Reassembly Required: Part 3
Over the Muridian & Through the Wildlands...
The thick foliage and even thicker atmosphere gave little wonder as to why travelers often lost themselves to the dense forest areas of the Brisban Wildlands. The paths leading from the Muridian Uplands, from the northern parts of Metrica Province to the Wildlands, were riddled with windy pathways and trees too numerous to count - an actual fact as determined by Lexxie, who had ended the tally at one-thousand, three-hundred seventy-six, much to Dott and Nalla's relief."We haven't even seen the sylvari outpost that's supposed to be here, Nalla. Are you certain we're headed in the right direction?" Dott asked as she irritably plucked a small twig which had snagged the bottom of her dress.
"Don't you start too, Dott! We just got Lexx to stop her counting, and you asking 'Are we there yet?' isn't very productive," Nalla said, pausing to look around at the woods. While it didn't quite fit the description of what she'd read about the Magumma jungles, Nalla did have to admit to herself all the trees started to look familiar, and their path was becoming less and less clear as the sun stopped reaching into the woods. She sighed and looked into what small amount of sky was visible through the treetops.
Lexxie forced her way in between Dott and her sister. "Okay, so I know we're lost. What are we gonna do about it? I can fashion a sleeping structure, but I can't be the only one not wanting to spend the night here! Give me the hard slabs of a lab floor any day! And, are there more bugs here than in Metrica? I think there is! I've counted about thirty separate classifications of…"
"Trees?" Dott giggled.
Lexxie rolled her eyes. "I'm quite capable of multi-tasking, you know! I usually sneak a holo-pad into class and listen to the lecture (even if it is inaccurate), all while reciting several books in my head, simultaneously!"
Nalla raised a brow. "Which explains why your professors say you are often distracted, sibling!"
"My point is: I can make a camp if we're expected to be here too long. It's a bit rudimentary to waste my genius on such things but…"
Dott straightened her dress, annoyed as the wrinkles sprung back after she had done so. "Well, can your genius figure a way out of these woods? You don't have an aerial golem or flying gyro in that bag, do you?"
"I did, but she wouldn't let me bring it!" Lexxie huffed, swatting at Nalla's ear.
"The thing weighed more than I do, Lexx!"
"And she's ginormous!" Dott teased.
Nalla tugged at her ears. "Don't you start too! Just like you both, I have not ventured too terribly far from Rata Sum. My duties as a Peacemaker have held me close to home. In a few months, once I-" Nalla abruptly stopped herself from continuing on a subject she hadn't meant to bring up.
Lexxie, however, had no compunction. "Oh you mean you'll be all worldly next month when you leave us?"
Dott blinked eyes of amethyst. "You… You're leaving, Nalla?"
"Oh she didn't tell you? No, of course she didn't! I had to learn about it from a classmate which overheard an Arcane Council record keeper blabbing about it to a shop keep! Her and a group of Peacemakers are going to join the coalition!" Lexxie was already stomping away.
After a few minutes, Nalla cleared her throat. "Actually, it is called the Pact; a coalition (in a way) of multiple races, orders, warriors and magic users all coming together to stop the threat of Zhaitan. And, as Lexx so eloquently put it, I have decided to join." Nalla said, never once looking at Dott. She knew the small asura's glassy-eyed face would cause her own tears to well up.
Dott's voice was timid. "You… You were just going to go… without telling us? Without telling me?"
"It is still a few months away; I was going to…" Nalla's words came out quietly, both knowing the action was unlikely. "There… just was no good time to…"
"No good time? Nalla! We've known each other since we were young progeny! You… you could have told me any time you came to visit my shop! You always talk about how Lexxie is impetuous and does things without thinking, and here you go up and leave not only your sister and me, but Rata Sum and your responsibilities?"
Nalla glared at Dott. "Don't you speak to me about responsibilities! I am the one who keeps Lexxie in check. I am the one that saved you both from the very vile asura we now go to pursue. I could have simply threw away the scroll; could have not come along on this ill-conceived adventure. But, look! Here I am! (Again, being the protector!) So, no, Dott. I am not leaving my responsibilities… I am going to change my responsibilities to serve something greater than this place. For Rata Sum, for Lexxie, and for you Dott. For us all!"
"By abandoning us?" Dott insisted.
"You've got your shop. Lexxie has her studies," Nalla exhaled. "Look, Dott… You and I have been long-time friends. You know how much I look after Lexxie, and how I balance my duties as a Peacemaker, but… I have to find my own way. I believe… no, I know I have much to offer the efforts against the elder dragon."
"It's selfish."
"Selfish? Oh, my ears! You're one to talk, Dott! All you've ever really thought about was yourself! If it wasn't the latest fashion or gaining notoriety for some superfluous outfit…" Nalla suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes wide from hearing the words escape it.
Dott's eyes were liquid, her pupils large. Her ears dropped.
"Dott… I… I did not mean to…" Nalla began.
The purple-haired asura took a few steps forward and paused. "I'm not a warrior like you. I'm not a genius like Lexxie. I have no magical abilities, save my creations. The designs… the 'superfluous' outfits I create, are my art and my contribution to try to stave off the madness of this world. Am I competitive? Sure; I'm asuran. Am I proud of my accomplishments and enjoy being recognized? Yes. Just as you do as a Peacemaker; just as Lexx does as a young engineer…" The woman sniffled, took a moment to swallow the lump that had formed. "Maybe I am selfish. Maybe I am thinking about myself. Maybe I just… don't want to lose my friend."
Nalla placed her hand on Dott's shoulder, came to stand in front of her, and bent down to eye-level with the smaller woman. "You are not going to lose me Dott. We will prevail and I'll come back home to you and Lexx, and you can watch Lexxie while I am away. I just need you to have a little faith in me, please?"
Wiping her tears, Dott wrapped her arms around her friend. "I've always had faith in you, Nalla. (Even if you dress atrociously!)"
Both asura giggled and laughed, sobbed and hugged; fearing the future but facing it with faith in one another.
Later...
The sun had set completely, and while anxious to continue on, Nalla was kicking herself for making the decision in such a foreign and hostile land. This, combined with the thickly wooded terrain and low visibility made her worry she should have taken Lexxie up on the offer to set camp - a fact the young progeny seemed to delight in reminding her. The group came upon a clearing in which the situation could finally resolve itself: they could construct a rudimentary shelter and rest until daybreak.
"We could have already been sleeping in a tent beside a fire right now, Nalla," Lexxie barked as she squatted to rummage through her bag.
Nalla took in a deep breath. "We can squabble about it or we can get to it; I vote the latter."
Dott had been quiet since their argument and subsequent resolution earlier, and Nalla worried the insults she had accidently let slip stayed with the smaller asura. She decided to poke the woman in an attempt to extend a invitation to speak. "What do you think, Dott? Is this an adequate place to set up camp?"
"I'm not sure. I don't have much experience with camping, so I'll defer to your expertise." The words were said with a quiet nervousness - one which Nalla couldn't tell was coming from the woman's anxiety or from their fight.
Lexxie produced a small insanitary device from her satchel, placing it on a neatly piled assortment of twigs. A fire suddenly and quickly sprung to life. The girl grinned at her accomplishment, looked up to Nalla for approval without meaning to.
"Oh, my ears! That's brilliant, sibling!" Nalla said with a purposefully warm smile.
When Lexxie realized she was awaiting her older sister's acknowledgment, she quickly looked away, grumbling. It was obvious to Nalla she was still upset, and despite her attempts to lighten the mood and make conversation with her or Dott, both women's defenses had been activated.
"It is great, Lexx!" Dott said, plopping down next to the blaze. "You're definitely a whiz with these gadgets. Why, I may even commission you to make me a holo display for my shop! That is, as long as it won't start fires like this!"
"While there is always a percentage of unforeseen consequences, I think you'll find the genius that are my inventions mitigate that percentage."
Nalla rolled her eyes, but was happy to see the two conversing and seemingly past the disruption. She took a seat beside Dott as Lexxie began working on a makeshift shelter. "She really is a genius, if not arrogant."
Dott remained quite while poking at the fire a few minutes before finally giggling. "What's an asura without a little arrogance, yeah?"
"Indeed. You know I only scrutinize her because I wish for her to exceed her potential."
"Her potential? I doubt any other has achieved what she has in such a short time. The girl really is amazing!" Dott said with a smile.
"She is. (I'd like to think I have a bit to do with that!)" Nalla said as she removed her armaments, placed them on the ground beside her, and leaned back to relax a moment. It was the first time their situation hadn't been the predominate thing on her mind.
"You do, Nalla. Anyone who knows you and Lexx can see that your influence is what balances her. And… it's why I think you should stay." Dott said, having thought of nothing else since their previous conversation.
Nalla let out a loud sigh in angst. "Not this again, Dott. I've made my decision; I'm joining the Pact and short of Lexxie having a nervous breakdown or something, I'm going to be leaving for a while."
Dott tilted her head to the side, staring at Lexxie through the fire. "Well, I mean, I don't think it would take much!"
"That's not funny!" Nalla scoffed.
"Didn't mean for it to be. What I mean, is that you're leaving. Don't you think that will affect her? Like… what if you leave and it causes something like that?" Dott said prophetically.
Nalla removed a glove to give her head a good scratch. "I appreciate the concern (and I'm sure your own reservation of my departure has little to do with it!), but I cannot base such life decisions on such probabilities. I am quite certain if asked to calculate it, Lexxie could tell you the statistical analysis of such a trip and all the variables within. And, I know there's danger, Dott, but I have to lean toward the improbability that with my training and know-how, I'll go and do more good battling such a large threat to our world. And, moreover, that I'll return from said adventure."
"For her sake… I hope you are correct, Nalla."
Both women remained silent until Lexxie had finished creating the structure. The young asura came back to the area, announcing the completion of her project. Dott cheered more enthusiastically than she would have if not for trying to cover the deep conversation her and Nalla had. Nalla did the same, wanting to both move past the conversation and distract either from reinitializing it.
The loudness of their encouragement was enough to attract something in the woods behind them…
[To be Continued...]
