Force2reckon

  “UGH! IT’S NOT WORKING!” Toni shouted as she threw her hands up, “and don’t tell me to listen harder or try breathing slowly or any of your other stupid advice!” She pointed a finger at the two sitting across from her.

  The aforementioned two, Pipuck the spiras and Surrender the gremlin, stared at her. Surrender with a bit of anger, Pipuck just confused.

  “I don’ ge’ i’? It’s no’ har’ you jus’ gotta commune with yourself!”

  “You keep saying that, Pip, but it’s not working! I don’t get what you’re saying!” Toni growled “I can’t just… just get into my head like that.” Toni sighed.

  “Not head, Heart! You must hear your hearts words!” Surrender added, completely unhelpfully for Toni. She’d also been repeating the same thing for the past... How long had they been in here now? It was hard to tell, being in a cavern with only one constant light source.

  “I don’t know what that meeeeans Surrender, I’m sorry. I just… I need a break okay? We’ve been at this for what, two hours? Why don’t we go join Temate and Honey on the tour and try again this evening? We’re safe here, so it’s not like its a rush y’know?” Yeah, two hours sounded right.

  “We may no’ be as safe as you think, ss.” Pipuck said, looking at her meaningfully.

  “Ugh, we’re in a vilge of bears Pip, how couldn’t we be safe?”

  “There are many nasty things in the woods.” Surrender said, seeming deeply sad.

  “Nastier than bears I emphasize that again because they’re bears. Magic bears.” Toni gestured to the sunpit they were sat in front of and the glowing orb above it.

  “Aye, an’ wha’ do bears do Toni?” Pipuck asked.

  “I dunno, fish? Hunt? Eat honey?” Toni said.

  “Yes, an’ why do you think you’re no’ on the menu?” Pipuck expanded his question.

  Toni paused and gred at him, “because they’re thinking creatures and we’re thinking creatures. Why would they eat us?”

  Surrender shook her head, “They eat goblins, and other smart creatures, why not human?”

  Toni blinked at that. Did bears eat humans? She didn’t remember any specific instances from home but they were predators, weren’t they? No, they had to be safe here. She opened her mouth to say that when the door to the den rolled open. Toni turned to greet who she assumed would be Temate, but felt a strange sense grip her as Honey the bear came walking in on all fours, they were panting heavily.

  “Lady Toni?! Spiras Pipuck, Sneak Surrender?” Honey called to them.

  “Here!” Toni answered standing from the couch, “What’s going on Honey, weren’t you and Mate out on tour?” Toni asked, then she read the bear. Something was wrong. That strange sense grew stronger in her chest.

  “I apologize but it is rather an emergency. Master Mate is well for now but he is badly wounded, I felt you should know, I can take you to see hi-”

  “WHAT!?” all three voices came out in shock at once. That strange sense ceased to be strange for Toni. Terror, her new namesake, filled her body as she froze in thought. Nonsensically, she felt her brain going through the options of how it could have happened, trying to figure it out with no information. Pipuck reacted differently. Toni listened as the two argued.

  "Wha' di' you do?" Pipuck almost growled the words, Toni saw the spiras' eyes examining the room, then the bear and the door. The question rang differently in her head, what did she do? What should she?

  "Not us Spiras." Honey growled down at Pipuck, "Invaders, from the caverns below, caught him alone." Alone? Toni was confused, they were supposed to b-

  "I though' you lo' were on a tour?! Why was 'e alone!" Pipuck shouted at Honey and Toni saw the bear flinch, then straighten.

  "He ran ahead, we had no reason to suspect danger, nothing has ever tunneled into Bearbhaile before! I- Listen, I came to take you to see him if you wish, he's alright for now bu-"

  “Take me to ‘im quick, I can ‘elp! Quickly bear!” Pipuck shouted at Honey who seemed surprised, but nodded. Toni was still standing, what could she do? Nothing, Pipuck seemed confident, could they- no they would, Pipuck would help Temate. It'd be fine, it had to be fine. He was the only one left, the only connection back to... home.

  “Climb upon my back Spiras Pipuck, My friend Milis will lead the rest of you down, she awaits outside.” Toni didn't really hear that, she was spiraling, she felt it. She couldn't stop it, she was alone. Alone. Alone in a city of bears. Her terror grew, her mind span with all the different ways she could die. After all, if Temate wasn't safe here...

  Toni never heard Pipuck reply, because he didn't. His only action was to grab something from one of the bears before leaping onto Honey. Toni didn't so much as watch them run out as stare after them, Surrender following closely behind. She stopped and looked back at Toni.

  “Toni? Toni quickly, to Mate we must go!” Surrender scrambled back over grabbing Toni’s hand and attempting to pull her up. Toni didn’t react, she just stared off, her mind spiraling.

  They were safe, they.. They were safe, weren’t they? Temate was strong too, what could have hurt him? Did… Did a bear try to eat him, not realizing he was a guest. No, Honey had said there were... had he said what there were? Toni was struck with shock, then she felt searing pain in her hand.

  “OW! Surrender what the hell?!” Toni shouted at Surrender as she dragged her cws down the back of Toni’s hands. Right over the bandages covering where Surrender had scratched her the night before. Had it really only been a day?

  “Mate is hurt but not gone. We must go, help if can, be there if cannot. We cannot freeze now.” Surrender spoke quietly, her speech was choppy, but clear. She learned so fast, and spoke directly to Toni's head.

  Something about that message shook Toni. She blinked, realizing she was sitting again and leapt to her feet, when had she sat back down? It didn't matter, she spped her cheeks with her hands and nodded to Surrender. She and Surrender left the den where they met a tall, very fuzzy brown bear. A grizzly bear, the bear was standing on both of it’s hindpaws, wringing its paws!

  “Ah, you must be the others Honey mentioned, I am Milis, if you will follow I can take you to your companion?” She said it like a question, Toni nodded sharply and followed.

  Toni did not notice the beautiful epitaphs of the walls as they wandered. The strange clusters of beetles digging at walls, the occasional goblin wandering by offering snacks and drinks. She did not notice the long winding tunnels leading down, further into the city. She did not notice the city at all, as she stared at Milis’ back. Her mind was still racing, but now it was with ideas of how to help.

  Eventually, her mind spinning over a dozen thoughts and ideas each as ridiculous as the st, she arrived at a small open cavern. The floor was covered in endless grass and wildflowers, at the edges of the space was a cavern wall carved to look like trees. She blinked, surprised to realize that no, the edges of the cavern were made out of petrified wood! It felt like she'd just walked out into an ancient meadow, especially because there was open sky and a bright distant sun!

  “A-are we outside?” Toni asked, knowing the answer but feeling she had to ask.

  Milis ughed a little, awkwardly Toni felt, “No, this is the healing field. The only one in our Bearbhaile, very new. The magic here invigorates natural healing, but that is the most it can do. For us bears it is enough, our tough hide prevents most lethal harm, and we heal quickly ourselves. For smaller creatures, however…” she trailed off.

  “If the wounds are bad enough, then it won’t save them.” Toni finished the thought. Milis simply nodded as she led them through the healing field. Not too far from the entrance was a rge, rectangur green cloth bed. Laying atop it, filling most of its space, was a body. Toni took a deep breath.

  Temate y on the bed. Green fabric bandages were wrapped around his left arm and around the top left side of his head. It covered most of the left side of his face honestly, including his left eye and ear. She could see a sticky green substance oozing out of the side of the bandages as she approached.

  Pipuck spoke up, startling Toni who hadn’t noticed him, “It’s pretty ba’ bu’ between the poultice an' the magic in this room, i' will heal.”

  “You sure?” Toni asked quietly, it looked bad, or she imagined it did. His entire face was covered after all, so she couldn't see how bad it actually was. She sat next to Temate and tried to take his hand in hers, it was so big. She needed both hands to grasp it, and even then couldn't cover it completely. How had he been hurt so badly?

  “It is a fairy concoction.” Honey answered her. “I have not seen such a thing myself, but it smells of old fairy tricks. None of the bears here have bothered to learn the old ways of healing. We have little need for them.”

  “Really?” Toni asked, staring at Honey, “How could you not have need for healing magic.” Her voice raised slightly.

  “We rarely seek danger, and abhor violence except in our own defense. When we do fight our hides and wards protect us from all but the most severe wounds, which are lessened. Between that and our natural healing we are able to recover from much. In the case a creature can wound us enough that we can not recover... It can likely kill us nearly completely. In which case, we run and hide."

  “So what you’re saying is bears, the big bad predator kings, are cowards?!” Toni spoke loudly, her voice and fear twisting to anger. “Is that how Temate got so beat up, huh? You let him fight your battle for you?!” She was shouting now. “We thought we would be safe here Honey! That’s why we came here! To get our bearings in a safe pce Honey!” She stood, unflinching before the two bears. Milis shrunk back and apologized.

  “We are sorry, we did not believe there was danger, we believed it was a colpse but Master… Temate? He ran ahead and-”

  “And you let him go alone!? You knew something was going on and you just let him sprint away to take care of it for you!! You fucking cow–”

  “Quiet.” Honey growled. Toni stumbled, his words shook her in a way that wasn’t quite natural, or so she felt. Toni's words fell away, as did her attitude and furious confidence and Pipuck's words rang in her head. 'We may not be as safe as you think'. Suddenly Toni realized where she was, alone in a cave with two towering bears, and she shrank, fear repcing anger again. She still felt it though, roiling in her chest, seeking a way out.

  Honey sighed and softened a bit. “We are sorry Lady Toni, we are aware you are fond of him, but we could not have predicted the things which snuck into our home.” Honey reached a paw out to put it on her shoulder but Toni backed up.

  “What was it?” Toni asked, that was what she could do. She grabbed at the gun at her hip, hand tightening around the grip. Honey and Milis looked between each other and Honey replied.

  “Master Temate was wounded by what are called the Nitha on this continent. Humanoid creatures who live in vast mega caverns beneath the worlds surface. Something tunneled into our home, and they followed.

  “They appear almost malnourished, wiry and pallid, with rotten teeth and bones visible through their skin. They are neither weak nor frail as they appear, and I believe Master Temate made the mistake of believing they would be.”

  Toni blinked, “I’m sorry, master who?” Confused by the bear's sudden use of Temate’s proper name. They looked between each other and Milis replied.

  “It is the name you used in your anger, which is more likely to be his proper name. It would be improper to use a half name if we know the proper one. Correct?” She was still hunched over as she spoke, which didn't make her any less intimidating really.

  “Oh.” Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid girl. She didn't know why but she felt like she'd just-

  “Aye, tha’ was a fuck up, bu’ i’ should be alrigh’. After all, he was wounde’ defendin’ your ‘ome bears. As ‘is carer and ‘ealer, seein’ as ‘e can no’ invoke i’ himself, I invoke the Privilege of Assurance.” Toni looked up. She was about to ask what Pip meant by that when she heard a growling voice.

  “Spiras, they are guests and Friends, they are safe from any acts which th-” Honey began growling.

  “The ss is, aye, bu’ Mate isn’ one of your peoples friends, is ‘e? Bein' a gues' ain' much itself, so.” Pip cut Honey off and crossed their arms, staring up at the two bears. Honey growled again but Milis just ughed a bit.

  “Uh, Pip? What’s going on?” Toni asked, confusion quenching her anger. Just a bit.

  “Old ws of visitage, firs’ create’ by the firs’ fae with their arch enemy. Bears. I’ll expin more ter, bu’ jus’ understan’ that you an’ Temate are safe... er.” Pipuck turned towards Toni. “Well, you’ve always been safe I guess. I'm only jus' realizin' Honey was serious abou' the Frien' thing. Like I sai’, expin ter.”

  Toni nodded slowly, looking down at Temate. “I’ll take you at your word right now Pip. I can’t really… think right now.”

  A small cwed hand pced itself on her leg as Toni looked down into the sad blue eyes of Surrender. Toni smiled at that, the little gremlin had known them less then a day but was so… caring. Toni reached down and lifted the gremlin up.

  “I am sorry, I can not help, I do not know magic to heal.” Surrender said her speaking pattern was choppy but like earlier, clear and full. They'd known each other for what, less then a day really, and she'd learned all that already?

  “Oooh, that’s fine Surrender, Pip’s already helped, right Pip?” Toni looked up at the spiras, looking for reassurance for more than just Surrender. Pipuck nodded.

  “Aye ss, my poultice ‘as magical restorative properties. ‘ere.” Pip reached over and undid Toni’s own bandages. She looked down and gasped. The scratch marks were gone, soft scars were present but her hands were completely healed.

  “Wow that’s… amazing!” Toni looked up and smiled, her heart lightened and Pipuck smiled at her.

  “Aye! For Mate’s wounds it’ll take longer, a few days I think, bu’ ‘e will ‘eal. The magic ‘ere migh’ have save' ‘im itself to be ‘ones’. Much as the bears say they don’ know the old magics, this magic is fairly poten’, an' Mate is tough.”

  “The more chances the better.” Toni said.

  “Aye.” Pipuck nodded, smiling.

  A few minutes passed as Pipuck checked and double checked Temate’s bandages. Honey and Milis stood and watched as Toni thought. She had calmed, knowing Temate would be live was helpful, but she still felt two things very deeply. Terror had given way to anxiety, but it was still there, and her pure rage was now a smoldering anger.

  Was this what this world was like? She had bmed the bears but really it wasn’t all their fault. Sure they shouldn’t have let him run off on his own, but they genuinely didn’t seem to have considered dangerous creatures a possibility. She wondered about the things her father had taught her.

  She thought about it. Fight not to fight. Fight to protect others. Fight so others don’t need to. The three big reasons her father had for fighting. She’d never had to consider them too hard. In a modern world, in a modern city and environment, w was everywhere. No matter where you went there were police and security everywhere, prepared to act in case of danger.

  That wasn’t true here, these creatures had broken into this supposedly safe pce. How many things out there were like this? Bloodthirsty, or kill hungry, even if they were intelligent creatures? For the first time she considered it.

  Goblins, for instance. They had attacked their group without a second thought, with deadly intent. She’d killed them and felt guilty for it. Was Temate right though? What if one had survived and brought back more? What if hundreds of goblins fell on Bearbhaile, they would turn them away but would that many be able to kill even bears?

  Fight not to fight. Try to scare, intimidate, or restrain opponents so they are no longer able to fight. What if you can’t do that?

  Fight to protect others. What if its an undead creature? A monstrous beast? Something which only knows killing and won’t stop until one of them is dead?

  Fight so others don’t need to.

  So others, don’t need to.

  Toni looked down at Temate and narrowed her eyes. She looked up, a decision reached in the back of her mind. Maybe it was anger, maybe it was justification, maybe the path she was about to take was a terrible one. So what. If she had to become a monster to save others from dealing with monsters. She would do that. She ughed sardonically. Toni the Terror, a throwaway joke, but maybe that's what she needed to be.

  Toni spoke as she looked up at Honey. “Honey, Milis. Take me to where this happened, and tell me everything you can about the Nitha.”