The Way It Is

it's not real - part 1

"I can't hear it anymore!" I look to Ufrik. He shakes his head, confirming he doesn't hear it anymore either. Not good.

Finally, the Gnarr catches up to us. Floating up high makes me feel less intimidated by him, but I still can not get over his size.

He comes up behind us much quieter than I would have expected for someone of his mass. Looking up at me, like I have answers, he asks quietly.

"What happened to the Dukri?"

With his last word comes a huge crashing sound down the pathway. I hear a shrieking sound right after. Involuntarily I shiver.

The shriek had been a shriek of death. Something just died.

Gurgling sounds follow, and then slurping and loud crunching. Someone is being eaten.

Was it the Dukri? Fuck!

"Stay or go, Zea? Want to win yet?"

Seriously? I stare incredulously at Ufrik.

I don't know what the hell is out there, but by the sounds of the crashing and now the feasting, I don't want to know. Winning isn't everything.

It's important to know when to fight and when to walk away. It doesn't make you a coward to be smart.

Suddenly the sky opens, and a massive crack of thunder announces the downpour. I have no clothes to get soaked, but oddly enough, I don't feel the rain on my skin either. What the?

Looking at my skin, I see the rain evaporating in little tiny puffs of vapour before it even reaches the white light coming from my body. Shit, I am not just emanating a bright light, but actual energy. I should have figured. I feel a little silly not having put it together until now.

There is actual heat pouring from my body along with the light. I guess that's why I hadn't felt cold or wet. I literally have my own little bubble. Looking down, my companions are not fairing so well. They are soaked.

I want to laugh at Ufrik, looking like a drowned, overgrown beast of a man, but a sound stops me.

A "whomp" and then a soft thud. Just behind the Gnarr, I see the Dukri pick herself up. She had run right into him and bounced off like a pebble hitting a mountain. The Gnarr probably barely felt her.

"Buddy, you are seriously solid. I am back here? This is so fucked up."

She is too loud. Voice coming fast, full of nervous energy, squeaking loudly at the end of almost every word. Hadn't she heard the scraping earlier? Or had she taken off before that? It isn't exactly wise to attract attention at the moment.

I train my ears again. Fuck.

The crunching and slurping has stopped. Whatever was making all the eating sounds has heard her.

The scraping starts again. Moving towards us. The Dukri hears it this time. I listen to her take in a shaky breath, cursing softly and saying, "We are so dead. I don't wanna die. Shit, shit shit".

Guess she isn't going to be a lot of help. I watch her hide behind the Gnarr, shaking uncontrollably. She suddenly bends down, curves into a ball and starts praying incoherently.

Either my language translator doesn't work in the game, or it is some ancient language no one knows. I look at Ufrik.

"How about you win this one. Or should we run?"

"Zea, this is all in our minds. It's not real, remember? Why run? Don't you want to win? Or are you just looking forward to all the compliments you'll get to rain down on me?" The crazy make actually winks.