Young Writers Society

Chapter Five - If Time Was Worth Taking

"Why would it talk to you anyway?" Leikin asks finding it ridiculous that Shoeleather is so terrified of the bell. Though the more he thinks on it the more unusual the bell's presence is to him. Neither he nor Jashir own a bell. Why would it be in his hat, and why would it remind him of last night? It feels cold in his hands as he racks his brain for any logical explanation.

As he looks down at the golden bell Leikin decides he has enough questions to ponder and doesn't need anymore. He chucks the bell into the ferns and dense emerald foilage behind them. It makes a strange whirring sound as it disappears. "That's that. What do we have to worry about now Shoeleather?"

"I guess nothing." Shoeleather says though he can't entirely let go of the discomfort deep in his stomach. He apprehensively looks after the bell trying to spot it in the underbrush.

"How about that drink you owe me, because I have no idea where we are and no idea how to get back to Fern Grove." Leikin sighs read y to get away from this bell and all the eerie questions it poses.

"And your friend, do you think he is thirsty?" The brownie's black eyes glisten as he awaits an answer eagerly. Surely the elf remembers, but if he does he does nothing to benefit his lost friend.

Leikin says nothing, looking away solemnly. He walks a bit out of the clearing opposite of the direction he threw the bell squinting into the forest. He crouches there a moment pretending to be interested in the leaves of a wild magnolia. He didn't need to be reminded. He rubs the deep scratch on his left shoulder, and then the smaller ones in his right cheek. 

"What you are upset now? Had the reality not set in beforehand? He is lost," Shoeleather chides, "and you want to go on acting like you aren't worried about him. Some friends you are." He taps his foot hands on his hips.

"Mind your business little brother." Leikin sighs looking out into the green before standing and turning back to Shoeleather. "Take me to the brewery and lets give me the drink promised." He adjusts his satchel further from his waist lowering it slightly to keep it from banging against his bruised abdomen.

The brownie eyes him and shakes his head at the dirty scratched up mess. "Fine you drunken lout. Come for your drink." With that he hops from the stump and sprints effortlessly into the underbrush. "Don't you get behind slowling! I don't have time to wait on you."

Leikin quickly lost sight of Shoeleather, but headed in the direction of the waving shrubs the little man left in his wake. He squinted into the flora in attempt to get a glimpse of his small companion but nothing. "Hey! I can't see you up there! Slow down!" His legs were heavy and sore as much as he hated it Shoeleather was right.

"Shut up slowling, and pay attention." The brownie's voice carries over the sounds of swishing grasses. "You want to find your friend and get your drink? Learn how to be quiet and patient, and learn to keep up for Pan's sake! Do you really not have use of those supposedly swift elf legs? What of your hearing?" The last thing Shoeleather expected of an elf was they would be loud and slow.

Leikin straightens to his full height and his brows furrow, "I'm swift enough, and I'm hearing your plucky remarks just fine thank you! Now if you were tall enough I didn't have to worry I'd started following a field mouse we would have no issues." He nods to himself, I will have to be tougher. For Jashi.

"Clumsy and also blind? Pity. Really." Shoeleather brushed off Leikin's insults with airy laughter

Leikin walked behind him for about six more yards before the underbrush stopped moving. "Huh shoe, I don't see anything but trees. " He looks around for any sign of a brewery. Seeing only open woods.

He shook his head and began climbing the tree closest to Leikin, "That's what you are supposed to see. We are in a forest. I don't want any random brigand in my ale." He climbs to Leikin's head height and points below to a hollow in the tree trunk. "Reach into the very bottom of the tree and you will find the bottle. Oh and it replenishes when empty."

Leikin looks at the large tree reproachfully. "I have to stick my arm inside?" He pats around the mouth of the opening, it's cold and rotten and breaks off around the places he touched. Raising an eyebrow he looks to where Shoeleather was just a moment before perched on the tree for a response but he didn't see him.

Shoeleather is sitting on the satchel at the base of Leikin's hip looking at his nails boredly no longer in the tree. " Only if you want the drink slowling. "

He nods leaning forwards and pushing his arm inside the tree. His teeth clench as he remembers the night before; the trees closing in on him crushing, pushing. Suddenly he is back there. His arm is going to be crushed, the space is too small his breath quickens his blue eyes widen with panic. I can't do this, I can't. I can feel the bark crushing me scraping my arms.

He wills himself out of the panic, loudly he yells, "Dammit, Leikin its just a tree!" The elf bites his quivering lip and punches the side of the tree with his free fist. He retrieves the bottle from the tight musty space with a shaky hand. It was small and covered in cold damp heart rot.

Shoeleather looks up at Leikin's face pricing him in the side with a small finger and pointy nail. "You better not pass out up there! I don't fancy being fell on."

Leikin doesn't even hear, he brushes off the bottle examining it before he downs it. His eyes light up at the bitter taste and at once he seems alive. "Can you use this to help find him?" As his sore muscles begin to numb, he holds out a peice of slightly grass stained and tattered blue fabric.

The brownie stands as Leikin lowers his hand to him. "No, but I know a guy who can..." Shoeleather says irritatedly. "But this means more honey, I hate this guy."

Leikin nods looking at the tiny bottle questioningly. "I'll give you more when you find him and convince him to help." He smirks down at Shoeleather.