by TJ Reynolds
I was holding my dad’s hand, so I felt safe—at first. He sped up, though, and my mom followed suit. I sensed their fear, and it made me worry as well. I remember thinking, what could be so scary that my dad would be afraid?
Then as we passed the alley, I looked over and saw two men standing over someone who was balled up on the ground. One looked up and stared me straight in the eyes. I saw anger and something else I couldn’t identify. Now that I thought of it, I think the man was ashamed. And even as he watched me pass by, his friend landed a kick to the unlucky bastard’s ribs. The man just grunted, no longer strong enough to defend himself.
That same sense of tension and unexplained dread filled me now, and I had to take a deep breath to bolster myself and keep moving on. This is a freaking game, I reminded myself, but the thought did not do much to dispel my fear.
Tejón made a soft groan behind me, no doubt feeling the same as me. The path through the stone began to turn somewhat, and the walls to either side lowered. We were apparently coming out of the channel. That should have made me feel better.
I saw a pile of stone that looked to have been stacked to either side, though at this point, I had begun imagining attacks coming from all angles. I stared to detect any sign of movement, but we passed by and nothing changed.
I was about to turn and check on Tejón when a deafening crash filled the air. I spun my head back and saw that the stone had fallen into the road, blocking any possible retreat. A few figures were running along the walls above us, and they weren’t small.
Then several pairs of heavy boots thudded ahead. When I turned to see our enemies, my blood ran cold. We were facing five of the huge trow warriors that we’d fought in the mine, their bodies warped and hideous.
I buffed Tejón and myself with Guardian of the Wild and Shield of the Barbarian, then taunted. As the ugly bastards began to charge, I inspected them, hoping to gain some insight.
Twisted Trow
Level 26
HP: 9285/9285
Abilities: Tackle, Smite, Frenzy
Damn! The same creatures as before, but these were six levels higher. I could not hold back if we were going to survive this.
“Let’s go, putas!” I shouted, sinking my axe into the first one’s head. Another ran around his fallen companion and attacked with a huge war hammer. I blocked with my free axe and kicked it in the chest, then used my latest skill, one I’d gained when I’d hit my Berserker class rank. Whirlwind pulsed through my arms, the skill making me attack three times, but since I had also chosen dual-wield, I stared in awe as my axes cut the beast before me six times.
The beast crumpled to the ground, but the tough hide caught one of my axe’s blade, and as it fell to the ground, I was forced to let go.
I heard Tejón roaring behind me, then a sound like a body being flung into stone. He had his own work cut out for him. I needed to focus on the three trow that were facing me.
Two held greatswords and the other, one that was noticeably larger, was swinging a hammer than must have weighed over fifty pounds. It swung the huge weapon with ease, and I used Dodge to avoid being pulverized.
During his third attack, the trow missed a step and stumbled. That was my window. I activated Sunder and stepped into the attack. As my axe flashed out before me, an unstoppable force slammed into my back and threw me to the ground. My axe glanced off the big trow’s leg, and though blood began to seep from the wound, it was far from fatally injured.
A pair of knees were pinning me to the ground, and I felt a giant hand wrap around the back of my neck. Though I stared up at the three trow before me, I was powerless to move.
I thrashed and activated Rampage, but the thing that was on me just weighed too much.
Predictably, everything slowed. Stark fear had sped up my perception. I watched the huge twisted trow lift its hammer and swing down at my head in an exaggerated arc.
I did not scream, and I stopped fighting. Instead, I watched in fascination as the weapon descended toward me.
Suddenly, the creature on my back was tossed forward and bowled into the trow that was attacking. It hit the swinging trow in the ribs and pushed it over.
I took a deep breath as the pressure on my back vanished.
Then Tejón, my sleepy, sweet bear, dove over my prone form and crushed the trow he had thrown off me, a mist-like aura of red power spilling off of his body. A greatsword struck down onto his back, but he slashed out with a blurring paw and gored the creature, sending its bowels spilling to the ground.
Another series of slashes resulted in the other trow dropping his sword and falling to its knees, blood pouring from its neck and chest.
The great trow had recovered and swung its hammer at Tejón. For an instant I was afraid it would simply brain the bear. But as the hammer fell, Tejón pushed his head into the blow, catching it on his bone plate. Then he pushed the trow against the stone wall, pinning him there with his paws, and took its head in his mouth, decapitating the beast with a single jerk.
Tejón turned to face me, his mouth and chest covered in the dark blood of the trow and bellowed in my face.
He roared close enough for my bangs to fly back. The smell of foul blood and gore on his breath told me, in the only way he knew, that not only had he seen this coming, but that he was pissed I’d let it happen.
A better me would have stored the moment away, taking my friend’s outrage as a sign that I needed to be more careful in this world, pay attention, and try to avoid the dangers that seemed to lurk behind every corner. But instead I laughed like the unhinged cabrón that I was.
I laughed until I coughed up a gob of something evil. Flecks of blood showed the impact the trow had made on my lungs when it fell on me.
Tejón huffed a few times, then retreated, moving down the trail towards Benham. Then he rested on his haunches in the middle of the road a few hundred feet ahead. He looked like the teddy bear of some poor kid’s nightmares. I shook my head, still finding no solid reason to stop laughing, but finding my feet at last and surveying the damage of the attack.
I inspected the huge bastard who had struck Tejón with the hammer. Not surprisingly, he was on another level than his companions.
Twisted Trow Elite
Level 27
HP: 12772/12772
Abilities: Tackle, Tactics, Pummel
It was very nice not to have experienced the beast’s Pummel attack. I had come very close to being able to say exactly how effective it was.
Looking over the weapons and loot, there was little worth taking. The weapons were all made from crude iron, with the exception of the elite trow’s hammer. I picked it up and marveled at its ridiculous size and density. It was black and gleamed wetly. I examined it to see if I could learn what material it was made of.
Cobalt Steel Dread Hammer
Quality: Fine
Durability 320/260
150-600 damage
+10 Strength, +10 Stamina
Cobalt, eh? Looking at it in the fading light, I could see a slight bluish tint to the metal. I decided to take it with us, not to use for myself, but to sell or trade. A blacksmith would make something nice with this much high-quality steel. A lot of somethings, probably.
So I dusted myself off and tore my bone-handled axe free from the trow’s head. Then I carried both axes and the new hammer over to Tejón and climbed aboard. He stood up and we walked away, leaving the bodies for whatever crow or jackal was low enough to dine on them.
A few miles down the road, another patch of trees came into view and I found a small spring not too far away.
I refilled our water and watched with satisfaction as Tejón drank his fill. The big boy was a tank, and when he had to, he could take down gallons.
Next in line was a meal, but I was tired and wasn’t nearly so fussy as Hana. Cold rations were fine by me. I unloaded the venison I’d bought for Tejón in Benham and watched him chew the dried meat without any visible enjoyment. I giggled to myself, thinking abou
t how the two of us were peas in a very screwed up pod.
I looked over at Tejón, wanting more than ever for the damn bear to talk back. “Thank you, by the way. Forgot to mention that. I mean, yeah, I’d have respawned, but to be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to getting my brain smashed into my mouth. I doubt I’d taste very good.” I spoke again, as I’d done so many times before, with my mind. You know, I’d really like it if you talked back. Crap, I’d fetch you a fresh deer all by myself and drag it back here in my teeth if you would.
The bear looked up at me, but rather than talk back, he just chewed his meat methodically.
I kept going, though. It was cathartic, talking to my friend, even though I was convinced he could not hear me. You’d love to see that. Hell, Hana and Pachi would, too. Imagine me, fast enough to chase down a deer. I took a bite of my own meal, a few biscuits hard and stale and a bit of the Marduk jerky. There wasn’t much left, but the buff was too good to pass up.
I sighed, letting it all go: the crap with Alysand in Gilsby, the damn trow nearly giving me a haircut, hell, even the real stuff from real life. I was just a damn gimp in a fake world trying to prove something to herself. But at least I was with someone I cared about.
You know I love you Tejón, don’t you? I love you more than I thought possible and I’d do anything if you’d just freaking talk to me.
It’s been hard, Madi, a voice replied in my head, and I coughed on a piece of jerky and stared at Tejón. It has been hard letting myself love you too, but I have.
I responded, not quite believing what was happening. Why has it been hard? We’ve fought together. I’ve helped feed you. We’ve spent so much time together, and we’re good friends, right?
The bear stopped chewing and stood still, staring at the ground before him. I thought he was done talking, but after a few long moments, he looked at me. His eyes were bright and filled with emotion. Was that pain? It has been, Madi, because you were among those who killed my mother. I know she was broken. She came back to our cave one day and smelled wrong. She tried to kill me, and I hid for days. But even though you saved my life, you still helped to kill my mother. And even now, you eat her flesh. How do you think that makes me feel?
I pressed my hand to my mouth and wasn’t sure if I should swallow or spit the jerky out. Making a decision, I stood and spit the partially chewed jerky into my palm. I jogged over to my pack and took out all that I had on me, then grabbed my axe. Tejón stood up, obviously interested in what I was up to.
I walked a few dozen strides into the trees, found a clean patch of soil, and planted my axe as deep as I could sink it. Twisting the blade to the side, I opened a hole, and placed all the Marduk jerky, all of Tejón’s mother, into it. Then I buried it all with my hands.
When I was done, my hands were shaking, but I stood up and faced my friend.
I’m so sorry… I tried, but as soon as started my apology, Tejón gave a deep groan.
I shook my head, not sure whether I should laugh or cry, but the bear made up my mind with a single comment before sitting back down to his meal. Let me know when you get that deer. Some fresh meat would be more than welcome.
If there were any more trow patrols in the area, they not only knew our location, but exactly how loud this warrior cabrón could laugh.
2: “What good are wings if you lack the wings to use them?”
— Ashtel Vindari
HANA
“No, no, no!” I wailed, wind cutting off my words, and though I couldn’t hear a thing over the torrent in my ears, I swear I could feel Pachi laughing beneath me.
Open your wings, small one. This is what freedom feels like, the enfield teased as she plummeted towards the ground.
It’s what fear feels like. Please, enough! Mercifully, she pulled up and away from the jagged rocks we’d been approaching.
We rose again, swifter than I could have thought possible, driven by the warming air currents that drove up the mountainside. Pachi didn’t need to flap her wings, at least not once we were airborne, but simply glide upwards on the updraft. It felt like the world’s most dangerous elevator.
My favorite part so far was when we’d flown straight, only occasionally dipping as she flapped her wings. Tumsley had found us as our party was preparing to separate for the first time since we’d met. He’d lectured me on the mechanics of the saddle he gave me, which, by his description, had been made with flight in mind.
In all honesty, I knew it had been coming, but other than the balcony on a high-rise, I’d never been acquainted with anything like this before.
We rose until my face began to chap with the cold, and the mountain looked more like elaborate pastries than miles of upthrust stone. I saw a glade below, and some distance ahead, a gentle swath of green running between two peaks. Almost like a runway, I mused.
Pachi, you see that down there? That glade? I sent with my mind, pointing over her shoulder.
I see it. A fine choice. Should I dive for it?
I gave the stubborn creature a gentle kick with my heel. Don’t you dare. I’ve had plenty of that for the day.
Her sides heaved again in laughter. But the man Tumsley said you need much practice. Isn’t now the perfect time? Despite her teasing, she remained on her steady course. When we were above the glade, she began to wheel around and corkscrew down. As we were getting closer to the ground, Pachi swept around and approached the glenn once more, only a couple hundred feet above.
I saw bursts of movement below.
Do you see them? Pachi asked me, enthusiasm imbuing her words.
I squinted at the tiny figures and saw them bounding through the grass. Deer? Are they deer?
Yes, Hana. And I am sorry. But I am growing hungry. Her wings folded, and we fell like a rock.
My stomach lurched and I gripped the straps of the saddle, clutching Pachi’s sides with my thighs. She opened her wings again as we came within a few dozen feet of the waving grass and, speeding along, began to chase down the herd of deer.
From my vantage, I could easily spot the animals as we quickly overtook them. I inspected one and was pleased with the information I saw.
Karnath Deer
Level 28
HP: 6922/6922
Abilities: Dash, Stealth, Charge
One more item off of old man Quinn’s list. I needed pelts from these creatures, and it seemed we had found the perfect place to hunt them.
A large stag broke away from the main herd, hoping to use his strength to outrun us. Pachi veered in his direction and deftly plucked the beast up with her talons.
“Way to go, Pachi!” I yelled, the rush of the descent giving me a joy I hadn’t expected. Maybe I could get used to this after all.
She transferred the struggling deer to her mouth and broke its neck easily. Then she spread her wings wide, pulling back and slowing us quickly. We were trotting through the tall grass before I knew it and I couldn’t help but laugh.
I am a supreme hunter, am I not? she boasted. Rather than tell her she was supremely full of it, I just pet her neck and sent her feelings of approval and warmth. On a hunch, I checked to see if any new notifications had appeared. I thought the least that might happen was gaining some random flying skill. What I discovered was way more exciting.
Quest Update: Bond with a Pet, Level 3 Complete. You have been awarded 250 XP and an additional pet-related skill: Companion Atunement
Companion Atunement: Through the act of strengthening your bond, both you and your companion have an increased mental resistance of 25%, reducing the effectiveness of any fear or confusion-based spells. Also, the damage your pet deals with skill usage is increased by 10%.
New Quest: Assisted Affinities.
Assisted Affinities: Companion Quest. Do whatever is necessary to allow your pet to increase the affinity they have with their chosen deity to level 4. Rewards: Affinity Evolution available.
What was that? The amplified mental resistance was great, and the skill damage boost would mos
t certainly be noticeable. But what could the new quest mean by Affinity Evolution? Wracking my brain, I tried to imagine what Pachi might look like if she was somehow evolved with starlight.
I tried speaking about it with her, but the girl had her mind on her meal. I shook my head and assumed, like everything else in this world, I would know in time.
In just a few hours of flight, Pachi and I had found ourselves a real bit of paradise. I looked around and marveled at our location while Pachi remained intent on her meal. The glade was high in the mountains, higher than Benham had been, but was nestled into a valley between three tall peaks. This lent the valley some shelter from the intense wind.
The grass fluttered in a gentle breeze and came up almost to my hip as I walked around, stretching my legs from the ride.
The sound of the deer retreating caught my attention, and I turned to see them disappear into a wooded thicket at the other end of the glade. A ribbon of trees connected this valley to another, adjacent one. Though the seclusion of the glade was appealing, it made sense that there was a connection to the sprawling forests below. How else would the deer have become so numerous if they didn’t have a way to retreat during winter?
I hiked up the incline, reveling in the full warmth of the afternoon sun, then found a patch of particularly lush clover and fell on my back.
