Heroes Without A Plan

The sun had well since risen as the four made their way to the town they were mere miles away from. Eliot had still yet to awake and every one of them was exhausted.

As they continued, Alyssa asked Mike for a break, only to be quickly shot down by the warrior.

“Please! My legs really hurt!” She begged him.

“No, we’re almost there.”

“But—” Alyssa was quickly interrupted by Mike, who turned to her, obviously annoyed. They paused on the dirt trail leading up the hill. Pire waited anxiously to move on.

“You’re fine,” he snapped. “We can rest when we get to town. Do you think I’m fine? Eliot hasn’t woken up yet, and I’ve been carrying him for hours! I’m exhausted. We’re all exhausted, but we have to get him some help.”

After Mike finished his little harangue, he started walking again. Pire followed close behind. Alyssa mumbled an apology as she followed, her head bowed slightly.

When they reached the town, they stopped and looked around. There were many people walking around, going from shop to shop, and there didn’t seem to be any orcs around. It seemed quite lively, and it was the most normal the heroes had felt since coming to this strange world.

Mike made his way over to a woman in white who was pushing a baby carriage to ask for help.

“Hey! Hang on!” Alyssa called behind him.

The lady looked at the three bloodied strangers, worry crossing her face. She gave a soft gasp, her voice soft and refined.

“Are you okay?” She asked, her eyes moving to Eliot as she spoke.

“We’ll be fine! Can you show us where the hospital’s at?” Mike implored the stranger.

“Please, come along!” The lady quickly turned her carriage around and hurried off to the nearest medical center.

The heroes followed closely as she stopped in front of a building, the baby in her stroller began to cry from the movement.

“Here! The infirmary!” She said in a tender voice as she rocked the stroller.

They were quickly ushered into a nearby room where Eliot had been taken to be examined. As they stood by Eliot’s unconscious body, Alyssa spoke to one of the nurses. At the sight of their condition, the woman stayed a little longer.

Escorted to their own room, the group left the wizard.

“Thank you!” Mike said as he entered the room. She replied graciously: “Of course, I hope you feel better soon.”

Mike smiled sheepishly, giving her his name as Alyssa approached.

“Nice to meet you, Mike, I’m Viola Emerson,” she greeted with a bow before Alyssa interrupted.

“Hey Mike, so listen—”

“Oh, this is my friend, Alyssa Harris!” Unaffected by Alyssa’s announcement, Mike introduced them.

“Hello Alyssa,” Viola welcomed her.

The rogue was visibly upset with Mike, but quickly greeted the woman. She then interrupted all further discussion. They took Pire away, she told him. And they could pick him up later. Seeing how distraught he was, Viola offered to keep the little one company while he recovered. She picked up her bag.

“Could you watch Theo while I go? He’s asleep, and I’d rather not wake him.” She added as she pointed to the sleeping baby in the stroller. Mike agreed with a smile as Viola left.

With a heavy sigh, Alyssa lay down on one of the beds and stared up at the ceiling in a state of utter exhaustion.

“She’s really nice, huh?” Mike asked in a rhetorical tone as he looked down at the sleeping baby.

“Are you lying down? There’s another bed.” She asked with a look at Mike who was still on his feet.

“I will. I just have to wait for Viola.” Alyssa looked at him with a puzzled look on her face as he explained how he would keep an eye on Theo.

“You enjoy doing what you’re told, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah! Keeping promises matters. I like helping people!” Mike said with pride as he looked over at Alyssa.

“Is that why you became a fireman?” She asked, meeting his gaze. Mike sighed: “Yes,” as he looked back at Theo.

By the time Viola returned, Mike was on the verge of passing out. He greeted her with a sleepy smile as she went to get her things. The lady was full of comments about how cute and friendly the dragon was. Pire was resting at a nearby veterinarian’s office, where they could go after they had a rest themselves.

A nurse slowly opened the curtains, letting an orange glow flood the room as Eliot twitched his fingers. The hazy sensation slowly dissipated as Eliot’s eyes adjusted to the bright light seeping through the window.

“Good afternoon.” He heard a familiar voice and looked over at Mike and Alyssa beside him. Pire lapped at some water beneath them as the nurse closed the door. Eliot propped himself up as Alyssa spoke. “How are you?”

“Hmm, fi-fine,” he replied, his voice cracking. “Did we do it?”

They started talking about the night before, trying to make sense of it, and Eliot asked them if they had told anyone what had happened. And it turned out that they had told the doctors when they got to their room.

“Yes! And they’re celebrating!” Mike exclaimed. The townspeople had started throwing a party for the heroes after they fell asleep, and they couldn’t have been more grateful.

The door slammed open and the three looked over at the sudden noise.

“HA HA! I KNEW IT! I knew you would do it!” Eliot cupped his ears and looked at the crone.

“AGATHA!” Alyssa screamed.

“Well fought Steelbow, you got em’!” The witch cheered and applauded them. Leaning forward, Agatha laid her wrinkled hand upon Pire’s head. She adored their new companion.

Agatha continued to talk about how proud she was of the heroes’ success as they left the building. The crone cheered as she saw the townspeople gather in celebration of the goblins’ demise. There were balloons and food and a huge banner with the unofficial names of the heroes.

“WAIT! HOW DID THEY GET THESE NAMES? THEY’RE SO DUMB!” Alyssa cried as she looked up at the banner that read “To TrueSword, SteelBow, and ProudFlame. Our heroes!”

“Aw, don’t be mean! I helped make it!” Agatha whined.

“I’m sure you did!” Alyssa snapped back.

“Ah! You didn’t mention Pire!” Mike complained. Uncomfortable with the constant stares, Eliot tried to make them stop. Alyssa huffed as she released her angry persona. As she joined the party, she smiled to herself.

It went on for hours as the heroes danced and celebrated the victory of the ages. The food disappeared from the tables minute by minute as time passed. Slowly, the party died down as Mike took the last cupcake from a table. Agatha closed her eye, listening to the music.

“Agatha?” Alyssa sat down beside the witch. “Will I... Will we ever leave?” she asked, looking for direction in the eccentric witch she’d come to love.

“What’s the matter? Don’t like it here?” she laughed. Alyssa grew flustered as she tried to explain her wishes. She watched as Eliot talked to Mike as they enjoyed the party meant for them, smiling together and not worrying about anything.

“Yes, perhaps there’s a way back home. But you can never come back”.