10 Minute Tales, Part 2

Oct 30 - Regaea, Pt 2

The traveller set off, heading for the forest. The tools were heavy but somehow felt right in his hands. He hefted the axe around, getting used to its balance as he eyed the first tree up. It was a fine specimen, sporting pale bark and crisp, fresh leaves. He braced himself and swung the axe, making a satisfying clunk and a scar in the trunk. He wriggled the blade free and swung again. The axe was working quickly through the tree, and he was done in fifteen strokes. It wasn't falling, though; instead, it just vanished. Blocks of wood took its place, accompanied by a few acorns. He blinked and reached out for the wood. He didn't even get to touch it; the wood flew at him and vanished. He didn't know where it went, but somehow... he knew he had it. He blinked, focusing on this new sensation... and a solid block of wood appeared, as natural as though it had always been there, as smooth as if he had just built it. He blinked, all the more confused, but nodded. It seemed as though constructing would be much easier than he had first imagined. He carried on cutting down trees, swinging the axe happily, until the axe caught on something behind him. He blinked, confused, and turned around. A green blob of... he had no word to describe it except slime. It was round and reached up to his knee. He didn't think much of it until it leapt over his head and landed in front of him. He stepped back in surprise, just in time to avoid it leaping straight at him. It was aggressive! He paused as he realised that he had hit it first. He frowned, stepping aside to dodge one more lunge from the slime. Only one of them was leaving this grove.

-----

The traveller quickly realised that the slime was going to do nothing but bounce at him. He timed his attacks just as the slime jumped, batting it down with a swing of his powerful axe. It took a few swings, but one firm swing of the axe split the slime into smaller blobs with an odd puff of smoke. He was worried that the fight had become harder and braced for the first slime to jump out of the way. None of the blobs moved, though. He had won already? He was still tense as he approached the slime, poking it with the axe. It jiggled, but didn't move by itself. He scooped it up cautiously. It vanished as quickly as the wood from before, added to his... items. He shuddered, feeling grotesque, but it didn't seem to be harmful. He decided to take it back to Marty, scooping up the remains and returning his attention to gathering wood. The first fight he had fought hadn't gone so bad. Hopefully, there wouldn't be too much to all this.