The Far Wilds

Part 12

A few weeks later, Lucas had an announcement.

"I'm going on a trip to the Death Desert," he said over breakfast, putting down a hunk of fresh-baked bread.

"Why?" Flame asked.

"I need to get out of here," he replied, fidgeting with a nail he had found somewhere. "It's too cold, there's not enough space, and-and I just need to get out of here, alright?" He looked up, something in his eyes warning Flame that he wouldn't take a refusal well.

"Alright," she said gently. "Do you want any of us to come with you?"

He looked at Candy. "What do you think? Want to go on a little trip, like old times?"

"Why not?" She said. "When do we leave?"

"Soon," he replied. He looked at the other two. "Do you want to come?"

"I'm staying," said Flame immediately. She was still nervous about Caden, and she had a fear that, if she left, he would take over her new home.

Smevy glanced at her, read her eyes, and announced that he was staying as well.

"Suit yourselves," said Lucas. "I'll tell you when I get back if I've seen Caden, but I have a feeling we won't run into anyone." He climbed a ladder up to the loft and grabbed a full bag. Flame realized he had been thinking about this for a while and immediately felt guilty about not noticing it before he felt like he had to speak up.

The following weeks were not much better. There was nothing to do except wait for the two to come back, anxiously scanning the horizon from on top of the hill for any approaching figures, friend or foe.

Then, finally, she saw a boat approaching from beyond the western horizon, and, reaching out with her mind, recognized that it was her friends.

It didn't take long for them to fully approach, and, once they were in earshot, she called out, "Hey guys, how did it go?"

"It was...interesting," said Lucas, favoring his left arm as he rowed. As the boat neared the shore, Flame saw they were both bruised and bloodied, though neither of them appeared to have serious injuries- whatever was wrong with Lucas's arm was the worst between them.

"What happened?" Flame asked, helping them haul their boat to shore. "Was it Caden?"

"Not exactly," said Lucas. "Would you mind if I wait until we find Smevy? I'd rather only tell this story once."

"Sure."

Smevy was tending the wheat field, and before long they were all seated on their beds in the loft, listening to Candy's and Lucas's tale unfold.

"The actual trip there was fine," he said, "but then we ran into someone. Well, he ran into us- we were in the desert and he came out of nowhere, knocked us around a little, and ran off." He smiled darkly. "I wasn't about to let that lie, so I hunted him down and returned the favor, plus a little extra."

"How did that happen?" Smevy asked, pointing at his arm.

"He put up a fight," Lucas replied, "and honestly, I'm lucky this was all I got. He's good- I wouldn't want to cross him in a real fight."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," said Flame. "Were you followed back?"

"I don't think so," said Lucas offhandedly. "He didn't seem like the kind of person who would think to do that."

Suddenly there was a knock at their door. Everybody jumped, ten all but Flame drew their weapons and started towards it. The door creaked open revealing a familiar face.

"War?" Flame said, stepping forward. "How did you find us?"

"I have my ways," he said mysteriously. Then he held up a map. "And I had one of these."

"Another one?" Smevy said worriedly. "Do you think there's any chance of..."

"Maybe," said Flame. "It's something we definitely have to keep in mind."

"Well, if they come, we can always use our secret weapon," said Candy.

Flame gave her a look. "What did we say about that? Plus, I don't care what they've done, the idea of using your power like that... it's dirty, and I don't like it."

"Agreed," said Smevy. "Though, if it came down to it..." He shifted uncomfortably, looking everywhere but the faces of his friends. War scanned the gathered faces curiously, his brown eyes glinting with interest.

Flame glared at Smevy. "What are you saying?"

He flinched like he'd been struck, every word coming out painfully slow, so deliberate one might have thought his life depended on the answer. "If it came to it, would you rather die or cheat?"

"There's a middle ground," Flame insisted, fighting back a surge of fear over the thought of warriors coming for her home. "It would just be him anyway. If we all worked together, people like Caden wouldn't stand a chance." She straightened, confidence increasing with every word. "These people are bullies- one look at us and they run screaming."

Lucas nodded. "I don't agree with you a lot, but you're right- that guy ran off when I showed him I wasn't going to take what he did lying down. You can be a good fighter and not have an ounce of spine, and in that case, what kind of fighter are you, really?"

"Are you getting philosophical on us?" Flame asked, a smile tugging her lips. The rising sense of panic was fading. The fact that she had barely fought aside, she was surrounded by capable people. Surely they at least stood a chance against some petulant griefer.

Lucas shrugged. "Take it how you want. Either way we're probably safe."

"Wait, take a step back," said War. He pointed at Candy. "What was that about a secret ability?"

She told him, sounding a lot more confident about it than the first explanation.

"Got it," said War when she had finished. Then he turned to the loft. "Could you get me a bed?"

"Sure," said Candy. She either wasn't surprised at War's reaction to her abilities or she was hiding it well. A moment passed and a bed appeared out of thin air. He adjusted the room so it would fit and placed it, then, without a word, strode downstairs.

Flame watched him go, her face unreadable. She had a feeling that, no matter how hard she tried, she would never understand the strange man in the white mask.