The rasping chirp of crickets made room for the happy chittering of forest birds. The smell of moss and leaves and damp earth welcomed Acantha back home. Their guide, a golden-eyed bunny, hopped away, back into the forest. Acantha breathed in and smiled. But not for long. Her smile disappeared as soon as she realized what atrocity she had brought home with her. She looked the other way so she could pretend to ignore the fact of his existence. Acanta let her gaze pass over the clearing that housed her clan. The elves all lived in tents. Some of the spawn were happy with the sky as their roof, but others had joined the elves in their primitive housing. It was nearing dusk and the villagers were cleaning up for the day.
Aoda stood at the edge of the village, her red hair bright as a beacon amongst the darkening green forest. She was looking out as if she was waiting for someone. For them, perhaps? Acantha hoped she could get this whole meeting over with so they could send Farmer back home. The vast field surrounding Farmers greenhouse had impressed her tremendously. She had really been looking forward to meeting the person that created it. I mean, come on, to be able to tame nature like that. The one responsible for this world wonder had to be an amazing person. This expectedly amazing person ended up being a bad mannered, cursing, plant hater. Not to mention he smelled foul and looked like a train-wreck. In his defense though, the latter could probably be blamed on the toxic plants that he hated so much. Acantha’s thoughts were disrupted by angry mumbling behind her. She sighed in annoyance and started walking towards the village.
***
“Farmer, how nice to ssseee you,” Aoda said in a charming voice. A warm smile tugged on the corners of her mouth, but her eyes were cool and serious. The red-haired snake goddess was ready for business.
She and Farmer discussed terms, this ‘Yakshini’ was not going to be a present out of Farmers kind heart. Acantha listened intently to the two people talking. She tried her best to ignore the swearing while she distilled the meaning from between the lines. Acantha understood that in return Farmer wanted to receive two chains. Very much against her wanting, this again sparked her curiosity. What would this guy use chains for? Aoda, with two of her four hands, took out two of her blades from their scabbard hanging on her waistband. Farmer looked down at his puckered skin. He pointed at a spot on his bare chest. Aoda pressed the blade exactly where he had pointed. At the same time she put the other blade against her own arm. Pressing gently, she slit a horizontal line in both their skins. Without thinking Acantha stepped back. She felt something, an energy surging through the air as the two people in front her sealed the deal. It was frightening as well as inspiring, this short impulse of force. But as soon as Acantha had registered that something was going on, it was over.
Farmer opened his bag and started rummaging around in it. He was searching for something. Was it the Yakshini? Aoda turned to Acantha and her comrades.
“Acantha… Morn.. Jade.. I need you to fetch me a plant sspawn of resstful and trusstworthy nature. Ssomeone who will be happy to sserve the clan.”
Acantha looked at the others. But what for? She thought. Jade was smiling gleefully. She obviously wanted to say something, but looked from Morn to Acantha to see if now was the time. She decided it was.
“You know who’ll be a good candidate?” Jade asked rhetorically.
Before she could answer her own question Morn replied:
“Glyndwask.”
Jade started, not having expected such a quick answer from Morn, but then nodded exitedly.
“Yeah! He fits the description perfectly, don’t you think, Acantha?”
Acantha needed some time to consider each of her family members. All of them were definitely more restful than she was, so at least she herself was not an option. She thought that anyone would be happy to serve the clan. But now she thought of it, Glyndwask would probably be most content and committed in a life of servitude. At least he had never complained about it before, or talked at all, for that matter.
“Let’s go ask him,” Acantha agreed.
***
Glyndwask had happily agreed to come along after he and Acantha had exchanged looks. Their complex form of communication required no speech. Aoda seemed pleased with their decision and smiled silently when the four of them approached. Farmer was still rummaging around in his bag and Aoda watched patiently. He then interrupted his stream of angry muttering for an exclamation.
“Aha! Here I fucking have it. Now, you,” he gestured at Glyndwask, the relaxed looking tree person that came with Aoda’s chosen, “get your tree-butt over here.”
Glyndwask dutifully complied.
Farmer held out his hand, on it was lying an assortment of seeds. He gestured for Glyndwask to eat them. Glyndwask hestitated and looked towards Aoda, who gave him a warm nod to tell him it was alright. Glyndwask then took the seeds from Farmers hand and swallowed them. They all waited for something to happen. Acantha felt a shot of panic through her body as a look of unease crossed Glyndwasks face. What was going on? What had they done to him?
“That should be it.” Farmer concluded. He looked towards the darkened sky. “You have a fucking bed in this dump? I better stay the night.”
Aoda nodded, ignoring the rudeness with which Farmer had invited himself , and asked Jade to guide their guest to one of the tents. Acantha looked at Glyndwask.
“Are you alright?” She stared at him.
“Not… sure…” Glyndwask looked tired, “I feel strange, I’m going to sleep.”
“Shall I stay with you tonight?”
Glyndwask smiled thankfully.
“No need. If there’s anything, I’ll let you know.”
Acantha wondered how he would do that. She did not find it likely he would call out for her. But she accepted his preference and let him go to bed. She looked around. It was really starting to get dark. Everyone had gone to bed, except for her and Aoda, who was back at her lookout. Was she still waiting for someone? Acantha decided not to ask, she was not sure if she could handle the answer right now. It had been a long day. She decided to sleep inside, she craved for shelter from the outside world.
***
Someone was shouting. Acantha woke up, startled. What was going on?
“Fucking bitch! I’m trying to sleep!”
Unmistakably Farmer was making a ruckus. Acantha tried to ignore it and go back to sleep. But then she heard someone else screaming and footsteps running away past her tent.
“Come here then, I’ll fucking show you what I do with soulless creatures like you!”
Acantha felt her heart sink. This couldn’t be happening. To whom was Farmer shouting? Or rather, to what? Soulless? It couldn’t be… He wouldn’t challenge a daemon, would he?
Acantha considered this for a second.
Yes. Yes, he probably would.