When the merchant glanced back, his eyes widened as he saw several black minuscular figures closing in, leaving sand clouds in their wake. Kucanis, man-faced dogs, a common species of carnivorous demons infamous for hunting in packs. They relentlessly chased after him, their sunken glowing red demon eyes fixed upon his being.
Hastily, the merchant once again whipped the Nghe’fleis pulling his wagon for more speed. However, in his panic, he had failed to notice a large boulder in his path. With a cry, the six-legged horses neighed loudly as the left wheels of the wagon collided against the boulder, jolting the left portion of the vehicle airborne from the impact’s recoil. With an overturning twist, the entire wagon fell off balance, crashing heavily unto the dry, hard ground.
The merchant, now bruised with his ears ringing, staggered into his fortified wooden wagon, shutting the metal edged doors firmly behind him. Clutching his shield and spear with trembling fingers, he hugged his weapons tightly, seeking a sense a security as the howls finally reached his wagon in five heartbeats. He could hear the pitiful struggles of his mounts as the Nghe’fleis neighed helplessly. But the cries soon died, accompanied by the sound of flesh tearing and the pungent smell of spilled hot blood.
The wagon shook in the next moment when they started clawing and smashing against his reinforced walls. As one head broke through, the merchant clumsily thrust his spear and pierced the human headed demon. But, in fiery retaliation, it bit down on the spear tip hard and ripped the steel free from the wood with great force. Now weaponless, the merchant gave up all resistance, hugging his knees and whispering prayers to his gods for deliverance.
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Suddenly, he heard the unmistakable yelps of Kucanis being attacked. As the sounds of dying demons struggling increased, the merchant’s heart hammered against his chest as he contemplated if his plea to the gods rang true, that he was going to be saved. But, even that slither of hope was robbed from him when he peeked through the hole of his wagon.
He saw it.
A large humanoid demon, covered in glossy pitch-black scales and easily twice the height of a man. It swiftly killed the remaining demons as it swung the carcass of a kucanis around like a club, effortlessly crushing the skull of another beneath its right heel while swatting away others with its massive left fist. As the clouds of dusts settled, the merchant’s heart was in his mouth as large footsteps drew closer.
Like a cargo box, his wagon was turned upwards and the merchant’s wet eyes were greeted with the sight of the demon’s face. Its glowing left red eye and right white eye stared back at him. As it reached its blood-stained claws towards him, he shut his eyes while begging for mercy. Strangely, the touch never came. It merely took two boxes of his goods that were behind him and departed, leaving the confused but unharmed merchant with an unbelievable tale to tell at the city tavern.
A tale about a demon that saved him from Kucanis, all for fruit.
Elsewhere, Ryner and Frey were enjoying a meal of exotic fresh Topango fruit.