The Far Wilds

Part 5

There was a confused, horrified silence. Then Smevy rushed to Candy, and everyone else turned to glare at Flame.

"I didn't know he was going to do that," she protested weakly. "He said he was going to keep an eye out for a rug and he just wanted to see how big the room was."

War gave her an exasperated "seriously," look and joined Smevy.

"She'll be fine," said Smevy. "Watch." He went out, then returned a few moments later with a bucket of water, which he then splashed on Candy's face. She coughed and sat up, looked confused for a moment, then reached up and patted her head. "My helmet!"

"I'll go get it," said War.

"I'll join you," said Candy.

War looked at the others. "Anyone else?"

"I'll come," said Smevy.

Wolf looked uncomfortable. "I was actually just about to leave," he admitted. "I have to go tell Mold's family what happened."

"We'll see you when you get back, then," said War. "Flame?"

"I'll stay here- I won't be any good in a fight if you find him. But-here." She held out the stone axe. "This will serve you better than it will me."

He nodded and took it. "We'd better be heading out. Candy, you good?"

"Yeah, let's go."

And with that, they said goodbye to Flame, and strode out the door, ready to hunt the thief down.

The journey took days. Legionary had blundered around a lot, so his trail was easy to follow, but he took many twists and turns, navigating the thick jungle like a pro. Eventually Candy decided to give up, breaking off to head back home.

However, she was actually the first of that group to see their quarry again- he had actually been looping around, making a home in their backyard. She decided to wait for War and Smevy before confronting him, and they arrived back home a few days after Candy, having followed Legionary's trail the entire way.

The three marched towards the thief, swords- or, in War's case, axe -held stiffly at their sides. Flame hung back, close enough to hear them but far enough away to run if things got dicey.

War led the way, initiating contact with a, "I'm not going to kill you."

Legionary, who had been crouching behind a tree, jumped like he'd been slapped and spun to face them. He quickly calmed himself and said cooly, "you two have nothing to do with this."

"Hurt my friends, you hurt me," said War philosophically. "Now, could I have the helmet back?"

"N-no," said Legionary. He stuttered slightly, but he sounded sure. "Not a chance."

"Ok then," said War, turning to leave. Bewildered, Candy and Smevy followed him all the way back to the house. Once there, he told them to wait, then stalked back to Legionary.

Flame, who had stayed where she was to see if she had the same reaction to him that she'd had to Candy, decided to make herself scarce, so all she heard was a sharp cry before War returned with the helmet. "Did you kill him?" She asked softly. "I promised I wouldn't," War replied, not looking at her. "But I also said hurting my friends means hurting me." His voice turned dark.

"And you don't want to hurt me."