"He's just my horse! Put your weapon down!" Alyssa cried out.
Lucky walked up towards Alyssa and neighed before Squeak swung at him with her pickaxe, the horse bucking back and crying out as the ant girl swiped around while squeaking loudly.
"Don't, Squeak! He's not going to hurt us, he's just our horse!" Daniel pleaded as he grabbed the ant girl's arm and tried to pull her back. He was however unsuccessful as the girl was stronger than she appeared, and didn't budge at all from his attempts to stop her.
Lucky neighed loudly then snarled as his eyes glowed red. The group watched as his white hair shifted to black while his tail ignited and burned brightly. Skeletal wings extended out from his back, arching out as smoke came from his mouth. Squeak stared with shock at the monster as it snarled at her and kicked around. The group looked at the demonic horse then to Squeak, the ant girl frozen in place as she stared with unblinking eyes at the demonic horse.
"Lucky! Calm down, she's not going to hurt you! It's ok!" Alyssa pleaded as she watched her horse cry out in fear. Daniel and Triska watched the horse buck around then looked back to Squeak. The ant girl didn't move an inch as the horse cried out with smoke coming from its mouth, snarling at her with glowing red eyes.
"Calm down, Lucky! She's not going to hurt you! She's friendly! Really! She's-" Alyssa said before looking back to the ant girl. Daniel waved his hand in front of Squeak’s eyes and got no reaction. Triska snapped her fingers in front of her, also getting no reaction.
"She's gone," Triska said shaking her head. The group blinked and looked down to see a small amount of liquid running down the ant girl's leg to the ground.
"Did she just pee on herself?" Alyssa asked raising an eyebrow. Squeak wavered then collapsed down to the side, still remaining frozen as she kept her stance. The group just looked down at the ant girl as she was as solid as a statue.
"She's petrified with fear. Literally," Daniel said shaking his head.
"Wow, Lucky scared her into a comatose state," Triska said nudging Squeak with her foot, the ant girl remaining solid and ridged as she kept staring into space. Daniel sighed and looked to Lucky, the horse neighing while Alyssa was gently brushing its nose. The witch cooed him gently then looked at the ant girl with concern. Squeak remained frozen in place as her eyes refused to blink or move at all. Alyssa eyed the frightened monster for a moment then glanced to Daniel.
"Well… good thing you picked the brave ant girl out of the bunch," she said with a shrug.
"What do you mean?" Daniel asked looking down to the girl that was frozen in fear from seeing the most horrific and frightening thing in her entire life. Alyssa looked to her and raised an eyebrow.
"If you had picked one that was more cowardly than her, we might have witnessed your 'proof' soiling herself."
*****
Under the night sky that had a few stars among it a small campfire could be seen in the rolling plains. Next to a tree Lucky was sitting down on the ground, the horse back in his normal form as Alyssa was gently brushing his nose and smiling softly. She looked over towards the fire and saw Triska laying out a blanket for herself. She set her sword down next to her duffel bag then looked over towards the tree. Under it a blanket was laid out, and on it Daniel was laying against his backpack while Squeak was curled up into a ball next to him, her eyes glancing to the horse nearby with fear as she trembled. Her pickaxe was resting against the tree, the weapon having been pried from her grip after the group carried the petrified ant girl over to a nearby tree to make camp. She had eventually snapped out of her shocked state, and then promptly curled into a defensive ball to hide as soon as she saw the horse again. Daniel was looking at the new girl with worry then to his friends, both of them watching the ant girl shake a bit. Daniel looked down to her again and gently rested his hand to her shoulder, the girl quickly looking to him while remaining curled up.
"It's ok, Squeak, he's not going to hurt you. He's our horse, he's going to be helping us travel," he reassured gently. Squeak looked at him curiously as her antennae twitched a bit. He smiled and nodded as he looked over to the horse nearby.
"He's really friendly, just don't scare him like that again, ok?" he said. Squeak slowly nodded and sat up next to him, then looked over towards the horse. Alyssa brushed Lucky’s nose again then smiled at Squeak.
"He's all show and no bite, don't worry. He won't hurt you," she promised. Squeak just looked at the horse carefully for a moment then glanced to Daniel. After a pause she slowly laid next to him and rested her head on his chest, the boy watching with a slight jump as the two other girls growled in annoyance.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing? You're sleeping over there, not with Daniel," Triska said pointing to another blanket that was laid out next to hers. Squeak looked over to her for a moment then snuggled closer to Daniel, squeaking softly as she held onto his shirt gently.
"Hey, get off of him!" Alyssa yelled out as she grabbed her staff while Triska grabbed her sword.
"Whoa, calm down. She's not hurting anyone, she's just scared still," Daniel said looking down to the ant girl, the monster glancing to Lucky before closing her eyes. She was breathing softly as she squeaked quietly, nuzzling next to Daniel as she trembled slightly. Triska and Alyssa paused then slowly lowered their weapons.
"Be that as it may, she can't sleep with you," Triska said shaking her head. Daniel looked down to the ant girl's hands that were holding onto his shirt and then to her. He gently grabbed the hands and tried to remove them, the girl then quickly looking up at him with worried eyes. She squeaked and shook her head, then nuzzled closer to him while laying her head on his chest. Alyssa and Triska growled with bared teeth as Daniel sighed quietly.
"It's ok, Squeak, he's not going to hurt you. I promise," he said gently. Squeak slowly looked up to him as he smiled at her. She tilted her head slightly as her antennae twitched a bit.
"It's fine, why don't you go lay down on your blanket and rest? We'll have a busy day tomorrow going to Ashwood then off into the wilderness again looking for monsters like you," he suggested calmly. Squeak looked at him curiously then smiled softly, then leaned up and kissed his cheek gently. It caused a euphoric sensation to wash across his cheek for a moment, the boy blinking a few times to clear his vision. Triska and Alyssa growled loudly as the ant girl stood up then slowly walked over to her mat, all while Daniel looked at her with a curious eye. The other two girls watched her carefully then glanced back to him, the boy merely shrugging with a weak smile. Squeak laid down on her sleeping mat then curled into a ball again, slowly closing her eyes. She seemed to be sleeping as she squeaked silently with each breath.
"There, you see? She just needed to be calmed down, you didn't have to yell at her," Daniel said bringing out his monster book from his bag.
"That still doesn't mean she can just kiss you like that," Triska muttered with discontent while sitting down. Daniel smiled weakly at that and shook his head as he opened his book. Alyssa nodded then glanced to Daniel.
"What are you doing, Daniel?" she asked.
"Just writing in what I learned about the ant girls and their queen. I need to keep track of what monsters can be our allies and document as much as I can about them," Daniel said as he started writing on a blank page. Alyssa hopped over and nuzzled under his arm as she looked at the book with a bright smile, while Daniel looked at her with a bit of surprise and Triska growled loudly at her.
"Wow, you're so smart, Daniel," Alyssa said happily.
"Alyssa, get away from him. Now!" Triska yelled out. Alyssa looked to her and held a finger up to her mouth.
"Shh, Squeak's sleeping," she said quietly. Triska yelled and ran over to the witch, yanking her away as Daniel watched them worriedly.
"Don't give me that crap, you little witch, she's asleep on her blanket, and you're staying on yours!" Triska yelled out. Alyssa held her hand up towards her then flicked a finger casually, causing Triska to fly back into a tumble from a magical force. Alyssa straightened ou
t her shirt then skipped playfully back to Daniel, sitting down next to him with an adorable smile while he merely sighed.
"Sorry about that, Daniel, please continue," she said happily while nuzzling against his arm.
"Alyssa! Leave him alone!" Triska yelled as she ran over and grabbed the witch's necklace, yanking it away as Alyssa gasped with surprise. She then screamed and lunged towards Triska, tackling her to the ground. As they rolled around on the ground fighting over the witch's focuser Daniel watched with a tired expression.
‘Looks like I'm not going to be writing anything tonight.’
As the witch and human yelled at each other and Daniel kept telling them to please calm down, Squeak was looking at the travelers with a curious glance while she was lying down. She watched Alyssa bite at the human girl's hands while Triska was trying to yank the witch off of her by the hair, all while Daniel kept pleading for them to please stop their constant fighting. As Squeak watched the commotion she smiled softly, looking back to Daniel as he sat there with exasperation. She remembered her queen's words while down below in the nest, the words that echoed in her mind.
"You, follow this boy and do as he says. Help him achieve his goal in this world with gathering the proof that he needs."
The ant girl squeaked softly as she watched him sit back with a sigh while his two companions rolled around yelling at each other. She had her orders, to follow him and do as he said. To protect him on his journey to find other monsters that could be peaceful, and to be his proof that her race could coexist with mankind.
"I am not requiring you to choose one as a mate, Daniel, only that you at least take one with you as your proof that you need. Of course, should you choose to mate with her that would be even more proof that our kind can coexist."
Squeak slowly closed her eyes as she remembered her queen’s words, determined to be all the proof she could be for Daniel.
Chapter 10
Rivalry
Rivalry between women in the world of Eden was very common, as they had to compete with not only each other but monsters for the men they wanted. The women would use any means they could to win the hearts of those they desired, lest another take him away. The same was with monsters as well, as each one wanted a mate to breed with and weren't usually willing to share with others. In a way the human women and monsters weren't so different in that regard, as once they found the ideal mate for them they would typically fight with their all to get him. And when it became a case of more than two potential callers all vying for one male's heart, whether they were human or not, there was only one rule they would follow.
It was every woman for herself.
*****
Another day began as the sun slowly started to rise over the horizon, the light moving along the rolling plains while a few clouds drifted by above. Near a tree next to the dirt road Triska was resting quietly, having a soft smile on her face while she dreamt peacefully. A gentle breeze flew by and a few strands of her hair moved across her face, her nose twitching a bit before her hand brushed them away by reflex. She rolled onto her side and murmured quietly, lost in her dream about the boy she desired more than anything in the world.
Triska was standing by a cliffside overlooking a blue sea, her hair gently flowing in the wind behind her as she smiled contently. She sighed happily then looked behind her, seeing Daniel walking up to then holding her from behind around her waist. Laying her head back against his shoulder she held his arms gently, relishing the feeling of him holding her close like this. He nuzzled close to her cheek while holding her gently, the girl smiling softly as she traced her fingers along his hand. The grass beneath their feet gently swayed in the breeze as they looked out at the blue sea together.
"This is perfect, just you and me together like this. It's like a dream," Triska said gently.
"Why didn't you ever tell me how you felt before, Triska? You know I wouldn't have turned you away," Daniel asked with a playful hug. Triska blushed and looked down timidly, holding onto his arms securely.
"I couldn't help it, I was scared," she said softly. He chuckled and glanced to her with an amused smile.
"You? Triska Raylight? Scared of something? Say it isn't so," he said in jest. She giggled and nodded.
"Compared to fighting monsters in the world… telling you the truth was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I don't know… it's just…" she trailed off quietly. After a pause she slowly looked back to him with a worried smile.
"What if you didn't… feel the same way?" she asked. He smiled and turned her to face him, the girl looking at him with loving eyes.
"How could you even for a moment think I wouldn't have felt the same way?" he asked. His arms held her around the waist securely as she gazed into his eyes, her heart beating faster as she gently rested her hands against his chest.
"Can you blame me for being scared? Saying those three words to you… took all my courage to do," she confessed. He smiled and gently brushed the hair around her ear and held the back of her head, the girl smiling softly at him.
"But you said them, nothing can scare you, Triska," he reassured gently. She blushed and smiled at him lovingly, nodding and slowly leaning in closer.
"To think… it seemed nearly impossible for me before, but now… it just seems so natural," she said softly.
"Then say it again, Triska," he said as he leaned closer. She closed her eyes and moved towards his lips with hers, feeling her heart beating even faster.
"Daniel, I lo-"
"Triska!" Alyssa cried out, with Triska then jumping up with a scream as she was woken from her dream. She looked around franticly in a daze then paused, then looked over to see Alyssa sitting next to her with a worried expression.
"Wha… Alyssa? What the hell? Why did you have to wake me up like that? I was so close! I was so close to saying it and you had to open your big mouth! Why?" Triska yelled out with anger. Alyssa looked at her bewildered then shook her head.
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but get up quickly! Something's wrong with Daniel!" she cried out. Triska paused for a moment, and then jumped up with surprise.
"What? Daniel? What's wrong with him?" she urgently asked looking over towards where Daniel was sleeping. She saw Squeak sitting next to him with a fearful expression, watching him while he was lying on his blanket. Triska scrambled over there as Alyssa followed and looked down at him with a panic.
"Daniel? Daniel! What's wrong, are you ok?" Triska asked worriedly. She looked over him franticly then showed a confused expression. He was lying on his blanket with a relaxed pose while he was still dressed in his clothing from the other day, snoring as he had a bit of drool coming from the side of his mouth. His arms and legs were lying causally on the blanket while his head was resting on his pillow. Triska looked at him puzzled then over to Alyssa, the witch gripping her hat with fear.
"What's wrong with him, Triska? He's making those horrible sounds with his mouth," she said shaking her head. Triska looked at the witch with a baffled expression then over to Squeak, the ant girl also showing fear and confusion as to Daniel's snoring. She had her hands shakily above his shoulder, unsure if she should move him or leave him be.
"Um… what are you talking about? He's just snoring," Triska said shaking her head. Alyssa and Squeak looked to her curiously then down to Daniel as he continued to sleep rather loudly.
"What? Snoring?" Alyssa asked confusedly. Triska looked at her with a perplexed expression then sat back on the ground.
"Yeah, he's just asleep and snoring. How could you not know what that is?" she asked looking between the two monster girls.
"But… he wasn't making those sounds when we were asleep in the carriage before, or after I first met him," Alyssa said worriedly.
"Yeah, lucky you. He's normally a loud sleeper, as you can tell," Triska said looking at Daniel with an amused smile. She knew very well about his sleeping habits and how he snored pretty much every night, as it was easy to hear whenever she dro
pped by for an early visit, yet still found him cute and attractive nonetheless. Alyssa and Squeak looked closely at Daniel, by leaning in closer to his face of course, while he snored loudly. Triska watched with an annoyed stare as the monster girls examined him curiously while extremely close to his face.
"So… he's ok then?" Alyssa asked looking to Triska. She nodded and smirked slightly.
"Of course he is, how could you not know what snoring is?" she asked. Alyssa sat back and looked down at Daniel curiously.
"I don't know, I've never really stayed with the men before after I charmed them to see how they sleep. I never heard a human making those sounds before," she said scratching her head. Squeak looked at Daniel curiously then to Triska, squeaking something as her antennae twitched. Triska looked at her puzzled and raised an eyebrow.
"Um… what?" she asked. Squeak pointed to Daniel then squeaked again with a curious expression. Triska glanced to Alyssa as the witch merely shrugged.
"I… don't know what you're trying to say," Triska said plainly. Squeak looked at her worriedly then over to Alyssa, waving her arms around wildly as she squeaked something. Alyssa just watched her with a raised eyebrow and then shook her head.
"We can't understand you, Squeak," she simply stated. The ant girl looked between them then down to Daniel with worry. Triska watched the ant girl showing fear in her eyes, and then smiled calmly at her.
"Hey, it's ok. I already told you he's just snoring, he always does that when he's asleep," she explained.
"Always?" Alyssa asked with wide eyes as she looked to her. Triska smiled arrogantly and nodded.
"Yeah, every night since he was young. It's just something he does. I personally don't mind however, but does that bother you, Alyssa?" she asked with an inquisitive glance. Alyssa looked at her with concern then down to Daniel, who continued to snore loudly while blissfully asleep. Triska crossed her arms and smiled smugly while Squeak eyed the human boy curiously.
"Just imagine, if you were his mate you'd have to listen to that every night," she said with a nod.
chronicles of eden - act I Page 29
