[Chr24] A Royal Mission // Malek's Mistake

Malek came home after an exhausting work day when he found a letter in his mailbox. He pulled it out to see that it was a dirty beige color with a bright orange-red wax seal on, small sparks of fire popping off it. He took the letter back to his place and ripped it open, unfolding the inside paper. It read, “Dear esteemed Rohroa resident, you have been randomly chosen to complete a task for one of your Rohroa District’s Royal Family. This task includes collecting a Sweei plant (one provided within this letter) and taking it to the spirit water by the spirit tree to help it grow. We request you complete the task within a timely manner and bring the plant to your district's Yarujai. Please mail this letter back if you cannot complete the task. Thank you, District II High Counsel.”

Malek stared at the letter for a second before grabbing the envelope and opening it to find a small piece of paper. It was soft to the touch between his fingers. He placed it on the table and grabbed the small paper of instructions on top of it. “Place on a flat surface and put a single drop of water on top.” It read. Malek did just that and with a puff and shock, a small Sweei plant sprouted from the paper. He grabbed a small pot he had on hand, put a small amount of soil in it from a loose bag he had, and placed the plant on top. The plant took to the new pot as its small roots started to nestle in, but without spirit water, it quickly started to fade in color and drooped a bit. Malek started to panic and quickly called his workmates to hurry over. Shinya and Maverick complained but hearing that it was a task from a Yarujai, they quickly came over. Tarek didn’t yet know how powerful the Yarujai’s presence was so he didn’t know the severity of the situation, but obliged and came over as well.

“It’s so tiny,” Shinya said as he took his scarf off and looked at the plant. Maverick peered at it as he stepped inside, a shiver down his spine from the bitter cold. “What is it?” Tarek asked, sitting on the couch as he kept his gaze on it. “It’s called a Sweei plant. It’s a plant that only grows during the cold season and the only water it will take is the Spirit Tree water.” Shinya answered, his eyes still fixated on the plant. Tarek hummed as he took his gloves off, feeling the warmth the heater gave in the small space. “Why Spirit Tree water?” He asked. The buckleos all looked at each other then all at Tarek, all shrugging their shoulders. Tarel sighed and relaxed back on the couch. “So when should we go?” He asked. Malek looked at the plant. It was wilting away quickly. He picked up the tiny pot and hugged it close to his chest. “We should go now.” Shinya looked at him. “Agreed. The longer we wait the worse the plant will be and it’ll be too late if we wait too long. I did this a few weeks ago from one of the Aoulaa Royal Family and it was pretty easy.” They got gathered by the door and headed out, Malek locking it behind him.

About halfway to the Spirit Tree, the group was already feeling the freeze in the air. Shinya shivered as he spoke. “Shit, it is cold out! Why’d you have to open the plant when you got home and not tomorrow morning?” The Arctic had his hands shoved in his pockets and tail swaying from side to side. Malek looked down at the plant in his hands close to his chest. “Yarujai quests usually expect people to be done with them immediately, otherwise they’ll assume you won’t want the quest.” Maverick shoved his nose below his fluffy scarf, gritting his teeth from the cold. “Are Rohroa Royals that impatient?” Shinya asked. Malek and Maverick looked at each other and sighed in unison. Shinya sighed after, getting his answer. “Tarek, have you seen the Spirit Tree before?” Malek asked, looking back at the ADR. The buck looked up with his hands shoved in his pockets. He was admiring Ttatkor scenery before becoming distracted. “Oh, yeah. Once. When the war ended and the portal opened, I saw it. It was very beautiful.” He said. Shinya hummed. “Have you ever seen it at night?” Shinya asked, looking up at the stars. Tarek shook his head. “Nah I haven’t. Why?” They all stopped and looked at the young buck. “Cause you’ll be awe-stricken,” Shinya said, moving a bush to show the tree.

Tarek looked ahead, slowly looking up and his mouth becoming wider. The water around the tree shone brightly and shimmered, the moonlight reflecting it. The leaves appeared blue and seemed to be glowing as well. The night sat still as the snow fell on them, grabbing the sound before it hit the ground. All you could hear was the crunch of snow below their feet and the quiet chirps and howls of animals nearby. They all approached the edge of the water, the tree only a few feet away from them. Malek kneeled and was about to put the pot in the water before hearing a low growling. He stood up quickly, trying to not make any more noise. “What—”

“Shh!” Malek stopped Shinya from asking why he had stopped. They all looked around to see what Malek was trying to find before they heard a louder growl, roar, and crunching of snow coming their way. They all shifted to their feral forms, ready for a fight. The crunching never slowed and got louder as whatever was creeping on them got slowly closer. The group stayed low to the ground and held their position, growling to let the other party know to back off. What came out of the trees, however, put a shiver down all of their spines and it wasn’t from the cold. A Krampus, dark and looming, crept from behind the trees into the clearing beyond them. Its small beading eyes in its skull's eye sockets stared them down, continuing to growl. Shinya and Maverick moved but when they did, Krampus did as well, slowly getting closer. “What the fuck is that thing…” Shinya whispered, swaying his tail to and fro. Maverick stared Krampus down before slowly backing away. Tarek noticed and did the same. “We shouldn’t try to fight this thing, whatever it is…” Tarek said quietly, keeping his guard up as he slowly moved backward. Shinya continued to growl but followed his best friend's lead and backed away.

“Come on Malek. We can get the water tomorrow.” Shinya said, being careful with his steps as he backed up to meet with Maverick and Tarek. “But we came this far. The plant is dying. If I don’t collect this water now then I’ll have failed my first quest for the Royal Family.” Malek said. “I think they’d understand why you couldn’t if it was a matter of life or death,” Tarek said. Malek scoffs, moving his tail to grab the plant he hid in the back of his neck fur. “Not Rohroa Royals. They’re fucking crazy. If you get something from them, you have to do it, whether you like it or not.”

“Maybe so, but your life is more important,” Maverick said.

Malek looked back at the sundire who still stared at Krampus with unbreakable prowess. Shinya looked at Maverick then back at Malek. “You know he never speaks a word unless it’s important,” Shinya said, looking at the dune burrow dead in his eyes. “Leave the plant. It’s fine. We want you alive tomorrow.” Malek looked at the group before turning back around at Krampus who just stood there, waiting for his enemy to move first. Malek clenched his teeth before doing the unthinkable. “Wait, don’t—!” Shinya shouted. Malek dunked his tail that held the plant into the water. Krampus roared and charged at the group. The dune burrow tried to flee as quickly as he could but the Krampus was faster and was already a few feet from his body. “Malek!” Shinya shouted, body slamming into the Krampus. Malek gasped as he was knocked over. Maverick ran to stand in front of Malek and Tarek grabbed his tail with his mouth and tugged on it. Maverick looked back at the two bucks. “Leave. Now!” He shouted, giving another full body slam into Krampus, knocking it to the ground. The dune burrow and ADR fled, not looking back.