DAY 51-3: SPEED

"Master Leda! Y-you still do not know your way around here!”

“Does that really matter right now?” she shouts between gasps, scurrying through the pathway as quickly as her feet will take her. “If you don’t want to be eaten either I suggest you pick up the damn pace!”

Trees collapse one after another, adding to the impending terror of the situation. Leda’s shoes connect thunderously with the dirt with each stride of her legs. With every footfall, her jarring heartbeat rings in her ears. Simply knowing that the larger, earth-quaking ones that nearly cost her her footing are in pursuit—growing closer no matter how fast she goes—strings countless more adrenaline through her veins.

“Master Leda!”

Orian snags her arm at once. She’s forced to a halt and whips her head his way in disbelief. His breath comes in small spurts, hot and nervous. At his sides his fingers are curled into fists. Sweat smears his forehead, dripping from his matted hair.

Behind him, Leda can vividly hear the rumbles beneath the dirt—vibrations from the creature little to no distance away.

“Orian,” she hisses, heartbeat once again haywire. She casts her eyes to the wildflowers they’d trampled then back to him. “We don’t have time—”

“Master Leda,” he says, ears and tail flattening. “It is fine.”

She tugs her arm but he doesn’t let go. ”Fine?” she parrots. “We’re going to die if that thing catches us!”

“You’ve misunderstood.” He steers her along with him. “Dragons are harmless. Despite their large size they’re extremely friendly and love the company of others. And due to the fact that they’re usually alone, once they have their eyes on you they find it difficult to say goodbye. It’s both sweet and troublesome so people often avoid them.” Orian’s once again flashes her a smile. “Their size and horrific appearances are the only misleading factors to them, but trust me: we are safe.”

The panic inside of her settles, proving her decline in adrenaline. She inhale shaky breaths. “So that dragon isn’t going to bite our heads off then rip our decapitated bodies to shreds with its gigantic claws?”

“Of course not,” Orian says, regaining his own composure.

He points in the direction they’ve dashed from.

Leda bites on the inside of her lip as she stretches her attention into the darkness, towards what he wants her to see. Her pulse quickens the closer these booming footsteps become. She has to clench her fists to keep myself from cowering. Though, even she can sense the conviction beginning to slip from Orian’s features when the dragon bursts through the canopy of trees and stamps them without mercy.

It jerks its head, beady yellow eyes zeroing in on them. Like a bull, it reels its hind leg back and opens its mouth wide. Hazy grey swirls pour out as a result.

Leda’s lungs plummet to her gut.

“Is it trying to—”

Her voice hitches in her throat. Orian seizes her sleeve, inching backwards until stumbling into her body entirely. Panic seizes his features. He twirls and stumbles down the unlevelled ground, lugging her behind him.

But the dragon has already released a breath of fire. The vibrant trees and translucent fruit lights are gone in an instant, flickers of red spreading like confetti in the sky. It consumes everything in its path, and Leda nearly screams when a cinder and its scalding heat flits upon the back of her ankle.

She’s ready to be swallowed by the flames when she’s shoved into the dirt by Orian. The smoke and fire yet again appear before her bulged eyes. However, this time, it’s from a reasonable distance. They’re back where we started—the original spot in which they’d decided to camp the night.

Her heart rocks unsteadily against her ribcage, and the air filling her lungs is nowhere near enough. Orian from beside her is bent over on one knee and heaving in and out in utter exhaustion. His palm is flat on the ground, notifying her that he’s used another one of his portals to get them here in time.

Her stomach flip-flops as she once again trains her gaze forward. Unrestrained flames continue to devour the vegetation, twisting and swaying without rhythm. But it all crumbles to ashes—the trees and beautiful lanterns reduced to nothing but dust. And it only continues to spread, far beyond her point of view.

Orian clicks his tongue. Leda cranes her neck in his direction, but amidst the dim glints of light from the embers in the distance, Orian’s devastation is evident.

“Dragons are usually so peaceful and loving,” he reasons, softly. “Did we do something to upset it? Has someone messed with its nest?”

The sadness in his frail voice reaches her loud and clear.

Leda purses her lips. She knocks her head back against the wretched wood, just about catching her breath. “We can’t stay here,” she huffs.

Orian’s ears are flat on his head. He nods regardless, spinning to face the campsite. “I... understand,” he murmurs. He touches the bark of a fallen tree and shuts his eyes, as if in silent prayer. When he peels apart his eyelids, he’s renewed his determination. He makes his way over to their belongings to secure what he can. “Dragons have an excellent sense of smell so it will realize we haven’t been destroyed in those flames sooner or later. We need to evacuate as soon as we can.”

Straightening herself, Leda hastens to assist him. Their stuff, similar to everything else in this area, is crushed and scattered. The map; the water and distinct food—even the books Orian’s smuggled for pastime are ripped from their spines or crinkled. Nevertheless, Leda scoops as much as she can into her still salvageable knapsack. Orian himself stashes away a crushed bag—the stash of fairy meat Rhett has given them for their journey.

“Are there any villages or towns around here?” she asks once the concern comes to mind. “Will they be fine?”

Orian puts on his cracked mask before slipping it off in displeasure. He tosses it inside his own pouch wrapped around his abdomen. “Even if somebody has messed with their nests, I highly doubt dragons would willingly destroy a village, much less a town. They sincerely care about other creatures like their own. Though, considering its actions, even if there are people in this vicinity, there’s a chance...”

Catching Orian’s dejection, she pats his shoulder. He stiffens and swivels her way.

“First let’s worry about getting out of here. We can come back bright and early to find out what exactly caused this.”

Orian’s thick eyebrows elevate on his forehead. His perks, tail wagging. “Can we?”

“Why not? If dragons are kind creatures and something happened to cause its anger, as passersby we have the unofficial duty to help.” Leda grins. “I may not be from here or know a thing about them, but I do understand that we should make amends if possible.”

“But we don’t have time,” Orian rebukes. “We have to get to the Land of Edaps as soon as we can and talk to the royal family—”

“But we can’t just leave like this can we?”

Orian locks up, knowing she’s right.

She tosses the strap of the bag over her shoulder and takes a brazen step forward. “Then it’s settled. Let’s find somewhere calm to camp out tonight so we can come back as soon as we can tomorrow.”

No means of response comes from him, issuing her confusion. She ganders back. It’s in that moment Orian beams from ear to ear.

“You truly are amazing, Master Leda. I am so glad to have met you.”

Her shoulders tense, eyebrows rising on her forehead. This time it’s his turn to quizzically cock his head.

He pales automatically. “Oh no. Have I said something odd?”

“No.” She breaks out into a snort and returns a smile of her own. “Just wasn’t expecting that. Nobody’s ever told me that last bit before.”

Before Orian can inquire further, she marches forward, opposite to the direction the Northern Dragon continues to trample and the fire proceeds to ravish its surroundings.

Bright and early...

Hopefully they can last until then.

Leda and Orian don’t walk far before they’re proven wrong.

“Reca,” Leda reads off the sign Orian illuminates with a lantern they’ve filled with glowing butterflies resting upon a healthy tree a while back.

The moon has shifted a good distance in the sky, but its glow is still prevalent, even in the dead of night. Cool wisps of air billow through, even after they’ve left the forest. Orian had noted there was a possibility the Northern Dragon shot off flames in the direction of a nearby town, but fortunately, there isn’t a sign of that here. However...

“Its name wasn’t on the map,” Orian declares as he glides his fingers across the dusty and dilapidated sign.

Their attention falls upon the bottom left of the board where a scratched up image of a raven in a shape of a spade is sprawled.

“That’s the symbol of Edaps,” Orian points out, bringing the lantern closer. “Have we made it to the Land of Edaps already?”

“Let’s spend the night here.” Leda fights a yawn. Disregarding her aching... everywhere, she’s clearly in no condition to walk further.

“Are you all right, Master?”

She rubs at her left eyelid as he guides her down the pathway leading into the town. “How do you still have so much vigour left in you?”

Orian is puzzled by her question. Yet again, she has to remind herself that he’s not human and that this world is someplace her imagination can never seem to keep up with.

As soon as they enter, moonlight creeps in. The old road they’re following is barely discernible and scattered with pebbles. There’s also eerie fog that curls in. Its mood succeeds in jerking the sleepiness right out of Leda.

The scenery is nowhere near as extravagant as Orian had explained the Edaps Kingdom to be. Not because there’s no nature, but the buildings and houses they pass are in terrible shape. Or really, they aren’t in any shape at all.

They’re rundown and decrepit; doors hardly hanging off of their hinges; windows cracked. It’s as if they’ve walked into some kind of ghost town.

Although Orian tries to remain tough, he ducks behind Leda soon enough, slowing his pace to quiver. He clasps his hands over his nose and muffles, “This town is... apart of Edaps? It’s nothing like I’ve heard or read.. or smelt.”

“Maybe the townspeople are waiting in ambush to throw us a welcome party?” Leda suggests to reassure herself more than him.

But, in all honestly, she’s not feeling too enthusiastic about the idea. Is it all right to ask if it’s possible for zombies, skeletons or even creepers to come at them like in Minecraft. Seeing as giants and dragons already exist here, it’s plausible, but Orian is already frightened beyond compare. Bringing it up will only worsen his panic.

Deciding to remain quiet, Leda heads to the shabby house closest to them. She peeks inside, wrung with nerves. This is nothing like the fortunate land Orian has told her about. “Excuse me?” she calls out. “Is anyone there?”

No response greets her. Due to the light of the lantern, she can’t spot a single humanoid shadow within this ramshackle house. Glancing behind her to a still nervous Orian, she frowns.

It’s then a putrid smell clogs her respiratory system.

She slaps a hand over her face. Is this why why Orian had done the same as soon as they entered? What is it?

“Orian—”

Judging by the look in his eye, he’s figured out the source. Nausea overwhelms Leda.

It can’t be. No.

After Orian takes the lead, she toddles behind, solemn and quiet. The closer they get, the rottener the stench. The worse her nausea comes to be.

Until they reach the source.

A little boy. Black spotting his frail and bony body. A dark red substance oozing through the fabric around him and puddling out from his side.

Leda’s gut wrenches. She crouches nearby, Orian already on the opposite end. Alarm soaks her like a pail of ice as he lifts the boy’s gashed hand, and places his fingers on his wrist to check his pulse.

He retreats, rigid and stone-cold.

“He’s already...”

Slowly, Leda fixes her focus further into the darkened alleyway. More bodies than she can count lie sprawled in the dirt, deathly still. Even without hurrying to their aid, there’s no feigning that they’re no longer breathing.

That they’re all...

Leda’s eyelids sting as Orian stumbles to confirm the status of the other corpses. She slides her focus to the child’s bright blue hair and thin, lifeless body. First that malicious dragon, and even a little boy... “What the hell is going on in this world?”