Reaching for the lumpy log had my stomach heaving, even with my eyes closed and the fingers of my free hand pinching my nose closed. I would never forgive Sasye for this. Not in a million years.
Worst still, I had to chase the damn thing around the bowl before I finally trapped the squishy log between my fingers. I gagged at the feeling, the bitter bile lodging somewhere in my chest and lighting a fire there rather than climbing up my throat.
When I opened my eyes it was to find Sasye gone and the tent deathly silent. It felt as if there was pressure over both my ears, like I’d slipped on a pair of earmuffs only there was no warmth. Foul water dripped from my hand. Disgusted with what I’d just done I tossed the lump, watching in horror as it splattered on the ground, peppering my boots with tiny globs of what I was going to pretend was mud and nothing else.
Stella shook which I have to say, was an odd image without the thunking sound that normally came with it. I tried to apologise to her but even my own words were muted somehow.
What is the point of this? I grumbled to myself as I tossed the toilet tank lid and dunked my befouled glove into the water before cleaning off anything left on the canvas of the tent.
I eyed the splatter on the packed earth of the floor glaring at the tiny canister of gold that glimmered in its center. I was beginning the hate the color gold as much as I hated the color purple. I looked at my now clean gloves and wished I had one of those little baggies people used to collect their dog's poop. It wasn’t something I’d ever really had to use before. On a farm, it didn’t matter much where Stella decided to go. Nothing she did could hold a candle to the steaming piles of manure the cows and horses dropped.
If you point out that I’m procrastinating again to avoid picking up the filthy canister I’ll climb through your screen and give you a well-deserved slap. Yeah, yeah, I’m a baby with a weak ass stomach but unless you want to come on in here and give me your hand then zip the lip. Human crap is a million times grosser than shoveling manure.
I left the tent, feeling my head spin as the sounds of night came rushing back at me. The wind howled over the rises and dips, rustling the trees and the sparse clumps of grass. Bats squeaked as they flapped overhead searching for their next meal. A dry twig crunched under my boot. Off to my left, somewhere in the darkness of night, probably somewhere close to the red aura glowing in that direction a snore rumbled like thunder.
I shook it off like Stella had the flying clumps of shit only moments before. I marched over to a promising-looking bush, stepping over another sleeping cultist. Happy with my options, I plucked a nice wide leaf before hightailing it back to the tent and using the thing to pick up the canister. I flushed the toilet and used the gurgling water that refilled the tank to clean off the golden tube.
Even clean I wasn’t sure what it was. It looked a bit like those plastic tubes people used for their toothbrushes when they traveled. It even had a seam that ran around its middle. No amount of yanking would pull the pieces apart, however.
I swore and lifted my arm to toss the useless thing only to pause and open up my blinking notification menu to read what it was screaming at me.
New Item Received: Trembling Tube of Tenacity
Description: A canister crafted long ago in a place far from here. It holds a secret deep within, one only a true master can unlock. Feel it tremble in your heart of hearts and listen with more than your ears.
I stormed out of the tent with Stella on my heels growling as the sounds blasted me a second time. Sasye was long gone and with her any chance of an explanation for the blasted toilet-dwelling tube.
“Why does this world hate me, Stella?” I asked the pooch as we weaved through the still thankfully unconscious cultists on our way to who knows where. “Sometimes I seriously regret not making it into that damn transfer zone. I could be in paradise right now but instead, I’m here, fishing literal crap from toilets just to get a new and practically useless trinket.”
Stella huffed and trotted out ahead of me, sniffing here and there before bounding to the next interesting smell. Sometimes I wished the hound could speak, then at least I might know if she was commiserating with me or trying to avoid my complaining.
It was probably the second option, huh?
We walked a long way before the aching around my eyes finally did me in and I found a nice safe hole to climb into to get a few hours of sleep. Even the sun topping the far horizon couldn’t keep the sweet serenity of darkness away from me. Stella curled up beside me, or rather, partially on top of me. She still had no inkling of what personal space meant. It didn’t matter much when she was smaller but now it was becoming a real issue. I think she might have even grown a little more.
If I’d had the energy I would have used my Identify skill on her just to check her level but right now, sleep was the most important thing. Even more important than the painful gurgling in my belly.
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I chased the cow, swinging the rope over my head as I urged Annabelle to get closer to the escapee. The horse snorted and picked up her pace. Stella ran out ahead of us, guiding the naughty 800-kilogram beast back toward the proper path. This one's ginger splotches on her rear end were distinctive even in the vast herd the Percott’s kept on their cattle station. It was one of the reasons I knew this one's name was Lilith. It was a name she deserved with all the ruckus she caused.
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“Come on, Bruce. Get off your fat ass and give me a hand,” I bellowed at the man far behind me.
The only answer he gave me was a scream that chilled me to the bone and had my teeth slamming together. Annabelle reared at the sound of it, dumping me on the ground before bolting side by side with Lilith.
Stella came back for me, her small body shaking as she stood her ground in front of me against the wave of black fog rushing down on us. Bruce was there, running in front of the devouring wave, terror and blood standing stark on his face as his squat legs pumped hard.
“Joe, help me!” He screamed right before the fog tore him apart.
I grabbed Stella and shoved her. “Run girl. Get the hell out of here.”
It was too late. The fog surrounded us. I screamed, waiting for the same force to rip me to shreds like it had Bruce.
A voice chuckled in my ear and whispered, “It’s not your time just yet. But it will be, and soon. My sister can’t protect you forever.”
I floundered, reaching for my sword only for my bare fingers to find empty air where the grip should be. Stella cried out somewhere in the darkness. I couldn't find her. He’d taken her. The bastard had taken my dog. I tried to use my Blindsense but the skill refused to work.
“Watch her die, like all your little friends will,” the same voice said.
The fog separated, showing my girl sprawled on the ground, her body covered from nose to tail in thick sticky blood. I dropped to my knees beside her, cradling her body in my arms. The metallic scent stung my nose as I screamed curses at the bastard keeping me trapped here.
A blast of purple light burned away the fog, tearing me back to the real world.
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Stella grumbled and kicked out at me, slamming her paws hard into my chest. I didn’t care. She was breathing and relatively clean. I scrambled to wrap my arms around her, hugging her tight. She struggled and tried to get away. I couldn’t let go though, not until the tightness inside me disappeared.
I fucking hate dreams.
The sun was high in the sky now, burning my eyes no matter how much I squinted. Stella finally got her way, flinging me off of her and rushing away to shake out her dusty coat. I sat back on my heels, rubbing the sand from the corner of my eyes.
The day was long and hot. Stella caught three creatures called Sizzle Lizards as we made our way slowly back toward Stanthorpe. The bastards spat lava when their frills spread around their pointed heads. They were quick but not overly powerful compared to the larger Toilet Crocs. Best of all though, their flesh was delightfully spicy. Pulling strips of it from the little fire we easily started with the globs of lava they left behind was just pure heaven. Warm, juicy spiciness. It was better than jerky.
By the time Stanthorpe came into view my legs were starting to ache from the days of walking. I could barely lift the soles of my boots off the ground and the damn yawning wouldn’t stop no matter how forcefully I slapped my face. I wasn’t interested in another one of Melumek’s fun little dreams so I refused to sleep. Getting back to the Red Fox Inn and the protection that came with Roska and Affald’s odd goblin magic would be a relief like no other.
I just hoped Gabby wouldn’t murder me for being away for so long, or for the decision I’d made on the trek here. I shuddered, wondering if it would be a tongue-lashing I was in for or if I should be looking out for arrows flying my way.
Yeah, I was going to be a pincushion. Yay for me.
The closer I got to the village the more careful I had to be which is a difficult thing to do when you’re dead tired. There might not be a lot of players in the town that I knew of but the Crocs and other smaller but still deadly creatures seemed drawn to this place. Maybe it was the Master Smith hiding within the twisting streets, or maybe it was because of the inn and the easy traveling it provided.
One day, not any day soon mind you, maybe it would be because of our safe little clan house. We could offer the safety of our home to select players. For a fee of course. If Red could make a buck on a quest-specific clue then we could make a few gold pieces on a roof and a bedroll, right?
Stella paused, the hair on her neck rising along with her lip. I reached up, yanking my sword free before pressing my back against the wall and peeking around it. I didn’t need my Blindsense to see the King Toilet Croc stomping down the street, a headless standard Croc dangling from its misshapen hand.
I guess the King got hungry.
I shushed Stella and guided her into the deeper shadows. Sneaking was our best plan right now. Stella might be a tank but we hadn’t really had much of a chance to perfect our dual battling technique. I missed Nora for that. We were a little better at blending our strengths in a fight. Not great of course, but better than me and my girl.
Maybe we should set up some sort of training yard in our new safe house. Spending some time figuring out how the different classes could work together to boost our strength seemed like a good idea.
We came around the bend and marched into the little darkened road that led into the court that housed the Red Fox Inn. I didn’t need the hiss to tell me the snake was waiting for us on the other side. The red aura was clear enough. I Blinked to avoid the fanged strike before throwing myself around to stab the Common Striped Cobra with my poisoned blade.
The snake flailed and tried to run but even the beast’s natural poison resistance was not enough to save it from my more potent concoctions. Once, a long time ago, a snake this big would have scared the shit out of me. Now it was barely a hindrance. A little like swatting an annoying fly buzzing around your head.
I crouched to loot the snake, not bothering to look too carefully over the items when the collect-all button was right there. I’d go over my inventory later in the safety of one of the Red Fox Inn’s way overpriced rooms.
Happy with my score I smiled and pushed to my feet, turning around to get my first proper look at the house we’d claimed as our own. I’d barely seen more than the impressive barricades barring the first floor before a sizzling bolt of magic burned my ass and a sharp ball of ebony feathers slammed into my face.
“Frank shut the hell up!”