An Age of Mysterious Memories

Chapter 30: Told You Beavers Bore Repeating

Everything hurts, are those doctors standing over me? Is that the bright light of an operating room? No, those things don’t exist. I pass out once again.

I find myself thinking, how does Laomati know cardio-pulminary resuscitation? How do I even know what that is? Why am I even thinking that she knows that? Lao’s furred, silky lips press to mine once more, one of her hands seems to be holding a torch, as there is an intensely bright light above me. Her other hand heaves down on my sternum. I gasp for air, but find it hard to breathe, with my sternum feeling crushed. Oh, oh of course Lao knows how to breathe for others, she did it the Night of High Water. Lao should be a doctor when we set up our home.

I’m alive, I can see that Lao can tell, but she also understands I can’t breathe on my own just yet. There’s panic in her eyes, I don’t know how long she’s been keeping me going. She did bring up the rear, so it was easiest for her to come back down, but where are Lil and Teuila? Trying to reach into Lil’s senses gives me the same feeling it does every time Lil is asleep, so at least Lil is probably fine, that means Teuila is too, because of her weird bond with gravity.

Even through the pain, I feel somewhat comfortable and content, my eyes droop back closed, I could use a rest. I don’t mind sleeping here on the swamp floor. Laomati slaps me lightly as my eyes droop, and harder as they close. Apparently she’s saying something, but the ringing in my ears that’s ever-present is drowning out everything, such that the text boxes are all fuzzed out. Oh, it’s probably something like stay awake. That’s a shame, it’s such a nice time for a nap. The next few slaps keep my eyes open momentarily, but I can’t keep them open for long. I could swear I saw Mataalii picking up one of the spears, that’s dangerous. I manage to think that as I briefly pass out once more.

That’s dangerous! The brief moment of sleep manages to knit enough of my sternum or lungs, whatever was giving me trouble breathing, and I sit up with a sudden jerk, bashing my head into Laomati’s accidentally. I look around frantically in a panic, why would Mata be picking up one of the spears? I pant, heaving every breath, Lao tries to say something to me, something soothing or calming most likely, but my ears are still ringing so loud, and my vision is so blurry.

“Where.. Where.” My jaw feels slack and loose, as I try to ask a question. Lao strokes my cheek and chin. Lao points out Lil and Teuila, cuddled some ways away, breathing and okay. As much as I love them and was worried for them though, I was asking about Ali. I’m terrified, why did he want a spear all of a sudden? He knows how dangerous they are. As I frantically snap my head to and fro, side to side, looking for Ali, Laomati seems to catch on that I’m looking for the others, she shakes her head and points to the top of the cliff.

“Everyone?” I manage to ask, to which she nods. “Ali?” I’m able to ask, and she nods again. Lao cradles me close, mothering me, as my energy is spent once again. I’m sure my family is safe, for now, so I let go of consciousness, drifting to dreamland, hoping that what I saw was just a nightmare.

I awaken to Teuila and Lil exuberantly cheering. I’m able to give them a weak smile, and I swear I see Staff Ninja giving me a thumbs up from the canopy. I raise my arm to return the gesture as I pass out once again for another short while.

I awaken one more time, embraced by Lao, Lil, and Teuila, as we all curl up against Lao’s lap. There’s an unlit torch sticking out of the ground at Lao’s right side, seemingly burned out. Lao senses my stirring, and sees my gaze. “I used it to signal our safety to our family atop the cliff.” Her answer to my unspoken question. “I’m so, so, so proud of you, my children. But never do anything like that, ever again.” She chuckles as she both praises and chastises us. Lil and Teuila stir as Lao’s belly shakes with laughter.

With excitement, I whisper to the two of them, “We did it!” praising them. Teuila socks me lightly in the shoulder, and Lil actually spits a fireball up into the air, something I’ve rarely if ever seen them do.

“Can you manage the climb, my sweets?” Lao asks, doting on us, looking as if she’s ready to carry us all up the cliff face. Staring at her, she’s not wearing her backpack or harness, which means she doesn’t have one of the twins with her.

“Who…?” I start to ask, and Lao catches my meaning right away.

“Mata of course, along the face, I passed the pack up and leapt back down along the rope.” Lao’s answer has me imagining her rappelling down the cliff face. I want to say I didn’t think she was that athletic, but she can basically outswim a tidal wave while dragging her entire family, almost.

Lil interrupts, “Hey partner, we got a bunch of stuff to pick up!” I turn my gaze to Lil, who appears to be dumping stuff out of their inventory instead of picking it up, but it’s new things, objects that must have come from Octorochi. There’s a beautiful magenta silk robe with golden embroidery that appears to be Lao’s size. There are leather bracers with sylvan iconography. There’s a massive tome, several potions, and something that looks like a pot on a chain, with a built-in candle holder underneath.

Upon inspection, the bracers have secret pockets, like Luni’s, so I know just who to give them to. “Hey Te, how do you like the look of these?” I toss them to her, and she tries to hide her gleeful squee as she places them upon her wrists. “I definitely think Lao or Ag should take this beautiful robe, it’s their size. The rest we can deal with later.” I start claiming all the copies of Gae Buidhe to my inventory, and all of the things Lil had spit out.

“Lao, would you like to take the elevator up, the dragon ride, or climb the long way?” I flash a grin at Teuila and Lil, who nod, grinning back.

“Excuse me?” Laomati asks, as I forge my bond with Lil and Teuila again, helping them assume their evolved forms. Teuila grasps Laomati about the waist, and whispers something to her. Teuila then leaps into the sky before anyone can respond.

“Huh, guess elevator it is. Hehe.” I chuckle a bit at Teuila’s seeming impulsiveness, and Lil joins me in a slight bout of laughter. It hurts to laugh and breathe still. Thankfully, even just a little sleep helps mend a body. “Ready Lil?”

“You betcha buddy! I’m so glad you’re okay!”

“Me too Lil, me too. I guess we don’t need to do dugouts anymore, but we may as well, I think the family has gotten to like them.” I smile as I mount Lil, cuddling down into their slightly soft scaly back, holding their shoulders tightly. Lil brings us to the top of the cliff with ease.

Once atop the cliff, I set about claiming the copies of Gae Buidhe, but at least one, if not several are missing. I can’t remember the count. Perhaps they got knocked into the river. After that’s done, I sit in lotus position, meditating momentarily before announcing, “Dropping the tether.” Teuila and Lil snuggle close to me as their forms return to normal, and we all doze ever so slightly, for at least a few moments. As I dream for the briefest of moments, I imagine the staff of thunder and lightning clashing with Gae Buidhe in my inventory, as if they were animate, or sentient.

Right about now is when the bullies would probably show up, as the three of us are continuing to recover. Of course, this slight bit of genre savviness proves to be true. I’d have liked to be wrong, but I groggily stand as I wake to the croaking sounds of those jerks circling us. Lao and Ag are holding them at bay. Mata is grasping the twins in his arms, staring around fretfully.

I begin to divest of the impressive Valkyrie equipment, and replace it with my old leaf-leather gear. Realization suddenly dawns on the froglike creatures. That’s right you idiots, I’ve dealt with you before, and now the serpent is dead. Do you really think now is a good time to anger us? I know I can’t communicate with them though, so I just shout the only word they’ll understand. I don’t want to succumb to hubris and say something like ‘do you really think you stand a chance.’ Again, genre savviness, that’s when a character takes a prideful fall.

“BULLIES!” I exclaim the one word they understand, with all my anger and all the vigor I can muster. Calling forth the staff from my inventory I shake it high, causing it to send forth a loud crack of thunder.

There’s a pause followed by silence. Lao and Agwai stand at the ready, Lil and Teuila stir, Luni appears as if from nowhere. I begin summoning radiant copies of spears in the air above my head, pointed at the bullies. This finally has the desired effect. The bullies turn and flee.

“I’m glad we didn’t have to kill any of them. They’re just idiots. I think fighting and antagonizing is all they know.” The rest of the family looks quizzically at me. I wonder if they all would have been less merciful. I feel a slight bit of remorse for having killed several of them previously.

“I think we’re half a day’s walk from the dam where the beaver’ish individuals lived.” Stating it out loud both distracts me from my reverie about mercy and killing, as well as brightens my mood considerably. We’re about to possibly make new friends! For the first time in so long, we could possibly spark more friendship!

“I’m pretty excited, after this, the journey home is basically safe except for that bear thing. I don’t want to kill the bear either. It just seemed like a hungry animal.” The family breathes sighs of relief around me, hearing that the path ahead is relatively safe.

Everyone mills about for a bit, seemingly waiting for someone to actually start the march, so I shrug and begin heading to the North once again, making a quick stop to pick some of the lilies on the west side of the river atop the cliff. I can make new water walking potions now, those things have saved my life on several occasions. From the same cliff actually, that’s sort of ironic. Who’d expect an idiot to jump from the same cliff several times?

I laugh at my own foolishness, which starts an uneasy laugh amongst the family, they mostly don’t know what I’m thinking, save Lil and Luni.

“Everyone doing okay? I know our journey has been hard, filled with danger and frights, but I’m so happy to have all of you safe, as we’ve passed the worst of it.” I ask aloud, to which there are murmurs of assent. I guess we’re all pretty stunned about the recent event. I’ve been planning it so long that I hardly realize how much of an emotional toll it could have taken out of us, I’ve already dealt with the idea of killing the serpent for so long now. I think to the rest of the family, it’s probably surreal, like maybe it didn’t happen, couldn’t have happened.

I hope we can all get back to our usual cheer soon. I don’t want to force anyone to process their emotions at my speed, but it’s uncomfortable being chipper when they’re all in mixed emotional states. Lil states into my mind, “Don’t worry buddy, they’re coming around, it’ll just take some time.”

Lao approaches me, and signals for the others to carry on ahead as she stops me. I stare quizzically at her as she kneels down. “This marks several times you’ve opened death’s door, stood at its edge, and called into the great beyond. I do hope you won’t make a habit of it.”

“Oh, I’m, I’m sorry Lao.” I answer as truthfully as I can, I can’t say I won’t do it again. Lao knows the underlying truth to my words, and she pulls me into a tight embrace. The embrace is tight enough that I realize I’ve still got broken bones, or at least bruised bones, as it’s both a lovely hug, while simultaneously excruciating. That’s probably the point. Loving me is a dangerous, painful experience. I frown slightly as a few teardrops fall, and notice that Lao is also shedding several tears.

“We love you, sweet child. Do try to remember that your absence would hurt as much as any physical pain.”

My eyes fill more widely with tears that blur my vision. I can only nod and sniffle. Lao strokes the back of my head, which reminds me that I’m wearing my old leaf-leather gear, she’s carrying her armor in a sack and just wearing the white bodysuit, so I feel so small and vulnerable in her embrace, yet so comforted. I whisper, possibly inaudibly, “I love you too, so much.” I half smile, feeling exceedingly heavy-hearted. There’s something different though. Oh, the canopy, Lao is literally kneeling in the last bit of swamp, as the biome changes to the jungle biome I know as home. I’m standing in the slightly more well-lit jungle biome. I feel so small against her frame, but I try to help her to stand, then take her by the hand to catch up to the others.

We catch up in short order, after which we find the family slowly getting back to their merry selves. My inner circle is wowing the twins with the tale of our encounters with the serpent, Mata is scoffing as usual, Agwai is trying to create comical lyrical rhymes. That last bit is a tad humorous. I guess I didn’t get to meet the real Agwai until we were able to move past the grief of the beach.

I don’t know how many hours, or days pass as we march, seemingly without tiring, further along the river, until we finally spy the dam. I’m so excited for this moment, that I realize I don’t have a plan! Do you just walk up to someone and say, hey I have water friends now, be my friend? How do you get someone to be your friend? Gosh, the only thing that seemed important for the longest time was battling and survival, so much so that I forgot all I really want is to make a friendly community and gather people to live together. I’m freaking out!

“Buddy, buddy, buddy, chill.” Calls Lil across our mental wavelength. They continue, “Me and Lu will go up ahead, and get their attention, you and Te can be near behind, and the rest close to you two. They’ll see how close we all are, it’ll be a snap!”

I try to calm my breathing, I’m having such a panic about making friends. They’re some of the few creatures we know in all of existence, of course I want this to go smoothly, and want to make sure we’re friends at the end of the day, of course I’m panicking! Lil and Luni both chuckle into the shared wavelength. They’re so calm, how are they so calm?

Teuila apparently notices me freaking out, and gives me a tight embrace, sifting my hair, she mumbles something along the lines of, “Oh, more white,” holding another lock of my hair in front of my eyes to show me. Huh, I suppose when I messed up and forced myself to evolve during the cliff drop, I really didn’t need to do that. I wonder if the color draining away signifies anything.

As I get to pontificating on the various natures of possible physical indications of how this world works and the consequences of certain actions, I don’t even realize Lil and Luni are already talking to the beavers. I’m so caught up in thought, that it takes Teuila rapping my noggin with her knuckles several times to get my attention. She whispers to me “Say hello to our new family members ya big goober.”

My eyes shoot wide, I’m so oblivious that I didn’t even notice two new party members, or that there are way more beavers here than I thought, including at other stages of evolution beyond sphere-like, similar to my family.

I start to try to introduce myself, saying how honored I am, when they cut me off, laughing. “I see why you call this one the big dork, they’re a sweetiepie!” I look between Teuila, and the two individuals who are calling me both a big dork, and a sweetiepie, realizing that I took too long to introduce myself, and Teuila made my first impression for me. I flush red with embarrassment. I’m never going to get another chance at a first impression with these two, ugh. Thanks Te.