Marginal Alliance: Chapter 6

                                             The Forging of a Friendship

Two days later, Jake found his fridge lacking in meat.  What little he had was a half-pound bag of sliced ham.  That deli meat held a sweet flavor to it that would have been pleasant had it been in anything other than meat.  He felt lazy today, and almost took his truck into town for groceries, but at the last minute changed his mind and gathered up his hunting gear.  It had been almost a week since he had stalked the woods last; and besides, he hadn’t gotten out of the house yet today.  If Jake had bothered to listen to the radio or watch the news, he would have known that a blizzard was expected to sweep the area that evening.

Suited up in his arctic camouflage and armed with his faithful carbine, he set out into the forest.  The maps he had purchased earlier showed that the forest receded a good bit from the foot of the nearest mountain.  That would be a good place to hunt.  Making his way through the forest, he noticed a certain deadness.  No squirrels could be seen among the branches, no birds could be heard in the air, no rodents were visible creeping through the underbrush.  If Jake had been familiar with the habits of creatures in a true winter, he would have recognized the animals’ holing up as the signs of snowstorm.  However, this did not register within his mind, as he was too focused on finding his way to the foot of the mountain.

After almost an hour of walking, he saw the forest’s boundaries ahead.  Looking up past the bare treetops, he beheld the mountain.  Jutting up from the snow-covered landscape, it resembled an enormous tooth.  The peak reached upwards just high enough to puncture the clouds blanketing the sky.  Noticing the dark, low-lying sheet across the sky, Jake began to give thought to the weather.  He had to shoot what he could in thirty minutes and leave.  Hopefully he would beat the storm home, at least before it became dangerous.

As he stared into the sky, a soft and continuous crunching noise broke his thoughts.  Looking down, he saw movement out beyond the forest line.  Shifting his position to glimpse between the trees, he caught sight of a tall figure, hooded and cloaked, pacing slowly in the snow.  Its head was bowed, as if deep in thought.  Jake noticed that the figure favored its left leg and carried a cane, which it used with each step.  After observing the posture and walking pattern, Jake concluded it to be a man.  Stepping quietly so as not to disturb his thoughts, Jake came closer to the forest’s edge.  The figure abruptly paused, then turned to face the forest.  Jake froze instinctively.  He had barely made any disturbance whatsoever, yet the figure had sensed him.  Unseen eyes swept the trees looking for the imposing individual, but did not recognize his outline, which the camouflage effectively destroyed.  The man seemed unnerved by the invisible presence, and limped off at a good pace towards the mountain.  The slope was only about two hundred feet off, but took him a few minutes to reach.  As Jake watched, the cloaked figure disappeared into a crevice that ran into the mountain face.  For a moment, Jake was torn between following the man or heading back home before the storm.  Curiosity won over practicality, and he stepped out from the forest’s shadow and began striding across the field towards the rock face.  

Out of habit, he glanced down at the footprints the stranger had left in the snow.  Stopping instantly, he gaped at the huge claw marks left in place of the shoe prints he had expected.  There were four toes, but no heel.  It must be walking on the balls of its feet.  Then something Jake had not noticed at first caught his eye.  It was a long, singular mark, as if the figure were dragging something heavy behind it.  The mark left by the object had a wavy pattern to it, as if it shifted with each step.  

A sudden gust pulled Jake’s attention away from the tracks and back to the situation.  Either he should head for home immediately, or follow the strange tracks to the mountain.  He was far to perplexed to consider turning back now, and so crossed the field and came to the crevice the robed figure had vanished into.  In the failing light before dusk, the crack in the mountain face looked forbidding, even hostile.  Still, he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving without knowing what he saw.  Taking a breath and resting his hand on the grip of his knife, he plunged into the darkness.  

The chasm spanned a width of only about six feet, but the ceiling stretched high into the mountain.  It was too dark to see where it led, but he crept along the wall’s rough surface steadily.  Suddenly, the sound of scrambling was heard from high above him on the chasm wall about twenty feet ahead.  Gravel and dust poured down onto the floor. This was quickly joined by a large object, which hit the ground with a loud slap.  A rumbling groan came from the heap, followed by indistinct mumbling.  As the dust settled, Jake recognized that it was the strange man he was following.  Did he try to climb the walls?  Jake walked towards him to see if he was injured, but stopped short at the sight of his head, from which the cloak’s hood had fallen away.  In the faint light which managed to find a way into the narrow cave, a long, thick snout lined with gracefully curved teeth was visible.  For several moments, Jake simply stared, his mind trying to explain this anomaly.  Could it be a mask?  Interrupting his rationalization, the thing began recovering from its fall.  No longer knowing what he was dealing with, Jake took the gun off his back and crouched in the dark alongside the wall.  The creature rose shakily to its feet and surveyed the cavern for its pursuer.  In the gloom, Jake saw two shining orb-like eyes lock onto his position.  Jake heard the clicking of claws as the creature broke into a dash towards him.  Just as it reached him, the robed figure gathered itself and leapt over Jake, then broke its fall with a roll and left the chasm.  

Jake followed once again, and exited the crevice just before the trailing edge of the cloak disappeared over a ledge above him.  Although he could not rock climb, nothing now would prevent Jake from pursuing that strange being.  Finding a path which he could take up along the face of the mountain, he made his way towards that last sighting.  Once he found it, tracks led him further up the steep incline, till at last he came to another cave.  However, this one was larger, and the area in front of it was free of snow.  As he stepped forward to the mouth of the cave, a deep, rumbling voice sounded from the darkness inside.

“Come no further!”

Jake stopped before the yawning entrance.  “Who are you?” he called out into the cave.

“Someone who doesn't like people messing in their affairs,” came a reply burning with malevolence.  In the waning light of dusk, darkness poured out, daring him to enter and confront the unknown.  If he had gone this far, there was no way he would turn aside now.  

“I do that for a living,” Jake grimly said, defying the voice and stepping into the void.  The utter darkness combined with uncertainty of what lurked inside gave the cave a suffocating quality.  A brief screeching of metal brought Jake to a halt several paces inside the cave.  About twenty-five feet from him, a vertical shaft of light grew in intensity until igniting.  

“Take one step closer and I will be forced to act!” shouted the deep voice that reverberated around the cave.  Standing at least seven feet tall and partially illuminated by a flaming sword, the creature revealed himself, robed no longer.  His body was covered in dark green scales that dimly reflected the light from the sword.  Both his hands and feet tipped with cruel claws, but the most captivating feature was his face.  Tipped with stiff horns and sporting the snout he saw earlier, it looked quite intimidating.  His lips curled back in a leer over his jaws.  His eyes were menacing and snake-like, having narrowed into nothing more than slits.  

Jake took an involuntary step backward and slung his weapon off his shoulder.  “What ARE you?” he asked in mixture of awe and bewilderment.  

“Someone who has had a rough time,” the creature said, glaring at him.  Jake wondered about his response.  He decided to reply in like fashion.

“How so?”

“I'm not going to explain my life's story to someone who broke into my home and is threatening me with that weapon of yours,” he replied, with ice in his voice.  Jake was no fool.  Even though his carbine could probably bring it down with a few well-placed hits, it wouldn’t stop him immediately, giving the creature plenty opportunity to carve him up with that sword.  Jake would have to proceed carefully.  

“I never meant you any harm,” Jake said somewhat reproachfully.  The reptilian didn’t seem to believe him.

“Then why do you carry that with you?” he said, pointing the tip of his flaming sword at the carbine in Jake’s hands.

“I was hunting in the woods when I saw you.”  

The creature snorted, causing smoke to trail out of his nostrils.  “Put that down, I warn you.  This is my cave, and I will not permit trespassers.”  

Jake lowered his gun, but held onto it.  “If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it back after you slipped off the rock wall.”

This seemed to give him some new consideration.  “Hmm...But then did you know I was who I am right now?  I look human when I have my robe on.”

“You left tail marks and huge, clawed feet.”

For some reason, he thought that remark was important.  “In the snow?  Where?  When?” he queried impatiently.

“Before you ran up the mountain slope.”  Jake noticed that he was reluctant to put weight on his right leg.  “Or hobbled, I should say.”

The reptilian stared unblinkingly at him, studying his face.  "Did you see my marks anywhere else?”

Jake paused for a moment. "Ah, those must have been your tracks next to the stream!”

His expression looked worried from what Jake could tell. Jake could hear him mumbling to himself.  “The tracks by the river...no one would have remembered them as a dragon’s, unless...” his voice trailed off.  Did he just call himself a dragon?  Well, now that he thought about it, he certainly looked like one.  The dragon’s speech came back with renewed vigor.  “You’ve been to Second Identity, haven’t you?”

Jake's face went blank for a moment. “What? The costume shop?”  His eyes suddenly lightened.  “Ah, so what the shopkeeper says is true!”  Of course!  It all made sense now!  Why didn’t he realize it before?

The dragon stared directly into his eyes, “All I heard is that he makes costumes.”

Jake's face took on a shrewd grin. “Then why mention it?”

A weakness finally showed on the dragon’s scarred face as it seemed to sink into itself.  “I-....Nothing.”

He obviously was trying hiding something, so Jake decided to draw on the subject.  “Funny that you should mention that store. The owner happens to be making me a custom suit.”

It worked.  The dragon stomped his left foot, making a harsh noise that resonated in the cave.  “I'll tell you once, don’t get one if you value the one life you like.  If you do get one, remember that you will never be the same again.  Some love the costumes, some hate them. Some can deal with it. But whatever choice you make, make sure it’s one you can stick by.”  He stopped and cocked his head as if listening to someone. “Oh, yeah, If you do get one, I hope to see my brother...” he said before strangely trailing off.

Jake stared quietly at him. Finally shouldering his weapon, he replied slowly, “Is that what happened to you?”

“Is what happening to me?” the dragon asked, looking confused by the question.

Jake took a step forward.  “Did you lose something from it?  Is that why you avoided the question?”

“Lose something from what?” he asked again, obviously confused, as he lowered his smoldering sword.

“You have one of his suits, don't you?” Jake said, pressing the issue.

The dragon snapped his finger and the cave, lit by gas lamps, was flooded in light, revealing his home.  “I am his costume.”

Jake blinked in surprise, both at the lights and the statement. “What?!  How can you be the costume?”

The dragon dropped his sword, which extinguished when it left his hand.  “I can’t believe you told him that? Why did you have to tell him that!” he shouted at the empty room.  “Because we finally get to meet another one of us if he chooses to get a costume.”  The dragon turned and looked at his hand.  “He said he was buying one. You couldn't just keep your mouth shut, could you?”  He glanced at Jake and then looked away.  “James, I don’t waist assets.  Especially since we can’t go into town unseen.

Jake's face held a hint of worry.  He stepped back involuntarily from the sudden outburst of the dragon arguing with itself.  “What do you mean?” he asked, wondering what the dragon meant by “assets.”

The dragon panted, holding a hand to his head.  “N-Nothing.  Just ignore what I said.”

Jake stared nervously at him.  “Yeah, sure.”  Jake could see him better in the bright light.  He noticed a pair of leathery wings hanging partially folded on his back.  A long tail dragged behind him.  Jake also noticed that his body seemed to be covered in various scars, the most striking of which was one that lingered over his right eye.  He looked around the partially furnished cave, asking, “How long have you been here?”

He looked past Jake and into the sky at the rising moon. “It looks like another storm is brewing.  They get quite bad in the winter.  I'll help you find your way back to your house after the storm is over.  Come, as long as you leave your weapon next to the door, you may have what meager dinner I can offer you.”

Jake paused, then smiled as he rested his gun against the cave wall. “I can't really refuse, now can I?”

“Not unless you want to die out in the blizzard.” The dragon said, heaving the door shut.  “You look to have the experience of the fighter about you.  Tell me, what's your story?”

Jake looked at him slyly out of the corner of his eye as he took a seat on a stone stool.  “I believe I already asked you that.”

The dragon huffed as he sat down.  Plugging one nostril and then exhaling out the other, a stream of flames flew from his nose and engulfed the campfire, setting it ablaze.  He set some frozen meat into a pot and suspended it over the fire.  The strange creature gazed at the flames and sighed before asking, “Do you mean how long I have had a costume or how long I’ve been a dragon?”

Jake glanced up from the flames with a confused look.  “Wouldn't they be the same question?”

“It’s like Accuracy and Precision, each sound the same and are similar, but each has a different answer and solution,” he said wisely.

Jake grinned at the analogy.  Gladly warming himself near the fire, he said, “Well then, let's hear the first. When did you get the costume?”

“A few months ago, before I graduated from high school.”

“So you weren’t a dragon after you got the costume?  How was it different from being a dragon?”


“The questions are different because back then, I could change back to being human,” he answered solemnly, as if the memory hurt him.

Jake stopped rubbing his numb hands. “What happened?”

“I died,” he replied simply and sadly. Jake said nothing, only stared in confusion at the mournful creature before him.  “I think I had better handle it, Alimar,” he said, then nodded before adding, “Besides, it’s better from my perspective.”

“Who is Alimar?” Jake asked, now thoroughly perplexed.

“I am.”

Jake would have laughed if an aura of gloom did not hang like a mist over the cave. They hadn't even asked each other's names! “In that case, I’m Jake.”

“I'm Alimar, or James...it’s so confusing.  Sorry, my name is Alimar.”

Jake managed a smile and held out his hand.  “It's nice to meet you, Alimar.”

Jake’s smaller hand was gripped by Alimar’s claw.  “Actually, my human name is James, But I’m Alimar...It gets way too confusing for me...” His voice drifted off.

“If you don't understand it, I don't think I will either.  Alimar is fine.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, what happened after…” How were you supposed to word something like that?  What happened after you died?  That just didn’t seem very tactful.

“Well, as I was saying, James died,” Alimar continued, “He was my partner, I had to save him.  You see, he had fallen off this exact same cliff and he was dying with no help coming. So I did what I had to do to save his life; I merged with him.”

Could this stuff never become clear and simple?  “Wait, you said that James is your human name.  So what do you mean by saying that you ‘merged with him’?”

Alimar sighed and bowed his head.  “I'm sorry, I should have been more clear.  My name is Svear, I'm James's costume.  Drethan made me in his shop.  My purpose was to give what James most desperately wanted, and that was to be his avatar: Alimar.  So he now is his avatar.  Drethan could explain it better.  He made me.  All I know is from what he told us.”

Jake's eyes widened.  “The old man's costumes talk?”

“Some of them.  It happens quite randomly, you know. He doesn't know how it works.  One minute they just turn the user into what they represent, the next they actually have a mind within it.  As I said before, Drethan could explain it better.”

Jake stared at the dragon before him, then dropped his gaze onto the crackling fire.  “Huh.  I guess that's not quite as far-fetched as them turning people into things.”

“Actually, I found that having Svear inside me the first time was quite invading. But since that time, we've grown fond of each other.”

This time Jake did laugh.  “I would hope so!”  Suddenly his voice changed to a more serious tone.  “How long has this guy, Drethan, been doing this?”

“From what I’ve heard from some select individuals that have crossed my path, I'm guessing maybe two years ago he started this.”

“Select individuals?  What else is out there?” he asked, gesturing to the other side of the cave door.

“I bet you’ve met some of them.” Alimar said.  “I’m not the only one that lives in these mountains.  Though because of the spell you might not have realized that they were what they are.”

“I've only met one other guy.  He didn't look...” Jake stopped for a moment, recalling the conversation with Chris.  “Wait, he mentioned the Second Identity too!”

“You must've met my friend Chris.” Alimar said, smiling a little.  “How's his animal side?”

“You know him?  He didn't say anything about what costume he got.”

“Oh, he's around.  You probably out saw him hunting but never knew it.  He likes hunting as a wolf.  Keeps his food bills down, he says.”

Jake said nothing, staring out into open space.  Then a huge grin broke out across his face.  “Ha, I almost shot the poor guy!” he chuckled.

“He must have liked that.  Let me guess, he invited you to go hunting?”  Alimar said with a wide grin, “I guess he was planning on scaring the wits out of you with his costume.”

“I can hardly believe it.  That's why the wolf followed me.  Just like that dog did, the very same day.”

“Hmm...dog.  Never met a dog before.  Guess he lives in the urban area.”

“Yeah, it was in town.”  Jake fell silent for a moment.

Alimar pulled the pot of the stove and took a piece of meat and gave it to Jake on a flat rock.  “I don’t have anything better; I hope you don’t mind.”

Jake took the meat gratefully.  “I've had worse than this.”  After tasting the juices sizzling off the rock in a little stream, he added, “A lot worse.”

Alimar laughed.  “Tell me about it!”

Jake looked up.  “You know what MRE stands for?”

“Meals ready to eat.  But they are not meals and they are not ready to eat,” Alimar said, smiling as he ate his meat raw. It disappeared in one gulp.

Jake laughed.  “MRE. Meals Rejected Everywhere.”

Alimar grinned, showing his sharp teeth.  “Never hear that one before.”

“Ever had one?”

“Plenty,” Alimar said.  “My dad had to work for the military at one point.  I think it was something that required an engineer to do.”

“Probably to show the boys how to repair choppers or something.  Funny thing is, you have to have a college diploma to fly one, but high school dropouts fix 'em.”

“Sounds like you have experience in the military.”

With a faint smile, Jake said, “Strait out of college, joined up with the Marines. Did my best in everything.  I even made it into the Special Forces.  That was my dream.”

“That’s what you meant about affairs.”  Alimar grinned and stood.

“Yep.  Delta Force.  Probably the most undisciplined group in the military.”

You seemed disciplined enough.  Especially with a grouchy old dragon like me.”

Jake took a bite of the steaming food.  “I was only with them for three years.”

“Let me guess.  You had enough or you got injured enough to get transferred out.”

“Nope.  I got a better offer.”

“A home in the upper mountains of Sunrise Valley.  How nice.” Alimar laughed.
Jake laughed with him, but it was a laugh devoid of merriment.  “No.  I joined Sandline International.  A big private military contracting firm.”

Hmm...something tells me that I'm getting in over my head.” Alimar said, walking to the door of the cave and checking outside.  The wind was blowing and large flakes were coming down.  Alimar closed the door.

Not quite.  They're more, shall we say, discreet than most industries, but they're not classified.  Basically, you do guard work.  Protect diplomats, escort convoys, deliver medical supplies, that sort of thing.  Except they pay you four times what the military does.  Plus, you're not at risk of getting crucified over your commander's mistake, like in the military.”

“Sounds like a good deal, what made you leave?  And don’t tell me it was for the sunrise, that’s an overused joke here.”

Jake shrugged.  “I got enough to retire.  Why stick around?  War is hell.”

“True, though I think war is worse than Hell.”

“At least war has an end.  Either that, or you or your buddy gets shot, and then it's over.”

“But think of this.  Who goes to Hell?”

Jake stared at the floor.  “You never know, do you?”

“Sinners, bad people go to Hell, the ones who deserve it.  But many innocents die in war.  So war is worse than Hell in my opinion."

“Yeah.  Sometimes it's worse for those who survive.”

“Exactly,” Alimar agreed, looking solemn again.

“So, what happened after you merged with your costume?”

“I’ve had an adventure of a lifetime,” Alimar said, “I wouldn't trade it for the world.”

“All in just a few months?  I'd say you've got room for more adventures to come.”

“Well, you wouldn't believe the things I’ve been through" Alimar said, limping back to the stool and sitting down, stretching out his hurt leg.  “I'd like some quiet for a change.  Though every time I get some its usually at night.”

“When did you get that limp?”
“Like I said,” Alimar stated, stretching his leg out more, which now shows the large wound in his leg that was healed over, “I do want my peace and quiet sometimes.”

Jake, having finished his meal, set the rock plate down.  “I can understand.”  Selecting a spot against the wall sit and lean against, he folded his hands across his chest.

“Well, I tried to save someone that was lost to me.  You wouldn't understand what happened unless you knew magic, like us costume owners do,” Alimar said.  “I tried to reach the impossible, and I got this as a reminder of my rashness.”

Jake flinched.  “A family member, was it?”

“A friend, that you could meet later,” Alimar said, covering up his large scar.

“Now you've confused me again.”

“Sorry, Alimar should have been more clear,” Alimar said.  “We had a friend that died, or close to it.  We tried to bring her back, and that," Alimar said, pointing to his wound, “Was the cost of that act.”

“Not that. The part where you said I could meet her.”

“Ah, well, she's at Chris' house right now recovering from her near-death experience,” Alimar said.  “I was returning home when we saw each other.”

An enlightened expression crossed Jake's face.  “Ooh.”

“Yeah,” Alimar said, lowering his head, “You'll find a small group of us have become close friends.  Just don’t shoot any bears or wolves around here.”

Jake smirked and nodded.  “I'll be sure of that.”

Alimar grinned, showing his sharp teeth again.  “So, what is your decision?”

“Well, what's the worst that could happen?” Jake asked, sighing.

“The worse that could happen if you get a costume?  You could get addicted to it. You have to wear it constantly, or you could be forced to wear a suit to save your life, like mine.”  Alimar cocked his head again, listening to something.  “I didn't say I didn't like being a dragon, Svear.  My only regret is that I wasn't able to say goodbye to my parents. I told you, I love being who I am and who I was meant to be.”

After a moment of thought, Jake rubbed his temples and replied, “Why not? I've got nothing to loose.”
You'd be surprised what you miss in your human life,” Alimar said.  “I miss the company of others.  Though for Alimar, that's what he has been: alone for a long time.  So he's used to it.”

“I've never been the most social individual.  Hated crowds.  Heck, I still do.”

“Well, it gets confusing to me whether I'm James, the hard working kid who gets good grades, or Alimar the Hero Dragon that has had a hard life.”

“How can that be confusing?  After all, you’re still the same guy, just with a costume on, right?”

“When your costume changes your mind as well to fit your avatar, you have the memories of being human, but you believe that your are your avatar.  I am Alimar, but James was the human that tragically lost his life.  It gets so confusing I just try to think of something else entirely.”

Jake stared at him with his head cocked to one side before he realized what he was doing.  Turning back to the fire, he asked, “Do they all do that?”

No.  From what I’ve heard, I'm the only one that was modeled after his persona, though I doubt I’m the only one.  If yours is, then you'll have the same persona problems.”

“A persona?” Jake said, looking back over to Alimar. “No, I don't have anything like that. At least, I don't think I do.”

Hmm...well, you won’t have an identity crisis like what I have. Though I have heard that if your wish is too strong to become something else, You'll lose your mind to that animal.”

Jake chuckled.  “Well, knowing that would lessen your wish right there.”

“Pfff, not if you’re obsessed with the animal you’re becoming.”

Jake stared through the opposite wall before replying.  “Maybe I used to, but not so much now.  Still, how could anyone not want something like that?”

“You'd be surprised,” Alimar said, “So what animal did you commission Drethan to make?”

“Oh, I...”  He paused, then strained his face in concentration.  “A werecat!  That's what it was. Strange thing.  I can hardly remember that conversation.”

Hmm...sounds like his spell works, for the most part.” Alimar said, leaning back.

“His spell?  Ah, he did something with a ball of fire. Is that what it was for?”

Alimar shook his head, “He made a spell that makes people forget things. Like an odd appearance of a dog that acts almost human, the odd tracks in the snow. Usually when someone orders a costume they, forget about it before it arrives.”

“Oh.”  Jake looked unsettled at this. “He must have a real hold on this town.”

“He's not a maniac looking to dominate the earth.” Alimar said.  “All he wants is power, not the power you get from armies and dictatorships, but just power in magic. That’s why he's researching the power of wishes.”

Jake's troubled look changed to a dark grin. “Ah, power.  Now there's something valuable.  And when you think about, it's everywhere, and everyone has a certain measure of it.  The trick is to learn how to manipulate it, and get more of it.”

“I guess that’s what Drethan is trying to do.”

Jake laughed and said, “I cannot think of a more ironic way to gain power than by using the personal desires of others.  Of course, when you think about it, that's really the only way you can get it.”  Alimar nodded agreeing with Jake.  “It seems that he gave you an amount of power of your own with that costume.”

“Actually, the power is inside us.  It’s the power of wishes. The costumes just tap that power."

Jake blinked.  “What? You mean that they're powered by the wearer?  I would have thought that he had to recharge them every now and then.”

“You have the wish to become a Werecat.  Well, the costume that Drethan is making for you feeds off of that wish.  It utilizes the energy you have and transforms you into the werecat.  Thereby your wish is fulfilled and it can feed off the energy even more.”

“Huh.  Well, that's certainty convenient.”

“Yes, it is.” Alimar said.  “It’s getting late.  You’d better take my room to sleep. I'll be out here if you need anything.”

“Thanks.”  Jake got up and moved to the back of the cave.  Halfway there, he turned and said, “Oh, and by the way, I'm sorry about giving you trouble earlier.  Hope that fall didn't hurt too much.”

Alimar shrugged, “It’s just hurt my wings.  That'll heal eventually.”

“Ow, I bet those things would be tender.”
Alimar shrugged, "Don’t worry, get some sleep.  It might be a long storm.”

“Alright.”  Jake stretched out on a mat and relaxed, folding his arms.  As he rested, he could hear Alimar adjusting his seat near the fire.  As Jake sat up to observe this new and strange being, he noticed that his eyes were closed and his breathing was exceptionally slow. But Jake noticed that he wasn't asleep, because he was sitting up.