The Last Wolfson

Chapter 8: Klauw is excited

As Phang walked inside he saw Klauw and Katimo conversing at the small table. Altima sat on a chair to the side of them listening intently.
"It'll be suspicious if there's more than one wolfson. It is going to be much harder for you to sneak away unseen, with an oakelf and another wolfson." Katimo cautioned. "But... yes I think it's a good idea." He admitted.
Klauws eyes flashed with daring excitement.
"Then we'll go right away!" Klauw grunted with an exited air unlike the old wolfson. "Pack your stuff, I'll explain on the way, we're going to win a duel."
And with that, Klauw dashed out of the room as if he was being chased by the unknown king himself. Phang blinked at Altima, unsure of what just happened and stumbled out of his chair into the guest room where their stuff, and the sword, awaited. Altima grinned at the complete lack of grace and speed Phang just portrayed, opposite to what she had witnessed earlier. She glanced back at Katimo, who was still struggling to understand what he had just agreed to, and bounced up, then zipped off to join Phang in his packing. When she got through the door she found Phang not packing, but instead, sitting on the narrow cot with his chin in his hand deep in thought. What's up?" she asked worriedly, thinking something was wrong. She walked over and sat next to him on the narrow cot. He didn't look up at her.
"I'm not sure if I'm ready for this..." Phang mumbled. "I mean, I was one of the best fighters in my clan but still...this is like, a BIG competition. Katimo told me. We are going to be fighting all different types of creatures and fighters with all different types of weapons."
"I know!" Gushed Altima. Aren't you exite... Sorry. Not the time."
Phang glared at her. "The hardest thing will be hiding the fact that I have a rainbow stone. Same with you. It might come out if I'm mad or scared. That and sneaking away without getting caught and brought to the slavelands by the unknown guards."
"Well, I can't wait to finally try out my sweet bow skills." Altima said happily.
"You're entering?!" Phang asked incredulously.
"Well, duh. How else am I supposed to get cool stuff and training?" Altima asked with a raised eyebrow.
Phang shook his head in exasperation. "You could be killed! I mean, there's precautions taken but still, it's dangerous!"
"So?" Altima asked quizzically, not getting the point.
"So what?" Phang asked angrily.
"Well it's just that duels are meant to do that. They aren't meant to be fun. Well, to most people." She amended glancing back to see if Klauw was listening.
"Humph." Phang harrumphed.
"Anyway, I'll leave you to your world of thought and go help Klauw gather the supplies. The village where the competition is held is only about a half a sun so we won't need to much, only enough water and food for the three of us." She sprang back up and bounded towards the door stopping only to fire back at him, I think that Klauw would kill you if you aren't out there in at least two minutes. He looks pretty anxious to me." And with that last word of advice she shot out the door. Phang shook his head. How that oakelf managed not to hurt herself by zipping around like she did he would never know. He stood up, shouldered the pack that Altima forgot in her hurry, and headed out the door. They set out on the road at about mid-sun, hoping to reach the village before sunset. As they walked Klauw explained the competition to them.
"This is how the competition works. The entering fee is one hundred gold. You need to bring at least one weapon. If someone beats you, you have to give them your weapon and fifty gold. It's a simple dueling system, the Unknown make this competition happen, so they set everyone against someone and gauge the skill levels. Then they distribute appropriately. If you make it to the first, second, third, forth or fifth place you win something big. Usually some artifact. Once the prize was a slave. Sometimes it's gold or a really nice weapon. A word of advice: before the competition starts there is going to be hundreds of small portable shops, with venders hoping to sell their wares. Don't waste your money. " with that word of advice, Klauw seemed to be done explaining it so they forged ahead in silence. They encountered no trouble, spare the one or two wylder beasts. It was nothing the heavily armed party could not fend off. They reached the village at dusk. Klauw called to them as he walked away, "Go check out the village. I'm going to find us a good place to stay for the night." Phang nodded his head in confirmations and looked at Altima.
She was staring all around her at the village. There were small shops and houses littered all over. To the right down one dusty street was what looked like a market where you could buy fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. From where they stood they could see several inns just down past the shops with cluttered junk, one of which Phang could see Klauw heading towards.
"Ohmygosh! Look at all these little shops! Where should we go first?" It seemed as if she directed this question at Phang. "Look over there! We are so going there." Altima pointed in excitement dragging Phang along by his arm. Her destination seemed to be a little oakelf vender. He was a middle aged oakelf that sat amidst piles of stuff, most of which seemed like junk. She dragged Phang over and started chattering to the oakelf. Phang was glancing at some of the junk when the oakelf said the things he was dreading.
"My name be Rinye the oakelf. What be yours and yours companion's?" The vender asked curiously, his long ears perked up to hear the answer, and pale green eyes searching her face.
"Altima the oakelf, and Phang the..."
"C'mon Altima we'd better go." Phang interrupted.
"But I was..." She protested.
"Now." Phang growled.
The roles were switched and Phang began dragging Altima off.
"You can't reveal our identity!" Phang told her.
"He seemed fine..."
"Yeah and I bet the twenty unknown that take us to the slavelands will be fine too. You'll be sold to the highest bidder and I'll be worked to death. Sounds fine." He shot back angrily.
Altima opened her mouth to retaliate but was interrupted by Klauw.
"I found a nice inn for us to sleep in. Cost is only about ten gold per person. Let's get some sleep, we'll need it for tomorrow. Klauw grunted. Phang stared at the setting sun, its glaring eye slowly being eaten by the mountains. They reached the inn, and walked up to the keeper.
I'd like two rooms please. Klauw directed at the keeper, tapping his fingernails on the small table made out of wood where the innkeeper sat. They paid the innkeeper for two rooms, (the rooms had two beds each) and retired to their rooms. The rooms were fairly small, only enough room for two beds made out of oak and leaves with a wool blanket and cotton pillow. Altima fell into her bed, seconds after quickly changing into a cotton nightdress (she made Phang turn around). Phang slipped off his dirty shirt and trousers in favor of a black sleeveless T-shirt and flannel shorts. He then tucked himself under the covers and closed his eyes. Phang lay in his bed, ears perked up because he heard something. The sound of breathing. Not...asleep breathing. No, this was a much faster breath. But he knew it was Altima because he could smell her. Her sweet, yet earthy scent was something he had grown accustomed to and as much as he hated to admit, he liked Altima more than he should. He didn't know if it was the constant whirring of her mouth or the way she zipped about...but it was something. No, he knew it was her that was up and he curiously wanted to know what she was up to. He slid from his covers onto the floor like a snake, knowing that with her elongated ears aided by the rainbow stone that she had already heard him. He was still for a moment listening for her breathing again, after about a minute her breathing went back to normal but her heartbeat sped up. He slid over onto her bed and dangled his feet off. There he could see her sitting on the wooden floor, cross legged. He tilted his head in surprise. She didn't normally stay this still unless she was sleeping. She was pointing at a small pile of dirt that she must have poured on the wood floor, and concentrating with a ferocity that was unlike her. As he watched in surprise a small shoot of green poked out from the dirt. It was a small green thing intertwined by green things that wrapped around a small bulb. As he watched the bulb split open to reveal a pearl white flower that glowed faintly in the moonlight. She stroked it and watched it curl and twist until it was up to her chest.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Altima whispered softly. "This was my mothers favorite plant. She would gaze at it for hours." She said wistfully.
"Phang slid down beside her, his eyes locked on her face which was glowing in the moonlight. She was quite beautiful, with angular cheekbones and full lips.
"Why would you leave her? Your mother, I mean." Phang asked gazing at her face.
Altima smiled. A sad smile that etched into the corners of her face and made her look years older than she really was.
"I didn't leave her. She was sold into slavery when I was little. This flower is one of the only things I remember of her."
Phang said nothing. Then, "But when I first meet you, you told me something about tunneling in between her feet?" Phang questioned.
"Oh, that's just marm. She's basically a babysitter. I have to call her mother or she'll punish me. She was never nice to me like my mom was." She said sadly. He put his arm around her, tentatively and froze up. He then relaxed when she leaned into it, resting her head on his shoulder. The whispered secrets that flowed through their lips were told throughout the night, in the light of the moonglow flower.