Flower Falls and Crystal Calls

First Hunt

Chapter 20

Once their curiosity was satisfied, Yeul sat back with a nod. "After yesterday, I had already been considering your previous requests. Even Caius had mentioned that he felt you were capable. I see no reason to continue to deny your wish to join the hunters. Perhaps this is what will be necessary to put you in place to fulfill your goal after all. You are certainly suited to the life of a warrior."

Elle raised a brow and gave her a grateful look. "Thank you. Don't think that I haven't considered how odd it might be, both since I am a woman and the representative of Etro, but until circumstances change, I can't help but feel I'm a mooch. This will give me something to do to help."

"A mooch?" Yeul was giving her a confused look at the unfamiliar word.

Elle laughed and shook her head. "It just means I felt like I was unfairly taking advantage of the city's hospitality."

"Ah, well, we do not consider it such. It is an honor to host Etro's champion. However, I do understand, and you are free to join the ranks of our warriors. Though I will ask that you remain with Caius. That should not be a problem?"

Caius saluted with his fist over his heart. "Until you change the order, it is my duty to guide the Emissary. It makes no difference if it within or without the city."

Yeul stood with a smile, and the others quickly followed her. "Good." She then turned to Elle. "I hope to hear more about your adventures in the days to come."

"I hope I have some worth sharing."

Once the Seeress and her guardian were gone, Elle turned to Caius. "Since we will actually be starting tomorrow, do I need to meet you somewhere?"

Caius was frowning slightly, but he shook his head. "No, it is still my duty to be by your side anywhere outside this complex. I will retrieve you, but we will be expected at the city entrance by half an hour after dawn."

Elle groaned at that news, but she nodded. "Fine, I'll be ready in the courtyard before dawn."

At her confirmation, Caius gave her a subdued smile and turned to leave. Elle was left with a lot on her mind. Between their conversation, her realizations about Yeul, and that look from Caius that she still couldn't get off her mind when it wasn't otherwise occupied, she had plenty to keep her thoughts whirling. It was just too bad her bath barely helped the growing bruise on her stomach. She hoped she had a chance to heal it in the morning before they had to do a lot of climbing, or she was going to be in a world of hurt.

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The next morning found Elle standing in the courtyard with bleary eyes and curses. She had barely managed to push her sore ass out of bed, but she once she was up, she had enough energy to heal herself to the point that she could move without cringing. She almost wished her healing skills were better, but she knew she couldn't have it all. She was built for battle, and she would count herself lucky to have the basic cure, at least.

It wasn't long before Caius showed up, and the two trekked silently through the waking city. When they arrived at the entrance, Elle was shocked to see two familiar faces, though neither of them looked shocked to see her. The rest of the small group did, but they were ignored as the twins stepped forward with a salute. It was Ingens that spoke for them.

"Welcome back, Apprentice. It was good to hear that you would be joining patrols again." He then turned to Elle while still holding the salute. "And you as well, Emissary. We have only fought by your side once, but it was enough. You will be a welcome addition to our team."

Caius nodded his acknowledgment. "What path is set for today?"

After that, the talk turned to the current patrol, with introductions for the other two that Elle had not met. They did not take long before they headed out. Much to Elle's chagrin, they quickly turned from the canyons and climbed one of the walls. She was gratified to see it must be a path they often took as the hand and footholds were worn and well-used, which made them easy to identify. At least her stomach was only slightly sore. She was somewhat mollified by the sight of Caius pulling back from a long reach with a grimace. At least she wasn't the only one paying for their overexuberance the day before.

When they got to the top, Elle stopped and stared. She had thought her first view of Paddra was gorgeous, but this was breathtaking. There seemed to be fields of giant daffodil-like flowers and grasses that stretched as far as she could see. They were only broken by occasional fissures that Elle knew had to be more canyons. The area around Paddra was riddled with them, and it was one of the reasons the city was kept safe from intrusion. It was naturally isolated.

Her attention was drawn when the group started off away from where she assumed the city to be, and she fell into step behind them, making sure to follow their footsteps as carefully as possible. There were no monsters yet, but she didn't want to be the reason they drew any in.

Despite her gaze being drawn to the landscape, including an unexpected pool of crystal clear water not long after they started, Elle knew there was much more she needed to focus on.

She made her way to the front of the group as quietly as she was able and only stopped her rush when the noise she made drew the frowns of three of the males around her. She gave them an uncomfortable shrug and kept her voice low.

"I know. You don't have to tell me. That is actually why I came up here."

Caius looked like he was about to speak, but Mirus did first. "I have not heard you before, why are you so careless now?"

She almost chuckled as she shook her head. "You haven't heard me because I made a point to watch and step where you all stepped. I'm not familiar with stealth in nature, though, so I wanted to ask if you could show me. I don't want to be a liability."

Caius sighed, and Ingens frowned, but Mirus merely gave her a long look before he nodded. "At least you knew enough to be observant. It is the first skill in stealth. You are not as incompetent as you believe."

Elle was shocked to hear that he wasn't angry, even if his brother looked ready to knock her out. She ignored the other Ballad and listened as Mirus gave her instructions on what to look for as they continued on.

The day was long and not without trouble, as that was the point after all. They ran into many monsters, but none that took the small group long to dispatch. The problem was more that they were each charged with carrying back what they could as well that made the day more difficult for Elle as it drew closer to night.

She was both surprised and relieved when they finally made their way down a different wall, and she knew where they were. Somehow they had made their way around in a circle and were not far from where they had started. She was glad to realize that it would not be long before she could lay down her burden and find her bed.

As they made their way into a city that was winding down for the day, Elle was glad to note that the rest of her group did not seem to pay her any more mind than any of the others. The day may have started with odd looks, but now, they had all fought the same battles, walked the same path, carried the same burdens. Even though it was only her first day, she knew it would be one of many, and she felt satisfaction for the first time in months. She felt like she was finally doing something and not just waiting for the fates to throw her a bone.