their pace for me. They could be so much farther ahead.

  I don’t want to be a burden, but I also don’t want to push myself so hard and have Kari find me passed out again. This is a lose-lose situation, he felt discouraged.

  Five hours into the slow-paced hiking, the dehydrated and exhausted group heard a deep howling on the trail in front of them.

  “Arm yourselves,” Ty ordered, so Kari and Steve drew their weapons despite not having the energy to engage in battle.

&nb
sp; “Here! Take Brightflame,” Steve handed the sword to Ty, since his brother had no weapons. “You’re in a better condition to fight than I am. You should have my sword.”

  Once Ty took Brightflame, the weaponless Steve dropped behind him and the Halfling for protection. Cautiously walking through the dense fog, they saw dark objects in the middle of the trail. Arriving closer, they realized there were bodies scattered about.

  “Serendale Warriors!”

  “Six men and six horses.” Or at least what’s left of them.

  Blood was soaked into the dirt everywhere. There were limbs of both person and horse strewn about. Next to one of the young warriors, a giant orange fox lie howling in mourning. Upon seeing the heroes approach, it got up and bolted away.

  “Wait!” Ty called, but it had already disappeared through the fog and into the forest.

  “What was that?” asked Kari.

  “It looked like a direfox.”

  “I thought they were extinct?”

  “That’s what I thought. Most were killed in the direfox/direwolf war in the late sixth century. Only a handful survived.

  “Is it like how the direrats were oversized rats? Is it an oversized fox?” Kari asked. “I’ve never heard of a direfox before.”

  “Yes,” replied Steve. “I remember seeing a picture in a book when I was a kid. They’re one of five known diremonsters: there are direrats, direboars, direfoxes, direwolves, and direcats.”

  “What do you think could have done this?” Kari asked in horror, imagining a monster that could kill so many warriors and their steeds.

  “Whatever it was, it must have been huge,” Ty gathered.

  “And powerful,” Steve added, noticing a warrior with a symbol on his spaulder signifying he was a captain. “These men weren’t inexperienced. Many of them had earned colors.”

  “It wouldn’t have been an Anthropomorphic Monster,” Kari reasoned. “They would’ve taken the warriors’ weapons.”