Limping back home in the dark takes some time, but at least nothing else happens. I ponder if I should head directly to the inn. In the end I decide against it though. Instead I stop at my house first to get two healing potions. I pour one into a bowl for my feline savior and she actually starts to lap it all up without complaint. The other I drink myself.

It helps with the scrapes and bruises. It even takes care of that nasty bite. It can't quite fix my ankle though. Apparently that is beyond its capabilities.

I really need to brew some stronger potions for emergencies. That isn't something I can fix right now though. I don't have access to actual healing magic either. Thus I have to fall back on some remedies commonly used in situations like this. I sit down and rest the injured leg on another stool while wrapping a cold, wet cloth around that ankle.

For the briefest of moments I think about going down to the creek to put that foot in the cold water, but I'm really not sure if I would be able to make my way back up the bank, thus I don't. I got lucky once today already after all and don't feel like tempting fate like this.

In the meantime I lean back and watch Sour Cream finish her potion. The way she does so without protest makes me wonder if she had some in the past already. Very curious.

She actually relaxes a bit as she finishes the last drops of the potion, licking the bowl clean as usual. Once she is done she moves straight to the spot where the jug with her namesake treat sits atop the workbench. She looks first up at it and then over in my direction.

“Mew?”

Well, of course, I promised she could have it. She really seems to understand me pretty well. It has to be the gift I acquired. Well, at least that is the best explanation I can come up with. Anyway, I can't turn her down, considering how she heroically saved me.

With a long sigh I get back up, taking care not to put any weight on the injured ankle. Moving about like that takes a surprising amount of effort. The same is true for the simple task of pouring the last of the sour cream from the jug into the bowl without making a mess. Seeing Sour Cream dig in enthusiastically once I'm done and out of the way makes it all worth it though.

I really just want to lie down by now, but I can't. I don't think I can limp all the way to the inn like this either though. Not without making that ankle worse than it already is anyway. Thankfully I already have an idea.

I hobble and limp into the store instead and grab one of the few used staves I have for sale. Judging by the ornamentation it probably is supposed to be some kind of wizard's staff. Right now it will serve well enough as a makeshift crutch. It certainly is better than nothing.

I leave my feline companion to her treat. She deserves it. I take care to not make too much sound as I close the door behind myself as well, as I head off towards the inn. It takes me longer than I like. The staff is a great help, but I'm not really used to walking with an aid like that. It takes some getting used to and it takes even longer to figure out the best way to use it, since it is not an actual cane fashioned for the purpose of supporting someone with a leg injury.

I just hope that there is still someone up and about at the inn. It is getting a little late after all. A glance up at the stars tells me as much. My worries are quickly put to rest as I can still hear noise emanating from the common room as I draw close. Even better, I almost bump into the first person I'm looking for, as I'm about to enter.

“Elder Jaromir! If you could spare a moment!”

He looks a little flushed, but he quickly sobers up as he sees me limping towards him, leaning heavily on the makeshift crutch.

“Valeria? Oh my! What happened to you?”

That little outburst seems to be enough to draw some more attention from the other guests as well as Krystina's mother who is serving drinks.

“Oh dear! You don't look too good! Quick, come in and sit down. I'll get you a drink.”

I'm not quite sure about the drink, but in the end I don't say no and accept the elder's help as well, as he guides me to a free place at one of the nearby tables. I sit down with a sigh of relief and a moment later my fingers are clasping a small mug of warm wine. I take a sip as the elder sits down opposite of me. I look up at the innkeeper's wife.

“Is Krystina still up and about?”

The woman nods.

“I'll get her. Just a moment. She is helping my husband with the dishes.”

She is true to her word. A moment later Krystina appears from the direction of the kitchen, her brows furrowed in worry. As she spots me she hurries over to join me and the elder, wiping her hands with the dishrag she has been using.

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“Oh! Valeria! What happened?”

I wait until she sits as well before I answer.

“I was out looking for some herbs. Night Candles. Best to pick them at night to make sure you don't mix them up with Troll Candles. I didn't get to gather any though, as I ran into a spot of trouble instead.”

Her brows furrow a little more as she nods along with my explanation. It is the elder who asks the obvious question.

“What kind of trouble, dear? Some wild animal? A monster from the Twilight Forest?”

I take another sip of the warm and sweet spiced wine, careful not to drink it too fast this time around.

“Feral Pixies. I happened across a hunting party just as I was about to fill my basket with the herbs I have been looking for. Deranged little monsters. Covered in paint that glows in the dark and wearing armor made of bug shells as well as weapons with stone blades.”

His brows wander up a little more with every word I tell.

“Feral Pixies? Are you sure, dear?”

As if on cue a cat hops up on the table next to me. I haven't even noticed it coming in. And apparently the same is true for the others judging by the surprise on their faces. It isn't Sour Cream though. No, this is the black cat that makes her home at Agnieszka's place and it isn't here just to beg for treats either.

It looks at us, one after the other to make sure it has our undivided attention. Then it drops the thing it is carrying in its maw onto the table in between us. It is one of the very monsters that attacked me, still wearing primitive armor made of chitin and bone. Its mouth stands open, revealing its shark like teeth. Thankfully it is very dead though.

I nod and point at it.

“Yes, I'm damn sure.”

Both Krystina and the elder recoil a little as they see the present the cat brought.

I just turn towards the feline and run a hand along its back.

“You were out there as well, huh? Thanks for helping me and Sour Cream out.”

By now one of the adventurers from the other tables has joined us as well, looking over the elder's shoulder at the cat's gift. It is Rafal, the bard adventuring with Feliks and Lotar. The other two aren't far behind either. He too winces a little at the sight.

“I have heard about those. There are stories that they can kill a human within moments if they get caught in a big swarm, leaving nothing but a pile of bloody bones.”

I nod. I know these stories as well. They are a little embellished, of course, but not by much. I bite my lips as I pick up the conversation.

“They probably weren't out to get one of us or me especially. They probably were aiming for a sheep or some chicken when they stumbled across me instead. That is how it usually starts, I guess I was just unlucky. If you don't do something about them early on though, it can soon be children and then lone wanderers instead of sheep or other small animals.”

With trembling hands I take another sip of the wine warming my hands. It is Krystina who asks the next question.

“You got away though?”

Once again I nod.

“Sour Cream …”

I pause and look over at the black cat who seems to enjoy all the attention it is getting.

“... and apparently some of the other cats saved me. It seems. I guess to someone who is only a foot tall a cat is a truly fearsome foe.”

Rafal the bard, pats me on the back.

“True. Very true. That probably isn't the end of it though. Otherwise you probably would be resting up after this scare instead of telling us right away. Right?”

It is Jaromir who answers instead of me.

“Even with one hunting party taken care off we still need to find their hive. We can't let any get away. Krystina, could you get me something to write? I think I need to pen a letter. Lord Antek needs to know as well. He will either take care of this personally, together with some of his knights, or he will at least provide the funds for a proper emergency quest.”