The Nuclear Reign of Strottimar [Part 1]

Chapter 14; Banter Between

It wasn't hard to track down that hybrid smell and his leading trail through the underbrush once I'd made my way down to the roots. It was fresh, as if he and Aster were here just minutes ago. I'd known Aster's smell pretty well, from our close encounters out in the woods, yet he never saw me. This time, I'd be safe to talk with him, that's if he knew Tebanthian.

I followed their trail west into a thicker darker part of the woods, the smell carrying a fresh summer harvest and a touch of my own home when the wind hit my face. They'd nearly crossed into egliptie territory once I'd caught up to the two males, trying not to scare them as I rather noisily made my entrance. They both turned, half stunned before Xander smiled and dropped his wings. It took Aster a whole lot longer to look remotely relaxed before he drew a breath, staring into my eyes.

Xander greeted me cheerfully. "Ryu! What are you doing out here?" Aster flicked his eyes to the hybrid sharply. "I-" I began but Aster accidently cut me off in a quiet tone. "I see you two are already acquainted?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, Aster. This is Ryu, I'm sure you've heard." they both had a tang of sour in their tones, pushing a little beyond respectful banter with each other yet not near hostile. "The egliptie," Aster said, his eyes turning to mine again as I stood strong. His eyes were piercing amber flames, nearly red in this sunlight to complement his dark hair. He was dressed in tainted hunting gear, a maroon jacket and a black tight shirt that hugged around his neck and several belts holding small bladed weapons, whittled down probably by his own craft. His pallet consisted of dark oranges, blacks, and browns, as well as his pants, topped with smooth black gloves that looked finer than my new clothes.

On the other hand, Xander was dressed just as prepared for the day with his dark, thin leather jacket and brown pants with his own belt that held two rather large daggers to his hips, as well as fingerless gloves and a flipped up collar to conceal half his face in the shadow. I felt out of place in Hansen-picked clothes yet, at least I knew they were still just as fine trade-wise.

"I- Solstice said you were curious about what I knew of this disease?" I turned to Xander whose dark eyes caught in a sunbeam through the shady canopy of this familiar woods. "Ah- yes, well," he looked me up and down, I assumed he didn't mean his judgy look. "I would say you could tell me along the way, yet I wouldn't want you to dirty those fine clothes..."

"My brother's already got a choke hold on him I see," Aster said something in lander speech as I curiously locked my eyes back on him. Xander laughed, a genuine one that came from his throat. I looked between the two, half annoyed before speaking again. "Where are you going?" I pushed sharply as Xander stopped laughing and looked over at Aster. "We- this concerns the disease, I'd say it's too dangerous for a tiny thing like you but, it seems you can handle yourself out here." he gave Xander a glance who nodded in approval. "Alright, follow us, and keep quiet about this, I don't really want this going public just yet, we need facts first,"

"Okay." I nodded as the three of us continued a steady trudge through the underbrush on the border of my home territory. It was cooler in the shade, I appreciated it, noticing the sharp furs on my shoulders begin to lay flat after explaining what I'd known of this disease so far to Xander for a while. I felt important, being out here, talking with the son of a lander elder and the captain of the flates in Maplewood Provence. I felt heard.

"So, you say the treddors warned you," Xander thought aloud as Aster listened in closely. "It only effects creatures housing a beast, now that's something," his eyes held a flash of worry before he forced his feeling down. "Yes, so, the flates and the eglipties, and she said maybe even the azulers out west, but I'm more worried about the Community of Hollows up North, apparently there's already been a minor breakthrough."