Chapter Fourteen

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Theodas

The stench that permeates the air as the ogres move closer has my stomach souring. The group of them stop twenty yards away, all holding up their weapons and roaring loudly. As they roar, the smell in the air grows putrid. A mix of rot and death. It has me nearly passing out.

The ogres are large. As tall as houses, some even bigger. Their arms and legs are thick with muscle, but their guts are fatty from eating and not exercising. They are gluttons, and resort to eating each other when they become too lazy to hunt.

Despite what this realm looks like, there are plenty of beasts for the ogres to feast on. It's safe to say the lush forest that home the animals is on the other end of this realm, considering we're in the barren desserts. I've studied the geography of all the realms and know them well enough. I'd hoped we were running in the right direction and would come upon the forest, but it seems we weren't so lucky. If only I had decided to go in another direction from the get-go…

I take a step forward, holding onto my confidence.

"We did not come to this realm intentionally," I call out loudly. "There was a hidden portal in the woods that overtook us. We are only trying to leave." I keep my voice even, not wanting to sound aggressive but also not weak.

A few of them grunt. Others shift on their feet. There is one who steps forward. This one is a horrid shade of yellow. Like puss. He has a missing eye and a multitude of scars along his body. He must be the leader.

"You come here. You are food," it bellows in a deep, gravelly voice that sounds so unlike anything I've ever heard before.

"We are only trying to leave," I say.

"No leave." He pats his stomach. "In belly. Dessert."

I grit my teeth, knowing this is what needs to happen, but not liking it. I made the right decision. They have to take us.

"We only want to leave." I hold up my hands. "Please, we just want to get out of here. We can make a trade with you!"

"Trade?" it asks.

I nod. "If you help us get home, we will give you food."

"Cannot go to other realms," the ogre answers. Which is true. They aren't supposed to go to other realms, but that doesn't stop them. Not always, anyway. Typically, they stay here, but there have been plenty of times they have attacked another realm for one reason or another.

"We will bring food back here."

"No!" the ogre shouts, stomping his foot and causing the ground to shake. My arms flail out to keep my balance. "Lies!"

"I swear to you," I say, stepping forward and holding up my hand.

One of them lets out a sound that resembles a laugh.

"Dessert now," the pussy-yellow one says. He waves his hand. Another ogre from the back steps forward, taking off a backpack. When he sets it down, I note it is a backpack, but it's also a cage. Another ogre comes forward, doing the same. It seems they were sure they'd be catching something today. "In cage. We cook you. Eat you. Delicious."

He smiles, showing off rotting black teeth. It's disgusting.

I glance over my shoulder. Us three Dravens face the ogres head on. Tabitha has her face buried in Koz's chest. His arms are around her, holding her close.

"In!" the ogre shouts, gesturing to the cages.

If we go willingly, it's likely they won't harm us. Not until we get to the destination. They are smart, but they are also stupid. It's easy to play tricks on them. They don't understand sarcasm and don't have good reasoning skills. It's pure survival for them. They know only what they know.

"Stay with her," I say under my breath to Koz. "No matter what."

He grunts in response, and I tap the back of Raisi's arm, so he follows me.

"You better be right about this," he says through a clenched jaw.

"I am," I answer firmly.

We move to one cage, and Koz and Tabitha go to the other.

"In!" the ogre bellows, spit flying from his mouth. Raisi gags beside me and quickly reaches for the door to pull it open. Koz does the same. "Bag off!"

I pause, sharing a look with Raisi. There is no use in arguing, so we take our packs off and drop them to the ground. A moment later, we are all inside a cage. Koz and Tabitha in one, Raisi and I in the other. At least we will not be separated entirely. "Try to escape, we squish you."

We're jostled as the ogre picks up the cage and puts it on his back. We hold on tightly to the thin bars that are made from the white trees—a very sturdy wood. This cage could comfortably hold three more people of our size, and I must say it is well made. Once we are safely on the beast's back, I look around to find the ogre that is carrying Koz and Tabitha. He is blue, while this one is pink. Koz is sitting in the corner, Tabitha cradled in his arms.

I sit in the corner, rest my head back, and close my eyes.

"What are you doing?" Raisi hisses.

I open my eyes to find him glaring.

"Resting. We will need our energy. You should do the same."

"How can I rest during this?" he whisper-shouts, gesturing around.

"Trust me, Raisi, we will need our energy. Rest now, for we will likely fight later."

He holds my gaze, then groans and drops down beside me.

It's a long journey, and all the while, I wonder who is planning on eating us. There isn't enough of us to go around. We are four small people compared to these giant beasts. One of them eating the four of us wouldn't come close to filling them. Like one of us being satisfied with one grape. It's unlikely.

My questions are answered when we enter their town, full of dwellings made of their white trees big enough to fit one ogre inside. Except in the far back, where there is one that is much larger and could possibly fit two or even three of them. The homes are placed evenly apart, giving each ogre their own space. It's odd to see them living like this, as they typically don't. They are solitary creatures. That is what we were taught. But their living situation is the least of my worries, because in the center of all their homes, is a large cage. And it is filled with humans.

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