Trail
Blazing
They camped
that night right outside of the once thriving Dark Forest. Ricarde built a
crafty woodsman fire, Darq threw on his chef’s apron and hat, and Gello just whined,
nagged, and whined a bit more. “Just a dash-a-this and a sprinkle-o-that.” Darq
said in his normal cheery tone.
“Oh shut
up…you silly bastard…It’s cold…I’m freezing…and your food is terrible. I’ve
tasted it before, and I’m just terrified to ask what it is you could possibly
cook now.” Gello carped.
“Harumph…I
guess I’ll just have to take away your silverware privileges.” Darq said as he
gathered up a fork and knife and pocketed them hastily. Ricarde laughed to
himself and rubbed his hands together, testing his makeshift fire.
“Sorry for
interrupting the lovely parlor chat fellas, but um…what exactly are we
searching for on this adventure anyway?” the burly woodsman inquired.
“Ahhh…That’s
a bit strange. We didn’t even bother to tell ya what we’re looking for. But
then again, I’m sure you don’t care…you’re just in it for the adventure.” Said
Darq.
“In any
case,” Gello interrupted, “we’re looking for an item named…the Holy Oracle.”
“Supposedly,
it is the key to all knowledge and power.”
“In other words…it
knows all…sees all…hears all…and is all.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.”
“And yeah.”
Ricarde looked at them both as if they were some sorts of parrots.
“Sounds
good comrades. I’m all for it!” Ricarde said satisfactorily. “But it does seem
that we wouldn’t be the only ones searching for it…right?”
“Damn
straight,” Gello answered, “The whole damned realm is looking all over the
place, and it’s hysteria. From what we’ve heard the search gears up every
century or so.”
“So,”
Ricarde replied, “You’re saying that there’s probably going to be a lot of
people searching for this thing?”
“URGH…A lot
is an understatement…I believe ‘an infinite amount of people’ suits this
situation best.”
“Then what
are our chances? Why do we bother?”
“Why not,”
Darq replied with a sudden burst.
“Good
question,” Ricarde stated. That night was pretty boring…Gello complained a bit
more, this time about the bugs surrounding their campsite and how
unsatisfactory he found Darq’s cooking. Ricarde and Darq found the meal quite
satisfying and even exquisite. With their bellies full, they were ready to
sleep and prepare for a new day.
The morning
air was damp and rather humid. Gello slipped on his shirt and began his daily
complaining exercises, “Why does it have to be so hot and wet?! I hate it out
in the wilderness! Why did I let you talk me into this, you buffoon?!?”
“Let ME
talk YOU into THIS?!? “ Darq asked as he woke up (under very
crude circumstances) “Listen, you puny little sack of garbage! I have no time
to listen to your every complaint. If you want to leave, LEAVE! It’d be just
fine and dandy if you ask me!”
“Well
I…uh…well…Well you’re an idiot!”
“Is that
the best you can do?”
“Yeah.”
“Ok
then…thank you for trying.”
“Hmmm.”
Gello finished his daily exercises rather early. Ricarde rolled over twice, and
then rose to his feet as he stretched and yawned (not to mention rather
loudly). Darq dusted off his shirt and pulled out a flask of some vintage ale.
He took a
sip and released a rather grotesque, “Ahhhhhhhhh…” Refreshing, he thought to himself. Ricarde Picked up a bucket of
water and drank the water down whole. Gello glared at the beastly man in
disgust and shook his head.
“What a
repulsive pig.” Gello said in disgust, “Both of them…It’s just sickening.”
Darq turned around a released a terrifying hiss in Gello’s
direction. “EEK!” Gello shrieked, as he ran down the successive path. Ricarde
laughed his pompous laugh and began to follow close behind him. Darq capped his
flask and tucked it away in a secret belt compartment.
“Gonna be a
long day,” Darq thought as he shook his head, “A very long day.” He
strolled out of the campsite and started along the dirt path behind his
entourage. The scenery was astonishing. The sky was a mixture of a light pink
and a dark reddish orange. I know what you’re thinking…Sunset colors…you’re
wrong. Mooshnai – (once again) a mythical realm. Mooshnai has two moons and
various skies during the whole of the day. On a typical day, the sky was a
beautiful bluish green, and about once a week, the sky was a beautiful
reddish-pinkish-orange. BUT ANYWAY!!! Let’s get on with our story…shall we? The
trees stood out most of all. The rendering was beautiful; the trees were reared
against the sky; Luscious willows and lilacs, whose leaves were small and
either very fernish of very round. The most beautiful part of the scenery
though, was the…Old man? Well, whatever. There he was, an old man with the
apparel of a peddler. He wore a yellow straw hat and had a bag thrown over his
shoulder. He appeared to be sleeping…or was he? Gello continued along the path
until he could take it no longer, he had to buy some food that was sufficient
to his taste.
“YOU
THERE!” Gello bellowed as he started on his way over to the elderly man. “I
don’t mean to trouble you, but…well…I am in need of nourishment…do you happen
to have any food or drink?”
“Of course,
young lad.” The old man said as he lifted his bag and set it on the grassy
floor. “Now let me see here” He reached into his rucksack and felt around for a
bit. “No…no…WAIT…wait a minute…yeah…here we go, a delicious piece of fruit from
the WooJi tree. Take a bite young man, refresh yourself.”
“Well,
don’t mind if I do,” Gello replied as he snatched away the strange fruit. It
was a strange mixture of white, green, and orange. Gello didn’t care about the
odd color. He hastily took a bite and his eyes flared up. “EEP!” He fell to the
ground and passed out. The old man soon vanished in the blink of an eye with a
sound that resembled a watermelon being lobbed at a wall. Only a puff of smoke
was left in his presence.
Darq turned
around with a whip. “What the?” He glanced around and fixed his eyes on Gello.
“Gello? Hey, Gello? Oh crap.” Darq ran towards the tree where Gello laid near.
He poked him in the side with a finger and then kicked him over on his back so
that he could kneel down and listen to his pulse. “Hmmm…Ricarde! Get over
here!” Ricarde came running.
“What is
it?” the grizzly man asked.
“It’s
Gello…something’s wrong.”
“Why is he
passed out, not to mention, way over here?”
“I saw him
run towards some old guy with a hat, but I paid it no mind. Now, the old man’s
gone.” Ricarde picked up the oddly colored fruit, and took a whiff.
“What’s
that?” Darq inquired.
“Hmmm…smells
funny.” He took another sniff. “Aha! There seems to be a bit of magic involved
here. Foul play, it seems. Fairy sleeping powder, which gives this disgusting
piece of fruit its pigment.”
“Oh…” Darq
replied, being utterly confused.
“Look like
we’re going to be lugging this buffoon with us all along the way.”
“Lugging
around? Why don’t we just wake him up?”
“Because…the
powder is very powerful. It may last for up to a month. Who knows how long it
will take to wear off!”
“Damn.”
Darq took a deep breath and released it. He didn’t really feel too well right
now. “Well…since you’re undoubtedly the strongest candidate here, looks like
you’ll be carrying loudmouth.” Ricarde shrugged his shoulders as if to
say “No big deal, this guy probably ways at the most 63 pounds.”
“Whatever.”
Ricarde replied.
“Alright
then,” Darq said, being ready to go, “let’s head out big guy.” The two (three
if you count the unconscious one) started down the path again. Darq strolling
very whimsically and Ricarde stomping about like a giant beast, Gello over one
shoulder and axe in hand.
“What do
you suppose is on the agenda next, tall one?” Ricarde asked, rather
enthusiastically.
“Well…the
only thing we can rely on right now is something called the Library of
Menkuala. Supposedly, it should have a bit of documented history on this
so-called Holy Oracle.” Darq replied.
“Menkuala?
That sounds very eastern. Are you sure it’s on Kronus? It just might be in
Waishai.”
“Waishai!!!
Oh great, now we’re just screwed. I guess we can only hope for the-.”
Darq’s words were cut short. He had seen something in the
distance. The oddest, and yet most bloodcurdling thing in his entirely life.
Giant. Red. Spikey. “Ye gods….”