Chapter Text
Rumbling the carriage made its way through the forest. Desperately, the light fought its way through the thick treetops, making it here and there in a simple ray of light hitting the dirty ground underneath the wheels. Somewhere in the distance sang a lonely bird. But besides from that … it was pretty silent.
Too silent for Bright’s taste. Next to an elf-like looking humanoid he sat in the carriage. On the other side of both of them was a black Dragonborn. He was massive, broad shoulders, a frayed looking armor and an unfriendly, grumpy look on his face. Not even once since they met in this vehicle the guy had broken his expression, as if it was carved onto his face.
The woman on the other side at least looked friendly. She didn’t speak a lot as well, but she seemed nice. Her dark hair gently falling to her shoulders, framing her pointed ears. There was a subtle gentleness about her that almost urged Bright into a conversation, but as he for heaven’s sake didn’t know what to say, he stayed silent. Instead his eyes moved outside. On the other side of the dirty carriage window laid the forest. It was the same view for hours. Every time the Tabaxi dared a quick check all he could see were trees, sometimes bigger rock constellations, but overall nothing but nature. Through the window cracks some wind hit his pelt. It felt nice and cool. Bright closed his eyes, enjoyed the gentle breeze against his skin, how it caressed him like a pat. The wind brought with him the voice of their coachman, who talked to himself (or his two horses. Bright wasn’t so sure which of the options it was), telling stories of cities he had seen, people he had met, monsters he had slain, adventures he had survived. Bright himself had seen is fair share of the world (or so he liked to believe) and somehow he couldn’t believe that this old man had survived everything he was babbling about right now. For a few seconds Bright listened to his incoherent stories before he turned back to his fellow passengers. His amber eyes were on the Dragonborn. Bright knew they were rare these days. Actually, the Tabaxi couldn’t recall having ever seen one before on his journeys across the lands. So he was kind of curious where the guy came from. Actually, Bright was pretty sure that he might not be from the south, as Dragonborns got hunted down there. Or did he? Was he a survivor or had kind of managed to live there, making a living? The more the Tabaxi thought about it, the more he felt the need to know. Excitedly, his large ears twitched and just as he opened his mouth to ask, a jerk tossed them from one side to the other, cutting him off.
The horses cried loudly, the coachman cursed and before Bright could grab hold somewhere the carriage came to an abrupt halt.
Bright’s body hurt. All of them had been tossed around. He had landed roughly on his shoulder, been thrown against the carriage’s wood. Every fiber in his body ached as he moved, set up. When they had stopped gravity had forced him forwards, almost thrown him into the seat in front of him. Barely in time, had he managed to raise his arms, protect himself from hitting his head on the wooded seating bank. A groan rolled off his lips as he got up, stretched himself, checking if he was badly hurt. He was not. He was pretty lucky.
His eyes darted around him. The Dragonborn had been fortunate; he only was pushed against the wood with his back. The woman had landed on the floor as well, but seemed fine. »You okay?«, Bright asked. Both of them nodded. Attentively, his ears moved around, trying to hear what was happening, before he popped his head out of a window, checking. That might had been a stupid move, but nothing was out there. Nothing that was after his head. Everything laid in silence. Even the birds were silent. »Hey, why are we stopping?« There was no answer. But he could swear he heard a shy mumble from their coachman.
»Is he alive?«, the woman asked as Bright pulled his head back in.
»I guess?« He shrugged his shoulders. »I could swear, I can hear him. But he isn’t answering. No idea, what had happened.«
Loudly, the Dragonborn huffed: »I’ll check.« He got up, pushed Bright aside and went through the too small seeming door. The carriage swayed from left to right as the heavy creature left the vehicle. With also heavy steps he marched along the carriage’s side to the front.
His voice had been low and strong and such a baritone that it gave Bright goose bumps and vibrated through his body even after he left the two. Bright watched him go, shook the feel off and carefully moved to the woman. She was still on her knees, had observed the scene but not moved yet. »You’re not hurt, right?«, he asked again.
»No«, she shook her head.
Carefully, Bright helped her back on her feet. Although she wasn’t hurt she looked kind of shaky on her feet. But who wouldn’t be? Bright felt the same. »What do you think was that?« He turned his head towards the door where the Dragonborn had left through. It was silent outside. So nothing had happened to him, right? It was neither good nor bad.
»I’m not so sure.« She held her breath as she listened, before she simply went outside. In a weak attempt Bright tried to stop her, but she was already off. And he was alone and hesitated. He should follow her and of course he was curious what had happened out there and if needed he wanted to help. But what if there was something bigger out there? Bright was no fighter. He was a skinny boy and more than one time he had struggled keeping away from problems. Hesitantly, he moved closer to the door and finally took the first step outside. The air smelled earthy and was humid. But it was silent and to Bright’s relief it all seemed fine. The Tabaxi made his way to the front of the carriage. Both the Dragonborn and elfish woman stood next to their coachman. The old man was nothing more than a stuttering, mumbling being that had curled up, hiding his face from them. »What’s with him?«, Bright asked.
The Dragonborn shrugged: »He won’t tell.«
»And is he scared?«
A shrug again. Bright let his eyes wander. One horse was gone, the other laid dead in front of the carriage. Its head was ripped of the body and nowhere to be seen. It was bloody and there were more questions than answers. Bright kneeled next to the old man. »Sir?«, he asked carefully. He didn’t react. »What had happened?« For a brief moment he looked at Bright. His eyes were glazed over, panic had left its mark on his old face. He stopped his mumbling before he started again. »Are you hurt?«
»They are coming. They were here. They are coming«, the man mumbled, this time louder so Bright could hear him.
»Who? Who is coming?«
»They are coming!«
Helplessly, Bright looked to the others. But they seemed as helpless as he was. »Sir … you kind of have to work with me here. So who-«
»The shadows! They are coming!« Fear sparkled in the coachman’s eyes as he stared at Bright. His face was pale, and he seemed scared to death. Nevertheless, Bright couldn’t make any sense out of his words. With a sigh he got up to his feet again. »He says the shadows are coming?« Bright had no idea what he meant, what he was talking about. And as he looked at the others he was pretty sure they felt the same. No one of them seemed to know for sure what he was talking about.
»It sounds as if something might be after us«, said the Dragonborn.
»And what should that be?«, Bright wondered. »Is someone after you?!« Attentively, he checked them both. On his part he was certain that there was no human being that was after him. At least he really hoped so. Last time he had checked, he was kind of fine.
»Maybe we shouldn’t try to find out while we are here out in the forest«, the elfish woman added. »What is the nearest town?« She asked the coachman. It took him some while and some mumbling until he stuttered: »Laweg.«
»Good…well… let’s pack things up and walk there. Can’t be that far, I suppose«, said the Dragonborn and was about to pick up the coachman.
»Wait, wait!«, Bright jumped, stopping him. »What if he’s hurt? If we move him, he also might lose his head?« Yeah, Bright knew that this probably wouldn’t happen, but on the other hand he wasn’t wrong. The coachman could be hurt, his horses were either gone or dead, so it was an option. His eyes wandered towards the woman. Her clothes were bright and noble looking over her leather armor. »You are a cleric, right? Can’t you just heal him?« Bright knew very well he could try on his own, but he usually was healing minor things, but what if it was a major problem, that he couldn’t handle. So he didn’t want to take the risk. And she looked like a professional, so why even bother.
»I could but…« She looked left and right. »I don’t see any wounds. I am not even sure if he needs healing.«
That was a good point, Bright had to admit. »Sir? Are you hurt?«
His body twitched oddly. Was that an answer? A yes? A no? Bright wasn’t sure at all.
»Sir?«
No answer again. But nevertheless Bright was certain that it was a horrible idea to move him without making sure that there was no problem.
»We won’t get any answers, I suppose«, she said and went down on her knees next to the coachman. Carefully, she put her hands against his chest. Her hands were glowing in a dim yellowish light that enveloped him for a second before it faded into nothing. »There shouldn’t be any wounds anymore«, she said, getting up again. »He should be fine.«
Silently, they waited that he moved on his own, that he would get on his feet. But he didn’t. He stayed right at their feet, talking to himself.
»I’m not gonna wait until he gets his mind together«, grumbled the Dragonborn, took the coachman and carried him on his back. »You two take all of our stuff and we’ll walk.« They both did that, threw their bags over their shoulders and together they marched on.
It was quiet as they walked. It was so quiet it hurt Bright’s ears. It was almost unbearable. For a while he watched the others. The coachman had stopped mumbling. »So, I’m Bright«, the Tabaxi said. »What are your names?
»I’m Alysala«, said the woman.
»Drakkrys.«
Bright nodded. »Drakkrys is kind of complicated with all those sounds and stuff … does it bother you if I call you Drak? Drakky? Rys?«
»Do not slaughter my name. It is Drakkrys.«
Unhappily, Bright made a face. »Common Drak, don’t be so grumpy.« All he earned was a second grumble. For a while they walked. Bright’s ear flinched. Actually, he wanted to wait until one of them said something, but as that moment never seemed to come he took the chance again and asked: »Why were you in this carriage? Where did you want to go?«
»None of your business.«
Well, Drak was apparently not a very talkative person. Bright sighed disappointedly. He didn’t want to be nosy, but getting to know the others a little bit better was something that he would like. Questioningly, he looked at Alysala. »What about you?«
»I am looking for someone…want to find some information. So I thought it was best to leave and go into the world.«
To be honest, that sounded promising. It was a start and the next question was already on the tip of his tongue, but he held back. Bright simply just nodded.
»What about you, cat?«
Angrily, Bright huffed and glared at Drak. He never liked it when he was called a cat. Of course he looked like one. Actually, more like a caracal on two legs only, but nevertheless he didn’t like it. He was smarter than a regular cat! He could talk for example and was not less intelligent than the other existing races. »I wanna see snow«, he said and sounded a little angry. Or offended would fit better.
»Snow? Why is that?«
»In the desert, where I am from, I never saw snow. But I heard it’s magical and special and I want to feel it with my very own feet. See something I have never seen before.« Bright was excited about that. He was pretty sure that it would be a long way until he would see snow for the first time, but he was willing to wait that long. He wanted to stick his toes into snow and feel for himself how cold it really was. He looked at the others, wondering if they might ask some more, but both remained silent.
It felt awkward. On the other hand they were people he just met and they seemed pretty reserved so they wouldn’t talk too much today. But luckily for him he hadn’t to try far more as they left the forest. To both sides they let the forest behind. In front of them were golden fields. In the midday sun the corn seemed to glow, ranging as far as the eye could see. Some livestock grazed near the tiny village that laid at the foot of a mountain range. »Do you guys think this is-«, asked Bright.
But before he could finish the coachman found his ability to speak again and added: »Laweg.«