Lost in the Crossroads

Nineteen - Normal (Kara)

Kara fought not to scream out in frustration. God. They should have not done this. It was risky and freaking dangerous. She tried to convince them that maybe they could do this quietly and quickly as possible. Rescue the Elves without the enemy noticing and run away fast. Really fast. It could be done. With the proper stealth, Abel could do it, and escape plan they wouldn’t have to fight some medieval maniacs.

And Geneva wouldn’t get hit by some imaginary rock man.

Alex got to be kidding. There was no way what she said was true. Really now? The appearance of a golemn was possible considering their circumstances but taking a hit from something big, hard and heavy like that could lead to instant death.

Not that she wanted Gen dead. Oh god, no!

It was just that…how did Gen survive with only a minor concussion and a broken arm? If a human got hit by something like that, the highest possibility was a smash head and broken bones.

Kara shuddered at thought of her friends ending up like that.

She refused to believe of anything else other than they will all die of old age. They lived through a goddamn Civil War for Pete’s sake.

Alex got to be kidding. She probably didn’t see things enough due to the dark.

Things could have gone easy if they take the easy way out. But no, they had to take the hard way, saying that it was impossible to actually infiltrate the camp without alerting someone.

Well, there’s a possibility of being found out. It’s just that, that someone can be killed for the sake of silence. Abel could do it.

Abel totally could.

She should have just killed them all.

Then maybe.

Just maybe. Geneva wouldn’t be lying in a cot unconscious with a bandage on her head.

Kara clenched her hands, forcefully wrenching her thoughts away from the unconscious body of their friend. Her attention is needed somewhere else. Abel had not made an appearance yet. Everyone worries for the soldier. Kara can’t blame them. Geneva was already injured.

They already can’t wait to start moving. The possibility of the knights having reinforcements waiting for them deeper in the forest was gnawing on the back of their minds and they made quite the ruckus. Most of the noise was because of her. A diversion tactic she was tasked to, using the remaining power of their gadgets. Things are going smoothly for them when the feeling of something strange in the air was back again and the second gunshot rang. It immediately put them on frantic mode.

Kara kept running towards the clearing, her mind coming up with the highest possibility of seeing a lot of dead bodies in the war zone. Abel could be messy once she was into it.

Blake was following closely behind her.

Her eyes tried to spot silver hair and golden eyes in the foliage of bushes and mossy tree trunks. Even Kael was nowhere in sight! None of them noticed him slipping out of the crowds since they were all busy accommodating the newly rescued Elves.

And he was their freaking buffer from the suspicious Night Elves!

Where could he have gone to?

The screaming in the enemy camp had long stop when dawn arrives while theirs bustled in life. Everyone was moving, shouting things here and there in a moment of adrenaline.

That must be when they lost Kael.

That shitty elf.

Alexandra was actually the rowdiest in a professional kind of way in their group. She kept shouting directions to the elves and demanding for medical necessities. Their supplies were dwindling fast especially the medical ones. Kara can clearly remember the paleness of Alex's skin as she examined the wounds on the Elven children. Alex looks like she’s going to keel over any minute. While Fenella, who was helping her, looked like she’s about to bawl right there and then.

Kara could understand them.

She might not like Kael that much. She hasn’t forgiven him from that throwing incident. Yet, Her heart still aches for him and his people. The Elves have lost their homes, family and friends. Their children malnourished, sick and bruised.

What kind of humans are here in this world to starve children like that? Heartless was not even enough to describe them.

The Night Elves doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment. No matter how much Kara look at them, they were still living beings. Breathing the same air like them.

That’s why Kara tried to help as much as she could too; Helping Dein in providing food and water, the one which they can offer at the moment, and surrendered some of her shirts for those who lack proper clothing, volunteering to find Abel and Kael.

Once Alex and the others found the right pace in working through the injured Elves, they started moving efficiently together. She was hit with the sudden realization that her limited knowledge in the medical field would only get on their way.

Kara, admittedly, was having a hard time following them.

Blake probably felt the same too as the woman volunteered to accompany her in search for their wayward friend. Everyone knows Abel always find her way back. They just could not help but worry what’s taking her so long.

Like they always do.

Come to think of it, things had been the same even if they were in another world. Nothing change much.

Kara blinked for a moment to process a certain epiphany that hit her.

It was short and simple but damn, it has been like this for a long time.

How could she only notice now? They were always working in a moment of adrenaline, heart palpitating fast as the world spun wildly around it axis, doing things normal people shy away from.

This situation they have right here is normal. This is their version of normal.

The only difference was Geneva’s lack of presence. Their friend had been unconscious ever since she was brought back to their camp.

Kara’s chest burned. It’s definitely not from running.

She used to have Geneva shouting next to her. Now it felt so different not hearing her voice.

“Stupid Gen.” she muttered, leaping over a particular large root and ducking from a low hanging branch. Getting injured was part of the dangers in their job. It was already known that they might not complete this rescue mission unscathed yet it was hard to accept that Geneva of all people got injured. Normally, it would be Abel.

“Kara.” Blake called out to her. “Slow down.”

She did just that, stopping at the very edge of the forest where the roots Kael had used to shield them from any pursuers were lying dormant on the ground. She shivered, remembering the feeling of the roots slithering around her like a bunch of snakes as they formed a wall.

Her heartbeat picked up its pace at the sight of the clearing before them. Morning dew assaulted her nose and it was mixed with the tell-tale scent of blood and war. It’s a smell she and her friends were all too familiar with.

Roots had taken residence on the clearing. It seems like they had crawled deep into the enemy camp, dominating the green lush of grasses.

There are bodies on the ground like she expected. All were dead, she assumed. Most of them were wrapped tightly by the roots, like they were important nourishment for the trees.

They might be.

Swords, axes, spears and shields lay useless on the ground.

She felt unwelcome.

This is not my world. Her mind supplied which her heart solemnly agreed.

The sun continued its ascent in the sky.

“This is weird.” Blake said out of sudden, prompting her to look at her friend.

Blake was staring at the scene before them with a face Kara felt on her own. She looked back on the clearing and was greeted by a different sight.

She was staring on multiple monitors. Abel’s voice was steadily streaming in her comms, reporting their current status and some other details. There were gunshots on the background, relentless and her fingers were rapidly hitting the keys, fiddling with the transmissions for connection.

A blink and it was all gone. She's back staring on the messy field.

Kara released a breath she didn't know she was holding.

She was out in the open field.

"Yeah." She agreed, running a hand on the back of her neck. "So f*****g weird."

The two of were not normally deployed in the battlefield yet here they are, surveying the damage done by their friend.

Guns secured on their hands and safety lock off, they head into the clearing. They proceeded to take caution in entering the area. There might be some remaining knights or bandits. Kara kept a careful eye in their surroundings. She doesn’t want to risk Blake getting hurt too.

The roots are getting thicker as they went deeper in the enemy camp. Various weapons and bodies lay tight in their embrace. Some tents were also burned downed to the ground. The smell of burnt flesh was more prominent in the air than the scent blood and other secretions.

Her stomach churned. It makes her want to gag but refrain to do so. Blake looked freaking unaffected.

They found Abel on another clearing where the roots have gathered. There was blood all over her which was expected but the blood on her lips and cheek was disturbing.

Did she bit someone or something? She looked like a zombie.

Kara slowed down her already slow pace upon noticing Abel's faraway gaze. Her gaze turned to Blake noticing doing the same thing and watched the woman take the lead. She was much more experienced in handling Abel.

They approached with more care than usual. There’s a certain danger in approaching an unaware Abel, even she knows that. Vigilance was a dire necessity if you don’t want to get killed. Not that Abel would kill them but…it was safer than sorry.

Abel might have been acting a little bit odd these past few days; talking to goddamn ball of fire of all things nevertheless she’s a soldier. They tend to shoot things and ask questions later. Abel certainly has this tendency.

Seriously though, she had not yet shown it which was somehow troubling. They might be the one to trigger it.

Sweat traveled down from her forehead to her nose line adding to the nerves she was feeling at the moment.

Kara flinched when Abel's head snapped on their direction. She barely suppressed the urge to duck down, yelping when the soldier's left hand holding the gun almost, f*****g almost pointed at them. Kara swore her eyes caught Blake’s body readying to dive down at moment’s notice. The traitor!

“Don’t shoot!” She panicked, about to throw herself on the ground too. “Don’t you dare shoot!”

Thank god, Abel stopped herself on time from pulling the trigger as no gun shot rang.

Kara stared at her own hands in confusion. Since when did she put them up?

Twin silver heads popped up behind Abel, jerking on her sides like skittish animals caught off guard. Two pair of golden eyes meets her confused gaze. One lightened with recognition. The other, glared heatedly and warily. Kara returned it, not bothering to lower her hands.

“Why is there two of them?” She wondered to Blake, who doesn’t look and felt shock as she was finding their missing elf with a double.

They look so much alike. One Kael was already annoying. To think they were two of them.

“No. Wait. Don’t answer that.” Kara hastily took back, lowering her hands and feeling stupid. Her mind helpfully reminded her why there were here in the first place. To rescue Kael’s people and his brother.

The pace of her heart beat had finally slow down. Her knees though threatened to embarrass her at any moment. Gosh, she can’t have that.

Blake snorted in response, already jogging her way towards their friend.

She followed, deliberately slowing her steps. She needed a moment.

Kara stopped and stared. Her gaze landed on the captured knights and bandits at the center of the gathered roots in the clearing. The prisoners’ eyes were trying hard not to meet her gaze, bodies curling into a ball to make them small despite of the roots holding them. It’s a little bit disturbing. She hasn’t done anything yet.

Must be the roots and Abel. Kara guessed. She will also be terrified if she was in their position.

“What is it?” Abel’s question caught her attention. Her friend’s head was lightly tilted in confusion, silver eyes automatically roaming over their bodies. “What happened?” Her body straightened, feet pulling apart.

“You’re taking so long.” Blake answered, her head swiveling to look at the captured knights and bandits. “And Kael ran off on his own.”

“Again.” Kara reminded the elf whoever he was between the two. She has still not forgiven him from running off in the dark forest like that and taking care of some bandits escaping into the woods when they started their scare tactic. She was grateful for that. She really was. The thing was he shouldn’t run off without a word and expect them to just watch him go.

Dein actually panicked and followed him. And then Drishti. Those crazy idiots!

Dristhi was easy to manhandle due to her small stature. Dein on the other hand…she’s going to die first before she even managed to lift that woman. And to think there were a lot of enemies lurking in the woods searching for a way out of their terrifying clutches. It’s a good thing she found Dein on time.

Looking for them in the dark was a pain the ass. Kara had lost count on how many times she tripped on roots or branches smack her or the times she almost died. The high on inflicting terror to their medieval enemies with the use of technology dissipated as soon as she was met by a screaming bandit wildly waving his goddamn sword at her. Her excellent dodging skill was the only thing that kept her alive.

It was a pretty creative distraction plan, though.

Kara never thought that it would be that effective. With Alex portable speaker, Abel’s laptop, Drishti’s script, few edited sounds and recording and strategically high and covered place, they scared the s**t out of all their medieval opponents.

“And Gen?”

“Alex and the others got her.” Blake answered which was more than enough for them.

With that news, Abel peered over her right shoulder, hopefully eyeing the shitty Elf that can be Kael with a heated glare.

Kara didn’t bother to hide her smirk when the Elf on her right took a step back with wide eyes. Oh so that was Kael. His twin immediately went to his rescue, hissing against Abel of all things.

Well, that’s new. Kara blinked for a moment. Must be the big brother.

“What happened to your face Abel?” Blake interrupted the eye scolding Abel was giving Kael. Blake eyed the prisoners stuck in the roots grip with suspicion. To think they caught this entire people.

Magic can be sure handy. “You look like a goddamn zombie. Don’t tell me you bit someone’s face off.”

“I made a mistake.” Abel grunted, obviously displeased with the topic, turning her attention back to them. Blake was right. The woman looked like she experienced a zombie apocalypse with all the blood and grime on her body.

Kara admittedly knew she was filthy enough to warrant a scrubbing session with Fenella but Abel looked downright worse with all of the blood on her. Damn, her hair looked so sticky. Disgusting.

“Like what?” Kara scrutinized Abel’s bloodied cheek.

“Approached a terrified knight with a wicked sword.” The soldier deadpanned.

Finally reaching Abel added another task on their hands. Looting.

Kara understood the purpose but she really wanted to return to the forest as soon as possible and make a run out of the East entirely. The ‘Chills’ has been disturbing her.

Not to mention, the task was taking so much time. Even when they called on the Night Elves capable of moving without being in pain, it was still going slow. The others stayed on their camp.

Kara blamed their over-bearing suspiciousness resulting with the lack of communication between. The only one brave enough to talk to them was Kael, his brother who has not been named yet since he obviously doesn’t trust them was following him whenever he goes and watched them like a goddamn hawk.

They were also holding hands.

“Why are they holding hands?” She asked Abel the moment she managed to catch up with the woman power walking towards the largest tent in the camp.

The soldier frowned at her, before looking around suspiciously. There are Night Elves pulling some luggage’s out of the tents and dumping them on the clearing for evaluation whether to bring it or not. Why they can’t just bring everything?

“You really shouldn’t ask things like that, you know.” Abel said continuing her walk without a problem. Her friend had also managed found a time to clean up herself and changed her ratty bandit disguise back into her clothes.

Kara smiled for a moment. Drish must have predicted that Abel would get messy and sent a change of clothes with some elf. Bruises and cuts were now prominent on the tan skin, especially the deep cut on her cheek but it was normal on Abel that it barely bothered the woman now. The i***t. Deep wounds like that end up as scars. Abel really needed to stop marring her own face with scars.

“Why? Don’t you think it’s weird?” Kara continued, holding the tent’s flap open after Abel entered it. The place looked typically like those war room presented in movies. A round table was placed in the middle, maps, wine and glasses on it and some scattered pebbles.

Pebbles? What was it for?

Crates were lying neatly stacked on the side. Cots, all white and looked damn cozy was line up on a corner.

“Not really.” Abel shrugged, walking around the table. She hummed, investigating the different maps on the table and spreading the largest she found for Kara to see. “Look how different their map is from the one we found. The letters are not moving. And there are some places in the East included in it that was not on the map we had.”

“How is that not weird? They’re both guys.” She continued to argue, looking on the map laid at the table. It was one hell of a big map, encompassing almost the whole table. It looks like one of those old treasure maps for pirates. It kind of makes her excited.

Thankfully, the letters are not really moving; unlike the one they had which was good since the moving letters make her dizzy. Jeez, was that some kind of Elven Magic?

How un-practical. What’s the purpose of making the letters jumbled and move?

“They’re twins, you i***t. How is that weird?”

“Like I said, they’re both guys! And adults too. Holding hands like that…Don’t you think they’re too old for that?” She trailed off, looking back to the map where Abel was tracing her fingers.

“This one must be old if it still has some places recorded in the East. Pretty convenient for us. It shows the camp was already in the deeper part of the Forsaken Forest. Any further and we’ll enter a mountain valley.” Abel observed, eyes utterly fixated on it. “Sheragon?”

It was written deep inside the mountain valley where the Dragon Passage lies. Man, what a rough path the elves would experience if they didn’t get to them in time. The conditions of the children were already not good enough for traveling. Jesus, how the Elves are going to live through that if they didn’t arrive?

“You’re never too old to hold your brother’s hand, you know.” Abel said continuing their discussion about the Elven twins.

Her friend just doesn’t understand the sense of propriety. It was almost pitying.

“That’s not my point! It’s just not right.” she curled her fingers in front of Abel to emphasize. “They’re holding hands all the goddamn time! It was way too much than being clingy!”

“How is that wrong? They’re f*****g brothers. Twins Elves specifically. Skinship comes naturally to them. I don’t really see the problem.”

Abel jabbed her finger on the map which caught her attention. The finger tap a few times before it traces towards the direction of the North.

The message was clear and the task was not that hard even without the help of computer. She does know how to read normal maps. Only that, she preferred if they have GPS tracking and Satellite monitoring for efficiency and safety purposes.

“You can be an i***t sometimes.” She groaned out, rubbing her hands over her face before looking back to the map and mentally tracing the route they will take back to the north.

“You’re seriously the last person I wanted to hear that from.” Abel retorted which made her head immediately reared up, thinking process stopping in progression. There was insult lying in there somewhere.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Exactly what it meant.” The soldier had found interest in the items around them, inspecting items here and there. Not even bothering to look at her.

Was Abel saying that she’s an i***t? Her, who could see how disturbing the twin elves are? Kara straightened her body and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I’m not an idiot.” She grumbled.

“Is that so?” Abel retorted, indifference ringing clearly in her voice.

Kara’s blood pressure continues to rise. There something with that Elf that shortens her fuse.

“You two better stop that shitty argument of yours or else I’ll call Alex on you.” Blake glared at them from the entrance of the tent. “Cause you know, we’re done packing most of the remaining items, already sent the medical supplies and some food back to our camp. The only one we need to pack up is this tent.”

“Kara started it.” Abel tattled.

“How very mature.” She snorted.

“Ohoo~. We’re talking about maturity now, eh?” Abel leaned back, a smirk forming on her lips.

“You two are not having that discussion!!” Blake snapped, glaring at them. “Seriously, Abel?” Her glaring eyes focused on the soldier.

Kara smirked, smug satisfaction coursing in her veins even though she doesn’t completely understand why Abel is at blame on this one.

The soldier frowned as she looked at Kara from head to toe. “Okay, maybe not stupid but more like…insensitive.”

The sting from the insult caught her off guard. Where the hell did that even come from?

“You’re seriously the last person I wanted to hear that from.” She quipped, liking the presented opportunity given to her.

“What?”

Kara chuckled darkly.

“You both are stupid and insensitive.” Blake declared. Their indignant protest fell on deft ears as she entered the tent and started to organize some scattered items into a pile. “Setting your idiocy and insensitiveness aside, what the hell are we going to do with the prisoners? I have already transferred them to the cart. What’s next?” She said, turning her head onto them while her foot kicked a crate open.

Kara frowned as she waited for Abel to answer but the soldier merely tilted her head up and gaze in to their eyes silently asking for their opinion.

The small animosity between them fading away like it didn’t exist in the first place.

Blake continued to dump various small items inside the crate she opened, patiently waiting for a response. It’s not an easy matter.

“We should just leave them here.” Kara answered for them.

It’s the logical action considering their resources. Not to mention they don’t have a specific destination planned yet. It’s best to conserve their food and water.

Cruel as it may sound. It may not be good to bring their prisoners wherever they’re going.

“I thought so too.” Blake said, her face pinching. “But I don’t think Alex would like that.”

Kara’s face scrunched at that.

Alex would hate that.

“Well, we have to take them then. I’m planning to interrogate them after packing but it’s best for us to start moving. We made quite a ruckus.” Abel answered showing the map on her.

“You sure?” Kara asked, returning into her task to formulate appropriate routes for them. They shouldn’t take the route they had already taken. “Roughly estimating the resources we acquired, they will only last a week on us, including the prisoners. Not to mention we don’t have a specified destination yet. Do you?” She turned to Abel.

Sacks of wheat, rice, flour, salt and many more consumables were recovered in this mission that they suspect came from Kael’s village. They were also dried foods like smoked fish and meat found. It was the knight’s ration from wherever they came from. So were barrels of alcohol and water. Why in the world they have alcohol with them Kara would never understand. Alcohol was usually confiscated at work. Even Abel doesn’t drink on duty.

For their prisoners, these consumables could last them two or three weeks considering they doesn’t feed much the Elves while travelling. Trailing and observing them from behind made them noticed that they only gave the Elves one meal a day which was rough while travelling in these rough roads.

Alex was too kind-hearted to allow such things in their party.

Shouldn’t that be enough to leave them here to rot?

“As long as we’re in a forest finding some food and water is not a problem. And when it comes to food, Tabby is the expert. We’ll have to leave the allocation to her.” Abel answered, helping Blake fold the sheets on the cots.

“I guess our destination is naturally back to the north.” Blake speculated.

“Generally speaking.” Abel said. “Specifically, depends on them.”

It depends on the Elves, huh? Should she ask Kael?

Her blood boils at the thought.

Kara clicked her tongue, throwing a glare on the soldier. Abel smirked in response.

The sly b***h.

With the three of them working together, it didn’t take them much time to pack the items inside the tent and placed them outside. The Elves who where around at that time help them out without speaking a thing, glancing at them warily and only nodding when questioned.

Ugh.

Her blood is at boiling point.