The glow of the crackling fire barely illuminated the close expanse that it set in, casting bleak shadows across the sapphire walls. From a distance away, a howling wind could be heard, giving hint that the long cave network Gilda and Alistair had been travelling through was finally coming to an end.
It was the first time they’d ever lit a fire pit along the entire trip, always deciding to deal with the nasty chill through blankets and warm clothing. But now, as it seemed that more casual liberties could be exercised, they enjoyed the greeting warmth it gave them, displaying just a mild amount of comfort that they both rightfully deserved.
“Shouldn’t be long now,” he quietly announced. “We’ll definitely be topside by tomorrow afternoon.”
Gilda groaned in recognition. “Great, can’t wait to finally get outta this stinking hole. Really been in here too long.”
“Agreed,” he said while shifting his sitting position. “From here it’s a straight shoot across the canyon. From there, all we have to do is prance right into the mountain and signal for the treasure’s pick up.”
Gilda smiled dryly. “You make it sound easy.”
“If it was this wouldn’t be a two person job, now would it?”
She casually slugged him in the arm. “I can handle without the sarcasm, dweeb.”
Smiling to himself while rubbing the impact area, he stared into the smoldering heart of the fire. Turning serious for a moment, he looked back to her.
“Gilda…there’s something you should know before we continue any further. And it deals with our trip.”
She shrugged. “Go ahead.”
“We’re being hunted,” he stated simply, not wishing to drum up or add to bravado to what he spoke of. “For how long I don’t know, but the fact that they haven’t made a move yet bothers me. The tension and all that.”
“Hunted?” she repeated, making sure she’d heard him correctly. “By who, some sorta monster?”
He shook his head wearily, seeming to age right before her eyes as he spoke. “It was a few years back. A group of some sort, paramilitary more than likely. Very well trained and very well equipped. I first crossed paths with them back in Ponyville. They captured me and stuck me in a crate bound to Celestia-knows-where. It was only though the help of two friends I was able to make it out of there intact. Derailed a train in the process.”
“Do you know why there were after you in the first place?”
“I wish I did,” he said with a dejected sigh. “They were surprising tight-lipped about their motives. Nothing like the evil masterminds from the movies. My only guess is it’s something involved with—” he gestured to his human physique, “—this.”
Gilda nodded in agreement. “That would make sense, lotta creeps out there interested in that kinda stuff. But…” she looked back to him, “why didn’t you tell me this earlier? It’s kinda important you know.”
He grimaced. “I forgot. I was planning on telling you the second day, but after what happened with those snow trolls…I lost track of things.”
Gilda felt a shiver creep up her spine, recollecting on the frightening encounter with the pack of snow trolls. But her discomfort wasn’t in the creatures themselves (which she’d dispatched with ease) but Alistair’s response to them.
The blind rage he’d been spurred into, the ferocity of his attacks, and especially the blood-red glow of the magic in his hands, a far cry from the normal silver-blue that he used. She was hesitant to address it with him, but she didn’t see another opportunity up till now.
“You know…” she said slowly, “you did kinda freak me out over that entire episode. Not that I was scared or anything, just sorta bothered me is all.”
“I’m fine,” he returned coldly, “just nerves. Nothing you need to worry about.”
Gilda bit the edge of her lip. “No, I think it is something I need to worry about. You looked like an animal out there. Snarlin’, your hands clawed, you toasted one of the trolls for crying out loud.”
“So what? They were attacking us. That one I burned with my electricity was coming right for you. There’s no telling what it would’ve done while you were distracted. I did the right thing and stopped it.”
“The point is,” she retorted, “is that you weren’t actin’ yourself. It’s like someone flipped a switch or something. I’m not tryin’ to be rude or anything, but I’m just worried about you. It didn’t seem right.”
His eyes drifted towards the ground as he slowly nodded his head, agreeing silently with her. “It was just something personal,” he said in a quietly modulated voice. “You won’t ever see it again, I can promise you that. But I would prefer if we changed the subject of conversation, for my own sake.”
“Sure,” she said offhandedly, “is it gonna be about this wacko group?”
“Yes. We’re going to need a plan of attack for tomorrow, something to counter whatever the other group tries. From past experience they’re more than likely going to attempt an ambush, probably from behind us since we haven’t run into them thus far.”
“Then what do we do when they attack?”
“Run,” he said tightly. “We can’t attempt a frontal attack; they’ll tear us to shreds in seconds. They use projectile weapons when they can. These little gold spheres that pick up speed the more they graze the ground seem to be a favorite, followed by blow darts, most likely with poison.”
“And from there?”
“Find a niche to settle in to, something with adequate enough cover. From there I can pick them off with electric bursts till their numbers thin out. Nothing too harmful of course, just enough charge to knock them on their backs.”
Gilda eyed him suspiciously, not wholly convinced be his assurance. “I’d hope so.”
“Now isn’t the time to be doubting one another,” Alistair said flatly, a bit off put by her mistrust in him. “If we’re going to get through this we’re going to need the utmost confidence in one another, no matter what.”
“Even if that might involve killing in cold blood?”
Alistair winced, his teeth now clenched in thinly controlled anger. “That won’t happen, I can assure you that. I have well enough control over myself now. I just wasn’t thinking then.”
“Alright,” she said shortly. “I’ll stick with what you’re tellin’ me for now, but I still got my doubts on you. Remember that.” She pointed an endearing talon towards him to strengthen her point.
Feeling some weight lifted from his shoulders, he couldn’t help to breathe out in relief. “Thank you, you had me worried for a second.”
“So did you.”
They sat in front of the fire for another hour or so, tossing in a few passing comments but with no real conversation being struck. Eventually, as the weariness of the past days began to burden them, the two quickly stamped out the fire pit and moved to their respective sleeping corners of the cave, ready to face the next day’s approaching battle with stride.