“I could take another round if you’d like to sleep or something,” Chuck said as he stepped next to Whyth.
“Bored, hmm?” Whyth didn’t wait for an answer. “Me too. I’d be looking around watching for something, no matter if you're on shift or me. Nothing says we both can’t be watching if you want to stay.”
“Had already figured I’d be doing that, wanted to offer you some nap time in case you were getting tired.”
Whyth chuckled. “Sleep and rest. I’ve had plenty on our trip across the marsh. After that last battle a couple of days ago, of course.”
“It’s been two days? I’ve lost complete track of time. I still feel like this is all the same day I came here. How long have I been on Crawtna?”
“Let me count it out.” Whyth wiggled his finger while he stared up at the sky. “If I’m counting right, and I’m not sure I am, this is day seven for you being here. The time from the tavern until getting to the marshes edge is a little muddy. Not sure if I missed a day there, maybe two, but no more than that.”
<
“Structure just answered the question for me, too. It says eight full days. This is number nine.”
“So I missed a little less than two. I’ll take that. You missing…”
Chuck pointed straight ahead and shouted, “I see the rock shelf we’re supposed to land on.”
A flash of pink flew by Chuck’s head, flying above the end of his pointing finger.
“Yes, Chuck, that is our goal! I am going to be part of a landwalker adventure soon.” A rustling sound accompanied Glyrgaph’s exclamation.
“Soon is relative, Glyrgaph, at our pacing that is still a half-day away.” Whyth shook his head.
Chuck grinned, turning to Whyth. “The Structure validated your estimated time of arrival.”
“The interaction between you and the Structure is unlike anything I have ever read or heard about.” Whyth stared at Chuck. “I’m not sure if I envy or pity you.”
Yes, Sip, I wouldn’t want them to know you have a sense of humor and aren’t half-bad to talk to.
“The Structure is unsure how to respond to your latest.” Chuck laughed at the quick squeak that played in his head.
“What latest?” Rahmys and Marl had made their way to the front of the raft.
“Nothing of note. Did you hear Chuck? We’ve spotted our destination. Should be there right about nightfall.”
“Not going to get there today, then,” Marl growled. “We’re camping with our Marnovian friends tonight…away from the shoreline. Right?”
Everyone agreed, though it took Chuck a few minutes to convince Glyrgaph the adventure would need to wait.
###
Chuck swatted at the source of the tickle across his cheek. A shiver ran down his spine as the tickle crept toward his ear. With a sudden jolt, he shot up, his eyes wide and alert, head swiveling. His balled-up fist rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
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“Good, you are awake,” Glyrgaph exclaimed.
Resisting the urge to push the floating mound of grass away from his face, Chuck groaned. “The sun is just now glowing on the horizon. We won’t want to move until it’s up, and we can see the marsh clearer.”
“I have flown over our path many times. No traps or creatures are awaiting us,” Glyrgaph argued.
Marl rolled over to his side and joined in the conversation. “Doesn’t mean something isn’t hiding in the darkness, but might as well get ready to go since none of us are sleeping now.”
“Speak for yourself,” Rahmys grumbled and curled into a tight ball.
Whyth called out from the other side of the raft. “Nothing to report from last watch. Other than I’m hungry, let’s eat.”
The grumbling continued, as did the morning prep for breakfast and getting ready for the day. The Marnovian raft shuddered and then began floating toward the rocky shoreline.
Chuck coughed and got everyone’s attention. “Rahmys and Whyth, we have a decision to make.”
“Which one of us goes with you and Marl? The two of us have been chatting about that ourselves. ” Rahmys asked.
Chuck paused. “That makes it easier to discuss. What have you decided?”
Whyth talked around a bite of food. “That neither one of us is good at making this choice. We decided to leave it up to you.”
Shaking his head, Chuck sighed. “No, no, no. You both know more than I do. About magic. About this world. About everything.”
“Can’t the Structure tell you who?” Whyth asked.
“It can’t even hint at who I can take. It’s quick to bring up the rules.”
“Told you.” Rahmys elbowed Whyth. “Then we go with my plan. We wait for a final decision when we get to the gate. We should have more information by then. Then all four of us discuss and decide.”
“I’d rather stay out of the decision making,” Chuck said.
Marl nodded. “Me too.”
“Almost there!” Glyrgaph shouted from the front of the raft.
The group hurried to put everything away and joined the flying grass mound, watching the rocks get closer.
“Hey, Chuck, can you do one of you disturbing body changes and put your head underwater—and keep an eye out?” Marl pointed to the marsh in front of the raft.
“Sure, I’ll just keep my head down there and watch until we reach the shelf.” Focusing intently, Chuck's body began to shake and transformed into a blocky shape with a long neck and a slender head, which he plunged into the water. He made some minor tweaks to his eyes to improve his underwater vision. With a swift thought, he moved his mouth to the base of his neck, positioning an ear a few inches away.
“Don’t see anything of the ordinary down here.” He let the group know. Was that Whyth or Rahmys that gasped?
“Even knowing you can do that, it still is disturbing.” A chuckle sounded in Marl’s comment. “You should’ve had an eye up here, too. I think Rahmys hit a new height record on her jump.”
“Sorry, I’ll try not to startle y’all in the future. Unless I think about adding an eye where I can see the reaction.”
Chuck experimented with stretching his neck, elongating it like a curious serpent, as he snaked his head through the brackish water. He startled a few tiny creatures, sending them scurrying away in a flurry of motion, but he found nothing else.
Yeah, figured as much. Plus, it is fun to see what I can do. When we get closer, I want to test whether I can use Stone Walker in this form to stick a portion of myself in stone.
I assumed I’d die in that scenario.
You do care!
All about what I can do for you, hmmm?
I’d pout if I thought you were serious. I see the rocks, so I’m going to look.
Chuck waited for a few minutes while the raft got closer. He used the time to pull more mass to his neck, making it longer and sturdier.
Here goes nothing? Chuck felt a cool dryness envelop his face as he broke into the stone ledge. It took a few seconds to hone in his vision. Soon, he saw the world in mostly hues of gray and white with swirls of other drab and muted colors, combined with an almost cloud-like haze. It’s like I’m looking through a dirty window. He directed his head and navigated the stone like in the water. The drain on his system seemed less noticeable than when he’d practiced earlier in their journey.
“I’m looking in the stone now. Mainly practicing Stone Walking—not had many chances the last few days.”
“Garlph!” Marl shouted. “Got me this time. Okay, wouldn’t mind one last look at the water, we’re about ready to hit the shore.”
Chuck sounded the all clear after making a last pass at the water. Then, he went back to snake his way through the stone. A dark flicker of movement in the corner of his eye brought his activity to a halt. He watched for more movement. Nothing materialized. A slight tingle along his face and neck alerted him, and he left the stone and merged himself back into his default humanoid form.
“Could have seen something moving in the stone, but I can’t be sure. I’d suggest one of you guide me while we walk, and I’ll do the same with the stone as I did in the water. I’ll have to…um…come up for air to keep from fusing with the stone, but at least I’ll be able to make sure what I thought I saw doesn’t surprise us.”
“I can guide you. Make sure you have a mouth and ear available so we can communicate.” Rahmys only shuddered a little when she spoke.