30 Beasts

Morning comes around, and before eating Emma turns to Daric with a serious look on her face.

"Daric," she looks him in the eye and carefully asks, "do you want to live with me? So far I've been dragging you along and had yet to ask what you want," she continues, "If you don't want to stay with me, I'm sure there are people in a nearby town that would take you in. You'll also-."

He cuts in with a small voice, "Is it because I'm not useful?"

His greatest fear is that he'll be a burden that causes the death of someone he loves, just like with his mother. Emma asked so she could know what Daric wants to do. But he took it as though she was trying to get rid of him. Tears well in his eyes.

"Daric–."

"I know I can't do much, but I promise to be useful," he rambles in a rush, "I'll do everything you ask of me. I'll be good and listen." He's now crying. His cute silver eyes are begging her not to abandon him. His face pales further and twists into despair. His hands clutch the sleeves of her dress as though to force her to remain.

She blinks at him in surprise.

"Please don't send me away."

Emma grabs him, pulling him into her embrace.

"Oh, you sweet child," pulling back she wipes his tears, "I absolutely adore you. You have the strength to survive everything life has thrown at you without completely falling apart. I would be honored to have you with me."

"So–," hope blossoms in his eyes.

"But," she presses on knowing this needs to be said, "in case you have haven't noticed. Being with me is dangerous. So if you're going to stay with me, I need you to be certain this is what you want. Life with me will not be simple or easy. Do you understand?"

He snorts.

The look on Emma's face causes Daric to laugh for the first time since the draugrs. He hugs her until his laughter dies down.

In an exasperated tone, only a child could pull off, "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I was an orphan living in the woods stealing for food with the high chance of getting taken as a slave or killed."

"Good point," kissing the top of his head she asks, "So you don't mind living with me?"

He gives me a blinding smile shouting, "Yes!"

With all the enthusiasm he can muster he lunges, hugging her in joy and relief. She laughs at his antics. We pull away, and everyone is staring at us. Daric's face reddens. Thankfully they're saved from thinking of something to say when Scias comes with the food.

We eat simple nuts and berries scavenged from nearby. We keep it short, Irvin wants us moving as quickly as possible. Conversation is scarce. Irvin remains vigilant, and Andri stares at nothing particular. Lark single-handedly rambled on about nothing. Occasionally flirting with Ryo and Lina who are standing a few feet away from us. Ryo stoically ignored him while looking like she was calculating the chances of flinging a knife into Emma's heart before anyone could stop her. Putting Daric on guard against her and Lina blushed, stuttering occasional replies. Daric tries to hold a conversation with Emma because he can see how bored she's getting.

We pack and leave, stopping every few hours when it got too hard for Emma to breath or hit with nausea. We get to midday without any significant incidents. When we stopped for midday meal is when it attacked.

____________________

It must have been waiting for this moment. Following, looking for the opportunity when our guard was the lowest. The attack wasn't with a loud screeching wail but a silent pounce. Icy green flashes past and Irvin grunts. A vicious feline leaps with deadly accuracy, but Irvin notices the attack and manages to get his sword up in time to block the blow. Frosting Irvin's sword. When it lands, the grass beneath its feet ices over and shatters with the impact. On such a warm sunny day, I can feel the cool blast radiating off its skin. Its icy green shaggy fur stretches over thick bulging muscles that taper to the lower half of its body. It's coiled in preparation to strike again, even while crouching its hight towers Irvin. I have no idea what these things are, but I don't need to in order to know it's trying to kill us.

Scias, Lina, and Ryo run to the right to stay out of the way. Andri drew his Asura Sword and jumped into the fray while Daric glues himself to my side. Lark drags us away to the left for cover. His focus is on us when a second beast jumps from the trees landing on him. He didn't react fast enough getting his left arm ripped off in the process.

"Run for cover," he shouts as he shoves us.

The severed limb hangs from its mouth. The blood stops flowing as the arm slowly freezes over.

Queasy, I take hold of Daric who's looking too pale. I move to hide but hesitate. He's one-armed and losing both energy and blood. He may not be entirely human, but he's human enough. He's going to get himself eaten alive. My mind races to come up with something to help.

My solution?

Throw a rock.

But not just any rock, a big rock.

/That'll teach them./

I heave the rock at its head. The beast turns to stare at me with a ferocious stare. Not even having the decency to be stunned. Now that I have its attention, it occurs to me I should have thought beyond that whole rock throwing business. Thankfully Lark used the distraction to pull out his Asura Sword. It glows green as he strikes quick, plunged it into the feline's neck. My relief dampens considering Lark is still bleeding from a stump.