Rooming with the Wicked

27 | game on

"Are these made from lux crystals?" I asked.

"Lux crystal dust and artificial diamond fragments are woven into the fabric," he said. "Each flag is slightly different in color and we're able to track their locations thanks to a tracking device. Don't try to tear it out."

While that was, again, reassuring in a way, it also made keeping them away from the other teams just a tad more difficult.

"Remember, flags need to be visible and out in the open," he continued. "No burying them or hiding them underground."

That answered one of my questions.

"Who's taking—"

"I got it," Jaydis cut in, snatching the flag from the bemused referee.

The naiad checked a small device attached to a string around his neck and sighed, "You've got two minutes. Best of luck." With that, he retreated to an uncomfortable-looking camping chair outside the tent, retrieved a magazine, and started flipping through the pages.

"The giants," I started, "are they refs too?"

Kenas shook his head. "No, they're here to guard the border to make sure no one decides to go for a little trip around Ardua."

"Wait, has that happened in the past?"

"Let's just say, tensions are a little high right now..."

Right, of course. It hadn't even been two weeks since the mining incident. Maybe that had something to do with them suddenly deciding to change the location too.

Another horn sounded, much louder this time, and then we were off. Jaydis took the lead, closely followed by Kenas and Danox, and finally—with a little more distance—me. Haze insisted on taking the rear for now, saying he didn't want to be blamed in case I got left behind. Funny.

Thanks to Swiftness, I was able to keep up with the others at a steady jog without having to catch my breath. Sure, I could have done a little cardio training before this whole thing, but priorities.

I fell behind some when the climb up a rocky hill took a steep turn. Danox, not yet in panther form, kept me company while the others spread and scouted ahead. When Haze joined us, I couldn't help but notice his lack of equipment. I would have bet my last dew juice that the sword would be slung over his shoulder tonight, but he was empty-handed.

Admittedly, he could be quick when he wanted to be, and judging by how he'd balanced Jaydis's tacky moss jar, he seemed quite agile. Still...

"What are you looking at me for?" Haze asked, eyes narrowed in what could only be suspicion.

"Still trying to figure out why you're here," I said. Seeing him smile like he was enjoying my curiosity a little too much, I added, "Besides annoying the crap out of me, of course."

He gave me a flat look.

"Oooh, wait, I got it! That's your talent. You're here to annoy the other teams to the point where they just can't take it anymore and hand over their flag just so you'll leave them in peace."

"Brilliant!" Jaydis said from up ahead. "We should try that strategy some time."

We continued on in silence. Apart from the sound of our own footsteps, mine being the loudest even compared to Kenas's, the forest was strangely quiet. Almost too quiet. We hadn't been walking for long, but a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone anymore.

"You seem nervous, Cupcake," Haze said.

"I'm not nervous." I scoffed but ended up having to cough. "Why would I be nervous?"