Ch: 193 Take Me In Your Arms
The creature was long, low to the ground and a dull reddish brown color that blended into the local stone. It crept among the low shrubs and scrubland, dashing from cover to cover as it pursued its prey.
When the prey stopped in an open area, it was suspicious, but hunger was a cruel lash, driving it forward. No more easy endless nights snacking on bats and its crawling relatives in the comfortable darkness of the caves, it had to make this happen…
Not a sound raised, as it skittered forward on its many slender legs, with pincers and mandibles ready, its sting tail twitching in agitation. Enormous compound eyes, adapted to detect body heat and the bioluminescence of its own former kin, did little for it in the bright afternoon sunlight. Only faint tremors in the soil as the prey’s companions closed in, alerted it to the trap.
#
“That’s disturbing… way too many legs!” Trent called, as he charged forward with a heavy shortsword, built for chopping and hewing. Shai closed in from the other rear flank, her murder shovel poised for action, while she kept a close eye on that tail.
Becky and Liam came in from the sides, while Dannyl turned and hurled a hatchet into its chaotic and distressing face.
The carbon steel and hickory weapon smashed into the thing’s awful front end, eliciting a hideous shriek of fury and a spray of foam and ichor. It was anyone’s guess how much damage it did, its head was already a chaotic mess of mixed metaphors and disturbing growths.
The thing had six mandibles and at least two mouths surrounded by flicking, slashing mouth parts, dripping with acidic foam. A cluster of long, thorned and chitinous antennae bristled from its head in odd, asymmetrical clusters. They thrashed and reached out like tentacles, groping for flesh.
The crawling nightmare put on a short burst of speed, as all its legs started churning at once, hurling the being forward in a mess of flashing antennae and probing mandibles.
Its long, whip like, serrated antennae flashed forward, reaching for the prey, who answered with a whip of its own. Both squirming appendages met and entangled in mid strike, becoming a knot of bronze links and chitinous segments. When the boy’s whip roared into life, each thorned link of enchanted bronze began spinning independently from its mates, suspended in a magical field empowered by the young warrior’s mana. Chitin was no match for enchanted bronze; the antenna vanished in a wet squelch of imploding meat, sending the beast into a frenzy.
“Sweep the legs, flank team! Rear guard, do something about that stinger!” Liam shouted, as he followed his own command and started snipping legs from the forest of horrible limbs the thing sported. They invariably gave a little hop when severed, which was super disturbing.
Ivy seemed to be having a fine time, she had a mace in each hand, smacking any leg she could reach and leaving a pulped ruin of reeking ichor in her wake. She was far more efficient than his own efforts…
Becky had a pair of small smith’s hammers and was doing similar work, though she wasn’t strong enough to consistently shatter them with a single blow like her sisters.
Trent hacked into a body plate to get its attention and to get the fast moving, flexible stinger pointed at him. The thing was dumb, but the sting seemed to be semi autonomous, lashing and striking at targets the thing couldn’t see. The young squire gave a savage wrench to his heavy weapon as he yanked it free, scampering back before the stinger could find his tender flesh. He had a dent in his silvery shield that would have been a fatal strike, but for stout, well forged steel. It was not going to get a second shot at him, Shai swooped in with her shovel and clipped the stinger right off, a yard from the barbed point, still dripping with foaming, acidic venom.
Twitching with fury and hunger, it made a desperate gamble, anything to try and get its mandibles into some flesh. It launched three of its remaining antennae tentacles at Tallum, entangling the big man and slowly drawing him closer.
If it knew what a bill hook was, or what it was for, it might have been less eager to stretch its head out for an early taste. The giant’s weapon flashed down, sinking deep into the thing’s awful head, with a sickening crunch. The huge man took the handle of the embedded blade and wrenched hard, slowly flipping the long beast onto its back and holding it there.
Dannyl whooped with savage glee when his whip stopped snacking on legs and skittering off of heavy armor plates. As the enchanted weapon crawled over the monster’s intricately jointed and fragile underbelly, ghastly things started to happen.
The young artist’s mad weapon unzipped the creature’s carapace from the head down, slowly releasing a tide of noxious and unidentifiable insides, into the formerly pleasant outside environment. Stringy, ropey, glistening mounds of complicated… stuff came oozing out of the dying monster, polluting the air with a stench that packed a physical wallop. Even through stink magic, it had a texture to it, a meaty, firm mouthfeel… in all the worst ways.
Dannyl’s enthusiasm waned rapidly as the stench caught up with him. “Oh gods, I’m out, we’re done here.. Somebody grab some legs and that stinger…” He gasped, while shaking the clinging remnants from his whip. He lashed the weapon through a patch of sand and gravel in a dry gully, to clear off the last of the goop.
“That was worse than the undead… what has that thing been eating?” Dannyl gagged, out in the clean air.
“Bat guano, stinkroaches, sick bats, other centipedes and cave crawling vermin…” Becky answered helpfully. “Cave ecosystems are fascinating.”
“Ugh!” Dannyl replied succinctly as he backed far away, far away indeed. That gave him a good view up the hillside to a nearby cave mouth, where something moved.
Dannyl activated his earring and spoke calmly. “We have incoming, looks like giant ants…” He paused only a moment before coming in again. “Yup, giant fire ants, I say let them clean up our mess.”
“Confirmed for fire ants, let’s go.” Khan’s orders sealed the deal. Shai grabbed the awful stinger and tucked it away in her storage gift with a grimace of revulsion.
Becky took a bouquet of legs and then immediately dropped them. “Nope, too stinky.”
In a few moments, the team got themselves back in order and started moving at a careful, steady pace, angling for home down the game trails. “Carry on at your best pace… We’ll hang back a little, watch to see if any ants follow…”
Khan and the rest of the small squad of mounted warriors followed the foot troops for a few minutes, but the ants were too excited over the noxious treat they’d discovered, to consider following the humans and horses.
#
“Something is certainly following us… It doesn't feel hostile or like they're stalking us, just following.” Jerry whispered as they set up camp. “I’ll circle around and try to spot our friends, maybe have a chat with them.”
“If you think there’s danger, I’d rather ditch the cargo and run for it…” Carlos grumbled. “They can send a team of Adventurers for the wagon, when we are safe in town.”
Bigelow, Whitney and Feather didn’t seem to share his concerns, they were pretty relaxed and calm, even as his escort’s senses apparently were jangling and crying out that they were under non hostile observation.
The donkeys and his horse browsed placidly in the small meadow, while they set up camp under a wide spreading willow tree. The nearby stream tinkled merrily and stirred the long fronds when they dipped into the water. In the dark curtained recesses of the tree’s reach, there was a wide open space, tall enough to stand and clear of obstructions. The floor was a thick thatch of fallen willow fronds and leaves, the result of countless seasons.
“Local lore says that the spirit of Water protects those who camp under these cottagewillows, so long as no one starts a fire...” He shrugged impotently. “My team says we’re safe here, so you do your thing.”
Carlos laid out his bedroll and got ready to settle in while his familiars and their new horse friend sent him mellow, comfortable evening feelings through their bond. Jerry could go chasing shadows, as long as none followed him back…
“Damn fool to go hareing off into the night…” The young carter mumbled to himself.
“He will return soon, safe and sound, apprentice Carlos.” The voice was warm, sensual and calm, like cool water running over smooth, round stones. It was also somehow familiar, as familiar as the whisper of a night breeze among the willow fronds above him.
A small, slender woman stood by the boll of the tree leaning on the bark with a casual confidence that belied her nudity. Her startlingly voluptuous curves were hidden only by a chaotic waterfall of lustrous brown hair that fell to her knees.
“Yes, you have heard my voice… and seen me many times in your dreams.” She murmured softly, with a tender smile on her perfect, pink lips. “I confess, teasing and tempting the desires of mortals who camp beneath my boughs is a small vice, but one that does no harm.”
“Who are you spirit? Why have you appeared?” He asked, startled, but strangely, not frightened by her unexpected appearance.
“Call me Willow, that will serve as well as any name for me. I should inform you, it is I, not Water, who has been the guardian of those who sleep beneath these trees for so many generations of your kind.” She strolled forward with a slow, rolling step, dancelike and languid.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“I find that appearing nude makes humans less likely to panic and attack me… not that I can be harmed by your kin. I am not actually here, this is simply a projection of my Will, sent to speak with you while your warrior is away. We will see each other in your dreams, no doubt…” She whispered as she passed close, bearing the scent of green growing things and fresh water lillies.
“Uh huh…” Carlos mumbled, feeling very vulnerable and comfortable in the presence of this strange being. “How can I serve, lady Willow?” He murmured, when he found the power of speech again.
“You are in no debt to me child, quite the opposite… I am come to ease your mind. The sensation of being observed your companion has felt is real, but the source is a clan of local insect predators.” Her smile was warm, disarming and beautiful, Carlos found himself smiling back and nodding even while his mouth was preparing to form some as yet unvoiced questions.
“They are following your party, in order to feast on the insect vermin attracted by your body heat and blood. When your companion returns, please explain the situation.”
“A ‘clan of insect predators’, lady Willow? My companion won’t worry less, after that ‘explanation’.” Carlos complained very carefully to his alleged hostess. “It kinda sounds like ‘insect predators’ doesn’t mean some clan of tribals that eat bugs…”
She sighed delicately, like the wind in the willows, a soft and comfortable sound of mild disappointment. “The Arachneans are very friendly, if distressing to human sensibilities.”
“Arachneans… That sounds terrifying, lady Willow. I’ve heard rumors of strange, colossal brown jumping spiders appearing in the woods.” He seemed less enthusiastic with every word, while she nodded happily.
“Oh yes, though they are a diverse community and include orb weavers, tarantulas, wolf spiders and too many others to mention.” She answered with a wide smile. “This is going so much better than last time…”
“So a community of enormous spiders is using us as bait to catch skeeters and such? That will still leave him with more questions than answers, milady. I’m not exactly enchanted by the idea myself.” Carlos felt his resistance weakening as she turned to look out through the curtain of fronds draping the cozy bower. Surely a being with such sensual and elegant proportions could mean him no harm.
“It’s not a very comforting feeling, Knowing there are dangerous beasts out there.”
“I love you humans, so predictably unpredictable. Not all beautiful creatures mean you well, nor is a startling or alien appearance a sign of wicked intent. My natural form, when I am physically present in your realm, is more insectile than you would like, I think.” She turned around, smiling with radiant amusement.
“I shan’t show you my form, since I cannot use human speech in that guise… no lips, you see…” She moistened those perfect, pink recurved bows with a perfect pink tongue and winked at him. “The goddess revered by their civilization is as closely linked to humankind as to spider kin. Not all sentients are mammals, my young friend; that knowledge will serve you well. Now I must depart, you may trust that you and your equine friends will be safe tonight.”
Rather than exiting the bower, she strolled to the boll of the tree and simply stepped behind it, with a coquettish smile.
“Wait, Please, lady Willow, will I see you again?” Carlos asked, his voice soft in the gathering dark.
“Certainly, my dear, whenever you dream beneath my boughs. You should ask a mutual friend about the art of bonsai, if you enjoy my company, young mortal. Liam Kinnis of the Wheatford orphanage can help you there.” After that, she was gone, disappeared from whence she came.
“Bonsai… what a strange word…” He murmured, in the familiar, dark closeness of a cottagewillow bower. He made up his bed on the springy, so comfy leaf litter and drifted in comfortable contemplation, listening to his familiars and Jerry’s horse grazing just outside the curtain of leaves.
#
Jerry disturbed his relaxation when he returned, shaken and a little pale. “Spiders, big ones… they are not aggressive, but I swear, they seemed almost smart.”
“They are smart, I had a visitor while you were out, the tree spirit of these willows…” He smiled sadly at his companion’s look of mild disbelief and annoyance.
“Believe it or not. My people have been camping under the cottagewillows since my grandfather’s grandpa was a sprout. I’ve never slept better or safer than under these boughs. Call it local superstition, but if you follow the rules, no one has ever had a bad night sleeping beneath these trees.”
He smiled so serenely that Jerry took a step closer and peered at him. “No, I’m not bewitched, I just always have pleasant dreams on the road and now I know why. You can stay up and fret all night, but I’m off to sleep.”
“Wait, you said there were ‘rules’... I’d not violate custom unknowing.” Jerry grumbled, eyeing the canopy above them suspiciously, even though it was all but lost in the gloom. The warrior was holding the curtain of fronds open, letting moonlight flood the interior of the bower, otherwise all was darkness inside.
“It’s simple, First, no fire inside the bower, none at all. No eating meat or doing any violence inside and finally, we have to pee on the tree in the morning, before we leave.”
Carlos answered calmly.
“So we can’t eat inside, can’t have a fire or any light and we have to piss inside in the morning?” Jerry asked with a grimace.
“Grandpa said it’s because the tree spirit fears fire and is offended by eating meat and violence.” He shrugged. “If you want light, come in, settle down and be quiet for a few minutes.”
Jerry slipped inside with a long suffering sigh and started arranging his bedroll by feel. After a few quiet moments, a small, pale green light appeared in the upper canopy, followed by another, a deep pink this time. Slowly, a multitude of soft lights shone from the branches. Flickering individually, a legion of small insects lit the space and filled it with their soft chirps. They were so many and so varied, that they presented a soft, ambient glow, not unlike what a small, well tended fire would provide.
“Colonies of fireflies, lightning bugs and glow worms live in all of these willows. We can converse and even move about, but any sudden movement and they will go dark.” Carlos said quietly. “They dim and finally go nearly dark around midnight. Until then I like to just enjoy it.”
“It’s beautiful and cozy, but the pee thing…” Jerry murmured, unwilling to let go of some of his reservations.
“Great grandpa always said it’s cause the soil by the river is a little poor… but he always winked at me when he said it.”
From the boughs somewhere above and around them came a soft melodic chuckle, like water running over very sexy stones. “My friend fig says it’s because I am as infatuated with mortals as she is… but it really is the soil thing.” The voice whispered from all around. “She’s a bit of a free spirit, my sweet Figgy. Sleep well in my arms, mortals.”
“I don’t know whether I love this duchy or hate it, Carlos…” Jerry murmured as he prepared to sleep. “I’ve seen wildland spirits and their kin aplenty in my travels… Goodnight tree being…” He called the last up into the boughs with a wry grin. “She sounded cute.” He whispered with a wink at his companion.
“You have no idea…”
#
Gary and the kids swooped on the returning party like birds of prey, cutting Shai and Becky from the crowd, for debrief and hugging. “That sucked, I hate waiting around helplessly.”
“Aye, tis the sad lot of a warrior’s mate, tae linger by the homefire, yearning for her return…” She chucked him under the chin and gave a chaste peck on the cheek. “Did ye worry I’d gone off and found a new lad, wi bonny knees tae replace thee?”
“Shut up and hug me, woman.” He griped, while his face was lost in her shoulder length curls.
#
“Ok, that’s super gross and completely useless.” Gary dropped the yard-long stinger segment outside in the pool to dissolve away, taking its ooze and stench with it.
“It even stank past my enchantment, that is one complex and hearty stench… I can still taste it!”
“The normal centipedes have few predators for that very reason, it’s why they are so common in underground and wildland environments.” Liam replied from his embrace with Tawny.
“Monstering up did not improve it any, if anything it was more penetrating and foul than the normal variety.”
“I heard giant fire ants came in at the end…are they a threat?” Gary asked over Shai’s shoulder, where he was still clinging to her.
“Certainly not, that pede’ could have snacked on the entire colony and kept fed for weeks on end; even giant fire ants are little bigger than mice.” Liam answered firmly.
“They are a nuisance near towns and settlements, but out here they are a natural part of the wilds. Plus, they are one of the few things that will eat disgusting messes, like the one we left in that clearing.”
“Charming…” The musician whispered.
#
Pre-dawn’s glow on the arid hillsides revealed a wall of mist, rising up from the valley floor, dense and white, it hid the forest and river in a thick cottony cloud, starting just a few dozen yards downslope of the inn.
A few hours of uneventful travel brought their goal into view, above the lingering mist.
High up on the far side of the valley, above the mist line stood the ruins of a modest walled city. The walls were cracked and tumbled in places, with a broken cathedral dome near the center of the town still partially intact.
It seemed to be laid out much like Wheatford at a glance, smaller and higher up the valley, but similar in design and architecture. The broken stump of a bell tower rose from the town, as well as an occasional nearly intact roof.
Beyond the town, little could be seen, aside from a high plateau, indistinct in the distance.
“We’re going to set up here, no one goes off alone.” Liam ordered, looking at Gary and the council observers equally. “We are going to be taking both physical and spiritual security very seriously, co-operation is not optional. No solo acts, no private explorations.”
Liam focused on his little family and spoke warmly. “Make it secure, make it safe. You know what we need.”
“Yeah, we know, right kids?” The madman asked with a strange grin. “We need something that makes an impact, a statement.” He already had a cowbell in his hand, tapping a slow, catchy beat, with a look of intense concentration. Tallum and Shai fell into line, thumping a bass line that struck the listeners ears aggressively, while She spun her chiming hips and wailed on her violin.
Rio and Wilf were sharing the bongos, dumping mellow percussion over the sensual groove. Amy opened her mouth and sang in harmony with Wilf’s grown man voice and Rio’s lofty, childish tenor.
Every time I move I lose, when I look I'm in,
And every time I turn around, I'm back in love!
I get mixed emotions
It's the way my feelings flow
Excuse me I'm only human,
Sometimes I, I just don't know!
The lunatic with the cowbell continued dancing and swaying among his little troupe of idiot kids, hip bumping and shimmying at each other, with wide smiles on their faces.
They took L.T.D. for a spin around ‘Back In Love Again’, shaking booties for all they were worth… Amy and Rio doo-whopped an extended outro groove, while Wilf kept circling the chorus for a few rounds.
Gary and Shai’s gifts kept winding up tighter, dragging the entire expedition into the melee, slowly grinding at the resistance of even the most dance-averse spectators. Eventually even Adam, the stoic and dour heavy on Rolf’s team found himself swaying and singing along, well and truly hooked.
Every time I move I lose, When I look I'm in,
And every time I turn around, I'm back in love!
Slowly he wound the music down, taking the beat into a slow groove… he didn’t stop with the cowbell, if anything he began popping his hips with each dull, chiming sound it made.
Wilford’s strange, childlike old man voice raised above the slow rolling chaos of the music. It seemed richer, more vibrant and rougher, almost harsh, with hard edges of cynicism and a gritty texture. Adam realized with a start, that his throat and lungs were belting out lyrics he’d never heard before… his mouth forming the strange phrases without his control.
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine…
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine…
He drink whiskey, Poncho drink the wine!
By the time the fool let them go and rolled his absurd magic back up where it came from, the entire expedition was ready to call it an early day.
The walls around the garden were high and topped with coils of thorned and acid berried vines, with the long white trumpet flowers of duskmoon blossoms dangling among clusters of toxic purple berries. The grounds extended farther than before, stretching towards the city, brushing the distant walls with a delicate touch.
“Not bad. We’ll take a break and have lunch before invading the enemy stronghold…” Gary murmured happily. “I can feel him, I brushed the edges of his perceptions even from so far off… He’s shitting his ghostpants now.”
#
Jerry drifted back to consciousness slowly, feeling warm and comfy. He’d been dreaming of a dusky skinned woman with huge brown eyes and long dark hair, her voice liquid and soothing even though he remembered not a word she had said.
The long, vivid and very sensual, intimate dream was not erotic, but tender and warming like being welcomed home to a lover’s embrace.
Thin shards of sunlight broke into gleaming golden sparkles in the darkened bower, scattering across the dust motes drifting in the calm, peaceful morning. He rolled over in Carlos’ arms and asked very gently.
“Boy, why are you spooning me…? And watch where you poke that thing.”
#