by TJ Reynolds
As I emerged from the ribs, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I crouched and scanned the swamp. The Ichneumon was stalking me patiently.
From this distance, I could examine the beast’s form better. It was a bit taller than Pachi, maybe seven feet at the shoulder. It wasn’t as long, though, and its limbs were thick as tree trunks. Then I noticed a tail dragging behind it. Coated in mud as well, the tail stretched almost twenty feet behind, thick bristles pointing out at all angles. Seven herniated hells! The Ichneumon was hideous, resembling the bastard pup of a wolverine and a rabid squirrel.
I stalked toward the creature and found a patch of dry land to make a stand on. Then I drew the bow and activated Vital Aim and Lunar Flare. The light that began to build on the tip of my arrow was bright, but thankfully, the Ichneumon was not looking my way.
Yet as my countdown was almost finished, I saw the creature lift its broad nose again and sniff. Even at this distance, I could hear the sharp intake of air. It smelled me.
The countdown finished and I released the arrow. It leapt across the distance in a streak of white light just as the Ichneumon turned and saw me. The arrow struck its flank but bounced off and fell into the mud harmlessly.
Then it came speeding toward me. I tried to draw another arrow. The memory of having my throat ripped out was terrifying. I tripped and dropped my bow. Then I tried to pull my sword free. I lifted it up just in time to stab out at the beast, sinking my katana into the fur of its belly. But its fangs sank into my chest, and I felt the hot surge of poison entering my heart.
I woke again, this time having the dignity not to scream, but panting and covered in sweat. Not a scratch marred my body.
My katana shook in my grip and I stared down at the sharp blade, hoping the Ichneumon was at least mildly hurt by the wound. Then it dawned on me. My bow! I checked to see if it was somehow strung over my shoulder or on my back, but it was missing.
“Quinn’s gonna kill me.” I grunted, stood up, and stalked toward the portal again.
It was time to form a plan. I sat down just a few feet from the portal, sheathed my sword, and mulled over the variables.
The wyverns were swishing their tails with impatience by the time I nodded to myself, ready to try again. I ate the last of the Smokey the Bear meat and prayed this would be the time I succeeded. I did not need the XP boost, but it would make the entire ordeal that much easier to swallow.
I stood, patted Pachi on the head, and stepped through the portal once more.
This time, I came out in a corner of the cavern, the ceiling so low my head nearly touched it. My first task was to locate my bow. Not only did it have sentimental value to me, but I needed it if my plan was going to work. Before I made a move, I reached down and scooped up two handfuls of the stinking mud. Fighting the urge to gag, I took several minutes to smear it over my armor and every inch of exposed skin, even caking the stuff in my hair.
When I was done, I was dizzy from nausea, but was most likely camouflaged from the Ichneumon. I’d take that as a win.
I stalked out of the corner of the chamber and saw the pond in the distance, light penetrating the cloud of fog above its center. Moving as slow as I could and stopping several times, I made my way back to the base of the mound of bones.
The Ichneumon was nowhere in sight, but a few dozen feet away, I saw the telltale curve of my bow. At least I had that much luck.
When I picked it up, I gazed down at my soiled treasure. It was a mess. I found a nearby fern and stripped a handful of leaves away. Then I scraped the bow as clean as I could. Thankfully, the string itself had been thoroughly waxed and still seemed dry enough to fire.
The next step in my plan required me to find the blasted Ichneumon, but as I scanned my surroundings, I still couldn’t find it. The bone mound nearby seemed a promising vantage point, so I headed that way.
I struggled to remain stealthy as I clambered up the small hill. Cresting the top of the mound, I saw the huge ribcage I’d walked down earlier, and then I spotted the beast. It was closer than I’d anticipated, lurking around the base of the mound on the opposite side.
As I crept forward, a thin or corroded bone snapped. The sound echoed above the hum of the insects. The ichneumon hunched lower to the ground and its head whipped towards me. I fought the urge to sprint, just barely managing to control myself. It didn’t move, though, just stared straight at me, its beady eyes scanning for any sign of movement.
The beast sniffed the air again, and I grinned, thankful that I’d done something right at last. It kept sniffing until it turned away and began crawling through the mud away from my position. Finally inside the ribcage again, I nocked an arrow and took a deep breath.
It was go time.
I didn’t use any skills this time, just drew the bow back and fired an arrow. As I’d predicted, it bounced off of the Ichneumon’s hide. The beast spun around, its face registering confusion as it could not see or smell me.
While it faced me, I drew the string back and activated Vital Aim. I thought the beast would turn away before the countdown finished, but luck favored me again. I let the arrow fly, and it plunged into one of the monster’s eyes. It shrieked in pain and ran toward me.
Phase two! I ditched the bow unceremoniously and drew my katana. Then, as the Ichneumon pounded toward me, my movements easily detected now, I dropped every buff I had. Strength and power surged through me and I nearly gasped.
Rage of the Phoenix (Active): Strength and Dexterity increases by 50%. Like the phoenix, this skill burns out quickly. HP and Stamina deplete at a rate of 25% per minute. All damage taken increased by 10%. Duration: until cancelled or player expires.
Samurai’s Last Stand (Active): When activated, the user’s Health Regeneration increases by 400% and movement speed increases by 25%. Duration: 1 minute. Ability has a cooldown of 24 hours.
Clarity of the Wild (Active): Calls upon the tranquility of living as one with the wilderness around you. Both player and companion gain +15% accuracy with attacks and +20% chance to land a critical blow. Duration: 2 minutes. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Blessing of the Bear (Active): Because you landed the killing blow on a Legendary creature, you have been given a special boon. When activated, this ability grows bone plates over existing armor. 80% of all incoming damage received is nullified. Ability absorbs up to 100% of total HP. Duration: 3 minutes. Cooldown: 2 hours.
I screamed, bone plate armor still snapping into place around me. The triple-stacked buffs, combined with the elixir and the bear meat, made me feel up to the task of dropping this nightmare mob for the first time.
I braced for the impact of the beast, and it struck the ribcage like a stone rolling down a mountain. I feared the bones would break, but they only rocked back, absorbing the impact. The Ichneumon shrieked in rage as it was held back from its quarry. It spit at me then, covering my bone armor, and I heard the hiss of the acid eating my armor away.
The suit icon flashed yellow almost immediately. I needed to act now. I used Powered Strike, doubling the power of my next attack, then augmented it with Lunar Strike.
My sword burned a brilliant white, and the Ichneumon became further incensed. It opened its mouth wide to spit again, and I struck. My sword bit into the soft flesh in the monster’s chest. My blade tore through its ribs, filling the vile beast with celestial light.
The beast raged. A claw found a gap in the ribs and raked across my chest. The bone armor fell away and my HP dropped.
I used Edge Dancer and stabbed through my protective cage, catching the beast in its chest and throat several more times. My strikes didn’t seem to bother it nearly as much as they should have. I sank my katana through its sternum one last time, and my sword became wedged there. Despite all efforts, my final attacks seemed to do the Ichneumon little harm. But the white light of my first attack still glowed from the cavity in its chest, and as I stared, fumbling for my wakizashi, I noticed the light was rippling outward into the beast’s body.
In one final flurry of strength, the Ichneumon hissed at me and turned to flee. But it was already dying. Its limbs began to shudder, and it fell on its back. After a few moments of twitching, the beast went still.
I’d done it.
I climbed out and approached my kill. I had to use my full strength to tease my katana free from its sternum. Then I studied the beast, having the luxury to do so now that it wasn’t trying to kill me. Its foul face was twisted in death, the long fangs that had killed so many times protruding over a half a foot in length and dripping with poison.
I gagged. Even among the stench of the swamp, the monster reeked of decay.
In the center of its belly, a reddish bulge caught my attention. When I scraped away the mud that covered it, I saw that it was a pouch in the Ichneumon’s abdomen, approximately where it might carry its young if it had a partner to reproduce with. The skin was glowing faintly, and I knew exactly what was inside.
Cutting it open with my sword, the bright glow of a mysterious gem emerged. I fought the desire to vomit as I reached into the gaping pouch and pulled out the Ruby of Souls.
As soon as I touched it, a portal formed just ten feet away—my ride home. But I was a hunter, a Pathfinder to be exact, and I had a few more tasks to complete before I headed out.
I spent an hour harvesting as much as I could from the monster’s body before packing up my things and trudging toward the portal.
This time, when I emerged, I was still very much covered in mud. The wyverns all gasped as they saw me fall to my knees, clutching their precious stone. It was oval in shape and bigger than a melon.
Teldaine, the Queen Matriarch of the Sirrushi wyverns, shouted in surprise, “Hana! You’ve done it. You’ve saved our people!”
The wyverns began to writhe in excitement, and a keening noise came from their throats. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I walked forward and set the huge gem down in front of the queen and returned to Pachi.
The instance shuddered and then collapsed, sending a shockwave up the tunnel. As the magic faded, hundreds of red motes of energy emerged, racing toward the Ruby of Souls and filling it with more light. The gem shone brighter than ever, and the queen explained that it was the souls of the fallen warriors returning to the gem.
Pachi greeted me from a distance. You smell awful. I am glad you are done. Now you must find a bath before you kill us all with that stench.
I laughed, agreeing with her, then sighed, letting the pressure of the day slump away at last.
It took a few hours for the wyverns to calm down and make sense of the situation. A feast was to be thrown in our honor and, more importantly, I was shown to a hot spring where I scrubbed the filth from my hair and body.
Clean and rested, we met back in the palace’s great room, and many more noble and high-ranking wyverns attended as a feast was prepared.
Disturbingly, as the feast began, many of the elders lined up and gave their own ancient souls back to the gem as well. The wyverns collapsed to the ground when it was their turn, a single red spark leaving their body and entering the gem. Then soldiers would bear away the body to burn elsewhere, and another elder would step forward, a smile on their faces.
I was busy watching the last of the creatures fall into a heap before the gem, their soul spark finding a home again inside the ruby, when the queen spoke beside me. “Some have been bound to the world for more than a hundred years. Never in living memory, and rarely in our records, have any of the dragon kin been separated from their soul stone. Each tribe has one, and even in war, the stones are not targeted.” She paused. “For retrieving the stone, we owe you much.”
I wasn’t sure if she’d paused in order to give me a chance to request anything specifically, but I figured at this point, it was worth a shot. “Queen Matriarch, I was wondering if I could ask for a favor?”
“Anything that is within my power,” she answered at once.
I squinted, feeling awkward, but asked anyway. “I need twenty wyvern scales. I was wondering if I might ask for some, as it seemed logical that your people might shed them occasionally.”
The queen laughed good-naturedly. “Yes, I can see your hesitation. But I trust you, Hana. We will make sure you leave with the gift. The Sirrushi wyverns have greater prizes for you, though.”
Without explaining further, she shifted to her regal tone, one that blended the authority of command with the gravitas and intimacy of a more personal speech, then called out to those in attendance. “Behold, the elders have been returned, and after our feast is commenced, we shall brood the first clutch of eggs in over a century!”
The wyverns gave an uproar of approval, stamping their feet or shaking their necks side to side.
Teldaine continued, “And we have two warriors to thank, one especially so. Hana Kotoba and Pachi of the vardeen, will you please stand before the delegation?” More applause exploded from the gathered masses.
The queen’s speech quieted the room once more. “The wyverns will be engaged in the renewal of our society for some time. We have much… work to do to repopulate our people.”
Chortles passed around the room as I realized what she’d hinted at. Ew!
The queen’s voice rose higher yet as she vowed, “The first thing we shall do is renew our pact to any and all races who decide to fight together against this new evil. Our claws and fangs shall join the swords and hammers of men, elves, and dwarves… and any others who should choose the side of righteousness!” As loud as the room had been before, it was now quiet, heavy with solemn contemplation.
Though the almost reckless celebration displayed before was gone, the wyverns all began pounding the ground with foot and tail, shaking the palace’s foundation. The resolve in their eyes was enough to make me shiver.
I thought the speech was over. But after the rumbling subsided, Teldaine added, “That will account for duty. Yet we also must show our appreciation to those who aided us when all was dark and hopeless. Harnoth, if you will.”
I turned to see the guard striding toward us, a small chest in his mouth. He set it down before my feet. When he did, it was clear the chest was much larger than it had looked in Harnoth’s teeth. It was bound in brass, the case itself made of a black, scaled leather.
The old soldier reached down with one nimble talon and flicked the latch that held the lid in place, then said, “Please behold your prize, champions.”
I bowed to the wyvern but did not feel I could respond. Pachi came to my aid. She projected her Mind Speech, and as she spoke, many of the wyverns turned to look at her.
And thank you, guardsman, for showing us the honorable heart of the Sirrushi wyverns. My den mother, Zentandra, used to tell many stories when I was a pup of the might and glory of the Sirrushi tribe. You have the respect and thanks of the vardeen. When I face her again someday and account for my journey, she will hear of your people’s kindness, and yours, dear Harnoth, by name.
When she finished, the enfield walked forward and pressed her nose into Harnoth’s snout.
“If we’d have known that a daughter of Zentandra Seven Tails was with us, our gift would have been more generous,” the queen said in a low voice. “Your queen is as beautiful as she is wise.”
I stared at my companion, who was conveniently studying the ground. Pachi was a freaking princess? Why the hardtack and spilled lembas wouldn’t she tell me?
But the queen urged us to open the chest again, so I stepped forward, threw a glare at Pachi, and lifted the lid.
Inside were two glowing rubies, each the size of a robin’s egg, bound to silver chains. When I stroked the metal, it was smooth and, though light, gave me the impression of unending strength.
But to either side of the necklaces sat items worthy of legend.
The one that caught my eye immediately was a long, ornate bow made of a polished wood that shone a reddish gold in the light of the chamber. Along its length, leaves were carved, and at each end was fixed a dagger-like point, a sharp of ob
sidian. Even the string seemed odd, black and shimmering with energy. Three gemstones were set into the bow, two above and one below the handle.
The queen explained, “The bow has been in our vaults for over two hundred years. It was the prized weapon of an elven warrior of great skill. We hope it will serve you well.”
The other item, or rather items, sat cushioned in velvet: two bands of mithril with a large, clear gem set in the center of each. If giants wore bangle bracelets, these wouldn’t be far off, but along one end, holes had been carved into them, looking almost like sockets. Each had five of the depressions.
I looked up for some explanation from the queen. She saw my confusion and lifted one of the circlets up. It shone dainty and bright upon her talon. “These are for the vardeen warrior. But before I explain, let us put them on.”
She instructed me and I placed the bracelets around Pachi’s foreleg, just above the paw. They hung there awkwardly, loose and seemingly useless.
“Now for the amulet. Please, place hers over her neck.” The queen waited for me to comply.
As soon as the clasp was in place, the ruby flashed bright. Then each of the bracelets shrank, conforming to Pachi’s flesh. She growled but didn’t otherwise complain.
Does it hurt? I asked.
No, not at all. But did you see that? I thought they were going to eat my paws!
“The amulet powers the bangles,” the queen said. “Did you see the crystal embedded in each of them?” I nodded. “Chiani, our healer, told me that Pachi is a follower of Citlali, so she has the affinity of celestial light. Pachi can channel her affinity through the bangles. Don’t just stand there and look confused. Pachi, lift your paw into the air, well away from the ground or yourself.” When Pachi complied, the queen continued, “Now feel the power of your affinity, concentrate on your paw, and extend your claws.”
