Chapter Text
Smoked cheese heaved as he got to the river, every part of his body screaming at him to sit down and rest. Rest wasn’t coming any time soon as he had just escaped and was still escaping. a battle between that insane woman just barely escaped. Typically, he would stay for an honorable fight, but she seemed very keen on killing him where he stood. So, running was really the only option. But running was easy, escaping not so much. She was faster than him and given she was part tiger the chance she could smell him out was far too high.
He had remembered seeing a river on this journey with Golden Cheese and hopefully if he crossed it, she would lose him and he would be free to return to Golden Cheese. The river itself seemed calm enough wide and long, a rickety dock with some small raft like boats. Which is all he needed! Now had he ever used a boat before? No but beggars could not be choosers in situations like this.
Off he went inside the vassal, grabbing a paddle that laid inside and started on his way. “Surely they won’t mind if I burrow this.” He hummed to himself, I mean he did just help the Kulfi. One boat wouldn’t be much of an issue.
Controlling it was already harder than he thought, he only had one paddle, so he kept accidentally going in circles, or bumping into things, not to mention he was not going as nearly as fast as he wished. He wondered if just getting off would be faster but as he looked around it far too late. He was a considerable amount out from the dock. The river was wide and him swimming back without swallowing far too much water was unlikely with how tired he was. It’d be a waste of energy, valuable energy, valuable energy he had spent already quite a bit of! No, swimming back was not an option.
He sighed, following the current and merely keeping himself from going in circles. With the sudden lull his heartbeat was allowed to come down, body now feeling that exhaustion. Even if he knew he wasn’t out of danger yet there was no visible danger as of this moment. Just him and the river, the birds, likely some fish. He thought about perhaps laying down, taking a moment to truly rest. Smoked Cheese decided against it, either his boat floats back to shore and he gets no progress. Or he’s found on the river and crumbled. If he thought about it in either case he’d be crumbled.
Land seemed far more dangerous than the river. Even if he was out in the open, he was harder to get to. But that called into question of what would happen if he was found. They could be trailing him, or even waiting for him at the end of river. Setting up an ambush… that is if he knew he was there. People of these lands had no idea who he was or what he looked like. Fooling them into thinking he was someone else had worked more than once. but it wouldn’t fool her, that jamthirsty general. Perhaps she would inform the troops of what he looked like!
“If she were… she would likely tell them what I am wearing… by the great cheese.” His voice was exasperated, glances down at himself. He was definitely a figure who would stand out. shining glittering gold and extravagant headpiece, attire that did not blend in with the locals at all, not mentioning his staff. Perhaps he could get rid of somethings, just the things that made it harder to hide. The headpiece and the golden jewelry would do for now. He could put the jewelry in the bag and… hm. Well, the headpiece didn’t have anywhere to go. He supposed the boat would work for now; he could pick it back up once all this was over.
He took it off, ruffling his hair just slightly before settling it back down. The one by one took the jewelry off. Necklaces, arm bands, bangles, one by one they came off. Then promptly put into his satchel, he peered inside. making sure it was all well placed.
inside the satchel the two stared at him, two pink stones who while even while resting. Stared at him. He got them out, holding them gently in his palm. One was a slightly darker pink and had a rather ‘stern’ energy- Burnt cheese of course. While the other was much lighter, the ever-enigmatic mozzarella cookie. When holding them, he felt their judgy stares lessen. “You two act as if I wished to put you in a bag, which you must believe is not the case.” of course they didn’t respond, they couldn’t hear him.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m placing my finest jewelry inside with you. So fine I was buried them ha! now, back in you two go. Can’t have you being lost at the bottom of the river.” He chatted some more, loving the sound of his own voice clearly. Smoked cheese gingerly placed them back inside. Nestling them in with the necklaces and covering them with the bangles and arm bands.
With all that sorted there wasn’t much else to do. The river peacefully moving him along, the sun slowly setting. For how tense everything had been not long ago, it was a shockingly mellow scene. He decided that once it was dark, he’d get some rest. Laying down in the boat and staring up at the setting sky. It made him wonder how Golden Cheese was holding up. Had she defeated the beast? Was she crumbled to dust? He certainly hoped now for it spelt a rather gloomy fate. Oh, and she would be gone to, yes that would be rather sad as well.
He supposed only time would tell, how much time? he wasn’t too sure, he thought about riding the river until noon tomorrow and then slip back. Circle around back to where the fight had happened and go from there. He wasn’t too eager to go romping in the spice lands at night while completely drained of his energy. Even if he was eager, in this state he couldn’t be much of use. Now he could leave right then at dawn but… admittedly Nutmeg Tiger Cookie was still on his mind. He had no idea how long she would be trailing him, or if she was even capable of doing so. She could have lost him at the dock and went back to her master for all he knew.
there was something in his mind that made him convinced that wasn’t the case. This primal look in her eyes that communicated that she would hunt him down for as long as she could. For as long as he laid standing, she would be after him. Why this would be the case he had no idea other than she was nuts. Maybe Burning spice had told her to hunt him down and she was so eager to fulfil this task? whatever the case he doubted he’d find out why, if the two ever met again. He’d be speaking to her claws for certain.
He casted aside all these thoughts and closed his heavy eyes. Steading his breath as the river cradled him. Its lullaby so alluring that he could not fight against no longer. He didn’t even want to, getting some rest would be the wisest choice.