I quickly outlined my request, explaining about the demons and the possibility that they were interested in taking out other races (species?) before they could be convinced to aid us. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes and taking a breath. “Oh my, sounds rather complicated.” She said, rocking her chair a little. “Demons… Who’d have thought…”

She told me about the few places where she had once spotted satyrs, and even a few gnomes at times. “I’m sorry I can’t be more specific my dear. Cartography wasn’t my strong suit and my memory isn’t what it used to be.” She rocked in her seat a little more. “Theses old bones couldn’t bring you out to the plains either.” She smiled at me, relaxed and serene. “Though I’m sure you have a general idea of where to look now.” I nodded.

“Thank you, lady Emma. I hope you remain in good health.” I replied, standing and giving a deep bow as I replaced my faceplate. “Hope I make it in time…” I say under my breath, letting myself out silently. The child’s footsteps thundered away from the room. I guess I had a little spy. I thought with amusement, I walked to the front of the home. “Thank you for letting me in.” I said to the woman.

She nods at me absently, not looking up from her cooking, I let myself out, shutting the door quietly behind me. A pattering of feet and a click told me that the child had locked it after me. I smiled wryly, my mother once told me of when I was a child, that I would excitedly help out with all sorts of chores, relishing the idea of being useful. How we change in time…

[That narrows it down quite a bit.] Page provided cheerily. [We just have to go where people would normally avoid due to difficult terrain, and look out for their trails. Do you think she really was one of Azarint’s contacts?]

No idea. I replied. It’s certainly conceivable, he does seem like the type to see the merit of organization. Considering… I thought back to the group we’d made, and the organization that had sprung from it. We could always ask Azarint when we return.

[It does affect her credibility does it not?] Page asked. [How do we know we can trust that she told us the truth?]

I shrugged, passing through the gate and nodding to the soldier guarding it. “Safe travels.” He called out. We have little choice, we can hardly do worse than a believable lie. I replied. When did you start doubting people so much anyway? I thought back.

[Since I realized the full consequences of lying to others.] Page answered. [Not to mention the stakes we have riding on this creature. What if we fail to find it? How long can we afford to run around hoping to catch its trail?]

We’ll be fine. I thought back, palming the Aen as I entered the forest. We can probably spot it from a kilometre away just by Delving…

We wandered the forests for a time, making sure that our bearings remained true as we encroached deeper and deeper into the forest’s heart. I often stopped Delving so I could look for tracks, and by luck we managed to chance upon the tracks of satyrs. See? Right where the berries were, as she said. I noted with a wry smile. Though we passed a few other berry bushes as well…

The tracks were fairly fresh, though faint, probably due to the satyr’s own inherent knowledge of the forest. Thanks Numen. I thought to myself as I carefully picked my way across. I wasn’t very fast, and hell, I couldn’t really see the tracks sometimes, but at least I knew the way.

[It will soon be dark.] Page chastised. [We should find shelter, lest we be hunted by the prowlers in the night.]

Once dusk falls. I replied, picking my way across the forest, I stumbled a little, and rubbed at my eyes. We have to keep moving, we’ve already went down the wrong path three times now.

[And it is exactly because of that that you should rest.] Page argued back. [You’ve been alternating between Sense, Delving and your visual senses constantly, the fact that you haven’t collapsed yet just means that when you do, you are going to fall hard.]

I grimaced, Page had more than just a solid point there… I struggled on for a few moments, but relented as my eyes began to snap shut. Microsleep I think it’s called. I thought, semi-delirious as I clambered onto one of the trees. I leaned against the trunk of the tree, making sure that I wouldn’t slip off as I slept. Sleeping like this is really a learned thing… I thought to myself. Never would’ve been able to do this as a kid, kept tossing about.

A growl penetrated my slumber and I opened my eyes, my body otherwise completely still. A shadow leapt at me, and I rolled aside off the tree. I hit the ground with a thud, drawing the pick with my left hand as I moved again, a creature falling where I had been moments before. I rolled to my feet, but was instantly tackled by the creature, who pounced onto me.

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Claws raked across my chest, as a jaw forced its way towards my throat. In the dark, I snarled, jamming my arm into its jaws. I’d lost my pick when it had tackled me, and it bounced aside, falling just out of reach for me. I reached for my dagger instead, struggling against the creature that pinned me against the ground. The dagger slid out, but was batted away by the creature, disappearing into the underbrush. I grimaced, and slammed my helm into where the creature’s nose would be.

It hissed in pain, and I flipped it over sideways as it clutched at its nose. Placing my hands around its throat, I tightened my grip and began to choke it. It scrabbled its claws against my gauntlets, and sometimes I felt the cold sensation of claws gliding through skin. I didn’t let up, and their struggles grew weaker, their growls becoming pitiful mewls as they finally went limp.

I relented a few seconds later, the loss of adrenaline making me painfully aware of my own injuries. Their claws had shredded most of the skin where the armour hadn’t been strengthened, and it was bleeding heavily. I was mostly lucky that it hadn’t shredded my tendons, though my muscles definitely weakened. I hissed through my teeth as I resealed my armour, forced to press it against my skin. The blood leaked from my gauntlets, dripping to the ground, my assailant had done far more damage to me than I had to them.

I took a closer look at them. Beastfolk. I realized, noting the feline morphology of their skull. Explains the claws. I thought with a grimace. Wasn’t expecting them, but they might well be the Edratchi’s next target. I pulled a strip of my armour, tying her wrists and feet, then binding them behind her. In any case, I should ask her when she wa… I grimace in pain as my fingers fumble on the knot. How the hell am I going to face one of the demons in my state?

As I thought this, a light seemed to smoulder in the distance. No. I thought, horror creeping onto my features. Oh bloody hell no… I gripped the lionwoman and pulled her behind a bush, ignoring the protests from my arm as the wounds tore a little. She shuddered, influence from the Edratchi?

Is the bleeding at least stopped? I asked Page, weighing my options.

[Yes, I’ve been directing them towards muscle.] Page replied. [Which, given our circumstances, seems prudent.]

Damn right it does. I thought, patting myself down for weapons. Still have my sword. Good. I Delved, and the night lit up like a bonfire. What. On… I thought to myself as the source turned towards me. The blood. I realized with a sinking feeling. It can smell it… I don’t have a lot of options do I?

[This is a horrible plan, but your options are limited.] Page conceded. [It will chase you regardless, the blood on the catwoman is your own, it likely believes there to only be one target.]

I grimace, darting forwards, letting the demon see me, it waved, and a spray of water shot towards me, hardening to ice, I ducked and rolled, a single icicle stabbing into my thigh. Not this time. I thought back, reminded of the mage that had put me into a coma. It chased me, and a few flares shot forwards. I drew my sword, stopping to turn, and they whizzed past me into a tree, burrowing and eating into the wood.

It lunged forwards, and unsteady on my feet I limped out of the way. As it barrelled past my blade managed to catch on its flesh, opening a shallow but long cut on its skin. I stumbled back a bit, gripping the handle tighter even as the cuts on my wrist shrieked.

[I could…] Page began.

No! I snarled, whirling forwards to strike at the creature’s back. It rolled out of the way, and point blank released a fan of flames. I compensated quickly, and it seemed to blanch at my nonchalance, I struck it once again, opening a large gash in its side.

[The Aen!] Page exclaimed. I cursed, and as it scrambled away I dropped my sword. It regarded me what seemed like confusion, until a gleaming blade appeared in my hand, and for a moment, I saw fear. I lunged forwards, and it swung a clawed arm at me. The earth under me started to soften, and I ducked low, jamming the Aen into the creature’s arm. It screamed, but did not fall.

You’ve got to be kidding me. I thought to myself. How could they possibly resist that? Delving showed its soul flare up, the wound in its soul I made sealing up. I was reminded of Gaven, who had spoken of resisting the blade’s touch, it hadn’t saved him, but if their magic was stronger… Damn.

It focused, and a glow appeared where my blade had dug into muscle. It flexed its arm as it circled me, tense. So it can heal without using potions… No wonder the armies are having so much trouble. I thought, stepping back, my knife raised. Adrenaline was definitely helping me ignore the pain, but the exertion I’d done coupled with the blood loss wasn’t helping. Deep breaths. Have to…

The Edratchi seemed to sense my hesitation, lunging forwards. I stepped back, attempting to sidestep, but it swung around, claws driving into my chest. I winced as the claws sunk in past the armour, exploding to life with heat. I tossed the Aen to my left hand, gasping in pain as I passed it through their arm. The creature howled again, and I used my elbow to break it. I took deep, shuddering breaths as I removed the claws from my side, tossing it aside.

As I moved to lunge, something barrelled into me from behind. Claws sunk into my back and I hissed in pain. I batted the claws out, rolling to my feet, a cold sinking feeling in my chest. Another one. It lunged, and I struggled against the renewed assault, staying barely a centimetre from death with every strike.

I hissed through my teeth, body slouched over, the one-armed demon lay dead before me, the Aen at its feet. Couldn’t… keep a hold of it. I coughed, the final demon lunged, and I slipped against the muddy ground. I tried to keep it from my throat, desperate, and my eyes fell upon my pick. It sunk into its chest, my final act of defiance.

So that’s it? I wondered, a snarl on my lips, consciousness fading. This is how I die?