Over the next four days, Matt’s group visited seven more caves. In all seven, they encountered more shadow. Matt began to wonder if it was an endless chase, but then Murl had explained they were different.

The old man had sat them down in his crystal study, raising eclectic seating from the floor. Then he’d stroked his beard, hemmed and hawed, and admitted things were worse than he’d realized. Orbi would never show him caves. Apparently, it was afraid.

Matt didn’t understand how, or why, a magical object could be afraid of anything. But he’d waited politely while Murl cradled the sphere, saying “There, there,” and stroking it like a dog. Of course, then, Charlie—who stuck to Val like glue whenever they were back at the castle—got jealous. Thankfully, she clued in quickly and got to work appeasing the floof.

The castle was now overrun by dogs. In each cave, there had been another pup insisting that it must be taken to Murl. Sometimes it was in exchange for ingredients, other times they just whined and Val said ‘Yes.’ Kurtis grumbled each time, hairs standing on end, but their quests awarded significant XP. Arriving with dog #7 last night, a yappy Chihuahua, got them to Level 8. Matt had happily spent his point on the Adrenaline skill to improve his regen.

With all of the cave runs, Matt was losing track of the ingredients they’d brought back. There was lettuce, salt, chicken, tomatoes, carrots, frog slime, even fancier mushrooms… many, many ingredients. Matt was beginning to wonder what the heck Murl was cooking for Givethanksing. He hoped he didn’t have to eat the slime.

Kurtis had tried to correct the name of the holiday half a dozen times but eventually gave up. Murl acted like he didn’t even hear him when he spoke. Apparently, Kurtis now had ‘a theory’ about how these NPCs were programmed. He said it was ‘on his list’ of things to ask the Chatbot about.

They’d tried to use the Chatbot on their way to Cave #8 this morning but got the error message again about waiting a week. It made no sense. Then, it was Fallyn who somehow figured it out; an FRC standard week is ten days, not seven. So, they’d continued their hike and emerged with a Dalmatian named Bruno.

Bruno’s home was the farthest cave yet, southeast of the camp with Septimus Flower. That distance meant it was going to be a one-cave day, and Matt tried not to think about the implications. He’d averted his eyes from anyone who had a level showing when they passed through the camp.

Picking through the trees to the north of the camp, Matt thought he heard a noise. He looked to Kurtis, but the cat-man was distracted, pacing away from the dog. Matt thought it might have been people talking.

“Hello?” he called out to the forest.

Wind hissed through the evergreens in answer.

“What is it?” Fallyn said. With her new gear, she looked like a tactical genie: purple parachute pants, black vest with loops and pockets, and an emerald diadem glowing faintly on her forehead.

Matt shook his head in answer.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about his own outfit yet. He thought he looked like some sort of trash bear. He’d gotten furry bracers from Cave #3, which replaced the bright gloves and matched his pauldron. Then in the fourth, he’d looted a cuirass that hung trashcan lids on his front and back. He was all black and silver except for the bright green crocks.

They had each gotten several items in the caves. He thought Val looked pretty cool. If it were Halloween, she’d be some sort of princess pilot in her navy flight suit and tiara.

“Friend?” said Bruno in their minds, following Kurtis around a tree.

Matt thought the cat-man looked the part of an industrial chef. He now wore a leather apron that showed off the tabby fur down his arms and back. A light weave of chain mail draped over his shoulders, blue quilted oven mitts covered his hands, and the tiny green hat still sparkled on his head.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Fallyn eyed Matt with concern.

“It’s fine,” he said.

“Food?” said Bruno, emerging from behind a tree. “Snackies?”

“Murl has some for you,” Val said cheerfully. “We’ll be there soon.”

Kurtis huffed.

“Hey, Kurtis,” Matt tried. “You didn’t hear anything right?”

Kurtis frowned.

“I thought… Never mind.” Matt patted the trunk of a slender maple tree as he walked by.

Kurtis narrowed his eyes, then looked up at the treetops, flaring his ears.

“I don’t think it’s more blue jays,” Matt said. “They were more north and that’s not what I… It’s probably nothing.” He shook his head.

“Stop,” Kurtis whispered, holding up a hand. Despite his quiet tone, something made the entire group freeze.

“What stop?” Bruno asked, excitedly wagging his tail. “Snackies? Snackies?”

“I heard…” Kurtis began. Then his ears swiveled to the right.

Something fast whipped towards the group. Matt sidestepped instinctively, and then Bruno let out a sharp high-pitched cry. Matt gaped at the Dalmation. An arrow, much like Val’s, protruded from Bruno’s side. It glowed deep purple and throbbed.

“Why?” Bruno whimpered. “Bruno only wanted snackies.”

Guilt washed over Matt, thinking back to all of the shadow-possessed dogs in the caves. Did they hurt like this? None of their escorts had said anything about it.

Bruno cried out as a second arrow struck him, this time accompanied by a purple bolt of light. Matt drew his sword and spun, searching between the trees.

“It’s people!” Kurtis yelled. Then he threw himself in the path of more arrows. He grunted as they impacted his side.

“What?” Val said in disbelief.

“Where?” Fallen demanded.

Kurtis pointed right, doubled over and aglow with green healing.

Matt ran in the direction of Kurtis’ hand. How could people do this?

“Stop!” Matt yelled. “We’re humans!”

“Split,” a male voice commanded, as another round of attacks flew at the dog.

“Come on!” Matt yelled. “You don’t need to do this. The dog is a friendly.” He still couldn’t see the attackers.

“Please stop!” Val called. “We’re escorting this dog for a quest.”

An arrow shot out from somewhere to Matt’s right. He pivoted and dashed towards the source. About thirty feet ahead, Matt found the archer. Short and lean, he looked like a kid. The man wore ninja black and a yellow sash. He met Matt’s eyes and grinned. Then he drew back the string of a large green bow and loosed another arrow at the dog.

Matt slowed. He hesitated. He wasn’t quite sure what to do.

Matt had never even punched another person. He didn’t grow up with brothers to brawl with. He’d never studied martial arts, or wrestled, or played any of the more violent sports. He wasn’t sure he could hurt another human. As it was, what had spurred him to attack the monsters had been self-preservation. Would he have to defend himself here, too?

Matt held his sword high in a pose he hoped would be intimidating. “Stop.”

The archer loosed another arrow.

“Stop right now,” Matt commanded.

The ninja-archer studied Matt. He had to be twenty-five by what the Chatbot had said, but Matt was having a hard time believing it. He took a hand from his bow and slowly scratched the side of his head.

“Okay, Spice Girl,” the archer said. Lightning fast, he turned away, and green smoke poofed around them.

Fuck, Matt thought. He couldn’t see anything.

Matt turned in a circle, sword raised high. “Leave the dog alone,” he said to the haze. Then he clanked into a tree.

When the smoke finally dissipated, the archer was gone. The attacks had stopped too. Matt jogged back to the group.

“I think we’re safe,” Val reported.

“What the heck was that?!” Kurtis said.

“Kurtis saved Bruno!” the Dalmatian exclaimed, licking the cat-man’s elbow with a long slobbery tongue.

“Ah!” Kurtis shrieked, jumping away.

“How could people do that?” Matt said.

“We’ve been trying to stay ahead using one approach,” Fallyn observed, “perhaps, they’re trying another.”

“But that’s horrible!” Val protested, running a hand along Bruno’s back as he passed.

The dog was circling the group, in a slow chase of Kurtis. A green combat bar now hovered above the pup. His health was down to a third, but the arrow had disappeared and he seemed to be in good spirits.

“The archer was some kid,” Matt said. “He used your smoke thing and got away.”

“Ugh!” Kurtis groaned, shaking out his arm. Bruno must have gotten him again.

“Kurtis saved Bruno!” the Dalmatian reiterated.

“I know it’s immoral but it’s a valid strategy,” Fallyn admitted.

“It was not cool,” Kurtis insisted, still circling. “Those things hurt.”

“Yeah, they hurt Bruno!” Val said.

“Sure…” Kurtis grumbled. “Care about the dog.”

“I didn’t say it was right,” Fallyn said. “Quite the opposite.”

“How ‘bout we make a deal right now,” Matt said. “Let’s agree to not be those people? Ever?”

“Fine by me,” said Fallyn.

“Yep,” agreed Kurtis, lunging forward to avoid the dog.

“All in favor!” cheered Val.

“Oh my gosh, dog, stop!” Kurtis said, narrowly avoiding another lick.

“Kurtis saved Bruno!”