by Kong, Aleron
You have eaten Blue Forest Berries. Concentration increased by 5% for the next four hours.
He quickly placed another handful in his mouth hoping for a cumulative bonus. Nothing. Well, he thought, that would have been the cheat to end all cheats. Watch out dragons, I have a magic bush! Chuckling at his awesome joke, he kept moving. He didn’t really notice any kind of difference, but what would an increase in concentration feel like anyway? Richter was sure that a couple of his ex-girlfriends might be able to tell him, but they were all in another world now, so who cared?! With the edge taken off of his hunger, he continued walking forward.
Keeping an eye out for small game, he killed three more foxes until he heard the voices. At first he had mistaken it for bird song, but the more he listened he could make out faint words being spoken ahead of him.
“Get ready.”
“I’ve been ready. I’m always ready!”
“Quiet now, he’s almost here. We need to stun him so he can be questioned.”
“I know what we need to do!”
“Quit arguing,” a third voice said sternly.
Not quite believing that he was hearing an argument about what he was pretty sure was an attack on him, Richter stopped walking.
“Why did he stop walking?”
“How should I know?
“I didn’t think you would know! I was just wondering out loud!”
“As opposed to wondering in quiet? That would be better.”
“Shut up! Should we just attack him?”
“Yeah, let’s attack!”
Still feeling that he was being punked in some way until that last musical statement, he quickly shouted, “Wait!”
Suddenly all was quiet.
Slowly backing up, Richter cast his gaze around looking for the speakers. He didn’t see anything though. Either way, downriver was suddenly looking like a much better option. He was backing up until he heard a musical voice behind him.
“How do you know what we are saying? Humans never know what we are saying! Even most elves don’t remember sprite speak.”
Quickly turning around, he saw nothing except the scrub hugging the banks of the river.
“I asked, how do you know what I am saying?”
The voice came from the bush directly in front of him. As he focused, it seemed that the air blurred in front of him, and the leaves became green clothing for a small man. He stood three and a half feet tall. He had an almost childlike smoothness to his olive skin. The features were Asian in appearance, and the eyes had no whites. They reminded Richter of an owl’s eyes, all bright color and pupil. What really captivated his attention however, was the fully drawn bow pointing at his face.
“He can’t understand us, let’s just kill him and be done with it,” Richter heard from behind him.
“No! I can understand you! I’m sorry if I trespassed into your territory. I’m new to this world, and I’m just trying to survive!”
The arrow still pointed at Richter’s face, the creature in front of him said, “We have never found a human that understood us before.” Silence reigned for a short while. “We will take him to the Hearth Mother.” Staring Richter in the eye, the small man lowered his voice menacingly (at least Richter thought it was supposed to be menacing, hard to tell since it all sounded like bird song). “Don’t think we can’t hurt you. We may be smaller than you, but believe me we know how to defend ourselves. Show him!”
And with that statement, a small blue blur flew by the right of Richter’s head and struck a fallen log in the river with a large bang! Woodchips and splinters flew in all directions as he quickly covered his eyes and turned away.
“That was only one arrow,” the small man warned menacingly, “and you will never see the next one coming!”
“I understand,” Richter said to the Napoleonic figure in front of him. “You’re in charge.”
“Don’t forget it, human. Now turn around and keep walking.”
Richter continued moving forward along the bank. The only conversation being the near constant bickering of the unseen pair in front of him. Looking back he could still make out the form of the small creature behind, bow no longer drawn but arrow still nocked.
After several hours of walking, there was a break in the forest canopy, and the sun was seen well more than halfway across the sky. The trees suddenly parted to reveal a large meadow with golden waist high grass. A humongous oak was situated in the middle. The tree was easily the size of a forty story apartment building, massively dwarfing all other trees in the forest. The river continued along several hundred yards to the right of the golden meadow. The river Richter had initially been following had apparently been only a side channel. It had joined another larger branch which they had continued to follow upstream. Though the river was not far away, enough trees had been in the way that he hadn’t been able to see the meadow or huge tree in the middle until he was almost on top of them.
“Stop human,” the creature behind him shouted. Speaking in a more normal voice he said, “Go ahead and tell the elders what we found. We need to see the Hearth Mother. No stopping for grog or gossip!”
Still grumbling the voices grew fainter as the other went off. Richter hadn’t been able to catch sight of them, but he thought he detected two small parts in the sea grass ahead of him moving towards the giant tree.
Richter did not have to wait long for a response.
The limbs of the tree rustled as if in a strong wind, though the grass in front of him did not move. Suddenly, in front of him stood the four foot tall figure of a woman. Wild red hair was bound up in a wild nest above her golden skin. A stern mouth sat beneath her bright green eyes studying him with obvious intelligence.
“Well met traveler,” she said in her smooth melodic voice. “You stand before the Hearth Tree of the Wood Sprites of Nadria. I am the Hearth Mother, protector of our people and keeper of our secrets. I am known as Hisako. What may we call you?”
“Richter, I am pleased to meet you,” he said respectfully.
She looked at him, nodding slightly to accept the respect paid. “Never before have one of the tall folk seen our home and lived, and yet, you speak our language and do not… feel like other humans. Why is this?”
“I am not from here. My home is called Earth. Specifically ATL, Ga shawty! No…? Okay then,” he gave a nervous laugh. Nothing like having a four foot tall Celtic druid appear in front of you to knock you off your game. It also doesn’t help when she insinuates that you won’t make it out of here alive. If the pain that horrid wasp had caused him was any indication, then he wanted no part of those mini missiles the sprites seemed to be able to fire.
“Hmmm, Richter of Georgia. Very well. I sense no evil in you, though I also sense little good. You seem to be a blank slate somehow,” she said as she continued to gaze at him consideringly. “I will give you the opportunity to prove yourself. The forest wolves have been encroaching on our territory of late. They all seem sickened somehow. If you cull their numbers, we will allow you to keep your life. We might find more use for you than simply watering the roots of the Hearth Tree.”
You have been offered a Quest: Cleanse the Forest I. Diseased animals have been threatening the wellbeing of the Wood Sprites. Kill five wolves to show that you can be trusted. Reward: Safe passage through the lands of the Wood Sprites of the Forest of Nadria. Yes or No?
Somehow he was sure that “watering the roots” didn’t mean setting up a crude irrigation system.
“I accept,” he said.
“We will observe you on your task. Do not attempt to leave the forest.”
“I do have one issue though. I only have six arrows left, and little other gear to speak of.” The other arrows had been lost or broken during his day of hunting.
She gave a short melodic laugh, “Always true of a human, looking to take as much as he can. So be it. Accept this gift of the Wood Sprites.” She then closed her eyes and began to chant softly as a green glow surrounded her. Only a fe
w seconds later, she had in her hands, human sized arrows of dark wood with green tendrils tracing down the shaft.
You have been given Sprite Arrows of Nature. Quantity 20. Durability 4/4. Item class: Uncommon. Quality: Above Average. Accuracy +1. Damage +1
Now that’s and upgrade, he thought with a smile. “Let’s go hunt some wolves!”
CHAPTER 4
Richter was led around the tall golden grass surrounding the Hearth Tree. It was made perfectly clear that he was not allowed any closer to the sprites’ home. He was told that the wolves had been attacking other animals with abandon. They were even not eating much of the animals except for perhaps a few bites. It meant the wolves were killing for sport. Also they had been ranging downriver, closer to the Hearth Tree than they normally did. Though none of the sprites had been killed yet, apparently there had been some close calls. Looking to his right, he spied the taciturn wood sprite that had led him to the Hearth Tree. He found out his name was Sion. Even though he no longer aimed an arrow at him, Richter could feel the animosity radiating in the sprite’s gaze. The Hearth Mother had sent the small man to accompany him on his quest. Sion had not been pleased with the order.
After walking for half an hour, he attempted to engage the sprite in conversation.
“So what can you tell me about the forest?”
“That it’s much more likely we will be eaten if you make a bunch of irritating noise asking idle questions,” Sion answered. His gaze never even wandering in Richter’s direction, he continued to scan the trees.
Having had just about enough of this green clad munchkin, Richter replied, “I didn’t mean to invade your territory. I was just hunting in the woods, and if you don’t want to be here why don’t you just go back and tell Hisako that you don’t want to accompany me?”
“We do not bicker and argue like humans. We do not question the wisdom of our leaders, and by knowing of our place, we serve the Spirit of the Forest. I would not bring dishonor upon myself by saying that it’s absolutely ridiculous that we need a smelly stomper like yourself to help us, especially when I can’t reliably determine the difference from when he has spoken or broken wind.” Sion paused for a moment, “I would never utter such words.”
This speech, which comprised probably 75% of the all the words Sion had spoken since meeting him, was delivered in the same disinterested tone as those Geek Squad douches who recommended a customer plug the laptop in to fix the fact that it wouldn’t turn on anymore. (Speaking as former Genius Bar employee… those guys are the worst! Who needs to wear a uniform to install Windows?)
Richter simply ground his teeth as he stomped forward before saying under his breath, “No one told me those blue berries made you toot.”
Continuing to move forward, it was about another hour before Sion raised his hand silently. Making eye contact, he motioned to a tree up in front of them to the left. Nocking an arrow, Richter slowly stepped forward, walking through the trees as silently as he could. As he passed a lichen covered boulder, he saw the wolf. Its head was down as it greedily tore into what looked to be a rabbit. It was a mangy thing, brown and dusky gray in patches. On its side was an area bare of hair, giving the appearance of having been gnawed away. It would reach to almost waist height if it was standing straight up. He could see its ribs silhouetted against its skin.
Slowing his breathing, he released the arrow with his exhale and struck the wolf its haunch. It immediately dropped the rabbit with a yelp and turned its eyes towards him, teeth bared. Richter saw its blood shot eyes and foaming mouth, and knew he had discovered the reason for the wolves leaving their normal hunting grounds. They were rabid! All such deductive thoughts fled his mind however, as it launched itself at him, seeming to cover the twenty yards in a blink. Reacting instinctively he dove to the left barely missing the wolf’s lunge. He fell sprawling, arrows falling out of his quiver and over his shoulder. Knowing he had bare moments before feeling the wolf’s teeth sink into him, he drew his dagger and rolled over. He had barely turned when the wolf was upon him, lunging for his throat. Shoving his forearm against the wolf’s throat he attempted to stab it with the knife in his other hand, but the blade stopped on the wolf’s ribs, barely penetrating. The wolf strained again, the fangs now mere inches from his face. Flecks of the wolf’s slobber fell upon his face, mixed with gobbets of flesh from the animal it had been eating. It strained against his forearm to get close enough to sink its teeth into Richter’s throat and end his life.
Screaming in horror and anger, Richter adjusted the angle of the knife in his hands and stabbed it into the wolf on top of him. The blade now easily slide between the ribs of the wolf as he stabbed it again and again, hot blood spilling over his blade, then his hand and then his arm, but he still didn’t stop and neither did it. Changing his angle of attack he stabbed farther up towards the wolf’s head and felt the knife pierce the wolf’s heart with the barest resistance followed by a small pop. The wolf seemed unaware of its own death for the briefest of moments before collapsing on top of Richter.
“Ahhh, Arghh,” Richter grunted attempting to push the wolf’s body off of himself, and then instead settled on rolling it to the side. He took several deep frantic breaths as he willed his heart to stop beating so wildly.
Rabid Forest Wolf (Lvl 4) has died. You receive 32(+8) exp
Staring up at the green canopy above him with splotches of blue seen through the leaves, he was elated. “Woooo,” he shouted punching his first into the air. Turning his head to the right, he saw Sion looking at him quizzically.
“What are you doing,” the sprite asked.
“I’m celebrating, and where were you during the fight?”
“This is your quest, not mine. And it is clear that you’re celebrating. I meant, why are you celebrating when those other wolves are right over there,” Sion asked pointing to Richter’s left.
Slowing turning his head to the left, he saw two rabid wolves with their teeth bared, not 15 feet away. Before he could move, the wolves were on him and his world narrowed to consist only of fangs, blood, and above all, pain.
All color faded from his vision as his remaining eye stared up at a wolf’s mouth closing around his face, and then all was black.
You have died.
A blur of colors and the sensation of great speed, complicated by a lack of all emotion, until he felt as if he was falling from a great height with a heart clenching stop…
A horrid scream ripped itself from Richter’s throat. “Nooo, please stop, pleassseee!” His arms flailing around, his head whipped around wildly searching for the wolves. After a few frantic seconds, he realized he was back in the hidden glen, and his conscious mind began to reconcile the subconscious knowledge he already possessed. He had died. The wolves had killed him! Closing his eyes, he curled up onto his side and cried. There was nothing graceful or dignified about it. His body was immobilized by his great racking sobs.
They had been tearing at him! They had torn off a piece of his chest before he died. He had… he had seen… that damn wolf had been chewing on a piece of him! The horror of it washed over Richter. He relived the cold feeling he had experienced at the moment of death. He drowned in the memory of helplessness as the wolves teeth had torn and ripped at his tender flesh. Those memories hammered at his psyche! His mental torture physically manifested in his inability to leave the fetal position. As soon as he came to the end of his nightmarish remembrance, the sequence started again from the beginning. He relived the experience over and over, not able to break free of this hellish loop.
As his mind continued to torture him however, another emotion rose. As he thought about the experience and the pain, he began to feel something else besides horror. It started as the kernel of a feeling, barely noticeable, inconsequential even. But it grew. After a while he recognized this feeling. He felt anger! No, that wasn’t the right word. He felt… rage! He raged at the wolves for hurting him! He raged at Sion for not helping him! More though, he raged at being helpless
and afraid! Not just in the past moments, or the past day, but instead at feeling just a bit afraid his entire life! Of not having any true control over his life’s direction, and instead bowing time and again to the demands of society, the demands of his family, or the ridiculous demands he made of himself fueled by reality TV and pop culture. He felt the need to take control over his own life, face any issue head on and no longer escape! He felt, the need, for power! Richter broke the loop of pain he had been reliving and stood, a fierce determination in his eyes. This was not about denying something horrible had happened. That would have been just another form of escape. This was about accepting the realities of his life and, despite the numerous blows of fate, standing tall!
You are Resolute! The choices in your life led you to a critical point. A nexus of opportunities were laid before you, many leading to disaster! You have chosen a finer path! The experiences of your entire life have culminated in this one moment. You have decided not to kneel, but to stand; not to beg, but to take; not to wait, but to forge ahead. Bonus to mental resistance 15%. Bonus to spiritual resistance 15%
Staring at the message across his field of view, he blinked in surprise. He had not expected the Universe to reward him for his own personal journey, but he would take it, and after a fashion it made sense. While he could increase his speed, strength, and skills, he would ultimately be the same person, unless he decided to change within. With a firm twist to his lips, Richter smiled. It was time to get back to work.
The phantoms pains of the wolf attack still plagued him somewhat, but they had lost much of their power over him. They were illusions, and would not deter him. What was real was the air in his lungs, the power in his limbs and the strength of his will. Backlight by the sun shining down into the glade, and took a step forward to go and finish what he had started. It was at that moment of true purpose, that he looked down, and realized he was completely naked.
“Universe, you’re a dick.”
CHAPTER 5
