Lost in the Crossroads

Nine - The Elf II (Tabitha)

“ABELONE!”

The word echoed around the forest over and over again.

Tabitha swatted her hair, exasperated with it. She should have tied it first thing in the morning but the Elf happened, interrupting their peaceful morning routines. It happened so fast and they only noticed it when Kara yelped loudly, her forehead bleeding and the Elf was yelling only God knows why.

The man was backed away on the tree like he was afraid of them but his eyes showed a different story, blazing with fury and determination with a touch of desperation. His reaction reminded her of a cat cornered by dogs. The cat would fight back no matter what.

But they haven’t done anything wrong. Kara told them what happened, whining like a child with a bleeding forehead under the onslaught of Alex’s what-did-you-do and how-could-you face.

Her story was: She saw the man sat up, examined his surroundings before his eerie golden eyes turned to her and Kara smiled as pleasantly as possible. That’s when she got hit with a stone on the forehead and the Elf went homicidal. They should have not left him alone with her.

Tabitha rubbed her hands over her face, eyes traveling to Kara who was puffed out like an angry tom cat. The woman doesn’t look that bad. In fact, she looks good for the elf to be spooked. Kara’s hair was in its traditional tight bun and she was wearing her Army shirt just like the others matched with a cargo shorts and flip flops. Kara actually looked so at home for someone who got catapulted in another world. Maybe it was the freckles? Or the dog tag clinking on her chest?

Tabitha and the others dealt with patients like him before in the hospital but the language barrier proved to be a formidable obstacle and the elf –quoting Dein— was actually a nature-loving creature. It’s their first time dealing with a patient capable of talking to trees and commanding it to dangle them in mid-air like a couple of piñatas.

Tabitha groaned a bit, feeling the blood rushed to her head.

“Why on earth did you do that?!” Geneva shouted, hanging upside down just like her. “Have you forgotten about the bandits?” she struggled with her bounds, body wiggling. “Now they can hear you from a hundred miles!”

“They won’t cross the river even if they heard it!” Kara argued.

“Uh, I’m getting dizzy.” Fenella muttered, her body spinning as her hand uselessly tried to grab something to hold onto.

“Hailey, stopped her!” Alex said, head fixing on the elf. The taller woman stretched her body to reach for Fenella and steady her spinning body.

“Put us down!” she shouted at him, catching his attention. “We’re not trying to hurt you!”

Just as she said that, a kettle hit him square on the face. The elf staggered, groaning.

“Payback, b***h!” Kara crowed in delight.

Geneva looked impressed.

"What the hell, Kara?!" Alex yelled.

“Hurry! The guns!” Blake said, pointing to the guns lying on the ground.

“You can’t shoot him!” Alex protested.

“Just a graze on the shoulder! It won’t kill him!” Geneva said.

They watched with baited breath as Kara dove to get the guns only to be intercepted by the roots and end up dangling in the air just like them with a snarl of Elven language. The Elf’s nose was bleeding and the guns were slowly but surely being covered by the roots. He might not know what the guns are but he must have noticed that it is some kind of weapon the way Kara dove for it.

“I hate you! You ungrateful little s**t!” Kara screamed, struggling as the roots cocooned her lower body. “When I get my hands on you I’m going to stab you! Multiple times!” she threw one of Abel’s knives but a root defended him, clearly not wanting to caught off guard again.

The elf continued shouting in his language. Tabitha wasn’t sure if he was shouting at them or to the roots. He was getting frustrated with the way he can’t stop snarling in his Elven language.

The morning chill got even colder when the wind blows. A sense of foreboding crawled in her skin as the bushes from the direction Dein came from rustled.

“—won’t you listen to me? They are humans! Kill them!”

Tabitha frowned. What? That definitely sounded like a male voice to her and English no less. What’s going on?

“Care to tell me what’s going on?”

Tabitha shivered, she had never heard a voice so low, so tight and so lethal in her entire life. It was nothing compared to the sound of their strict training Officer or the Head Doctor. And she didn’t even have to look to know exactly who it belonged to.

The sighs of relief were caught in their throats as they take in the sight of a blood-soaked Abel. From the corner of her eyes, Tabitha saw the Elf snapped to attention like a soldier and gaped at Abel’s appearance.

He slowly took a step back. She would have done the same thing if she was the one in his position.

Abel soaking in blood from head to toe with a gleaming knife in her hands was a terrifying sight. Her wild raven locks framing her face like a mane and silver eyes flashing like steel.

Tabitha never thought it was possible but their friend managed to be scarier than the elf capable of controlling trees.

“Abel!” Fenella cried in relief.

“What is going on?” Abel repeated, her eyes shifting to each and every one of them, taking in their situation, not even batting an eyelash like it was a normal occurrence that an elf wearing her yoga pants and Hailey’s colorful shirt was trying to kill them and scanned their body for any visible injuries. Her eyes hardened when she noticed Kara’s bleeding forehead.

Tabitha was fairly sure that if looks could kill, knives were going fly from Abel’s eyes into the Elf.

“Don’t kill him, Abe. I think he’s just scared.” Alex said, her eyes squeezed shut in that familiar, pained expression that yes, it’s about to go downhill from here on out if she didn’t do anything to control the situation. Her dog tag hanging on her head, gleaming silver under the sunlight.

Abel didn’t make a sound, but then again, she didn’t have to. The energy radiating off of her made her fury clear. All the way back to their world.

She stalked forward, feet moving silently on the leaves covered ground, eyes fixated on the golden eyes of the Elf daring him to do something stupid which was close to nothing. He was terrified than they are, frozen on his spot like a deer caught in headlights as the pressure in the air grew heavier and the temperature drop a few degrees with Abel’s presence.

“….The path of silver.” Tabitha’s eyes widen hearing the Elf’s words. Since when did he—?

“WHAT?” They all flinched except for Abel with Kara’s indignant shout, effectively cutting the tension in the air. “You can talk in English?! What the f**k is wrong with you? I could totally stab you right now!” Kara ranted, struggling anew in her bounds.

“What’s your name?” Abel asked, expertly ignoring Kara’s exclamations.

“…Kael.”

“Abel. What are you talking about?” Abel said, balanced on one foot, ready to move but watching with steady eyes and c****d head.

“…The path of silver. The Mother had informed me that I must take the path of silver to retrieve my brethren.”

Brethren. Wow, big word. And who is the Mother? More importantly, what is he talking about?

“Path of silver? Are you talking about Abel’s eyes?” Alex asked.

“There’s a path in Abel’s eyes?” Kara inquired. Alex shut her with a stern look.

His golden eyes shifted to silver dog tag dangling on Alex’ neck and back to Abel, uncertainty clear.

“Can we talk about this when you lowered us down?” Geneva grumbled. “We’re not going to hurt you. You can understand us now, can’t you?”

“Please. I’m getting dizzy.” Fenella whimpered, her pace pale.

The indecision was clear in his eyes.

“We maybe humans but we’re not bandits. You could tell just by looking. Besides, if we want you dead, we would have left you alone in the river bank.” Abel informed him, flicking her fingers as some type of signal. The heavy air around her was already dissipating like it wasn’t there in the first place.

“But we didn’t.” Blake added. “In fact, Abel and Alex dealt with those who are chasing you.”

Kael scowled, clearly debating whether to believed it or not.

He got trust issues, that’s for sure but with his experience with the bandits and the fact that his whole family was caught by them, Tabitha supposed it was justified.

He studied Abel for a moment before gesturing towards her, “You are covered in blood.” He pointed out what she could tell that everyone was dying to do.

“I won on a wrestling match against a giant wild boar.” She answered simply.

“Wrestling?” Kael, repeated.

“Just lower them down please. Slowly now.” The bushes where Abel came from rustled and Drishti moved out of it, hands holding a gun firmly. “I hate to kill a good-looking guy like you. You know, you are like endangered.” She said. Her jeans have blood stains on it just like Dein’s. Just what on earth did they do with a wild boar?

Seeing that he was outnumbered even with his nature powers Kael’s shoulders sagged, exhaustion finally taking a toll in his body.

“Dude, let go. It’s taking a lot of you doing that—” Abel wildly gestured towards the roots holding them all. “Come on.” She urged him.

Kael faltered so does the roots and finally they were slowly being lowered.

Tabitha kicked off the roots wrapped around her legs and ankle, sighing in relief.

“I can’t—Oomph!—believe—Argh!—I tackled this guy!” Abel grunted, pushing with all her might and shifting in any position she deemed would help in adding her strength to make the wild boar moved. Drishti was by her side, also pushing with all of her might.

“Why am I here?” Kara whined, pulling with Hailey the boar’s forelegs. Her forehead was already bandaged.

Geneva and her were pulling the boar’s hind legs and Abel, Drishti and Dein were pushing its back, the three of them soaking in blood than the others.

“Shut it and just keep pushing!” Drishti growled.

It took a lot of their strength, effort and time flipping the wild boar to get Abel’s knives and the bamboo spears off of it. Now, they were trying to bring it to river so that they will be able to properly skin and butcher it but even with their combined strength its taking a lot of time and effort to cover the distance. The wild boar was too big and heavy for them. It has the height a horse and the large plump body of a boar.

Looking at it, it reminded her of a water tank. How did the animals grow like this in this world?

“Are we making progress?” Hailey asked.

Tabitha looked back and checked if they were truly making any progress. She grimaced, realizing that they didn’t even manage to cover ten meters away from its original position.

Abel groaned noticing what she saw, “We need reinforcements. Someone call the others.”

They stopped pushing and pulling the boar, leaning onto it in exhaustion ignoring the blood staining their clothes.

“Kara, do the honors!” Geneva said.

Kara groaned but she didn’t complain, marching to the direction of their camp.

Alex, Fen and Blake was left in the camp with Kael, postponing their peace talks in order to prepare the boar for their breakfast. An unspoken agreement was shared between them that they were going to talk after taking their meal. Kael was oddly subdued as Alex checked up on his wounds. The Elf must have been feeling guilty.

“I’m hungry.” Hailey muttered.

“I want coffee.” Tabitha blurted out, drowsiness hitting her as they waited for their reinforcement.

“Don’t.” Abel growled, head peeking out of the boar’s hide. “Don’t say that word.”

Tabitha let out a loud sigh, their last stock of Instant coffee was consumed three days ago by Geneva and it was depressing. Hopefully, this world has coffee.

“By the way, don’t you guys feel anything suspicious at all?” Geneva asked, successfully changing the subject.

“The bandits are not invading us.” Dein noted, patting the boar’s hide.

“Well now that’s strange. Kara’s voice can be heard a hundred miles away.” Drishti commented.

“I know.” Geneva agreed. “But that’s not what I’m talking about. There is this feeling of…” she trailed off, looking at them for any information.

“Like there is something crawling in your skin.” Abel grunted, draping herself over the wild boar’s body. “Like there is something strange in the air that you couldn’t tell. Whatever it is.”

Tabitha involuntarily shivered, rubbing her hands over her arms. She’s been feeling that way. A chill she couldn’t stop feeling ever since they arrive this world.

“Should we be worried?” Hailey nervously laugh, perfect teeth showing.

They glanced at each other, unsure of what to say.

“Maybe this is normal? Since, you know, we’re from another world.” Drishti answered, pulling herself up on the boar’s body.

“It’s possible.” Tabitha agreed. “But’s it better if you tell something whenever any of you felt something weird than the chills.”

Geneva gave her teasing look saying: The chills, really? That’s all you could come up with?

Tabitha rolled her eyes as response.

“I agree.” Abel mumbled, her eyes closed.

“Okay.” Hailey answered, smiling softly as the others nodded in response.

A comfortable silence fell on them as they waited for Kara to return.

As minutes passed by, they grew worried. Kara was nowhere in sight.

“What’s taking her so long?” Dein frowned, forcing Abel to open her eyes.

Tabitha stared at the direction Kara went to. "I don't know."

“Hey, is it safe to leave Kael unbound?” Geneva asked.

“You want tie up the kid?” Abel shot back, eyebrows raised.

They all gave her an incredulous look except for Drishti who merely raised her own eyebrow.

“He’s no kid. I checked it myself.” Drishti said, quite sassily.

Abel blinked, unsure what to say. Tabitha lightly shook her head, trust Drishti for that unnecessary information.

“You know he can’t be trusted, right?” Geneva asked, eyes on Abel.

Abel gave her an unreadable look before she answered, “Yes. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to treat him like those bandits did.”

Geneva looked taken aback just like them. “I just…”

“I know.” Abel said softly. “The kid made a mistake attacking you guys but you can’t really blame him considering what he experienced. We’re lucky he wasn’t able to do any real harm. If I was in his shoes—” Tabitha shivered, the memory of the terrifying image Abel created flashing in her mind. “I would have done worse.”

She and Hailey laughed nervously at that. Of course, she would have done worse even without the whole controlling the trees thing.

“Not that I get caught before.” Abel shrugged, continuing. “Still, trust Alex on this one. She can easily take care of the kid, elf or not.”

“Speaking of…” Drishti trailed off, her eyes following some movements in the trees and Alex along with the remaining people in the camp including Kael who was walking towards them.

“Kael said he’ll help.” Alex informed them, oddly cheery. Kara nodded grudgingly by her side and the elf himself, averted his golden eyes.

Abel gave them a knowing look, smirking lightly as she slid off the boar’s body taking Drishti with her. A silent: Told you so.

Tabitha caught Geneva’s eyes, the worry in them fading.

“Is that okay?” Dein asked, giving the guy an appraising look.

Oh boy, Tabitha knows that look. She got to say, the kid, looks good. His dark skin, darker than Abel’s tan skin, was like the Eighth wonder of the world, shining gorgeously under the sun’s beam. Again, competing against Abel’s tanned skin. And his hair, long ash-colored hair. Drishti has once wondered if it was rebounded, dyed or natural. How could a guy like him pull off a long hair like that? It’s unfair. He looks feminine but at the same time, not.

But you see, when Abel called a man, kid, it’s means his off-limits for them. Not that she wanted him for herself, it’s just—simply no and Alex totally agrees.

“It’s good. I guess. He said so.” Blake shrugged. “We already gave him water to drink and energy bar for the mean time.”

“He says, he’s good.” Fenella followed, smiling.

“The trees wanted to help.” They blinked when Kael suddenly spoke, averting his eyes from their inquisitive stares.

“You can talk to them?” Kara asked, skeptical.

“Yes. They are very fond of you.” He answered, politely.

Tabitha wasn’t the only who look confused at that. The trees like them? That’s—wow?

“So, you’re going to—uh” Hailey started, gesturing at the wild boar’s body. “moved it by commanding the trees.”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” Hailey looked at her and mouthed, Convenient.

Tabitha grinned at that.