Wizardness

The afternoon run came quickly for Tobias. His head felt both heavy and light. His feet didn’t want to move the way he wanted them to move. His speech sounded deeper, slower, and off. Red was so beautiful. He just couldn’t keep his eyes off her. He hoped she ran in front of him. It’s always such a nice view, running behind her. Her hair is great.
A throat cleared next to him. He turned to look. It was Giggles.
“You’re drunk, kid. You might want to knock off the leering. You’re creeping her out. You’re going to run up front with the skinny kid and leave her alone.”
“Oh, this is drunk? Huh, no wonder people did it all the time back home.” Tobias giggled.
Plain called to Epsilon, “Come on everyone. Order Boy isn’t in shape to order us about. Let’s get running.”
Tobias lurched into a semblance of a run next to Dar’Kid. He struggled to keep up. “When did you get so fast?”
“What do you mean? Oh by the Stars, your breath. It smells like my dad’s. Stay on that side of the trail.” Dar’kid fixed him a look. “Look, you better not fall into a habit of this. I’m not going to deal with it from you. Leave the drinking and rambling to Laughin man back there. He’s bad enough.”
“I had a rough morning.” Tobias wheezed.
“I get that. You needed to blow off some steam. We all do from time to time.” Dar’kid sighed, “I’m glad you’re alright though. That was terrifying to watch to slide down. Laughing man told Big guy what to do, almost immediately. Eclipse, your head was barely below the trail and they were already acting.”
Tobias stumbled. His stomach was suddenly doing somersaults. He lurched away from Dar’kid and towards the edge of the trail. There he threw up whatever food and booze was in this stomach. He groaned over the pile of bile at his feet. He retched again.
Giggles was cackling behind him. He was swaying on Plain’s back. He suddenly slipped off. He laughed even louder from the ground.
The rest of the fist was scowling at the two of them. Suddenly Plain started to laugh. Then Dar’kid. The levee broke and all of the fist was laughing at their situation. Giggles rolled around, trying to compose himself. Tobias tried to get himself sorted back out and into some sort of shape, even started to chuckle.
Eventually, Epsilon composed themselves. They started on their run again. Tobias still up with Dar’kid, giving him ample space. Plain had forced Giggles to do some of his own “running”. It was only fair, after all.
Tobias began to feel an ache in the back of his head. Over the next 40 minutes of running it turn into a pounding all-consuming headache. It was all he could do to keep moving. When they finally arrived at the barracks, Tobias was miserable. His head was all he could think about. The slam of the door, the chatter of the fist. It was almost too much.
Giggles was holding his head too.
Raven slid a plate over to them. Red placed two huge mugs of water in front of them. Then sat directly next to the pair.
“No more drinking if you’re going to leer at us. That is not acceptable.” Red began.
“We are members of your fist and fists are family.” Raven continued.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” Tobias muttered.
“You were drunk you horse’s ass. Now, you’re hung over. Eat drink and leave planning the new barracks to us tonight.” Red said.
Tobias nodded and looked at his food dubiously. His stomach was in a knot and he wasn’t sure if he could eat or not.
“You better eat,” Raven said. “There won’t be food later tonight, you know.”
“How did you two get roped into this?” Giggles said. He was squinting at them, confused. “I expected Plain to do this.”
“I heard Tark here, raving about running behind me.” Red glanced at Tobias. He flinched.
“Oh. I see. Well, thank you for the talk and the food.” Giggles began to chow down. He took huge gulps from his mug.
Tobias sighed and nodded at the ladies. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to eat.”
Red gave him a nod. The two women looked at each other and swung their chairs toward the other two members of Epsilon. They were discussing the barracks. Plain was convinced it was impossible to build a barracks like this.
Tobias took a tentative bite of the fried potato. As soon as the greasy starch touched his tongue, he began salivating. His stomach went from being in a knot to growling. He quickly ate the potato and moved on to more. He was quickly sated. He drank his fill of water. Then more water.
He dragged his chair closer to the fire. Commander Lee’s chair was absent. So, he filled Lee’s with his dinner chair and stared absently into the fire.
The warmth was pleasant. The fire had been well tended by the halfings. It was at that perfect condition, where it was smoke free, warm enough to feel like a nice warm hug.
Tobias was seduced by the embrace. He felt his eyes grow heavy with the comfort. He soon dozed.
Tobias found himself drifting. He was on the river near his village. It was one of those rivers that probably had a name, but everyone in the village called it the river. He was floating in the afternoon sun. It was a perfect day. The sun was shining, there were a few clouds, the perfect fluffy looking clouds. Clouds that made you enjoy the sun more after they drifted quickly in front of it.
The air smelled of lavender. He was near Sam’s. Sam’s father was a lavender farmer. He’d should get out and see if Sam’s around. Tobias saw himself get out of the river. Sam’s father saw him. He screamed at Tobias. He grew. His face turned into a monstrous face.
Tobias heard the words, then. “You killed Sam! You killed him!”
Tobias dove into the river then. He tried to swim up river. Tried to swim away. Tobias heard a frightful splash. He glanced behind him, Sam’s father was in the river, pulling the river into a vortex. He screamed, “YOU KILLED YOUR FRIEND.”
Tobias started awake. He glanced about. The fire had burned low. Giggles was snoring in his bunk. Dar’kid was drawing. Raven and Red weren’t in the barracks.
Tobias started when he realized Plain was sitting across the fire from him.
“How long have you been there?”
“A while. Nightmare?”
“Something like that.” Tobias shrugged.
“I have nightmares. I dream that I am the last giant. It’s a sad dream.” Plain looked up at Tobias, “You should rest. You will not dream more this night.” He patted Tobias on the shoulder, then leaned back and stared into the fire.
Tobias sighed, then “Good night.”
Plain nodded as he contemplated the fire.