Fight together (Ori and the blind forest fanfic)

Chapter 16: new enemy

"So your telling me, you were with, Austin, before you knocked yourself against that wall ?" Rheya, questioned through a knot of anxiety lodged in her throat.

Josh, didn't speak, but nodded stiffly with a look of guilt stretching plainly across his face. He had explained previously the circumstances he had left, Austin, under, and either member of their party couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with concern. Even, Ori, who couldn't even understand them could easily read the mood, even without a translation.

Aru, however, who had understood every single word of the conversation, displayed a face of unreadable emotion as he sat almost completely still. Aru's, behaviour was also part of the reason, Ori, was acting so nervously, she could read the mood easily enough, but without an explanation from, Aru, she could barely get half of it. But just the sight of the normally carefree, Aru, looking as he did, it made her mentally prepare for something she didn't want to hear.

Aru, knew how he was making, Ori, feel, but he was finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that, one of his best friends might be dead. On the inside, there was a fire blazing hotter than any he'd ever been close enough to feel it's intense heat. While on the outside. He seemed to stay unusually calm, even with the almost irresistible itch to go out and find him.

He looked at, Rheya, and, Josh, feeling a faint pang of anger, which was quickly silenced as rationality came through. How could they go out and find in that condition, Rheya, was just barely staying awake, and, Josh, was poisoned and probably too weak. The poison was probably stripping away the last of his strength and consciousness anyway.

But then an idea occurred to him. And he looked over at, Sein, with an unreadable expression that made, Ori, curious. She was about to speak, but, Aru, beat her to it and talked in a voice almost devoid of emotion, but with a slight tremble that betrayed his worry.

'Rheyas, is much too weak to travel or cast a spell more than a few times. And, Josh, is effected by a poison that's apparently killing him by the second.' He said with a glance at, Josh.

His eyes were half closed and drooping, combined with pale, pursed lips and cheeks. Rheya, didn't look much better, but seemed more awake and looked to be thinking hard.

Either way, Aru, tightened his fists and looked, Ori, straight in her black and blue eyes with a serious expression. Ori, stared back and straightened up, coming to a slight conclusion that gave her an idea of what, Aru, was thinking.

'You wake, Sein, if you can. I'm going to ask a few questions.' He said and walked away without another word.

But he caught a slight, shift, Ori's, head in a nod, as she moved to do as he said.

Aru, moved to gain the attention of the two humans with a wave of his hand with his back to the wall. Rheya, snapped, from her thoughts with a questioning expression. While, Josh, moved more sluggishly to look at him with half closed eyes and a nodding head.

He pointed at, Josh, to signify the question was directed at him. His eyes twitched, and his head lifted to observe whatever writing, Aru, would display on the wall. Rheya's, curiosity increased, but she kept quiet.

Aru, looked at the stone wall, then at his extended claw and began to concentrate. Light soon started to emit from his claw, as he began writing his question on the wall. His claw had heated up to a scolding temperature, allowing his claw to glide through the rock like butter, while leaving a faintly smelling burnt trail behind.

In the end, he wrote, 'what direction did you come from?' He finished and stared expectantly at him.

The question was simple, but it still took a while for him to answer.