Chương 12: Calm before the storm

Sitting in the crook of a tree, snacking on blue berries from my sack, I notice one of the grey armored people running my way. Heading into the wood just to the side of my tree so I don't have to look straight down to see it. The armored person stops and turns finding a downed tree to hide behind. Curious, I pivot in my tree to get a better look. Brown hair on top, grey armor similar to my own but definitely not made with ivy braids holding it together. I'm really tired of replacing a strand or two every few days.

On its side is one of those shiny weapons the armored people keep pulling from their holder. Curious about this person, but feeling like it couldn't possibly reach me in this tree top, I grunt to get its attention. Wow does it spook easy. It nearly screams when it jumps up and looks around for what made the noise. Chuffing with humor in my safe spot I toss a berry at it. It didn't hit but the message was received as it looked up and found me above it.

With wide eyes and a more relaxed posture it started making noises I'm unfamiliar with.

Terran found a decent spot behind a log and started to think about how he was going to sneak back to camp when he heard something nearby. Not sure if it was a person or animal he spun nearly falling over. Looking left and right he found nothing. Then he heard a … laugh? … was someone laughing at him? Short and quiet sounding like a repeated grunt. And then something very small landed beside his light foot. Snapping his head up he sees it.

In the dim light he could only make out a light grayish silhouette with a tight fitting cloak. Oh. It's just a scout. Definitely not using an army issues cloak to hide but that only makes sense for an experienced scout. The log like cover would make them blend into this forest better. Relaxing he started asking questions.

"I Was exploring the cooking hut to prep for dinner. What did I miss? I didn't hear any order to attack." The scout overhead just gives a weird huff. Getting the impression he knows as much as I do I relax and turn to see what's going on inside the village. At least nobody will claim I'm a coward if I return with a veteran scout. The scout begins to climb down the tree as I'm not focused on him anymore and I just wait for him.

He comes to stand beside me as I stare past the brush into the village when I hear what seems to be the captains voice shouting something. That man can be loud. I bet he knows how to force mana into his shout.

"What did he shout?" Not receiving response I turn my head just enough to see him out of the corner of my eye.

"What the fuck!" Jumping away from whatever the fuck this thing is I pull my sword with a shaky hand. It just stands there looking at me. Just a bit shorter than myself it has big eyes and grey fur all over its face. Covered in wood and an alligator hide with a rusted metal jewelry box on one thigh and a huge leaf sack thing on the other. Its hands hang loosely by its side and I shudder noticing the clearly clawed fingers.

It tilts its head as I back up a step and notice it's not taking any kind of threatening stance. It's just staring at me. Relaxing a bit I lower my sword and ask "what are you?", to which it tilts its head the other way like a dog would. Oh it doesn't speak our language. Seeing no weapon besides its claws I sheath my sword to make myself less hostile. I definitely do not want to wrestle this thing. Even a head shorter than me it's wide shoulders makes it look sturdy. Almost like a bear.

It even has darker great fur on top of its head and rounded ears… well that's adorable… realizing we are just standing there staring at one another I point to the village and "Eh?" The most questioning way I could. Hoping it could read the gesture. It raises both hands palm up at its side and huffs. I don't know why but I just understand what it.. he? … means with the gesture.

"I don't know". I nod in understanding and wave for it to join me in watching, which it does. Ok so he doesn't speak our language but he isn't stupid like an animal. I've never heard of any fur covered humanoid in our world. I'm not the most educated person, growing up a thief in the capital, but I feel I would know if there was another intelligent species out here. It's not like we went to another continent. But if this thing came from another continent then how did it end up smack in the middle of ours?

This landmass is absolutely huge taking up almost a third of our planet. Split in the middle by the large Zipan river it spans thousands of miles from east to west. Ocean in all sides. This thing doesn't look like it sails the ocean. Whatever. We can figure it out after this mess with the village settles.

The person turns back around after waving for me to join it in watching the village. Seeing no reason not to follow along I step up beside it and watch. after a few super loud screams, things begin to settle and we decide to sneak closer to see what is going on. Reaching the edge of the village we both hesitate. Making eye contact and without any communication we decide with a nod each and move in slowly.

The outskirts of the village has a few scattered villagers clearly unsure of what is happening but afraid and hiding. When they see us they sprint away, some carrying small children. We come around one of the huts and see two people lying not far from each other. Clearly wounded and both struggling to remain upright. The armor wearing person beside me jogs over to his wounded counterpart to asses the situation. With a shrug I decide to investigate the other person who is bleeding heavily from a wound on his leg.

I approach with a focused gaze on the blood spilling from this person. Not knowing anyone here or what has these people fighting I do the only thing I know to be helpful and remove my leaf pouch from my thigh. I shred it into smaller bits with my claws and pressing it against the wound on the persons leg to stanch the blood. The man, clearly afraid, stops trying to get away from me and stares at the side of my head while I work. I have never fixed an injury this bad but the idea should be the same.

The parts that are separate should be together. And knowing the chest pressure trick fixes living things like plants I don't see why I can't just do the same thing here. With eyes closed I concentrate on the gap closing beneath the leaf. Applying pressure to slow the blood does help a lot. The person squirms beneath my hand and I crack an eye to see what's going on. It is not trying to escape but clearly is in pain. Focusing back on the wound I take a bit more time and remove my hand and the leaf from the leg.

It is an ugly thing. Clearly still split apart but the major bleeding has stopped. That should heal on its own. I take the time to wrap the leg tight with the leaf slices and tie it off the best I can. I nod at the stranger under my hand and move to the two armored men. The one I met in the wood is panicking and removing pieces of armor from the other's chest. Seeing the urgency in his movements I come closer to help causing them both to freeze with fearful eyes.

"Can you help him?" Comes from my walking counterpart and I just look at it with one raised eyebrow.

"Oh shit yeah he doesn't know our words. Hey Chris, just relax this thing doesn't seem to want to fight." If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Hearing the two make noises at each other for a bit and seeing them come to some conclusion and look over at me I continue slowly. Removing the chest plate with an obvious hole near the bottom of it, we see the wound. Right above the hole these creatures have in their abdomen is a gross looking gash.

I turn to look for the hide wearers weapon and realize the shape wouldn't make a long slice but a deep puncture. Different shapes would do different things to a body. Feeling my own abdomen and pushing back and forth I take note of the several squishy bits in there. This is way more complicated than bringing two pieces of skin together. I look back at my companion and tilt my head to see if he knows how to fix it. His wide eyes and shake left and right tells me he's scared and doesn't know.

Not sure why we seem to understand each other so well I continue and do my best. With a hand over the wound I close my eyes and focus on recovery like I would with the crushed flowers. I didn't know exactly how to fix them and just thought hard on helping them. Doing the same here was far more exhausting. It seemed like no time before I had to pull away with trembling hands. Looking at my companion I shake my head to indicate I can't go further.

With a nod and a concerned expression he speaks with the man on the ground between us. They both speak with soft sounds. I hear shuffling behind me and turn to see one of the hide wearing people with a braid on top helping the other one to their feet and hobbling away from the rest of us. At least my work there was helpful I think to myself with a small smile. Proud of my accomplishment.

Rictor was livid.

"Your telling me that a handful of our troops entered the village and started an actual fight with the locals and while running for their pathetic lives, they drug the rest of the troops into an open battle against the villagers? All without any orders, and costing us over 20 soldiers to injury or death with some still missing?" Lieutenant Jones really hated his job today. Briefing the captain and collecting information over the last 15 minutes has been horrible.

This conflict was clearly the military's fault and that means it's up to the village to come with terms to resolve. The wronged party decides the recompense. It doesn't matter how many soldiers we lost, it only matters how many of the villagers fighters they lost. And In a village of this size so far away from any other that's a crippling blow. If the army lost 20 well armed men, the village probably lost 30 or more. Dropping his head in frustration the young officer responded.

"It does seem that way sir, how would you like to proceed? The village elder and his guards are being kept separate from us for the time being. I do not know how negotiations will proceed…. If the capital hears of this…."