by Eden Redd
Milly looked over to Will before her eyes looked past him to the stone outcropping at the lake edge about forty feet away.
“I see some holes along the stone there. Did you mine from it when you were here last?”
Will nodded as he put the last filled container in his inventory. “Yea, before I created a mine by the house. I found some quartz. It was a component I needed to wake your soul stone up.”
“That makes sense. I know gemstones have mystical properties but I’m not sure what they are. I remember sensing it when I was close to gemstones. They sometimes poke out of the ground.”
Will mentally filed what Milly said away. If gemstones did have magical properties, then he could use that. He had no idea how, but if it was like anything else, he could craft, maybe he could make some stronger weapons or materials.
Will pulled a wooden shovel from his inventory and stood up. “I should gather some sand before we head back. I will need it to make more windows for your home.”
Milly looked away, pink touching her cheeks. “There is no rush. I thought…I could stay with you for a little while, if that’s okay.”
The boldness of Milly’s words caused heat to creep up Will’s neck. She was beautiful, but he had no idea she would take to him so quickly. Unsure what to say, he turned and walked away. Stepping about thirty feet from the beautiful woman, he stabbed the shovel into the sand and began digging. Each shovelful of sand turned into a floating clump before appearing in his inventory. The work was easy, but after a dozen clumps of sand filled his inventory, he looked over his shoulder to Milly.
The horned-woman dipped her knees and hands in the water, wetness crawling up her robe as she moved fingers through the sandy bottom. The water was clear and a moment later, she dipped her mouth to the rippling waters and drank. Will watched, lost in the simple natural beauty of her drinking. His inner wild spirit called out, wanting to join her side and drink in nature. Simple acts of nature caused his heart to beat faster. A pleasant vibration filled his heart as he admired her beauty.
Milly pulled back and looked over. She smiled in his direction before her eyes widened in pure horror. Will’s body tensed before the sound of rushing footsteps rose up behind him. Turning his head, he saw a green face before four arms wrapped around his chest. Panic surged as he tried to break free when there was a glow of green energy and then, an explosion.
The blast sent Will through the air. Shovel gone and body not responding, he flew and crashed onto the sand like a ragdoll. Pain flared along nerves as he tried to move, an alert filling his vision.
You have taken 8 damage! 2 Hearts remaining.
The world came to him in flashes as he struggled to move. The day turned black before turning light again. Hands grabbed at him and pulled. Will struggled, limbs just barely starting to move to his commands. Water splashed and flowed over his legs and then his lower body. Regaining control with each passing second, he moved his legs to help stand up. The hands on him helped as he pushed away the mental fog. Looking down, he was bleeding, skin ruptured along his arms. The leather tunic took some of the damage, but its durability had moved slid from green to yellow. A sound touched his ears and he stood on his own power, turning his head to Milly.
“Will! Will!” Milly shouted with wide eyes.
Will’s hand touched his sword still at his hip. He drew it and turned, looking for what grabbed him. On the sandy beach next to the lake, a four-armed green humanoid lay. Its face turned away; it lay sprawled on the sand.
“What is that,” Will grimaced as pain lashed at fried nerves.
“It’s a Stalker! It must have been what was following us,” Milly said with a fearful edge. “They don’t like water, that’s why I dragged you into the lake.”
Will touched his left hand to his head, pain throbbing. The stalker on the beach stirred before it lifted its head. Dark eyes stared with alien intent. Four arms lifted and pressed palms to the beach. The thing lifted itself up and stood, dark eyes on Will and Milly, chest heaving.
The haze in Will’s eyes cleared and he drank in the monster’s appearance. It was female and naked, a pair of breasts defying gravity as it gazed on Will with a bottomless hunger. The skin was an emerald green, smooth and hairless. It lacked hair on its head, its face thin and gaunt. Two pointed ears graced the sides of its head. Hands flexed as she stood watching the pair in the water. Will held his sword out, but the creature didn’t even flinch.
“We have to get out of here,” Will grunted as the pain in his side flared again.
“It’s not going to leave. They stay and explode until their prey is dead. And then they eat what’s left,” Milly said as she clutched to Will’s shoulders from behind.
“Such an odd monster,” Will said before he heard a splashing from behind.
Will and Milly turned to see green heads emerge from the water. Will’s eyes narrowed as three thin creatures rose up. They looked like ghouls except their bodies were a patchwork of green and pale skin. White hands rose up as they moved closer. White eyes glared with mouths opening and closing. Clawed tips reached out to grab hold of the pair and a haunting need to drown their prey consumed them.
“Whatever happens, stay behind me. If I fall, run as fast as you can go back home,” Will ordered Milly.
“I can’t…” She began before he cut her off.
“Don’t argue! Just do as I ask and maybe one of us can survive this!” Will shouted before lunging at the water ghouls.
Stone sword up, he drove it down diagonally into a ghoul’s neck. The thing moaned as the point stabbed deep. Hands clawed at Will, but he stepped back, pulling the sword with him. Frustration grew as the ghouls advanced. They didn’t die unless he took off their heads. Cursing his sword, he went at them again. Sword slicing hard across, a head separated from its neck and splashed in the water three feet away. The other two ghouls latched onto Will, pulling at his tunic and trying to bring him to deeper water.
Will jammed the sword point into an exposed gut again and again. The ghoul moaned, but it didn’t let go. Will felt himself being pulled into deeper water before he knocked away an arm and stabbed the sword into the ghoul’s eye, giving it a violent twist. The ghoul collapsed in the water, letting go of him. The last one raised a clawed hand, ready to strike at Will’s exposed neck when Milly came crashing through the water. Head low, she slammed her horns into the ghoul’s side, causing it to stumble away and miss its chance.
Will grabbed Milly with his left hand, knocking her away as the ghoul regained its footing and lunged. Sword up, he slashed upwards, sending the ghoul’s head spiraling through the air and splashing in the water. The lake water rippled as Will huffed. Milly was to his side as they both turned to see the stalker was still standing on the sand, watching them.
“Are you hurt?” Milly asked.
Will drew a wooden axe from his other hip as he stared down the stalker. “The ghouls didn’t hurt me, but we have no idea how many more are in the water. We have to go.”
Will eyed the green stalker before lifting up his axe and throwing it. The axe spun and right before it would strike the stalker, it raised two hands and slapped it from the air. The movement was quick, but as it drew its arms back, Will was already charging, sword point aimed at the monster’s chest.
Water splashed up as he ran toward the green-skinned monster. He had no idea if this was going to work, but if he could hurt it enough, maybe it would give Milly enough time to run back home. It was a long shot by all means, but if they stayed, more ghouls could come up and he was in no condition to keep fighting.
The stalker’s arms were pulling back just as Will made it onto the sand. Despite the sword being made from stone, it held a glossy shine that reflected the morning sun. The light shined against the stalker’s eyes, blinding it just enough before the end penetrated its chest. Will growled as he drove the blade deep into the monster’s chest, nearly to the hilt. The stalker slashed with a high hand, claws raking across Will’s cheek as he pulled his head aw
ay.
You have taken 1 damage! You have 1 Heart left.
The stalker’s eyes gleamed as energy began to glow from the thing’s chest. Will pushed, causing the monster to stumble back. He braced himself, eyes closing and ready for his end to come.
A long moment passed, but nothing happened.
Will opened his eyes to see the glow fading from the stalker’s eyes and chest. It gave him a mournful look as four hands grabbed onto the player. Something burned in its gaze as man and monster stared at each other for what seemed an eternity. The stalker languished, giving out a pitiful cry. The alien anger was gone as it clutched to Will, replaced with a pathetic moan.
“I’m sorry,” Will said not understanding why he would say that.
The monster moaned again before it fell to its knees. Will pulled his sword out and held it ready to strike the creature down. The stalker fell on its side, the light dying in its eyes. Its body melted into the ground, leaving a soul stone glowing in the sunlight.
Will knelt down and picked it up. Calling up his inventory, he placed the stone in it. Swiping away the 2-D menu, he tried to get back up, but his legs shook. Milly appeared, her hands taking hold and helping him up. Weakness filled his muscles as Will tried to stand. The fight was over, but he thought for sure his body would regenerate like it did the other night.
Milly looked at the wounds, “Have you eaten?”
Will shook his head.
“You need to eat if you are going to heal,” Milly said as she took one of his arms over her shoulder. “I’ll help you get back, but you have to eat.”
Will clumsily sheathed his sword before taking an apple from his inventory. He bit into it, but found it hard to chew, his body growing weaker. Milly began walking, pulling Will with her. The pair made it into the woods and began to trek back. Pain and weakness danced along the player as he tried to keep up. The march back was torture, each step agonizing. Milly tried to hold him up while looking around for any other monsters.
The forest seemed to grow thicker as they made their way back. Will’s energy began to bottom out, unable to keep eating his apple. Sleep whispered in his ear as he fought to keep standing. The apple fell away and he grunted. Milly saw that the player was struggling to stay awake, her hand purposely touching one of the wounds on his arm. The flaring pain caused Will to jerk up, a last bit of energy enabling him to keep walking.
Time faded to the background until they both noticed the walls surrounding Will’s home. Milly pushed on until they reached the door. Wrenching it open, they both stumbled inside. Milly let go of Will, turning around and closing the doors. She slammed the wooden bar into place as Will stumbled and fell to his knees.
“Milly…” Will managed to whisper before falling face first onto the grassy floor, darkness washing over him as he passed out.
Five
Wolves howled in the dreamy landscape. Will sat in a dark forest, the moon high in the night’s sky. Foreboding touched his senses as he tried to remember why he was here. Confusion trickled along his senses, coloring his mind with edges of fear. A fire burned in his heart, keeping the darkness from snuffing out his light, but thoughts walked along a winding path, a gloom he found impossible to ignore.
A shadow emerged from the darkness, oval eyes staring down at the lone young man as he sat. A breath later, wolves padded out, surrounding Will. Yellow eyes and low growls filled the area as Will slowly stood up. He faced the shadow without looking at the wolves, his expression hardening and fingers flexing.
“I won’t go down without a fight,” he declared as he stared at the shadow.
“We…know,” the shadow said with a whisper.
The shadow floated closer, eyes never blinking. “You are strong, but not strong enough. Death will surround you if you do not come to us.”
Will gave a knowing smirk. “I’m not afraid of death.”
The shadow’s head nodded. “No, but can you keep death away from those around you?”
Will looked to the side, an image of Milly painting his mind’s eye.
The wolves stalked closer their heads low, but eyes like dim suns.
The shadow’s body writhed as the unblinking eyes stared. “Find us. Worship us. You will be rewarded.”
“I’m not some pathetic follower,” Will growled.
“No,” the shadow hissed. “You are much more. Your fire will consume worlds. Come to us. Worship us. You will be rewarded.”
“I…” Will trailed off as something glowed to his left.
The player turned his head, eyes drinking in a man in white armor, a short sword in each hand. His light burned at the darkness, pushing it away with every step. The shadow slinked back, staying away from the brilliance.
Will faced the man, fingers curling into fists. The man’s face was not covered but the light he emitted blurred out his features. The swords in his hands were white and the body language spoke of intent. Will lifted his fists, not sure what he could do against an armed opponent, but he wasn’t going to let the stranger intimidate him.
“Find us. Worship us. You will be rewarded,” the shadow repeated as it melted into the darkness along the forest.
The glowing swordsman stood before Will, white eyes staring him down.
“Let me guess, you’re going to ask me to find you, worship you, I’ll be rewarded?” Will said with a snarky edge.
The glowing swordsman stood, saying nothing for a long moment. Will’s annoyance bubbled into hatred, but before he even thought to lift his fist and punch the swordsman in the jaw, a white sword shot up and came down with murderous light.
Will’s eyes opened instantly as his heart leapt in his chest. Milly was by him on the bed, her eyes wide. Will’s body relaxed as he saw the familiar ceiling. The comfort of the bed soothed his alert nerves before a wave of weakness sank into his chest. The tension falling away, he lay under the blankets.
Milly reached over to a night stand and lifted up a wooden bowl with a wooden spoon in it. Will looked over, seeing the new night stand before he turned his gaze to Milly. The horned woman stirred the bowl before bringing it down for him to see. A yellowish broth steamed up. Will glanced around, seeing from the windows night had fallen. The crackling of the fireplace touched the background.
Milly brought the bowl closer, “I found some mushrooms in your mine so I made some soup. I also used your Crafting Bench to make a few utensils, bowls, and the night stands by the bed. You have been out for hours. Have some soup so you can heal faster.”
Will slowly sat up, weakness pulling at his digital muscles. Checking his stats, he saw he had only had three hearts. At that rate, if he didn’t eat, it would take a day or two for him to recover. He felt the slight pangs of hunger but they were dull and faraway. It was almost like he should eat but the urges were subdued, even when he was this weak.
The player took the bowl of soup from Milly. He stirred it a little from some long-ago habit and scooped up some broth, chunks of mushrooms floating along the top. He sipped it and the taste caused his eyes to widen. It was good, no, great he thought. Instantly, he scooped up warm broth and sucked it down like he hadn’t eaten in decades.
Milly watched and smiled. The spoonful’s stopped and Will put the edge of the bowl to his lips and he drank. When the broth was gone, he scooped up chunks of mushrooms and ate them. Energy dripped into his body before a dam broke. The energy swelled and he watched the corner of his vision as his hearts began to regenerate.
“Food makes everything better,” Milly smiled.
“Thank you,” Will said in a low tone.
“No thanks needed,” Milly said with a warm edge.
“You didn’t have to do this.”
Milly nodded. “I don’t have to do anything. I wanted to. You awakened me. You saved me. It’s the least I can do.”
“We saved each other,” Will said with a weak smile.
A muffled screech filled the night. Will looked to the windows, hand at his side to draw his weapon when
he noticed he was completely nude under the blanket.
Milly looked to a window and sighed. “The monsters are out. I’m thankful we have a small haven away from the wild darkness of the forest.”
“Me too,” Will said as he relaxed.
Milly took the empty bowl from Will and placed it on the nightstand. “You must rest. The night has just begun and you should be better by morning.”
Will nodded. A small silence filled the loft around them as Will looked to the beautiful horned-woman. Oval eyes looked down as if she wanted to say or ask something but she held her tongue. Will glanced around him and realized, there was only one bed. Looking back up to Milly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. Silent words passed between them and Will found it hard to resist.
“We don’t have another bed,” Will said with a small smile.
Milly nodded. “I will just have to sleep with you.”
“It is big enough for both of us,” Will’s eyes holding a gleam.
Milly’s cheeks glowed pink before she nodded again. Another screech filled the night, but it didn’t muddle the growing heat between them. Will found it refreshing that she didn’t play at any pretenses or games. A sad feeling clung to his heart from a life long ago, but it was quickly consumed by the heat between them. The world of Jova was a wild and dangerous place, but in this moment, their heat chased away the darkness. No judging eyes watched them. No whispers of thoughts or opinions haunted them. They were free to be whatever they wished and Will’s soul soared.
Milly looked away with a shy edge before she stood up and faced the bed. Will sat back against the wall, eyes on the horned- woman. Milly reached up and took hold of her robe, pulling it from her shoulders and letting fall to the floor. Pale skin glowed and pert nipples pointed in heat from heavy breasts. The glow between them rose like a symphony as she picked up the blanket and slid into bed next to Will. Bodies nestled together, the player’s arm around her and she snuggling to his chest. The warmth of her body caused his manhood to stir. A brush of her hand against his skin sent electric currents to his heart and primal urges causing his manhood to rise on its own power.
