Chapter Text
Pomni played for a little longer, until Ragatha announced that they should most likely get some sleep in before they lost another full night. If all went well the next day, they would celebrate at the nearest village inn. Until then, rest was required.
Once more, due to Disappearing Guy being alert for the night, there was no need for anyone to keep watch. However, Pomni decided to stay down by the fire until Jax returned or until sleep met her. She was then tasked to put the fire out upon coming upstairs to join them for the night.
This also allowed her to give Gummigoo the call she had been so desperately waiting to make all day. The moment her best friend answered, Pomni immediately set off telling him what had happened the day prior in as much detail as she could. About the Abstraction in the forest, about the vast beauty of the caverns, the kindness and timed wisdom that Kinger possessed, about the insane escape back to the surface. The shattering of the bridge, the failed first attempt at retrieving the Artifact, the rogue practice in the forest that afternoon. Everything about the past two days came spilling out of her lips at once.
“It’s a good thing I learned Pomnese early on in our childhood,” Gummigoo said with a laugh, after forty minutes of Pomni rambling. “Otherwise, I’d be sittin’ here wonderin’ what the heck you just spewed.”
“You know how I get when I’m overstimulated,” Pomni responded, flailing her arms at the hologram of her best friend. “It was terrifying, enthralling and frustrating all at once.”
“So, I don’t have to smack that encyclopedia of yours for not keeping you safe?”
“I would very much prefer that you don’t,” Caine peeped from beneath Pomni’s cap.
The crocodile chuckled and crossed his arms. “Your very first adventure,” he said. “Sounds like it was an experience for you.”
“You have no idea,” Pomni forced out with a laugh.
“So, what’s the Traveling Circus like, at least?”
“They’re… different.” Pomni rubbed the back of her neck while looking at what surroundings she still saw in the glow of the fire. “Chaotic, just like you and so many others have said.”
Gummigoo leaned over the table he was seated at. “And?” he queried. “It sounds like you have more to say about them.”
Pomni played with her fingers. “They’re interesting,” she admitted. “Kinger said they each have a personal vendetta towards the Abstraction Virus, some in more direct ways than others.” She looked up at the Candian. “They’re very set in their ways, but sometimes, those don’t align with the other members of the group. So, there’s a lot of fighting that goes on between them… especially two in particular.”
“Sounds like a ‘but’ is comin’.”
“You know me, Gummi; I try to look for the good in everyone when I write their stories.” Pomni looked up at the stars. “They grumble about each other’s flaws, but… they’re astonishingly in tune with each other when the going gets tough. It’s like they just drop their disdain and work together at the flick of a switch. The moment there’s danger, they just… snap into action and work off each other’s strengths. I don’t even think they notice it. Aside from Kinger.” She groaned and leaned her head back against the bench she was sitting against on the ground. “It’s frustrating, but… Kinger told me to give everyone a chance. Apparently, they have more to give than what I’ve seen so far.”
“Wise words, I suppose.”
“Coming from a guy who won’t give you a straight answer unless you speak to him in the dark.”
Gummigoo snickered. “Eh, everyone has their quirks,” he said with a shrug.
Pomni looked at him. “Do you know Zooble?” she asked, placing her chin on her knees.
“Who?”
“The rogue. They said they’ve done some Zones of Wandering tracking missions as well.”
Gummigoo lifted his hat and scratched his head. “Uh, the name doesn’t ring a bell,” he said, “But I haven’t personally met every adventurer who has helped on the registry. What do they look like?”
Pomni pondered how she could describe Zooble without giving their secrets away—she had a feeling no one would know of them anyhow, considering they were always cloaked. “They have a pink head, one leg is an orange twisted rod, and they throw axes.”
“Oh! The Shadow Axe! Ye I’ve heard of ‘em,” Gummigoo said, snapping his fingers. “Max mentioned they stay cloaked because of an incident when they were lost in the Feywilds.”
The bard recoiled in surprise. “But they told me they were human,” she said.
“Oh, they are,” Gummigoo agreed. “But at some point in their early years, they got lost in the Feywilds. And when you stay in the Feywilds for too long, your body begins to…” His mouth hung open as his hands continued to make gestures in the air. After a moment, he cleared his throat and placed his hands together on the table in front of him. “In any case, they stay cloaked up when they do their tracking work, but apparently, they’re damn good at their job. They have the best track record on the registry. They don’t do as many as my mates and I do, but they can track an Abstraction’s Zone of Wandering faster than any other adventurer has.” Gummigoo smiled and leaned towards the screen. “You holdin’ out on me, Missy? What other secrets does this chaotic adventuring team keep from the rest of the world?”
Pomni let out a laugh. “It’s none of your business,” she said, nose in the air.
“Aw, come on, Mate! It sounds like these clowns are actually better than they let on. Ye got the Shadow Axe on that team, for gods sake! I had no idea. I’ve been tryin’ to replicate their work since Max told me about ‘em and I saw their track records.”
“Good luck. You’ll never be able to copy them, Gummi. Zooble’s way of working is impossible to replicate.”
“What about the wizard? A bit off his rocker I imagine, from what you told me, but he can make his own twist on ancient spells? That’s got to be a Ringmaster there.”
“He’s Caine’s favourite, too,” Pomni chuckled, looking up at her muffin cap.
Caine fumbled beneath the cap before poking his head out. “He’s smarter than people take him for, of course I like him!” he scoffed.
“Wow,” Gummigoo teased, arms crossed again. “Caine likes another human? That’s unheard of.”
“I don’t hate all humans. Only the ones who are idiots. Which turns out to be ninety-nine percent of them.”
Gummigoo snickered as Pomni pushed a finger against Caine’s lower jaw and pushed it upwards, closing his teeth over his eyes. “Ragatha—remember her? She’s crazy good at healing, apparently,” the bard said. “And the artificer built her own Steel Defender. It’s huge, Gummi. You’d love it.”
“Damn,” the crocodile said in awe. “Now how about the ranger? He’s like, the only one I’ve heard the most of from the public. What’s he like?”
Pomni’s entire demeanor shifted at this. She felt her nose wrinkle in disgust, almost as though the thought of Jax was enough to irritate her.
“Uh-oh,” Gummigoo said, not without an amused grin. “I see you’re not a fan of him, eh?”
“He’s a jerk,” Pomni replied. She crossed her arms. “He thinks he’s soooo amazing, but refuses to do any sort of magic but the offense kind.” She pointed over her shoulder. “He would rather be a bully and make fun of everything and anything he can, than be a decent being.” She groaned and let out a shiver, making the crocodile laugh. “He told me he bets half his pay for my commission that I’ll give up, Gummigoo. Can you believe that?”
Gummigoo snickered and wiped a tear aside. “Oh, he’s definitely pissed you off,” he said. “If there’s one thing I know you hate more than anything, is someone tellin’ you that you can’t do somethin’.” He leaned forward, eyes bright like a child’s. “But what about his skills? I heard he’s the damn best at what he does. How does he do it?”
Pomni tripped over her words and waved her arms about. “To hell with his skills! I don’t care if he saved me twice from Abstractions. He’s an asshole!”
Gummigoo whistled. “Nah, he saved you twice? Damn, you must really hate him. How the hell did he know they were comin’?”
“He’s a Harengon, Gummi! His big-ass ears aren’t for decoration!” She crossed her arms again. “But if you must know, he seems to have this system developed where the way his ears move indicates that he’s heard an Abstraction.”
“That’s handy!”
“Don’t compliment him! He doesn’t deserve it!”
The crocodile snickered again.
“Stop laughing, Gummigoo.”
“But I find it entertainin’ how pissed you are at him for bein’ good at his job.”
“All of the amazing skills he possesses are null if his attitude isn’t as polished.” Pomni leaned towards the hologram. “He complains every time I get scared of something too—!”
“BOO!” Someone yelled in Pomni’s ear, and the bard screamed in fright while jumping to her feet and turning. The moment she saw Jax doubled over and laughing behind her, she clenched her teeth and threw a clod of dirt at him.
“ASSHOLE!” she shouted at him, fists clenched.
Jax, arms around his waist, leaned away only to avoid the dirt flying, before opening an eye and looking at the bard. “It’s also hilarious,” he said, making Pomni grind her teeth. “You’re even easier than Gangle to spook.”
Pomni threw more dirt at him, which only made Jax laugh more. “You see, Gummigoo?” she exclaimed, holding her hands out in his direction. “He’s a big jerk!”
“A big jerk who has kept your tooshie safe, at least,” Jax added, avoiding another dirt clod thrown his way. He waved at Gummigoo through a few giggles. “Hi,” he said. “So, you Loverboy?”
“Loverboy?” Gummigoo echoed, recoiling in surprise.
“Ye. The one Kazoo took forever to say goodbye to back when we embarked on this Impossible Task.”
“Fuck off, Jax!” Pomni stammered, her face hot. She jumped over the bench and began shoving him in direction of the stairs that led to their sleeping space.
“Aww, you won’t let me stay and meet your boyfriend?”
“He’s not my boyfriend, and you have no authority of that anyhow.” Pomni continued shoving him towards the stairs, but being as tall as he was, Jax merely planted his heels into the dirt and the bard came to a stop. She groaned loudly. “Go to bed, Jax!”
“But I’m not tired,” Jax whined. He let his legs go limp, and Pomni suddenly found all of his weight on her shoulders. “Oh. Maybe I am.”
“Jax, I swear to God—!”
“Can’t I have a lullaby?”
Pomni began answering rudely, when the perfect response crossed her mind. She paused, sneered and the slipped out from beneath the rabbit, causing Jax to drop the other four feet to the ground with a yelp. Pomni leaned over him while dusting her hands off. “I did sing a lullaby earlier,” she said, and he stared at her in shock. “Not my fault you decided to pout and leave midway through the verses.” She leaned further down until they were nearly nose-to-nose, and then patted his cheek. “Guess the Big Bunny needs to tuck himself into bed tonight. Oh noes, woe is him.” Pomni turned away and walked back to the fire, where the hologram was waiting. “Nighty night, Jaxy Boy,” she taunted, waving.
She heard him fumble around in order to stand back up. By the time he had, she was sitting by the fire once more. “And you say I’m cocky,” Jax grumbled, catching her attention. As he dusted himself off, he grinned and narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re kind of a jerk yourself, you know.”
“Oh, did I hurt your feewings?” Pomni gasped sarcastically, hand on her cheek. She smiled back at him. “Two can play at the attitude game, Bunny. If you were expecting another Gangle, be ready for a reality check.”
The smile he returned this time was different than the usual he gave. Pomni was surprised to see genuine amusement. No forced lines, no wavering corners; even his eyes were twinkling.
“You’re such a weird one,” Jax said, not without a laugh. “But I do like a challenge.” He stretched out his arms and began climbing the stairs. “Nighty night, Kazoo.”
Pomni watched him climb out of view before turning back to the holoscreen. To her dismay, Gummigoo was now accompanied by both of his friends, who also looked on in as much amusement as he did. Stammering, she said, “This isn’t a performance!”
Gummigoo chuckled and placed his chin on his hands. “For someone who really hates this ranger,” he said, “You banter pretty professionally with him.” He looked at his giggling teammates, before adding, “You already have a nickname for the guy too, eh?”
Pomni spluttered, and she knew Gummigoo began laughing because her face was turning red. “I-If you’re insinuating what I think you are, Loverboy, I’m hanging up on you!” she snapped, pointing at the reptile. When all the crocodile did was continue to laugh, Pomni pulled on her hat. “Gummiiiiii, stoooooopppp!! It’s not funny!”
“Aw c’mon, Mate; I haven’t seen you turn this red in my life!”
“I’ll smash my lute against your head next time I see you!”
“I’d be more terrified of the banter that will come from your lips.”
“Fuck you, Gummigoo!”
*****