Chapter 105: Chapter 93 – Forested Shores

"Shores. Most people think of sandy beaches, or steep cliffs that drop into the seas when they hear the words. The goblin lands had forests for their shores instead. The central northern shores of Alcidea is also home to the largest mangrove forests in the known world." - Evus Quenton, Botanist.

 

Early the next day Fheeri left her tent and had a simple breakfast with Cal. That of a large lizard egg the size of her head scrambled on a griddle with some herbs and tomatoes as flavoring. Chewy flatbreads were also served, freshly baked from a nearby communal oven.

 

Today would be their last day in Sogasha, as they planned to continue their trek northwards in the afternoon. Cal had wished to travel the entire berth of the goblin lands, which was a prospect Fheeri found wondrous.

 

And the main reason she volunteered to be her guide for the trip.

 

They left as planned near noontime, and their trek northwards progressed at a fast pace. Cal walked faster than Fheeri could run, which was something she rarely saw, and never seemed to tire either. As such, the pair made their way north at a speed unimaginable to most.

 

It helped to not have to fear the large predators that roamed the plains either. For most of the journey, Fheeri felt an instinctive sense of pressure that emanated from Cal, one that reminded her of an apex predator. Most beasts gave them a wide berth as a result, other than the times she retracted that pressure and had Fheeri hunt for their food.

 

One time, as she hunted, Fheeri caught the attention of a large predatory lizard, a beast three meters tall and more than twice as long, with black plumage and wicked sickle-shaped claws between its toes. The beast caught her scent and followed Fheeri back to the camp as she ran for her life.

 

Fheeri watched in awe when Cal hadn't ran away when she warned her. Instead, the half elven woman stood up, drew a long polearm with a crescent shaped blade attached near the spearhead, grinned, and casually approached the incoming beast.

 

What ensued was less a fight, and more a case of animal abuse.

 

The hyena-therian girl gawked as she saw how Cal toyed with the beast. The way she casually stepped around whatever attempts the beast made at her before she jabbed or hacked at it with her weapon in turn. Before long the beast's plumage was ragged and tattered, with many bleeding wounds all over, and the creature had enough.

 

So it turned tail and fled for its life.

 

With more surprise, Fheeri watched as Cal caught up to the fleeing beast, grabbed its tail with both hands, braced a leg against a large tree, and yanked. The beast came to a sudden halt before it tried to flee once more, but its powerful hind legs only scraped a layer off the ground, while Cal remained unmoved. She stood firmly, one foot pushed against the ground, and the other braced against a tree, as she held the beast's tail in a vice like grip.

 

At least until the beast's tail suddenly detached at its base, that is.

 

Cal was caught by surprise and fell backwards as the length of the tail suddenly gave no more resistance. By the time she got back to her feet, the beast had run off into the forest, and out of sight. She shook her head and just carried the two and a half meter long tail with her back to camp.

 

They had sections of the tail grilled for dinner that night. Fheeri enjoyed the ripe, pungent flavor of the very gamey meat a lot, and it looked like Cal had not minded it either, which was a rarity. Most foreigners couldn't stand the more pungent meats the goblins and therians especially enjoyed.

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Maybe Cal had not enjoyed it as much after all, as Fheeri noticed her make a run for the latrine later in the night.

 

Another two weeks passed as they trekked northwards before the feel of the wind changed. Fheeri could taste it, how the winds now carried a salty tang to them, and her sharp nose caught a briny scent as well.

 

The terrain had changed as well. Lush tropical jungles and plains with tall grasses and dense shrubs gave way to wet swamplands, where dry ground became a rare commodity. The water grew in depth as they trod their way through the swamplands, and from time to time Fheeri caught sight of sharks or alligators as they cavorted in the surprisingly clear waters.

 

As shorelines itself went, the one in the goblin lands was less "shore" and simply more a line where the water became too deep for the mangrove to grow. It was an odd juxtaposition of a lush, swampy forest and the open seas, and Fheeri felt awe at the sight. She never imagined anything of its like.

 

By her side Cal also admired the view as she effortlessly balanced herself on a thin, swaying branch.

 

They camped on the rare drier areas for the night, and left southwards the next day. During their travel southwards, Cal also broached an unexpected topic with Fheeri.

 

"Fheeri," said Cal as she called for the girl's attention. "Would you like to see the lands beyond?"

 

"Yes!" Fheeri answered spontaneously. The girl had not even thought before she answered, as the answer had always been clear to her from long ago. "Of course I would! I'd love to!"

 

"We'll swing by your house on the way back. Talk with your parents about it," Cal said with a gentle look on her face. "Should they approve, I'll show you around a bit, and introduce you to some people who'd make travelling the world a much simpler matter."

 

Three weeks later they reached Fheeri's home settlement once again. Their return trip was more expedient as they had taken a straight route to their destination. Something only made possible by how Cal scared off all the predators along the way.

 

Fheeri spent a couple days with her family, as she had long, serious talks with her adoptive parents and siblings about Cal's offer. Her adoptive mother was somewhat worried, but both her parents accepted her as an adult now, and allowed her to pursue what her heart wished for in the end. Her mother made all her favorite foods on the last night she stayed home.

 

She got up early the next day, joined a warm group hug with her family as she said her farewells to them. She promised to visit with souvenirs in the future as well, and wished them the best. Her family escorted her to the settlement's gate where Cal awaited, and sent her off cheerfully, as they waved until she disappeared from their sights.

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