Legend Reborn

Chapter 13: Sylvumbra

I find it odd that this girl knows we're the Great Mother's champions. Only the elders, and I assume our families, know about us being on this journey. Well, I guess the priests knew, but that was probably because the elders told them. How this girl knows about us, I have no idea.

"Thanks,” I say. We didn't know people lived out here, so it was a surprise to see all of you here."

"We've all lived here for quite a long time. Centuries in fact." Ludwig and Gilbert look at each other in confusion. "We were hoping you'd find us."

"Oh." I have no idea what to say to that. Things are getting weirder and weirder by the minute.

"Come! Let us have a feast!" an elderly looking man says excitedly. He had curly vines poking out of his beard and green paint on his wrinkled forehead.

The crowd of strange people cheers excitedly and begins to usher us toward a large building. Two small children take my hands and skip beside me as I walk inside. The building is like a giant meeting hall with an enormous table in the middle, which has been piled high with all sorts of food. My eyes go wide at the sight of so many things to eat, and I'm sure the others react in a similar manor. We've been rationing our food for so long that I've forgotten what it's like to eat as much as I want at one time.

"Sit with us!" the little kids say in unison. I assume they're brother and sister because they look so much alike. They also have insect like wings, and flitter over to a spot at the table.

I look back to see the others are also being asked to sit with people. It makes me a little nervous, but these people don't appear to be bad. I sit down on a small stool in between the two siblings. The thought of eating so much food makes me want to trust these people, but I decide to stay on my guard just in case. I look around to make sure I know where the possible exits are, and just as I do, something dark scurries past the doorway leading outside.

"Friends! Today it is our great honor to sit down to feast with the champions of the Great Mother, or as we call her, the Protector." A tall man with wild hair and green paint streaking his arms has stood up to address the crowd gathered around the mammoth table. "We hope you will enjoy your time here, and bless us with your presence." He raises a glass, and everybody else follows suit. "To the Protector."

"The Protector!" a chorus of voices say in response. We all take a drink of some really good grape juice, and then the feasting begins.

I look around excitedly at my choices and completely forget about the weird thing I saw crawling around outside. It's been too long since I've had a decent meal. The table is full of different berries, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. I furrow my brows as I realize that's all there really is. Some of the bowls just contain different combinations of the same things.

"Where's all the meat?"

Silence fills the meeting hall. All of the strangle people stare at Gilbert. "M-meat?" a young boy sitting next to him asks. "Like...animals?"

"Yeah," Gilbert says with a nod of his head. "Do you, uh...not eat that here?"

"Animals are our beloved friends. We would never kill them just to eat them."

Gilbert turns several shades of red. "Oh, uh...er...sorry."

The crowd slowly goes back to their eating, but I can tell people are talking about Gil in hushed whispers. I don't know why, but that bothers me more than it really should. I pop a few chestnuts into my mouth as I contemplate what just happened. Raw chestnuts are not a favorite of mine, so I wash them down with plenty of juice. I didn't realize they weren't cooked when I picked them up.