New to the Group

I emerged slowly from the edge of the forest, setting foot into the muddy street. The fierce rain poured down upon my head, drenching my already damp clothing. My left arm hung limply at my side, injured from the recent scuffle, and I cradled it close as a grunt of pain escaped my lips. Beads of water streaked down my face as I continued my dull pace. I glanced down as I walked and noticed a mixture of crimson in the puddles below. I must be hurt worse than feel. I resolved to quicken my pace. Rest was what I truly needed, and as I peered down the road, I saw the means by which I would acquire it. In the distance lay my destination, a small town I had seen from afar several times wandering in the nearby forests. The humble buildings were stacked close to the road, and hugged each other on each side. There wouldn’t be more than a tavern and some stables, but it would be enough for my needs. My bow hung loosely on my shoulder and the empty quiver on my back bounced with each step. As I made my way closer to the town, feelings of anxiety and dread overcame me. This was a human settlement, and would most likely not be friendly to elf-folk. I hoped the rumors I had heard of recent human brutality were false or at the very least exaggerated. I neared the tavern and noticed the sign above the door. ‘The belly’s feast,’ I read. The windows were shut tight due to the storm and there was very little to be seen from the outside. Signs of wear and decay were already starting to show on the exterior, yet recent reparations indicated that this place was well cared for. I arrived at the door and placed a hand upon it. I took a deep breath and released it, praying for the best. I pushed hard on the door and stepped inside. The rush of adrenaline hit my body as my senses were overwhelmed. The stench of a roasting pig in the fireplace burned in my nostrils, the warmth of several bodies tacked tightly in a small room washed over me. My eyes darted about the room, noticing the many faces that all seemed to make their way around the room and paused on me. A bartender stood to my left and gaped at me. He hadn’t noticed that the glass of mead he was filling was overflowing onto the dirty floor. His glance shot back and force as I approached him. “I require shelter and rations,” I choked. “Uh, sure,” he replied and cleared his throat, seemingly over the shock of seeing my kind in his bar. “Go ahead and take a seat, although I’m not sure we have anything here that your kind would fancy.” “I doubt that,” I replied, and I made my way to a table in the corner. I sat and waited for the servant to assist me. As I waited, I softly chanted our ancient songs while holding my injured arm. I could slowly feel the pain losing its bite. “What can I get you?” asked a young lad, obviously excited yet hesitant at seeing me. I replied to his question with one of my own, “What has been prepared this evening?” “We have lamb, or a fine stew, potatoes, and also frog legs. Of course, we also have plenty of mead.” I sat debating which choice I would make and I began to feel a funny sensation in my head. I began to hear a faint whisper, which grew in volume and consumed my every thought. I heard nothing but the voice, and the voice struck me as though it became one with my very soul. “The frog legs, I want the frog legs!” I heard both the voice in my head and my own cry simultaneously. I shook my head, confused.

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“Patrick, you can’t have the frog legs. You’re an elf, they don’t eat meat.” “What? Who came up with that idea? What do they eat, then?” “They eat like berries and bread and stuff.” Patrick shook his head, and seemed lost for words. Three young boys sat on the floor in a bedroom, with papers and figures strewn around them. Patrick, still trying to figure out what he had done wrong, carried a confused look on his face. Opposite him sat Bennie, who eagerly awaited Patrick’s decision. To his right sat Chad, younger brother to Patrick, who was currently determining what to do with Patrick’s poor decision making. “Well I think that’s lame,” Patrick began, “and you said this is how you do this game, so I say frog legs.” “Ugh, fine, frog legs it is,” Chad answered, disappointed. “You order a hot bowl of frog legs and after a few short minutes the serving boy brings you a steamy bowl.” “That’s more like it.” Bennie chuckled as Patrick was able to get the dinner he wanted. Chad shot a glance at Bennie, “Hey, don’t start; you are supposed to be on my side here! What kind of friend are you?” “It’s just funny. Plus we asked him to play; we shouldn’t get mad at how he does it.” “Fine, you tear into your frog legs, and the juicy meat runs down your chin.”

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I ate the meat in front of me and nearly choked. I don’t know what was coming over me, but I refused to stop devouring. The juice covered my fingers and I licked them one by one, with no regard to my surroundings. In a matter of moments, the bowl had been emptied. I gazed up from the bowl and noticed several humans staring at me, look of horror and revulsion on their faces. ‘Let them stare,’ I thought, ‘I will see them no more after the morn.’ I lowered my glance once again to my own table when the voice took me over once again. “Look to see if there are any pretty ladies.” The thought barreled into my brain and left me stunned. This could not possibly be my own wish. I sat amazed as my desires to stay still left me only to be filled by thought of dance. “Dance and the ladies will dig you,” the voice again impregnated my mind. I rose and began to dance, surprised at the ability I showed with no background music. I continued in this endeavor for another ten minutes until my fatigue had successfully won me over. I took notice of a table of fair ladies sitting not far from me. They giggled and waved in my direction. I returned their stare and gesture, and I arose to make my way toward them. I had no sooner begun walking when I collided with a large object that blocked my way forward. I looked up and noticed this obstruction had a face. A massive man stood in my way, with no indication he was going to move.

*************************************** “How do I keep getting into these situations?” Patrick asked. “Because you wanted to dance,” Chad replied. “You didn’t do anything like this to Bennie.” “That’s because Bennie knows how to play, and is sitting at his table in the tavern like he is supposed to. Not dancing and finding fine ladies, as you called it.” Patrick looked frustrated, “I’m just trying to make this fun, or tolerable. Either one would be acceptable.” “So what’re you going to do? The man, as large as an ox, stands defiantly in your way, upset at the way you flirted with his girlfriend.” Patrick stood up from the carpet. “I don’t know, I don’t care, shoot some spell at him.” “You can’t do that, you still don’t have energy for spells left, not until you rest.” “Isn’t that what I am doing here at this tavern?” “That’s not really resting.” “Why not? I’m sitting down aren’t I?” “Yeah but you have to sleep to rest. Plus you just danced like an idiot for ten minutes.” “Then I go to sleep.” “You can’t do that, the mad human is right there.” “He’s not going to punch a guy who is sleeping, what kind of person does that?” “Angry ones.” “Fine.” Patrick sat back down and glanced at his character chart. Bennie and Chad were excited that Patrick finally agreed to play, but had noticed that things were going differently than normal with him in the game. Patrick seemed to make up his mind, “Okay, well then I will fire phasers.” “What? You can’t do that.” “Of course I can, fire away.” Chad looked exasperated. “That’s not something you have. That’s not even the right dimension or galaxy or worlds, or place in time. Only a few places have phasers.” “How do you know this isn’t one of them? “Because, this is the land of Moonthian, see?” Chad held up the book from which he was reading. “Okay,” Patrick answered, his stance unchanging, “What if I went to the future and got a phaser and no one knew about it until now. What do I have to roll for that?” “Bennie? What do you think?” “Double sixes. One chance,” Bennie answered. Patrick grabbed the dice and shook them in his hand. He released the game pieces and saw them bounce across the table top. The loud clinking rang out in the quietness of the room. “HAH!” Patrick yelled. “I don’t believe it.” Chad grabbed the book of Moonthian and began, “Well, I will have to make some adjustments, but I guess we can go with that. You are a time traveling elf that has come into a disagreement with a large human in a tavern.” “How many others are there?” Patrick interrupted. “Other what?” Chad asked. “Time traveling elves. How many others are there? You said I was a time traveling elf.” “There aren’t any others.” “Well then you are saying it wrong, I’m THE time traveling elf. Here, let me change my character title.” Chad rolled his eyes, “If I didn’t know any better, I would say you are growing fond of your elf.” Patrick held his character page and glanced it over. His face was difficult to read. “Nah,” he said coolly. “Are you sure?” Chad asked. “You don’t want to maybe change his name do you?” “Yeah, you probably should,” Bennie added. Patrick looked hurt, “What, you don’t like Doofus? I thought it was a great elf name.” “Fair enough, with your phaser at your side…”

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I felt a strange weight grow around my waist. I peered down from the eyes of the enraged bull above me and noticed a peculiar contraption loaded in a pouch fastened to my belt. I lightly grabbed the dark tube and gripped it by what I thought was the handle. The voice inside directed me and I adjusted a knob on top of the device. I pointed it at the human and did as the voice instructed. A flash of light erupted from the tip of the weapon and in an instant the human lay incapacitated. A smile crossed my lips as I fully realized what I held. The ladies made their way toward me and showered me with praise. I paid them no heed and abruptly left the tavern. Who needs rest when you have this power?

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“You should still probably rest. Your health is really low.” Bennie offered. “Who needs it? I can blast anything with this thing.” “You were supposed to at least invite Bennie’s character to join your cause,” Chad reminded. “Yeah I know, but I don’t need him, if things get bad here I can just time travel to some other place.” “But you are ruining the story!” Chad declared, his patience finally losing grip. “Boys!” cried a voice from outside the room, “Dinner, hurry up. Come and get it!” The three boys simultaneously jumped up and ran for the door.

*************************************** I continued my slow pace through the middle of town, catching the occasional strange glance from those daring enough to brave the storm. The town square was nearly abandoned, and I had almost crossed to the outskirts of town where I would return to the woods. My body began to grow heavy, my mind numb. The rain drops slowed to a crawl in midair, as if glued to their location. The few people around me stood motionless and I felt my body lose all ability to control itself. I stood still, and I could feel it coming again. I hated this part. The world had been put on pause. *****************************************

In the empty bedroom, an open book lay on the ground with a small elf figurine nearby, the only sound being the clinking of silverware on plates.