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“Whoa, who’s that?”
“Who knows, I want to know how he suddenly showed up here.”
“He’s huge…”
“Quite, all the more concerning.”
“Come on guys, he clearly needs help. Let’s not jump to conclusions.”
“Let’s not be overly trusting either.”
Voices prattled on and on. One naïve, one wary, and one soft. All were aggravating his already swimming head. He tried opening his eyes, but it resulted in another wild tailspin of his mind. His eyelids clenched as he cringed, groaning. What on Earth was going on? He almost felt ill.
“I think he’s waking up!”
“GingerBrave, don’t just walk up to a stranger! We don’t know if he’s hostile!”
“But he needs help, we can’t just not help.”
“For the love of- at least be careful.”
“Maybe use your cane?”
“Good idea!”
“That's better, I guess.”
Something prodding the side of his face was not welcome. Especially with how his head seemed sensitive to the touch, what had rattled it so badly. It didn’t seem right. He grumbled, trying to turn away. At this point he just wanted to wait until his head stopped spinning. Why was this random person set on bothering him? He didn’t need help, probably.
“Hey, you, okay?”
Poke.
“Hello, can you hear me?”
Poke.
“Hey buddy, you need help?”
Poke-
That was it. He snatched whatever was being used to annoy him, resulting in squeaks of alarm.
“If you don’t stop- I’m going to snap this in half!” He snarled, glaring up at the offender.
Said offender seemed to be a young man. He looked at him with wide eyes, then beamed, “Good, you’re awake. You had me worried there for a minute!”
“Snarling and threatening violence is such a good sign.” Said the very short guy hiding a good distance away, looked like a mage from what he could tell.
GingerBrave, from what he guessed, pulled his striped cane away from him. It looked an awful lot like candy? The thought caused a buzzing, like pops going off in his head. He gripped his forehead, trying to make it stop to vague effect.
What is this? He thought in frustration, more irate than worried.
“Whoa, hey, steady now.” GingerBrave urged moving to help him sit up. Instinctively, he backed up with a growl and jerked away. GingerBrave held his hands up, “Personal space. Got it.”
He glared at him, ensuring he kept back. He didn’t need help. Despite his annoyance it seemed to bring focus back to him, the world felt clearer and solid again. He looked around, nothing rung a bell. It looked like typical woods, nothing extraordinarily eye-catching peaceful, serene, dull...
“Where am I?” He questioned.
“You seemed to have collapsed right outside our kingdom.” GingerBrave explained.
“If by “kingdom” you mean our little hovel.” The mage looking one grumbled, arms crossed. Honestly, he looked thrilled as he felt.
“We’ll get there.” GingerBrave huffed, pouting. How young was this guy?
“Um, who are you?” The soft voice caught his attention. A young woman wearing a pink hoodie was carefully eyeing him from beside GingerBrave. Despite her soft appearance, she had a large, pink mace on her back. Definitely stronger than she looked. His attention caused her to look away. “I’m Strawberry, if that helps.”
“And that’s Wizard.” GingerBrave announced, much to said person’s chagrin. He grumbled to himself, but Wizard didn’t remark. “And I’m GingerBrave.”
“I heard.” He grunted. The dolt just smiled at him. What was his name? Of course, he had to have one. The fact it didn’t immediately spring to thought bothered him. Yet, he was undeterred, he rummaged through his mind, once he caught the sensation promising thought he clutched it tightly, “Burning…yes, Burning Spice. I’m certain that’s it.”
“Good to meet yah, Burning Spice!” GingerBrave greeted brightly. Then he blinked in wonder, “Hm, do you remember how you got out here? We’re pretty out of the way, like really out of the way. We’re you looking for the old kingdom ruins? If so, you made it pretty close.”
“Ruins?” Burning Spice echoed, the word brought a spark of excitement to him. The sensation brought a faint smile to his face, “Yes, perhaps.” He frowned, “However, I don’t recall anything prior to waking up. That feels like an interest of mine though.”
“You don’t remember anything?” Strawberry began. She tugged at the draw strings of her hood. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
He scoffed as he pulled himself to his feet. His dizziness seemed to have passed, for the most part, thinking too hard about his lack of memory made his head hurt. Thus, he shelved that for later. Maybe it’d just come back.
“I don’t need sympathies.” Burning Spice remarked. He eyed the trio. They were positively puny compared to him. Wizard barely went past his knees, at best. Yes, they wouldn’t be a threat. Though, clearly, GingerBrave was more so the type to be aggravatingly friendly and helpful.
“How friendly…” Wizard mumbled.
Burning Spice ignored him, he looked around, “Where are these ruins of yours?”
GingerBrave gasped in excitement, so much so that Burning Spice pulled his head back in confusion. Positively giddy, he asked, “Do you want to join!?”
“Join?” Burning Spice parroted.
Arms held out to his friend, GingerBrave repeated, “Our kingdom!”
“Three people aren’t a “kingdom.” Burning Spice deadpanned.
“It’ll be four with you. Plus, the gnomes.” GingerBrave retorted. He looked rather proud of his comeback.
Burning Spice eyed him. Then he turned to leave only pausing when he caught sight of something familiar on the ground. It looked to be a long stave with a star-like shape at the tip. The weapon seemingly called to him with potent familiarity. Yes, this was his parashu. Currently inactive and lacking its blades. He picked it up, the heat of it feeling like a comfort. He twirled it once, and the heated axe heads sprung back into existence.
“I have no interest in taking orders from kids.” Burning Spice grunted before he headed off. They said this “kingdom” was close by. He’d find it without their help. Perhaps if he saw it, it’d resurface a memory. There had it be a reason he was here, and that place was the only form of lead he had.
“H-hey!” GingerBrave exclaimed indignantly. “We’re not kids! Wait up!” GingerBrave moved to chase after the hulking man, only to be tugged back. “H-hey, what gives??”
“Would you wait a minute.” Hissed Wizard. “We need to think before we ask random strangers to live with us!”
GingerBrave dusted off his coat. He sighed, “We can’t just let him wander off with amnesia.”
Wizard looked at him with a flat expression, “He’s big enough to break a wolf in half with his bare hands, I’m sure he’ll be fine, of which is the reason we should be careful! Did you not see that axe? It’s radiating heat and he’s just carrying it around like it’s normal!”
GingerBrave tilted his head, confused, “You used magic though.”
“Which is why I’m qualified to say the obvious- that guy is dangerous!” Exasperated he sighed, “Besides, he basically said he’s not interested.”
“But we can’t just leave him alone…” GingerBrave insisted, worried.
Wizard planted his palm on his forehead. His friend’s caring heart could be really frustrating.
“Um, guys?” Both Wizard and GingerBrave looked at Strawberry. “He went straight to our Kingdom. Also, I don’t think we’re strong enough to make him leave…”
Wizard gagged, she was right. He’d said he didn’t want to take orders from them, not that he’d not stay. Their best hope he could think of was that Burning Spice didn’t remember how to fight, should he be actual trouble. Though, he doubted it with how he naturally retuned to his weapon.
“Maybe, we should just keep an eye on him.” Strawberry suggested.
Wizard groaned, “Ugh, I hate to say it but that might be our best bet.”
“Great!” Chimed GingerBrave. “We can show him we know what we’re doing, and he’ll join for real.”
“We don’t really though…” Wizard bemoaned but GingerBrave wasn’t listening and merrily trekked after their new apparent guest. Strawberry flashed him a sympathetic look before following afterwards.
This can’t turn out well…This Burning Spice gives me a majorly bad feeling. With no other choice, Wizard trudged after his friends, gripping his staff tightly for reassurance.