Ann felt the pain first. Her eyes cracked open, dried blood caking her face. It was still daylight. Seemingly, no time had passed since she collapsed. Turning her head, she saw Kat sitting close by with Bren. They were talking in hushed voices as they kept watch. Gently, she tested her left arm. It still hurt like hell, but she could move it again. Groaning as she sat up, she saw the others’ attention snap to her. “How long was I out?”

“You were unconscious for only two hours. Nothing to worry about. How are you feeling?” Bren asked as he moved over to her.

“Like I lost a fight with a cement mixer. Arm feels better, though.” Another groan escaped Annita’s lips as she pushed herself into a sitting position. “Did you say two hours? Shit, my time limit.”

“Aye, an hour left,” Kat said, hushed. “We’re gonna have tae figure that out. Can ye stand?”

Taking the hand offered her, Ann leaned on Kat as she was lifted to her feet. She took a couple of unsteady steps before confidence returned to her body. Everything hurt, but she could move. “Yeah, I can. Think I can walk too. We’ve got to move. I’d rather not hit my limit in here.”

“Yes, that is completely understandable,” Bren agreed. He took a look around, gathering his bearings. “We will need to head past the apex of the hill and then down the other side. The Seed should have quieted now with the Guardian slain. Another will be grown, developed, or however they are created. It will take some time, though.”

“Then let’s move.” Annita grunted as she walked with Kat’s assistance.

The living forest had indeed quieted. No longer were the trees blocking their way, and they made it to the summit of the hill in roughly ten minutes.

The tree at the top was a genuine marvel. It was immensely thick, with sprawling roots that seemed to hide worlds of their own in the gaps between them. Warped squirrels and birds scurried and flitted in and out of nests created in the ancient monarch of the woods. Craning her neck, Annita gazed up into the canopy far above them. It shifted in the wind, giving the sunlight peaking through the illusion of being stars in the night sky.

As they made their way around the tree, Annita heard something. It was almost a song? A sad, slow music. Ethereal and nothing like she’d ever heard before. “Do you hear that?”

“Hm? Hear what?” Kat asked, her long ears twitching as she listened closely.

“Music, I think. It’s nothing like I’ve heard before,” Kat answered absently as her own Lupine ears swiveled, trying to find the source. “Over here.”

She left Kat’s shoulder and wandered to a gap between two large roots. Looking further in, she saw an earthen tunnel extending under the tree itself. “It’s in there.”

“Could it be the Core you’re hearing?” Bren mused. “Every seed has a Core. The heart of the domain. It is what maintains the realm. The heart, if you will.”

“Don’t know,” Annita mumbled. “But I feel like I need to go down there.”

“Ye sure?” Kat asked, having come to stand beside her. “Could be more danger.”

“Yeah, definitely. Something is… pulling me. I don’t know if this has anything to do with Orenous, but call it a hunch.” Annita took a step forward, and then another. Bren and Kat shared a worried glance before following after her.

It was pitch black in the tunnel. Loose roots dangled from the earthen ceiling and walls, but the path never split. Annita followed the song with confidence, not needing to feel her way through as long as she relied on her ears. Kat and Bren were not so lucky, and they stumbled now and then over exposed roots and the occasional rock.

Soon, they saw a glowing green light ahead of them. Coming around a bend, they entered a cavern. It was small, low, and covered with leaves and roots. At the center was a sphere. It gave off a verdant light that seemed to match the forest itself. However, covering its surface were motes of an inky black smoke that swirled in hypnotic patterns, creating an eerie pattern of light on the ceiling and walls.

“That is the Core. I am certain of it,” Bren said. “It is as I have read many times. A color matching the domain of the God it was assigned to, as well as the inky black flowing across its surface.”

“It’s… beautiful.” Annita whispered as she slowly approached it. The closer she got, the clearer the song she heard became. It was a symphony. Of summer, and of spring. Of plants and trees growing, but it was tainted. There was an undertone of rot, of stagnation and decomposition. A natural part of life, but unwanted in this realm. Slowly she began to lift her arm to reach toward the Core.

“Ann, what’re ya doin'?” Kat asked nervously.

“I would not advise that!” Bren warned.

Annita couldn’t hear either of them. She neared the Core, and brushed a fingertip across its surface. The black smoke shifted, suddenly much more active as it rushed to the point she made contact. Pain shot up her arm and she recoiled, breaking the link with a cry.

“The feck happened. You all right?” Kat was holding her up, steadying her.

“I… yeah. I think so.” Annita looked at her hand. The black energy swirled around her fingertip before fading into her skin. She flexed her fingers, feeling a tingling pain as if she’d lost circulation before it faded. She looked up at the Core. The black smoke was still there, but it had faded. It was sort of like someone had turned down the opacity slider on it. “Weird. You saw that too, right?”

“Aye.” Kat was still holding her, concern plain on her face. “The black shite seemed to react to ye. Seemed like it was tryin’ tae get into ye.”

“I think it did. I don’t feel different.”

“Check your stat screen. See if anything changed?” Bren suggested.

“Yeah, good idea.” Annita pulled up the shimmering silver screen.

The first thing she noticed were three notifications. She’d leveled several times after they’d defeated the guardian, but that was something she’d get to later. She pushed the notifications to the side before a different notification appeared. It was a black smoke instead of the normal shimmering light.

Warping Increased!

You have absorbed a tiny portion of the corrupting forces affecting the Seeds of the Gods. This will allow mutability of the flesh. The more you consume, the stronger the effects will be.

Current Choices Available:

Minor Cosmetic Mutation

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

At the sacrifice of 2 HP, you may modify the length and or color of your body hair to your choosing. Color must be natural in some spectrum. These effects will last until the skill is used again.

Virility Manipulation

Channel your mutation to allow yourself to control the virility of your ejaculate. Sacrifice 10 HP per use. Options are Sterile, Natural, or Extreme.

Annita felt a cold ice creep into her gut as she read the words. This couldn’t be a good thing, but it was there, staring her in the face. She’d taken in some of the evil that was overwhelming the Gods’ influence on their own domains. No word from Orenous or any little notes like she’d gotten before, either.

“So, I’m not sure what it means, but yeah. Seems like I did take in some of that,” Ann explained slowly. She read off the description of the skills presented to her. Bren and Kat listened solemnly.

“None of that first part sounds good,” Kat said quietly, still deep in thought. “Absorbin’ whatever’s causin’ the Warping? Nothin’ good can come o’ that.”

“Agreed. It seems to be a skill set that comes with costs to use it as well. Something requiring health to use is not unheard of for Paths like a Berserker, however the mutagenic properties are not something I have heard of before.” Bren looked through a book he’d taken from his bag. “Yes, nothing that I see here. I will need to research further.”

“Yeah, but with Orenous’ other blessings, and my Path, that second option is incredibly tempting. Not having to worry about children? At least for now, that sounds dope.” Ann reviewed the options again. She was pretty sure she was going to take the second one, but understood the others’ concern about the source.

“On a related note, though, I am at 124/125 Libido at the moment. I, uh. I don’t think I’m going to last until we get out of the Seed. That’s at most twelve minutes if my math is right and this stupid sheet doesn’t do decimals.” Ann blushed. Some deeply ingrained shame causing her body to heat up at the mention of her impending sexual need. She looked at Kat, whose ears had begun to blush slightly as well. “I can handle myself, if you want me to,” Annita offered.

“Hm, nae. Yer a friend in need. Least I can do is offer a hand.” Kat grinned mischievously at her.

“I’ll… wait outside,” Bren said tersely as he turned and hurriedly made his way back into the tunnel.

Kat moved in quickly, her body brushing up close to Annita as her hands went to the other woman’s face. “So, yer at yer limit, an’ need tae blow off some steam?”

Annita’s face burned with the blush that had painted her skin red. Her breath quickened with her heart as she looked down into Kat’s icy blue eyes. She adored those eyes, so calm and cool, but with a light that betrayed her endless energy. Without even thinking about it, she leaned in and pushed her lips against Kat’s. Those icy pools closed as Kat melted into the kiss. Annita’s arms wrapped gently around her shoulders and waist, bending Kat as the waist as she leaned deeper into the kiss. Slowly, she moved her hands over Kat’s strong back and lower, cupping her firm ass through her leather pants.

Neither of their mouths were still, each having turns of taking and receiving the other’s passion. Air was the least of their concerns as they lost themselves to their passion for the other. Slowly, they made their way to the floor, Kat having ended up below Annita.

[Brief sexual scene redacted. Head over to Scribblehub for the full chapter if you like.]

Annita smiled as she gave into the hug, savoring the moment of closeness, paying attention to Kat’s breathing as it matched her own. It was almost domestic, this comfort. Simple, innocent touch that stoked a warmth in her. She wanted more of that. More of Kat, to be honest with herself. She knew they’d only known each other for about a week now, but she just had this feeling that this was right. Or at least something she really wanted. Not yet, though. She was incredibly nervous about talking these feelings over with Kat. The fear of rejection, despite their actions together, still haunted her.

“This is nice.” Kat whispered on her shoulder, nuzzling into the crook of her neck.

“Yeah, it is. Thanks again for being there for me.” Ann replied quietly.

“Aye love. Wouldn’t leave ye all helpless like tha’.” Kat said almost drowsily.

The words spiked the already nervous energies in her. Was that a confession? Was that just something she said to people she was close to? She never said it to Bren, but they bickered all the time for their affection. Annita took a long moment and forced herself to stop overthinking things. That’s for after their date.

With a heavy sigh, she shifted in Kat’s arm and the other woman loosened her hold. “Bren’s going to be worried about us again. Or just thinks we actually started fucking this time.” A shaky laugh escaped her as she spoke.

“Oh, aye, he’s a worrywart, an’ I’ve seen the look he’s been givin’ us. He knew before this. I reckon we only confirmed it.”

“Yeah, he’s crazy observant for a normal human.” Ann giggled as wiped off the best she could. Kat was following suit, but had less overall to clean up.

Before Ann could get all her cum off her chest, Kat gave her a cheeky smile and swiped her tongue across Ann’s clothed chest, taking a line of the sticky fluid with her. “Fer the road.”

Cleaned up, Ann with a fresh shirt, and properly dressed, they made their way out to Bren.

“Did you two have fun?” Bren asked dryly.

“Aye, sure did. How long’ve ye known?” Kat asked bluntly.

“I suspected the first night you went and checked on Annita. You were gone too long, even for a private chat. I now believe that this occurred on subsequent nights, as I woke to someone returning to the camp. You were always too quick to get into your bedroll for me to confirm, however. Last night was a major confirmation. You lost your subtlety there, and today was the outright admission.”

“Can’t keep anythin’ from ye. Known ye way too long, Bren.” Kat laughed as she clapped him on the shoulder. “Fer yer reference, Ann, he’s always been like this. Couldn’t sneak sweets outta the kitchens without me Ma hearin’ about it from some little snitch.”

“Yes, well, someone needed to teach you manners, and you were far too covert for most of the adults to notice,” Bren huffed. “We fought over this countless times until we grew older and the skill became useful in other ways. She still can not hide things from me for long, though.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re a real pain in me arse,” Kat laughed.

“And you, in mine, Your Majesty,” Bren retorted.

Annita found herself laughing at the back and forth between the two. “Y’all are great. Reminds me of my older siblings. At each other’s throats for the longest time, but loved each other like nothing else.”

“Oi, Bren,” Kat cut her off, “ye leave tha’ there?” She pointed to a sack that was sitting on one of the nearby roots. Brown, unassuming, made of some sort of burlap at Annita’s best guess. It was tied shut with a drawstring, and had a piece of parchment attached.

“No. I did not,” Bren mumbled, confusion plain on his face. “That was not there a minute ago, either.”

“Looks like it has a note on it,” Ann observed. She walked over to it and pulled off the section of parchment. The letters were nothing like she’d ever seen before, but somehow she understood their meaning.

To the ones who helped my Seed:

Greetings and salutations. It would be my pleasure to proffer these rewards to the hero who has pushed back, even if just a little, the darkness surrounding my lands. May you continue in your journeys and be safe through them all.

Estvall - God of these woods

“A gift from a god?” Bren sputtered in disbelief. “And addressed to all of us. What, how?”

“Seems like whenever I touched that Core, it weakened the hold on the Seed? Maybe that let Him slip this in.” Annita crouched and undid the string around the bag.

Inside was a piece of wood, a gem, and a rolled up strip of bark. The piece of wood was a gorgeous dark brown, polished and just a bit longer than Annita’s grip on it. She rolled it around in her fingers, but nothing happened. Neither the gem nor the bark seemed to be obviously magical, either.

“Reckon we’ll need an artificer tae figure out what those’re fer,” Kat pondered, taking a closer look at the bark.

“To identify them?” Annita asked.

“Aye, pretty standard. Magical monsters an’ the like drop all sorts o’ things. Artificers are everywhere ‘cause of it. Though with these, might be best tae find someone trustworthy. Them bein’ Gods given an’ all.” Kat returned the bark to Annita, who placed it back into the sack.

Putting the sack into her pack, Annita stood again. “I’m ready to get out of this place. You two ready?”

“Yes. Let us leave. The side we need to exit should be… this way.” Bren said as he consulted the large tree for direction.

Their travel from the Seed was uneventful. True to Kat’s word, the pocket dimension had calmed significantly. Birds and small beasts scurried about as usual, but nothing hostile crossed their path.

It was an hour’s walk before they came upon the iridescent wall that marked the boundary of the Seed.

“Well, this is it. Ye survived yer first seed! Congrat’s Ann.” Kat said, giving her a pat on the shoulder.

“A feat several do not accomplish. You did well,” Bren said, joining the compliments.

“Couldn’t have done it without you two. That’s for sure,” Ann laughed as she wrapped her arms around Kat and Bren’s shoulders.

“Damn right. Now let’s get out of here,” Kat laughed, taking Annita’s hand.

Forming the line they had made when they entered Estvall’s Seed, they calmly walked through the shimmering surface before them.