Scruffy’s Adventure

Written by Scruffy–hime

Edited by Luciferia

Chapter 11: Questionable Hospitality

Airi froze, her eyes grew wide in fear, tail stopped swaying and ears flicked back trying listening to whatever noise had come from behind her.

Scruffy turned to walk back to Airi when he noticed the look on her face. He spoke in a hushed voice, “What's wro–”

“Shhh.” Airi interrupted.

The noise had been too soft for him to hear but he knew by the panicked look on her face that something was very wrong. Scruffy started walking back over to her when she quickly closed the distance between him and tackled him. Shoving a hand over his mouth she muffled the small cry that escaped him, pushed him further into the brush. A massive beast appeared from behind a cluster of trees.

The creature was nearly ten times bigger than the beast they had murdered the night before. This one looked much more vicious. It had an ape like body, jagged teeth and massive tusks protruding from its open mouth. The creature’s short fur was jet black at its roots and gradated into deep purple. Its large claws were covered in bluish–black blood. It walked with a limp as similar blood ran down one leg. The pair guessed it must have been relying almost entirely on sight due to its lack of a nose, and its small ears.

Airi clung tighter to Scruffy, pressing her face to his chest. They could smell its foul breath as it leaned to take a large bite from the corpse of the murdered beast only a few feet from where they hid. Scruffy almost screamed as a branch scraped along his wounded back. A small amount of blood escaped the gash.

The beast whirled toward them and roared loudly causing Airi to tremble. Her ears folded back against her head and tail puffed. A small creature screeched and jumped from somewhere nearby and they both held their breath as the beast uprooted a nearby tree, scooped up the unfortunate creature and swallowed it whole.

Airi let out a small whimper as the beast roared again and turned to finish its larger meal. The beast ate every bit of the corpse, crunching bones as it chewed it apart. Once it had finished, it wandered off in search of more prey.

“What was that thing?” Scruffy asked as they climbed from out of the bush.

Scruffy stood stunned as Airi looked at him with her tail puffed and her ears folded back. The image would have been adorable if he was not scared out of his wits.

Airi said in a pleading tone, “I don’t want to be here, this forest has too many things in it I don't like.”

Not knowing what to say, Scruffy gave her a gentle hug. Airi clung tightly to him and let out a small cry against his chest.

“Please, let’s leave.” Airi said after they separated.

“I vaguely remember how to get to that town if you want to try there again?”

“Anywhere is better than this damn forest.”

Scruffy put out the fire while Airi’s kept watch, her ears pricking back and forth at every small noise. Scruffy grabbed their knife and set out again in the direction of Ensiry.They Decided not to speak more than needed to keep from alerting any other beast that may be lurking nearby.

Scruffy’s wounds made it hard for him avoid stumbling through the forest. Several times Airi had to help him over larger roots and rocks. He managed to not fall over anything before they reached Ensiry.

Hoping to have better luck this time, they approached the front gate. Airi called out when they neared and a woman appeared at the top with a bow pointed at them.

“Go away.” the woman called down to them.

“Please, we don't want to go back into that forest!” Airi tried to reason, “That tribe we went to tried to kill us and now we need somewhere to rest while his injuries heal.”

The woman gasped as she looked at Scruffy like he had just appeared. “I’m not promising anything but I’ll ask.”

Airi looked up at Scruffy hopefully.

“I get you don't like the forest, trust me I don't either, but I don't want to be in a similar situation to when we found that tribe.” Scruffy whispered to her.

“I know...it wasn't pleasant for me either… But, I’m tired and want something safer than a hole to sleep in.”

Scruffy smiled faintly and nodded at her before turning his attention to the half dozen women who appeared at the top of the wall. One was a bit taller than the rest. She gazed down at them a moment before turning back to the others.

The woman mumbled something Scruffy could not hear. Airi pricked her ears forward trying listen to what they were talking about.

“Can you hear what their saying?” Scruffy asked Airi in a hushed voice.

“Not really, I think something about you has them excited…” was all she replied.

After a moment the women turned back to them.

“One day.”