Pentad of Un

Chapter 17 - Jelro

     "Jelro..."

     He turned his head, searching for the voice that was calling out to him. It was an animal, he knew that, but he had never heard anything quite like it. It had a soothing quality to it that washed away any lingering anxiety that was resting on Jelro's shoulders.

     "Where are you?" he asked, desperately looking around.

     "Nearby... Not far..."

     Jelro pushed the branches of the undergrowth aside, trying not to feel exasperated. He knew it was the nature of some animals to be vague and evasive. Others were blunt and aggressive.

     "Do you need something?" Jelro tried asking.

     "You can't do anything for me. But please, take care of my son..."

     "I'm sorry?" Jelro stopped, confused. "I don't know what you mean. Who are you talking about?"

     "I can't tell you. Not yet."

     "Then how am I s'posed to--?"

     "You will know. You are clever. I can feel the nature of your heart."

     "How can you feel the nature of my heart?" Jelro was sure no animal had that power, except maybe dragons, but silvertongues couldn't understand dragons. Dragons were extremely intelligent and had purposely created their languages to evade the reach of a silvertongue's understanding.

     "I am one with the heart and soul, Jelro. Don't worry. You will understand eventually."

     "Where are you?" Jelro demanded, circling back around. He froze, seeing that the trees behind him had become twisted and gnarled, their life sucked out of them.

     Then the soil gave way beneath his feet, and he slipped into a void with a splash. His legs went numb, and he hastily unclasped the seams on his pantlegs as his tail struggled to form.

     The water was dark and cold. Jelro swam in a circle, letting his eyes adjust. Small fish darted past him, being another of the few animals he couldn't communicate with. Fish had no spoken language, and they couldn't use sign language.

     He preferred it that way, seeing as he didn't want his diet of mostly seafood to be ruined.

     "I'm not asking for much."

     Jelro spun around, confused as to how he was hearing a voice underwater.

     "You can understand us the way not many others can. You understand animals and their nature."

     A shadow darted off to the side. Jelro dove down, realizing his bow was suddenly on his back.

     What do you want from me?! he silently screamed at the voice. What are you doing to me?!

     "You will know."

     Jelro's heart stopped as a creature dove from the darker waters. His bow was in his hands, an arrow nocked and drawn, but his eyes met the creature's, and he couldn't release the arrow.

     It didn't speak, as Jelro was sure it couldn't, but it passed Jelro with a gentle flick of its tail, brushing his cheek with its fin.

     "Thank you for proving me right," the voice whispered, although it wasn't the creature's voice. "You can see the innocence of a creature."

     Jelro wanted to shoot the arrow as far as he could out into the seemingly empty waters, but he knew it would eventually hit something. He stuck the arrow back in his quiver.