![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/axie-story-ep-14.jpg\")
With the same grimace on its face, the blue Aqua grunted and seemed to absorb the pain like a seasoned warrior. Then it jumped in the air, shouting as it flipped around and slapped the black Aqua with its nimo tail once more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This battle went on for several minutes, with neither inflicting much damage on the other. But that didn\u2019t stop them from letting out their passionate cries as they smacked one another or took blows from the other’s floppy nimo tails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caught in a trance of both confusion and guilty interest, the group stood watching as these two Aquas took turns hitting each other\u2019s faces. After some time, Woodman cleared his throat, causing the Aquas to stop their battle and look at him with widened eyes, as if they had not slept in days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Who are you?’ the blue Aqua shouted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Yeah who are you?’ the black Aqua repeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman cleared his throat again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Be ye fighters!’ said the black one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Yeah, be ye fighters?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘No,’ said Woodman. ‘We\u2019re a couple of Axies trying to find our way in this world.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The blue and black Aquas checked in with each other, both nodding at the same time. Then they turned their gazes back at the group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Not fighters, eh?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Yeah, not fighters, eh?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman squinted at them. ‘No. . .’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘A’ight,’ said the black one. ‘Not gonna fight, huh?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘No we\u2019re not going to fight,’ said Woodman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Then what do you want?’ said the blue one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘We\u2019re merely passing through on our way to Sand City.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both Aquas closed their mouths and became quiet. Their wide, unblinking eyes remained fixed on the three travellers. A contest seemed to be forming. Woodman glared back at them. They glared back at him. Then both Aquas charged at the same time. Woodman bared his teeth and readied his timber pile for impact. But the two Aquas stopped mere inches away from him. Woodman glanced at both of them, feeling uncertain of what was happening. Poysenberry and Nightshade were undecided as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You know, if you’re looking for a place to stay, you can come join us at our Fish farm?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Yeah, you can come join us!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone in the group squinted at the Aquas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Huh?’ said Poysenberry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘That\u2019s right,’ said the blue one. ‘We have a farm right up the stream here. You can come stay with us!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Sure, come stay with us!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman moved aside and angled himself toward his companions to chat with them without the Aquas hearing. They understood his gesture and gathered around him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘These fish are crazy,’ he said. ‘We need to get around them though, without offending either one. Understand?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Right.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Got it.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group then turned back toward the Aquas with fake smiles on their faces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘So you\u2019ll stay with us?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Yeah, you\u2019ll come stay with us?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nightshade whispered to the group from the side of her mouth. ‘Let me handle this.’ Then she took a step forward. ‘Thanks for such a kind offer, but we\u2019re actually leaving a farm.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two Aquas stared at them blankly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘As in, we were once on a farm and now we are on our own.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Aquas blinked but gave no reaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘We don\u2019t want to be imprisoned on another farm. Yeah?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this, they perked up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Why didn\u2019t you say so?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Yeah, why didn\u2019t you say so?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nightshade rolled her eyes as she drew in a deep breath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Axies on our farm are free to come and go!’ said the blue one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Free to come and go!’ echoed the black one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘No one has to stay,’ said the blue one. ‘Look at us! We\u2019re not in there. But we can go back and get our food and see our friends later in the evening.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman scowled at them both. ‘What kind of scam are you two trying to pull? No farm exists where Axies can come and go.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Sure there is.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘It\u2019s our farm.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘We can come and go.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘As long as we collect enough SLP for the day.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘We can do whatever we want!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman rolled his eyes. ‘We don\u2019t have any SLP fellas,’ he said. ‘Nor are we in the mood to collect any. So if you don\u2019t mind, we\u2019ll carry on our way?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Why, we could share our SLP with you?’ said the black one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Sure, we\u2019ll share!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Then you all can come and get a good meal and meet the rest of our gang.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman snorted as he turned up his face. Poysenberry\u2019s stomach started gurgling, drawing everyone\u2019s attention on him. He tried to laugh it off by giving a nervous grin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Oh nice teeth,’ said the blue one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘I know, nice teeth.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nightshade cut in once more. ‘Would you two excuse us for a second?’ she said, dragging the Plants aside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Of course.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘No worries.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When she was out of earshot of the Aquas, she let out a sigh. ‘How are we going to get past these two?’ she said. ‘They aren\u2019t budging.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘What if they\u2019re telling the truth?’ said Poysenberry. ‘I mean, how else are we gonna find breakfast – ‘<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman swatted him on the head. ‘Are you crazy?’ he said. ‘We can\u2019t trust those fish brains.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘I don\u2019t want to get stuck on another farm too,’ said Poysenberry. ‘But what if they\u2019re serious?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘He has a point,’ Nightshade said. ‘Even if we don\u2019t follow them to their farm, perhaps they can at least guide us toward Sand City or, better yet, some food sources.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman harrumphed as he pivoted away from her. He shook his head and mumbled to himself. For some time, he stared at a pile of logs with three arrows stuck in them. Poysenberry\u2019s stomach gurgled louder. The two Aquas continued looking at them, blank faced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘They seem harmless,’ whispered Poysenberry. ‘And to be frank, we do have a full day of walking ahead of us. It’s not bad idea to fill up on breakfast.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a swift smack, Woodman hit Posyenberry across the head again. ‘Would you stop thinking with your tummy for a second?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Oww!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group took a quick glance at the Aquas, who were still smiling at them, then returned to their secret huddle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Let’s be smart about this,’ said Nightshade. ‘I’ve heard one too many horror stories about Axies getting lost in the desert.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman snorted. ‘Lost?’ he said. ‘Stick by the river and you’ll be fine. It always leads to civilisation.’ He then put his nose in the air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Yes, there’s some truth to that, I’ll admit,’ she said. ‘But we’re not doing ourselves any favours by clinging so close to the river.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Like you\u2019d know?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘I would,’ she said. ‘Where do you think a Bird will search first for missing Axies? In the middle of the desert?’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman glanced over his shoulder. There were more black specks in the sky, each circling round and round in the air. It was a typical search pattern that was getting ever closer to themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘We\u2019re easy targets out here,’ said Nightshade. ‘And I don\u2019t see any civilisation on the horizon.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grunting again, Woodman shook his head and started walking away from them. Everyone watched him go. Poysenberry almost stepped up to say something when he saw the old Plant pause halfway then turn back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Fine,’ he muttered. ‘One meal and we\u2019re back on the road.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You think it\u2019s safe then?’ said Poysenberry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘No, I don\u2019t. I\u2019m saying we can try to scrounge a meal from them, or have them point us in the right direction, but there is no way in hell we\u2019re stepping foot on any old farm.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both Aquas had snuck up behind the group without them knowing. They had big smiles plastered on their faces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘So you\u2019ll join us?’ said the blue one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Yeah, you\u2019ll join us?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group slowly glanced at the eavesdropping Aquas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Maybe you can get us some food?’ said Nightshade. ‘But I don\u2019t know if we have time to visit your farm.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘That sounds great!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Just great.’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘We can easily do that.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Easily.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nightshade laughed nervously. It sounded so fake. But her fake laugh escaped the Aquas as they flanked the group and pointed to a small plot of land across the river. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You all are going to love it!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Absolutely love it!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group consulted each other, casting suspicious looks between themselves. Without missing a beat, the Aquas quickly nudged them along. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘You all are gonna love it there.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woodman\u2019s face went flat as the two Aquas put their arms around him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Itutuloy...<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The trio gathered in a defensive stance. Nightshade moved to the front while Woodman and Poysenberry gathered at each of her side. The blue Aqua was screaming its head off, rushing right at them, its eyes wide and its fishhook showing in its mouth. The blue Aqua was mere meters away from them when another Axie from behind the group let out a scream. A black Aqua appeared at their side — it had a star on its head and goldfish sail on its back, and looked almost exactly like the yelling blue Aqua. The group stood motionless as both Aquas\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":4}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=262"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":349,"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262\/revisions\/349"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrdonutaxie.com\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}