2A/N: I have been working on this for ten years. Lol. Finally got the guts to write it.
Chapter 1
The moon wasn't high, making it easy for a person to stay hidden if they wished to watch in secret.
Slinking through the thick brush, two figures ran in the darkness towards the clearing. Neither spoke, the only thing audible between them was their breath and the crunch of leaves beneath their feet.
The taller one, a svelte ranger of an elf, pointed ahead, then ducked behind a bush. Clasping his bow in hand he gestured for the other figure to join him. His companion, a halfling swordsman, with yellow hair and eyes like the morning sky, smiled excitedly, anticipating the battle coming.
The petite man arched slowly over the bush to see the target. Sitting in a roughly made clearing, were two giant orcs. They sat by a fire, arguing over a leg of some poor dead animal.
"We got the drop," the halfling grinned mischievously.
"Just stay hidden."
In a combination of a hiss and a whine, he replied. "But, it'll give us an advantage on initiative,"
The elf ignored him and began to crawl as quietly as possible to a closer bush nearer to the orcs. He had a cleaner shot from there and began to take aim. Steadily he held his cherry wood bow, holding his breath, when out of the dark, the halfling leapt over the bush screaming a battle cry.
"I said keep down!"
"Never!" The halfling cackled and charged at the orcs with his sword.
Gritting his teeth, the elf released an arrow at the orc nearest to him. The bow flexed perfectly as the arrow was released, flying through the air effortlessly. In an instant it pierced the brute right between the eyes leaving him dead.
"You have disadvantage," an annoyed voice called from the ether.
The elf stood up in a huff. "No, I don't. I have advantage on attacks in the woods! It's my favorite terrain."
The voice snarled back. "But you were feared earlier, giving you a disadvantage against all attacks against Orcs."
"Then it is a flat roll," Jaime stated looking down at the gridded mat before him.
His elf figure was behind a miniature bush, the brightly colored die he rolled, showing a natural twenty. Ray nodded in agreement, both glaring at the Dungeon Master.
"You always crit," Jason groaned, sitting behind his DM screen.
The three players sat in the back of a game store at a fold out table. It was past sundown and only a few kids were still browsing comics and purchasing cards for their Magic decks.
Jaime rolled his almond shaped eyes and checked the time on his phone. "Doesn't matter. We have to head home anyway."
Jason, who was a few years older in his twenties, shrugged and began to pack up his assortment of small trees and monster figurines off the table. With a pout Jaime collected his elf and shiny black die and headed for the exit.
Ray chirped in a lively English accent, "Maybe Thursday again?"
"Maybe," Jason sighed. " We need more players aside from Señor Skadouchey over there."
"If I knew anyone else, I'd invite them," Ray sighed as well.
They bid each other goodbye, as Jaime was waiting outside leaning against the outside wall, scrolling through his phone. "Ready?"
Ray nodded and they both began to make their way up the steep hills of the town of Avalon towards their home. In the distance the crash of the waves that licked the shores of Catalina Island could be heard. The streets were relatively empty, since tourist season had died down now that school had started. The space that gave while walking was a relief to Jaime.
"Will your dad be home?" the bright eyed Ray asked, looking up.
"Had to work late," Jaime stated simply and adjusted his black rimmed glasses as he felt an odd sensation as if they were being followed.
He turned to see a few people walking behind them, enjoying ice cream and chatting.
"I'm hungry," Ray grumbled.
"When aren't you?" Jaime replied, his attention deviated.
The two boys continued on up to their street that overlooked the main boardwalk. Houses from the thirties to present day were placed closely together in pastel colors. Below yachts floated of the few tourists who were holding onto the summer for as long as they could.
It was easy to tell the teenage boys weren't blood related even from a distance. Jaime, dressed all in black, was Chinese and tall, with long thin elegant limbs. Next to him, short Ray had cerulean sparkling blue eyes, blonde hair and a cherubic face. Though they looked different they saw each other as brothers.
Soon they had made their way home.
The moon wasn't high, making it easy for a person to stay hidden if they wished to watch in secret.