They plummeted into the river's icy depths, the shock stealing Aldrich's breath before he could brace himself. The current seized him, dragging him under. He thrashed upward, his lungs begging for air, but each desperate kick sent him deeper, the water's power mocking his struggle.
The current was a tyrant, sapping his strength with cruel speed, and he felt the edge of oblivion coming closer. He was only mere seconds away from drowning, and panic clawed at his mind, his thoughts scattering as the torrent tossed him like a ragdoll. He did not want to die.
As if the universe heeded his silent scream, a firm hand clamped around his arm and yanked him upward. He gasped, gulping as much air as he could. They were still caught in the river's grip but he was now buoyed by Alan's hold.
He had never been so grateful to see Alan like he was at this moment. For minutes, they rode the current, Alan's strength keeping them afloat. Then came the roar of a waterfall ahead.
Just before the drop, Alan's voice cut through. "Ready yourself."
Then, with no time to protest, they fell over the edge. They dropped into the river's depths, and time seemed to stretch thin as Aldrich braced for impact. He struck the water back-first, the surface slapping him with a stinging crack.
The current was slower here, its raging now at an end. However, Aldrich was no swimmer still, but before panic could fully grip him, Alan found him once again.
Dragging themselves to the riverbank, Aldrich collapsed to his knees, then sprawled on his back, basking in the sun's warmth as his chest steadied. Beside him, Alan mirrored his pose, their eyes locking before they erupted into relieved laughter.
"I owe you swim lessons," Alan grinned, water dripping from his green hair.
"I'll take you up on that," Aldrich replied, still smiling.
His smile immediately froze as some figures suddenly encircled them, spears pointed at their faces.
"So, this is where the Paranos fled," Alan muttered.
The Paranos were short, humanoid reptiles.Simply put, they were giant lizards that could walk like men.
Bound with rough ropes, Aldrich and Alan were herded through the forest, the cold spear tip prodding their back, urging them forward. Their wolf furs, weapons, and map were stripped away. However, they did not seem to bother with the watch strapped to their wrist.
Soon, they reached a bustling village. It was similar to the stone ruins they had first explored, but this one was alive with Parano activity. Aldrich noticed the villagers paid them no attention. It was strange.
Guided through the settlement, they descended into a stone cave, its entrance guarded by four spear-wielding Paranos in metal breastplates. Inside, flame torches flickered over a dank dungeon, the air thick with moss and staleness.
They were shoved into a cell with over twelve humans. This answered Aldrich's question of why the villagers were indifferent towards them. They were not their first human captives. Nine men and three women stood in the cage, excluding them. Three wore Highlander skin suits, while the rest were dressed in ragged cloth.
This made Aldrich note Alan's rare use of his skin suit. It would become a question for another day perhaps. Among them, a Highlander woman stood apart, her arrogance a large contrast to the others' despair, her disgust evident as she perched at the cell's edge.
"What are you staring at, scum?" she snapped, her voice cutting at him.
"Whoa!" Alan chuckled. "Looks like she's got a crush on you."
Her head whipped toward him, eyes blazing. "I'll have your head for that," she hissed. Some Lowlanders scoffed, but the two male Highlanders remained silent.
"Wonder how you'll manage that," Alan teased, his grin widening.
"Alan, enough," Aldrich interjected.
"Okay, okay," Alan laughed, raising his hands.
The woman's frown deepened, as well as the other Highlanders. "Pathetic!" she spat. "You let a Coreless speak to you as an equal?"
"He is my equal," Alan replied, unfazed.
"Disgusting," she sneered.
"Shouldn't we focus on escaping instead of bickering?" Aldrich rubbed his temple, exasperated.
"Oh?" One of the male Highlanders turned, a mocking smile curling his lips. "Got a plan, coreless?"
"I have a name," Aldrich replied coolly.
"And what is it?" the Highlander pressed, stepping closer, a head shorter than Aldrich.
"You haven't earned the right to know," Aldrich retorted.
The highlander burst into laughter, his friend behind him chuckling as well. "Never knew Lowlanders could be this arrogant," he walked towards Aldrich. He was a head shorter. "Tell me Coreless, what do you have to be so proud of?" He asked.
"I told you not to call me that," Aldrich said.
Following that, he headbutted the Highlander, shattering his nose. The man staggered back, blood seeping through his fingers.
"You bastard!" he muffled, enraged. The second Highlander lunged, but Alan tackled him to the ground, pummeling his face with a wicked grin, blood splattering on the stone floor.
Two Parano guards appeared, cursing in their language as they opened the cell and rushed in. A wicked smile appeared on Aldrich's face. He acted. He seized one of the distracted guard's spear, kneeing him into submission, wrenching the weapon free from its hold. The second turned, but Alan tripped it to the ground, and Aldrich drove the spear into its skull. Alan snatched the fallen guard's spear, piercing the still kneeling one in the neck. Their watches vibrated almost simultaneously: 75 points.
The fight wasn't finished, they still had to escape. Aldrich took the lead, and Alan fell a step behind him. The others trailed silently, a ragged procession that included the two battered Highlanders and the haughty Highlander girl. As they neared the base of the dungeon stairs, a Parano guard descended, spotting them instantly.
It lunged with a spear, and Aldrich dodged, tilting his head sideways, yet the blade grazed his cheek, a stinging reminder of their speed. Seizing the opening, he thrust forward, driving his stolen spear into its neck with a single, lethal strike. They stepped over the corpse and ascended the stairs.
At the top of the stairs, another Parano appeared, its eyes widening before it turned and fled, shouting for aid.
"Shit! We don't have much time," Aldrich hissed, rushing out of the cave mouth.
"We need to get our items back," Alan called from behind, his voice urgent. Aldrich nodded. Their weapons and the map were far too important to leave behind.
The Paranos would soon come after them hoping to recapture them, or even worse, kill them. Glancing back, he saw the group's eyes fixed on him, expectant, waiting for a plan.
The Highlander girl was gone though. She had slipped away unnoticed. Something that Aldrich considered impressive. He stared at the remaining two highlanders, they may have known about it. Their gazes met briefly, then darted away awkwardly.
"You can all go your own way now," Aldrich declared. "We've no reason to stay together. My friend and I are heading back into the village to reclaim our lost items."
A fair-skinned Lowlander with a round face and a scarred arm stepped forward. "Thank you," he said, his voice earnest. "I'm Vinicius. Tell us your name, so that we may remember the one who saved us."
"Aldrich," he replied, gesturing to Alan. "This is Alan."
"Good luck! May our paths cross again." Vinicius nodded, leading the other Lowlanders away.
"Aldrich and Alan, we'll remember your names," the two Highlanders muttered, their voices laced with a veiled threat, before leaving as well.
"Bozos," Alan chuckled under his breath.
"Let's move," Aldrich pressed.
They darted through the village, ducking behind crates and stone walls, evading the bustling Paranos. A dozen armored soldiers rushed past, oblivious to them, likely pursuing the fleeing prisoners. They would never have thought that some would head back to the center of the village instead of trying to escape.
Aldrich's gaze locked on a towering stone building, distinct among the others.
"Let's split up. I will search that way," he pointed to the tower.
"Be careful. Let's meet back here in an hour." Alan replied, and they parted.