- 100 -

Unbelievable! Completing the quest 8 times over from two bowels of camp stew! I can’t imagine what a full meal back in Rotterdale would have netted me. There were a couple expensive looking restaurants I wasn’t able to sneak into before. I bet I can talk my way in there now. And it would be worth it.

“John! This stew was divine!” Drew said.

John looked confused for a second but then caught the context and accepted the complement.

“Thank you Drew, did you get your fill?” He asked.

“I did! Still a ways away from my next level up yet.”

“Halt!” One of the mercenaries called out. A Garnt brayed at the shouting.

“Oh don’t mind us! We are here on business.” Pegg’s nasally voice responded back.

The patrolling mercenaries had switched out to give their brothers a turn to eat and Jeff and Scarlet were on patrol now.

Judging by the voices that’s Jeff and Pegg. Wonder what he is doing over here?

Pegg and Hemut and Vaylari were allowed past the perimeter. Drew flew over and was happily surprised to see that Pegg was carrying a tray of biscuits.

"As promised, food for our aerial medic." Vaylari said. "Can we put it down over here?"

Pegg walked over to the table and set down the tray of biscuits.

"Come and get them then." Pegg said grouchily. "You earned them."

Don't mind if I do.

Hemut took a couple steps towards the tamed Garnts that Marcus was brushing but Vaylari called him back.

"We aren't staying Hemut, you jolly Oaf. No time to make friends. We have our own turns on the next beasts to tame." She said.

"Hah, you may have finished already but your lot are so skittish." Pegg gloated. "That's how you can tell the difference between us that's professionals."

Hemut gave him a shove and Pegg balked.

"They are doing just fine." Marcus said.

That's right. Although they have gotten less skittish, I'm sure they will settle down in a day or two, right?

There was a crack from the box canyon. The wild Garnts were getting restless.

"What's gotten into them?" Pegg asked.

A couple of the Ranchers trotted over to check on the herd and jumped back startled.

"They are throwing themselves against the stone!" the Rancher said.

The herd in the canyon was throwing themselves against Damien’s wall wildly.

"What's gotten into them?" The captain asked.

"Better let them out before they hurt themselves." Marcus said.

The wall cracked further. Damien used his wand to turn the wall into gravel. The wild Garnts scattered in every direction.

"Hey!" Pegg exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

“Is that a storm?” Drew asked.

“Damn, that’s no storm, those are feral hopper grass!” Pegg shrieked.

“Pack up! Double time everyone!” John shouted.

“No! They are nearly on top of us. Forget packing we need to go!” Pegg screamed and bolted back towards his camp.

“There are Garnt stuck in the box canyon still!” Marcus said. “Damien can you bring the wall down?”

“We can save them. We have to protect the herd!” Drew said.

It’s our fault they are trapped.

“There is not any time. We cannot out run the swarm ourselves, not with the wagons. We need to hide. Those monsters can strip your bones bare in a minute.” Damien shouted.

“We have to try out running them.” The captain said.

“We need to move underground. They are terrible diggers.” Damien said.

"There's a cave at the back of the canyon, we can secure the Garnts and wagons in there!” Drew said. “The mercenaries found it earlier.”

“Grab what you can then and we head for the box canyon.” The captain said and John voiced his agreement. “Damien clear us a path so the wagons can fit through.”

The groups could not pack up quick enough. They were forced leave their tents and gear behind. Damien called his traveling trunk to his side and the luggage skittered about nervously.

Pegg and Hemut and Vaylari barely make it back to their camp when a couple of their Garnts broke away from their tethers. Pegg and Hemut turned back to chase the beasts down.

They are going to get caught out in the open.

Hemut and Pegg barely caught their Garnts before they could run through Drew’s camp.

Pegg turned his Garnt around and stopped cold.

“They are here…” he whispered.

The swarm of Feral Hoppergrass mowed through the trees and crashed into the grassland between the two camps.

Damien conjured up a mana shield around their wagons. Pegg and Hemut brought their Garnts in closer, away from the gruesome sight of the monsters scrambling over the shield.

“How long would this shield hold?” The captain asked Damien.

“Not indefinitely.” Damien said.

“Then we need to move.” The captain decided. “Everyone in a wagon or grant.”

“We should dig down right here and then bury ourselves.” Damien said.

“Not going to work.” The captain said. “We need real shelter. Who knows how long this monster swarm will be here. No the only option is a cave system, we could camp out there in complete protection.”

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“New plan.” John said. “Blast open a gap in the swarm with magic. Then drop the shield, we all move, fighting as we go. Get the shield back up and catch our breath.”

“That’s madness!” Pegg shrieked.

“Could werk.” Hemut grunted.

Thrain and Krag got their weapons ready.

“Not your worst idea.” Another John said.

“A lot more of these monsters are going to end up inside my shield than you anticipate but it will work.”

“What are we going to do?” William asked. He was holding his case of armor in a bear hug, ready to run.

“Armor up, wear extra coats and blankets if you have them. And we want fast weapons, fast spells. These things are numerous but have low health.” Maggie said.

“I can cast a blizzard that freezes them almost as fast as it cuts them up.” Isabella said. “Just give me a few minutes to conjure it up.”

A crack appeared in the mana shield. Everyone jumped.

We are running out of time.

“Darling, can you cast your blizzard while we run?” Her John asked Isabella.

“It’s coming down in a few seconds.” Damien said. “There’s too many little mouths attacking for me to keep repairing it!”

Everyone grabbed a weapon and readied themselves.

“So are we going with the multiple shields plan then? Pegg asked as the shield came down.

“Move!” The captain yelled and everything happened at once.

Drew shot off his fire bolt wand ahead of the wagons, the bolts burned their way through more than a dozen of the monsters but the gap was filled quickly by the swarm.

Thrain and Krag swung delicate fishing spears, slicing and breaking wings off the monsters as they flew too close to the wagons.

John rode up beside them on his Garnt and asked for a spear. His bow and arrows could not keep up with the onslaught of the swarm. Krag tossed him one.

William held the reigns of several Garnts. The beasts bucked and kicked, nearly panicking, but William dragged them forwards.

He did not have a weapon, just a thick blanket he held over his head and shoulders. Marcus was a sight to behold. He jumped from one Garnt’s back to another, his rapier moved quicker than the eye could see. It pierced wings, and heads as the monsters got too close to the Garnts.

The group rushed the wagons forward for a minute, killing everything that got close. At some point, Vaylari burst through the swarm and joined the fray. She had fought her way through the swarm to join their group.

“There is no end to them!” Pegg shouted as he swung his short sword every which way.

“Den we cannow miss.” Hemut cheered as he sliced through countless monsters with his larger sword.

There's no room for me to fly with all these monsters in the way!

Drew landed and gripped the wagon window and channeled his Fire wand to create large fireballs in the air that enveloped and cooked the monsters.

“Alright that’s far enough! Shield up!” The captain yelled.

“Everyone down!” Isabella sang.

She cast her blizzard spell to sweep the area clear of the swarm of monsters.

Damien summoned another shield of mana and the group quickly killed the few remaining monsters inside the shield.

“Everyone okay?” The captain called out.

The mercenaries sounded off in the affirmative. Pegg fretted over Vaylari's scratches, but she swatted his hands away.

"We are fine." Krag grunted, he and Thrain had a few bites taken out of them but they would be fine for now.

If nobody needs healing then I can reload my charges on my Fire Bolt wand.

“What do you think happened to the rest of the guys?” Pegg asked quietly.

“They would have escaped.” Vaylari said, but she was unsure.

“The were farther north, closer to the swarm.” Pegg said. Hemut chose not to voice his concerns.

“We’ve made it so far.” Marcus said. “The Garnts are holding up okay.”

Marcus and William did a fine job of protecting the Garnts. William was steadfast and Marcus’s rapier skills are astounding.

“How long can you hold this shield Damien?” The Captain said.

The old enchanter was out of breath. He was sweating.

“Another 30 seconds or so. The swarm has gotten thicker and the shield is starting to drain more quickly.” He said.

“Next time we stop I’ll pour you an ale old friend, keep it up!” Thrain laughed.

“How much farther to the cave?” A John asked.

“It’s hard to tell. We maybe moved 50 yards?” The Captain said.

“Another hundred yards if I had to guess.” Jeff said.

“That is if we do not get slowed or turned around in this swarm.” Scarlett said.

“Drew, could you help me with the Blizzard spell?” Isabella asked. “It is the most effective.”

Drew nodded and pulled out his Water wand.

Fully charged.

“Alright get ready to move!” Damien cried as the shield started to crack and break.

The group burst from the shield again and mowed their way through the swarm of monsters.

Isabella cast her Blizzard spell, keeping it going as long as she could over their heads.

Knives made of snow, or millions of tiny fractal snowflakes. I need a mist, then to pull the heat out of them and let the crystals form. Razor sharp and bitingly cold.

The charge of his Water wand burst and dispersed into the blizzard above them. Small little whirling cyclones of ice spun through the swarm chaotically at Drew’s command.

It was difficult but Drew was able to maintain the spell for 10 seconds before the spell failed.

Damn! I cannot focus on them all.

“Just make the mist clouds and I’ll form the Ice!” Isabella shouted.

Drew used another charge to summon the mist and he was able to cover a large area in front of them with a fine mist. The dewy water clung to the monsters and slowed them down. When Isabella’s blizzard reached the monsters they were encased in shells of ice and flung wildly into the swarm where they exploded into ice shards like grenades.

“Beautifully done Drew!” Isabella sang.

The Garnts screamed. Despite William's best efforts, the beasts had spread out too far from each other. Marcus was having a harder time protected them all from the swarm.

To his credit Marcus moved like a blur slicing his way through the monsters, but a few got through and started chewing on the beasts.

John rode over with his spear and did his best to kill the Feral Hoppers before they could do too much damage.

“Another shield would be great!” Valeryie cried out as she sliced through the monsters around her with her daggers. The daggers were too large to be as fast as Marcus’s rapier or John’s spear but she was doing her part. Pegg and Hemut were holding their own as well.

Damien cast another Mana Shield. Isabella held her blizzard spell a few seconds longer and sliced up a majority of the monsters trapped inside.

Drew switched to his lighting wand to blast the monsters into ash and give the ranchers some breathing room. The group cleared the inside of the dome in a few more seconds and tried to catch their breath.

“No ale for me.” Damien said. “But I could use a mana potion.”

“Coming right up.” Drew said. And flew one over to the old enchanter.

“The Garnts could use some healing Drew.” Marcus said while William sat on his heels trying to catch his breath. “The blood has been attracting the monsters.”

“How much farther?” John asked as Drew flew over to heal the beasts.

“I can’t see a thing through this swarm.” Isabella said as she sipped on a mana potion of her own.

“We passed the remains of Damien’s stone wall that sealed the box canyon.” William said.

“Then we are heading in the right direction.” Jeff said.

“We should have passed through our corral then. I did not see any remains of our friends.” Pegg said. “That’s good right?”

“They would have escaped.” Vaylari said uncertainly.

“Yeah I doubt it. With so many tamed Garnts they would have a hard time organizing them and heading toward safely.” Pegg said. “They are all dead.”

“Could they have headed for the canyon too?” A John asked.

“They would have had to herd the tamed Garnt’s through the crazed herd.” Vaylari said. “It would not have been their first choice.”

“Another sprint and a shield should get us there.” The captain said. “How are you holding up Damien?”

“I suspect the thickest part of the swarm has passed us by.” Damien said. “The shield is not draining as fast as it was.”

“Your friends, they are alive.” William said to Vaylari. “I am certain we can survive this.”

“Last chance for that ale Damien.” Thrain said downing an ale of his own.

He's not taking this seriously.

“I’ll take one.” Pegg called out, but the dwarf scowled at him. “A rain check then.”

“Time is up!” Damien called as cracks formed in the shield again.

I only have two more charges of my water wand.

The swarm of monsters broke through the side of the dome next to the Garnts and suddenly, Marcus and William were severely out numbered.

Drew switched to his Wind wand, he focused and a charged drained out of the wand.

Blades of wind, like little drones swooping in to strike and pick off the Hoppers.

Bursts of wind coalesced around him and they shot off one at a time to slice through the monsters. William shook the heavy blanket from his shoulders knocking the monsters off.

John rode up amongst the tamed Garnts and struck out again and again with the flexible spear. It was enough support that Marcus was able to gain some ground and free up the beasts.

“Lets go!” John shouted to the two men and they rushed their beasts to to catch up with the wagons.

“Do you see the cave?” The Captain shouted as he bashed the feral hopper grass aside, left and right.

“Not yet Captain!” Scarlet shouted from the front of the group. His daggers were smaller and more agile than Vaylari’s. He had forgone a shield so he could attack with both hands.

I can scout it out!

Drew flew forwards with two throwing knives in his claws. Spinning and slicing his way through the swarm. The monsters nipped and clawed at him. Each one doing one or two damage.

HP: 56%

It’s got to be just a little farther!

“Damien, can you make another shield?” John asked.

"Possibly. But if I am going to seal up the cave with stone I'll need to hold some mana in reserve." He said.

“Wait, I see the cave!” Drew shouted.

“Follow that bird!” The captain ordered.

The first wagon entered the cave, dropping down a steep incline and nearly toppling over. John turned on the bench to swat at the feral hoppers chewing on the ropes and luggage tied to the wagon.

Thrain and Krag’s wagon swerved to avoid a collision and skidded off to the side where the cave was studded with stalagmites. They broke through several smaller ones until a medium sized stalagmite stopped their slide.

“Drew lend me a hand with some more water!” Isabella shouted from the entrance to the cave. She and Damien were crouched there while Marcus and William pulled the last of the Garnts into the cave. Pegg and Hemut were covering Vaylari’s flanks as they brought up the rear with the mercenaries.

Drew spent another charge of his water wand and filled the area outside the cave with a dense mist for Isabella to turn into shards of ice.

John circled the entrance to the cave on his Garnt, swatting Feral Hopper grass out of the air as his brother drove the last cart into the cave.

”Once we are through, close this gap up Damien!” the Captain ordered.

Pegg and Hemut and Vaylari jumped into the cave with the last of the mercenaries falling back slowly.

As the last of their party made it safely into the cave Damien closed off the cave like a pair of curtains closing on a stage. He dropped to his knees exhausted.

“Well done everyone!” The captain cheered, and the Mercenaries gave a ‘Hoorah’

“Every one alright?” A John asked.

Hemut slapped Pegg on the back crushing a Monster.

“Gyot one.” He said.

“Could you all keep it down?” Damien moaned, holding his head. “I’ve acquired a mana headache.”

“Oh that’s nothing a short rest won’t cure.” Drew said.