Ambushing an Ambush
1104 Words
“Sir, I have found a fruit!” Khalid exclaimed.
They have been walking aimlessly throughout the forest keeping their eyes open for food.
“Where?” Kalil and Zahid’s attention was caught by Khalid.
They saw a yellow fruit looking like a peach with the color of ripe lemon but with orange bumps throughout the body. It was hanging on a tree about their height. That tree had many fruits like it.
“How do you know if it’s edible?” asked Kalil.
“It looks fruity?” answered Walid.
“What do you think we should do Zahid?” Kalil whispered.
“We make them eat and see if there are any side effects,” answered Zahid.
“As if they would be foolish enough,” Kalil argued.
“Let me handle this,” said Zahid. He then stepped forward towards the fruit tree.
“By tradition, it befits the masters to be eating before their disciples,” said Zahid in a voice deeper than his usual.
“Sure, sir!” said Sajid.
“Of course, sir. You can go ahead first,” said Khalid.
“But, that is not what I want to teach my disciples,” Zahid continued, “Masters eating before their disciples shows the arrogance of the masters to be deserving of higher respect. And my disciples would one day become a master of their own too. I would not like to teach them a lesson of arrogance. With my wisdom, I have come to realize we all have tons of gaps and flaws in our learning. Thus arrogance doesn’t befit us.”
“Sir, that’s okay,” said Walid, almost in tears, “You can still eat first. We won’t consider you arrogant.”
“Yeah, plus you do deserve greater respect than us,” said Sajid.
A gush of wind blew creating waves in Zahid’s hair. He smiled and said, “A true master lives what he teaches. Plus aside from all the philosophies, my disciples would starve while I eat is not something bearable to me.”
The three burst into tears while Kalil rolled his eyes disturbed by their stupidity. They took their first bite. Kalil and Zahid observed them closely as they chew the fruit. They gulped!
Instantly Khaled started screaming shocking Kalil and Zahid.
“Are you okay?” asked Zahid.
“Hell yeah!” shouted Walid.
“I feel such a boost in energy. Sir, you gotta try some!” said Sajid.
“Oh, I guess it’s safe then,” Kalil thought. They both joined them on lunch.
They took some rest and then continued walking. Took some rest again.
“Since this is neither a marathon nor a race, we should take as much rest as needed and not walk to the point it would create any loss of energy,” Kalil directed. Then, he kept staring at the three anticipating a response. “I guess they only compliment Zahid,” he thought to himself.
After few minutes of walking, they all had a sudden pause, Kalil who was still immersed in thought about methods of being as charismatic as Zahid bumped into him.
“Hey! Look out,” said Kalil.
“Shhhhhhhh,” they all shushed at him in unison.
They all had their eyes focused on a tall girl whose orange hair was thick enough to be mistaken as a helmet. But that wasn’t the main focus, the girl had her eyes set on something too. What is it?
“Should we try getting close?” whispered Zahid.
“Umm… Let’s try to move close enough to see what she is focused on without letting her notice us,” said Kalil. Then he looked at the three and said, “Brilliant, huh?” He had to awkwardly focus back on the mission finding no response from them.
They all took the bushy route to get closer to the girl. Noticing the silver coin-like eyes, Zahid said, “Man, she is pretty! Let’s go socialize, we might not find another chance like this.”
“Wait! Are you stupid-” asked Kalil but Zahid was already on his way.
“Excuse me-” Zahid said but he was interrupted when he noticed what the girl was staring at.
An archer was trying to get into a proper position to aim. But what? He then tried to look at what the archer was focusing on. It was an old man, eating a fish fry.
“Yeah, let ‘em decrease the population for us,” said Zahid casually, “Wouldn’t that be great ma’ lady?” Kalil and the others silently walked here too.
“Still, that’s so shameful,” she said, “Firstly, he is aiming at an old man. Secondly, he isn’t even fighting fair and square. He is ambushing.”
“Miss, I don’t think that kind of thought process belongs here,” said Kalil, “The old man voluntarily joined the game. You heard about their selection process. They took people who were meant or contracted for death. And you know, everyone in this universe is in a struggle for existence. He is just taking the means necessary.”
“How cowardice of him!” Zahid exclaimed, “Shooting an old man without his knowledge.”
Kalil stared at him in a deadpan manner.
“Anyways, for them are their deeds and for us are our deeds. Let's go back to our mission-” said Zahid.
“I wish we could do something about it,” the girl spoke.
“-After we are done doing something about this archer guy,” Zahid continued.
Kalil facepalmed.
Khalid reported, “Sir, we have been trained well in weapon disarm tactics. It would be an honor for us to lend you a hand in this mission.”
“This is just a waste of energy,” sighed Kalil to himself.
Thus, the three went to ambush the archer. Khalid was approaching him taking cover in the bushes from behind, Walid from the left side, and Sajid from a tree.
All three of them jumped on him suddenly and with their cooperated effort, disarmed him and put him in a lock.
Kalil facepalmed and said, “We criticized an ambush and then moved on to stop it with an ambush.”
“Now that you mention it,” said Khestri as she put the tip of her index finger on her bottom lip.
“A..A..A...Ambush?” stuttered Zahid, “Nah, that ambush was just to disarm him. I am going to challenge him to a duel like a man.”
- Writer
