With those works spoken, the lock did not open. It instead brimmed red with a flashing color! It was going to go off again, another alarm. The poor maiden inside stared in fright. "Oh no, you must leave now. I don't want you to get hurt, or worse. Please. Human, you must leave!" She gripped the bars tightly as the singed a red color!
The alarm hadn't gone off yet. The Maiden in the cage didn't seem to know the answer either. She looked around for aid from any of the others mythical beings. Yet none seemed to speak up, and others were asleep! The Maiden felt so bad for the human if they did not leave.
Then the sounds of footsteps came closer! It would seem some of the staff were on their way!
The Fire Dancer did not explain her next actions, but quickly grabbed the lock and began heating it up! "Hurry, hide." She said! She still held the lock tight in her hand. Even as it flashed, it was hard to tell as the metal turned red, but did not break or melt.
With the voices growing now, footsteps just around the corner. The staff was here! What what Jude do now, or where would they go?!
The alarm hadn't gone off yet. The Maiden in the cage didn't seem to know the answer either. She looked around for aid from any of the others mythical beings. Yet none seemed to speak up, and others were asleep! The Maiden felt so bad for the human if they did not leave.
Then the sounds of footsteps came closer! It would seem some of the staff were on their way!
The Fire Dancer did not explain her next actions, but quickly grabbed the lock and began heating it up! "Hurry, hide." She said! She still held the lock tight in her hand. Even as it flashed, it was hard to tell as the metal turned red, but did not break or melt.
With the voices growing now, footsteps just around the corner. The staff was here! What what Jude do now, or where would they go?!
Jude swore quietly. "I'm sorry," he told the fire person.
Why couldn't he get any of these ridiculous riddles and puzzles right the first try? It really mattered! Now was not the time to berate himself. He had to hide. He was no good to anyone held prisoner. Hopefully held prisoner. He could not be certain these people would behave civilly and turn him over to the town constabulary. They might deal with him themselves and make up a story to cover it up later. He glanced around, quickly taking things into account. He couldn't hide under the empty cage or this one. They would surely check there. The barrels. He had to try for the barrels. He was a little closer now, and his leg still did not hurt. He did his best dash for the barrels, instinctively favoring his bad leg, still not yet registering why it felt different or just how different it was.
One barrel was empty save for a bit of straw likely used to pad whatever was being transported. He dove into the barrel and hastily yanked straw up and over his head, hunkering down as best as he could. It was a tight fit. He was grateful for possibly the first time in his life that he was not a larger, more muscular lad. He willed himself still and quiet, trying to listen over the sound of his pounding heart.
Why couldn't he get any of these ridiculous riddles and puzzles right the first try? It really mattered! Now was not the time to berate himself. He had to hide. He was no good to anyone held prisoner. Hopefully held prisoner. He could not be certain these people would behave civilly and turn him over to the town constabulary. They might deal with him themselves and make up a story to cover it up later. He glanced around, quickly taking things into account. He couldn't hide under the empty cage or this one. They would surely check there. The barrels. He had to try for the barrels. He was a little closer now, and his leg still did not hurt. He did his best dash for the barrels, instinctively favoring his bad leg, still not yet registering why it felt different or just how different it was.
One barrel was empty save for a bit of straw likely used to pad whatever was being transported. He dove into the barrel and hastily yanked straw up and over his head, hunkering down as best as he could. It was a tight fit. He was grateful for possibly the first time in his life that he was not a larger, more muscular lad. He willed himself still and quiet, trying to listen over the sound of his pounding heart.
The maiden watched Jude leave to hide in a barrel. Just in time too! She looked over, spotting the two patrol guards. They were alerted to the lock going off. And they were covered in robes with wands on their hips. One had a sword to their belt.
When the guards stopped by the maidens cage. They saw that the lock was hot. A bright glinting red color, yet not melted or broken.
The one guard without the sword looked around. He stared over the various items. Boxes, barrels, other cages.
While the guard with the sword sneered. His voice rough and dark. "At it again dancer. Quit trying. If we have to come out here again, I'll make sure to bring a bucket of water with us. Maybe then you'll learn to stop your fooling about. You know the lock wont melt or break.
And I'm tired of dealing with you." He crossed his arms. Voice tired from her attempts to escape. Clearly this hasn't been the first time either.
While the guard with the wand spotted a dark cage, and what looked like nothing inside it! He tilted his head, his hood shifting slightly. He began walking towards the cage. The door looked ajar! Suddenly he reached over to their companion. "The Stag, he is gone!"
With a swift turn, the other guard let out a shocked gasp! He then face the fire dancer! "Where is the Stag Maiden?!"
However she did not say. She glared back. "Far from here, you'll never catch him now."
This only made the guard more angry! "Damned, you'll pay for those words, but later." With a strong hand he grabbed the other guard, "gather the others, that Stag couldn't have gone far. We'll catch him yet!" And the two hurried off to alert the others of the Pale Stags escape!
Now that it was quiet for a moment. The Maiden looked to the barrel. She feared that things would get tightly guarded now. She waited a bit more before calling out to the lad. "Hey, you have to go. This place will be crawling with guards and mages. You must leave!"
The guards were now up and about. Hurrying with swords and wands. Many rushed on horses and headed for the forest to go after Nocthirn! While a few scouted around. Aware that something was up!
Now that grounds was covered in a few guards holding torches and checking cage locks, along with any other escaped entertainments. The night became slightly more dangerous. However there was also plenty of items to hide behind, and inside or under to escape such a situation. But these guards were listening and looking carefully.
The fire maiden looked at the lock now. Seeing the red glow fade away and the lock was not in an alarm state anymore. She sighed staring at the glinting red stone.
Jude had a few options now. They could escape, but the grounds were dangerous now. They could try the lock again, but guards would likely come quicker this time, and may even see them attempting to open it. A few of the caged entities were up too. Aware of the chaos. One such Entity was bird like being, covered in dark feathers with a chain leading from the inside of their hooded form.
Another was a man of stone. He sat against the back of his cage which was much bigger and the bars were thicker.
The last entity nearby seemed like a snail type. Having a massive shell, but more human like quality, with legs, arms and even a mustache. They were sitting calmly. Watching the chaos unfold now that they were awake.
Anyone of them could be questioned for the lock, or the best way out. The options were endless.
When the guards stopped by the maidens cage. They saw that the lock was hot. A bright glinting red color, yet not melted or broken.
The one guard without the sword looked around. He stared over the various items. Boxes, barrels, other cages.
While the guard with the sword sneered. His voice rough and dark. "At it again dancer. Quit trying. If we have to come out here again, I'll make sure to bring a bucket of water with us. Maybe then you'll learn to stop your fooling about. You know the lock wont melt or break.
And I'm tired of dealing with you." He crossed his arms. Voice tired from her attempts to escape. Clearly this hasn't been the first time either.
While the guard with the wand spotted a dark cage, and what looked like nothing inside it! He tilted his head, his hood shifting slightly. He began walking towards the cage. The door looked ajar! Suddenly he reached over to their companion. "The Stag, he is gone!"
With a swift turn, the other guard let out a shocked gasp! He then face the fire dancer! "Where is the Stag Maiden?!"
However she did not say. She glared back. "Far from here, you'll never catch him now."
This only made the guard more angry! "Damned, you'll pay for those words, but later." With a strong hand he grabbed the other guard, "gather the others, that Stag couldn't have gone far. We'll catch him yet!" And the two hurried off to alert the others of the Pale Stags escape!
Now that it was quiet for a moment. The Maiden looked to the barrel. She feared that things would get tightly guarded now. She waited a bit more before calling out to the lad. "Hey, you have to go. This place will be crawling with guards and mages. You must leave!"
The guards were now up and about. Hurrying with swords and wands. Many rushed on horses and headed for the forest to go after Nocthirn! While a few scouted around. Aware that something was up!
Now that grounds was covered in a few guards holding torches and checking cage locks, along with any other escaped entertainments. The night became slightly more dangerous. However there was also plenty of items to hide behind, and inside or under to escape such a situation. But these guards were listening and looking carefully.
The fire maiden looked at the lock now. Seeing the red glow fade away and the lock was not in an alarm state anymore. She sighed staring at the glinting red stone.
Jude had a few options now. They could escape, but the grounds were dangerous now. They could try the lock again, but guards would likely come quicker this time, and may even see them attempting to open it. A few of the caged entities were up too. Aware of the chaos. One such Entity was bird like being, covered in dark feathers with a chain leading from the inside of their hooded form.
Another was a man of stone. He sat against the back of his cage which was much bigger and the bars were thicker.
The last entity nearby seemed like a snail type. Having a massive shell, but more human like quality, with legs, arms and even a mustache. They were sitting calmly. Watching the chaos unfold now that they were awake.
Anyone of them could be questioned for the lock, or the best way out. The options were endless.
Jude sat squished in the barrel with his knees up at his chin, his eyes squeezed shut. When no one immediately found him, he began pondering the fire maiden again. He needed to get out of here. He needed to escape! But if he did that, she would remain stuck. Then again, he couldn't release them all, so what would make her special? As it was, he'd already broken several laws by releasing the Stag. Of course, there was that saying about being in for a penny, in for a pound. Was that really a good argument, though?
Then he thought of the stall where they sold natural stones in various jewelry forms. Necklaces, rings, and things like that. The stone in the lock was natural. He visualized the stall as he listened to the guards rustling around uncomfortably close to his hiding place and then away. What stones at the stall were red? He couldn't think of many stones off the top of his head, but maybe he could remember the lady in the stall explaining them as she showed them to his cousin. Turquoise... Agate... Garnet... Hematite... Wardite... Peridot... Wait. Garnet. Garnets had come in multiple different colors. Had they come in red? He thought so. What did it look like red? He couldn't remember what a red garnet looked like!
The guards' footsteps and voices faded. Jude brushed the straw off his head and slowly rose up, twisting awkwardly to get all the way up. He could see distant indications of the search, but nothing close to him. It was now or never. He climbed out of the barrel stiffly, for a moment noting his bad leg felt different. He hoped that was a good thing, but he couldn't pause to think about it now. He managed to get out of the barrel without knocking it over and hobbled to the fire lady's cage.
Picking up the lock, he whispered frantically, "Red Garnet," and dropped it before hurrying away as quickly as he could. He glanced around at the other cages, guilt twisting his gut. He wished he could free them all, but he wasn't certain he could get away now. He couldn't take the time to stand around trying to solve riddles on locks, though that was possibly easier than trying to steal a ring of keys. He wished he could take the time, but he couldn't.
Then he thought of the stall where they sold natural stones in various jewelry forms. Necklaces, rings, and things like that. The stone in the lock was natural. He visualized the stall as he listened to the guards rustling around uncomfortably close to his hiding place and then away. What stones at the stall were red? He couldn't think of many stones off the top of his head, but maybe he could remember the lady in the stall explaining them as she showed them to his cousin. Turquoise... Agate... Garnet... Hematite... Wardite... Peridot... Wait. Garnet. Garnets had come in multiple different colors. Had they come in red? He thought so. What did it look like red? He couldn't remember what a red garnet looked like!
The guards' footsteps and voices faded. Jude brushed the straw off his head and slowly rose up, twisting awkwardly to get all the way up. He could see distant indications of the search, but nothing close to him. It was now or never. He climbed out of the barrel stiffly, for a moment noting his bad leg felt different. He hoped that was a good thing, but he couldn't pause to think about it now. He managed to get out of the barrel without knocking it over and hobbled to the fire lady's cage.
Picking up the lock, he whispered frantically, "Red Garnet," and dropped it before hurrying away as quickly as he could. He glanced around at the other cages, guilt twisting his gut. He wished he could free them all, but he wasn't certain he could get away now. He couldn't take the time to stand around trying to solve riddles on locks, though that was possibly easier than trying to steal a ring of keys. He wished he could take the time, but he couldn't.
The fire maiden watched with disbelief as they came rushing at her cage again! She really was starting to think this guy was a fool! She tried to stop him, but before she could get close, to push him away she heard the click of the lock. Her eyes widened in shock! She was so surprised he did it. Watching the lock fall. She looked up but the young man was already gone!
The fire maiden wasted no time. She hurried, opening the cage and her own flames dwindled away. She became a soft glow and tried to hide herself well. Alas she wanted to tell the young man thank you. She hoped to find another way to in the future. Walking past the catch with the elder man, he offered her a cloak, one that would hide her glow more so she could escape. And she was most grateful.
Now the guards hunted for the Stag, but it would be far to late to realize that the fire maiden was gone now too. So in disarray the guards would return empty handed and even more alert now that the fire maiden was also missing. Yet none of the others would speak. But of course, there was one the mentioned something, in exchange for their freedom.
So come next morning, an announcement was made that the Blue Moon Circus would be staying to address some issues over they're nightly activities. And now, the guards of the city were going around door to door looking for anyone that maybe a young male, who seemingly has a funny walk.
And one such guard landed on Judes doorstep. Knocking, while patiently waiting for the people of the home to answer so they could be checked.
The fire maiden wasted no time. She hurried, opening the cage and her own flames dwindled away. She became a soft glow and tried to hide herself well. Alas she wanted to tell the young man thank you. She hoped to find another way to in the future. Walking past the catch with the elder man, he offered her a cloak, one that would hide her glow more so she could escape. And she was most grateful.
Now the guards hunted for the Stag, but it would be far to late to realize that the fire maiden was gone now too. So in disarray the guards would return empty handed and even more alert now that the fire maiden was also missing. Yet none of the others would speak. But of course, there was one the mentioned something, in exchange for their freedom.
So come next morning, an announcement was made that the Blue Moon Circus would be staying to address some issues over they're nightly activities. And now, the guards of the city were going around door to door looking for anyone that maybe a young male, who seemingly has a funny walk.
And one such guard landed on Judes doorstep. Knocking, while patiently waiting for the people of the home to answer so they could be checked.
Jude slowed near his cousin's home to catch his breath. He glanced back at the circus and brushed the hair from his face. It had gotten loose from its tie and now hung in his eyes or stood up in sweaty spikes, supported by bits of straw still captured there. No one seemed to be chasing him. They all still seemed intent on finding the stag and, a few minutes later, the fire dancer. He hoped they both got away free.
He took another deep breath and suddenly started shaking so hard he needed to sit down. He stumbled sideways to a decorative flower planter and sat on the edge, trembling. He'd broken the law. He'd broken so many laws! What was he going to do now? They would prosecute, and he had no defense. He could try to argue that the creatures were being kept in inhuman conditions that required emergency interference. There were some shaky laws that protected basically well-intentioned helpers, but he would then have to prove that the conditions were inhuman, and, as far as he was aware, there were no laws strictly governing the keeping of magical "pets." He had the vague notion that there were permits involved or something like that, but no one really cared about the magical beings as long as they were not creating havoc. There were two magical beings that would create havoc now, and he sincerely doubted anyone would be willing to defend what he did as a "well-intentioned accident." He was going to be in so much trouble.
Yet... He could not bring himself to be fully repentant. Those creatures... maybe they had gotten in his head and blinded him to reality, maybe glamoured him or in some way compromised his mental capacity, but he did not feel compromised. When he looked at those creatures, they had not felt like looking at an animal. Not even the stag. He had looked many a wild and domesticated animal in the eye, and none of them had carried the depth and weight of soul as that stag. The fire dancer had even looked vaguely humanoid. No, he could not in good conscience keep calling them creatures. They were, in some way that he could not comprehend, people. He had broken laws, but he had done it for the right reason. He would have to pay the price, most likely, but it would be worth it. He hoped.
He straightened and started to stand but paused and sank back down on his narrow, uncomfortable seat as he finally realized the strange sensation in his leg. The strangest being that it didn't hurt. Not one bit. It should be on fire and giving out in pain after all the running around and weird shenanigans he had been getting into, and yet it only ached in the muscles and somewhere it had been cut, which it nearly always did. The rest didn't hurt at all. Cautiously, he lifted his trouser leg, scooting it up as far as he could. until he could see the spot where real leg and artificial leg joined. His breath caught in his throat. The wooden leg looked so different and strange now! He tapped it lightly. It felt different, too, but not in a bad way. Strangest of all, and this took a bit for his mind to fully accept what he was seeing, but it appeared to be actually attached to his real leg. He stared uncomprehendingly. This could not be real. Could it?
He pulled down his trouser leg. Nope. He could not handle this right now. This was one thing too many. He would deal with this later. He stood and hurried to his cousin's house. He snuck in and carefully tiptoed back up to the bedroom he shared with Felix. Felix was still sound asleep and barely stirred when Jude dressed down and slipped into bed next to him.
The next morning when the guard came knocking on the door, Felix' father answered it. "Good morning, sirs! How might I help you this fine morning?" he greeted with a smile.
He took another deep breath and suddenly started shaking so hard he needed to sit down. He stumbled sideways to a decorative flower planter and sat on the edge, trembling. He'd broken the law. He'd broken so many laws! What was he going to do now? They would prosecute, and he had no defense. He could try to argue that the creatures were being kept in inhuman conditions that required emergency interference. There were some shaky laws that protected basically well-intentioned helpers, but he would then have to prove that the conditions were inhuman, and, as far as he was aware, there were no laws strictly governing the keeping of magical "pets." He had the vague notion that there were permits involved or something like that, but no one really cared about the magical beings as long as they were not creating havoc. There were two magical beings that would create havoc now, and he sincerely doubted anyone would be willing to defend what he did as a "well-intentioned accident." He was going to be in so much trouble.
Yet... He could not bring himself to be fully repentant. Those creatures... maybe they had gotten in his head and blinded him to reality, maybe glamoured him or in some way compromised his mental capacity, but he did not feel compromised. When he looked at those creatures, they had not felt like looking at an animal. Not even the stag. He had looked many a wild and domesticated animal in the eye, and none of them had carried the depth and weight of soul as that stag. The fire dancer had even looked vaguely humanoid. No, he could not in good conscience keep calling them creatures. They were, in some way that he could not comprehend, people. He had broken laws, but he had done it for the right reason. He would have to pay the price, most likely, but it would be worth it. He hoped.
He straightened and started to stand but paused and sank back down on his narrow, uncomfortable seat as he finally realized the strange sensation in his leg. The strangest being that it didn't hurt. Not one bit. It should be on fire and giving out in pain after all the running around and weird shenanigans he had been getting into, and yet it only ached in the muscles and somewhere it had been cut, which it nearly always did. The rest didn't hurt at all. Cautiously, he lifted his trouser leg, scooting it up as far as he could. until he could see the spot where real leg and artificial leg joined. His breath caught in his throat. The wooden leg looked so different and strange now! He tapped it lightly. It felt different, too, but not in a bad way. Strangest of all, and this took a bit for his mind to fully accept what he was seeing, but it appeared to be actually attached to his real leg. He stared uncomprehendingly. This could not be real. Could it?
He pulled down his trouser leg. Nope. He could not handle this right now. This was one thing too many. He would deal with this later. He stood and hurried to his cousin's house. He snuck in and carefully tiptoed back up to the bedroom he shared with Felix. Felix was still sound asleep and barely stirred when Jude dressed down and slipped into bed next to him.
The next morning when the guard came knocking on the door, Felix' father answered it. "Good morning, sirs! How might I help you this fine morning?" he greeted with a smile.
The guard stiffened up when the door opened. "Good morning," he replied before turning over a piece of paper. "We are here looking for a young man with a slight limp to his walk. Apparently, such a young man was seen last night when two of the circus's attractions were let loose behind the guards backs." The guard then met eyes with the man of the house. "If you have any young boys, we must inspect them right away."
The guards looked between each other, waiting for the replay and compliance from the home owner.
The people that walked by outside seemed to stare in curiousness as they walked by. Whispering to themselves. Of course it was known in the kingdoms city that they had a young man with a bad leg. Yet no one actually suspected such a boy, how could that kind of kid even leave the house for more than an hour. They could never set loose such wild animals at night.
The guards looked between each other, waiting for the replay and compliance from the home owner.
The people that walked by outside seemed to stare in curiousness as they walked by. Whispering to themselves. Of course it was known in the kingdoms city that they had a young man with a bad leg. Yet no one actually suspected such a boy, how could that kind of kid even leave the house for more than an hour. They could never set loose such wild animals at night.
Felix's father frowned. "I see. Very well, but I will have you know in advance that our boys have an alibi from this morning all the way back to yesterday morning, so whatever it is that happened, it was nothing they did."
Jude's father came to the door just as Felix's father turned away, and he folded his arms over his chest. He was only a few inches taller than Felix's father and the guards at the door, but life as a lumberman had given him the muscles of three city men. Even relaxed and in a shirt that fit, they stood out. "What is this?"
"These gentlemen desire to inspect young men in an effort to find some culprit who did some sort of tomfoolery with the circus," Felix's father replied. "Of course, that circus was nothing more than a problem waiting to happen. I have said so a thousand times, but now that it's come to pass, it is our lovely morning that gets disrupted! Felix! Come here, son!"
Jude's father looked at the guards and narrowed his eyes. After a moment, he said, "My boy doesn't cause trouble." It was a statement of fact as solidly believed as the wood floor he stood on.
Felix sauntered down first, artfully rumpled and ready for the day. He gave the guards a lazy salute. "Gentlemen. What seems to be the trouble? A girl lost her heart?" he asked with a cheeky grin.
"If she did, it wouldn't be to you," his father replied mildly.
"Such unbelief from my own father," Felix sighed, pressing a hand to his chest.
Jude came down more slowly, shuffling to the door cautiously with a perfectly normal gait. He kept a neutral but curious expression on his face, giving away nothing more than the perfectly natural confusion that anyone would feel in this situation, but his heart thundered so hard he was shocked no one else could hear it. His new wooden leg still baffled him, but he found that as long as he tried not to think about it, it functioned just like his flesh-and-blood leg. It was hidden completely in his pants leg and out of sight.
Jude's father came to the door just as Felix's father turned away, and he folded his arms over his chest. He was only a few inches taller than Felix's father and the guards at the door, but life as a lumberman had given him the muscles of three city men. Even relaxed and in a shirt that fit, they stood out. "What is this?"
"These gentlemen desire to inspect young men in an effort to find some culprit who did some sort of tomfoolery with the circus," Felix's father replied. "Of course, that circus was nothing more than a problem waiting to happen. I have said so a thousand times, but now that it's come to pass, it is our lovely morning that gets disrupted! Felix! Come here, son!"
Jude's father looked at the guards and narrowed his eyes. After a moment, he said, "My boy doesn't cause trouble." It was a statement of fact as solidly believed as the wood floor he stood on.
Felix sauntered down first, artfully rumpled and ready for the day. He gave the guards a lazy salute. "Gentlemen. What seems to be the trouble? A girl lost her heart?" he asked with a cheeky grin.
"If she did, it wouldn't be to you," his father replied mildly.
"Such unbelief from my own father," Felix sighed, pressing a hand to his chest.
Jude came down more slowly, shuffling to the door cautiously with a perfectly normal gait. He kept a neutral but curious expression on his face, giving away nothing more than the perfectly natural confusion that anyone would feel in this situation, but his heart thundered so hard he was shocked no one else could hear it. His new wooden leg still baffled him, but he found that as long as he tried not to think about it, it functioned just like his flesh-and-blood leg. It was hidden completely in his pants leg and out of sight.
The guards stiffened at the retort of the two fathers. They simply remained quiet and patient to see the two young men. Which didn't take long. The banter eased up some of the tension. As they took a look at Felix and saw nothing that really seemed to stand out but their mouth maybe. The two looked at each other. Suspecting nothing of Felix. But when the second young man came down, they looked him over more intensely.
They stared at Jude. The first guard looked Jude up and down. But saw nothing abnormal about their walk. He couldn't even be sure it was the boy from last night. The description was quite vague anyways. However, the one guard at least noticed that the height matched. Yet that was the only thing. The two guards shook their head. One sighed. While the other lifted his head. "I offer an apology for disturbing you today, seems nothing is out of place. We'll be on our way." While the guard turned and left, the other eyed Jude for a moment before leaving after. Their boots growing distant as they made their way towards the next home.
The crowed that was watching had moved on in whispers and hushes.
Things had returned to normal, well as normal as it can be for now.
They stared at Jude. The first guard looked Jude up and down. But saw nothing abnormal about their walk. He couldn't even be sure it was the boy from last night. The description was quite vague anyways. However, the one guard at least noticed that the height matched. Yet that was the only thing. The two guards shook their head. One sighed. While the other lifted his head. "I offer an apology for disturbing you today, seems nothing is out of place. We'll be on our way." While the guard turned and left, the other eyed Jude for a moment before leaving after. Their boots growing distant as they made their way towards the next home.
The crowed that was watching had moved on in whispers and hushes.
Things had returned to normal, well as normal as it can be for now.
Jude privately blew out a breath of relief. He couldn't believe he'd gotten away with it! He had really gotten away with it! How? He was such a bungler! Maybe it was not something he should be questioning. He should enjoy his good fortune and not push his luck. This life of crime must not become a new way of life for him. Getting away with this one thing this one time did not indicate it was good or proper. He was correcting a wrong. That was it.
Jude and his father spent another day with their relatives, and finally, it was time to return home to the logging camp two hours away by train. It was a long trip, yet the forest that ran along the edge of the city stretched all the way down to the logging camp, connecting them in a way. There wasn't much time to rest once they got home. As far as Jude's father was concerned, they'd "rested" on the train. It was time to get back to work. Jude did not voice his opinion, but he was fairly certain his father found work to be relaxing and their "vacation" was the stressful part. He said nothing, just buckled down and went to work.
The next three days went by uneventfully for Jude. He worked quietly and diligently as always, but, to his shock, he found his stamina had strangely increased. To an outsider, it might not have seemed like much, but to him, it seemed like a massive amount! Not being in pain and having a leg that worked more or less like the real thing took away a lot of what drained him on a day-to-day basis. He kept his discovery and his new leg to himself. After work, he quietly limped away to the forest, as he often did, but once he was certain he was out of sight of the lumberjacks, he lost his limp and hurried deep into the shadows where he could test his new limb in secret and marvoul at the wonder that the Stag had given him. He could not get over how life-like and yet wooden it was! And it opened so much of the world to him that had been closed for sheer inconvenience. It was amazing. He hoped the Stag and the fire maiden were still free and living a new, wonderful life somewhere.
Jude and his father spent another day with their relatives, and finally, it was time to return home to the logging camp two hours away by train. It was a long trip, yet the forest that ran along the edge of the city stretched all the way down to the logging camp, connecting them in a way. There wasn't much time to rest once they got home. As far as Jude's father was concerned, they'd "rested" on the train. It was time to get back to work. Jude did not voice his opinion, but he was fairly certain his father found work to be relaxing and their "vacation" was the stressful part. He said nothing, just buckled down and went to work.
The next three days went by uneventfully for Jude. He worked quietly and diligently as always, but, to his shock, he found his stamina had strangely increased. To an outsider, it might not have seemed like much, but to him, it seemed like a massive amount! Not being in pain and having a leg that worked more or less like the real thing took away a lot of what drained him on a day-to-day basis. He kept his discovery and his new leg to himself. After work, he quietly limped away to the forest, as he often did, but once he was certain he was out of sight of the lumberjacks, he lost his limp and hurried deep into the shadows where he could test his new limb in secret and marvoul at the wonder that the Stag had given him. He could not get over how life-like and yet wooden it was! And it opened so much of the world to him that had been closed for sheer inconvenience. It was amazing. He hoped the Stag and the fire maiden were still free and living a new, wonderful life somewhere.
Little did Jude know, he was no longer alone. Though the forest around him whispered with wind and the rustle of leaves, other eyes, unseen, they had been tracking his every movement for some time now. Eyes that watched not from the trees, but from a place beyond imagining. A plane of existence where time bent, where thoughts could pierce the veil between realms, where malevolent patience brewed like a storm on the horizon.
The human boy with the carved wooden leg had become more than mortal. That was the problem, Jude was unaware that the magic now coursing through them made them a target, trackable. And so they watched. They waited. Letting them enjoy their peace. After all, it would not last.
When the shift began, the skies, once bright and clear, dulled with unnatural speed, as though a canvas of sunlight had been smeared over by storm-hued ink. Clouds thickened, the wind moaned, trees creaked and bowed. The very air bent under pressure, as though something else had stepped into the forest, something that didn’t belong. All around Jude this happened so suddenly. All peace sucked away, leaving only a cold, uneasy feeling that began to sink all around. Fog crawled like fingers between the trunks of trees, clinging to Judes legs, coiling up their mortal form. The forest no longer seemed welcoming.
Then a voice. Smooth. Cold. Too close for comfort, and coming from behind!
"I see you are enjoying that leg of yours, boy." A man stood among the fog like a dream gone wrong. Tall, wrapped in flowing robes of black stitched with intricate patterns of violet thread. The cloth shimmered subtly, too fine for this world. He couldn't be a commoner. His long brown hair was slicked and motionless against his shoulder. And his eyes. Violet. Luminous. Giving a hard cold stare in Judes direction, despite the smile on his face.
"How much life it has given you is quite... impressive," the stranger said, the corners of his mouth twisting into a crooked smirk. His hands were clasped calmly behind his back, like a scholar examining a curiosity. Then, he tilted forward, his voice turning low and personal.
“Tell me, boy…” His words crawled over the air. “That magic coursing through your veins, through that leg of yours, you know its owner, don’t you?”
A single brow arched with elegance and menace. “That being you so casually set loose at the carnival.” The smirk died. What replaced it was nothing short of disgust.
“That beast,” he said with loathing, “is mine. My treasure. And I do not appreciate my affairs being tampered with by reckless children.” He straightened, the gesture crisp and sharp like a blade being drawn. "You may have eluded the kingdoms guards. But you cannot elude me."
"So…” A breathy chuckle escaped him, low and curling like smoke. “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve… tangled myself with your.”
He pulled form his cloak what looked like an item belonging to Judes father. An axe? He looked lazily down at his hand holding the meek tool, flicked his fingers once, and then he was gone.
Smoke. A swirl of black and violet mist twisting into the air, snaking through the fog, drifting, not away, but toward somewhere. Toward the men.
Toward the camp, where everyone had been working earlier before Judes escape to the woods. The fog followed, curling with it like a blanket of ill will, and a laughter rose in its wake, high and bitter, echoing with contempt. It faded slowly, as if it was climbing higher and higher away from the ground.
Then silence.
But the forest did not return to peace. Because in the clearing where the lumberjacks had once worked, no sound escaped now.
The men stood still. Frozen, mid-motion. Axes raised. Mouths parted in warning, in breath, in protest. Like stone. All of them, paralyzed. Locked in an eternal moment. Terror etched across their faces, some caught in the exact second they realized what was happening.
And Judes father standing still in the fog, petrified by more than fear. Seemingly reaching out to someone, likely Jude himself. Unknown of what's happened to their son despite their own fate.
The human boy with the carved wooden leg had become more than mortal. That was the problem, Jude was unaware that the magic now coursing through them made them a target, trackable. And so they watched. They waited. Letting them enjoy their peace. After all, it would not last.
When the shift began, the skies, once bright and clear, dulled with unnatural speed, as though a canvas of sunlight had been smeared over by storm-hued ink. Clouds thickened, the wind moaned, trees creaked and bowed. The very air bent under pressure, as though something else had stepped into the forest, something that didn’t belong. All around Jude this happened so suddenly. All peace sucked away, leaving only a cold, uneasy feeling that began to sink all around. Fog crawled like fingers between the trunks of trees, clinging to Judes legs, coiling up their mortal form. The forest no longer seemed welcoming.
Then a voice. Smooth. Cold. Too close for comfort, and coming from behind!
"I see you are enjoying that leg of yours, boy." A man stood among the fog like a dream gone wrong. Tall, wrapped in flowing robes of black stitched with intricate patterns of violet thread. The cloth shimmered subtly, too fine for this world. He couldn't be a commoner. His long brown hair was slicked and motionless against his shoulder. And his eyes. Violet. Luminous. Giving a hard cold stare in Judes direction, despite the smile on his face.
"How much life it has given you is quite... impressive," the stranger said, the corners of his mouth twisting into a crooked smirk. His hands were clasped calmly behind his back, like a scholar examining a curiosity. Then, he tilted forward, his voice turning low and personal.
“Tell me, boy…” His words crawled over the air. “That magic coursing through your veins, through that leg of yours, you know its owner, don’t you?”
A single brow arched with elegance and menace. “That being you so casually set loose at the carnival.” The smirk died. What replaced it was nothing short of disgust.
“That beast,” he said with loathing, “is mine. My treasure. And I do not appreciate my affairs being tampered with by reckless children.” He straightened, the gesture crisp and sharp like a blade being drawn. "You may have eluded the kingdoms guards. But you cannot elude me."
"So…” A breathy chuckle escaped him, low and curling like smoke. “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve… tangled myself with your.”
He pulled form his cloak what looked like an item belonging to Judes father. An axe? He looked lazily down at his hand holding the meek tool, flicked his fingers once, and then he was gone.
Smoke. A swirl of black and violet mist twisting into the air, snaking through the fog, drifting, not away, but toward somewhere. Toward the men.
Toward the camp, where everyone had been working earlier before Judes escape to the woods. The fog followed, curling with it like a blanket of ill will, and a laughter rose in its wake, high and bitter, echoing with contempt. It faded slowly, as if it was climbing higher and higher away from the ground.
Then silence.
But the forest did not return to peace. Because in the clearing where the lumberjacks had once worked, no sound escaped now.
The men stood still. Frozen, mid-motion. Axes raised. Mouths parted in warning, in breath, in protest. Like stone. All of them, paralyzed. Locked in an eternal moment. Terror etched across their faces, some caught in the exact second they realized what was happening.
And Judes father standing still in the fog, petrified by more than fear. Seemingly reaching out to someone, likely Jude himself. Unknown of what's happened to their son despite their own fate.
Jude stumbled and nearly fell over when the stranger appeared. Fear clutched his heart as surely as the fog winding up his legs. He tried to answer, tried to say something, but his dry tongue would not cooperate, and in any case, the stranger showed no interest in giving him a moment to speak. Not so much as a breath of a word as he purred and flicked his fingers. Magic? What magic? Jude had no more magic than a party clown pulling a rabbit from a hat! He was mistaken. That was the only option, but there was no chance to explain. What was he supposed to do?
Then the man did the unthinkable.
He attacked Jude's family.
At last, Jude's tongue allowed him to speak. "No!" he croaked, reaching out toward his father. But there was nothing he could do. It was too late. Jude stood staring at the scene before him, his gut aching with the sudden blow. It felt as if he were cracking, his very self and soul breaking apart. Then a strange, cold fury seeped in through the cracks, filling his hollow shell.
Jude took a deep breath and straightened his waistcoat before turning toward the stranger, folding his hands behind his back. "Have you quite finished?" he asked coldly. "You sound like a put-out teenager who has practiced in front of a mirror for the event of their retribution against the school bully. If you had but given me a moment, I could assure you that I have no idea whatsoever as to what you are talking about, and whatever it is you have done to my family, if it is not impermament, then you will have shed the blood of several innocents for a mistake that could have been cleared up with a single question."
Then the man did the unthinkable.
He attacked Jude's family.
At last, Jude's tongue allowed him to speak. "No!" he croaked, reaching out toward his father. But there was nothing he could do. It was too late. Jude stood staring at the scene before him, his gut aching with the sudden blow. It felt as if he were cracking, his very self and soul breaking apart. Then a strange, cold fury seeped in through the cracks, filling his hollow shell.
Jude took a deep breath and straightened his waistcoat before turning toward the stranger, folding his hands behind his back. "Have you quite finished?" he asked coldly. "You sound like a put-out teenager who has practiced in front of a mirror for the event of their retribution against the school bully. If you had but given me a moment, I could assure you that I have no idea whatsoever as to what you are talking about, and whatever it is you have done to my family, if it is not impermament, then you will have shed the blood of several innocents for a mistake that could have been cleared up with a single question."
"You have allot of guts to speak back to me like that after what I've done so simply. But if you'd like me to end them here and now I could very well. They're just in a state of limbo.
You truly a foolish brat. You should have never let that Stag loose. My stag. And since you did, you can now go and get it back for me.
I'll undo the curse I put on your family. But fail and their as good as stone forever. I'm not playing games child." The man stepped closer. "I'm giving you a chance, you should be glad I'm even considering it. Cause I was just going to wipe your entire existence off the earth for you're crimes.
So please, try my patience." He snarled at the young man. Unhappy that the boy seemingly doesn't understand how quickly he can just end things.
"Since you're as lost as a lamb, try consulting a man named Ghillies. He should at least be able to point you in the right direction, and teach you a thing or two about your new leg." The cold eyes of the man remained fixed on Jude. He scoffed brushing back his hair and placing his arms behind his back. Adjusting his posture to that of a calm nobleman. His face remained annoyed for even daring help.
Quietly to himself he was thinking how he should have just ended them all, he hated mortals as it was, so having to aid one in a task was a pain.
You truly a foolish brat. You should have never let that Stag loose. My stag. And since you did, you can now go and get it back for me.
I'll undo the curse I put on your family. But fail and their as good as stone forever. I'm not playing games child." The man stepped closer. "I'm giving you a chance, you should be glad I'm even considering it. Cause I was just going to wipe your entire existence off the earth for you're crimes.
So please, try my patience." He snarled at the young man. Unhappy that the boy seemingly doesn't understand how quickly he can just end things.
"Since you're as lost as a lamb, try consulting a man named Ghillies. He should at least be able to point you in the right direction, and teach you a thing or two about your new leg." The cold eyes of the man remained fixed on Jude. He scoffed brushing back his hair and placing his arms behind his back. Adjusting his posture to that of a calm nobleman. His face remained annoyed for even daring help.
Quietly to himself he was thinking how he should have just ended them all, he hated mortals as it was, so having to aid one in a task was a pain.
Jude didn't move. He didn't even blink at the threats of this strange, unnatural being. Fear coursed through his heart, of course it did, but the sheer anger of the insult done to him overrode all of that. His fear did keep him from saying what he was thinking, that if the Stag was so precious to this stranger, then maybe he should not have entrusted it to such poor keepers, even if he did desperately want to say it. Instead, he kept silent and held his tongue.
This was not the first time Jude had faced death. He'd lost his leg and nearly his life in a traumatic incident involving a train. In his lifetime, A dozen other men had lost limbs and lives to trains, falling trees, and even their own tools from time to time. Death and pain were constant companions to him. Less so with this new leg, but it was not something to be forgotten easily.
"Instead of blaming me, perhaps you should be looking at the guards who allowed a 'lamb' to release your precious trophy," Jude stated. "I did only as I was asked. As for my family, how do I know they are not already dead? How do I know that you really did only freeze them? How do I know that you will not simply kill them and myself immediately after receiving what you want? Let them go. Now. And I will retrieve your stag. If you don't, then I will kill myself before taking one step in aiding you. What have you got to lose in releasing them? You have already proven you can pop up like a ghost and destroy me where I stand, so let them go, and if I fail, it should be an easy thing to dispose of me whenever you choose."
This was not the first time Jude had faced death. He'd lost his leg and nearly his life in a traumatic incident involving a train. In his lifetime, A dozen other men had lost limbs and lives to trains, falling trees, and even their own tools from time to time. Death and pain were constant companions to him. Less so with this new leg, but it was not something to be forgotten easily.
"Instead of blaming me, perhaps you should be looking at the guards who allowed a 'lamb' to release your precious trophy," Jude stated. "I did only as I was asked. As for my family, how do I know they are not already dead? How do I know that you really did only freeze them? How do I know that you will not simply kill them and myself immediately after receiving what you want? Let them go. Now. And I will retrieve your stag. If you don't, then I will kill myself before taking one step in aiding you. What have you got to lose in releasing them? You have already proven you can pop up like a ghost and destroy me where I stand, so let them go, and if I fail, it should be an easy thing to dispose of me whenever you choose."
The man eyes narrowed. This brat really was annoying. And it was true, he didn't like the idea of his guards being so relaxed. But that was already delt with now. It also didn't stop the fact that the boys action still lead to his stags release. His eyes rolled. The idea of the boy taking such self harming actions instead of thinking about their family. Would the kid really leave them like that, that had to be a bluff.
The man was tired of these games, he wasn't getting anywhere in fact the kid was just fighting with him. "You know what, fine, forget it. You seem to not realize who holds the cards. So let me retract my offer, go and end your miserable life, do the world a favor." The man turned away, he looked at the statues of the lumberjacks and Jude's father. He waved his hand and with a gentle whip of the wind. They began to crack. It started slowly at the base, and stopped just at the ankles of the statue men.
With that, the wizard snapped his fingers and vanished with the wind. He was gone, and he left Jude alone, just with the stoned men.
What will they do now?
The man was tired of these games, he wasn't getting anywhere in fact the kid was just fighting with him. "You know what, fine, forget it. You seem to not realize who holds the cards. So let me retract my offer, go and end your miserable life, do the world a favor." The man turned away, he looked at the statues of the lumberjacks and Jude's father. He waved his hand and with a gentle whip of the wind. They began to crack. It started slowly at the base, and stopped just at the ankles of the statue men.
With that, the wizard snapped his fingers and vanished with the wind. He was gone, and he left Jude alone, just with the stoned men.
What will they do now?
In the following section, Jude will go off the rails for understandable reasons considering what is happening with his family. While I do not think anything here is too dark, out of an abundance of caution, I have placed the worst part in a spoiler for any potential readers who might find it too discomforting. The final paragraph will provide all the necessary information for a casual read-through.
Jude stood trembling. What had happened? What had just happened? None of this made any sense! None of this could even be real! This couldn't be happening! It had to be a bad dream! He turned and ran, stumbling haphazardly, back to the men in the camp, looking around. What kind of mad power was this that could do... whatever this was to so many people all at once? It had to be an illusion! He drew up close to his father and held out a hand but dared not touch him. All the men here, all of them, every one had been affected. Maybe those back home at the settlement were safe. It was not a far distance, but still distant. There was no way such magic could reach that far! Meaning his mother... his mother must be safe, but... even if she was alive... Without his father....
Jude slumped down at his father's feet, a strangled cry catching in his throat. It wasn't supposed to happen like this! He didn't care what happened to him. He didn't want to die. That had never been a desire. It wasn't something he wanted, but he had grown accustomed to living on borrowed time. During the accident that had claimed his leg, he had nearly died several times. He was not supposed to survive, but he had. He'd survived, and he'd constantly felt death's cold shadow lingering on his shoulder since that day. His parents, especially his mother, often treated him like he was only half-alive. Would it really have mattered if he had died? He wanted to live, but would it have mattered?
That Stag! That stupid Stag! This was all its fault! The whispers, the voices in his head, the driving him to get him to undo the lock, the putting him directly in the line of fire with these... whatever this was. He was in this mess because of that stupid Stag! He never should have listened to it and fallen for its magic tricks. He looked down at one of those magic tricks: the leg that had seeped away his pain and given him the ability to walk with better ease. He reached down, grabbed the calf of the leg with both hands, and pulled as hard as he could. Pain shot through his nerve system, splicing straight through his flesh leg and up into his brain like a shard of hot ice. Jude grit his teeth and keened a high-pitch cry of pain, but he didn't stop. His fingers dug into the wood, and he pulled until white spots danced in his eyes. This was the gift of that stupid Stag! A payment for services rendered. Services that had gotten his family killed! His body forced him to give up pulling,and he slumped over, exhausted. Because of that Stag, his family... Why did he have to be so weak-willed and worthless? He couldn't even get rid of the wooden curse attached to his body. Maybe if he had died back on that day, his family would be fine!
He sat, staring at the ground, the grief in his heart tearing so deep he couldn't even find tears. He'd been willing to trade his life for his family because the bare-bone fact was, he had no idea where the Stag was. He had no idea how to even go about trying to find it. It was a pointless endeavor. He'd wanted the beastly man to agree to let him look, and, when he failed, was willing to take whatever and all punishments he dealt out when he inevitably failed. Now... he didn't know what was now. He didn't know where to go from here. He dared not go home and tell his mother. Tell her what? He just... didn't know.
Jude stood trembling. What had happened? What had just happened? None of this made any sense! None of this could even be real! This couldn't be happening! It had to be a bad dream! He turned and ran, stumbling haphazardly, back to the men in the camp, looking around. What kind of mad power was this that could do... whatever this was to so many people all at once? It had to be an illusion! He drew up close to his father and held out a hand but dared not touch him. All the men here, all of them, every one had been affected. Maybe those back home at the settlement were safe. It was not a far distance, but still distant. There was no way such magic could reach that far! Meaning his mother... his mother must be safe, but... even if she was alive... Without his father....
Jude slumped down at his father's feet, a strangled cry catching in his throat. It wasn't supposed to happen like this! He didn't care what happened to him. He didn't want to die. That had never been a desire. It wasn't something he wanted, but he had grown accustomed to living on borrowed time. During the accident that had claimed his leg, he had nearly died several times. He was not supposed to survive, but he had. He'd survived, and he'd constantly felt death's cold shadow lingering on his shoulder since that day. His parents, especially his mother, often treated him like he was only half-alive. Would it really have mattered if he had died? He wanted to live, but would it have mattered?
That Stag! That stupid Stag! This was all its fault! The whispers, the voices in his head, the driving him to get him to undo the lock, the putting him directly in the line of fire with these... whatever this was. He was in this mess because of that stupid Stag! He never should have listened to it and fallen for its magic tricks. He looked down at one of those magic tricks: the leg that had seeped away his pain and given him the ability to walk with better ease. He reached down, grabbed the calf of the leg with both hands, and pulled as hard as he could. Pain shot through his nerve system, splicing straight through his flesh leg and up into his brain like a shard of hot ice. Jude grit his teeth and keened a high-pitch cry of pain, but he didn't stop. His fingers dug into the wood, and he pulled until white spots danced in his eyes. This was the gift of that stupid Stag! A payment for services rendered. Services that had gotten his family killed! His body forced him to give up pulling,and he slumped over, exhausted. Because of that Stag, his family... Why did he have to be so weak-willed and worthless? He couldn't even get rid of the wooden curse attached to his body. Maybe if he had died back on that day, his family would be fine!
He sat, staring at the ground, the grief in his heart tearing so deep he couldn't even find tears. He'd been willing to trade his life for his family because the bare-bone fact was, he had no idea where the Stag was. He had no idea how to even go about trying to find it. It was a pointless endeavor. He'd wanted the beastly man to agree to let him look, and, when he failed, was willing to take whatever and all punishments he dealt out when he inevitably failed. Now... he didn't know what was now. He didn't know where to go from here. He dared not go home and tell his mother. Tell her what? He just... didn't know.
The forest had gone quiet. Unnaturally so.
Even the breeze dared not stir the branches now. No birds sang, no leaves rustled, no twigs cracked underfoot of any wildlife. Jude was alone in that stillness, surrounded by statues that once were men. With one of them, his father, frozen in mid-motion, face carved with sheer terror.
Then, a flicker. It was light. A glow even, so welcoming and warm.
The warm orange glow licked the edges of the clearing, soft and slow, like a candle flame crawling into the dark. There, emerging from the trees was her. The fire dancer. The woman whose body shimmered with living flame, trailing embers with each step.
She hesitated before entering the clearing fully, her glowing bare feet pushing past the grass. Surprisingly not lighting any of it on fire. Her gaze flicked from the boy to the statues. “I’m sorry,” she said at last, her voice like crackling, fragile, warm, almost breaking. Her fingers fidgeted near her side. “I… I saw what happened. I was too afraid to come out… I'm sorry.” She looked away in shame, her flames dimming at the edges.
“That man… that thing that came for you." She shook her head. “I had no power to face him. I hurried in hope to try and warn you, but I arrived to late.” Her golden eyes, shimmering with heat, turned toward the statue of Jude’s father. Her flame reflected off the stone, dancing in the hollows of his eyes and cheeks. When she looked back at Jude, her expression softened even further.
“I know you’re angry. I ... I should have been faster. I should have warned you sooner.” She took a timid step closer. Her hand extended gently, hesitantly, offering itself to him, fingers trembling faintly in the air between them. “You freed me from that cage,” she said quietly. “You didn’t have to. You didn’t even know me. And I ... I owe you for that.” She took a breath, swallowing her fear.
“I don’t usually get involved. Especially not against one of our own. But ....” Her fire flared for just a moment, her jaw set. “If you’ll let me… I want to help you, Jude.” She met his eyes, sincere.
She'd hope Jude would take her up on this offer, to allow her the chance to help him, despite it being against her own. Yet she hoped to find another way instead, if she could.
Will Jude accept this chance, her aid? Did he have much of a choice now?
Even the breeze dared not stir the branches now. No birds sang, no leaves rustled, no twigs cracked underfoot of any wildlife. Jude was alone in that stillness, surrounded by statues that once were men. With one of them, his father, frozen in mid-motion, face carved with sheer terror.
Then, a flicker. It was light. A glow even, so welcoming and warm.
The warm orange glow licked the edges of the clearing, soft and slow, like a candle flame crawling into the dark. There, emerging from the trees was her. The fire dancer. The woman whose body shimmered with living flame, trailing embers with each step.
She hesitated before entering the clearing fully, her glowing bare feet pushing past the grass. Surprisingly not lighting any of it on fire. Her gaze flicked from the boy to the statues. “I’m sorry,” she said at last, her voice like crackling, fragile, warm, almost breaking. Her fingers fidgeted near her side. “I… I saw what happened. I was too afraid to come out… I'm sorry.” She looked away in shame, her flames dimming at the edges.
“That man… that thing that came for you." She shook her head. “I had no power to face him. I hurried in hope to try and warn you, but I arrived to late.” Her golden eyes, shimmering with heat, turned toward the statue of Jude’s father. Her flame reflected off the stone, dancing in the hollows of his eyes and cheeks. When she looked back at Jude, her expression softened even further.
“I know you’re angry. I ... I should have been faster. I should have warned you sooner.” She took a timid step closer. Her hand extended gently, hesitantly, offering itself to him, fingers trembling faintly in the air between them. “You freed me from that cage,” she said quietly. “You didn’t have to. You didn’t even know me. And I ... I owe you for that.” She took a breath, swallowing her fear.
“I don’t usually get involved. Especially not against one of our own. But ....” Her fire flared for just a moment, her jaw set. “If you’ll let me… I want to help you, Jude.” She met his eyes, sincere.
She'd hope Jude would take her up on this offer, to allow her the chance to help him, despite it being against her own. Yet she hoped to find another way instead, if she could.
Will Jude accept this chance, her aid? Did he have much of a choice now?
Jude looked up at her, his eyes dull. "Why?" he whispered. "Why would anyone do this? It doesn't make any sense." He looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry. I wish I'd never seen you. I didn't want you to live your life in a cage. That is not a life I would wish on an enemy. Yet, now, I wish I'd never freed you or the stag. I'm sorry I feel that way, but... my family. My kindred. It wasn't perfect, but there was love and kindness. How could anyone do this?"
He didn't say anything for a moment, his heart crumbling under the crushing pain. That arrogant, stupid, ruthless, sadistic, idiotic magic user! How could any of this happen? He should have agreed to help that villian, but he also knew he was right not to believe he would hold up his end of the bargain. There was no winning this. Only losing.
"How can you help?" he finally asked, looking up. "What can you do to help me?"
He didn't say anything for a moment, his heart crumbling under the crushing pain. That arrogant, stupid, ruthless, sadistic, idiotic magic user! How could any of this happen? He should have agreed to help that villian, but he also knew he was right not to believe he would hold up his end of the bargain. There was no winning this. Only losing.
"How can you help?" he finally asked, looking up. "What can you do to help me?"
The fire maiden stood in the quiet aftermath, her flamelit gaze drifting between Jude and the field of stone silenced souls. The wind stirred her ember cloaked form, the fire along her arms and shoulders flickering in mournful rhythm. She could feel the weight pressing down on the boy, a gravity of helplessness to thick. She could see his eyes, clouded with disbelief and grief. She heard it in his voice. The hollow tone. The quiet cracks between words.
And so she thought. She gathered all the ideas she could, frantic beneath the surface, though her voice remained soft. “…Maybe,” she began, slowly, “we could find someone. A wizard. Or a creature old enough, wise enough, to really see what’s been done here. See if your family… if they’re really lost forever.” She paused, glancing at his face. “I know you don’t understand magic,” she added quickly, her tone warm, not condescending. “And I’m no expert either, especially not with curses like this, but…” She looked back toward the statues. “There’s got to be a way.”
Her flames curled tighter around her as she stepped closer to one of the petrified men, studying the stillness etched into his features. Then her eyes slowly found Jude’s again. A breeze carried ash and flower scent past them. She let her hand hover over the arm of one of the frozen men but didn’t touch him. Reverence filled her gestures. “I’ll help,” she said at last, nodding once with conviction. “I’ll help you find someone, anyone. Or help you find him ... the stag. If that is what you want.” Her eyes narrowed in quiet determination. “I can’t just stand around and do nothing. Not when you freed me.” She hesitated a moment.
“I know if you could go back… if you could undo letting him go, freeing me too, you would. If it meant saving them. I understand.” Her voice softened, but never accused. “I don’t blame you.” Then she turned toward him fully, her flames dimming just slightly. Hesitation flickered across her face. She swallowed. “But… if my being here only makes it worse,” she said gently, “if it hurts you more to see me now,” her voice trembled, “then say the word, and I’ll leave.” She folded her hands together, fingers curled with restraint. “I’ll obey. If that’s what you need.” There was no fire in her now. Only warmth. And the quiet, earnest ache of someone trying to make things right.
What would Jude wish to do?
And so she thought. She gathered all the ideas she could, frantic beneath the surface, though her voice remained soft. “…Maybe,” she began, slowly, “we could find someone. A wizard. Or a creature old enough, wise enough, to really see what’s been done here. See if your family… if they’re really lost forever.” She paused, glancing at his face. “I know you don’t understand magic,” she added quickly, her tone warm, not condescending. “And I’m no expert either, especially not with curses like this, but…” She looked back toward the statues. “There’s got to be a way.”
Her flames curled tighter around her as she stepped closer to one of the petrified men, studying the stillness etched into his features. Then her eyes slowly found Jude’s again. A breeze carried ash and flower scent past them. She let her hand hover over the arm of one of the frozen men but didn’t touch him. Reverence filled her gestures. “I’ll help,” she said at last, nodding once with conviction. “I’ll help you find someone, anyone. Or help you find him ... the stag. If that is what you want.” Her eyes narrowed in quiet determination. “I can’t just stand around and do nothing. Not when you freed me.” She hesitated a moment.
“I know if you could go back… if you could undo letting him go, freeing me too, you would. If it meant saving them. I understand.” Her voice softened, but never accused. “I don’t blame you.” Then she turned toward him fully, her flames dimming just slightly. Hesitation flickered across her face. She swallowed. “But… if my being here only makes it worse,” she said gently, “if it hurts you more to see me now,” her voice trembled, “then say the word, and I’ll leave.” She folded her hands together, fingers curled with restraint. “I’ll obey. If that’s what you need.” There was no fire in her now. Only warmth. And the quiet, earnest ache of someone trying to make things right.
What would Jude wish to do?
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I don't know what to do," he finally admitted. "I think... I think trying to find someone to break this curse or at least see if it is possible. If, along the way, we discover the whereabouts of the Stag, we can pivot and go find him. This is his mess. He should be the one in the crosshairs, not my family." He shook his head bitterly. "I am sorry but that's the way I feel."
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