Infiltration of Bloodmoon Forest

Chapter Four

Gadget

Day 1 of Infiltration of Bloodmoon Forest

      5 days of rest and getting yelled at from Adro when Gadget just wanted to move a muscle, was the furthest idea of fun that Gadget could think of. Adro and gadget had jobs they split between themselves and now because of Gadget's injury Adro took all of them upon themselves. Determined to help around a little bit at least, Gadget was attempting to clean camp. Attempting because moving or putting any weight on the leg whatsoever still hurt like bloody murder. Subconsciously, Gadget believed that they deserved their pain, after all, they inflicted the pain on that silver-haired boy. Gadget had to make it even, be punished for hurting another living thing, even if they had no choice.

      "Oi, what are you doing trying to clean up camp? I told you yesterday you are on bed rest. Now go sit down," Adro demanded, once she eyed Gadget's futile cleaning.Slowly Gadget turned around trying to protest to Adro about their ability to at least still help around the camp. However, words never got out of their mouths once they spotted the two people following Adro.

      One was a man with dark brown skin, and curly hair. He had a peaceful aura about him, but kept shifting on his feet, nervous. But Gadget couldn't come up with a reason for him to be nervous. They weren't gonna kill him or anything. His brown hiking boots were brand new not worn in yet, the same for his brown trousers. Lots of pockets, but nothing was in them. Not a whole or mark on his shirt or vest. If his nervous shifting wasn't enough to be suspicious, this definitely was. A leather backpack hung on his shoulder, and the man was gripping it like it was going to get stolen

      But the woman standing next to him was absolutely breathtaking, too bad Gadget couldn't trust her. Her blonde hair was pulled back by a bandana, and she had this weird black cloak. It wasn't even a cloak but a shirt with a built-in cloak. That was definitely not a good thing to bring to a forest, lots of branches will get stuck on it. Her trousers were the same as the man's, but one of the pockets was weighed down slightly. What is in those pockets? Why don't they have any herbs, that's the only reason the two would be here unless they were hunting. But the only supplies they seem to have are the same leather bags. That meant the group wanted something from Bloodmoon Forest, and Gadget couldn't trust them.

     "What the Damned are you doing bringing new people here?!" Gadget exploded looking at Adro but shoving a hand in the stranger's direction.

      "Gadget you're not the parent here. You can't decide who comes in and who doesn't." Adro replied, to anyone who didn't know her you would think that she was as calm as possible. Gadget knows her though, and could see her 6 hands moving as if she was conducting an orchestra; she wasn't calm.

     "Adro, they're outsiders. Outsiders don't come here without wanting something Adro! For all, we know they want to kill us!" Gadget's voice came out raspy. They hate fighting with Adro but sometimes she was too kind to think logically.

     "They are harmless humans, Gadget. You know outsiders don't know anything and would be dead if someone didn't show them the way back home," Adro was slowly losing her cool, her voice getting lower. If Gadget didn't stop they'd get a firm talking to. Gadget, however, doesn't know when enough is enough.

     "Then why didn't you send them home then, huh? Why didn't you show them the door on the way out? Why even take this risk?" Gadget demanded, their voice raising and scared all the rude eavesdropping birds in the trees away. Both Gadget and Adro scoffed at the birds for a second. For sure they would gossip to the whole forest about this fight.

      Adro sighed, "Because you're hurt G. I brought them here to help you out so you can actually heal this time. You shouldn't have to continue all your jobs while injured. You passed out a couple of days ago for goodness sake, and now I find you cleaning after specifically telling you you are on bed rest. I figured this way, one of them could help you out, so you don't have to strain yourself so tediously. I can get the other one to work with me."

      "I don't need help Adro! Why can't you understand, it's my job and burden to handle. Getting hurt is in the job description! And did you stop for a second to think why they're here? They could be trying to destroy our home! How can't you see that?" Gadget yelled before storming away. In the argument, they didn't realize how their leg was beating.

      Time was of the essence. Gadget knew where they wanted to go, just not if they'd get there soon enough before dark dots would swim in their view. Magic swirled up within Gadget making them rush to get to their location. When they fainted, they had already spent almost all their energy in the fight, giving the boy back, the panic attack, and getting home. But, as they rested throughout the past days, Gadget got their magic back giving them strength to appear healed. It is imperative that Adro doesn't know or she'd realize that's all that is holding Gadget up. Then they'd be on bed rest for the rest of the full moon. Gadget would go crazy if they couldn't leave for 6 days. 6 days that the forest wouldn't have a guardian. 6 days that those dangerous strangers would be free to prance around in Gadget's home. That can't be allowed to happen.

     "Why do you hate us?" Gadget turned around to see the girl stomping her way over. She kept stomping and pushing plants out of her way, killing them. Gadget physically flinched at the sight of the plants not being treated with the respect they deserve. "Hey, I'm talking to you, Gadget."

     They looked at the girl disgruntled, their arms crossed, "How do you know my name?"

     Scoffing the girl responds, "Adro said it when you two were arguing. Now, are you going to answer my questions?"

     "Depends what are they?" Smirked an amused Gadget.

      "If you were paying attention you'd know I asked why you hate us so much? And while you're at it why did you disrespect Adro so much? She seems like a kind woman, and probably helps you a lot," the girl responded in an annoyed manner.

     Gadget's eyebrows furrowed in anger as they marched towards the girl, responding, "You ask why I don't like you, and that boy. It's quite simple, you are outsiders. Outsiders only want one thing with my home, and that is to destroy it. Hunters come in and destroy the natural balance of nature, I've seen it in the surrounding forests. They overhunt, and the forest starts to die off. You townspeople think only of yourselves and not of the nature around you guys. Why do I not like you and the boy? Because you are planning something and I don't trust you."

     "We're up to something?" the girl asked her voice trembling slightly, sounding like either panic or sadness. Why would she be sad? I don't know her, why should I trust her?

     "Definitely and I'm going to figure out what it is exactly," and with those words Gadget turned back to camp limping back, leaving the girl alone at the pond with her own thoughts.