Andy finished speaking, smiled faintly at Hilar, then got up and left his hiding place. Remembering Tyrande's instructions, Hilar followed close behind him.
Andy didn't seem concerned about the Furbolgs standing guard. He wandered around the edge of the village as if out for a stroll. Only after they reached a spot near the back of the village did Andy crouch down and plop onto the ground. He stuck a blade of grass between his lips and stared blankly up at the sky.
"What are you doing?" Hilar asked, puzzled. "Why are you resting here?"
"It's not time yet!" Andy gestured for Hilar to sit down too. "The moon's so bright. How are you going to get in? We have to wait until the clouds cover it."
Hilar had no choice but to sit and wait with Andy. Who knew when the clouds would cover the moon?
After waiting for about an hour, Andy stood up. "That should do it!"
Hilar looked up at the sky. A cloud really was drifting over, gradually dimming the moonlight. Andy crouched low and crept into the village, quietly scanning their surroundings. In truth, he was only putting on a show to make things look more convincing to Hilar. The Monster Spirit was guiding his every move, telling him when to go, when to stop, and which thatched hut to hide behind.
They reached the back of a thatched hut. Andy waved to tell Hilar to stay quiet, then poked half his head around the corner to check the area. Beside the narrow path that wound into the village stood a Furbolg—and it was the only one there. The path turned at that spot, making it hard for anyone farther up or down to see what was happening.
Andy crouched and mouthed to Hilar, "Watch this!"
There was a faint poof. Hilar's mouth fell open. Andy had vanished! It had all happened so suddenly that Hilar couldn't help feeling a jolt of panic. What was going on? She crouched on the ground and searched all around for Andy, but the area was silent and pitch-black. There was no sign of him.
"Andy?" Hilar couldn't help calling softly.
"Quiet. I'm right beside you. You just can't see me for now!" Andy's voice came softly from in front of her. "Wait here. I'll be right back!"
Hilar wanted to ask what was going on, but she couldn't hear another sound. With no other choice, she waited quietly for Andy to return. She cautiously poked her head out to check the area, and nearly jumped out of her skin. The Furbolg who had been standing by the path was now lumbering toward her hiding place.
Hilar hurriedly pulled her head back and considered what to do. She wasn't afraid of the Furbolg; she could handle even two of them. What worried her was that a fight would make noise, bringing every Furbolg in the settlement running. Then she'd be killed several times over.
Hilar stole another look. The Furbolg had come even closer. No choice. I'll have to run if it comes to that—but what about Andy? Where did that boy go?
The Furbolg was almost upon her. Hilar steadied herself, instantly shifted into leopard form, and used the darkness to hide in the grass. She kept her eyes on the Furbolg, hoping it would come over, make a quick round, and leave.
As the Furbolg drew closer, Hilar began to notice something strange. Its posture seemed off. Its upper body leaned forward, and it staggered with every step. More importantly, its feet were dragging along the ground!
This...
"Hilar?" When the Furbolg reached the hut, it called out to her in Andy's voice.
Hilar froze. Andy? She rose to her feet and emerged from the grass, still in leopard form. "Andy?"
"Hey, why did you shift into a leopard?" Andy asked in surprise.
"Andy, where are you?" Hilar asked, looking around.
"I'm right—oh, right, I forgot!" Andy chuckled. Then his form gradually appeared from beneath the Furbolg. "It's so heavy. I'm exhausted!"
Hilar shifted back into her normal form and punched Andy hard. "What are you doing? Why did you suddenly disappear?"
"I'll explain later. First, let's ask this Furbolg what's going on," Andy said.
"How are you going to ask him?" Hilar asked, confused. "They can't understand people, and all they do is roar!"
"I have a way. Just watch," Andy said with a grin. "Use a spell to keep him from moving."
Hilar glanced at Andy, unsure what he was up to, then murmured an incantation. Green vines burst out of the ground and bound the Furbolg's limbs in place. "There," she said.
Andy nodded, then spoke to the Monster Spirit in his mind. Spirit, you're up. Translate for me!
"Sure. This is right up my alley!" the Monster Spirit replied.
Andy grinned and slapped the Furbolg several times, each blow landing with a sharp smack. The blood at the corner of the Furbolg's mouth showed just how hard he'd hit him. "Damn, that actually hurt my hand!" Andy cursed through gritted teeth.
After taking a beating, the Furbolg slowly came to. When he saw two unfamiliar elves standing before him, instinct made him try to roar. Andy was quick to draw his skinning knife and press it to the Furbolg's neck. Strangely enough, the ferocious creature immediately shut his mouth. Hilar stared, dumbfounded.
But the most astonishing and incomprehensible part was still to come.
"Big brother, big sister! Please don't kill me!" the Furbolg said. His voice was very low, as if he feared the knife in Andy's hand. To Andy, it sounded like a simple plea for mercy. To Hilar, it was just a low, rumbling growl.
"Who the hell is your big brother or big sister?" Andy slapped the Furbolg again. "Tell me, do you stand guard every day?" Andy's question made perfect sense to the Furbolg. To Hilar, it sounded like several growls coming from Andy.
Oh my god, he really is communicating with the Furbolg! Is this really Andy?
"Andy, you..." Hilar started to ask what was going on.
Andy raised a hand to stop her.
"No. We only started standing guard a few days ago," the Furbolg replied.
"Who told you to stand guard? Why?"
"King Ursal. I don't know why we're standing guard!"
"Where is Ursal?"
The Furbolg pointed farther inside. "The king is in the village!"
"Why did you attack the elves' caravan?"
"I don't know. King Ursal ordered us to!" At the mention of the attack, the Furbolg seemed to shudder involuntarily. "The ones who made it back were in a terrible state. The king executed them all!"
"Why?" Andy asked, startled.
"If you don't complete the king's mission, you die!" The Furbolg shuddered again.
Andy and Hilar exchanged a glance. Then, with a sudden flurry of blows, they knocked the Furbolg unconscious again.
"Hilar, I'm going to look deeper into the village. Wait here!" Andy said as he stood up. "If the Furbolg wakes up, knock him out."
"It's dangerous to go alone!" Hilar said, concern written all over her face.
"It's fine. They can't see me!" Andy winked. After another faint poof, he vanished.
Hilar had no choice but to wait where she was. She had no idea how long she'd been waiting. She had already knocked the Furbolg out twice, but Andy still hadn't returned. Just as she was knocking him out for the third time, Andy appeared beside her.
"How did it go?" Hilar asked, getting to her feet.
"I'll tell you when we get back!" Andy gasped, looking unusually exhausted.
Before you continue