This is set at the end of Artham's wanderings in the Blackwood. Enjoy!
Artham awoke with a jolt and found himself staring into the face of a ridgerunner.
“Wh-who yore ae?” He stuttered. “Wirst fell! Ire whes it?”
He jumped to his feet and began rooting through the leaves for the seed pod, momentarily forgetting about the ridgerunner.
He finally found it atop a stump and sighed.
Safe.
Drin- can’t! But Es- No! Have to get back! But- couldn’t survive. Can’t! Maybe died. Must find the Jewels! Keep them safe.
He turned back around and jumped. The ridgerunner hadn’t moved, but simply sat watching him peculiarly.
“Yo are whou- Who’re you?”
“Tizrak Rzt the 4th, at your service.” Came the reply.
Who- Oh!
“Ri emember….”
“I can guess what has been done to you, though it pains me to see it, old friend.” He sighed. “I’m glad that you at least recognize me. Most refuse to remember their pasts.”
Long time ago. Before-
“No! Es- seep kafe-afe-afe!”
“It’s alright, Artham.” Tizrak held up his hands. “I am not one of Gnag’s pawns.”
Artham shriek upon hearing his name.
Gnag- I failed! Couldn’t keep him safe! Coward!
“I see you are on your own, so I can guess where the others are.”
No- they aren’t- but maybe…
“Fai-fai-failed!” He cried, tears springing up.
“No, you survived. That means you have a chance.” Tizrak held out his hand. “You can help more from here than from in there. But only if you don’t give up.”
But I failed him! I left- No!
“I heft lim!”
“Ah, I see. A Throne Warden has a noble calling, but perhaps yours was too hard.”
My fault! I left him!
“Artham, I once knew you before all this, and I wish to help you. Gang has bribed my people, and they have sold themselves. You convinced me to give up fruit for the Maker’s glory. You brought me away from my culture, and for that I am ever grateful to you. You were the one who encouraged me to follow in the footsteps of my namesake. So now I wish to encourage you.”
No use! I left him!
“Han’t celp! Heft lim! Hailed fim!”
“Artham, what can you do now?”
Have to go back! Have to heal him! But-
Artham glanced down at the water.
“Tave ho hive it to gim-im-im!”
“You found the first well,” Tizrak mused, “but you can’t find your way back to Throg, is that it?”
“Hes! Yave to eal Hesbin!”
“Artham, you can’t go back in there.”
“Gust mo!”
“Maybe,” Tizrak hesitated. “Maybe I could try to find him for you?”
Tizrak would? But I must- Have to heal Es- Must!
“Fave to hind Es- Tave ho! Cater wure him!”
“I’m not sure the water would cure him, Artham, but in any case, I can’t let you go back.”
“Wo! Nhy?” Artham demanded.
“It would destroy you. Besides,” – he picked a berry off a nearby bush– “who would help the rest of your family if you died?”
Artham blinked.
The rest of- the Jewels! Must find Es- But the little ones! Keep them safe too! But how- Where?
“You have two nephews, don’t you? And a niece?”
Artham nodded. But Es- wanted- I left him!
“Artham, I’m sure your brother would want you to keep them safe more than anything else.”
Memories began to swirl in Artham’s mind. Fire!- “Get them out, Artham!” -Esb- “Please, keep them safe!” - But Esbe- “Don’t worry about me!” - But must keep him sa- “I need you to keep them safe more than anything else”- But what about- “Promise me?” - But I left!- “There’s something I need to get, but I’ll meet you at the boat”- But he didn- “Remember, you promised”- But Esben!
Atham opened his eyes and saw Tizrak looking worriedly down at him.
“Are you alright?”
“Hromised pim…”
“It’s okay.”
“Se haid ‘seep them kafe-afe-afe’!”
Tizrak relaxed, looking relieved.
“I told you so.”
“Hut-”
“Artham, it’s what he wished. Those children are out among fangs. They need someone to protect them and keep the fangs from discovering who they are. Your brother gave his life to protect them. You know he would wish for you to keep them safe.”
“Whut bat if- Es- Esbe- it whaf he’s thill sere? Aill slive? Kust meep sim hafe! B- I heft lim- left him!”
“Artham,” Tizrak whispered. “It pains me to see you this way. To behold all that Gnag has done to you and to your people. Anniera was the best Aerwiar had to offer, and you promised to show it to me one day.” He smiled sadly. “If you can find your family – if you can keep them safe – perhaps you can help untie the knot that Gnag has twisted. Perhaps you can make your brother proud.”
Artham felt his eyes well up with tears. He saw before him the shaggy head of bear – of Esben – with the unthinkable disappointment pouring from his eyes.
Can’t make him prou– I left him! I failed! – Can’t do anything goo– Coward! Weakling! – Don’t even kno-
“Artham, please, pay no heed to the voices.”
“Knou yow?”
“I’ve seen many like you – twisted by this evil – and I have heard tell of the voices. Doubtless they are worse for you than for many, but they are not true. They only lie. If you want to help your family, you must ignore them. Somewhere inside of you I know there is a voice that whispers the truth. Listen to that voice. It will be small and despised by the others, but it alone is truthful. Please, Artham.”
Artham squeezed his eyes shut.
Coward! Pathetic! Useless! – Bu–
“I can help you look for them.”
Artham opened one eye, then the other, peering up at his friend.
“Cou yan?”
“Yes, I’ve been listening for any sign of you or your family” – he swallowed – “I had hoped that you had somehow evaded Gnag, but I heard no word of you or your family in the Hollows.”
Not there, then where?
“I listened to my people as well and learned that Gnag believes them to be in Skree. Whether or not they are there I cannot say, but I shall help you however I can.”
“Skree-ee-ee?”
“Yes, if you wish, I shall help you find a ship.”
More memories came flooding in – a sleek ship skimming the waves – “Artham, raise the sails!” – but he clamped his jaw and cut them off, only for the memories to turn a darker shade. “Keep quiet the lot o’ you or we’ll toss you over!” – So dark– “Hehe, Throg is so much worse, just you lot wait!” – No! I left him! – “Gnag has somethin’ special planned for you!” – No! – Coward! – Can’t! – Weakilng! – I failed! I lef-
A familiar voice brought him back to the present.
“I’m sorry, I suppose that brings back memories.” Tizrak ran his hand along the bark of a tree. “Well, at the very least I can guide you out of the Blackwood and help you find something more protective to put the well water into.”
“But Es-Es- Esben!”
“Artham, please, trust me.”
He hung his head.
I left him!
“Keep them safe, Artham, remember?”
Them- the Jewels! Protect! - Coward!
Artham looked down at his talons, clasping the well water, and sniffled.
Drink it! – No! For Esben!
Suddenly a hand entered his vision, resting on his talon. He jerked his head up with tear filled eyes.
“Come with me. We can help them.”
Artham nodded.
Help. Protect! –Cowar– No! Protect! – I left hi– Protect! Protect. Protect.
Artham looked up at his friend, who sadly smiled back.
“I know of an abandoned house we can stay in until we can make a plan. It’s where I’ve been staying.”
“Hy whave thou steen yaying bere?”
“Ah” – he looked down, folding his hands– “I haven’t been the most welcome in ridgerunner society with my opposition to Gnag and his fruit.”
My fault– No! Good.
“Yar gou alad?”
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” He smiled. “Now, come with me, Artham. We’ll find your family.”
Artham swallowed, then stood up and followed the ridgerunner, taking care not to spill the precious water.
For Esbe– Jewels! Must protect! – But Es! – I left him! – But I promised – Useless! Promised to protect him! But I lef– “Please, keep them safe!” – I will! Won’t fai– Coward! Already failed! – Not again! – Protect! – Weakli– Protect! – I left hi– Protect! Protect!
Artham shook his head vigorously. His talons cupped the husk, but he couldn’t look. Instead, he watched Tizrak and followed where he led.
The next day, Artham and Tizrak arrived at an abandoned farmhouse.
“Here,” – Tizrak handed him a vial – “The water will be safe in here.”
Artham took it hesitantly, clutching the husk with his other talon. He began to pour it, but his talons shook. He shrieked and placed both on a table.
Weakling! Useless! – For Esb– Can’t – Esb- gone! – I left him!
“Here,” – Tizrak took the husk into his hands – “let me do it for you.”
Artham watched, fighting the urge to snatch the water back, as Tizrak poured it into the vial and sealed it.
“There, it’s safe now. See?”
Artham bit back a sob.
Safe– But can’t heal Es– Find Jewels! – Esb- he needed it! – Coward– Have to go back– Gave up– No! I didn’t! Must Prote– Failed! – Protect!
“Where do you think your family is the most likely to be?”
Not Hollows– Left hi– But who?– Hated! Deserve it!– From Skree bu– Useless! – Glip– No! Stay! – Podo! – Not him!– Glipwood! – No! Not there! – Yes! – Useless! Drown! – Protect!
“Wipglood!”
“Hm, wipglood…” – Tizrak pulled out a map and began searching – “Wipglood… Ah! Glipwood!”
“Hodo Pelmer thom fere-ere-ere!”
“Podo? Ah! I remember. He was the Queen’s father, was he not?”
Artham nodded.
He hated– My fault!– I knew– He won’t help you! – She will! – Won’t let her! – Yes! Confronted, bu– Hated you! – But now– Stay here! – Protect!
“Well then, to Glipwood we shall go.” He smiled. “All we need is a way to cross the sea.”
“Sh- Sh- No!”
“What is it, Artham?”
“Can’t-an’t-an’t!”
“Can’t? Hm… Oh. Oh, I see.”
“Bu- Tave ho-ho, no!”
“It may be the only way, but we can look for another.”
Not again! – Only way! – Then stay! – No! Prot– But die! – Prote– Weakling! Can’t protec– Must! – But Es- Tizrak? – No! You! – Don’t know wh– Failed him! –Protect Jewels! – I left him! – Find them!
“Fou yind Es- Es-”
Tizrak looked up from the map. “You want me to look for him? Don’t you want me to come with you?”
Artham hid his face.
“Bu- Es-Es- Heeds nelp-elp-elp!”
“Are you sure?”
Artham curled into a ball.
Want Tizra– But Esb– Friend! – Don’t deserve it! Coward! – Alone! – Help here bu– Stay! – No! Protec– Tizra– He stay– Esben needs help– Can’t– Only way!
“I’ll look for him, if that is what you wish.” There was a note of sorrow in his voice.
Artham nodded.
No! – But Es– Must!
“First though, I’ll find you a way to Glipwood.”
Artham swallowed, peeking out from behind his talons.
Three days later, Tizrak entered the farmhouse with news.
“I’ve found a fang cargo ship leaving from the mountains in a couple days.” He picked up a plumyum, placing it into a sack. “If you can stow away in the hold, you’ll see your family soon.”
Fami– Don’t deserve– But soon! – Can’t– Must! – Stay here, don’t– Protect them!
“We had best depart if we wish to catch them on time.” Tizrak placed the last sugarberry into the sack and knotted it up.
Artham nodded.
Fang ship! Can’t– Must! Only way to fin– Kill you– Deserve it. Must try! – Fail! – Protect!
With Tizrak’s guidance, the pair traveled through the blackwood and along the Killridge mountains until they came to the departing ship.
“Are you sure you don’t wish for me to accompany you, Artham?” Tizrak asked that night.
Artham gulped, then nodded weakly, hugging his knees.
“Very well. I’ll search for Esben, and, when I find him, I shall free him. Stay safe, Artham. Don’t do anything reckless, and perhaps I shall see you again one day.”
Artham nodded once more, biting his lip to hold back a sob. It slipped out anyway. He hid his face in his horrid talons, wishing to stifle the wretched sound.
A moment later, he felt arms wrap around him and jerked to a stop.
Wha– Tizra–
He slowly opened his eyes, then began sobbing once more.
“I wish you healing and as safe a journey as is possible under these circumstances. Goodbye, Artham.”
Don’t deserve hea– Don’t care! – Tizrak– I left him! – But friend– Pathetic! – Helps. Will protect! – No! Will die! Coward! – No! Protect!
“I won’t give up on your brother. Promise me you won’t give up either, alright?”
Artham nodded through his sobbing, blabbering incoherent nonsense.
“Be careful.” Tizrak pulled away, smiling sadly. “I’ve packed fruit for your journey, but I fear there won’t be enough, so use it sparingly.”
Artham nodded, clasping the sack.
“And please, Artham, for your family’s sake – as well as my own– stay silent on the ship.”
Artham nodded once more.
They’ll kill y– No! – “Keep quiet the lot o’ you or we’ll toss you over!” – Protect! – Useless! You’ll blabber an– No! Stay secret! – Cry and you die! – Protect! – Can’t do anyth– Protect!– Will fail– Protect!
“Goodbye, old friend.” Tizrak smiled.
“Boodgye-ye-ye!”
Tizrak bowed, then skittered into the bushes with one last smile. Artham knew he was still watching, so he forced himself toward the ship, where he slipped aboard into the hold.
I love it!