Chapter 3, Border

chapter 3 (Reskeme Pov)

Reskeme balanced on a log, holding his spear carefully. Rushing beneath him, the river flowed, the clear water soothing. His stomach tightened, growling. His thoughts drifting as he wonders what fish cooked over the fire might taste like? Reskeme could cut his only remaining loaf of bread. Mouth watering at the thought, Reskeme focused back on the red backed fish drifting back and forth in the river.

The fish drifted close to the bright spear head, Reskeme jerked the spear stabbing at his target. What? How did the fish move so fast? sighing Reskeme sat up, his back screaming from hunching over for so long. His mostly empty pack shifted on his back, a reminder that he was down to his last loaf of bread.

Reskeme sat on the log, shifting to get more comfortable. Waiting for his prey to return, the rushing water soothing to his ears. The wind rustled his hair, howling for a moment as it rustled the treetops. Howling? Focus, that was just the wind. Just like the rats of the city, these fish were cautious. As if to spite him, the red backed fish drifted well out of reach. The fish completely avoiding the spear in the water. Crunch! Crunch! The sound of boots on dirt drifted from the nearby path. Reskeme swiveled his head to see a man with a sword at his belt, followed closely by a small boy and slightly taller girl.

Reskeme held still, idly watching as the three passes. His heart skipped a beat. The gold and silver lining the sword standing out against the man's ragged clothes. Reskeme felt his lips turn up. The three were still alive? That was good.

"Are we there yet? Said the young boy.

"Not much longer." said the tall, thin man.

"Daddy, can we stop and eat? Im hungry." said the young girl.

" Not yet, we have little food left." said the Thin man.

" But Dad, Im hungry!" moaned the young boy.

Reskeme watched the man and the two younger disappear around the trees. Well, it appeared they too were almost out of food. Glancing down, Reskeme's stomach tightened. The red backed fish hovered in the water just under his spear. Breathing quick breaths, Reskeme gripped his spear firmly and thrust for the fishes back. Clank! His hands rattled as the spear hit the rocks.

Scowling, he watched the fish swim away, blood leaking from a gash on its head. Stupid fish, why couldn't it just die. He watched the fish for one long minute as the fish stopped swimming and drifted towards the surface. Reskeme scrambled to his feet, Yes! Sliding along the log until he reached the bank. He sprinted along the rocky shore after his fish like a stray dog chasing a rat.

Splash! Dropping his spear on the bank. Reskeme waded into the water, grasping the slick fish. The cold water shocked his senses, but the fish was worth it. After slipping from his grasp several times, Reskeme grasped the fish by the tail and threw it out of the water. Shivering, he clambered from the water, Reskeme grinned.

The large red backed fish lay on the rocks as Reskeme gathered his spear and then gathered some dry wood. Digging through his pack, Reskeme salivated at the thought of cooking fish. What? shuffling the single loaf side-to-side. Reskeme stares into his pack at the small empty pouch and the single remaining loaf of bread. Where was his flint and steel, he could swear it was here the last time he needed a fire?

Wasn't that when he was robbed? Damit! No need to panic. He held up his mana gauge. The blue filling half of the circle. Reskeme took in a deep breath. His veins burned as he channeled a rune on top of the piled sticks and grass. Whoosh! the sticks caught fire, Reskeme smiled until the sticks rapidly turned to ash, smoke rising like steam from the sewer grates.

Crinkling his nose, Reskeme covered his mouth from the stench of the burning wood. That wasn't normal, a fire shouldn't smell that way. What might happen to his fish if he used the green fire? Reskeme swallowed hard. Leaving the pile of ash, he picked up his fish and spear. Returning to the road speed walking. If he caught up to the man, he could share some meat for a fire. The fish was long and fat, more than enough to share.

Holding the fish by the gills, Reskeme followed along the river, heading upstream. He jogged, his hunger pushing him to rush. Rounding a bend, he approached the tall man and the two much shorter children. Reskeme gripped his spear in his right hand, the fish in his left.

" Hello!" shouted Reskeme

Ahead, the man halted, whirling around. The man whirled around, gripping the hilt of his sword. The mans eyes narrowed, his grip whitening on the sword hilt.

"Hello!" said the Man, his tone cautious.

"I caught a fish, do you have a fire stone?" said Reskeme as he halted ten steps away.

The man eyed Reskeme up and down, his eyes drifting to the fish and then to the spear.

" It is a big fish, if you have a fire we can both have some fresh meat." said Reskeme smiling.

From behind the man stood the two children, the boys' short brown hair a mess. The girl's curly black hair tangled.

"Can we stop, Dad?" said the young boy as he leaned his head against his father's chest.

" If I start a fire, you will share the fish?" asked the man.

" Yes, I hope you know how to cook fish, because I do not." said Reskeme.

"lets get to it, im hungry." said the tall, gangly man.

" I am Reskeme, what are your names?" said Reskeme as they gathered dry branches.

" I am Alex." said the young boy

" I am Rory, can I have some fish." said the girl, she came up to his shoulder. Perhaps nine, maybe ten, he thought.

" I am David." said the tall man.

Minutes later Reskeme sat on a rock drying off in front of a small fire. Popping and leaking liquid the fish roasted over the fire, its skin darkening black. The man held the long stick slowly turning the fish over the coals. The sweet aroma made Reskeme's stomach grumble.

" Where are you going?" asked Reskeme.

" We are waiting for mom to catch up." said the young girl.

" How much longer until mom catches up?" said Alex, the young boy's eyes tearing up.

" Not much longer, she will catch up after we get to the border." said David.

The mans shoulders drooped, his eyes tearing as he stares back to the cooking fire.

" But daddy we saw her fighting off those monsters." said Alex, eyes wide.

" Alex, no way those monsters could beat mom, she is a soldier." said Rory smiling reassuringly at her little brother.

Reskeme felt a lump in his throat. Monsters! Shuddering, Reskeme watched the fire, avoiding eye contacts as the man wiped the moisture from his eyes. David lay the fish on the log next to him, its red skin seared black as though burned. Reskeme scowled, the man completely burned it. David smiled at his expression. Grasping the skin, the man pulled it away, revealing red steaming meat.

They all gather around the log, picking at the hot fish, taking small bites of meat. Meat, he took piece after piece, the flavour wonderful compared to bread. Soon he was full, the fish filling his empty stomach quickly. That was rather odd how that happened. He always seemed to get full far faster when he was extremely hungry.

Leaning back, he sighed, the fire flickering as the wind picked up a faint howl in the trees. His eyes closed, shaking himself as Reskeme forced them open. This was the man who had robbed him the first time. He would not lose his spear again. Reskeme stood taking his spear and walking to the river using the cool water to clean his hands.

Crunch! Looking over his shoulder, Reskeme watched David approach. Crouching next to him, the man dipped his hands in the water. The man scrubbed his hands before reaching into his shirt and pulled out something, his shirt clanking. David held out five silver coins, his gaze firmly on the dirt, unwilling to look Reskeme in the eye.

" What are you doing?" said Reskeme

" This is yours, I had no right to take it." said David, shifting in his crouch.

Looking from the Man to the Two children, Reskeme shook his head.

" What are you talking about? That is your silver, it is not mine." said Reskeme.

" No! I stole it from you. Take it back, I cannot justify it." the man choked up, his lip quivering.

Reskeme took the proffered silver from the man's hand. He eyed the five shiny coins.

" These coins are way to shiny, my coins must have gotten lost. You can have these coins." said Reskeme. Placing them back in the man's hand.

" Thank you." said David.

" Besides, you will need to buy food for those two." said Reskeme, gesturing towards the two younger kids.

Reskeme held out his arm, holding a salute. " It is the least I can do. Their mother is off fighting the monsters so we can get to safety." said Reskeme.

Legs aching, Reskeme lay beside the fire. Full and now sure he would not get robbed again, he closed his eyes. The heat lulling him to sleep. Reskeme's eyes shot open. As a howl tore through the night. Blinking rapidly he scrambled to his knees, swiveling his head, scanning the treeline past the faint burning embers of the fire. The faint rustle of fur between the trees and another earsplitting howl made his heart skip a beat.