Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies
Chapter 4: Shadow's Edge
The sun's flickering rays shown through the golden leaves of a tree's gnarled trunk. Lyndis shielded her eyes for a moment before grabbing the golden leaf clap round her neck and whispering the words of activation. Like an egg dropped on her head, a cold sensation leaked it's way down her spine, her skin shivering as she hung to the coarse branches below her boots. She was hunched over, gazing down to the forest floor, littered with leaves of all different colors. The dull reds, golds, browns, they all dotted every root, every bush, and reminded her of days spent rolling in them during her youth. She reached out to grab at a twisted branch, clutching the rough bark with her gloved hands and slowly with a practiced pace, moving to a higher position.
The chatting sound of the town's voices made her ears twitch, the caravan camped nearby a lake they had found along the way. They had been traveling for several days now at a constant pace along the hills guided by Merlia and Navarra, while Krotos and Veledar kept to the sky and watched for any signs of marauding orcs that might be out to take advantage of them. It had worked well enough, and their trip thus far been rather dull. They kept busy during breaks such as this, training and preparing for any battle that might find them.
She ducked a branch, shifting her weight so that she would not make a sound. Thankfully nothing had been found of the undead that kept being whispered about in hushed voices around the campfires. She hated to admit it filled her with dread that threatened to grasp around her heart. She could feel that sensation creep into her thoughts, pounding away at her will. She brushed aside some leaves, head darting back and forth as she scanned the quiet little section of untamed wilds. Several blue birds flew overhead, chirping their little hearts out against the cerulean sky.
Veledar bless his egotistical heart had been a constant source of confidence, a beacon of light in the darkness that slithered and waited for them along the road. Either because of his foolishness or his arrogance the red dragon was strutting along, or puffing out his chest, the idea that there were ravenous hordes of undead seemed little to damage his mental armor. If anything he seemed eager to test his fire, prove that he was the best hero around. She gripped the bark tighter as she heard a loud crinkle of leaves echo through the air, a sign of her quarry yet again failing in the task she had set before him.
Krotos crept slowly along the forest floor, his head turning softly as a breeze rustled his navy fur. She watched his crown feathers extend upwards towards the sky in excitement as his tail swished behind him, scattering leaves in it's wake. Lyndis smirked when he quickly lowered himself, pouncing to a tree with a half open beaked smile. His talons ripped into the bark as he flared out his wings.
“Aha! I got you you clever little halfer!” He chirped, proudly ruffling his feathers.
She had planned for that of course, that having been her previous hiding spot. She waggled her fingers, drawing a triangle around her throat and pictured her voice springing up from beside the smug gryphon who tilted his head up at the tree's canopy.
“You can come out now Lyndis. I won this little test! Awk Awk Awk. No shame in admitting your defeat to my talons. We can celebrate the gryphon way if you are still sour. I even guarantee you won't be sore after....Well” He smirked, pressing a talon to his grey fur. “At least not from the hunt.”
“Ya didn't quite win yet blue boy.” Her voice sprang forth from a red leaf resting at the gryphon's hinds. He jumped several feet, letting out a loud shriek before trying to recompose himself with a few clacks of his beak. “And as you mounting me might sound fun fluffbutt. I am not in that tree. You'll have to try again.”
“Everything fine over dere?” Merlia's voice came from the nearby camp, concern dripping in her words. “Did Lyndis kick ya in da eggs again?”
“No!” Krotos squawked, refolding his wings against his side. “I'm fine!” The blue gryphon took a tentative step, his beak scanning the trees above with narrowed eyes. “How is this fair if you're under your cloak of invisibility.” He crouched, tail swishing playfully behind him as a look of contemplation appeared on his face. “I know you're in the treetops. Easier time to move around so you don't crunch the leaves beneath your thunderous bootfalls.”
Thunderous? She chuckled as she watched him wait for her response. He was trying to get a reaction out of her, reveal her position. Clumsy fluufbutt. “You know.” Her words came up from a twig, almost making the gryphon leap again from the sudden sound. “You're fairly smart for city guard. The ones that I met always seemed to be drunkards without a lick of sense. How come you only managed to be one of those things?” She leaped from branch to branch, her boots touching the bark ever so slightly. She grinned to herself as with proper distribution of her weight the things hardly moved. “This isn't supposed to be fair anyway gryphon. Our foes hardly will play that way...And do I look like our resident paladin?” She leaned against a tree behind the gryphon whose head was still looking where she had been. “I won't play fair.”
“So you like to play dirty eh?” Krotos grinned, dashing to a tree across from her and scattering up a storm of leaves. “Got you!' He exclaimed, pouncing onto the trees, the claws of his hinds ripping up a slithering root below him. He poked his beak behind the trunk, a confused chirp sounding as his ears flicked. “Damn't.”
Lyndis held up a finger, a small orb of water springing into existence at her fingertip. It was perfect in shape, with the sun sparkling off it's surface. It rippled and undulated before her eyes. With a mere thought she guided the thing with a tingling sensation at the base of her skull. It sailed through the air, smacking Krotos right in his haunches, the gryphon let out an angry squawk as he whirled around with his ears splayed.
His next steps were harder as his eyes narrowed. “Do you know how long it will take to get that water out?”
“Then pay attention. Just cause I'm invisible doesn't mean I can't be spotted featherhead. You have to watch for a slight blur. It gives away my position.” She watched as his anger seemed to melt away, his expression softening before her eyes.
“You really are trying to help me.” He sounded surprised, the statement making her chuckle.
“Of course Krotos.” She jumped to another tree. “I don't really relish the idea of a pretty blue thing like yourself ending up skewered by someone sword. So I best be teachin ya the hard way, sound good?” She watched his yellow beak swivel round to the trees, intently taking in each scene. She thought for a moment to let him have this one, boost his confidence, but she pushed it away and summoned her green spectral hand with her next breath.
The floating hand flew out towards the gryphon without a sound, homing right onto his tail like a little piranha eager for it's meal. It grabbed hold of the gryphon's tail and yanked it firmly.
“AHHHH!” The bird shouted, his wings flaring out as he pranced around in shock like a spooked horse. His beak flashed as he tried to snap away at the spell.
That's when Lyndis chose to strike, leaping from the trees like a hunter. She spun her left hand, a thin line of magical light tracing her movements as she fell towards the gryphon. Her spell rose up to wrap around his head, an illusion of sorts to dull his sense. She kicked him in his side, causing another surprised squawk to escape his beak. He stumbled over to his side, wings unfolding unceremoniously as she quickly followed through, landing on top of him with a grin.
“Got you now featherbrains!” She shouted out in victory, her form slowly appearing out of thin air before him. He thrashed beneath her, griping hold of her waist with his claws. Despite his size he somehow could not fling her off of him, no matter how he spasmed or wiggled beneath her.
“How...are you this heavy? Surely you haven't put on several hundred pounds while I wasn't looking.” He gasped, his talons easily being pushed to his chest by her hands.
She laughed as his fur ruffled something awful, and the dirt he so hated was pressed into his fur with each violent thrash. She poked his beak with a hand, earning her a few snaps in rebuttal. “Surrender to me and I shall enlighten you on the how. Otherwise...” She gave him a mischievous smirk. “I shall play this game called beak taps that the dragon was telling me about. He said that you simply adore them after you two wrestle.”
“You...wouldn't dare.” Krotos gasped, his squirming increasing at her threat. His tail loudly smacked the ground behind her with a dull thwacks. “Graaaah! This is embarrassing, you're so small! You shouldn't have spells like this...I've watched you!”
“Isn't that the question of the day.” She leaned against him, as she feigned interest. She pulled out a dagger, turning the slender blade in her hand until she pointed the ornate handle towards his beak. “So...beak taps then?”
She watched his eyes follow the hilt, nearly going cross eyed as his struggles ceased. If she didn't know better it looked as if he feared this more than getting kicked in his balls.
“Um...Fine!” He threw his head back against the ground with a pitiful whine. “I surrender! Please don't tap away at my beak.”
“Smart move mate.” She sheathed her dagger before pushing herself up and letting Krotos' limbs free. “Used a charm on you by the way. Made you think I was heavier.” She tapped her temple softly as his beak parted in surprise. “All you had to do was think hard about it, unwind yourself from what you were experiencing. Then you would have been able to see through the spell.”
The gryphon weakly flicked his tail, letting out a heavy exhale that lingered in the air. “Next time then...next time I get you.”
“You almost did have me.” She laid down beside him, resting her arms behind her head as she gazed up to the cloud filled sky. The white fluffy things lazily floated on by, almost making her want to snatch them with her fingers. She had half the mind to beg the kittybird to take her to the sky so she could do as she imagined. “Saw your eyes linger for a moment or two.” She moved a hand to rub at his furred belly, the touch earning a wiggle from the relaxing gryph. “I figure a few more days of this and you would have been able to spot me.”
“Though I could always lose on purpose. I do rather like you pinning me.” Krotos tilted his head to her with a lewd grin. He swiped his beak with a single pass of his pink tongue. “You looked rather good like that...riding a gryphon.” She felt him hump with his hips, so she smacked him across his beak.
“Careful there blueboy. Don't go earning yourself a couple of hatched eggs. You can make your looks and your comments. But don't you go touching or humpin me deal?”
“Yes.” He replied, his ears flicking as she stared daggers into his eyes.
“Okay, that's settled then.” She pushed herself off of him and rolled to all fours. “Would hate to have you rolling around on the ground cause I kicked your sack into you.” She brushed off her clothes of loose gryphon fur and dirt. “Need ya in good shape for the rest of the journey.”
“Is that so? You need me?” Krotos flipped over to his paws, winking at her with a grin. It seemed the threat of getting his balls kicked wasn't enough. “Didn't think you cared princess. What would the commoners think?”
“Really gryphon?” She laughed, resting a hand around his shoulders as they padded their way through the underbrush and back into the clearing around the lake. “I go from threats to kicking you in the bleeden balls, and you back to hitting on me?”
“Don't flatter yourself.” Krotos laughed with a chirp. “I'm not hitting on you. If I was doing that there would be even more lewd suggestions. You most certainly have seen my cock by this point as well. Maybe even found yourself on the receiving end of it. I have been told I am most pleasurable when it comes to the form of hen humping.”
Lyndis rolled her eyes, not knowing what she had expected from the lewd gryphon. “Just keep it to your bloody self or you'll find my boots shoved up your arse something awful. Her eyes fell to the circle of wooden carts that rested in the afternoon sun. Some townsfolk were leaned up against them, eating away at bread, nuts, or fruit that they had brought with them for the road. Concerned flashed on some of the huddled groups, but not all of them. It almost seemed to be a normal day as they chatted away, as if the world was not filled with undead monsters waiting to eat them. Children ran by to the water's edge, slipping into the shallows and splashing each other with loud cries. Some rested like she had done with the gryphon, laid down on the ground just soaking in the sun. Her friends were scattered around the camp doing various things to occupy their time. Shandalar was nibbling a hunk of bread as she gazed through her scrolls that she had nabbed from Entis like she was attached to the bloody things. Feku was playing a soft tune with her violin, a pleasant melody that reminded the half-elf of days without care.
Her stomach then voiced it's concern to her ears. She grabbed at her side, as wolves ate at her insides. “All this wrestling works up an appetite.” She regretted her words the moment they left her mouth, the gryphon giving her a laughing chirp and a lewd grin as her reward. Sometimes she hated how he did that. She punched him playfully as she set her eyes on a cart filled with boxes of fruit. “For food! What did I just finish telling you?”
“Me?” Krotos put a claw to his chest, “Don't know whatever you're talking about.”
Lyndis patted his soft fur with a chuckle. She brushed away some of the dirt that he seemingly had forgotten about during their little walk and exchange of words. They passed Merlia, who was holding out her bow, her dull red vest practically glowing in the sun. She knocked an arrow, shooting it into a tree that she had marked with a makeshift target of wood. The projectile of course hit where she had marked, the dwarf turning to them with a wave and a smirk.
“Well..have fun getting your hunger taken care of.” The gryphon gave her a wink. “I have a dwarf to visit.”
She gave his rump a playful smack as the gryphon scampered away with a happy chirp. “I felt that Lyndis!” He shouted back, tossing her another wink. “I shall return the favor soon enough!” He snaked his beak into the dwarves hands, the ranger's fingers scratching underneath his chin and causing the gryphon to flop onto his back. Lyndis fought a giggle at the playfulness, trying to remember that he was a fierce and noble gryphon and not a housedog. She leaned up against one of the worn carts. The wood was rough beneath her hands, with many scratches and dents lining the surface. She looked out to the waters before her, sparkling in the sun's rays. Waves lapped at the sandy shore, filling the air with their soft soothing sound.
She unsheathed her dagger, wedging her blade into a crack and prying open one of the wooden crates with hardly any effort. She reached her hand inside, feeling around for anything that would quell the beast stirring in her stomach. She spied some dried meat stacked together in a corner, the dull red strips making her mouth water. She snatched a handful up before returning the lid with a thump. It wouldn't be the best food she knew, but it would do for now. She stuffed them into her mouth one by one, the slightly salty flavor finding it's way to her tongue as she happily munched away. She glanced back to Merlia as she cracked open her waterskin, pressing the opening to her lips and gulping away at the water. She considered asking the dwarf to conjure up some goodberries for the road. Those sweet tasting things would fill you for the day. She only stopped her drinking for a gasp, then quickly capping the thing and wiping her mouth. She let out a sigh as the sounds of a happy town swirled around her. She followed the pair of same bird's from before, rising and falling over the water in a little dance. Her mind shifted to green scales without her notice, remembering her dance with the dragon she cared for. Thankfully before her mind began to think to deeply about her blackunderscaled lover, her nose twitched as the delightful sweet smell of freshly cooked biscuits caught her nose and made her mouth water. She scanned the crowd to find that Feku was holding out a wooden tray stacked with the flaky brown biscuits. Children were grabbing at them with eager hands, practically shoveling them into their faces. The rogue could not help but slip over to the little green scaled kobold.
“Hi lady Lyndis!” Did you want a biscuit?” She smiled, gesturing to the dwindling pile of bread.
“Sure.” She grabbed one, the warmth delighting her finger tips. “How'd you know....out here?”
“Asterion summoned them with a boom!”
Delight spread to her tongue as she took a bite, the form of the biscuit yielding for her teeth. She sighed, scanning the crowds to see the bull was showing a group how to properly wield a weapon. “Well wasn't that nice of him.” She noticed something was amiss with her scans, a certain dragon and paladin missing from the gathered peoples. “What about Crimson and Arcturus? Have you see them?” She strained her eyes, watching the water for any dark shape, just in case the dragon had decided to take a swim or something. “Did they sneak off for another romp?”
“Do you think so?” The kobold's scales started to dot with little scales of amethyst as she shivered.
Lyndis chuckled as she knew what that meant to the little lizard.
“They were splashing and bathing I think.” She pointed to the water with a talon. “Then Crimson mentioned something about practice flying.”
“That could be actually something they're doing.” She took another bite, gazing up to the sky. The damned red bastard knows I'm on to him. She thanked the kolbold with a pat on the head and padded her way to Asterion, who had just let his warhammer impact the earth with a dull thud, scattering some dirt beneath it's metal head.
“Any questions?” The bull's tail swished as a silence hung about his “recruits”. They seemed to nod in response, eagerness shining in their eyes. “Very good then. I expect to see you all during our next rest.” He waved dismissively at them. “You may enjoy the rest of this one.” With a quick bout of thank yous all the human, wolven, and elves dashed back to their families with the next swish of his tail.
“Well look at you being all teacher like.” She laughed as he hefted his silver weapon into his hands. “Didn't go too rough on them did ya? Not much use they going to be if theys bleedin from their heads.”
“Me? Rough?” The cleric rose a brow as he passed her towards the carts. “I was the adequate amount of forceful...Besides..”He snorted, “The battlefield won't be kind to them, it won't help to coddle them like a cow.” He turned to her, a small smirk coming to the edge of his muzzle. “Course I don't see how you are commenting on roughness. I heard what you did to Krotos and I approve.”
“How is that? Didn't think I had any viewers of our practicing.”
“I heard his cry from here!” Asterion chuckled, “He sounded like a surprised hen his voice was so loud!”
“Hmph.” Lyndis folded her arms, chuckling as she looked to the blue gryphon whom seemed to be trying to catch Merlia who was running from him with a large smile. “He's getting better than he used to be I can give him that. He can actually track me at times, almost thought the cloak wasn't going to work.”
“Good.” Asterion nodded to Nivarra who was seated around a group of smiling townsfolk. “He will be stronger for the battles ahead.” The bull made his way over to a large brown furred wolf. The creature regarded them with a glance of it's blue lupine eyes before returning to happily lapping the water's edge.
“So...” Lyndis felt unease work it's way into her heart as her eyes drifted from person to person. “How do you think they'll fair when we encounter the undead?”
“Poorly.” The bull's words came flatly as he rifled through the pouches on the wolves back. “Course not everyone can stand up to foes such as those. In a way they are the perfect tools at times.”
“Perfect?” Lyndis scoffed, taking a bite of her biscuit.
“They never tire in the field of battle. Obey orders without question, and show no mercy or remorse.” He gently touched the wolf, running his fingers through the course fur. “No fear to grip their hearts. It is something that should be respected by all others.”
“Have..you fought them before?” She rose a brow, watching as his arm suddenly froze. His gaze lingering on the fur before him like it was vastly important. “You sound like you got bleedin experience in the matter.”
“Once or twice in my lifetime.” Asterion pulled his hand back softly, clenching it into a fist. “Each time was a great harrowing battle. Those that survived were exhausted and close to collapsing. I remember smashing aside them like rag dolls, cracking skulls like brittle glass.” The bull closed his eyes, his body visibly trembling before her.
“Sounds bloody terrible if you ask me. An enemy you can't trick your way out of? No thank you.”
“Just different type of tricks could be used.” The cleric tapped his temple slowly.
She shifted her weight to her back leg, “I suppose you could use misdirection with sounds, sight might not work on the bastards.” She tapped her chin as Shandalar started shouting to the others to pick up their things.
“We have tarred long enough! Pack your things and prepare to head out. Unless you wish to be caught by the orcs!” The elf shouted, the good cheer melting away like a wax candle set to flame.
Lyndis gave her a withering glance, “Think she owns the place the way she's bossing everyone around.” She grabbed a crate, placing it back into one of the carts with a thud.
“Yes but she has been a good warrior thus far. Her spells have tipped battles in our favor or provided a chance where none existed.” The bull placed a sack beside her crate with a bump. “She has not disappointed me thus far.”
“What does disappoint you cleric?” She chuckled, eyeing his coy expression. “I've seen you praise most everyone on the field of battle in some fashion. To you it seems everyone is a focken warrior.”
“But it's in a way true. You all have your own crafts. Each one working in tandem with the other. A poor army can't adapt to situations. We on the other hand have enough variety to match all that has risen against us.”
“And a dragon.”
“That too.” Snorted the bull, pulling himself up onto the saddle of his wolf.
As if on cue came the sound of a loud swoosh as Veledar glided overhead. Several people pointed up with smiles as the dragon's crimson scales came into view. Arcturus was on his back with a cheer as Veledar circled around the caravan with a dipped wing. Lyndis rolled her eyes as the praise would not help the dragon's smugness. The red drake landed softly, his limbs hardly making a sound as dirt scattered in all directions.
“What did we miss?” Veledar smiled, glancing to the packing mortals. His eyes brightened as his frills fluttered every so slightly back and forth.
“Everything it seems. It's already time to go.” She laughed, flinging herself up onto a grey wolve's back. The one she had been riding thus far. “Guess you two had your fun?” She laughed when Arcturus' eyes met hers and he blushed. “Figure you smell like the dragon again?”
“Oh please.” The red dragon slunk around her, raising his head and swelling his chest. “We went off for a flight around looking for this next village of yours. We got some practice flying together. I have heard you need that sort of thing to be the best.”
She met his eyes, a smirk growing on the edge of his snout. She knew his words could be true, but she had a gut feeling. Something she couldn't shake that he was hiding something. “That could be true dragon, but I bet you did something. Arcturus back there is turning as red as your scales.”
“Is that so wrong?” Veledar chuckled, curling his tail. “I think we deserved a break. So what if I sheathed myself in my mate? I can tell you that he loves being tied to my knot.”
“Veledar...it's probably not best to-” Arcturus stammered, face bright as a cooked lobster at this point.
“What?” The dragon turned his head, cutting the man's voice off with a lick. “You're very good at tending to me. I am left trembling as I orgasm into you!”
Arcturus sighed, petting the dragon's snout as Lyndis burst out laughing. She held her sides as tears almost sprouted forth from her eyes. “Oh dragon.” She gasped. “Your openness astonishes me sometimes.” She pulled herself up, wiping her eyes with her sleeve, and tossed Arcturus a wink. “Almost makes me long for Cordenth myself.”
“Wait...” Veledar snapped his snout to her as the wolves dragging carts began to move out with a dull roar of chatter. “You and the green one...” He paused, tail swishing behind him and almost hitting a wolf in the snout. “Mated?”
She pressed her thighs together, her wolf started to trot down the road they had been following. “Yup! Even was turned into a bleedin dragon for it. Thank the emerald lady for that little gem.”
The red followed her in silence, keeping pace with the wolf as Krotos bounded passed them, easily climbing his way back into the sky above them. The gryphon flashed her a wink and she gave him a wave before he took position high above them with spread wings. “Guess you should be getting back to the sky with your friend up there?”
“I suppose...But I just landed.” Veledar groaned, earning him a brushing of his scales by Arcturus' touch.
“Ah but what about all the people that are counting on us o glorious dragon of mine. Thought you loved the sky?
“Yes....” Veledar purred, swishing his tail back and forth behind him.
“And think about them..How they count on your greatness to see us safely through these dangerous lands. Quite the heroic and brave thing to do is it not?”
“I suppose.” The dragon sighed, lowering himself with closed eyes. “You're just as seducing as the sky my mate.” The dragon stretched his tail, sprinting off, unfolding his wings and bounding into the sky. “We will tend to that later!”
Lyndis watched them ascend to the sky with great flaps of the dragon's wings, and a chorus of chatter of people all too thrilled to watch their dragon fly. She caressed the green scale around her neck. She rubbed the smooth surface, a small ache stirring in her heart as she pictured the dragon's scaled form curled up around her. Please be alright greenscales. She took a relaxing breath before willing her wolf to the front, taking a place right beside Asterion's own as they lead the caravan out of the clearing and back to the uneven countryside before them.
*
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They followed along the winding path, a darkened stream before the rising and falling green earth. Towering trees dotted every hill that they passed, pillars of leaves and bark that reached three times Veledar's height. Mountains could be seen in the distance, topped with white broken up by grey and brown stone and dirt. Clouds drifted carefree around them all, dark greys and whites mixed together into a blend of comfort. The wolves did not protest as their paws carried them and the caravan along at a steady pace. Krotos and Veledar soared overhead, like silent guardians of fur and scale. They would drift and dart along the sky, almost like they were dancing with the clouded expanse before them. She knew they were keeping watch during this time but it was not hard to imagine they were having fun with it as well. During the twilight hours they would head off to the side of the road, with illusions cast to shield them from prying eyes. Mornings would be filled with meditating for spells, during these moments of reflection she would pray to the gods to keep them safe, while her thoughts would go to the green scale clutched in her fingers. It was during these fleeting moments she could almost feel his presence lingering over her shoulder. His pine scent wafting to her nose, making her spine shiver, longing for his touch. She would finish up, eat breakfast, and listen to the bickering of their paladin and dragon. It usually was about waking up too early, or walking too much. There was even one morning he had plopped a dead bird at the paladin's feet, getting some blood accidentally on the man's parchment. She had laughed at that one, the red drake going on about how a caring mate he was, and how Arcturus should be proud he was able to provide him “Real” food. As the days passed she found herself riding beside Asterion. The bull now wore a straw hat. Something else Feku had made for him during one rest. He looked kind of silly with the straw thing on his head, but he didn't seem to mind. The kobold would smile and turn green every time he wore it proudly.
Along the way she had inquired more to Nivarra about what had happened with their town. Why they had been left to fend against the orcs. Where were her mother and father after all? Where were all the armies that should have been able to defend from such things as this and undead? The mere thought of what could be going on made her worry something awful, cold gripped at her each time she lingered on it for too long. The woman had little answers to give her unfortunately. Just that the army had pulled back quite some time ago. Saying the land now belonged to Lumara after all this time. The town had decided to stay of course, it was their home. So despite the threat of bandits or mercenaries they had stayed.
The journey had taken at least a total of five days until the road wound round the edge of a mountain, the great rocky thing towering over them. She was at the head of the pack, smile on her face talking to Asterion about combat stances when Veledar came flying to land before her. His usual smug snout was filled with uncertainty. The dragon didn't even seem to want to look her in the eye as he trotted to her, refolding his wings against his back.
“We...have a problem.” The dragon lowered his head, his voice filled with uncertainty.
Lyndis rose a brow, looking to Arcturus for maybe a different attitude, but the man wore a face similar to his dragon. His eyes filled with concern. “Well..what's the problem?” She crossed her arms, caravan behind her coming to a mumbling stop.
“The town...Stathmore” Arcturus coughed, “Is gone.”
“Gone. What the hell do you mean gone?” She spread out her arms. “You can't just make a town gone.”
“Dead...I should have said...Everyone in the town is dead.”
The paladin's words felt as though a weight had suddenly pressed down on her shoulders. Her fire within suddenly fading. “Oh.” She said softly, her hands lowering to rest on the saddle of her wolf. “What happened?”
“Looks as though...The undead got to them. Burned buildings, corpses everywhere. Saw some walking around. Nothing rests for us there but death.”
“I...wanted to fly around and torch some of the blighters, but Arcturus here insisted we come back to give you the information.” The dragon growled, dragging a claw in the dirt.
She motioned for her wolf to get closer, raising her hands to caress and pat the red's face. His warm scales bringing a moment of clarity to her troubled mind as things seemed to be spiraling out of control. Questions bombarded her senses from every angle. What they were going to do, what about supplies, how was she going to keep them safe? Each one made her want to go run and hide, but the dragon's scales prevented that. Despite the rising cold in her chest she needed to see it. She needed to bear witness to what these monsters were doing to her people. “Veledar.” She said softly, looking to Arcturus. She could see the pity on his face, no doubt her inner emotions shining through her eyes. “Arcturus.” She rested her forehead to Veledar's scales, closing her eyes. “I need to see what happened. Please....” She pulled back, gazing into the red's cerulean eyes. “Can you take me there?”
Veledar nodded with a swish of his tail, “I can do that princess.” He gave her a lick, as if to quell her rising concern. It helped but did not cast away the cold. “Hold up here!” She shouted back to the crowd of increasingly worried people. Their faces were filled with doubt, fear, and worry that made her heart squeeze. “We're going to scout the town ahead. We think undead may have gotten to them!”
Murmurs of concern rose through the people like wildfire, some cries of doom soon came after. It was a shout from Nivarra that silenced them. Telling them to wait and see what to do next. Cries and moaning was not going to do them any good. It seemed to work as Lyndis picked herself up Veledar's scales and settled down behind Arcturus.
“Keep them from from doing anything stupid Nivarra!” She shouted as her red friend beat his wings and carried them into the sky. She gripped Arcturus tighter as she adjusted to Veledar's wings. It had been quite some time since she had ridden with him, and she could feel the excitement rising in her chest. Course it was quickly dashed as they rounded the mountain with a tilt of the dragon's wings. The blackened buildings of Stathmore appearing among the rising hills. Like a blemish on a painting the town still stood. Where once pristine wooden buildings stood from the earth, now were charred and burned. Each structure was almost reduced to ruin, beams hung on for dear life as ash littered the streets. Spikes of sharpened wood lined every street, alleyway, jutted into the ground with such force as to crack the cobblestone. Upon each pillar was a head or torso put on grisly display. Dried blood clung to the surface like clay. Hordes of flies descended upon the place like a buzzing storm. Crows flew from each rooftop to pick away at the mangled corpses that covered the ground, some of them moving.
She felt her hands move to her mouth as she saw people walking the streets, but on closer look she felt horror grip at her heart. For they shambled and stumbled with dragging feet, heads at odd angles and limbs that were completely missing. She swerved her head, seeing skeletons marching along them, clenching weapons of different kinds within their bony claws. The center of town contained wooden tables smeared with dull red gore, where body parts were being collected into a large pile horrific death. Among these tables were a collection of robed figures cutting and stitching together different limbs to create unholy abominations of mangled flesh.
“They're....all.” the words caught in her throat as she hugged at her aching sides. The questions from before came back in full force, pounding against the inside of her skull. She pulled Arcturus closer as she thanked the gods she was so far away and didn't have to smell the twisted scent of her dead people lingering on the air. How could her parents allow something like this to happen? It had never been this bad before in her years of life. She shivered against the armored man as silence wrapped around them, the only sound being Veledar's wings as the dragon hovered in the air.
“Lyndis.” His words came softly, a light within the darkness. “We...will have to find somewhere else to go..Nothing waits for us here.”
She cracked open her eyes to the undead laden streets. There were so many that filled the place, part of her wanted to ride in there atop their dragon and burn the shambling things from their hiding places. Watch their twisted forms wither and burn away to ash in the face of the brilliant red-orange flames. Then she spied the archers, the launchers, the towering giant that dwarfed the ruined buildings as it walked. An attack would cost them, survival was the answer in the face of such destruction.
“You're right.” She sighed heavily, wiping her misting eyes as a breeze wrapped around them. “Can't just sit around here waiting for the bleedin end to come right? Veledar?” She swallowed down the knot in her throat. “Can you take us back to the others? We need to form a plan.”
Even the red must have understood the seriousness of what was going on. For he offered no words of teasing to her, or challenge of her request. He simple nodded, angled his wings and turned around to head back to the caravan below. He extended his hinds as they neared the group, flapping his wings in a mighty back wing to slow his descent. He landed with a bumpy trot upon the path, and she leaped off of him the moment he slowed down. She saw the townsfolk follow Nivarra's gaze, waiting for her answer to leave her lips. She hesitated in the face of such responsibility, but she took a deep breath and sighed.
“It's gone..Stathhome is nothing more than an undead hovel now. We need to find a way around.”
Navarra nodded in an eriee calm as another round of gasps and cries came from the people.
“What are we doing even following the bloody halfer? She's lead us to our deaths!” Shouted a wrinkly old man from the crowd holding a cane.
“I think someone else should be in charge!” Yelled a pockfaced woman wearing an offwhite dress.
“Well then who smart pants?”
“How about yer ole gran? She was good at makin decisions!”
She was going to shout her counter to the people, but Veledar got their first. The dragon let out a earsplitting roar that lasted for a minute, making sure that everyone clutched at their ears and silenced their squabbling.
“Yes your little town is gone and destroyed, but we are not dead yet.” The dragon snorted, flicking his tail behind him. “We simply find another town to seek shelter.” He snaked his head to give Lyndis a peak with an eye. “Right Lyndis?”
She caressed his cheek with a smile, once more thankful for his presence. “Of course.” She turned to the town, and shouted. “The dragon of course speaks truth. That is our only course of action!”
“Why not just turn round and head back?” Shouted the woman from before, she ducked behind a cart away from the dragon whose eye burned with cerulean fire.
“And into the orcs? That seems like a good idea! Just like your thought to put your ole gran in charge!”
“Hey!” Lyndis shouted, silencing their babbling. “It may not be the ideal situation but that's what we are faced with. We have undead monsters in front of us, an orcish horde behind us.” She snapped to Merlia, gesturing her to come over. “We need to see a map.”
“Aye lass, anyway to get dis bunch to stop belly aching.” The dwarf led her to a cart, spreading out a large parchment of the surrounding area. Lyndis spied the little symbols for river, triangles for mountains. She followed one of the roads passed Bromwhich with her finger, tracing the way to Stathome.
“You'll be looking for Roselake.” Nivarra strode over, rubbing her hands along a brown cloth. “That's the next place I heard was makin a stand.”
“How do we know about that?” She sighed, following the thick line to a large dot with the town's name. “Could be swallowed up by the undead for all we know. We could be actually leading these people to their deaths.” Once more she felt the weight of her choices weigh heavily on her shoulders, and she was left asking why her people's armies were not there. How could they leave them to the undead?
“I heard that's where a large group of sapphire guardians were being held up.”
“Saphire whoosits?” Merlia chuckled. “How are a bunch of miners going ta help us lass?”
“Not miners.” She rolled her eyes. “They were a group that formed to replace the army that left us dwarf. Were called out from Struport they were. Everyone that didn't want to leave their homes.” The woman pointed to the forest that lined the thick line labeled. “Beggers pass.” There's the forest of Yarhurst along here that can be used apart from the main road. It used to be the main road, until this one was built.”
“What's wrong with it? If they used the new one instead?” Lyndis looked up to her murmuring people.
“Giant spiders were said to roam the forest, attacked convoys with too few people. Folks didn't tend to like that.”
“Spiders?” Merlia wrinkled her brow, shooting Lyndis a stare as sharp as her arrows. “Oh lass..please don't tell me...”
She tapped the map, “Giant spiders? I've seen the dragon rip dozens to shreds with his talons. We got enough swords, spells, and rifles to handle any of those things.” She gave the dwarf a smile, who seemed to be turning red faced as she spoke. “Better than undead in my book.”
“Speak for yerself lass.”
“Just hide behind Crimson. I'm sure he would love to be the big hero for the dwarf scared of spiders.”
“Dun push yer luck lass.” Merlia grumbled, “How about the thick trees? How will we scout out from above?”
She met the dwarf's steady gaze, a moment passing as she wracked her brain for the answer. She knew that was going to be the problem, but going off the main pass would surely help right? “I think we can manage it correctly. Just cause its a thick foliage doesn't mean we can't have a scout above right? Just be a bit harder for them to come and go through the canopy.”
“I bet da gryphon will love ya somethin awful.” Merlia wandered off towards the blue feathered bird who had just landed among the crowd with a feather ruffling chirp.
“She going to be alright?” Nivarra tilted her head as Merlia cupped the gryphon's chin. The bird's ears pinned back against his head as she told him the new plan.
“She will come around. She hates spiders...But I don't think that will really stop her. If I had to guess it will only make her want to kill them more.”
Her eyes fell to the horizon out before her. She lost herself with the clouds for a moment, only Veledar and Arcturus' steps breaking her out of her trance. “So..how does the plan sound? Go along the trees?” She spun around, thankful that her friends didn't wear the same worry of those around them. If anything they looked at peace despite the bad news of the hour and this sudden change in plans.
“It..has it's flaws...But I think we are rather stressed for the moment.” The knight sighed. “I will be glad when we actually reach safety. Each moment we are out here is a time that they can have their lives snatched away from them.”
“I just want to relax without the worry some undead thing will nibble at my tail.” The dragon stretched his serpentine neck, letting out a groan as he wiggled his tail.
“That? That's what your worried about?” Lyndis patted his scales with a chuckle. “We best be off...Plenty of ground to cover between now and the forest.” She went back to her wolf, the woosh of the dragon's wings signaling his departure as she swung herself onto the furred beast. “We ride for the forest of Yarhurst!
*
The gnarled trunks passed overhead, looking like thick arms reaching down for their heads. She shook her head as she watched them, almost seeing them move and twist before her eyes. It was a trick of the light she told herself with calming breaths, instead holding tight to the reins within her hands. Her eyes went from light breaking through the canopy to the darkened and moss covered path before them. The bushes and grass that encroached on all sides, dominating what once was lined with stone. It was like the forest was trying to reclaim what was made within it. Flowers of dark yellow dotted dense bushes. She avoided them though as Merlia had mentioned they were poisonous to the touch. Vines wrapped around the trunk of every tree like green serpents, and the air smelled of damp earth mixed with oak. The sounds of life had thankfully not parted from this place, the sound of birds reminding them that things did in fact live within the forest as dark as it looked. Bugs would occasionally buzz on by as their mounts made steady progress, sometimes even having to be swished away with a frantic hand lest be feasted upon by the blood sucking things.
The road within was a tougher challenge for the carts than the well kept road of the path. The wheels would get stuck in uneven sections or broken stone. They would require some effort to wedge them free. Often this was done by the proud dragon, and copious amount of ropes to do the trick. The red scaled one would then boast and gleam through pointed teeth as praises and cheers were laid thick upon his ego. Other times the wagons were rescued by Shandalar or Merlia, both able to use different spells to shift dirt or rocks away from the wooden wheels so that they things could continue along unabated. The nights within the wood were more noisy than the hills. It was like a symphony of buzzing, owls hooting, and rustling leaves that would always draw her attention. In a way it was rather soothing to focus on those sounds. Even let her mind wander from avoiding the undead hordes and orcish invaders for moments at a time. She had snatched up an apple from one of the crates, walking away from Krotos who had started a chorus of singing with his drunken antics. She chuckled to herself, noting that Merlia would probably be without her spirits by the time this venture was over.
She sighed, cutting off a piece of the red skin with one of her sharpened daggers. The fruit's juices ran down her fingers to splatter against the torchlight floor. She strode over without her armor, instead opting for a plain black shirt, breeches, and the green sash around her waist. She gazed into the thick twisted trees,watching for any sign of movement. Finding none she padded her way to Asterion who was standing sternly at the camps edge, just before the end of the illusion Shandalar had cast. Feku was by his side, sitting alert on a green brown moss covered rock with her tail swishing back and forth. Each back swing the torchlight would catch one of her tail rings and sparkle like a ray from the sun. The usual blue robes that she had were exchanged for close fitting leathers made out of various armors they had come across. She had a thin grey cloak wrapped around her scaled neck as she gazed out to the forest with her dull purple spheres. If she was worried she didn't look it, not a single scale was a different color then her default stone grey scales with thin yellow stripes around her tail. She was humming to herself under her breath, the tempo matching back and forth of her tail.
“You should asleep.” the bull snorted, casting the little lizard a concerned glance. “It will do us no good if you are as tired as well.”
“But you not in bed either! You betters at fighting than I!” The kobold shot back, pointing a talon to his chest.
“But it is my job to watch for enemies. You have no such obligation. Your job is to lift morale, play music, and offer healing when I'm busy.”
“And tell minotaurs to go to bed!” She smiled with sharp teeth, like she had won some great contest of wits. “You stay up watch, then I stay up watch.” She folded her arms cross her chest, smirking to Lyndis as she looked away with her snout risen. Lyndis wondered for a moment if she learned that head motion from the dragon, for in this moment she bore a striking resemblance.
“Hmmpf. You're stubborn one I'll give you that.” His face softened as he gave her a smile. “Guess I'm stuck with you on my watch?”
“That's right.” She snorted, an obviously mimic of the bull's own. “You not alone during your watch. I know plenty kobolds go mad on watch themselves. They built trap afta trap.” She held up her claws and clacked them together. “Sometimes trap hurt other kobold! Big booms!”
“Room for one more?” Lyndis finally spoke, cutting off another piece of her fruit and holding it out for the kobold. Feku nodded and snatched at the apple piece, quickly stashing it into her mouth as her scales started to shift into green. “mmmmmmm.” She closed her eyes, chomping away at the fruit until her scales were all bright viridian once more. “Very yummy! Thankings you miss!”
“No problem.” She cut off another piece, offering it to the stern warrior who slightly turned his head to offer her a look. He simply shook his head and she shrugged her shoulders. She plopped it into her mouth, savoring the sweet juice as she chomped down into the soft flesh.
“We should really stick to the shift schedule.”Asterion groaned, casting his vision to the trees. “That way out energy is preserved for the battles ahead.”
She slunk over, leaning up against the rock as she looked into the man's back. “You know me though. Rebel that I am, couldn't resist coming over to pay you my wonderful attention.”
“I suppose I can't win with either one of you.” The bull gestured to Veledar, who was sleeping happily away with Arcturus bound within his claws. “Why can't you be more like the dragon?”
“Sexy?” Feku blurted out, a purple speck appearing on her scales.
“The king of narcissists?” Lyndis nudged the giggling kobold with a chuckle of her own. The bull just shook his head and sighed.
“No....He's actually sleeping right now. He has the right idea.”
“You might want to rethink this reason of thinking. Don't think for a sodding moment the dragons sleeping was part of your plan. He's was just being the red lazy goof he always is.”
The bull shut his muzzle, silence lingering in the air as his tail swished behind him. He returned his gaze to the trees with a harsh snort escaping his nostrils. “That might be...But he still had the right idea to get some rest.”
Another bite of the apple filled the air with it's crack. She eyed her friends eyes as she finished the last of her tasty morsel, finding them contained thin rivers of red dotting his diligent eyes. “Why are you running yourself so ragged?” She tossed the apple into some leaves with a crinkle. “Could always get someone else to focken do this...I bet...” She crossed her arms, confidently tapping her boot. “That you've been out here for two shifts.”
“Three actually.” Feku smirked, tucking her legs up against her body and wrapping her arms around them. “He is a most diligent protector.”
“Three?” That would explain the bull's eyes. She noticed that he hadn't turned to her at her gasp. “You prattle on about being tied to a sleep schedule but here you are spending three shifts out here?” She waved dismissively, tossing her head. “Do we have to make up for the sleep you're not focken getting?
“No.” His words came flatly.
“So why on the gods earth are you doing it?”
“You know why. I've told you and the group why.”
She suddenly stopped, watching him grind his teeth as he settled his hammer into the dirt with a plop. She had known he had slain a village in his anger .”I heard the abridged version you told us in the green bitch's lair. So that's why you feel like you gotta work yerself half to death? Thinking it will bring some sort of redemption?”
The cleric stared without a sound towards the thick trees, the words hanging in the air. The bull's muzzle drooped slightly before he let out a heavy sigh. “Not redemption...I'm not some fool who thinks some simple deeds shall make up for all those deaths.” He glanced back to the dwindling flames of the dying fires, his eyes filling with pain like she had not seen before. “But it often feels like it helps. Those people out there, the ones we're protecting?” He ground his hoof silently against the grass, shifting his weight away from her. “Reminds me of all the faces of those I slew with my hands.” The bull looked down to his palms, and she wondered what he saw in those worn pads. Where they soaked in blood?
“Tell me about it.” She slipped closer to him as Feku wiggled to be closer beside him.
“I'd like to hear story too.” The lizard nodded, casting curious eyes to the cleric.
“We...were fighting your people...” Asterion shifted his gaze to the far road. “Pressed for a victory we had achieved over them. I remember the battle leader singing the chants of my people. A glorious battle he said was to be had, even if we were going to be out numbered. Was supposed to be a glorious death, going out in such a battle is what every follower of korde prays for in their lifetime. I remember smashing skulls apart with my mace, lighting others aflame. It was a glorious battle. I was left broken, beaten, several gashes littering my fur. I am sure you would not recognize me with the amount of blood that was soaked into me. It was after the battle that it happened. I lay broken on a medical bed...The healers tending to my wounds, my world was all fuzzy and jumbled. When I awoke I thought we were still in the fighting, so I grabbed the closest thing I could grip and killed them all.” The bull hung his head, his tail shifting slightly. “When I realized what had happened I sought a way to make it better. So I adventured for a time, searching for that scroll I found. Luck would have it I came across it in my travels. I finally had a way to repay the debt that I had taken from the world in my dishonor.” He stared up, looking to the stars. “That's when the Emerald Lady found me, and she did not forget my actions against her people.”
There was silence in the air as Asterion finished his tail, Feku wrapped her little arms around the much larger bull. “It's okay...Youse a good pirate.”
He offered her a quick pat on the back, snorting as he looked to be lost. As if his eyes were not even looking to the twinkling stars,or the gnarled trees. Lyndis' ears perked as she suddenly heard the snapping of a twig.
“Did you hear that?” She held up her hand, cupping it out of instinct. She could feel a cold claw grasp at her heart as the next few breaths came more quickly. Silently she prayed it was just some animal strolling by, unaware of the camp that lay behind her.
“Why what dids..”
“Shhh.”She hushed Feku off, hand shooting to the hilt of her ornate rapier's hilt as the sound came again but three hundred feet from her. She snapped her gaze to the uneven path as a shambling grey skinned human dragged himself out of the shrubs. Twigs and thorns covered his ripped pants that were blackened and splattered with dark sections of dried blood. His lifeless eyes glared out to the forest like glistening pools of oil as the rotted thing snapped it's yellow teeth in rapid succession. It took another step, dragging it's sword held within it's grasp. The thing's knuckles having been worn away to reveal sections of off white bone through the diseased flesh.
“Skeleton.” Feku whispered, fumbling to pull out her energy crossbow. Her scales shifting from their usual grey to a sickly looking pale grey. One that almost made her look like a spirit.
“It's only one.” Lyndis found the words after the zombie took another shambling step with a blood chilling moan. “We can totally handle one bloody thing ya?” She chuckled nervously, already picturing the weakspots to exploit. Could be quick about it, had to sever the limbs to make those bastards ineffective.
“Wait.” Asterion held up a hand, placing it on her chest as she went to move forward. She could feel the worry in his voice as he stared intently at the unholy creature. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Sign from Korde?” Feku poked him gently, causing the minotaur to sigh.
“Not exactlly. Call it a hunch.”
“A guess?” Lyndis hissed, jutting a finger to the nearly still zombie. “There's only-”
“Lyndis.” He snapped, his voice low and stern. “This doesn't feel right...Only one? There's never just one.” The bull snorted, his head drifting from side to side. “I trust my instinct on this. I think it's a trap.”
“Trap?” She turned to the zombie with a jerk. “Are you sure?” She rose a brow tightening the grip on her rapier as the thing suddenly turned towards them and began to drag itself towards them.
“Uh...” She tightened her hand. “Will the illusion work?” She felt her heart quicken as the slack jawed thing dragged it's feet through the dirt.
“Positive actually.” Asterion heaved his war hammer from it's resting position to cradle it in his palm.
“Then why the weapon if you're so positive?”
“Precautions.”
The zombie took a final step, wheeling it's head around with a jerk as an orc was tossed through the trees and hit the ground hard with a dull smack.
“I don'ts know where they were! I followed them here!” The green skinned man shouted, his eyes full with fear as he crawled through dirt on his hands and knees.
Lyndis held her weapon firm, eyeing how the orc clad in nothing but mere brown rags shivered and trembled. Despite his terror he did not run fleeing into the night, he quivered and shook as he eyed the trees. She could feel the cold inching on her mind, wondering what had him so terrified.
She didn't have to wait long for her answer. From the treeline glided a pale faced elven woman. Her bone white dress flowed around her as if caught in a breeze. She had ice blue eyes that gave off an eerie glow as she passed right through the orc like he wasn't even there.
“I tolds ya! I followed dem!”
The woman simply tilted her head, staring right at Lyndis like a statue, almost if she could see right through their protective illusion.
Gods damn't. She felt her knuckles turn white as she pulled the first inch of her blade from it's sheath. If there was going to be a fight with this strange ghost woman she wasn't going to be unarmed. With her other hand she cupped her palm, forming a sphere of orange flames within her grasp.
The woman snapped her head back to the orc in a rigid fashion, throwing a hand up towards the groveling man. From the ground rose little blackened tendrils of dark light. Dirt and pebbles levitated as if placed on thin wires. The orc didn't move, putting his head to the ground and trembled. His body suddenly jerked powerfully as his limbs straightened in an instant. Screams found him as his body was yanked off the ground like a mere puppet. The tendrils found his limbs, wrapping around them tightly, burning his skin and making his cries increase ten fold. He thrashed and pulled against the things, causing Lyndis to bite her lip, unable to look away from the horror before her. His screams suddenly faded from his throat, as if they had been snatched away by some unseen hand. Still his jaw was open, his face red as he silently screamed.
She gripped her rapier tighter, as part of her felt glad that this orc was getting treated this way, better these raiders than her people after all, but with each thrash she wasn't so sure, her conviction fading away with each silent scream. The woman stood like stone, staring with a tilted head as if the orc's cries were an oddity. She simply curled her slender hand, thin little strands of brilliant blue light started to float around the orc's body. It moved through the air as little flames, twirling around until connecting with his outstretched hands. When they met the flames turned into thin strands, looking like numerous little blue ribbons. The orc's pulls tired, his spirit seemingly fading with each passing moment. Part of her wanted to loose her firebolt, burn the orc and end his misery, but that would only reveal them. So she was forced to watch and pray this creature wouldn't see them.
The tendrils ceased their hold on the orc, his body giving one last jerk before collapsing onto the ground in a heap. His eyes stared out to them, whatever life had been in them sucked completely dry. The woman closed her eyes, caressing her hair that had been swinging and wiggling like little serpents the entire time.
That's when Feku screamed.
The kobold clutched her mouth as quickly as she could, the sight simply must have been too much. Lyndis and Asterion bolted to her, grasping at her leather clad shoulder as the elven woman snapped her eyes open and faced directly at them. She cocked her head, gliding to their position and stopping a mere two inches from their faces. Lyndis fought ever urge to stab the creature's face, even holding her breath as her heart pounded like a drum. The thing turned it's head to the other side, lifting a hand as if to caress some invisible thing. Maybe whatever illusion was cast would fool it. The rogue rose her hand slowly, the flames curling and twisting around her fingers as the thing shifted it's view to Feku.
The poor kobold was shivering in Lyndis grasp, bone white and clutching tightly around her leg. It looked like she was trying hardest to not let out a sound as she clenched her eyes together as tight as she could muster.
Lyndis pulled her blade, steeling her nerves for what was to come, not entirely sure if her blade would even hurt the spirit like entity. She silently hoped whatever latent magic was in the rapier would see her through. She stopped as movement caught her eye, and pulled Feku even closer against her leg.
From the darkened forest came three other of the same style elves. All had the same lifeless eyes and pale white skin. Around them shuffled and groaned at least three dozen zombies of all variety of races. The thing jerked attention to Asterion for an un-nerving amount of time with little but the nights gentle breeze to keep them company.
Please...no one..make a sound.
In the distance a twig snapped, drawing the attention of all spirits. Almost in an eerie unison they glided off down the forest path with their shambling followers right behind them. Moans and groans echoed in the night until their sounds were mere whispers on the wind. Lyndis didn't even breath until they were finally from her sight, and not a sound could be heard.
“Focken terrible dat was.” She gasped, hugging Feku as the kobold's grip seemed to solidified to adamantite.
Asterion just snorted, his eyes not leaving the road. “Feku..are you alright?”
“Hate this forest..” The lizard trembled, her eyes still clenched shut, her tail shivering behind her.
“Shhhhh..It's okay.” Lyndis patted the quivering bard, almost as much to calm her own nerves. She was glad that Feku was the one holding her and shivering, as without it she figured that she would be the one doing it instead. “Almost thought they could see through the illusion.” She feigned bravery as the wind rustled her cloak. “Almost stabbed that bitch in the face...Whatever it was.”
“They almost could see through it.” The bull said flatly, “Undead can detect the living as well as see them. Thankfully this illusion from the wizard managed to confuse those banshee and their flock of undead.
“Banshee? Focken great...Those the bastards whose screech makes ya catch yer death?”
Asterion nodded, shifting his mace to his shoulder.
“And what you mean they could almost see through the illusion?”
“Undead hate life..They are the opposite side of a coin.” He pulled out a gold piece, turning the golden triangle over in the torchlight. “If left to their own devices, all the undead seek out and kill the living. They try to distinguish life...Think of it like a black void...Our lives are like little beams of light that draw them in. Some of us shine more brightly than others.”
“Some of more tasty than others?” She chuckled, sighing as Feku finally let her go with a quick thank you. “How does that work?”
“Clerics...Diving casters such as the paladin.” The cleric gestured to the sleeping human and dragon with a wave of his hand. “We shine brighter to the forces of undeath. As we travel among them and in their areas it will become harder and harder to fool them with illusions.”
She crossed her arms, eyes drifting back to the road where the undead had glided and shambled off. “Then we better find a way through this bloody forest quickly then. Before more of those things come and decide to feast on us for a change.” She pulled the kobold back towards the fire, wondering where in the nine hells her parents were. She settled close to the fire, hugging the lizard close. The red orange flames did little to quell the cold gripping her heart.