Dreamer's Melody

by J E Mueller

  This was going to be a longer trip than I planned.

  Of course, Canton couldn’t seem to be silent, and we had creature after creature to fight. The next set I was surprised he didn’t feel coming. The Dilus was one we saw outside all the time, and I knew he had had at least a few adventures out here.

  “Aim for the good eye!” I called the reminder to everyone as we took on four of them.

  Canton swore I was lying and that you aimed for the heart, but everyone ignored him, disposing of the creatures in record time.

  It amazed me that the things that we feared so much days ago for their crazy high pain tolerance and unwillingness to just leave us alone could be fairly simply killed.

  Canton had a much more muffled outburst as we pressed on, taking on another set of four of what I assumed was called the Rikettet, before finally making some good headway.

  As things stayed quiet, Canton started to get louder and louder once more. Benz could only tell him to keep it down so much before he tuned us out. I had no idea why he even insisted on coming with if he was just going to be trouble.

  “Quiet down, guys. We’ve attracted company. It’s Dilus again.” I motioned in the direction they were coming from. Thankfully, they were making noise so I didn’t need to explain anything again.

  Ellyn flipped her throwing knives restlessly. “Aim for the small eye?” I nodded and she smiled. “Awesome. I’ve got this.”

  Consta readied her explosives. “I’m also ready. Hopefully, it’s not too many…”

  “I don’t think it is,” Ellyn stated. “Though if they keep screeching when we fight them, they may attract more. We should focus on getting them in as few hits as possible.”

  Canton grumbled to himself. “There’s just two.”

  “Perfect. One for each blade.” Ellyn smirked.

  “Can I get one?” Benz pleaded with her. “These don’t even bite.”

  Kip let out an obnoxious laugh. Before anyone else could reply the two creatures were upon us. Ellyn hit one in its good eye, causing it to crumble. The other one got hit in the skull and didn’t pause in its attack. Consta pushed in front of Benz and managed to strike the creature in the eye with her explosive rocks from a distance. The thing didn’t even consider blocking until it was already too late. Benz shook his head in defeat before laughing it off.

  Ellyn smiled proudly as the creature crumpled to the ground. “What’s next? This isn’t as bad as I thought.”

  “We keep moving,” Benz instructed. “Those things give me the creeps.”

  “More than the spiders?” Gretta asked as she started to follow behind Benz.

  “That’s a tough question,” Benz considered, carefully navigating over some unearthed roots. “I don’t think I want to rate which things are the creepiest. That’s like asking the universe to find something worse.”

  I chuckled. “I agree. Let’s not.”

  I carefully followed behind everyone, dodging branches, and trying to not trip over roots, while keeping close tabs on everything close to us. I wanted to know if anything stood a chance of finding us before it could be trouble.

  It seemed like we had walked a long time before something finally popped up on my radar once more. I couldn’t help but wonder how much quicker this could have gone if we didn’t have Canton to deal with.

  Before I could call out to Benz, Canton did. “Something ahead. Not the same thing as before,” he stated rather gruffly.

  Benz halted the group. “Everyone remember how to kill the things we’ve taken on already? If one spot doesn’t work, try another. Don’t waste time retrying the same old method.” His voice was low, but I couldn’t mistake the earnest look on his face. He wanted his all to get out of here quickly, and alive.

  Midge gave a low growl.

  “Shhh.” I tried to calm it. “We’ll attack when it’s close.”

  Ahead, it took a moment, but I could see something moving very slowly and deliberately along the darkening tree line. Something about its shape seemed more animalistic. Maybe it was slow and relied on not being noticed. That seemed a fair, guess but I didn’t hold my breathe. Everything seemed to want us dead in a rush.

  To my surprise, the creature broke through the trees and didn’t stop running toward us. It seemed surprised to see us and crashed into a tree while distracted. The creature looked like an awkward cross between a human and a wolf. While it was running on all fours, it could stand upright. The thing was covered in patches of hair and seemed to have almost gray skin and glowing orange eyes.

  Benz didn’t let it recover before charging at it, his long sword drawn high. The creature shook off its stupor from hitting the tree and growled before charging at Benz. The creature hardly picked up speed before Benz faked a swipe at it, causing the creature to try and jump. Benz was ready for that maneuver and cut upward getting it in the ribs. The creature let out a blood-curdling scream before Benz could deliver the final blow to the guts. The scream was horrendously loud before it went limp.

  I looked from the dead creature back to the treeline. If it wasn’t running for us, what was it running from? I let my magic flow forward. Seven more creatures I sensed were coming toward us in almost a U shape. Midge began to growl even louder and I didn’t bother to hush it. Midge could, and would, take care of itself. The creatures were still incoming, and were all different distances away, but with their rate of travel we would have no time.

  “Seven incoming!” I called, not caring who knew.

  Canton was about to argue with me when one emerged from the trees near him, turning things quickly into a battle for all. The creatures were dark and appeared to be dressed in black cloaks, but from the looks of it, it was more likely their skin and bodies than clothing.

  I managed a headshot before Midge tore out its guts with their teeth and claws. Midge horrified me with how quickly she went from super cute to alarmingly menacing, with blood dripping from its mouth. Midge didn’t wait to see if it was going to move again before going onto the next creature.

  Kip took several steps back toward me, all the while casting fire at the creature Midge had decided to take on from behind. “I am now really glad they are on our side.” He was as shocked as I was. Kip let off his fire and looked for a new target.

  “Cute and deadly has a new face,” I agreed, mostly speaking to myself as I moved to help Season. “I’m not going to stop them.”

  While Kip agreed with me, I could hear Canton grumbling as they took down the remaining creature. The rest didn’t seem to mind the help.

  “Stupid pests…” He made to kick at Midge as the polycoy let go of the creature’s backside but Benz pulled him back.

  “Are you stupid, man? Didn’t you just see what it did?” Benz shook his head. “That and never kick someone’s pet. Geeze.” Benz gave Canton a disgusted look.

  “It’s a nightmare creature that’s tamed by a bitch Creator. We don’t need them.” Canton grunted.

  “They’ve proven their worth.” Benz didn’t back down. After a moment Canton huffed and walked off to the side. There was no running away in the middle of horror forest on your own.

  I made a note of Canton’s words. I knew he wasn’t team Creator, but I didn’t realize how against them he was.

  Benz watched Canton for a moment before addressing the rest of us. “We should be getting close. Let’s keep moving.”

  Without a word, everyone followed. I kept my eye on Canton as he stayed near the back with me. I still didn’t trust him, and his actions weren’t any better. Why did he even come along? He hardly looked like he wanted to be here. Gretta and Kip acted as if this was normal. Maybe it was. Either way, I tried to not let him out of my line of sight for too long.

  I still had to scope the forest though. Canton wasn’t a reliable Tracker. He hardly seemed to know what was coming or how many. A ways in the distance, I noticed several figures, but before that point was the tree we needed.

  Benz gave a laugh when he saw it. “We did it.”
He smirked and looked back at us.

  I held my hand up, flicking my fingers up and down, trying to explain there were many enemies ahead. “Let’s get to looking.” I kept my voice low, making the point to be quiet obvious.

  Season glanced at me. “That hushed voice doesn’t sound excited,” she replied in an equal tone.

  “I don’t want to attract anything.” I shrugged, giving as best a smile as I could. “We’re too close.”

  Season nodded. “Agreed.” She looked to Ellyn and then to Midge. “At least it seems to think we’re okay for a moment.”

  Since we paused in walking, Midge was trying to clean its face off, hardly bothered by the fact we were in a very dangerous place. It’s cat-like cleaning motionings were calming, at least. We had some time to work before something was near.

  Benz had already started moving toward the tree with Gretta and Kip. Consta was eyeing the forest carefully with Season and Ellyn at her side. I couldn’t blame them. Canton was still huffing and grumbling by us. With a shrug I motioned for those of us who hadn’t started for the tree to continue on. Midge happily followed close behind.

  Before we could get there, Benz was already scaling the tree. He reached the lowest branch he could sit on and started to motion for Kip to join him. I made a slow arch around the tree as Midge followed, the rest spreading out and looking carefully. No one wanted to get too far. At least the creatures weren’t too close yet. We had time.

  I glanced at the tree to see Gretta had climbed up a little higher than where Kip and Benz were searching. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be at the top. It would probably be somewhere annoying like that though.

  The creatures hadn’t moved at all and were still a good distance away. Perfect. I turned to look at Canton who was grumbling at his sword. Something about too many plans tonight. Weird. I turned back to the group as Benz was descending the tree and heard Canton say something odd, or odder anyway.

  “Better to just kill ya now. Less work for Clove tonight,” he stated.

  I turned around, confused as he ran at me with his sword. I tried to block with my sword but was too slow, he had caught me off guard. I heard screaming from all around as Canton got me square in the gut. Benz’s scream was the loudest.

  I was surprised it hurt more for him to remove the sword. The pain plunged through the wound more roughly than I thought was possible. A fear unlike any other gripped me. This was it. This could be my end. I could die now. At least when I had been alive I didn’t know the fever was taking me…

  I was only pissed off it was to someone as scummy as Canton and not to at least an epic creature.

  I hardly remembered hitting the ground. Screaming of all sorts reached my ears as did an oddly warm feeling. I saw Midge lunge at Canton, ripping into his sword arm, causing him to scream and try to shake the creature off. The polycoy is an outdoor hunter, which Canton seemed to have forgotten. In another second, Midge had torn Canton’s arm off entirely. For a moment, Midge shook the arm before dropping it and tackling Canton to the ground.

  Darkness start to glaze my vision as I heard people approach me, their voices blending too much together. It might not be too late, maybe they could apply pressure and get me back. Someone was pressing something on me. While the healing sensation felt warm, everything else felt so very cold. I couldn’t feel my toes or my nose. I couldn’t quiet my cough and it felt like something was stuck in my throat. My vision was spotted black and everything was blurry.

  There was no stopping it. I had to close my eyes.

  Deep breath. A voice I hadn’t heard before instructed.

  I tried, but it was so hard to breathe.

  You’re nearly healed. You’ll survive this.

  Thanks random, voice. As convincing as it wanted to be, I was feeling colder and no better. What did a voice know, anyway?

  You need to head back now. I can’t keep this many creatures at bay.

  “Go,” I choked out. I hardly knew why I was trying to get that voice’s message out. “Home. Now.” I could barely get single words out.

  Someone lifted me up. I could hear growling and then it felt like the air was moving quickly around me. Was someone trying to run with me? I was dying. It would be easier to leave me. It hurt too much to try and stay. Instead, I let the darkness claim me.

  The darkness didn’t last long as I awoke, still being carried. From the scent of fresh air, I was assuming we were still outside. I wanted to ask questions, but my tongue felt dry and my eyes were still heavy.

  We should be nearly back. Lydia’s voice called in my head.

  That was nice to hear, but I couldn’t figure out how I was still alive to hear it.

  The voice I heard saying I’ll survive this spoke again. It was thanks to your friends. They found the gauntlet I was attached to. It has healing qualities.

  Ah, good old healing magic, and we found the artifact! I guess I wasn’t stabbed a moment too soon, though I could have done without the pain. I groaned as whoever was carrying me stumbled over something. At least we didn’t fall.

  Rest, we’re nearly back. The male voice said once more.

  It finally clicked in my head who I was speaking with. Emmyth. I let the fact wash over me as sleep claimed me once more.

  Chapter 24

  Remi

  Emmyth was a breath of fresh air to communicate with, though he was quick to explain the lesson. I was behind on several adventures, including the one that got him to me. Mare was severely injured and the only positive light of the whole adventure was that Canton was now dead.

  I let the lesson replay in my mind. Emmyth was thankfully blunt in the how-to of things. Apparently, while he was all for proper training and protocol, there wasn’t time for that so I needed the abbreviated course.

  What that meant was seeing me and my learning through his own memories. The earliest one was of me. I was maybe eight with pigtails, and a sad, tear-filled face. Emmyth remembered seeing me sitting in the kitchen as a Dreamer upset that the zappy hedgehogs had tried to hurt me.

  He helped me uncover my magic, to show me back then as he did now how to see around them. The desire to know where things were helped call the second vision and I was able to see where all the creatures were for several halls over. It could see a good distance in the forest. Sneaking around was never a problem for me. It was a gift not of this place, but a talent one of the Creators gifted me. Emmyth didn’t know who, no one would fess up to it, but it wasn’t him.

  Wearing the gauntlet that sealed Emmyth, I made my way back to the third floor library, which was now our second safe zone thanks to Estella.

  I could only imagine that conversation, Marella explaining that this creature would in fact protect them, simply because I had managed to befriend her. Knowing Marella, I doubt she included any details. Those were more important for later to her. I probably would never get the reasoning behind half her thoughts, but no matter.

  I quickly made my way up, using my new talent to help me bypass all creatures around me. Which, to be fair, was another shame on Marella for keeping it hidden in hopes I’d just discover it again. She had made the others find an artifact of something I could naturally do.

  With magic over my vision, things took a red hue and I could easily see where all the creatures in a fairly large radius were, which seemed like most of the floor. Was the artifact they found that good? Pushing the thought to the side, I finally reached the third floor library.

  Estella blocked the door, which didn’t surprise me at all. She was easily the best protector for this place. She frowned at me, refusing to let me pass. It was nice to see her fully visible since we were on the third floor once more. It was weird only being able to see her when I was incorporeal elsewhere.

  “You should stay hidden,” she stated softly.

  “What good will that do?” I asked, surprised. “Seriously, I can’t think of anything.” This was just friends and allies here, after all.

  Estella hesitated. “Things are getting
more complicated.”

  “Okay, I should probably know more now instead of staying in the dark. Especially if things are getting that bad sort of complicated. Which seems to be the only complicated here.” Couldn’t it be the pleasant ‘trying to keep a present’ a secret complicated?

  With a sigh, Estella gave in. “That girl who runs the one alliance, she is trying to kill off any who may oppose her.”

  “I am not surprised Clove would do such a thing anymore. Considering that’s likely how I died last time.” Two deaths down, hopefully no more to go.

  Estella nodded slowly. “Your friend with the Tracking was almost killed by a plan from her.”

  Now that pissed me off. “Where is she? Is she doing okay now?”

  “She is alive and healed enough to be out of danger. She is resting,” Estella confirmed, but still refused to let me pass.

  “What is it now?” I grumbled at her.

  “I think it best if the others don’t see you yet,” Estella pressed. “They’ll want to journey with you and we need things done a certain way.”

  “And that way would be?” I crossed my arms and hoped this would be a good answer.

  “They will see Marella soon. Let them leave and then talk with your friend,” Estella replied simply. “Marella is going to suggest moving those artifacts here. Your friend the male…” She thought for a moment. “Benz, he can handle moving them here for safety. You need to do something more you.”

  I raised an eyebrow at that suggestion. “And what is more me?”

  “Save your sister.”

  I sighed. “I have heard she’s with the Watch.”

  “She will get you there.”

  I frowned, thinking about it. “The quickest way is through the tunnel, correct?” When Estella nodded I continued, “I wouldn’t put her through that. I need someone like Benz.”

  “But that girl will only try and kill your friend if she does the other mission.”

  I scoffed. “She will try and she will fail.”

  Estella smirked. “I do enjoy that attitude. Maybe it can be done. She did manage to survive this last plot.”