~Richie Glimervine~

A shiver raced across my spine as a blurred figure entered and then left my vision, spanning less time than it takes for a foundation expert to blink. The Twisted Thicket always gives me the creeps, something I would be loath to admit if fearing the thickent wasn’t an expectation and thus, not a sign of weakness.

Occupying my offhand, Fangous, my serpentine companion, coiled from wrist to shoulder. It was a bit awkward now that he’d grown too large to be considered a babe, yet was still too small to expect much in the way of bravery. Logically speaking, he was a burden. Held in my grasp, he quivered in fear at the strange environment.

Perhaps I should have left him at home, but separating from my bound companion would be akin to traveling alone and unarmed. Even if his combat potential is minimal, his presence gave me strength while soothing my own nerves.

The journey was long; Fangous eventually tired himself out, becoming limp in my arms and dead weight in all but the most literal sense. Still, I pet his scales and rubbed against the base of his horns in order to keep him soothed.

Eventually we reached the end of this permanent nightmare and a flood of relief and calm overwhelmed me. In that instant, I knew everything would be alright. The danger had passed, and now completing the task would be as simple as traveling from point A to point B.

The thicket quickly gave way to sparse woodland and, after following the elder for a few hours, the tracking crystal started to emit a faint humming in reaction to its parent. Our randevu with Lisa, and the other brats of importance would soon commence and we would be on our way home.

Fangous’s tail raddled in irritation, but not distress. It took a moment for me to realize there was an odd scent in the air. Likely a plant having gone through qui deviation. Looking more intently, I notice strange moats of–something–floating in the air. Likely just pollen from the same plant. Best to alert the elder and avoid anything out of the ordinary.

“Ya oughta keep that thing still.” One of my peers muttered, though his face flushed when his own beast, Charger, started sneezing.

“Elder Ye. This one would like to make a report,” I stated, ignoring the prior comment.

I notice the others jolt, having been lost in their own daydreams, and a spike of adrenaline goes through my system as I realize the full scope of our negligence. I begin looking around nervously, mimicking my more experienced companions who came to the same realization.

Before the elder can think of a sagely reply to calm us, an arrow to the knee and a sharp spike of pain caused reality to crash down onto me. I fell, helpless to shoulder the burden of my own flesh, not with an arrow through one leg.

Dread overwhelmed me. Am I destined to be a mere guard?

No, I wouldn’t allow it. Nor would my companion, now awakened from his own stupor.

Instead of charging at the enemy like some errant bull, Fangous coiled himself against my side, an attempt at protection. A hiss escaped his lips as his tail raddled in warning, it wouldn’t be enough. I was coiled as well, though in pain and lacking all the majesty an evolved serpent portrayed.

As my gaze rose from the dirt, I saw the elder with a large needle in his chest. I couldn’t tell if it hit his heart, but it was damn close. Alive or not, he dropped, limp as a sack of cabbages. Vines moved rapidly to ensure he lay on his back, saving his chest from having the projectile plunge deeper after the fall.

The sounds of combat overtook my awareness as my vision turned blurry from the pain. Swords clanged, bolts wissled, while magic exploded and fizzled. The only rational thoughts passing through my mind were the numerous small bones and tendons that could be so easily damaged by a single arrow. The sounds of battle escaped my perception more quickly than my drunken consciousness could process.

So fragile, the human body, before core formation.

My hands fumbled numbly as I struggled to tie a knot around my leg. The now vandalized scarf was a true loss; it was the last gift from my grandmother. It’s perplexing to fixate on such sentiments when I might lose my head at any moment. Still, I’m sure the ol’ lady would smile knowing her mortal gift saved my life. Assuming I do survive.

It’s really hard to stay conscious. Perhaps not normally, but when your clothes are soaked with your own blood and pain settles in the back of your mind, sealing your eyes is a dreamly suggestion.

Fighting it’s embrace is both a sprint and a marathon, I realize as I force my eyes open for the umpteenth time. Unwilling to fail Fangous more than I have already.

The skirmish didn’t last long. Not with a surprise attack and the loss of our elder. Granted, it felt like it lasted a small eternity. My vision was blurred and fading as the claimer died down. The sound of voices offering me an iota of focus to cling my consciousness to.

“That was easier than expected; no head bopping required.”

“Would have been easier if they didn’t notice the poison, I should have found a way to increase the air saturation.”

“Hey, this ones still awake,” someone said while lightly kicking my boot.

I barely managed to prevent Fangous from attacking, our soul bond allowing me to stop him with but a sluggish thought.

“Hey! Be gentle. Can’t you see that his leg is injured?” A sea priestess rebutted and quickly came to attend to my injury.

I couldn’t tell how potent the healing properties of her abilities were, but the numbing effect was superb. While an ache remained, the pain subsided. More importantly, the spirling in my gut settled and allowed some clarity to return.

I glanced over the attackers, easily differentiating the guards from those that held social sway. Releaf hit me, followed by anger and annoyance as I saw the target of my rescue mission.

“Lisa Violavine, This one is Richie Glimervine, Head disciple of honored Elder Lin Yu of our Ténghuā Sect. (Vine Blossom, via google) By order of the Patriarch, your father, we are tasked to ensure the safe extraction of you and, if possible, your associates.”

I yell the words in defiance, or so I tried. They came out ragged and, likely because of the numbing compound, slurred.

“That’s what a spy would say!” A short furred dimi-beast gasped in mock horror.

“You shall not tarnish my honor, beast.” I replied rotely.

“Oh no! He’s threatening me. Avy save me!” She cried, jumping into the arms of some rootish creature. The levity of her response nearly eroded my self control. It was obvious she thought nothing of my plight nor that of my compatriots.

“Settle down Ashley,” The root replied as she stroked its fur, “Don’t agitate the future guard, he may mulct you in the future.” She chuckled–mocked at my pain and misfortune. I would never go so far as to doubt my elders, but surely they erred in following the beast–lover, if such was his heir’s company.

“Silence.” my healer fumed at their theatrics, “You are agitating his condition, raising his blood pressure and thus increasing the damage while prolonging his suffering.”

The beast hid behind the rootling, though it was part of her routine, unlike the healer’s ire. At least one of the nobles was sensible.

“Why are you here?” The question came from Lisa herself. Her voice was melotone; cold enough to imply my circumstance had no impact to her future, yet not so cold as it imply any aggression was personal, or deliberate.

“I am following the orders of the patriarch.” I replied. I assumed they had some way of discerning truth from lie, considering they didn’t resort to torture before asking. Besides, I truly had nothing to hide.

“Which Patriarch?” The cold voice continued.

“The honored Patriarch of the Ténghuā sect of Convail.” I replied. Direct answers with few ways of interpretation would suggest compliance, which I was attempting.

“Other than the Patriarch of the Ténghuā sect, whose orders do you follow?”

“That of my father.”

“What are your fathers orders?”

“To obey the Patriarch of the Ténghuā sect”

“Do you have any reason to harm me or any I travel with?”

“Yes. You ambushed me.”

“Did you have any reason to harm me or any I travel with, prior to the last hour?”

The questions continued, and I answered. I tried to be civil. I really did. My honor, and that of my family, was being questioned. Our long history, our alliance with the Patriarch, negligible. The recent defeat, the helplessness, and the betrayal of the one I was supposed to defend, rubbed my patience raw.

“I am here to help you,” I stated, “Allow me to do so, or drag me or drag me back to the sect.”

My captors decided on neither, waking another of my entourage instead.