"Let us go!" the elven girl shouted, thrashing against the thick vines that bound her arms and legs."You'll pay for this!" snapped the oldest-looking boy, gritting his teeth as he struggled to twist free."What do you even want with us!?" the second-youngest boy demanded, his tone defiant despite the dirt smeared across his face."And could you not carry us like a bunch of vegetables!?" groaned the smallest one, his voice high with indignation.
Winter walked on without a hint of strain, dragging all four of them slung together over his shoulder like a giant bundle of firewood. Thick green vines wrapped around the siblings in a surprisingly neat pattern—tight enough to hold, but not enough to hurt. His spear and axe were strapped securely across his back, glinting faintly in the patches of light that pierced the jungle canopy.
"I would," he said over his shoulder, calm and matter-of-fact, "but you'd either bolt or try attacking me again. So this really is the best option for all of us."
He moved easily through the undergrowth, each step flattening ferns and leaves like the jungle itself parted for him. The weight didn't seem to slow him—neither the steel on his back nor the elves he carried nor their constant barrage of shouting.
"Now, here's the deal," Winter said casually, ducking under a low branch. "I need you to show me the way out of this jungle. Do that, and I'll let all four of you go—no strings attached."
"We won't tell you anything!" the girl snapped, eyes burning. "You trespassed! You don't get to demand help!"
Winter let out a long breath and came to a halt. "Fine," he muttered.
He turned and gently lowered the entire bundle beside the trunk of a mossy tree, setting them down like a pack of firewood. Then he crouched, meeting their glares with a level gaze.
"Let's start over," he said. "I'm Winter. What's your name?"
The oldest boy scoffed. "Winter? Seriously? Your parents named you after a children's book? That's sad."
Winter kept a neutral face, but internally, he was grinning. *If only they knew!*
"Alright, alright," he said with mock seriousness. "I'll make you a deal. You tell me your names, I let you go."
"Liar," the second-youngest boy said immediately, narrowing his eyes. "I don't believe you."
Winter slapped a palm to his forehead with theatrical exaggeration. "Ah, shit! My dastardly plan—foiled!"
He paused, blinked, then wagged a finger at them. "Wait. Crap. That was a swear. Forget you heard that, kids. Swearing's bad."
"Stop treating us like children!" the smallest one snapped. "We're elves! We're older than you!"
"Sure you are," Winter replied, unbothered. "But you look fifteen, so forgive me if the tone slips."
The oldest boy sighed and muttered, "Dae Eirina Qinra."
His siblings turned on him in disbelief. "Dae!" the girl hissed, eyes wide. "Why would you tell him!?"
"He's not going to let us go until we cooperate," Dae replied under his breath. "And the longer we're stuck here, the more likely that thing finds us."
That shut them up.
"…Vee Eirina Qinra," the girl muttered reluctantly, glaring daggers at Winter. "Happy?"
"Jae Eirina Qinra," mumbled the second-youngest, not meeting Winter's eyes.
"Lai Eirina Qinra," grunted the smallest. "What does this do for you, anyway?"
Winter clapped his hands once. "It brings us one step closer to friendship!" he said brightly, then tilted his head. "Now... what was that you said about a monster?"
The elves' eyes went wide.
"How did you—" Dae began, but Winter waved him off with a flick of his fingers.
"Ehhh, I've got good ears," he said casually. "Now, how about you tell me about this monster? Clearly, you four think it's dangerous. I can help."
Jae scoffed, chin raised. "Hah! You'd be dead in seconds."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, human," Vee added, crossing her arms as much as the vines allowed and lifting her chin smugly. "You may have beaten us, but that thing's beyond you."
"Uh-huh." Winter nodded lazily, completely unfazed. "Alright, new plan: you tell me what this monster is and where it's hiding... or we just stay here." He rose to his full height, casting a shadow over them as he gave a wide, obnoxious smirk. "Your move."
"You can't do that!" Lai burst out, appalled.
Winter threw his head back and let out a low, overly dramatic villain laugh. "Oh, I absolutely can! Better speak fast, kiddies—I'm very stubborn."
It was, undeniably, an adult man bullying a pile of tied-up elven children. Dae clenched his jaw, glaring up at him, then groaned and gave in.
"Fine, fine!" he snapped. "It looks like a snake, but it's not. It has three eyes and... despite what it looks like, it's very dangerous."
Winter leaned forward slightly, interest piqued. "Ohhh. That's what you all are scared of?" he said, brow raised. "I already ran into that thing."
The four elves froze.
"We're not scared of it!" Vee snapped, immediately defensive.
"Yeah!" Lai chimed in. "We were hunting it before we ran into you!" he added, puffing out his chest as much as the vines would allow.
Dae blinked. "Wait—you encountered it?"
Winter nodded casually. "Yeah. Asked it for directions, actually."
There was a beat of silence before he frowned and glanced around. "It went that way... I think..." He paused, turning in a slow circle. "Wait. Which direction did we come from again?"
All four elves visibly slumped, the air around them filled with secondhand embarrassment. Dae sighed long and deep, eyes shut as though trying to mentally reboot.
"This is going to be annoying..."