The Lands of Ralosia & Ranuulo (Books 1-3)

Cook & Chill Chapter 1- Return to the Bog Woods

(12) The Lands of Ralosia: Cook & Chill (11k words)

The kids return to the Bog Woods only to discover that the forest has been destroyed, and the Phantine people taken. The culprits are Cook and Chill, two crime lords who've been the ones in charge of the many bandit groups plaguing the Lands of Ralosia. The six youths seek to stop Cook and Chill while saving the Phantine people. What follows is the most difficult challenge they've faced yet.

(12/26/21) Self Edited, Audio Edited, and Peer edited

Peer edit by Mikrokosmostae

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~Chapter 1- Return to the Bog Woods~

~Age 988B~

         Nout looked northward at the Platt Mountain range - at the base of the southern end of the mountain was his home. It had been months since he saw his family.

         Nout was a Phantine, people characterized by their trunk, tusks, large ears, bulky bodies, and circular feet. He had a pink tint to his skin. He was a mere 13 years old and was still small for a Phantine. Smaller than those he traveled with.

         Alongside him were his friends. Jirro and Corri flew up above them on the red sparrow, Rojo. Aero rode on the great Chihuahua Hopper; he was the only one who could ride the massive dog. Ruben had its arms, legs, and head tucked around its boulder-like body and was rolling alongside them through the lush plains.

         Nout rode on the back of Temp's hyena he named Kelvin; it was large enough to carry both of them. Temp was a Mecarne, a being with metal-like flesh, a purple tint to his skin, and imperviousness to heat or cold. Temp was tall, slender, and had a metallic sheen to his purple-tinted skin. At 18 years old, Temp behaved the most like an adult out of all of them.

         Each of them was very powerful, especially Jirro and Aero. The two thirteen-year-old boys of blonde and black hair had both made it to the semi-finals of the fighting tournament last year and have only gotten stronger since then. They had a confidence about them that Nout wished he had.

         Nout was excited to finally return to Platt Mountain, specifically to the Bog Woods to the south of the mountains, his home. It had been months since his father sent him out for training, and Nout wanted to make him proud. To show him and the rest of the Phantine tribe that he can be counted on.

         Ruben wanted to reunite with the other Densius up on the mountain and share stories of the adventures it has gone on. Jirro, Aero, and Corri wanted to see their dads again- and to get some much-needed answers.

         While most of them had family waiting for them around Platt Mountain, Temp had no reason to stay with them at this point. For a time, he traveled with them with the promise of being paid. But there was no such benefit to him anymore, yet he stayed. Nout thought that Temp had grown fond of the kids, though he'd never admit it.

They strode up a hill, and Nout tensed up. They'd be able to see the Bog Woods. Home.

"Excited?" Temp asked as they went.

"Very," Nout answered. The hyena rode to the top of the hill, and Nout looked on the Bog Woods.

         Rather than lush green trees, there were withered stumps of woods occupying the space of the woods, with almost none left unscathed. His home had been destroyed.

         What happened here?

         Nout urged Temp to hurry forward, and his hyena sprinted towards the woods, outpacing the others. As they drew closer, the damage of the woods became more apparent. It had been thoroughly burned through. There was frostbite and ice on some of the trees too. He prayed that everyone was okay.

         As soon as they entered the woods, Nout ran in, following a destroyed trail to his village. The homes made of upright logs had been burned through, and their entire crops were razed. There was no sign of anyone. Not his parents, or any of his tribe. Nout knelt in the ashes of his home. His friends entered the burned village.

         "What happened here?" Jirro asked as he looked at the destroyed landscape. He laid his hands on a frostbitten tree, "This couldn't have been just a forest fire."

         Temp sighed, "It wasn't."

         Nout and the others turned to Temp, "This is Cook and Chill's doing," Temp's hyena practically shivered at the sound of their names.

         "Who?"

         "Back when I was in Ekor's crew of bandits, I heard that Ekor reported to two Mecarne called Cook and Chill. They've learned how to harness heat and cold in their bodies and expel it at will. They're the kingpins of the bandit groups that have been roaming across the land," Temp explained, "I heard they were inspired by the Sky Bandits."

         "Why would they come here?" Aero asked.

         "Not sure," Temp hesitantly answered, "I've heard they've kidnapped people to induct them into their service. Maybe, that's why they were here? Since the frostbite hasn't entirely melted away yet, Cook and Chill must've been here recently."

         Nout stood from the ashes from his home, "Where are they!?"

         Temp was noticeably thrown off by Nout's urgency, "I'm not sure. I've never met them, only heard of how terrible they are."

         Jirro folded his arms, "There has to be some way of tracking them down, right?"

         Temp thought for a moment, "We need to find a captain of one of the bandit groups. They all refer directly to Cook and Chill; they might know where they are."

         "How can we find them?" Nout asked insistently. If there was any chance of saving his people, he had to take it.

         "There's a port town to the west called Tortusa. Ekor's crew tended to hang out there. That'd be a good place to start."

         Nout asked, "Would you be able to take me? I don't have anything to pay you with now, but I'd make it up to you! I promise!"

         Temp gave him a sympathetic smile, "Don't worry about it kid. I'll help you out."

         Jirro spoke up, "We're with you too."

         Nout turned to them, "What about your families? Didn't you want to see your dad?"

         "Of course I want to see them! But this is more important!" Jirro said, "You'd do the same for me."

         The others stood, ready to help in any way they could. From the moment Nout first met them, they were like this. Always ready to help others without a moment of hesitation. It was in these woods that he first met them, Jirro and Aero didn't hesitate to defend him when a wild ape attacked. He was nearly brought to tears by their friendship.

         "Thank you so much guys," Nout said, pushing back his sorrow and transforming it into determination. With fire in his heart, Nout and his friends headed westward.