Divine Odyssey: Book one

Part 4

Koi had been unable to sleep, consumed by worry that Finley might venture off without him. When he heard the faint murmur of Finley's voice in the hallway, Koi swiftly grabbed his satchel and slipped out of his room. Stepping into the corridor, he spotted Finley engaged in a heated conversation with another person around his age. Likely his brother, Koi surmised, as he approached them.

They appeared to be arguing about something, their voices too low for Koi to discern the specifics. Finley's brother noticed him and fell silent. "Are you even listening?" Finley snapped, then turned to find Koi standing behind him. "Koi, what are you doing?" he questioned, a hint of exasperation in his tone.

"I told you I wouldn't let you leave alone," Koi replied resolutely.

"Who's this kid?" Finley's brother interjected.

"I'm not a kid! I'm only like, two months younger than you," Koi retorted. "This is my brother, Elliot," Finley introduced, gesturing towards his sibling. "And Elliot, this is Koi."

Elliot nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze fixed on Koi. Though slightly taller than Finley, Elliot exuded confidence in a more assertive manner, a stark contrast to Finley's reserved demeanor. Koi resisted the urge to shrink away from the duo, recognizing the subtle differences between the brothers.

"I can't believe you actually agreed to let him come," Finley remarked to Elliot.

"I can't believe you're still mad at me. I mean, you're leaving, right?" Koi retorted.

"Kid's got a point," Elliot chimed in with a nonchalant shrug.

"Stop calling me kid!" Koi snapped irritably.

As they walked in the opposite direction of the village, venturing deeper into the canyon, Finley abruptly halted, raising a hand to signal for silence. "Do you hear that?" he asked.

Straining to listen, Koi initially only caught the chirping of birds. But then, amidst the familiar rustling of bushes, he discerned a new, unsettling sound. It was unlike anything he had heard recently.

Suddenly, a figure leaped out from the bushes. With long ears, ragged attire, and a massive axe slung over their shoulder, the person appeared distressed as they pleaded, "Help..."

"Please," the elf begged, her voice trembling with desperation. Finley glanced at Elliot, but Koi didn't wait for approval.

"With what?" Koi asked, his curiosity piqued.

"My friend, he... he needs help," the elf choked on her words.

"Where is he?" Koi inquired.

"Follow me," she answered, leading them through the dense foliage and into a clearing. There, they found a wounded elf lying next to a stack of logs.

"He was attacked by a wolf," the elf explained.

Koi was struck by a painful realization — it wasn't Finley he had been attacking earlier, but this innocent elf.

"Let me try something," Koi said, walking over to the injured elf. He hovered his hands over the elf's body, channeling his healing magic. Slowly, the wounds began to fade, and the elf stirred, a flicker of consciousness returning.

Finley, Koi, and Elliiot satyed a little longer with the elves. It turned out that they were two brother and sister elves, Pinetree and Poptart. Koi noticed that Pinetree was acting strange, maybe even mechanical or machine-like. He tried to ignore it because he didn't know much about elves. Maybe it was normal. Before offering them a place on the quest, they immediatly accepted and they were off. A few nights had passed and nothing eventful had happened, until Koi realized just how big the canyon was. Finley was the first one to notice it, a giant black bear. Not a regular one but like the size of five giant oak trees atacked on top of each other, it also had giant antlers sticking out the top of its head. It was busy eating berries, faceing the other direction. And of course one of the elves had to blow it. The female and kinda crazy one, Poptart, made a noise that sounded like a compresed laugh. The bear imediatly turned around and started walking towards them. Koi readied himself, he had faught a couple of creatures, nothing like this of course. Koi was willing to do it so he could protect Elliot, the elves, and Finley... The bear swing a paw at Koi, Koi stepped back so the bear missed. He jumped onto the bears arm who was recovering from knocking down a tree. The bear roard in rage, swiping at Koi with his other hand. Koi took the chance and stuck out his hand, the bears claw steuck it hard, and blood trickled from it.

"KOI!" Finley shouted, rummaging through his bag for some medicine. "Don't move!" Koi yelled back. He then started shaping the blood, into a blob at first, then a spike, then a small, silver dagger. Koi struggled onto the bears head. Sliding into a straddle on its nose. He rose the dagger, and stabbed the bear right in between its eyes. It roard in pain and flung Koi off of it, sending him flying.

Koi awoke to find eight faces peering down at him, but one in particular jolted him out of his daze. "Dori!" he whispered, his hands instinctively reaching for her face. A smile spread across his lips, tears welling up in his eyes. "Hello," she replied, reciprocating the touch.

"How are you still alive?" Koi asked, his voice filled with wonder.

"I don't know," Dori admitted softly.

Attempting to sit up, Koi was met with a wave of pain that left him helpless. His back and arms throbbed with ache.

"Careful," Finley cautioned, extending his hands to assist him. Finley poured a small bottle of pink liquid over Koi's bleeding wound, but Koi smiled gently. "There's no need," he assured them. With closed eyes and concentrated focus, he summoned his healing abilities. Slowly, the wounds began to mend and disappear, leaving Koi relieved and grateful.

"I'm Pinetree," Pinetree said and stuck out his hand. Dori shook it. "This is Poptart," Pinetree gestured towards his sister who was currently chewing on a tree branch to see if she could find maple syrup.

"Pinetree, Poptart, go try to find some fire wood, we're staying here tonight." Dori said to the elves. Koi got sat up, and looked at the faces. He only recognized, Finley, Dori, and Elliot, he did not know the three other girls. "Who are they?" Koi asked. "My friends." Dori replied. "That's Delphine," She said gesturing towards the girl with brown hair. "She's a werewolf." Dori said. Koi looked at Delphine, her face was contorted with fear, Koi was confused. Until he pieced everything together. Werewolves are usually the color of their hair, which Delphines hair was the brown like the wolf that attacked him. Koi slowly filled with fear and rage.

"I'm Pinetree," Pinetree said and stuck out his hand. Dori shook it. "This is Poptart," Pinetree gestured towards his sister who was currently chewing on a tree branch to see if she could find maple syrup.

"Pinetree, Poptart, go try to find some fire wood, we're staying here tonight." Dori said to the elves. Koi got sat up, and looked at the faces. He only recognized, Finley, Dori, and Elliot, he did not know the three other girls. "Who are they?" Koi asked. "My friends." Dori replied. "That's Delphine," She said guesturing towards the girl with brown hair. "She's a werewolf." Dori said. Koi looked at Delphine, her face was cuntoted with fear, Koi was confused. Until he pieced everything together. Werewolves are usually the color of their hair, which Delphines hair was the brown like the wolf that attacked him. Koi slowly filled with fear and rage.

"Get away from me!" He shouted at Delphine. "I-I'm sorry," She said, "I didn't know who you were." Dori looked at Delphine to Koi. "Koi what's happening?" she asked. Finley was the first person to relize. "That's why you asked me the moon phase, and why you were so- hurt." He said. Dori looked at Finley, then Koi, then Delphine. Finleys face filled with rage. He slowly drew his bow and arrows. "Nobody harms my friends." He growled. Dori looked at Delphine now, "Delphine, why?" she whispered. Finley redied his bow, aimed straight at Delphines heart. Finley shook with nervousness, he wasn't really the fighting type. Suddenley Finley yelped in pain. Koi quickley looked at him, a large black bear was on top of him. His bow was being dragged away by a bright red fox. Finley screamed in pain again. The bear was digging it's claws in his chest. "FINLEY!" Koi screamed. He dashed over to his friend how was bleeding really badly. He was no longer moving.

Koi sobbed over his friend, his hands trembling as they hovered over Finley's bare chest. The wounds began to fade, albeit slowly, under his touch. Meanwhile, the elves had returned, still causing trouble, but Dori managed to keep them at bay, protecting Finley.

Suddenly, Finley gasped, his eyes fluttering open as he gazed at Koi. "Were you crying for me?" he asked, a surprised smile gracing his lips. Koi quickly wiped the tears from his eyes. "No," he responded unconvincingly.

Finley shook his head, a knowing expression crossing his features. "Lies," he declared softly before reaching out and grasping the front of Koi's shirt. In a moment of unexpected intimacy, he pressed his lips against Koi's, leaving them both breathless.