Within minutes, Jackson’s clothes were stuck to his skin as if he’d just jumped into the ocean. Kay and Fiona looked equally uncomfortable, their hair plastered to their faces.
As expected, Vega stumbled along, gawking at every tree and wild Djinn he happened to spot. Once, while staring at a Freetog resting on a branch a few yards away, he ran right into another branch in front of their path, knocking his straw hat and glasses off his face. Jackson helped him up, afraid the researcher might have a concussion, but Vega sprang back onto the path and brushed the dirt and sticky, dead leaves from his suit as though nothing had happened. The man may have been naïve, but he was resilient.
“This has been a lifelong dream of mine, you know?” Vega said over his shoulder to Jackson.
The jungle had grown so thick that they had to travel single file now. If not for a wild Djinn Trail Heath’s Smilaguar had found, Jackson doubted they would have made it to Mount Ahina in three days, let alone by that evening.
“I always wanted to do field research,” Vega continued. “But well…I’m not cut out for adventuring, am I?”
Jackson didn’t know what to say to that. He hadn’t expected Vega’s cheerful facade to fade so suddenly. It was a more vulnerable side he hadn’t really expected to see from the man.
“You’re doing okay as far as I can see,” Jackson said, hoping the compliment didn’t ring as false as it was. “We made it here alive, and if we can find the Everore, you’ll have plenty of material for your research.”
Vega nodded eagerly. “I really hope so — not just for my own sake but for yours as well. This could be a major breakthrough in how tamers raise their Djinn if Asena is able to go on and compete in her Basic form. For a Djinn to be able to tap into its ultimate strength without undergoing a potential personality change or compromising its current physical form is the kind of thing anyone in the Djinn research field would dream of.”
“Well, if there’s a way to help improve Asena that also allows her to stay who she is, I feel like I’d be dumb not to at least try,” Jackson said. He hadn’t really thought about the whole thing as deeply as Vega had, and the implied ramifications of what they were doing were a bit intimidating to think of. It was true that there really weren’t many Basic-Form Djinn in the Silver and Gold Leagues. To be one of the first tamers to actually succeed using the strategy he had planned for Asena could inspire a whole new generation of thinking for competitive tamers.
“That’s what I like about you, Jackson,” Vega continued. “You aren’t happy with the status quo. We’re a lot alike in that aspect. I come from a wealthy family, and when I told my parents I wanted to become a Djinn research specialist, they laughed. I used to have asthma and was a sickly child, so the idea of doing anything that required extensive hours or any form of physical exertion seemed preposterous to them. But the real reason they balked at my dreams was because they didn’t think there was any money in the field. That’s the only thing they cared about — money, money, money.”
Vega’s voice took on a hard edge. “I didn’t care though. I left the family business and went after my dreams anyway, just like you. I might not be filthy rich, but I promised myself that I would work as hard as I could to make a name for myself in the Djinn research community. And I won’t stop until I can go back to my mother and father and show them I became more than they ever thought I could! And this? This could be my big break. My contribution to the field. And it’s all thanks to you.”
The trail was steep enough that Vega didn’t seem to have the energy to turn back to look at Jackson, but it sounded like he was ranting more to himself than trying to carry on a conversation, anyway. Jackson glanced over his shoulder at Fiona and Kay and shrugged. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to respond to Vega’s unexpected and unprompted vulnerability. Kay hid a laugh but Fiona remained as stoic as she’d been the past day or so.
The group fell into almost complete silence, allowing them to take in the peaceful sounds of nature. Unlike when it was just him and Fiona, Jackson really didn’t have to worry too much about an Arkodon attack. With Heath’s Smilaguar leading the way, he felt sure they would be tipped off if any wild Arkodon decided to try to make a move.
Instead, on their trek, they were treated to a large number of non-predatory Djinn, which was a nice change of pace from the island where Jackson and Fiona had been stranded. Jackson soon lost count of the number of Freetogs hopping around, in addition to several Timmunks, Squirleafs, Scalants, and Twispers. Jackson doubted they’d had much human interaction, which probably accounted for their lack of fear of the party.
“Black told me that Mount Ahina is home to the largest pack of Lyotes and their various forms in the entire archipelago,” Vega said when they stopped by a pair of massive boulders to find private trees to relieve themselves and to refill their water purifiers in a nearby stream. “What do you think about letting Asena out of her ring for a little while? I would be interested to note how far away the wild Lyotes notice another member of their species in their territory.”
Aside from the brief hour on the beach waiting for Black to come pick them up the day before, Jackson hadn’t release Asena from her ring since she growled at him that one night.
“I’d rather not,” Jackson said, feeling guilty as he said it. He knew Asena wouldn’t be pleased about being locked in stasis for so long, but he wanted to prevent any other inadvertent detours, as time was limited for him and Fiona to make it back to the playoffs. “Unless it’s an emergency I don’t want to risk my team taking any injuries before the championship. Plus, we don’t want her to level up by accident. That could make the Everore ineffective.”
Vega seemed prepared to argue the point, but bit back his reply with a smile and an understanding nod. “Merely a suggestion. I realize I can’t get too greedy since we came here for the Everore, but I would love to see the Lyotes in the wild. Ah, well, perhaps another trip, then.”
“Still,” Vega continued, “it would be a shame to come all this way and not let Asena experience her natural home. Assuming she was captured in the wild, it seems almost cruel for her to miss out on it.”
“Yeah, well I’ll make it up to her later,” Jackson said. “Should we keep going? There’s still a ways to go, isn’t there?”
They set off once more and pressed through the hottest and most miserable part of the journey so far as the afternoon sun beat down upon them through the canopy. Everything radiated heat — the trees, the plants, the ground, the sky. Even the shade was sweltering. Jackson didn’t think he’d ever been so sweaty, smelly, and dirty in his life, and he’d spent almost three years shoveling out Djinn manure every summer at Sato Breeders.
At last, as evening started to set in, Heath’s trail blazing broke through the jungle and they popped out into a wide open meadow of short grass. To their right, Mount Ahina’s loomed over them, its dark gray slopes gradually fading into a vibrant field of wildflowers and other exotic plants thriving in the nutrient rich volcanic soil. A faint breeze kissed the sweat from their faces and a perfectly blue sky shone directly overhead — with faint orange tinges along the horizon, suggesting sunset wasn’t far off.
In spite of their rush, and the tension and stress weighing down on him, Jackson couldn’t help but appreciate the beauty. Even Kay and Fiona were quietly remarking on the meadow’s beauty and dropped their bags to take it all in. Heath and Sloan, on the other hand, set about preparing camp like they were sitting in the middle of an abandoned parking lot.
Black had warned them against trying to climb Mount Ahina in the dark, so the early camp gave everyone the chance to rest and refresh themselves as best as possible before tackling it early the next morning. Vega broke out a number of pre-packaged camping meals that he’d been saving for the overland portion of their expedition and Jackson didn’t think they were half bad.
When Kay released her Fenkit, Sunshine, from stasis to have his dinner, Vega asked Jackson if he would be feeding his Djinn, particularly
Asena. When Jackson told him no, the researcher seemed put out again but Jackson refused to give in. The whole back-and-forth between him and Vega was starting to get old, but with the trip nearing its end, he did his best not to push back too hard.
Once darkness fell, Vega outlined the plan for the following day before everyone retired to bed. At their current pace, he hoped to climb Mount Ahina and enter one of the volcano’s catacombs by noon. According to the research compiled from Jessica Hunt’s notes sent by Dr. Williams, the Everore was located within one of the local Trollava Djinn, and they had to fight it until it relinquished one of the stones. Vega tapped his holo-watch screen a couple of times and pulled up an image of the Trollava has he explained in greater detail.
“Trollava inhabit volcanoes all across the world,” Vega explained. “They build themselves up by bathing in lava and eating rocks within volcanoes. That’s why we had to find a Trollava here, on Mount Ahina. Only Everore formed by a Lombardia volcano will work on a Lyote — at least, that’s the working theory posited by your mother. Consider this trip to be the first step in either proving or disproving this theory.”
The Trollava somewhat resembled a charcoal-colored stone gargoyle with a long, pointed nose, pointed ears and a hunched-over posture. The holo on Vega’s projection moved around, bent over on back legs, and propelled itself forward on its bulging, stony knuckles. Chunks of half-cooled lava and rocks clustered over its skin like some sort of disease, and in some places, still-molten lava oozed like infections from the cracks in its stony skin.
“And you think our group can handle one of these?” Fiona asked. “I hate to break it to you, but with all of us combined we have one Water-Elemental, Djinn, and that one was just tamed yesterday. Unless Sloan over here has a couple of Water-Elementals, we need to think of a solid plan of attack.”
“We can take them, no problem,” Sloan bit back defensively.
“I’m sorry, but you and Heath couldn’t even take on Black.”
“Hey!” Heath said, stopping his work setting up camp.
Sloan scoffed. “Don’t lump me in with him. I wasn’t the one who fought her.”
“I’m right here, you guys,” Heath said.
“If I’d been the one to take on Black, we wouldn’t have suffered that embarrassing loss,” Sloan said.
“So why didn’t you?”
“Oh, so you want to test me now,” Sloan said. “Wanna take out that birdie of yours and find out for yourself how dangerous I can be?”
“That ‘birdie’ alone can pick apart either of your Djinn no problem,” Fiona said. “Don’t think I don’t know who you two are.”
“And who do you think we are?”
“Just a couple of Bronze League flunkees.”
“Fiona!” Jackson said. She wasn’t sure what she was talking about, but the conversation was getting uncomfortably personal.
“What? It’s true,” Fiona said. “I looked them up when we were at the hotel a few nights back. These two competed a few years ago and stayed on as Salvage Tamers until their Djinn leveled out. They couldn’t make the cut to move into the Silver League in time.”
“Not all of us can get mommy and daddy to fund our passions,” Sloan said. “We have to make money somehow.”
“You think that’s the only thing that sets us apart?”
“Ladies, ladies!” Vega said, standing between the two. “There’s nothing to be gained by fighting amongst ourselves right now. And Sloan, given that I cut your checks, I’d appreciate it if you let personal slights go in service of your job here.”
Sloan eyed Fiona and then turned away to help Heath set up camp. The conversation may have de-escalated, but Jackson knew Fiona had cut too deep with her insults.
“All Fiona’s asking,” Jackson said, “is if you have a Water-Elemental Djinn.”
“No,” Sloan said, pulling a tent from her pack.
“Great. Then Fiona’s point still stands,” Jackson said.
“Maybe we should just all go to bed?” Kay suggested. “It’s been a long day and I’m sure we could all use the rest before tomorrow comes.”
“Finally, someone speaks some sense,” Vega said.
“But Fiona brings up a good point,” Jackson said to Vega and Kay. “What level are these Trollava? Level 20, 30? We’re going to have to tag team them and hope we get lucky. If we’re attacked by a group, what’s the plan?”
“From what I have learned, the Trollava are singular creatures, each living in defined territories by themselves,” Vega said. “Ultimately, you all are the ones with the Djinn.”
“And I think we need to have a plan,” Jackson said. “What about your tranquilizers?”
“I don’t think tranquilizers would even pierce their skin,” Vega replied with a shake of his head.
“Then why bother bringing them in the first place?” Fiona said.
“There are other creatures on this island too!”
Jackson held up his hand between the two of them. “Hang on. These things are solitary creatures, right?”
Fiona’s face lit up. “Right. That can be used to our advantage,” Fiona said. “Especially with your new Aquestria. If you’re willing to use it, Jack, I think we have a good chance of taking these things down, no problem.”
“So, what strategy did you have in mind?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
A couple of hours later, after putting their egos aside, Fiona, Heath, Sloan, and Jackson made a plan. They may not have liked each other, but the job was too important to skimp on the strategy against what could be their strongest enemy. After ironing out the details, Fiona bid everyone a tense goodnight. Vega, Heath, and Sloan had set up a miniature camp of their own a dozen or so feet away, leaving Jackson and Kay alone with their quiet conversation.
The night was warm and thousands of stars filled the sky overhead, even with the light of a moon, just a sliver away from full. Jackson hadn’t wanted to sleep in his tent, but the hordes of stinging, biting insects that came out at night convinced him he needed some protection once they shut off the bug light for bed.
In between the quiet tones of their conversation, Jackson and Kay listened to the sounds of Lyotes howling. The sound came from all around them, but sounded far enough away that Jackson didn’t feel any immediate concern. Each forlorn note drove home the impending decision that Jackson faced.
“What if it doesn’t work?” Jackson asked Kay. “There are still dozens of things that could go wrong. If it doesn’t work, then what? Asena could be ruined forever.”
“Jackson,” Kay said in a soft voice. She moved over and put a comforting arm around him. Thinking back to what Fiona had told him about Kay’s feelings, Jackson felt himself stiffen and had to force himself to relax. Kay didn’t seem to notice.
“You’re not going to ruin Asena,” she continued. “She’s an amazing Djinn and you’re a smart tamer. An overly-anxious tamer —but a smart one. You’ve got to stop putting so much pressure on every move you make. Chill. Out.”
In spite of his internal turmoil, Jackson couldn’t help but grin. Kay could make him feel better no matter how bad things looked. Or at least make him realize he was blowing things out of proportion, which happened more often than he would ever admit to her.
“I know, but it’s a big deal,” he said. “I feel like Asena is my mom’s legacy.”
“Way to downplay her published research, Jack.”
You know what I mean. Her legacy to me. And it feels like it even more so since I found all of her research. With all the knowledge we’ve found of hers, it’s an obligation. I have no reason not to make this work. She gave me Asena, she gave me this research, and now I have to go that last ten percent and make it count.”
Kay gave him a friendly squeeze on the shoulder.
“See what I mean by putting too much pressure on yourself? I think you’re doing fine.” She stood up and yawned. “But I’m going to bed. You’re going to have to do this angst thing by yourself the rest of
the night.”
As she stood, Jackson felt his stomach twist. Like it or not, he needed to say something while he had the chance alone with Kay.
“Hey… hold on a second.”
Kay raised an eyebrow in an exaggerated questioning glance. Jackson forced a smile, then just decided to get it out. “So…while Fiona and I were lost, she told me…” Jackson stopped. He probably shouldn’t be saying this.
“Told you what?” Kay said.
“Ah, you know what? Never mind.”
“Nah-uh, you can’t do that,” Kay said. “You can’t tease me with a secret and just leave me hanging.”
“Forget about it.”
“Oh yeah, like that’d be an easy thing to do. Just tell me.”
Jackson bit his lip. “She told me…that you sort of used to have a thing for me.”
The joking, half-smile vanished from Kay’s face and she looked like a Deerun in the headlights. “She told you that?” Kay said in a mortified whisper.
There was a long silence between the two before Kay’s face split into a grin and she burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, nothing’s funny,” Kay said, wiping a tear from her eye.
“Then why are you laughing?”
“It was just so long ago,” Kay said. “I almost forgot that I used to feel that way, you know? Yeah, there was once a time when I wondered if we could be something else, but with me going to school and you being a tamer and stuff, it’s just not a possibility. That’s why I didn’t want you to know. You’re my best friend and I don’t want to make things weird between us.”
A wave of relief washed over Jackson. He wasn’t sure how he felt about her laughing, but the conversation, as a whole, was turning out a lot better than he could have hoped. “I’m so glad you said that. I really wouldn’t want to mess up anything. Forget I brought it up?”
Djinn Tamer - The Complete Bronze League Trilogy Page 72