The Island of Wonder

When Nicole was done reading, she sighed. Ugh, their grammar makes my eyes bleed. But this is not what I am looking for. The crates with whatever they are carrying should be somewhere else. She placed the diary notes back into the chest, put the lid down, and got out of the carriage. Time to check the other ones. Nicole was halfway through sneaking to the next wagon when she heard steps approaching. Fuck, someone’s coming! Why now?! The girl quickly jumped to hide behind the wagon and carefully looked out. A shadow stepped into the carriage where Nicole just was, and she realized who it was. Wait. Limia said she would go alone if her father rejected her plan. And that’s what is going on! She is escaping. Should I confront her? While Nicole was thinking, she didn’t notice that the shadow stepped out.

"I know you are here, human. And that you rummaged through my things." Limia confidently came closer to where Nicole was hiding.

Shit. I guess I don’t have an option now. Nicole swallowed hard and left cover. "So what now? If not for you guys having some illegal stuff with you, I would even empathize with you."

Limia unsheathed her sword. "I don't need your pity. You know too much. I have no choice but to kill you. Or surrender now, let me tie you up so I can leave. In the morning, they will find you and you will be free."

Nicole smirked. "Hah, as if I would believe you wouldn’t kill me either way." She shifted into the bone form and, holding her spear, stood in a fighting stance.

Limia was first. She quickly came closer and struck, forcing Nicole to use the pole of her spear to block it off. Shit, she is fast! Nicole kicked the ratgirl to push her away and throw her off balance. Limia took a few steps back but swiftly regained her ground. Nicole was ready to pierce her and finish the fight, as Limia’s back was pressed to the wall of the wagon. But suddenly, the ratgirl vanished into the shadow for a second, before Nicole felt the edge of the sword biting into her ribs from the right. "Agh!" She turned to the side, but Limia was gone again. What was that?!

"This strange form of yours. You should be dead already." Limia was standing in the darkness of the wagon’s shadow again.

Nicole slashed, but Limia managed to step back at the last moment. Shit. How is she so fast? Nicole had no time to think about her enemy when she noticed a blink of light in the shadow and instinctively dodged. A knife flew right where her head was just a second ago. Nicole stepped back, positioning herself in a way to only show her right side to the ratgirl. Right. This should make me look thinner and give less space to attack me. Nicole thrust again into the shadow using only her right arm on the spear. Small lightning arcs jumped around the edge, creating just enough light to let her distinguish Limia. But the ratgirl still evaded or blocked every offense while trying to reach Nicole with her sword. She is staying in the shadow. Why?

Then suddenly, Nicole reached and threw her own throwing knives at Limia, but by the sound of wood being hit, she realized she missed. "What are you aiming at? I am not even there at all!" The ratgirl’s voice mocked her, and her blade swung dangerously close to Nicole’s head.

It doesn’t matter if I know why. As long as it gives her some kind of advantage, I have to find a way to deny it to her. Nicole took a few steps back. "Come out, rat! No more hiding. I can wait here for the rest of the night."

"Oh, how boring." Limia said from somewhere in the thick shadow. Nicole saw something violet in the darkness, and after a second, a small black orb with a purple glow flew at her. She shielded her face with the spear’s pole, and at the hit, Nicole felt a strong pull forward, as if the spear and orb were two magnets. It took only half a second, but she barely stayed on her feet. Looking at her weapon, at the place of impact the bone pole was gone, leaving a clear circular hole. Shit. If it hits me, it can chop off a hand easily.

"So, can you really wait for the rest of the night? I am not leaving the comfort of darkness."

Okay. Since she didn’t just shoot again, it means Limia needs time to recharge. It’s my only window to fight her. With no other option, Nicole charged again. She made fast, wide slashes to cover as much area as she could, but only a few times did the tip slightly bruise the ratgirl, most of the time she either missed or Limia’s sword deflected the hit, sending sparks all around.

Hm, what if I try this? Nicole reached and took her sword with her left hand. She can’t avoid all the hits now. With renewed vigor, she continued piercing the shadow. But Limia didn’t seem to be much more in danger, still, most attempts at hitting her ended up missing. When Nicole got lucky and felt her sword land, she suddenly brushed her spear against the wall of the wagon, making lightning arc light up the area for a second in bright, blue light. For that second, Nicole could see Limia almost fully, just out of range of her sword. Nicole took a step forward, slashing with her weapon.

"Aahg!" Limia shouted. The light disappeared, and the shadow swallowed her. But Nicole kicked at the place where the ratgirl just was, and her boot sent her flying out of the dark. Limia’s blade fell to the side as the ratgirl landed hard, clutching her bleeding right shoulder.

Before either of the girls could do anything, one of the Bee guards ran close. "Hey, what’s going on?!" He held a giant hammer in his hands, pointing it at them both.

Nicole stood over the defeated Limia, the spear’s tip dangerously close to the girl’s face. "This Tzurai tried to escape. But what’s more important, they are transporting something illegal. We should notify Jathun." The guard nodded. Nicole used her ability to form wooden shackles, restraining Limia’s hands and legs. Then the guard grabbed the ratgirl and threw her over his strong shoulder.

When Nicole explained everything to Jathun, the old man sighed. "I expected something like that anyway." He turned to the gathered guards. "Go and tie up all of them."

When everyone left, Nicole and Jathun stood alone, plus Limia, who was lying on the ground. "Tie? Why not just kill them? What if they get out and escape or fight back?" Nicole asked. But Jathun just shook his head. "Indeed. But firstly, we need to see what exactly they are hiding."

After that, Nicole and Jathun went to the Tzurai wagons. After checking out the second one, which was filled mostly with food and general goods, they approached the last one. It was full of square crates, around a meter by a meter in size, and were closed on all sides except for small round holes in the corners. Nicole simply absorbed the wood on top of one crate, and the two of them looked inside. Their eyes widened immediately when the torchlight showed what was in there. "What the fuck!?"

They saw a person curled at the bottom of the crate. It was a young boy with fluffy grey ears and a tail. He tried looking at them, but the light blinded him, so he had to cover his eyes with a hand.

"What’s that supposed to mean?! Why is there a boy in there?" Nicole asked no one in particular. "Hey, can you get out of there? What happened? Why are you in a crate?"

The boy nodded slightly and slowly stood up. He was wearing only leather pants, and Nicole could see his thin, starved body. She could count his ribs, and his arms and legs appeared thinner than her spear’s pole. The boy had to hold on to the edge of the crate to stand. He tried to speak, but no words came out as his lips and mouth were too dry.

Nicole went on and unlocked all the other crates, and to her despair, all contained a child, six in total. Jathun ordered his people to take them to the storage wagon and give them water and food.

No idea what exactly happened, but… I have no words. I thought of drugs or contraband, not… this. Nicole’s fingers curled around the handle of her sword, but she controlled herself.

In less than an hour, nine Rat people were sitting in a group, all tied and turned to one side. They were surrounded by guards, and Jathun, Nicole, Iloe, Soi, and Merik were in front of them.

Soi whispered, still half-asleep. "What’s the commotion? Rats finally fucked up?"

Jathun coughed to get the attention of everyone gathered. "Tzurai, you are charged with transporting six Narakai children. You have a chance to explain yourselves. Now, Teor, as the leader of the band, tell us everything." Jathun’s voice was surprisingly calm.

The Rat man seemed furious. "Does it matter? Just kill us all already. What’s the point of playing judge now?" He glanced at his daughter, whispering. "Bitch, it’s all your fault. But no, of course you had to try sneaking out and get their attention."

Limia shook her head. "The human somehow knew already. Stop bitching."

"Indeed, I could order your death by now. But first, I want to see if you have anything to say in your defense." Jathun continued.

"What’s there to say? We were traveling and trying to survive around the Narakai territory. Monsters attacked their village, and in the chaos we figured out how to get a few of their kids." Teor went silent, and after a minute, Jathun sighed.

"Well, it aligns with what the kids said, so at least you are being honest in your last hours of life." Jathun nodded. "Get rid of them." He turned around to leave, seeing no point in watching the massacre about to happen.

"Aghughh…" The first Tzurai dropped dead as a Bee guard’s giant axe split his head in two.

"No, please!" The other one pleaded, but was not spared. His brains were crushed and exploded by a hammer.

Fuck. Disgusted by the view, Nicole turned to the side. But the next scream made her look again.

"Human, please!" It was Limia, her whole body shaking. Tears of fear streamed down her cheeks from her wide-open eyes. "Spare me! I will be good! Take me as a slave! Anything but death!" She cried out loudly while her companions were slaughtered all around her. Her clothes and skin were covered in blood and the remains of those executed before her.

Nicole bit her lower lip. She remembered Limia’s diary note she had read, filled with fear of death. She did what she did, knowing the potential consequences. But… Iloe and Soi said the Bee tribe was very harsh to those who plundered their beehives and took honey. One wrong move or a word slipping out, and I may end up just like them… I may regret this, but I feel like maybe she deserves a chance. "Leave her alive."

The moment Nicole said it, one of the guards was ready to chop down on the sobbing Limia. He stopped at the last second, turning to the girl. "We serve only Jathun and our tribe. He said to kill them. You should ask him, not us."

The leader of the caravan wasn’t too far away yet, so Nicole quickly went to his side. "Are you sure? Most people won’t even buy Rat slaves, there were too many times Tzurai slaves backstabbed, poisoned, or simply escaped. But if you want to risk it… Just remember, if it’s your slave—if it fucks something up—it will be your fault."

Nicole nodded. "You heard him. Leave the girl."

The guard silently grabbed Limia by the arm and, with a rough tug, sent the girl almost flying out of the bloody mess.