The Tainted Wood

by Alara Branwen

  Tarka struggled against her bonds, asking Cleave if he was going to free her. Cleave moved off the bed and looked down on her outstretched form. He began removing his clothes. “Oh no, you are so beautiful like this. I want to have you at my mercy, open and needy. Do you trust me, Tarka?” Cleave asked. His member sprang free, and he began to stroke it as he moved towards her.

  “Yes, Cleave. I trust you. I place myself in your capable hands.” Tarka relaxed and laid back on the bed as she said this.

  Cleave looked at her with such lust and need, she felt nervous. She closed her eyes and turned her head away, but then he grabbed her chin, turning her face towards him and told her to keep her eyes open. He stroked his member, and it grew even larger and harder. Her pussy clenched at the thought of him entering her, and her mouth watered, wanting to taste him.

  Cleave took it upon himself to satisfy her desires first, and soon, he plunged between her folds, slurping up her juices, letting his hand prod towards that spot, the one that made her shudder, cry out, and lose her mind. When she got close, he removed his hand and began giving her kisses along her inner thighs, and circling her clit with his thumb. He brought her close several times, but then backed off, denying her what she most wanted. Tarka was begging and pleading, her body covered in a thin sheen of sweat. This time when Cleave reached deep inside, stimulating that special place with deft hands, he let her tumble over the precipice. Tarka screamed out as the orgasm overtook her, and Cleave replaced his fingers and lips with his swollen cock.

  As he entered into her, he realized just how well they fit, like a glove. Sure, Posie was a fun little fuck, and Tarka probably enjoyed having the fat troll dick in her body, but this was different. This was the deeper connection Bitterroot had been talking about. Perhaps this was what people meant by making love. The way their bodies moved, the shudders that they both shared, the moans and kisses that resulted were something special. When they were done, Cleave undid the cuffs, and she pulled back, breathing heavily and smiling in happiness.

  "That was just...wow,” she said.

  "That was pretty nice,” he said to her.

  The two could feel a wellspring of energy inside them. They knew they were ready to face the next adventure together, stronger than ever. The two passed out with arms and legs entangled.

  EIGHTEEN

  The next morning when the members of the party awoke, they got their stuff together, and told Lurupine and Bitterroot goodbye. The journey east looked a bit different. The forest looked to be losing the battle in most places. Trees looked dark and mangled. The leaves and grass had a purplish hue and looked wilted. However, there were still areas of green and brown where the forest seemed to be making a stand against the deadly intruder. Cleave and the rest of the group could tell that the going wasn’t going to be easy. He could see areas that sustained damage from druid attacks. Whoever was causing the damage was still on the loose, and might attack them at any moment.

  Soon, they moved deeper into the woods, and that's when they heard it. A scream. The group looked at one another, trying to determine what to do. Do they go towards the mysterious cry and fight off the assailants? Or would it be smart to just stay back?

  "I don’t think we should get involved,” Berryl insisted.

  "They could help us,” Krug stated.

  "Or harm us.”

  "Yeah, but the only way to figure out which one is which is to go over there and find them,” Cleave explained.

  The group listened to Cleave, and soon they went towards the trees, seeing two elves there. They were very well endowed, and Cleave could not help the fact that his eyes moved towards the two obvious lumps on their chest. It was then he got a kick in the side from Tarka, who gave him a dirty look.

  "Quit thinking with your dick for one second,” she snapped.

  "Sorry,” he replied.

  The group ignored him and focused on the sight in front of them. Two elves, both relatively inexperienced, but both mages were trying to defend themselves against a group of zombies. The two elves were standing back to back and moving around trying to keep an eye on the undead horde surrounding them. The zombies moved forward, lunging at them, and each of the elves cried out in pain. Cleave noticed that at one point, the elf on the right, who had long, blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes, had almost no mana. "We need to help her,” he stated to the group.

  Berryl took a fighting stance and brought her claws out. Tarka raced towards the undead, striking at them with kobold finesse. The rest of the group followed suit. Cleave used his sword to fight off the zombies. The undead had greater numbers, but the group soon realized that they were easy to do away with, falling after only a few slashes.

  Krug grabbed a couple of them, and from there crushed them to bits in his hands until they were a powder. The group worked together. Each of them taking their time and ensuring that none of the enemy were able to get away. When the battle was over, they looked at the two elves, who had large eyes that displayed shock.

  "You okay?” Tarka asked.

  "Yes. Thank you for saving us. I'm Evelynn. This is Lyra. We’re both elves that were sent to scavenge the forest, but we ran into trouble. We were trying to escape some of the Severed Elves,” Evelynn stated.

  "What is that?” Cleave said.

  "They’re a faction of elves, potentially associated with whomever is responsible for all of this,” she said, waving her arm and pointing at the decaying forest. “Their goal is to raise the dead using the magics of the forest. We aren’t associated with them. We’re part of a medicinal guild that just wants to collect various samples so that our trees survive. Please, we don’t mean any harm!” Lyra said.

  Cleave looked at them, his guard still up, but then, he relaxed.

  "They don’t seem to be harmful,” Tarka said.

  "That’s true; so what brought about these Severed Elves?” Cleave asked.

  "Well, some elves didn’t like the path our people had chosen, so they sought out necromancy. We don’t mess with that, but our leader did in secret. He went off on his own, taking those elves who sided with him. We chose a de facto leader, and she wants to keep everything peaceful, but the elves who are specializing in necromancy tend to be rather violent in confrontations,” Evelynn said.

  "So your goal is to just get the items you need and go, is that the case? You aren’t a part of the Crimson Kingdom?” Cleave asked.

  "Not at all. We are just trying to get some items in order to press forward,” Evelynn said.

  "Please don’t hurt us,” Lyra insisted.

  The group listened to the pleas of the two women, and because Cleave was partially thinking with his dick, he was quick to believe them.

  "So is a necromancer behind this?” Tarka asked.

  "That’s what we believe. It seems that the undead keep coming because someone more powerful than us is trying to bring the dead back to life. What is the overall purpose? We don’t know. We just want to get our items and go,” Evelynn said.

  "Yeah. We mean no harm.”

  The party believed the elves, and after a bit, let them go. As they scampered away, they knew that Devdan may have more answers, but they had no idea where he was, and were not sure they would ever find him.

  "There are so many questions, and so little answers,” Cleave said.

  “Maybe we should go see the troll again. I mean he did help out in the past,” Tarka said.

  "That’s because you want that dick again," Cleave muttered, an unusual sense of jealousy overtaking him.

  "No, I just want to beat this, so I don’t end up screwing over everyone,” Tarka retorted.

  "Guys, enough fighting! Let’s just go in this direction. If we feel it necessary, we can always stop at the troll’s hut once more,” Berryl said, silencing the bitter talk between both of them.

  Tarka and Cleave looked at one another, both of them agreeing to this course of action. As they made their way to the east, they spotted the troll’s hut. They were about to turn a
way and continue on the path but then Cleave sensed a presence. One that Cleave knew all too well, one that he dreaded. The figure appeared before them.

  "What the--”

  It was Padwin, wearing a smug grin on his face. Cleave was already regretting this. Suddenly, a group of hooded figures surrounded them, each looking at the party with the desire to kill. The group tried to escape, but every single exit was blocked.

  "Why, if it isn’t my favorite little elf. Or should I say the most pathetic elf,” Padwin chided.

  "Fuck off, Padwin. What are you doing here?” Cleave asked.

  "Oh, just doing my job, and currently, you’re getting in my way,” he said.

  Cleave grasped his sword, and Padwin chuckled.

  "You think you’re going to win this time, elf? Or you kobold?” he spat at Tarka as she got ready to attack.

  "I want to kill you three times over and get that fucking smug look off your face,” she said.

  "Oh, then be my guest, Tarka. But remember, if you die, you're gone for good,” he said with a singsong tone.

  How did he know that? How close was he to Phil? What was going to happen? The only thing that Cleave could do right now was fight, and fight they did. Berryl moved into the trees, getting behind two of the hooded figures and dealing a couple of deadly blows to them. Cleave knew his goal was Padwin, but as more and more of the hooded figures got closer, he had to deal with them. The hooded figures threw bolts of lightning at them. Cleave was able to deflect a couple of bolts by hiding behind a tree. However, one of the bolts did nick him in the arm, causing him to let out a slight wince of pain.

  Cleave:

  HP: 95% (-5%)

  Stamina: 100%

  Mana: 100%

  Character Status:

  Healthy

  He would be fine. What he worried about more than anything was Tarka though. He didn't know if she could take on a whole bunch of these guys. However, the kobold kept her strength up. She moved towards each of the figures, and she managed to land a couple of punches in the gut. Krug took them down with a final blow from his giant hands and body. He grasped the bodies, holding them there before he crushed them, watching them turn to pieces.

  The group watched as the hooded figures began to retreat. Tarka looked at them.

  "What is going on?” she said.

  "They’re retreating," Krug said.

  "So we won?” she asked.

  "Not quite," said the voice that none of them wanted to hear.

  They whipped around, but it was too late. Padwin raised his sword, dealing a killing blow to Tarka. The breath left her body as she sank down to the ground, coughing up blood in the process.

  Tarka!” Cleave cried out, anger and shock forming on his face. How dare this bastard kill the woman that he loved, his girlfriend! Even though it was in the game, the fact that his rival had taken out Tarka just to spite him sent shivers down his spine and made him so angry. He raised his sword, but then Padwin was now fighting Krug.

  Krug was trying to crush the small fighter, moving his hands about as fast as he could. But Padwin dodged each of those, looking at him with a smile on his face. "Not bad, but you’re not going to get me if you keep moving this slow,” he said.

  "Fuck you," Krug said.

  "Well, I certainly don’t have interest in you, but I’d be happy to kill you,” he said with a sneer.

  With a smile on his face and sword in hand, he moved towards Krug, who was trying his hardest to get past the elf’s quick attacks. The problem was that Padwin was fast, so fast that the half giant couldn't keep up. Every single time he thought he had caught him with a killing blow, Padwin would move out of the way, a sneer on his face.

  "You’re pathetic, half-giant,” he said.

  "Fuck...you,” he said.

  "You’re never going to catch me,” he said. Padwin climbed up Krug’s body, hitting Krug in multiple areas with his sword. Immediately, Krug felt all of his strength leave his body, and he fell to the ground. Cleave looked at the fallen giant. He was down, and Tarka was too. Berryl was trying to save Tarka. That left Cleave and Padwin.

  "Funny, this is just like old times,” Padwin teased.

  "Yeah, but this time you’re going to pay for what you’ve done,” Cleave said.

  "Whatever.”

  Cleave raised his sword and began to launch the attack. He realized that Padwin and he were on the same level. Both of them were strong. With every blow Cleave landed, he would receive the same type of blow from Padwin. And Padwin was faster. Cleave tried to keep up, but Padwin managed to knick him a couple of times, causing him to cry out in pain.

  Cleave

  HP: 85% (-10%)

  Stamina: 75% (-25%)

  Mana: 100%

  Character Status:

  Healthy

  Cleave was trying to fight off all Padwin’s blows, but they just kept coming at him. He knew that he needed some help. He was never going to make it on his own. But, his friends were all down or taking care of the fallen enemies. He looked at Padwin, who had a smug grin on his face. "Look at you. This is just like last time. You try so hard to win, but you’re just a failure like the rest. Fucking figures,” he said.

  "You’ll...pay for this,” Cleave said. He tried to drag his sword up, but he felt the heaviness of his body as he pushed through, trying to deal a killing blow. Each blow he landed was met with the same force back. He felt like everything was going blurry, and then, after a little bit, he could no longer keep his feet. He started to fall.

  "No, don’t fall yet!” he heard a voice say.

  Suddenly, a dark bolt headed towards Padwin, causing him to cry out. He fell to the ground, and Cleave simply stared. But then, he heard the voice again.

  "What are you waiting for? Kill him!”

  Cleave didn’t need to be told twice. He hobbled over to the prone form. Padwin looked at him with anger in his eyes.

  "You cheated. You got outside help,” he said.

  "I didn’t do anything,” he stated. With one last burst of strength, Cleave raised his sword and pressed it, straight down into his chest. Cleave watched as the man coughed up blood. Padwin got to his feet, swaying precariously.

  "You’ll...pay for this,” he said.

  "You’re not going far,” Cleave said.

  Padwin stumbled out and ran into the forest. Cleave wished he could follow him and deliver another killing blow, but he had bigger problems to attend to.

  Suddenly the source of the dark bolt appeared, a beautiful woman with long, flowy white hair, blue eyes, and pale skin as beautiful as the night. She had a beautiful white dress on. Cleave knew that she had answers, and he was going to get them, one way or another.

  "Are you okay?” she asked.

  "Been better. Yourself?”

  "I'm better now knowing that he’s gone,” she said.

  Cleave looked at her, and she simply smiled.

  "I take it that you want some answers,” she said.

  "If that’s possible.”

  "It is. First, though, I would like to introduce myself, and I would like to transport your friends to a better place. There is a safe house nearby, is there not?”

  "There is. The troll’s place,” Cleave said, pointing to the hut in the distance.

  "Let me get them there,” she said. With a couple of words and some motions, their bodies floated up in the air. Cleave watched as the bodies headed towards the hut.

  "They’ll be okay, right?”

  "I stopped them from dying when the killing blow happened, but they’ll need to be revitalized before they fight again. Anyway, I need to give you information. You’re the only one currently standing, and I can tell you’re trying to save the forest. I'll also take care of your wounds,” she said.

  Cleave watched as the white woman moved towards his hands, grasping them, and he felt his health and stamina recover. This wasn’t like what he was used to. Usually, he recovered through fucking and affection.

  "It’s an old piece of
arcane magic that few know of. I'm one of the few practitioners,” she explained as if reading his mind.

  "Interesting,” he stated.

  "That it is. So tell me, sir, why are you here?”

  "We are trying to find out why the forest is dying. I'm Cleave, by the way.

  "Laryhalla. I'm a worshipper of the forest god Turgast,” she explained.

  He stood there for a minute, unsure of how to respond, but then Laryhalla spoke. "Turgast is the god of nature. I'm a forest elf," she explained.

  Cleave then realized she wasn’t a foe, but probably a friend Cleave didn’t know about this god at all, nor did he know anything about this strange woman, but he believed she may have some of the answers he was looking for, and he needed to listen to her if he was to find out what was going on or any way to save the forest and its inhabitants.