Crater Creator

12. Crossroads

The sound of going to that lurid place, full of horrible creatures, made me shutter and ponder if I wanted to go to such a place. If I were to go to The Horrid, how long until Gimrak unleashes his army, on the other hand, if I chase after Gimrak, how long until the Tainted find Nalak? I grabbed the nearest map of A'Hearn and calculated how far Devils Drop and The Horrid is. About day and a half far apart, but it will not be easy because what is separating Devils Drop and The Horrid is Gulge Bog. The map describes it to be a horrible land, full of poisonous waters, venomous creatures, and grappling trees.

"Hey Zunlin," he looks at me with the same puppy dog eyes, "Is there any chance that you could accompany me because you might know the land better than I do?" A worried look begins to form on his lizard face. "Um, I don't know about that. I swore to never go back to that accursed place, plus if they find out that I have left them for the Pure Elves, they'll treat me like a Pure Elf." " But I can protect you from them, please the life of my friend is at stake, won't you help me?" He kept shaking his leg and rubbing his head, probably thinking. "You'll have to give some time; I need to think about this." I begrudgingly stepped out of the room, tempted to force back in there and force him to go with me.

I moped into the kitchen and I saw Dreamslayer satisficing himself with a cup of tea. I seat myself next to him. "Why are you crying the blues? Is it about Nalak, because if it is I'm here to help you?" My watery eyes glance up at his kind eyes, "I'm kind of stuck, and I don't whether I should chase after Gimrak's or save my friends' life. There's nothing you can do to help me!" My head fell to my hands, crying my eyes out, a warm and gentle hand creped onto my back. "Don't you worry; I'm no longer needed here, so I can chase after Gimrak with my Elven brethren. You and Zunlin can track down that soul gem to save your friend." My whole attitude changed, from a mopey and sad little boy to a man who knows he still has a chance to save his friend. "You would do that for me? But Zunlin said that he might not come with me though, so I'll have no idea how to get there and out." " Hey, I have a strong feeling that he'll go with you, call it a guarantee."

A soft creak came from the bedroom door behind me. Zunlin stepped through the door with a satchel slung over his shoulder. When he came out, there was an irritated look on his face, but then quickly switched it to a determined and serious face. He pushed past me in a huff and kicked the boarded front door open. It opened like an explosion, exposing the brown grassland of Ídchanar. He took one step out the door when he turned back and said, "You coming or not?" he said with a grin. Dreamslayer hands me a bow with the same red arrows from the dream and two small elven blue daggers. He kept his blue Flyssa, which is a very straight sword with a wooden handle. "Go, Chris, go, and help your friend," said Dreamslayer, "I'll deal with Gimrak." He patted me on the back as I ran out the door. Zunlin pulled out a map and set it on the ground. "Okay we are currently right here and we have to follow this path, jump over the river and make our way over to the woods. I hope that it will be daytime, so they will all be asleep. Sound like a plan?" I nodded my head in agreement. "Alright let's head out then."

Walking into the unknown land, with a Tainted that I regret tagging along with, a Pure Elf that I have trusted to hunt down and stop Gimrak and all I can do is hope for the best. Thinking in my head I say, "Hold on Nalak, I'm getting you help. Just hold on and resist the Tainted's evil temptation."