Dauntless Dungeon

by Devan Johnson

  “Well that’s not a ladylike sight is it?” Chimed in a familiar voice as Kheeta frantically fought with the gaudy dress her mother made her wear. “You look so ridiculous with your dress over your head and your bed wear out for the world to see.” The voice continued followed by raucous laughter.

  “I’m serious Celia cut me down.” Kheeta replied to the voice as she managed to wrestle the dress away from her face enough to see. Before her was Celia, her best friend and closely guarded secret.

  “Alright I’ll let you down… this time.” The girl laughed as she floated over to the tree that suspended Kheeta. Celia’s long green hair contrasted against the orange and yellow leaves, her ethereal appearance seeming almost translucent. “You know I work really hard keeping this forest trapped so that people think I’m not the only ghost here, and you keep setting them all off.”

  “I’m so sorry I’m interrupting your intricate con by walking.” Kheeta replied sarcastically as Celia cut the vine and the fox girl plummeted to the cold ground with a thud. “You couldn’t have thought of a nicer way to get me down?”

  The ghost mermaid simply shrugged her shoulders and gave her friend a sly grin.

  “So, I’m assuming we’re going to the lake then?” Celia presumed turning left down the unmarked trail that Kheeta had taken every day for the past two years. “Your trousers and blouse are in the hollow stump if you’d like to change into something a little less…”

  “Shut up,” Kheeta cut her off blushing from embarrassment.

  “In that case, I’ll race you there!” Celia exclaimed taking off literally through the trees, phasing through each one as if it wasn’t there. Kheeta let out a long sigh and ran after her ghostly friend.

  After a few minutes down the trail, the lake started to come into view, much like the marketplace in The Den, the lake was surrounded by large trees stretching far into the sky as if trying to touch one of the two suns illuminating it. The lake was crystal clear as if made of glass and not water, transparent to the bottom even at its deepest point. As Kheeta drew closer however movement caught her eye and she leaned over to get a closer look. Moments later Celia came exploding out of the water laughing and splashing Kheeta.

  “What took you so long?” Celia asked as she floated over to a large burnt stump on the far side of the lake shore.

  “Not everyone can run through the trees, some of us have to try and avoid them.” Kheeta replied playfully as she started to lift her dress above her head.

  “Sounds like corporeal problems to me,” Celia taunted back as she tossed a tied bundle of clothes to her half naked friend.

  “Don’t stare at me!” Kheeta shrieked as she noticed Celia’s eyes beginning to wander.

  “Oh, you like it,” The ghost girl laughed as she complied and turned around.

  “Still…” Kheeta muttered as she pulled her pants up the rest of the way, thankful to finally be out of that awful dress.

  “So, you seemed pretty upset before, did something happen at the festival?” Celia asked floating over to rest her scaly tail in the cold water. Kheeta spent the next two hours filling her mermaid friend in on the days events until a noise interrupted their conversation.

  “Kheeta!” A voice called out through the forest that would be getting dark soon.

  “Kheeta where are you? Come home!” A second voice, her dad’s, joined in.

  “I think you’ve got a search party out for you,” Celia observed flying up to the trees to get a better view. “And it looks like they’re only a few minutes away… what do you want to do?”

  “I can’t go back… not yet, not after the festival.” She insisted to her ghostly sentry, panic starting to rise in her stomach and her throat beginning to tighten. “I need you to make them leave.”

  “Oh please, twist my arm some more,” Celia responded a devious smirk splitting her face ear to ear…

  The twin suns had already begun their descent over the treetops and the forest was rapidly getting dark. Kheeta watched from her hiding place as Kohrlan looked around trying desperately to see through the thick fog that was settling in, severely limiting his party’s visibility. Thick spider webs hung from branches in the trees and the woods had taken on a sinister and malicious feeling. A twig snapped behind him and Kohrlan spun around short sword in hand, ready to face whatever monster stood before him… to his annoyed relief it was just Kohda. “Boy be more careful! You nearly scared me half to death!” He scolded his son who was staring at the floor while Kheeta stifled her laughter. Kohrlan turned his attention back to the trail before him and a chill went from his ears, down his spine, and all the way to the end of his tail.

  “Get out… Get Out… GET OUT…” A mysterious and ominous voice called out through the trees almost as if it was part of the breeze itself.

  “Dad what was tha…”

  “Boy silence and be ready.” The elder Kitsune replied gripping his sword so tightly that the leather straps began to rub his skin raw. As they sat there in the dark, silent, hearts thumping, and fear coursing through their veins, Kheeta saw Celia smile.

  “I think it was nothing dad… just the wind.” Kohda tried to reason, nervously looking around, trying to convince himself more than his dad. As if on cue Celia sprung into action, swooping down from the trees and letting out a gut-wrenching scream. “Dad run!” Kohda screamed, his legs trembling as he turned to run back the way that they came.

  “Are you serious?” Kohrlan exclaimed in utter shock and disbelief in his own son’s cowardice. “You don’t scare me ghost!”

  “Are you sure?” Celia screamed as she flew out of the ground right in front of the staunch fox-man, causing him to fluster to the point of dropping his sword. “I said GET OUT!” She was mere inches from his face now and she could see the terror in his eyes. Without saying another word Kohrlan turned and bolted; leaving his short sword and his pride on the forest floor, the echoing of cackles following his every step…

  The night had grown old as Kheeta fell off the burnt stump, holding her sides as tears fell from her eyes, “stop… it hurts…”

  Celia looked at her friend rolling in the grass and decided to do her imitation one more time, “You don’t scare me g…g…ghost!” The two friends laughed for a few more moments before they both fell silent and the air turned awkward. “So, do you think you’ll ever be able to look at your dad without laughing again?”

  Kheeta looked at her reflection for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh and flopping back on the grass, her tail swishing out beside her. “I’m not sure if I can go back…”

  “What do you mean?” Celia asked floating down gently to rest on the grass next to Kheeta.

  “Well after the festival and Mrs. Vines… not to mention my family is going to kill me for ripping the dress.” Kheeta’s eyes began to well up with tears and her throat tightened.

  “Well think, at least if they do that we can hang out forever.” Celia joked trying to lift her friend’s spirit.

  “I just… I don’t know what to do Celia…” Kheeta responded trying to hold back the tears that threatened to burst forth.

  “Well if you can’t go back…” Celia began sitting up and looking down at her furry friend. “Why don’t you finally take my advice. Quit daydreaming about being a quester and just go do it.”

  “What? I don’t even know where I’d start!” Kheeta exclaimed sitting up as well and looking at her friend like she was crazy.

  “You know exactly where to start, I’ve told you a million times, Dauntless Dungeon in Dravenmoore. It’s a school where they teach you how to be a Quester!” The ghost girl interjected with a small hint of annoyance.

  “I can’t go by myself… no Kitsune has ever left The Den… at least not any that I’ve heard of… Can you come with me?” Kheeta asked excitement starting to fill both her eyes and tone.

  “I’m tied to this lake and forest Kheeta,” Celia began, knowing her friend already knew how this was going to end.

 
“I could take your finger bone with me.” Kheeta suggested quickly with a partially hopeful laugh.

  “If only it worked that way,” the mer-ghost chuckled back. “No, this is something you have to do on your own; but don’t worry, I’m obviously not going anywhere.” Celia looked at her friend and smiled, “then when you come back to visit me you can show The Den they were wrong. Plus I think its about your turn to tell me some fantastical journeys of your own.”

  Kheeta looked at her one and only friend as the tears she had been fighting so valiantly pushed through, only she didn’t mind, this time they were tears of joy. “Okay, I’ll do it. First thing in the morning I’m going to go to Dravenmoore, I’ll find Dauntless Dungeon and become a Quester!” A new fire of determination had been lit inside of the young Kitsune as she went to bed that night, eagerly dreaming of her future life as a Quester of Rhespira…

  2 A Journey Begins

  The early morning suns’ rays shone through the green treetop canopy, the warmth gently stirring Kheeta to consciousness. “You’re finally up!” Celia exclaimed floating around in excitement. “I forgot how much living people have to sleep, it’s crazy, you miss out on so much time.” Kheeta squinted her sore eyes as they adjusted to the sunlight, and crinkled her nose as birds loudly chirped their morning song.

  “I can’t believe that I didn’t go home last night.” Kheeta said, her eyes growing wide with panic and anxiety; causing her ethereal friend to float down beside her and place a weightless hand on her shoulder.

  “Kheeta, last night you made some impressive steps and big decisions… are you still going to do it?”

  “Go to Dauntless Dungeon and become a Quester?” Kheeta asked knowing full well that’s the decision her friend was referring to. “I don’t know, I mean it’s so far and I don’t know the way….” She was looking away now, focusing on every wrinkle in the log she sat on; anything was better than trying to look her friend in the eyes right now.

  “Stop making excuses Kheeta!” Celia commanded with more force than she had intended. “You are a passionate and kind person… you are exactly what the Questing community needs right now.” She looked at Kheeta who had gazed up from her log now, “plus, I have something for you, to help you, and so you don’t forget me.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t forget you,” she insisted looking at the buxom mermaid and biting her lip, stifling thoughts that would make her mother blush.

  “Well let me get you your gear and then you’re setting out.” Celia said with such a finality that Kheeta didn’t even argue. The ghost girl dove into the lake with a splash, swimming out to the middle and submerging herself for a few moments. Kheeta watched on with anticipation until finally Celia broke the water’s surface again, a leather wrapped bundle in her arms.

  “What’s that?” Kheeta asked curiously gesturing to the bundle Celia placed before her.

  “Well go on and open it dummy,” she got in reply as the ethereal girl chuckled softly. Kheeta carefully opened the bundle before her, the smell of leather water-proofing filling and burning her nose. Inside was a worn old scroll and an intricate looking scimitar.

  “Celia! I can’t accept these!” Kheeta insisted, pushing them towards her undead friend.

  “Yeah Kheeta, a sword and map sure do me a whole lot of good here at the lake.” Even though she was teasing her, Kheeta could tell that Celia was sad to part with the items.

  “But weren’t these yours when you were…”

  “Alive? Yes, yes they were. The map is one I drew myself and it covers almost all of Rhespira,” she paused as a thought occurred to her, “of course that was a bit over 200 years ago, but as long as too much hasn’t changed you should be able to find the fastest route to Dravenmoore.” Celia answered with a smile as Kheeta unrolled the detailed map amazed at the level of cartography and care that went into documenting each regions topography.

  “And the sword?” Kheeta inquired picking up the surprisingly light weapon, its silver sheath inlaid with a wave like pattern. Looking closer she realized a golden kraken sat as the hilt with the hand guard being made up of its tentacles.

  “That was a gift from my first love, Myra” Celia answered staring off in the distance now, lost in old memories. “She was so beautiful, and kind; but get her behind closed doors… she was the feistiest little red head…” Her words trailed off filled with the melancholy tone of longing.

  “What happened to her?” Kheeta followed, looking at her friend with sympathy.

  “That’s a long and sad story…” Celia began, her voice catching in her throat for just a split second before she regained her composure and continued. “I’d love to float here and chat all day, but you are burning daylight my dear.”

  “You’re right, I should go…” Kheeta sighed reluctantly. She stood and began to attach the sword to her belt, impressed by how well it seemed to fit her. Looking around the lake’s meadow clearing, that had been more of a home to her than her own den, she was filled with a sense of anxiety and excitement.

  “I’ll take you as far as I can; but then you’re on your own,” Celia offered as the two girls began the trek through the forest. The paths were winding and hard to travel through, almost as if the forest itself was trying to prevent her departure; but after two hours of hiking they had reached the edge of Verngoth Forest. “Well here we are…” Celia announced tears of sadness evident in her voice. “Don’t you forget me, you hear? And make sure to come back and visit me.”

  “Oh Celia, I’ve told you before I can’t forget you, besides we’re going to be ghost buddies forever… when you eventually drown me in your lake.” Kheeta replied with a chuckle.

  “Alright well then, I guess don’t die; so I can kill you later…” She laughed and then continued, “Go have an adventure, romance boys or girls, kill a dragon! Go live life Kheeta; you deserve it.” Celia was trying as hard as she could to hide the depressive fog that had taken hold of her as her only friend turned to leave.

  I do deserve it! Kheeta thought to herself as she waved goodbye to Celia and her old life, ready to start a fresh new journey in the big world outside The Den…

  The heat of the twin suns beat down without mercy on the yellow-green hillside outside Verngoth Forest. Kheeta couldn’t believe her eyes; everywhere she looked grew tall grass and bushes, but only the occasional tree straggling here and there. The air was so dry that her eyes and throat were beginning to itch when she heard her stomach growl. Oh, my gods Kheeta! You colossal idiot! First step of Questing: make sure you have enough food; and I not only don’t have enough, I don’t have any! She scanned the hills for signs of anything edible and noticed two lizards scurrying under some rocks by the sage brush. Not my first choice but, her stomach sounded again, they’ll have to do.

  Slowly she snuck up behind the two-foot beasts, unsheathing her new scimitar as quietly as she could, its metal gleaming; they were only a few feet away now. Raising her arm to strike downwards the lizards bolted; each one in either direction, as soon as her weapon had begun its descent. “Damn it!” Kheeta cursed loudly as she tore off after the smaller one, sword raised above her head like a madwoman possessed.

  “Come back here you stupid reptile!” She yelled but the lizard was fast; swerving left and right, in serpentine patterns, dodging each of her novice attacks, and infuriating her more and more each time. Preparing her final strike, sure this was the one that would connect, she hesitated as something in the distance caught her eye. The lizard, seeing his opening, scurried away unnoticed as the distracted Kitsune began to walk up the hill to her right, investigating the strange sight.

  As she grew closer she saw a dark brown wooden chest with no apparent lock nestled under a big bush. I wonder what’s inside? Maybe food? Kheeta thought to herself as she looked around for a possible owner, her stomach insisting that she open it regardless. After a few seconds of searching revealed her to be alone, she approached the chest quickly, eager to get at its contents.

  She crouched down be
fore the trunk, that seemed much bigger now that she was upon it, standing almost three feet tall and two feet wide. Kheeta set her scimitar on the ground next to her and used both hands to try and pry the lid open. At first, she struggled, the lid seeming stuck; so she pulled as hard as she could, praying it would open… until it did.

  Suddenly, the lid snapped open revealing the contents inside to be nothing Kheeta was hoping for; instead, rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth lined the edges, gnashing and salivating as it’s two-foot tongue wrapped its slimy self around her wrist and began to pull her inside. “No! Help!” Kheeta yelled, frantically pulling her arm away from the creature’s snarling teeth and reaching for her sword with the other.

  “Ooo lookie here Gob!” A shrill voice cut through the sound of Kheeta’s pleas and the monster’s growls.

  “Looks like another ‘un fell ‘fer our trap.” Another gruffer voice replied, followed by a sadistic chuckle.

  “I wasn’t sure of you bozo’s plan at first but this seems to be working.” A third, feminine voice, chimed in; as Kheeta looked around for the sources, still trying to save her hand from the yellow drool-covered teeth.

  “The plan is perfect!” The shrill voice interjected sounding offended. “You’re just too dumb to understand it! People want the stuff in the chest right? The Mimic eats them when they try, and then we get the stuff they had.”

  Kheeta screamed out in pain as the lid finally slammed shut, trapping her hand in the toothy mouth inside.

  “Yes scream! Scream louder!” The shrill voice commanded as its owner finally stepped into view. “Mimic’s enjoy a meal that wiggles ‘n screams the best.” Before her stood three small creatures; only about two feet tall, with long floppy ears, grey skin, and one large, bulbous, yellow eye, each hand ended in three clawed fingers, with a mouth full of sharp jagged teeth that seemed to stretch from ear to ear. It would be a stretch to call their clothes rags, and their hair was more like wispy wire hanging and sticking up in every direction.