Essence of Gluic

by Anthony G. Wedgeworth

Avanda looked into Thorik’s fearful eyes, as though he saw her as some type of beast. “Thorik! Can you hear me?” she asked as she quickly began removing the insects from his limp body. “Don’t you dare leave me!” she shouted, turning him over to see a dozen more insects buried in his back.

  The sight of the clinging insects caused a wave of emotions through her. They were literally devouring her friend and companion, let alone the Runestone teacher she had emotionally fallen for. These vicious bugs were harming the one she loved and her fear of his death intertwined with an uncontrollable revengeful rage against them.

  Her anger at the insects drove her motions to quickly dig out every last one of them. Her hands bled from the insects fighting back and biting at her. At first she tossed them to the side, but it wasn’t long before her fury caused her to squeeze and crush each head after taking them out. The popping sound gave her satisfaction in repayment for their attack on Thorik.

  One after another, she ripped the insects from his back, legs, arms, stomach and chest. She continued to increase her speed as her anger grew and her concern for self-injury disappeared. Again and again she cursed them as she plucked them out.

  Before she knew it, she had removed them all. She searched his body one more time to ensure she hadn’t missed any. Standing up, she then stomped on any full or partial insects within a few yards of Thorik. She didn’t know how to stop her desire to fight something, anything, just to relieve the anger that had built up inside her.

  Frustrated, she turned to Thorik. His naked skin dripped of blood from small holes throughout his body. His injured arm was twisted under his chest and his legs were wrapped around each other. His face, normally ever so sweet to Avanda’s eyes, was now locked in a state of pain and fear.

  Her heart melted at the sight and her anger soon faded. Avanda’s feelings for him had grown ever since he became her Runestone teacher several years ago in Farbank. Back when life was simple, and fear of death was not a daily concern.

  Thorik’s body trembled, snapping her out of her momentary daydream. Avanda quickly covered him up, before she created a safer place for them to rest.

  After dragging Thorik’s unconscious body into a side cavern, near one of the soft glowing wall crystals, Avanda gently set his head on a pillow she had made from his backpack. She had removed the contents from the pack and filled it with guano to create a soft resting place.

  Grabbing his flint, she started a small fire with several handfuls of vines which she had ripped from the bluish crystal. Afterward, she had collected his clothes and placed them on the pile of his pack contents.

  Avanda had also found fresh water dripping down through the walls and ceiling. Using Thorik’s only remaining cooking pan; she had collected enough for them to drink and for her to wash out the insect bites.

  Once he was cleaned up, her concern turned to keeping the campfire going. This was their only source of heat and light, although a very faint glow emanated from the thick crystals.

  Many hours were spent leaning up against the crystal. She would feel relaxed and comforted while touching it. Even though it gave no heat, it warmed her insides and kept her spirits up.

  Avanda cradled Thorik’s head as she gave him sips of water each time before she took a sip for herself. Hours passed as she repeatedly washed his body to keep his wounds clean. When she became tired, she cuddled up against his back under his blanket, sharing her body heat with him. Then her hand wrapped around his side and lay upon his chest so she could tell if he was still breathing.

  This went on for days as she waited to be rescued. Never wavering and rarely sleeping, she constantly checked his breathing and fed him water. She became obsessed with keeping him alive.

  Over time she had learned that the centipedes could be eaten and the roaches burned like pieces of coal, so she made frequent trips back to the guano pile to keep the fire bright. Each time she did, she rushed back as quickly as possible, always fearful that something would try to harm Thorik while she was away.

  Her imagination began to get the better of her as she became convinced that the insects where plotting to take him. She could hear them whisper in the distance. Knowing they were watching her, she staggered her timing to collect water and roaches so they couldn’t plan properly.

  She began to have dreams of fighting off creatures to save Thorik’s life, but in her state of malnutrition and sleep deprivation, she struggled to tell the difference between dreams and reality. In her mind, she had saved his life a dozen times. She was losing her sense of reality.

  On the other hand, Thorik slept. He breathed and his heart continued to beat, but he did not wake.

  Preparing to sleep, Avanda pressed her chest up against his back and softly played with his hair. “Thorik, I promise to take care of you. You’re safe with me here.”

  After so many days with no one to talk to, she had become used to talking to Thorik while he slept.

  She pulled him in tight and sighed. “I know you’ve been alone since your parents died. And I also know how Emilen tempted you with love and then used it against you. I knew she was never right for you, anyway.” Avanda scowled at the thought of Thorik’s prior love and how she deceived him into falling into Darkmere’s trap. “Emilen is the reason Ambrosius is dead, and why you are here fighting for your life.”

  “But I’m here now. I’ve always been there for you. I…” she paused and reached her lips near his ear before whispering, “…I love you, Thorik Dain of Farbank.”

  And with those words, Thorik blinked and his lips began to move. Still in his sleep state, he managed a single reply before passing back out. “I love you too, Emilen.”

  Avanda froze. Her body went cold and she felt her heart miss a beat. Her body instantly broke contact with his as she rolled away. She then stared at him in disbelief. “No,” she muttered. “NO!” she shouted.

  “It’s not fair,” Avanda argued with the sleeping Num. “I’ve always loved you. Emilen pretended to love you, only to use you.” She stood up and glared at Thorik. “Emilen left you for dead, while I stayed at your side to keep you alive!”

  “Why? What’s so special about her?” Avanda waited for an answer, which she knew she wouldn’t get.

  “Would you prefer if I was ruthless and conniving? Perhaps if I lied to you. Or is it her looks? Is it?” Her voice was loud and angry as it echoed throughout the caverns. “Why won’t you love me instead of her? What’s wrong with me?”

  Avanda’s mind raced from topic to topic, trying to make sense of it all. “What did I do to you that was so wrong, making my love for you so distasteful? I deserve to know that! Don’t you think you owe me an answer?” Tears poured down her face as she yelled at him.

  Thorik continued to be silent.

  “Emilen. Emilen? How can you say her name, but you can’t say mine?” And with that she grabbed the pot of water and flung the liquid out toward him in an emotional outburst.

  The water splashed against his face, causing him to start choking.

  Avanda immediately realized that she had let her self-pity get the best of her. She quickly snapped out of it, dropped the pan, and ran to his side, hoping she hadn’t drowned him. “Thorik! Can you breathe?”

  “Yes,” he said as he coughed.

  He was awake! He had made it through the insect’s poison and had regained consciousness.

  “Oh, Thorik, I thought I had lost you. You’ve been passed out for so long that I didn’t think you were going to come back to me.” She leaned over his face with a smile that verged on becoming a cry.

  “Avanda, you pulled me through. You did it. You saved my life.”

  “You would have done the same for me.”

  Thorik looked deep into her tearful eyes and nodded. “Yes I would.”

  Chapter 4

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