The Concept of a Heart-
Chapter Five-
Still River

Upon reaching the Kobold Warrior town of Empra, Xen noticed immediately that the town had not fully recovered from the onslaught from Arcane months prior. Still the town appeared to be in a livable shape, but destruction and debris still dotted its streets here and there. As Xen also noticed, most of the citizens of Empra were Kobold Warriors. This was where Ieron was after all, but Xen was surprised that it was not as diverse as he heard Thalda was. And Thalda was not even a day’s travel away from Empra.
By the time they made it halfway into town, Xen’s paws ached so bad, they seemed to yearn for detachment; they seemed ready to just fall off his legs. He could tell that his companions felt the same way. Even Aerobolt looked tired. He slouched slightly, his unusually long tail drooping to the ground. Had Aerobolt been to Empra before? Where could the inn be at? There was one in every town after all, right?
The streets of Empra were somewhat empty. It was hard to tell what the buildings were like in the snowy haze that shrouded the town, as if to hide its true identity from them. Xen could tell that many of them were made of wood, a substance almost never found up in Myunae nu Eira. The few citizens that were out acknowledged there existence and even greeted Aerobolt with happiness. Of course they’d know who this great hero was. Xen wondered who in this region has not at least heard his name by now. As the lighting in the sky grew darker, the orbs of light that the streetlamps were flickered more intensely with their tiny confined flames. In the current state of the town, it seemed very peaceful. The Kobold Warriors seemed always ready for a fight, but their town seemed like any other. Peaceful. Quiet. Tranquil. A perfect place to live. Xen wondered why Castla nu Craara couldn’t be like Empra. Up there they are always braced for ambushes by many different threats, especially the dastardly dactylons. Xen almost did not want to leave Empra. But he knew there was more he needs to do with his companions; eventually and tomorrow he’d depart.
Aerobolt stopped at a large building with a rickety sign hanging over it. “Here is the place. Let’s go in,” he added as he opened the door. Xen followed his mentor the hero and the fellow apprentice inside. It was much warmer inside. So much warmer it caused Xen’s fur to flatten instantly against it. The snow on his body melted quickly and soaked his fur. He had grown so used to Castla nu Craara’s bitterness that this warmth almost suffocated him. But he was glad to be in it. Touda sneezed violently against it.
The innkeeper was like many of its citizens, a Kobold. The small but handsome eyes looked at the traveling companions. They warmed up with recognition. “Ah! Guardians! Welcome to Empra! I assume you wish for a place to stay?”
Aerobolt nodded. “Indeed we do, sir. We just trekked down the mountains and our paws hurt like crazy!” he said with a surprising amount of humor.
The Kobold receptionist chuckled. “Of course they probably would! Make yourselves at home in room eleven, okay my friends?” He indicated upstairs. Xen was a tad deflated. Upstairs!? But his paws hurt so much! But Xen knew better than to complain over something so trivial. He kept his gaze between his companions, Aerobolt, the innkeeper, and the stairs.
“Thank you very much sir,” Aerobolt gave a little bow as Touda sneezed again.
The innkeeper shook his head. “No thank you, for all your help out here and all over Nyethra. It must be difficult constantly having to journey out the way you lot do,” he said with admiration.
Aerobolt was flustered from the flattering comment. “Oh no, it is no trouble at all. We are not the only ones helping with the maintainence of the Forces…” That made Xen wonder. Are there other Guardians somewhere in Nyethra?
“Still… I have more respect for you especially after Arcane and his Bandits sacked us…” The innkeeper put extra snarling in the word “Bandits”. Then Xen remembered. The evil side of their species had teamed up with the evil side of his species all those months ago.
Aerobolt nodded. “Really it is not a problem. We’d do what any benevolent life would…” With that he led his companions up the stairs. As Xen ascended up them he had to be confused over what Aerobolt said. Benevolent lives? What does he mean by that…?
Room eleven was to their immediate left when they reached the top of the stairs. Upon entering the room, Xen noticed that the window view was of the mountains. Or they would be if not for the vast amounts of snow. Xen almost snorted in disgust. The mountains. He had grown sick of them. Seeing them his whole life and for the first time is now out of them, Xen was certain he’d never feel homesick. The room, besides the view, had four large beds side by side each other. Xen was almost disappointed he was not to sleep right next to someone. He missed the warmth of another body next to his. Then he remembered he was no longer in the mountains; he does not need that warmth now. Anxious to lie down, he jumped onto the first bed in the room. Instantly the shock of suddenly lying down after so long of standing sent excruciating shockwaves up his back. It took them many minutes to fade, and by that time, his companions had already settled in for the night. Cloud was next to him again. Xen was happy at that. As long as Touda stays away from him, he’d be content for as long as he’d live.

Sunlight attacked Xen’s eyes again. What? Again!? Xen did not like it one bit. He turned over, trying to get the covers to shield him. His Bane is Light too! He wanted it to go away! But still it persisted in disturbing his sleep. Xen moaned in defiance; he wanted to sleep. He was just dreaming about settling down with a mate in the future… but there was something odd about his mate. Before Xen could think about it, the thought was shaken from his mind when the covers were rolled out from under him and he was sent rolling off the bed and onto the floor. The floor was hardwood and the shock woke him up instantly. Lying on the floor he could here Cloud laughing triumphantly. He sprang to his paws, face burning in indignation.
“Not funny Cloud!” he said pointing at him, without realizing there was a smile on his face.
“Yeah it was!” Cloud denied cheerfully, waving his tail in satisfaction.
Silly apprentice. That is what Xen thought. Then he said when he noticed, “Where are Aerobolt and Touda?”
Cloud yawned. Xen found that oddly cute. Was he that cute when he yawned? He was younger than Cloud after all. “Downstairs talking to the innkeeper. They might be renewing our food stocks,” Cloud replied.
Xen nodded in understanding. “Ah I see… So what are we supposed to do until they come back?”
Cloud shrugged. “They just told me that we just needed to be ready to shove off when they came back. They did not even tell me how long they thought it was going to take.”
“Oh… So what should we do then…?” Xen repeated. Already he was starting to get bored. Cloud shrugged. “I do not think we are supposed to leave the inn, right?” Xen added. Maybe he could go out into Empra and explore more thoroughly than the vague glimpses he had the previous night.
“I do not think so,” Cloud answered uncertainly. “We best stay here in case they do not want us out there on our own. Like you, this is my first time in Empra. We could end up getting lost because of that.” Xen nodded in understanding.
“Why do you think they chose you to join us on this journey?” Xen suddenly asked.
“Why’d they choose me? Especially if this mission is gonna serve as a way to see if Touda is the right mentor for you, I have no idea. Like they said, maybe they want me to go on a mission without my mentor this time. That means I am gonna be a full Guardian soon now that I think about it!” Cloud’s eyes widened in excitement.
Xen laughed a bit, finding it funny that Cloud did not realize that until now. “Congratulations,” he said. Then he sighed. “I won’t become a full Guardian for a long time. If ever. I am so unbelievably useless…” he said with sudden bitterness rising in his voice. Cloud had only been an apprentice for barely six months. And he was already almost graduated to full Guardianhood.
Cloud looked at him. “Don’t say that. I’m sure that is not true…” he said encouragingly.
“But I’ve been apprenticed for two months. And this is only my first mission! If I had to wait this long, how long will I have to wait before I am a full Guardian like you will be!?” Xen said in a high pitched voice to where it was almost a whine.
“Hm… maybe Touda is not the mentor for you… in the couple of days we traveled together I noticed how… irritable and hostile he can be,” Cloud said.
“I know… Why did Fielra choose HIM to be my mentor and not anyone cool like Aerobolt?” Xen said bitterly. “Touda is always so mean to me. He doesn’t think I can do anything right. And… he might actually be right…” he stammered with tears welling up in his eyes. “What is my purpose in the Guardians!? To just screw everything up!?” he wailed.
Cloud shook his head. “Stop. Look. I know that this point of your life gets pretty confusing, I know. My best friend Storm felt the exact same way you are feeling now. And now… months later… and look at him now! Don’t you think that will be you in a few months time?” Cloud said. Xen shook his head miserably. “With that attitude you most certainly won’t be. Touda really is a bad mentor for you. Why can’t Fielra see that? Does Aerobolt know that?” When Xen nodded, Storm continued. “Then why…?” Just then the door opened.
“Time to go!” Aerobolt said. Then he noticed the melancholy in the room. “What’s going on…?”
“Xen’s lack of confidence…” is all Cloud said.
Aerobolt nodded. “Like Storm? Yeah. I think this time it is all Touda’s fault. There needs to be no more evidence to prove that. Nonetheless we cannot reveal these feelings to him for the possibility of derailing our objectives. Understood?” Xen and Cloud nodded. “Good. Now let’s get going.”

When the party left Empra’s limits and into the Marsh Plains, Xen couldn’t help but think the air was even colder out than in town. He looked behind him and saw the town, much smaller in comparison to the huge Spires of Sky behind them. Xen almost could not believe that is where they came from!
“It’s warmer today…” Aerobolt said almost in a foreboding tone. Xen looked at him in surprise.
“That is a bad thing?” he asked.
Aerobolt turned to look at him. “It may very well be! The good thing about winter is that the river up ahead is frozen. We could walk across the ice without having to worry about its powerful currents. The bridge linking both banks cannot be repaired or rebuilt because of how drastic they are. And if today is warmer than usual, that means the icepack on the river is bound to be thinner.”
As Aerobolt explained, Xen realized the potential severity of their situation. “So how will we cross?” he asked.
“If it is still frozen, we need to step lightly. If not…” Aerobolt trailed off, not certain how to answer. “We’d have to create our own ice. But even that might not be safe,” he said.
Cloud nodded. “I remember what you said happened to Storm when you tried to cross the currents with him and Shade. I would not want something like that to happen to us too!”
Aerobolt halted them. “That is Vrangar River. Notorious for its powerful currents especially in the spring.” The river was indeed frozen, but how thick the ice was, Xen could not tell.
“Is it safe?” he asked. Aerobolt shook his head.
“I don’t know. Who’s the strongest wielder of Water here? I think they should help us find out.”
Everyone looked at Touda. His Dominant Force was Water. Aerobolt must have remembered as soon as he finished the question, because he looked at Touda as he did. Touda looked back at them, fear crossing into his eyes.
“Me? A-are you serious?” he stammered. When Aerobolt nodded he continued. “I-is this supposed to be a punishment…?” he asked. When Aerobolt shook his head, “B-but I--!”
“You are more adept at dealing with Water. You should know just how deep the ice is and if it is safe to walk on. Know this though. The longer we stand here waiting, the more it’s going to melt, and the less likely it will be to be safe. Go on Touda. We need your skill now,” Aerobolt coaxed him closer to the river. Touda gulped nervously as he stepped towards the bank. He hesitated as he looked down into the glassy ice below. Shaking slightly, he set a footpaw down on it and slowly put his weight on it. The ice creaked but did not crack. Touda breathed a little more and he set his other paw on it and the ice creaked louder but still no cracks showed. He looked to his companions.
“Safe. If we tread slowly,” he said still nervous.
Aerobolt nodded. “You heard him. Tread slowly, but one at a time. We don’t want to put too much weight on the ice at once. Touda. You go first. Heavier Guardians first anyways, just in case.”
Touda glared at him when Aerobolt implied his weight was not desirable but he took careful steps on the ice. Each time, Touda set his paws down it creaked. It sounded like an old floorboard, but this kind of floor was much more dangerous. Xen knew if anybeast fell through the ice, they’d freeze almost instantly and die. Touda must have been aware of that too. Touda slowly shuffled his paws on the ice forward, arms extended to keep his balance on the slippery surface. As much as Xen hated his mentor, he watched in apprehension, hoping the ice would not open under him and send him to a icy grave. Touda almost jumped to the other shore when he reached it.
Aerobolt said he had to go next. Xen watched in awe as the hero practically tiptoed across the ice, keeping as little weight on the tips of his paws as possible. The ice didn’t even creak under his weight as it did with Touda. Xen looked at Cloud and gasped with realization. His scarf was blue. A Bane of Water? In a situation like this? This had to have been a further nerve wracking experience for this cub. But it was his turn. Cloud showed no fear or realization what his Bane was. He kept his stance on his toes much like Aerobolt did, but he was much more unstable with his balance. Every now and then, he had to drop completely onto his paws to keep from losing balance and falling over through the ice and to the end of life.
Then it happened. As Cloud stepped towards the shore, he put too much weight on the paw on the ice and the ice gave a loud eerie cracking sound. A few seconds followed in a harsh silence that followed. Cloud jumped to the shore, fur standing on end. Then in slow motion, Xen watched in horror that many tiny invisible cracks that the two adult foxes may have caused opened wide and the river’s famous current washed most of the resulting floes away, leaving Xen face to face with a raging ice cold unforgiving snake of ice and water. Xen’s eyes widened in pure terror.
“Thanks a LOT Cloud!” He yelled, but knew Cloud could not hear him over the roar of the rushing frigid liquid. He could barely hear Aerobolt yelling something to him. “What!?” He screeched. But nothing could be heard. Then he watched as Aerobolt lifted a stretch of water out of the river and freeze it into an ice bridge. Aerobolt was so brilliant; Xen had to admire his resourcefulness. Xen understood what he had to do. He took a step onto the ice bridge and nearly yelped at the cold, slippery texture. He had to go slow to avoid slipping and falling into the river’s icy clutches. Only this slippery artificial bridge stood between life and death for him. He treaded carefully, slowly, and agonizingly. Each step he took he could feel his heart pounding harder and harder in pure terror. The bridge was transparent; he could see the cruel waves lapping and washing up against the bridge under it, and at either side, trying to wash him away.
Halfway across the bridge, Xen gasped in horror as he suddenly had no more control in his feet and the slid in all directions until he finally landed painfully on his tail. The ice made him slide on it until he was close to the edge. Thankfully, Aerobolt made the ice sturdy enough so it would not break under his weight. But the shock made his fur stand on end and Xen was frightened out of it to even try to stand up again. He swiveled on his haunches until he faced his companions and he scooted across the rest of the bridge, fingers tingling in the fear that he was so close to edge and falling off to his death. He could see apprehension on the faces of both Cloud and Aerobolt. He saw Touda’s face and it was virtually expressionless. Xen could not tell what his horrid mentor was feeling at that moment. As Xen approached the end of the bridge, he saw Cloud’s handpaws starting to reach for him, to pull him across the last few feet across the murderous river. Xen gripped them when he got close enough and he felt himself being pulled onto the safety of the other bank. Xen was gasping in relief, still feeling anxiety from being so close to death.
“Thank you, Cloud,” he gasped, not sure if he meant that for breaking the river apart or helping him across the final stretch. It took him several minutes to be able to get to his paws again and he faced his companions slightly embarrassed. “S-sorry guys…” he said awkwardly.
Aerobolt shook his head. “I-it is no problem. I know if I were in that situation, I wouldn’t be so brave like you.” Xen was shocked. Did this great hero just praise him for bravery? Again? Xen shook his head.
“All I wanted was to prove I was not a scared little cub and that I can be as capable as you guys,” he said.
Aerobolt put his handpaw on his shoulder. “And you have proved that. Don’t worry Xen. Everything is going to be just fine.”
Xen was not too sure. He still felt like that his string of luck would run out soon. And he can’t shake this feeling that there was much more to him than he thinks. He knows that has been the case according to his companions and many other Guardians, but he can’t help but it was something bad. Very bad. He thought about the way he thought about Cloud and Aerobolt in particular. He knew he admired these two, particularly Cloud, way too much compared to other Guardians. He couldn’t figure out why. He thought that when of if he did, it would spell disaster upon his entire life. Suddenly his issues with his mentor seemed obsolete and he would have to face many more trials than the ones he was facing now. But Xen couldn’t figure out why he felt this way. Xen shook the thought out of his head. Maybe he was just being paranoid as he usually has been.
“So where do we go next?” Cloud interrupted his thoughts.
Aerobolt looked upon them. “Towards the desert. Kobold Bandit territory,” he answered. “We’ll make a stop in Uron first, but then it is to the Vaelic Desert. We are about halfway there to Hydyraen now.” There was a sadness in Aerobolt’s eyes. Going back to his place of being raised was really starting to hurt him. Xen wished there was something he could do to help. But he couldn’t shake his own qualms out of his head as they started off further into the frozen Marsh Plains.
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