by J E Mueller
Her word choice surprised me, but she had it down. “Sounds like a bunch of jerky demons for sure.” I fully agreed.
“I’ll stab them if I get a chance.” Melly’s face turned dark and serious – a look I rarely saw.
I couldn’t help but laugh a little, mostly from surprise. “I think we’re all about at that level for sure. Let’s go see what plan we can create that’ll bring us there.”
With a nod, Melly grabbed my hand and pulled me out to the rest of the group.
Asher nodded to us as we rejoined the group and continued what he was saying. “So that brings us up to three archers, several that can throw things reasonable distances, and plenty of swords. Now, how do we bring this flying menace down?”
“Probably bait,” Benz supplied. “It probably won’t get low to the ground unless it has a reason to.”
“I would rather not have that thing possibly pick up someone and drop them from above the treetops. We don’t need death here.” Asher crossed his arms. “What else do we have?”
“No, I think he’s right,” Melly chimed in. I hated that she was probably right.
“Him being correct or not here doesn’t actually matter. I am not risking someone’s final life here,” Asher replied firmly.
“And I’m not saying to.” Melly straightened. “You explained I am a Dreamer and it’s likely if I do die I’ll just come back a few hours or a day later. As long as my body holds out in the other realm, I’m temporarily immortal.”
“There’s no way to prove that theory.” Asher shot down the suggestion.
Benz and I couldn’t help but laugh, causing Asher’s frown to deepen. “Do I even want to know?” He let out a sigh.
“Probably not, but to make a long story very short, I have come back twice,” I reminded him. ”Actually, since I have come back, I should probably be the bait.”
“You’re really not small enough, the creature would more likely go after me.” Melly shrugged.
“Do we even have a way to test your Dreamer status? I don’t think it should be you,” I scoffed, not ready to put Melly in any more danger.
Melly nodded over to someone. “There is, and as much as I appreciate the protective sister thing, we want the best and quickest way to resolve this. You’ll destroy that bat thing right? I’m certain you have some sort of weapon.”
“A bow.” I sighed, reluctant to give in, but she called me out right. Of course, I wouldn’t just let the thing get away, but I had no idea how fast it would move or when it would use its ear-shattering scream.
Asher grumbled but continued on. “Fine, we’ll do it the dangerous way, but first we’ll set a safety net. I want the area cleared out of potential creatures. We’ll have her set near enough to the forest to hide the ground weapons in bushes and bows in trees.”
“The usual perimeter sweep?” someone asked.
Asher nodded. “Sounds perfect.”
A small group nodded and left the hut, knowing too well what was required of them. I momentarily marveled at the easy and quick teamwork.
“We’re completely in your territory Asher,” Benz stated. “I really don’t know how to beat everything here. Can you give me a rundown?”
“We have a training manual.” Asher frowned at him. “You house people need to get out more. With the right hit, most things go down like a knife to butter.”
“Yeah, I agree. There is a lot here that could have helped us in the house, but I’ll just have to play catch up for now,” Benz freely admitted.
“I’ll accept that,” Asher agreed, heading into the hidden room and returning with a leatherbound book.
Benz accepted the book and started to flip through it.
“What can I help with?” I asked Asher, not sure what to do with myself.
“Rest, wait. When it starts to get dark soon, we’ll move. It won’t be much longer,” Asher replied as he looked outside.
Melly grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the table. “Tell me what you’ve been up to.”
I wondered if we even had time for that story. Nodding, I sat down with her and started from the beginning. It had been too long since we could talk and I wasn’t going to waste a moment of it.
Chapter 27
Nightfall came unexpectedly fast and I was unable to finish telling Melly everything that had gone on. I did at least learn her gifts, which was a shield that looked to be made from bedrock and a bow. Her bow was a little different than mine. Despite drawing back one arrow, it would launch three. She had to take into account the surrounding area when shooting smaller targets since the arrows did space out. While I wanted to see it in action, I also did not want to have to see her fight and take on these creatures.
It was inevitable here.
Together as a massive group we walked to the area Asher had in mind. With my vision I could easily see there were in fact no creatures nearby. There wasn’t even anything close enough for me to see at all.
As we walked, someone handed Melly something. She gleefully held up the brass knuckles with spikes on them. “Perfect! Thanks Jolie.”
The girl nodded. “If you do get picked up, a few hits from that should get you back on the ground in no time.”
“Hopefully, I won’t need them, but thank you.” Melly beamed at Jolie who nodded back, her serious expression never shifting.
“I didn’t know you had normal weapons out here,” I commented.
“This is an artifact,” Melly clarified. “It’ll send a good jolt through whatever I hit as well. A truly wonderful combination.”
Ah, it did make sense that they would also have some artifacts out here as well. How many of those things were there?
“Remi, come with me,” Asher called. “Let’s get you set up in a tree.”
I gave my sister a quick hug before following him to a nearby tree. I saw others climbing the trees not too far away. I knew at least two others were archers and wondered about the gifts of those around me. There just wasn’t enough time to learn what everyone was capable of.
As quickly as I could, I made my way into position. I wasn’t sure how well hidden I really was. The Nightwing could clearly see things, but maybe from above I wouldn’t be noticeable. It would be dark very shortly as well, which probably would make the position perfect.
Summoning my bow, I took note of where exactly Melly was sitting. She kept her body as small of a target as possible, making it extra difficult for the Nightwing to get a good grip on her.
Part of me was worried that I was essentially aiming toward my sister. Did the others here have a good aim? Benz talked them up very highly, and Asher did seem to know what he was about, but I didn’t know these people. Still, it was probably the best plan to lure that creature to an easy to hit position.
Not to mention I still had that gauntlet of healing.
It struck me that Emmyth was very quiet compared to Lydia.
There’s not much to say when you can’t see anything and you’re going off another’s thoughts. Using others as bait was a very normal thing back when I was with the Black Lillies, so this plan is not out of my scope for things.
I had no idea what the Black Lillies were.
Emmyth sighed. They were a group of demon hunters, Blessed by the angels before we really grasped they weren’t much better than their demon counterparts. They took it out on us quickly when we made the connection.
Wait, did that mean they were all once human?
Sort of. Tella was never really fully human. I was though. I don’t have any Creator abilities. Just some extra gifts I picked up from Tella and Dani. I can die just the same as you, though it may take a bit more at this point to truly end my life.
Interesting.
The talking around me had faded and all I could hear were the normal sounds of the forest. Owls started to wake in the distance as crickets played their familiar melody. Looking carefully around, I could only spot a few people. Switching my vision over it was much easier to see everyone and I was surpri
sed there still were no creatures too near.
Too near was the correct term.
A cold breeze blew through sharply, causing goosebumps to peck my arms. I hadn’t been outside here in so long, I forgot how cold it could get. Still, I kept my eyes on the distance where I saw several creatures moving this way. One kept to the skies. Hopefully that was the one we were looking for so we could be done with this nonsense.
A whistle, slight and sharp, sounded from below.
I didn’t know what it meant, but from the way they communicated earlier I could only assume it was to specifically signal something. Being in the dark forest at night regularly had made everyone here get creative with things and I was fairly impressed. I’d have to ask them what it meant after all of this.
The flying creature was easily in sight now, and very obviously the Nightwing. That thing was not going to be out of my memory any time soon. I wondered if I could accidentally damage my hearing in my real realm by taking something like this on more than once in a day. Hopefully not.
There was a series of clicks and odd screeches from the sky and suddenly something dropped to the ground from the Nightwing’s claws. The audible splat and crunching of bones could be heard in the quiet clearing. Melly couldn’t help but turn to see what happened. It looked like it was some small creature. Though now it was too hard to tell what exactly.
“Eww…” Melly let out a grossed cry. It wasn’t too loud, but more than enough for the Nightwing to begin to circle her.
I was beginning to wonder if the Nightwing dropped its meal because it was done or because it saw Melly as a fresh target. Maybe it couldn’t see as well as I had guessed. There was no way I was going to ask in-depth about creature anatomy to find out, though.
With a loud screech, the ear-shattering one I had been expecting, it started to dive down for Melly. Cringing, I took aim, and watched it’s descent, aiming for where it would be in a moment and fired.
The shot pierced it’s wing, enough to turn it off course, but not to stop. These creatures had terribly high pain tolerance.
I saw two more arrows, some throwing knives, a dagger, and what looked like wooden stakes shoot at the creature as well, jutting it a bit further off course. Desperate to continue, the Nightwing still tried to pick up Melly, who covered her head as best she could with her arms.
Again, I shot an arrow. The volley from the others, more on time with mine, met their marks. We sent one more before those hidden in the forest made their moves to attack. The creature’s wings were damaged and it had taken several shots to the shoulder and lower neck, but still it persisted.
The Nightwing managed to finally get a grip on Melly and raise her up a few feet before she hit it hard. The spiked knuckles sent a jolt into the creature just in time for the others in the Watch to reach it.
As I climbed down, I could see it screech again. Something felt off. I turned my vision to the direction it came from and saw a large horde of creatures were coming.
The Watch had taken the creature down, and I could no longer see it in the crowd. Still, I needed to find Asher and somehow point out what was going on.
He was naturally near the center of the circle, which was extra difficult to push through. My tugging on his arm got an annoyed look but I frantically pointed to where the horde of creatures would be coming from.
Asher frowned, not seeing anything himself, but turned back to give me the thumbs up. Someone handed Asher a scarf, which I assumed was the artifact. Now all attention was on him. Thankfully, everyone looked ready for orders.
Asher pointed to the woods and started holding up three fingers. A group of six nodded and headed directly into the woods. He held up a set of two fingers and another group crossed the clearing quickly, heading into the woods there. He nodded at me and Benz and pointed to the hut.
I shook my head, I could fight. Asher seemed to get what I meant and nodded, pointed to the hut again, and mimicked me using my bow. I finally guessed he wanted me to fight from the porch.
I could do that. I glanced at Melly and she shook me off, pointing to the tree the little hut itself was on and headed there. She motioned for me to head to the high ground as she climbed the handholes and up into a carved out spot I hadn’t noticed before. It wasn’t big enough for two people. It looked hardly big enough for one.
Quickly, I made my way up and noticed Benz was sticking close to Asher. I wasn’t sure if that was the best place or the worst place to be. Still, all in all, Benz could probably handle himself better than most house dwellers out here.
I was more than happy to admit I was a house dweller right now. This lack of hearing was maybe going on minute four and there was at least another six or so minutes to go. Life here was not my thing.
Not that I actually missed my fishing village, but at least there most things were not regularly trying to kill me. The salt air sounded like heaven for once.
Pulling myself from my reverie, I noticed a creature emerge from the forest. Of course it was that darn species again. Dilus was it?
Hit it in the good eye, Emmyth supplied helpfully. I at least remembered that much from before my last death.
Did you know its brain is actually where it’s kidney should be?
I cringed at the fact I would now never be able to un-know.
Just trying to give new facts. Emmyth chuckled a bit too happily.
Ignoring the peanut gallery, I took aim and waited for it to be close enough before striking. I just missed, hitting left of the eye, causing the creature to scream – or call out to its friends in the forest. Either way I couldn’t hear it. Another shot came from Melly. Three arrows pierced it’s skull at once, one directly in the center of it’s good eye.
As it collapsed to the ground another four emerged. Two of its comrades went to check it to see what happened while the other two turned around dumbfounded. An arrow from the forest nabbed one, while spikes got the other. As they collapsed, the two remaining creatures looked like they were screeching. Melly sent another volley of arrows, killing one, and the other started to move in her direction. With a clear shot, I took it down.
If we had just known these little facts sooner, I wouldn’t have died that first time. Frustration built within me and I tried to force the thoughts away. There was no changing what had happened and now I could at least spread the information.
My hearing was starting to come back and I finally started to take in the sound of swords clashing. Switching my vision over, I noticed there were in fact several fights, but all were over quicker than I could even begin to take in. After several moments, there was a whistle and people started to move back into the clearing. Asher whistled this time and I saw Melly had already reached the ground.
“Come on!” She waved.
Not wanting to miss something, I quickly made my way to the others.
As soon as I caught up Asher waved me over. “We’ve got a problem.”
I glanced around and it looked like everyone was here and completely fine. “What’s going on?”
Asher waved the scarf, “This isn’t Marella. Are you certain she said she was stuck on something flying?”
“Positive.” There was no mistaking that.
“I believe you.” Asher looked around at the group. “That means we need to find another flying creature.”
“Think it could just be a bird?” someone asked.
Well now. There entirely was that possibility. Everything didn’t have to be scary and unrealistic.
“I don’t see why not. That would be the easiest way to throw us off. Or someone else recently got it,” Asher thought aloud.
“But is what we found even an artifact?” I asked loudly, pulling the conversation back to me.
“It is.” Asher handed it to me.
I stared at the scarf, not knowing what to expect.
Thankfully, Emmyth chimed in. Ah, you were not who I was expecting to see out here.
Another male voice chimed in. It would appear we’ve had
a bit of bad luck.
Emmyth snickered. Would you say it was cursed luck?
I swear between the two of you I don’t know who makes worse cursed jokes. The voice replied back, a twinge of annoyance and exasperation in his tone.
Emmyth continued, This is Lee. We need to once more find a flying creature. Wonderful. I would love the challenge if I could actually participate in it.
Lee jumped in. I’d prefer it if it never happened. Have we found Key yet?
No, not that I’ve heard. Just Lydia and Danielle so far.
As much as I loved the conversation, and I oddly did, we really needed to get back on task. And what gift would a scarf artifact even possess?
Likely puns, Emmyth replied.
No, but close, Lee clarified. I can absorb magical attacks. Which is why that creature I was stuck to could take so much damage.
Well, that was good to know. How did that even work?
Simple. You get hit with magic, you’ll only take one percent of the damage. So you’ll feel it on a very minor level.
I could live with that.
“Anything?” Asher asked pulling me back to the group around me.
“Hm?” I asked, not sure what he was looking for.
“It wouldn’t exactly communicate with me, but I’m certain that is something we were looking for,” Asher clarified.
“It is, but you were right, it is not Marella,” I confirmed.
“I figured by the name he gave me.” Asher smirked. “Any thoughts on how to find this next creature before the real problematic creatures make it this far?”
There were more problematic creatures? Why wasn’t I surprised?
“We have to have some idea of what we’re looking for,” someone chimed in, the conversation continuing on around me.
I wondered if Lee or Emmyth had any thoughts on what it could be, or at least where.
If it were me, I would have put it on another Nightwing just to mess with everyone. They’d think the problem solved without any more hints, and it’s not, Emmyth chimed in.
That is a brilliant idea, but do you think they would have come up with that? Lee wondered.
