Jay's Journey

Chapter 4

The sun rose, and it slowly burned away the fog that hung over the forest floor. Birds happily sang in the canopy, and the sun served to thaw the fading chill of night.

It had been a couple days since the village had been left behind, but after hearing a series of shouts and voices a couple nights later, the group decided that they needed to travel solely in forest.

Thus, Jay had no choice but to wear something besides the skirt. He ended up deciding on a pale blouse with smaller trousers that actually fit. The clothes that had likely been for the man of the household easily fit Vayen, and all of the others easily fit both Jay and Zira.

But now, there was a problem. They needed food again. The food they'd stolen in the village had lasted a little while, but they were rapidly becoming hungry again, and none of them were anxious to wait several days for food.

"Alright uh, Zira, you got any ideas?" Jay asked. Jay couldn't help but notice the way Vayen looked at him. His eyes would flicker between Jay's face and the nearby bundle of fabric where the beige skirt was clearly visible.

"I've been trying to think of what kind of food we can get. The problem is, I don't know these forests. Usually, forests have all kinds of food, but getting it is easier said than done." Zira said.

"Well couldja come up with somethin' quick?" Vayen asked.

"With your help, I'm sure that I could." Zira snapped back. Vayen melodramatically rolled his eyes before his gaze locked back onto the skirt. Jay was about to ask, but knew it would either anger Vayen or cause him to be more sarcastic and dismissive than he naturally was. Jay decided to stay silent.

"Sorry, got nothin', ain't smart." Vayen said. Zira sighed. Silence fell over the three, and the awkwardness gave Jay the urge to shift and fidget. He focused on the clamoring birdsong to escape the moment. But, his growling stomach dragged him back to reality and the group's situation.

"Jay, when you first used magic, I remember there were a lot of flowers that grew from out of nowhere. The last time you used it, all of the plants grew within moments. You should be able to grow something edible." Zira proposed. Jay's eyes lit up.

"Good idea!" He said. Jay took a deep breath and reached into Maea's magic. It was there. It was undeniable. It was moldable like soft clay and buzzed with something that wasn't quite life, but certainly felt alive. Like fire, it was warm and it breathed and it roared and grew but it wasn't living.

It didn't respond. Jay's grasp brushed its surface, but didn't make any change. His shoulders slouched.

"No uh, sorry, didn't work."

"How the fuck does it even work anyway?" Vayen wondered.

"Magic is everywhere. It can be molded by anyone, but not everyone. It takes a certain kind of person to shape it. Not biologically, but it has to do with someone's nature. It's still largely unknown, and magic and its wielders are enigmas." Zira answered.

"Great, that was a fuckin' useless answer. Jay, you use the stuff, you know 'bout it, right?" Vayen asked.

"Well, sort of, I guess. I can feel it there, and I try to shape it, but nothing happens. When I used magic, I just knew to shape it, and it worked. But uh, not right now." Jay explained.

"I know magic is there, not because I've read so, but because I sense so. But, I've never even managed to touch it. I've tried but it never works. You're definitely a mage, Jay, since you can touch it, even if it isn't molding to your will." Zira added.

"The fuck is a mage?"

"It's what you call the people who can use magic. Again, anyone can be one, but not everybody. It's fickle and strange and unknown. But, Jay, if you can figure out how to use it, you can grow us food yourself." Zira said.