Daniel watched the centaur blush and try to speak clearly while she stuttered every word she tried to say before looking to Pip as the fairy kept circling around him.
“Um, Pip? Where did you go this morning?”
Pip stopped instantly in front of him with shimmering specks flying off to the side from her sudden halt, watching Daniel curiously for a moment before giggling and hopping up and down in the air.
“I made them go away, Daniel! Aren’t you proud of me? Do you love me now? Do you? Do you?”
“Huh? Made who go away?” Daniel asked shaking his head in confusion.
“Hey,” Clover called out. The group looked over to see the elf hopping off the front seat of the cabin, still dressed in her apparel with her quiver again strapped to her back, walking over towards Daniel with a dull expression, then standing before him crossing her arms with a raised eyebrow at the boy.
“I’m hungry,” she flatly reported.
“Are you serious?” Kroanette dryly asked. “Now you expect us to feed you too?”
“It’s the least you could do after you all botched my mission yesterday,” Clover stated with a brief glance to her then back to Daniel. “Let’s go, get me something to eat.”
“Clover, I just woke up,” Daniel tiredly said as he saw the elf watching him with discontent. “We’ll be eating soon once everyone is up as well. And just so you know if you’re going to come with us then you need to adjust your attitude. For starters if you’re hungry you could ask politely for something to eat.”
Clover stared at him with a dull expression for a moment before grabbing his shoulders then kicking straight up between his legs again, striking the boy hard and causing him to cry out with a hoarse yelp before dropping to the ground. Kroanette and Pip stared at him with surprise while Clover scoffed down at the twitching boy.
“Please go get me something to eat,” Clover mocked.
“How dare you!” Kroanette yelled at the elf as she grabbed her whip and snapped it hard to the side. “How dare you touch Daniel like that!”
“Is he okay?” Pip asked as she watched Daniel holding in his whimpers while he kept his hands over his crotch and was lying down on the ground face first.
“Apologize to him this instant!” Kroanette demanded.
“Why? I said please,” Clover scoffed as she turned to walk back towards the caravan. Kroanette growled and got ready to charge after her before Daniel grabbed hold of one of her legs. She looked down to seeing him slowly getting up while shaking his head and coughing a bit.
“Don’t start a fight with her,” he said before she helped him stand up on his feet again. “I’d rather not find out how volatile she can get if provoked.”
“You’re not seriously going to allow that demon to come with us, are you?” Kroanette asked worriedly.
“We do need to talk to the elves still,” Daniel reminded her while cringing in pain. “They could be a big help to persuade the queen if their archers agree to ally with us. Besides, she’s not all that bad, she did save you and helped you and Triska survive in Rackleholm.”
“She saved me so I could be her personal horse,” Kroanette said shaking her head. “And she only helped us in Rackleholm because she was in danger too. She doesn’t care about us.”
“If that’s true she wouldn’t have shot one of the swarm that attacked Falla last night. She’s got a rough exterior, but I don’t think she’s evil at heart.”
“I don’t know about this, Daniel,” Kroanette voiced with concern. “I’m sure we can find others to aid with your quest. Taking her with us seems like a very bad idea.”
“What’s the worst that can happen?” Daniel weakly jested in response.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Clover yelled out from inside the cabin.
“I dare not tempt fate in answering you, Daniel,” Kroanette replied shaking her head.
Daniel quickly ran over to the caravan with Pip and Kroanette following after. He hopped up onto the seat then darted into the cabin while brushing aside the curtain. Pip zipped around him a few times before stopping over his shoulder while Kroanette propped her two front legs up onto the driver’s seat and leaned in through the entryway.
“Put that down right now!” Clover yelled while pointing at Luna, the butterfly girl standing over to the side of the room and holding the elf’s bow while trembling in fear. She was dressed in her normal attire again while she saw the fierce glare Clover was giving her as she carefully held the bow in her hands.
“I was just looking at it,” Luna whimpered before shakily setting the bow back down on the chair next to the sofa.
“Watch your language,” Specca scolded the elf with her hands at her hips while she sat at the edge of the bed. She had her petal skirt on however she had stopped changing into her shirt after the elf’s outburst just as the other girls had as well.
“There’s a little kid in here,” Triska snapped while holding her hands over Complica’s ears. The young butterfly was hugging Triska close and watching the intimidating elf with fearful eyes while Triska was only wearing her yellow shirt and underwear so far as she sat on the bed with the princess.
“For the record she pees when she gets scared,” Alyssa pointed out as she put on her stockings, her skirt being loosely fastened around her waist while her shirt was lying next to her on the bed. “And if she does you’re cleaning it up, it’s too early in the morning for us.”
Squeak merely squeaked something with a stern expression while pointing to the elf then to Luna. She was wearing her tunic and boots while sitting on the bed next to Alyssa where she had been putting on her boots before being interrupted by the elf’s loud language.
“She was just looking at it,” Falla dryly said while sitting in bed still with the covers over her lap. “Besides you left it there. If it’s so precious to you then don’t leave it lying around like that. In case you didn’t know we have a child and a Luna in here with us, they’re bound to find it out in the open.”
“She shouldn’t have been getting her grubby hands all over it in the first place!” Clover yelled as she marched over towards Luna, the butterfly girl shaking fearfully as she stumbled back onto the couch and leaned as far back into it as she could away from the elf. “The next time you touch it you’re dead! You got that?”
“I’m sorry,” Luna whined with tears forming in her eyes.
“Clover!” Daniel shouted out. All the girls looked to him as he walked towards the elf with a stern expression. “Don’t you dare yell at Luna like that. She was just curious, she wasn’t hurting anything.”
“It’s not hers!” Clover yelled out at him. “She shouldn’t have-”
“Enough!” Daniel ordered. Clover glared at him with bared teeth while Luna quickly darted around her and raced behind Daniel, holding onto his back and hiding her face with a whimper. “There is a young girl in this room right now, which alone is reason enough for you to watch your tongue, but if you ever threaten any of these girls again for any reason I will not forgive you. If you want us to give you a ride home and to offer our food to you, then you will apologize to Luna right now along with all of them for your behavior.”
“I don’t need to apologize to her,” Clover snapped.
“You made her cry,” Daniel scorned. “That is something I will not stand for. Now, apologize or get out. I’m not going to tolerate this behavior in our home.”
Clover growled with frustration then grabbed her bow and stormed off past him and Luna towards the entryway. She got to it and stopped as Kroanette quickly backed away outside, the elf then glancing back to Daniel with a scowl as he crossed his arms with a firm expression and Luna peeked over his shoulder at the abrasive girl.
“I hope that fairy blows you all to pieces,” Clover snapped before she left the cabin and jumped onto the ground. She stumbled with her footing at first then started walking off while yanking her cowl over her head and holstering her bow around her shoulder. Kroanette watche
d her go then hopped back onto the front seat and smiled weakly at Daniel.
“Well, it was a pleasure to have met her,” she quipped with a shrug.
“What a bitch,” Alyssa said shaking her head.
“I’m still amazed elves really are so… vulgar,” Specca mentioned while finishing getting dressed.
“Guess we can cross them off our list,” Triska mused as she put her pants on.
Daniel nodded then noticed Falla was just watching him while remaining silent. One by one all the girls realized this and turned to Falla as she stared at Daniel curiously.
“Falla? Are you feeling better now?” Daniel asked, getting only a nod out of the girl while she didn’t move to get out of bed or even brush away a few locks of hair that dropped over her eyes. After that got nothing else out of her Daniel smiled a bit and looked to Complica while she was still holding onto Triska.
“And how are you feeling now, Complica?” he kindly said. Complica glanced to him then looked up to Triska with eyes of wonder as she seemed to hold her closer.
“Why did you save me yesterday like that how come you came after me who are you where did you learn to fight with a sword like that that was so amazing I’ve never seen anyone fight like that before actually I’ve never seen anyone fight at all before you were so cool the way you were swinging and shouting I couldn’t believe someone like you came to find me who are you your name’s Triska right I like that name I’ve never heard that name before where did you come-” she rambled all in one go before frantically gasping for air as she clung to Triska’s side. Everyone just stared at her with wide eyes as the young princess tried to catch her breath while keeping her eyes on Triska.
“Um…” Triska slowly said.
“There wasn’t a single comma in that entire statement,” Specca marveled with disbelief.
Complica gasped for air a few times then hopped in front of Triska while holding her hand with hers as the teen just stared at her with stunned silence.
“Where did you come from why did you come here why were you in that spooky village anyway was that just to save me did you really come to save me from those monsters that was so cool you were just like those heroes told in storybooks only you’re real and they’re not and you have that cool sword can you show that to me again that was so amazing is it heavy it didn’t seem heavy with you using it but I bet its heavy where did you get it?”
All fell quiet in the cabin as everyone just watched the obviously energetic butterfly hopping around on her feet while she held onto Triska’s hand.
“She talks funny,” Pip mentioned before she landed down on Daniel’s shoulder.
“Why is she doing that?” Alyssa asked looking to Luna.
“She always talks a lot when she’s happy or curious about something,” Luna said with a smile at the young child. “That just shows she’s feeling better now.”
“She really seems to like you, Triska,” Falla mentioned. “What happened with you two in Rackleholm?”
“I just kept her safe from some of the swarm,” Triska unsurely said with a shrug before Complica started bouncing around the room giddily and spinning about.
“She killed so many with that sword she was like whack slash boom and they died left right center up down sideways all over the place it was amazing she fought off a gazillion of those things she was so brave and cool nothing made her cry or feel scared it was amazing it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen and she-” she rambled on and on before dropping down face first with a thump. Everyone jumped at seeing the young girl gasping loudly on the floor as she wearily tried to get up again.
“Good lord,” Specca said holding a hand to her chest. “She just doesn’t know when to stop.”
“Is she going to be alright?” Kroanette asked from the doorway.
“Yeah, she’ll be fine,” Luna said waving it off. “She passes out a lot every day. It’s normal for her.”
“She what?” Daniel asked in disbelief.
“That’s normal for her?” Alyssa questioned.
Complica staggered over and dropped onto the bed, clinging to the sheets before she looked to Triska with a big gasp and a wide smile.
“You’re so amazing!”
Triska stared at her for a moment with surprise then slowly showed a curious smile.
“Well, thank you.”
“Looks like you won her over, Triska,” Daniel said with a smirk at her.
Triska watched with awe as Complica scrambled across the bed and hugged her tightly again. She slowly held her arm around the young butterfly and looked to Daniel with a small shrug. Complica nuzzled against Triska’s side then watched as a blue light streaked around them before stopping in front of her, with Pip smiling curiously at the girl while her wings fluttered quickly behind her. The young princess smiled in wonder then tried to hold the fairy before she zipped to the side with a giggle. Everyone watched as Complica giggled as well and chased after her, the two flying and running around the room in circles together.
“She’s so sweet and adorable,” Specca praised while watching the butterfly run about with her wings waving behind her.
“I’m glad she’s alright,” Triska said before showing a saddened smile as she saw Complica stumble and fall before she got up again and ran after the giggling fairy. “Still, I wish we could have gotten to her before those men cut her wings.”
The group looked to Falla as she watched Complica running, her sorrowful frown and quivering lip showing she felt devastated at seeing her princess crippled.
“What happened to her?” she asked looking to Triska. “What happened to her, Triska?”
“The humans that kidnapped her did so because she lied to them about what she could do,” Triska explained remorsefully. “They cut her wings so she couldn’t get away from them. After that the swarm killed them, leaving her trapped in Rackleholm all alone and unable to fly away.”
Falla whimpered and looked down while closing her eyes. She wiped a few tears away and sniffled then saw Complica standing next to the bed watching her with worry.
“Complica,” Falla shakily said. “I’m so sorry, I’m sorry about what happened to you.”
“It’s not your fault, it’s mine,” Complica said looking down with remorse.
“No, it’s not,” Falla desperately insisted. “You didn’t know lying was bad, you were taught to do so. You didn’t know what else to do.” She watched as Complica looked back to her with saddened eyes before the child watched Pip as the fairy fluttered closer to her. The princess smiled softly and turned to look at the fairy with wonder, her wings remaining limp and swaying about behind her causing Falla to hold back her scream.
“It’s not fair,” Falla whimpered. “She’s just a kid, she didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve being grounded for life for doing what she’s been told.”
“Falla, I’m sorry,” Daniel gently told her.
“You need to talk to her mother, Daniel,” Falla ordered him with urgency. “You need to tell her what we think is wrong. Dammit, we can’t live like this anymore! Don’t let any more of my sisters get hurt because they think this is the only life we can have!”
The group watched as Falla broke down crying with her hands held to her face. Luna sniffled then tugged on Daniel’s arm to get his attention.
“Don’t let us be bad monsters anymore. Please.”
Daniel nodded and looked to Triska as she put her boots on and stood up before she grabbed her dagger and holstered it at her hip, the girl nodding in agreement to that.
“We won’t,” Daniel promised as he turned to Falla. “Triska and I will talk to her. She will see reason, especially after what happened to her daughter.”
“Let’s all get something to eat for breakfast,” Specca suggested. “Then we’ll all head out to finish what we started yesterday.”
“Got that list?” Alyssa dryly inquired.
“I remember what to get,” Specca quickly defended while holding her hands up.
“Breakfast?” Complica asked.
“Of course,” Daniel kindly said as he walked over and knelt down to face the girl. “Let’s all eat together and then we’re taking you home. Sound good?”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Daniel, and I’m here to help you.”
“Why do you want to help me? I don’t even know you,” Complica said shaking her head.
“He’s here to help all of us,” Falla softly said. The group looked to her as she was watching Daniel with a deep gaze and a faint blush on her cheeks. “Listen to him, Complica. We’d be lost without him.”
Daniel saw the girl staring at him with adoring eyes then smiled a bit before turning to Complica, the young princess looking at him curiously now while her antennae twitched slightly.
“I’ll explain who I am and why I’m here to you and your mother, Complica. Just know that I’m here to help you.”
Complica nodded and looked down timidly before Triska walked over and took her by the hand. The butterfly quickly followed her over to the table where she was offered a seat. Daniel watched as Specca and Alyssa sat down at the table while Squeak walked over and stood near them by the wall.
“You too, Luna,” Triska mentioned as she glanced to the butterfly girl while kneeling down next to her duffel bag. “Have a seat.”
“Me?” Luna asked softly.
“Squeak’s offering you her seat,” Specca pointed out as Squeak waved to the empty chair while nodding. “Come sit with us.”
“But what about you, Triska?” Luna asked worriedly.
“Don’t worry about me. Just sit down with your princess.”
Luna glanced to Daniel then slowly walked over and sat down at the table. Complica was looking around at everyone curiously before Pip fluttered over and landed down in front of her. The young butterfly smiled and waved her fingers around at the fairy, with Pip grabbing onto one and shaking about with a playful giggle, while Daniel watched them all with a caring smile.
Chronicles of Eden - Act V Page 38
