The waves broke against the shore, black and cold. A gull cried out overhead. Here and there a crab scurried along.
There were corpses on the beach. Men and orcs. And pieces of ships, wood and cloth, rope, and in one place what looked to be the figurehead of a pirate ship, an angry looking woman with huge tits. The waves washed over it all, making the bodies move just enough that one might think they were sleepers, about to wake up.
Not much chance of that, Gabi thought. At least the air is warm. She looked up for a moment, the tropical sun beating down on her. She closed her eyes and let its heat work into her skin, focusing for the moment on the simple pleasure of that feeling.
She was still cold inside. That would remain, she knew, until she knew what had happened to Miri.
Elka was walking back up the beach towards her, holding something. She dropped down onto the log where Gabi was sitting. "No sign of her, that I can see." Elka shrugged. "There's stuff spread all over the beach, but I think that thing was eating a lot too." She held up a pair of sandals. "I found some shoes though! Two pairs, and they fit me, so I know they fit you." Elka smiled, trying to put on a brave face.
"You didn't take them from a corpse, did you?"
Elka nudged her shoulder. "Come on. What corpse would be wearing four identical shoes? They were in a chest that washed up." She held the shoes out again. "Here, you'll need them."
A single tear rolled down Gabi's cheek as she took the shoes. "I shouldn't have teased her about not taking the crown," she said despondently.
"Hey," Elka said, putting an arm over Gabi's shoulder and hugging her twin. "Don't say that. We don't know if anything has happened to Miri. She probably washed up down the shore a ways, just like us." Elka paused for a moment. "But if anything did happen, that means you're the heir."
"By thirty fucking seconds."
"Yep, and that makes all the difference." Elka stood and held out her hand. "So get your shit together princess."
Gabi could only laugh at that. She wiped her eyes, put on the sandals, and stood with her twin. "You fucking bitch. I love you so much." They hugged for a moment. "So what now?"
"I think I saw a trail, down the beach a little bit." Elka pointed back the way she came. "That means someone might live here. And if they live here, then maybe they know how we can get off and get to Veste."
Gabi took her sister's hand, lacing their fingers together. "Lead the way."
The trail was narrow, but well used. It led deeper into the jungle, and soon the sounds of waves were replaced with those of birds in the trees and other, unidentifiable, creatures in the brush. The forest was thick, and the sun had trouble working through the leaves, making the entire place feel as though it was a tunnel of some kind. It was beautiful in its own way, though. Especially when they came across a clearing, where the sun shone around a fallen tree. Flowers had taken over, blooms of every color reaching for the light in a riotous tapestry.
They were taking a break among the flowers, admiring their beauty, when Elka suddenly went still and looked up. "Do you smell that?"
Gabi turned from an orchid and sniffed the air. After a moment... "Smoke."
"Yeah, someone has a fire out there." Elka turned in a circle, scanning the sky. "There." She pointed. Not far from them a thin tendril of smoke rose into the air. "That might be someone who could help us."
"It might be pirates," Gabi said, remembering the way the pirate ships swarmed out from the islands.
"Then we don't let them see us." Elka smiled. "Mom didn't make us take all those lessons at the Adventurers Guild for nothing. We can be sneaky."
"Elka wait," Gabi said. "If it is someone that can help, don't let them know who we are. We don't know who to trust yet."
The two of them made their way as stealthily as possible through the jungle. It was rough terrain, and their progress was slow, but as they moved the smell of a fire grew. And, eventually, they heard the sound of voices. They could see another clearing opening up ahead of them. The twins crouched down in the brush, trying to hide as they examined the fire.
There were a pair of elves in the clearing. But they weren't like any elves Gabi or Elka had ever seen. Their hair was the color of moss, a dark green that fit well in the jungle. One had her hair up in a high ponytail, the other in a multitude of tiny braids. They had darkly tanned skin, and were nude from the waist up, their small breasts exposed. But the most striking thing was their ears. Each of them had absolutely massive ears, easily a foot long, that stuck straight out from their heads. The twins were accustomed to elves, their mother's friend Bellavar a frequent guest at the palace (and frequent lover as well), but every elf they had ever seen had human sized ears, just slightly pointed.
As she eased forward for a better look, Elka stepped on a twig. It was a small sound, but each elf twitched one of those massive ears in their direction. Their hands drifted towards the spears laying next to each of them. "Come out slowly, friend," the one with the ponytail said, her common heavily accented, but understandable. "No need for trouble. There is room enough around our fire for all."
Gabi and Elka exchanged a look, and Gabi nodded. The twins stood slowly, their hands spread to show they were unarmed. They stepped into the clearing and approached the fire. "Hello," Gabi said. "We are travelers. Our ship... it tried to make the passage."
The elf raised an eyebrow. "And M'hal spared you? I am surprised. She usually kills or devours all in her path." She waved to the fire. "Come, sit. Share our food and water. You are our guests." That last bit had the feel of ritual. "I am Su'ul. This is Va'aran."
The other elf, Va'aran, nodded to them as they sat by the fire, handing them a leather water bag. She watched as the twins drank their fill, both of them suddenly realizing how long they had gone without fresh water. "Most humans we meet are dressed. Is this the custom where you are from?"
"Va'aran," Su'ul said scoldingly. "I apologize for my companion. She lets her mouth speak before her mind thinks."
Gabi and Elka laughed it off, giggling at the sudden moment of levity. "No," Elka said. "On the Continent we wear clothes." She looked down at herself. "I think I was wearing a robe when the ship sank. I don't know what happened to it."
"Continentals. You are not common around here," Va'aran said. "Have we met Continentals before, Su'ul?"
"Once or twice, dearest." Su'ul reached out and carved some meat from the bird roasting over the fire. "Here, eat. Surviving a shipwreck is hungry business."
The twins ate quickly, the meat was delicious. "What is this island?" Gabi asked between bites.
"This is the Island of Dryas," Su'ul said. "But I think you humans call it something else."
"Are you forest elves?" Elka asked. "I've never seen an elf with ears like yours."
Both of them laughed at that. "We are not elves, darling," Su'ul said. "We are dryads. The daughters of Dryas."