Thirteen children ran across an open field, passing along a strange ball of unknown substance. Their cries of glee and laughter rang across the field, and clouds of dust marked their passing. Despite a few bruises and stumbles, Rikki felt they were having a good time.

There were no goals at the two ends of the field — nor teams, for that matter. The children were content in passing the ball to each other, entranced by the novelty of their simple play.

His cousins were lean — more rangy than short. Every child raised on fields and borne of farmers considered themselves related, and the children of Shallowpoint were quite close to his heart.

He could be one of them — he was one of them. Only his clothing marked him as an outsider of sorts. Instead of the usual brown or red tunic — Rikki’s tunic was green and quite well-made. The color was common in Bountiful. Most farmers would have three or four sets of working clothes and another set for special occasions. Rikki was wearing his special outfit, thinking his trip to the village was more of a vacation than work.

The dagger on his side was also hard to miss. The Scourge often boasted that he crafted it himself, but Rikki thought the claim was not something to be proud of. The blade was untarnished but dull. It hardly gleamed in the light, looking like an ordinary piece of ordinary metal. The edge was even more disappointing. Even the younger kids considered it a mere toy, seeing how dull it was.

The Scourge taught him how to use the dagger. He played along knowing the dagger was less threatening than a fallen branch. Rikki learned well on their way to the village. He could now say he was adept in the use of the most non-lethal weapon known to man.

Rikki laughed at the thought, his eyes spying the sun as he tilted his head. The sun was beginning to set. Soon they would have to head home to their families. Rikki could almost taste the venison that her aunt promised to cook. There were hardly any deer in Bountiful unless one ventured into the Great Forest.

A muffled cry drew his attention. He turned to find his cousin catching himself from tripping. Heron was the largest of the kids if girth was the only thing being considered. He was too young to work the fields. His healthy appetite, coupled with his father’s prowess in hunting, made him the roundest kid in the village — or more correctly, the only round kid in the village.

“It’s getting dark,” Heron chirped. “Ma will get worried.”

Rikki smiled at his cousin, amused by his piping voice. As his gaze wandered towards the path home, he caught a flash of movement towards the sparse fruit trees that lined the way. His hands strayed to the dagger on his belt, wishing he had a proper weapon to defend himself in case he could not avoid a confrontation.

“Is something wrong?” asked Heron, noting his wariness.

“Probably nothing,” Rikki answered. “I thought I saw something in the trees.”

His cousin stared at him with a wondering look. “You had a big snail with you and you weren’t afraid. You can’t be scared of rabbits?”

“I’m not,” he assured his cousin. “You should wash up before we get back. You can’t hide the bruises, but at least you’ll be clean.”

“I have bruises?”

Rikki watched his cousin run off with the other kids towards a pond to wash up as best they could. He waited for them to clear the field before he walked towards the trees. Heedless of the danger, he made his way forward, confident that he could escape almost anything as long as he wasn’t caught unaware. Unlike the other farmhands, he could meld with the earth — partly because of the many trips he had with Shelby.

As he circled the trees, he saw a streak of white making its way behind one of the trees. He followed its path, sighing as he realized it was only a lamb. No, not only a lamb — a lamb he was told to look out for.

Startled, the lamb leaped away from the trees — heading away from the village. Rikki pursued the fleeing animal, using his connection to the earth to quicken his steps and ensure his footing.

The wild chase eventually led to the river. He could see the torrent of white water and the jagged rocks underneath. The lamb was making its way across, jumping from rock to rock as if it was natural for it to do so.

Rikki stopped at the edge of the river, staring at the strange lamb. “I won’t be crossing, lamb,” he yelled. “I was told to stay close to the village — the river is far enough as it is.”

The lamb turned to him as if urging him on. When he didn’t move, he began to see visions of wealth, food, and oddly — women with very little clothing. He wondered why the lamb would send him visions that both enticed and dissuade him, Most importantly, he wondered how the lamb could send him visions.

He took a step back. “I’m heading back now, lamb — or whatever it is you are.”

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His words were met with a low growl. A sound so rife with hunger and malevolence that he was sure to remember it for the next few weeks or so. Rikki turned to see the lamb seemingly melt away, replaced by an incorporeal serpentine form. No — not replaced. It was always in that form.

He remembered following the snake-like thing from the trees to the river. It tinkered with his mind, making him believe it was a lamb. However, now that there was no need for pretenses — the false memories of the lamb vanished from his mind at the same time as the image of the lamb before him.

The wispy serpent turned to him, wicked claws lengthening and eyes aflame with hunger and rage.

It was time to flee.

Rikki flew back while turning, gliding across the earth as if it was ice. He couldn’t help but smile, the movement always seemingly novel no matter how many times he had done it.

The creature followed, wailing as it did so. His ears were almost deafened by its cries, even as his mind was numbed by the mental assault that came with the creature’s wailing. He was fast but the creature was faster.

There was no need to turn back — his earthsense allowed him to keep track of the creature, even if it floated above the ground. It was slowly gaining ground, inching its way towards him every minute of its pursuit.

All he could do was flee. Melding with the ground made no sense, especially when his pursuer could do the same. Instead of fleeing towards the village, he chose to lead the creature away. Shelby could track his movements. He knew this from the incident involving Dylan. She would notice her flight and bring the Scourge with her. Either that or she would take care of the creature on her own.

Pits, monsters, and walls of flames appeared to block his path. Rikki ignored them, trusting in his earthsense when his vision failed him. He might have avoided the situation altogether if he used his earthsense the moment he saw the lamb, but that would have meant exposing his cousins to the creature. It was good that things turned out the way they did.

Rikki ducked as a sharp piece of rock flew over his head. The creature could move earth the way they did — but its projectiles were much faster. Quick dodges allowed him to avoid most of the stones thrown his way, but his actions also allowed the creature to close the distance.

The creature was only a few steps behind him, and he imagined what its long claws could do to his small body. Fear erupted in his mind, pushing him to go faster. For a second, he lost his connection to the earth and he stumbled and rolled on the ground.

He pushed the alien fear from his mind, reconnecting with the earth as he scampered to his feet. The stumble had cost him dearly — the creature now only a couple of steps away.

It turned its claws on him, but luck was on his side — the first few slashes cutting air, mere inches away from hitting him. His luck ran out on the creature’s fourth strike. He felt a stinging pain on his back as one of the serpent’s claws raked across his back. A shallow wound but a painful one — and he was bleeding.

Losing blood would add to his exhaustion. Even now, he could feel his connection to the earth slowly slipping away. He was tired, and the creature was inches away.

Rikki was no stranger to fear. As young as he was, dealing with fear was commonplace during his time with the Scourge. He feared for his life, but the fear would only hinder his escape.

He heard the creature wail once more — filling his mind with fear. It promised a painful death and everlasting torment to his soul. The fear gave way to the inevitable feeling of death. He knew he was going to die. Death was tightening its jaws over his measly form.

There was no escape, there was no hiding from it — death was coming for him.

Rikki smiled.

Death was coming for him.

The all too familiar aura of the Scourge greeted him as he pushed forward. The feeling of his soul being constricted felt like a relief, and exultation sprang from amidst the darkness — or because of the darkness.

Even Shelby was there, waving her flails as if cheering him on. But why were they still? They made no move towards him or to intercept the creature. Were they talking? Shelby and the Scourge seemed to be conversing by their actions, paying little heed to his circumstance.

At first, he thought it was a trick, an illusion from the creature. However, there was no mistaking the Scourge’s aura and his earthsense detected the presence of the two.

“Help!’ he hollered, hoping it would catch their attention.

The Scourge turned to him lazily, confusion etched on his face. “I thought you were playing with the poor thing. Just finish the job so we could go home.”

Rikki passed the wizard and the snail in his flight. The creature chasing him visibly slowed, startled by the presence of his companions. Why did the Scourge think he was playing around? And how was he supposed to finish the job?

It couldn’t be.

He drew the strange dagger from his belt and turned to meet the creature. It seemed unfazed by the weapon in his hands, its claws growing longer than the blade of his weapon. The creature struck — slicing the air with its claws, aiming for his neck. It was similar to one of the moves he trained on, and he knew exactly how to avoid, defend, and counter it.

Avoiding would only reset their situation and defending would put him at a disadvantage. Countering the strike was the best option — though he wasn’t sure how it applied to incorporeal beings.

Rikki stepped into the strike, taking advantage of the creature’s long limbs. He used the earth to close in on the creature, too close for its claws to do significant damage.

He struggled on whether to stab or slash the creature, ultimately choosing to just hold the knife sideways and pass through. The blade met no resistance, but so did his body — he passed through the incorporeal form of the serpent-thing as if it was mist.

“Took you long enough,” the Scourge remarked at his tired form. “Come closer. You don’t want jerms getting into your wounds before I heal you.”

Rikki moved closer, feeling the call of death engulfing his body and devouring his soul. It was quite refreshing once you get used to it.