Scarface 2 chittered furiously, its tiny claws scratching against the shimring barrier. Behind it, an army of puffed-up, battle-ready squirrels squeaked in unison, their tails twitching like tiny, furry banners of war.
"Do you even understand what they're saying?" I asked, watching the chaotic display of rodent rage with a raised brow.
"Of course not," Leah replied, deadpan, her hands steady as she maintained the barrier. "But diplomacy is universal. If they like sothing, we can trade for it."
I squinted at her. "Pretty sure blackmail isn't considered diplomacy."
She ignored my comnt entirely, crouching to et Scarface 2's beady little gaze. "Here's the deal," she began, her tone matter-of-fact. "You let us take so of your fruit, and in return, we'll leave without turning your precious grove into a battlefield. Fair trade, right?"
Scarface 2 tilted its head, looking at her as if she'd just suggested turning its family tree into kindling.
"See? They're not buying it," I muttered, leaning against my sword. "They probably don't even know what you're saying."
Leah sighed dramatically. "Fine. Plan B." She rummaged through her satchel and pulled out a small pouch, opening it to reveal a handful of gleaming, colorful gems. My stomach dropped.
"Wait a second." I squinted at the familiar shimr of the stones. "Are those—?"
"Shiny, right?" Leah cut off with a grin, holding the pouch just out of my reach. "Trade these for your fruit. You can hoard them, chew on them, whatever you want."
Those were my gems!! My gems! (╥﹏╥)
The ones I'd painstakingly traded from that traveling rchant—the one who insisted on calling herself. I'd endured her dramatic hand flourishes, constant winks, and endless stories about her "mysterious origins," all to get those gems. And now they were about to end up in squirrel paws.
"Leah!" I hissed, outraged. "Those are mine!"
She waved off. "Relax. It's for the greater good."
Scarface 2 and its posse, anwhile, had fallen silent. Their eyes locked on the gems with a hunger I recognized all too well—because it was exactly how I'd looked at those gems when I first saw them.
Scarface 2 stepped forward cautiously, its twitching nose re inches from the pouch. Leah held her ground, unwavering. After what felt like an eternity, the squirrel let out a series of sharp chirps.
Leah glanced at triumphantly. "I think that's a yes."
"You think?" I crossed my arms.
"Better than nothing," she said with a shrug, lowering the barrier.
As soon as the barrier dissipated, the squirrels sward the pouch like a tiny, furry tide. Gems vanished into their greedy little paws in a matter of seconds, with Scarface 2 overseeing the operation like so kind of rodent cri boss. anwhile, Leah calmly approached the nearest tree and plucked a few of the glowing fruits.
"See? Easy," she said, tossing one to .
I caught it, still glaring at the thieving squirrels. "I still don't trust them," I muttered, biting into the fruit. It was sweet and tangy, but no amount of flavor could soothe the ache of my stolen gems.
Scarface 2 turned to , its beady eyes narrowing as if to say, Watch yourself, tall one.
---
With our prize secured, we left the grove without further incident. By the ti we set up camp for the night, the fruits' faint glow bathed the clearing in a soft, otherworldly light. It was peaceful—for now.
"So, what now?" I asked, poking at the campfire with a stick.
Leah held up one of the fruits, examining it in the firelight. "These should last us a while. But we'll need to avoid that grove from now on. No point in pushing our luck."
"No argunts here," I grumbled, shoving a piece of dried at into my mouth. "I've had enough squirrels for a lifeti."
Titan sat nearby, sharpening his weapon with quiet determination. He hadn't said a word all day—not that he ever did—but I could tell even he wasn't thrilled about the encounter.
"Think they'll co after us?" I asked Leah, glancing over my shoulder as if expecting Scarface 2 to erge from the shadows with a tiny dagger.
"Doubt it," she said. "We gave them what they wanted."
"Yeah, my gems," I muttered, my shoulders slumping.
Leah rolled her eyes. "You can't take shinies to the grave, you know." She said with a playful smirk.
Annoying woman!
I scowled. "I wasn't planning on dying anyti soon. Especially not to a squirrel."
"Good attitude," she said with a smirk, tossing another piece of fruit into the air and catching it. "But if it makes you feel better, I'll buy you new gems next ti."
I perked up slightly. "Really?"
"Sure. As long as you don't mind them being fake."
My mood soured instantly.
---
Later that night, as I lay staring up at the stars, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the last we'd see of Scarface 2 and its gang. Sure, we'd escaped unscathed this ti, but sothing about those squirrels—their cunning, their organization—sent a chill down my spine.
"If I see another squirrel," I muttered under my breath, "I'm moving all of us to the desert."
Titan, ever silent, gave a single nod of agreent. At least soone understood.
Leah, of course, overheard and snickered from her side of the campfire. "You'd probably just end up trading with desert lizards instead."
I groaned, throwing an arm over my face. One fluffy-tailed nace at a ti.
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