If I Had a Heart

The man nodded reluctantly, holding out his hand. "Please take me there. I'll go away after, if you want. Just don't trust the people in the robes."

Oh boy. How was Ainsley supposed to explain that he and the majority of his group were wearing the robes they had found closer to the main hall. The man made it sound like he had a history with the last robbed people he’d encountered, and it didn’t sound like a pleasant one.

“We found some robes hidden in a chest a ways back,” he explained, tugging on the belt around his waist. “Some of our clothes were ruined by the water, and they were the only option we had. You can trust us. We aren’t with them.” It wasn’t a great explanation, but Ainsley hoped it was enough to keep the man from fleeing or attacking once they caught up with the others.

When the blue light had died, Nikolai had finally dared to turn around again.

Even with its wounded leg, the beast clearly wasn’t going anywhere. The light hadn’t harmed it, but it was out cold for certain. Hopefully it wouldn’t wake up anytime soon. He let out a deep breath that he didn’t know he’d been holding. That had been so ridiculously lucky.

And the old man was staring at him with a hint of awe now. Nikolai didn’t know what to do about that. He wasn’t used to being admired. All he’d done was impulsively throw an object at a monster that just happened to knock it out. He didn’t even know that was what it did— even though that did explain why he’d been instinctively nervous about dropping them. They’d have to be careful.

Nikolai took a moment to register that Raptor had asked a question, but he wasn’t focused enough to answer it yet. His thoughts went to the question on his mind— why was he carrying so many orbs that could do this?

“I... I don’t know why it did that,” he murmured, confused, taking a few steps towards the creature. Not too close, though. He didn’t want to get blood on his boots, and he was still a little worried it was just pretending to be unconscious and about to pounce on them. But it didn’t move. “I don’t know why I’d have that on me...”

No, wait, that’s not what Raptor’s asking. Nikolai shook his head to clear it.

“It might bleed out, slowly, in pain,” he said slowly, staring at the crimson pool that was still spreading. “Maybe killing it while it’s unconscious would be the merciful choice. Maybe. I don’t think a lot of animals besides humans can survive losing a limb.”

Wait— wasn’t Raptor hurt?

Nikolai spun around quickly to face him. Raptor was covered in blood, though it seemed like it was the creature’s. The metal of his chestplate armor was badly torn, and he came closer, giving it a look to see if he was injured underneath. But he paused when he saw the white of what had to be bone.

“Did... did the claws cut all the way to the bone?” he asked, sounding very concerned.

This did seem to give him pause, but he nodded after a moment. "Alright. You came from the lake? Did you...there's a terrible thing in that water. Terrible." He edged forward, still extending his hand.

Ainsley nodded. “Terrible,” he agreed. “But it’s dead now. We managed to kill it.” Ainsley didn’t mention that he didn’t take part in killing the serpent. He gestured towards the exit of the tunnel.

“We should get moving. The others are waiting.”

The man looked deeply surprised, but he nodded slightly and once again lowered his hand, resting it on the moist wall instead. "Lead the way."

Like Nikolai, it took Raptor a moment to register the question that had been directed towards him. He knew that Nikolai had asked him something; he just wasn't able to figure out what he meant by the question. It was only after he had cut off the monster's head with the axe - raising it high above his head before slamming it down - that he realized Nikolai was asking about the monster's attack.

Resting the axe blade down on the ground next to him, he glanced down at his chest. Why would Nikolai make that guess-

He froze.

A moment later, the axe's handle clattered to the ground.

The swipe had hurt in the moment, but it hadn't been painful when he was moving. It was just barely a scratch. But the cut had been deep enough that what was directly underneath the armor was showing.

Nikolai could see the bones.

"It...it..." Raptor started to say. He tried to cover the gash with his hands, but it was too big. "I'm okay."

Nikolai frowned, perplexed. “No, I don’t think you’re fine,” he said slowly. “We just got attacked by a monster, and you’re the only one injured.” Raptor certainly seemed to be moving around just fine, but...

Why is he covering the wound?

When Raptor’s helmet had nearly come off in that fall and he’d panicked, Nikolai had thought it had something to do with his identity. Maybe he didn’t want people to see his face and be recognized, he’d thought, and surely he would have his reasons for that. But now it seemed there was more to it than that— or that wasn’t the reason for this behavior at all.

Raptor was hiding again. Not only that, but he seemed scared now.

“Raptor?” Nikolai asked softly, a concerned look spreading across his face. He kept his voice gentle. “Are you sure you’re not hurt? It’ll be okay if you are, we can help you.”

So maybe Mel was a little lost. When the tunnel was forked, she didn't know which one to take, and it made her nervous that she could barely see in front of her. She knew Ainsley was in one of the tunnels, so she repeatedly called out his name, but didn't hear a response. She could give up, but not only would it be mean leaving him, but it would also be humiliating to return to Aumrauth and Elias empty-handed. Plus, she didn't want them to think even more badly of him for being useless and getting lost... although, that seemed to be exactly what had happened.

She sighed, deciding to anxiously wait several minutes to see if he'd return. And to her surprise, the dim red light did begin to return, as well as the echoing footsteps of his feet dragging against the ground.

"Ainsley!" she called with relief, running towards the right tunnel. The relief was quickly washed away with panic when she saw an old man hobbling next to him.

Her first thought was: aggressor, just like every other alive thing in these caves.

Her second thought was: Ainsley was defenseless and needed help breaking free from an old man's threats.

Mel was not someone who could attack. How could she with her powers? She only knew how to defend and distract. Panic began to surge through her, and with panic came impulsivity.

Without wasting another second, she used an enormous amount of concentration and focus to project Aisnley's image being on the other side of the old man instead. Ignoring the impeding headache, she ran up to the blank space where Ainsley really was, and grabbed where she thought his hand was (it was his stomach, but she eventually found his arm), and yanked him back a safe distance away. She also took steps back, still holding on to invisible Ainsley's arm so he wouldn't do anything rash.

"Who are you and what do you want?!" she yelled at the old man, trying to look intimidating, but not sure if it was working at all.

The man recoiled, shielding himself and raising his pickaxe. "Stop!" he cried out, stumbling a bit. "Please, stop. I'm not going to hurt anyone! Who are you?"

Elias heard the shouts and glanced at Aumrauth. "Well, Immortal Wonder? Will you throw yourself into this conflict as well?"

"Mel, what are you doing?" Ainsley exclaimed as she yanked him back. "He's sick; he's not going to hurt anyone."

The old man had raised his pickaxe in anticipation of a fight. Ainsley raised his free arm, extending it towards the man. "It's okay, you're okay. She's with me."

Then, he looked at Mel. "I couldn't just leave him there. And he seems to know his way around the caves. If he was willing, I was hoping he could help us."

"I'm not hurt," Raptor insisted. Even to him, the reply sounded weak. Nikolai had seen the bones. If he didn't know the truth - the full, complicated truth - the only reasonable response was to think that the claws had cut through skin. But there wasn't skin there; the claws had barely scratched the surface of his body. It was like a little papercut.

The only way he could convince Nikolai that he was alright was by telling him the truth. But how could he explain it to someone who didn't even remember who he was besides his name? How could he bring himself to trust someone when everything he had ever learned told him how dangerous it was to open up to others?

And what if Nikolai was scared of him afterwards?

Even though Elias meant the nickname as an insult, Aumrauth decided to take it as a compliment.

"Well, they do have all of the supplies, don't they?" Aumrauth said with a flourish of his hand and a flip of his hair (which had finally fully grown back) and he headed towards the sound with a lazy, sauntering stride.

"Come along, uncertified doctor."

"Previously certified," Elias corrected bitterly, following along behind.

The man didn't move from where he cowered, eyes darting this way and that but never landing on either of them for very long.

Mel stayed frozen, only blinking in response at first before loosening her grip on Ainsley's arm and then dropping it completely. She also dropped her fierce concentration, and the image of Ainsley disappeared as his actual placement was revealed. Well, that was a useless way to get a headache.

She sighed, giving Ainsley a look of worry, although it seemed that he had this more under control than she did.

"Who is he?" she asked him, but then turned to the man, deciding to ask him the question instead. "Who are you?"