Trent frowned, "I don't like it."
Felix cast his gaze to the sky and sighed. "Of course you don't. What exactly do you object to?"
"That is twice in a row I've agreed with you," said Trent. "Unnatural."
Felix couldn't help but chuckle. "Fine, I can't disagree with that either."
Koale looked around the group, "Unless Renessa objects, we've got a plan then. But who is on the scouting team? It's still reasonably early. Even if we wait and give the chase time to die down, and for our wounds to start healing, we should be able to get some distance in before nightfall."
“I’ll go,” said Felix. “I’m the only one more or less in one piece.”
“Not alone,” said Trent. “I’ll go with you.”
Renessa raised an eyebrow, “I thought the goal was to not get anyone killed?”
“There’s no reason for concern. Look, I let him half ass my first aid and didn’t even fuss.” Trent gestured at his bandaged arm. “We’ll be fine.”
Felix shifted uncomfortably. “Will we, though? Don’t take this the wrong way, but you are a bit,” he paused to find the words, “A bit inconsistent in a crunch.”
Trent tensed and glared at Felix for a long moment. Then he looked away. “I deserved that, I suppose. I’ve done some things I ain’t proud of since this all went down, I’ll admit. These two can’t go though- too banged up. We’ll get it done.”
The matter settled, they sat back and settled in. Trent, it turned out, kept a stash of jerky on his person which they shared. While no full meal, it was better than nothing and it gave them something to do.
By late afternoon, the sounds of the jungle returned to normal. Felix left Liz with Koale, firmly instructing both of them to play nice, and then Felix and Trent ventured into the jungle once more.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Once they ventured out of their secondary camp, Felix and Trent crept along the treeline. It gave them the illusion of cover against being spotted or shot at. However, they had to stick close to the shore once the sun had set. They couldn't risk torches, but the light of the moon provided enough to get by after their eyes adjusted.
The going was difficult. The jungle was rough terrain as always, and they moved with exaggerated care to avoid stumbling. They weren't expecting company this far out, but if any raiders did hear them, the scouting expedition would be over before it started.
Exhaustion further pulled on their limbs. It'd been a long, hungry day and that was before the running and fighting factored in. And the killing.
Despite his best efforts, Felix's mind kept creeping back to the thoughts of those he had killed that day. The looks on their faces as they died, the feel of hot blood as is spurt from freshly cut throats. The elation that he had won. Felix felt nauseous.
He tried to focus on the jungle. It's what he should be doing anyway, they were on a dangerous expedition. Behind any tree could hide a raider or predator. Any stumble could give them away. But the hike was not long, and remaining vigilant while nothing happened was difficult.
He hadn't killed anyone. It had looked like he had. Hell, it felt like he had, but they were all up and walking around right now. They had to be.
Felix put his hands on the trunks of the trees as he passed them. It was to account for the low light and difficulty seeing. Not because he was shaking or his knees were suddenly weak.
It was a relief when the sounds of raider revelry drifted in on the night air. Clearly they were not concerned about masking their presence. They slowed their pace further yet. Just because some of the raiders were being loud did not mean they all were.
The lack of light ceased to be a problem as they neared the final stretch of jungle before their former base. A large bonfire rose from the center of the camp. The tips of the flame could be seen licking the sky, even above the remnants of the walls.
Communicating through impromptu hand gestures, Trent and Felix crowded together at the base of a tree just outside the clearing.
Trent knelt down, his hands laced together. Felix stepped a foot into Trent's hands and was hoisted up. He scrabbled into the tree with something resembling grace. At least for him.
He climbed up high enough to see over the walls and settled into a good position by the trunk. He looked into the base. It had certainly seen better days.
The bonfire was in the center of their former camp and it was massive. The raiders had piled in all the wooden workspaces and crates. They even added in bits of walls, both from the perimeter and buildings. Casks were arranged around the bonfire, a short distance away. Judging by the singing and stumbling of the raiders spotting the camp, the casks were not full of water.
There was a feast as well. What crops that were ready were harvested and the cooked results were displayed on a broken table from the kitchen. The sole chair that survived the attack and the bonfire was nearby. The rest of the crops were nothing but embers at this point.
The fire wasn't the only new edition, either. Tents sprung up in the new clearings. They looked to be rather decent ones- cloth rather than the patched leather Felix was becoming accustomed to, and even dyed. Scattered among the tents were boxes, chests even, of obviously better grade than anything they could make. Likely supplies or equipment.
The hope that they were leaving soon looked like just that. Felix wasn't sure just what the raiders thought they had, but they certainly weren't leaving without it. Before he clambered down, he spotted some light leading out of the far side of the camp, toward the direction the bulk of the raiders had come.
Felix, once more safely on the ground, beckoned for Trent to follow him. They edged with care, making a wide turn around the base and swung up towards the beach on the far side. Felix pulled his shoulders back tight. He kept expecting to run into a patrol this close to the base.
On the far side, the glowing trail turned out to be a series of standing torches. They started just outside the now-defunct gate and led at regular intervals down the beach. It was too far away to see what they led too, but it was obviously something important.
They hadn't been following the path long before they noticed one of the glowing dots before them was moving towards them. Trent pulled Felix into some bushes and they waited.
The dot slowly resolved itself into a shadowy figure holding a torch. She walked with a steady gait. She was in no hurry to get where she was going, but not stalling either. She kept her head moving as she walked, but didn't seem to actually be doing more than going through the motions.
Felix had his crossbow out and ready, just in case. It was hard to hold; he was sweating profusely and it had little to do with the jungle heat. He could hear the measured tread of her footsteps. He put his finger on the trigger.
He could see her clearly now. The shadows dancing wildly in the torchlight, the rivets of her armor, the boredom on her face.
He tried to line up a shot. He was shaking badly. He imagined the bolt in her chest, the blood running free, and the light in her eyes dying.
Felix dropped his weapon on the ground and closed his eyes tight. She was right in front of him, and it was all he could do not to hyperventilate.
Trent shook his shoulder. Felix looked up; the guard was long gone. He wasn't sure how long he'd been like that. Trent half pulled, half led Felix further back into the jungle.
Once they were a ways away from the path, Trent sat Felix down. He leaned over and with a tense whisper, "What was that?"
Felix shook his head. "I killed a lot of people today. I can't get it out of my head."
Trent grunted. "Look, that doesn't matter, and you should damn well know that."
"Yeah, yeah. I know," said Felix looking intently as his feet. "They aren't really dead and all that. I've been thinking the same thing, but-"
"Not that. You killed people who were attacking your home and your friends. That they come back is entirely beside the point. That is why it doesn't matter. You did what you needed to do."
Felix waved dismis
sively. "Doesn't feel like that. Doesn't feel like that at all. I feel dirty and sick."
Trent sighed and sat next to Felix. "I know all about that, but let me tell you something.
Sometimes brains are stupid. Sometimes they make you think and feel things that you have no business to be thinking or feeling. You just have to push through the best you can. You can't always, but you have to try."
Felix looked up at Trent. "You'd know?"
Trent nodded slowly. "I'd know. Besides, today was the first time you weren't completely worthless." He punched Felix lightly in the arm and broke eye contact.
Felix grunted at the hit. Light for Trent was not necessarily light.
"Anyway," said Trent. "I think we ought to pull back a bit and catch a bit of sleep. We'll be able to see better in the day anyhow."
Felix followed Trent. He wasn't paying much attention to where they were going. Trent picked a large tree a short hike from the beach and called it good enough. They'd take turns sleeping, and the other could lean against the tree. It wasn't comfortable, but Felix was so tired, he'd have slept just about anywhere.
Despite that, he let Trent sleep first. He knew he wasn't going to be able to sleep for a while yet. He was busy thinking over Trent's words. By the time it was his turn to lie down, he didn't feel better, not really. But maybe he could still function anyway.
The morning came far too soon. Felix woke tired, sore, and hungry. That was not likely to change in the near future. "Let’s get this over with," he said to Trent after a few stretches.
Shortly they were back at the shore, and it became clear where the torches were leading. A large sailing ship anchored a short distance off the shore. A long wooden ramp led from the midships down to the beach.
"Well, shit," said Trent as he drug Felix back.
"Agreed," said Felix. "We can't stay if the pirates are, and they clearly are. We also can't outrun a full-on sailing ship with the most colorful raft in the world."
Trent nodded in agreement. "Can't just kill them either. Even if they didn't have beds with the tents, there's going to be some in the ship."
Felix crept back until he could see the ship again. He stared at it as he thought. It was actually fairly close to where he and Koale had emerged from the tunnels just days ago.
Felix grinned. He had just the idea.
He returned to Trent and started handing over everything in his inventory that he wouldn't need. "I have a plan," he said.
Trent looked confused but took the items.
Felix leaned on a tree and took his boots off, handing them to Trent. "You need to go back to the base alone. Make sure everything is on the boat and we have as much food as we can get."
Felix tossed his leather jerkin at Trent. "Also, tell Koale to get ready to blow the dam. I'll wait and give you a head start, but we should be set to leave by evening."
Felix tossed his pants at Trent and scampered off into the jungle, butt naked.
CHAPTER FORTY
Felix crept through the jungle towards the foothills. It did not take long before he realized that perhaps giving his boots up was a bit overzealous. The earth was soft and loamy, but stones and sticks dug into his feet. He slowed down and picked his way with care. He was far enough back from the beach it was about preserving his feet rather than stealth. He had time to kill, and care now would pay off later.
As he made his way through the trees, he picked up large stones and put them in his inventory until he felt the weight beginning to wear on him. He'd need them later and he'd rather carry too many than too few. He was glad for the inventory, it would have been difficult trying to carry them all otherwise, especially in the buff.
It didn't take long before Felix got as close as he could to the entrance of the tunnel without breaking cover. He looked up at the sky; it looked like it was still mid-morning. Trent would need a good chunk of the day to get back to the ship.
Felix took a seat and leaned back against a tree. It was time to wait.
He was mind-numbingly bored and terrified at the same time. His plan was not bright. He was glad Renessa wasn't here to tell him that. He'd lose his nerve.
Fleeting images of the previous day's fight rose up whenever he wasn't worried about something else. He kept Trent's words in mind. Felix had protected him and his. He had done what he had to do. He'd push through.
The idea of Trent actually helping him amused Felix out of his gloom. He'd do what he had to do once more and help his friends get free. In the meantime, he'd look on the bright side. At least without all the leathers, the tropic heat was quite nice.
The day lingered on. By the time early afternoon rolled about, Felix just couldn't stay still. He wasn't sure he'd given Trent enough time. He hoped he had, but he couldn't stand to wait any longer.
He peeked out from behind the last tree. This would be the worst part. It was broad daylight and cover was scarce. There was no patrol in the immediate vicinity, but Felix could make out figures on the deck of the ship. All it would take is one person looking the wrong way at the wrong time.
He could wait until evening, but that would make his part even more difficult and risk discovery of the ship. It wasn't exactly well hidden, and even less defended.
He crouched and slunk towards the tunnel opening. The shore was rocky and he shuffled his feet, leaving small furrows behind him, but avoiding directly stepping on any of the rough stones. He was completely focused on his goal. He'd made it halfway there already.
A shout went up from the ship. Felix looked over to the ship. There was a commotion on the deck and figures running about. He couldn't see far enough to be sure, but he'd bet anything they were pointing at him. Shit.
Felix dashed into the mouth of the tunnel. The rocks tore at his feet, and once even broke skin, but he made it.
He pulled out his torch, the sole item he had not given Trent, and strode forward. His time table had just been bumped up and he didn’t have as much time for caution.
Now was the tricky part; he knew he wanted to head roughly up, but it was a maze of tunnels. He picked his way through each intersection as carefully as he could. At each one, he left a small pile of stones indicating which he had come from.
It was a measured risk; it might lead the raiders to him more quickly. He could already hear them shouting, nearing the mouth of the tunnel. On the other hand, with any luck the raiders would soon be the least of his problems.
The cave was cold, and even with the torch, it was not easy going. He stumbled and stubbed his feet. Next time he was going to keep his boots, even if he had to remake them yet again.
He heard the raiders behind him. How far behind was difficult to tell with the way sound carried underground. He made a wrong turn and hit a dead end. Felix was sure he'd be cornered by the raiders as he made his way back and picked again. Surely they were right on his heels.
He felt both relief and trepidation when he finally found the first patch of the luminescent goo. He idly wondered if the raiders would even know its significance should they see it. Picking the correct path became easier; he merely picked the path that had a heavier concentration of goo.
He debated putting the torch away; it wasn't necessary at this point, but he wasn't sure he'd have the presence of mind to bring it back out shortly. He kept it out. With such an audacious plot, it was best not to introduce more points of failure.
Felix, at last, reached the den of the landsharks. As last time, the hollow was covered with the shining goo and a heap of the fierce beasts lay sleeping in the center. Felix could hear the raiders behind him still, but he paused. This was a terrible idea.
He crouched and slunk a short distance away from the heap. With the torch in one hand and one of his last remaining stones in the other, Felix stood and prepared to throw.
As his shadow hit the pile, the outer landsharks roared to life. Felix was so startled he chucked the stone at them out of sheer reflex. It plinked off the head of an already irate landshark. He turned and fle
d.
Felix's feet slapped against the uneven stone ground of the tunnels. His feet didn't hurt, but he was pretty sure that was just the adrenaline talking. He hoped this would be over with before it wore off. He thought a lot about the condition of his feet as he ran. It was better than thinking of the rolling wall of muscle and teeth that chased him.
He rounded a corner and found himself facing three raiders. They were shocked to see him. Two had crossbows and, to their credit did manage to fire. One went wide over his shoulder, but the other stuck in his arm. He screamed but continued to run.
Felix slammed his shoulder into the nearest raider as he pushed past. The invader fell, but his legs caused Felix to stumble as he went by. It might have been a lethal error if not for the old adage- you don't need to be faster than the bear, just the slowest person running.
Felix took small advantage of the new gap. His heart was racing and his lungs burned, not to mention his arm. He looked down to check it while he jogged. A bolt was stuck halfway through his arm, and he didn't know what to do with it. He couldn't hardly stop and treat it, even if he had supplies, but every time he jostled it, it sent waves of pain across his body.
In the end, he decided the best thing he could do was hurry up. Felix knew from last time that any perceived breathing room was just a matter of time. He couldn't let the landsharks catch him, not yet.
Judging by the sudden cessation in the sounds of carnage behind him, the creatures didn't pause long. Felix used his fear and revulsion to turn on a bit more speed.
With his markers guiding his path, he made it out to the jungle in short order. He had heard, but not seen, other raiders scouring the tunnels for him. In this particular moment, they were definitely better off for not having found him.
Even with the number of foes in the tunnels, searching for him, the path ahead was not clear. As he approached, he could see several raiders manning the deck of the ship. Felix booked, hell for leather, towards the ramp leading up to the ship.
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