“Well hello there,” said the biker, twitching a mustache that took over most of his face. “The name’s Red. What brings ya to these parts?”

“Wu…” said the beaver, hiding behind Val’s legs.

The white text above the speaker told Matt he was safe. “We’re looking for the Cult of Crows?” Matt said.

“Oh, I got beef with them alright,” Red said gruffly, shifting his lean against his motorcycle. “How be it you do a little task for me?”

“Sure?” Matt shrugged.

“What’s the task?” Kurtis asked, at almost the same time. The leather of his apron matched the motorcycle seat.

Dirk stood, jean jacket arms crossed, almost mirroring the quest-giver’s gruffness. Despite the hood hiding his face, his posture spoke volumes.

“Oh, just a little bit of…” Red traced his handlebar mustache. “Is revenge too harsh? I do owe those suckers something.” He grinned and his eyes almost glittered.

“What did they do?” Val asked, eyes going wide.

“They hurt baby.” Red scowled and patted the side of his motorcycle. “Got her fixed up now but, will ya do it?” He raised one eyebrow.

“We will!” cheered Val, raising a fist to the sky.

“Eeee,” said the beaver, hopping back.

Fallyn and Sofia watched silently.

‘Get revenge on crows: 0/30’ appeared for Matt, in the familiar white transparent text.

“Everyone get that?” he checked. There hadn’t been the usual blur.

“Yup,” said Kurtis.

Fallyn nodded. “Hey, Mr. Red, may I approach baby?” she asked. “I promise I won’t harm her.”

Red raised an eyebrow again. “If you must. But I’m watching.”

Fallyn walked up to the bike, trailed by Sofia, and Red scooted to the side. She tucked brown waves behind one ear, running over the leather. Sofia stood on the opposite side. Then, in tandem, both women leaned down and withdrew glowing books from laser seams in the world.

“Woah!” Red sad, stepping back. “What did those crows do to her?! Baby?!”

“Warning,” Fallyn said.

Light flashed as Matt turned away. God damn it! He wasn’t fast enough. Matt turned back, just in time to catch a second blinding light. “Ladies,” Matt groaned.

“Oh, now I’m really mad,” Red grumbled.

‘Get revenge on crows: 0/50’ floated up and away, updating their quest.

“Just need a hood like mine, Chuckles,” Dirk said. “Let’s roll.”

###

From what he’d seen in movies, Matt was pretty sure that sand wasn’t supposed to steam but, an hour from Red, that had become the norm. Matt’s feet sunk or slid with each labored step. Despite the puffs of moisture, the ground didn’t move like wet sand. The dunes were like the drier part of the beach, where people laid out on towels and forgot to reapply sunscreen.

Are sunburns a thing here? Matt thought. He tilted his head back and squinted, hoping they weren’t. The sky had cleared and the sun blazed bright alongside the bare traces of three moons.

Matt fell forward on his way up a dune. The sand was warm but didn’t burn his hands. He brushed the dry grit on his pants. Between sinking and sliding and the hilly terrain, the hike was going slowly.

At least he wasn’t too hot. That was another thing he’d expected of the desert, but the ambient temperature hadn’t really changed. Dirk had fallen into the role of group leader—that had changed—and Matt wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

The man seemed so serious and closed off, sometimes a little rude. Matt didn’t really know the guy. And there was something about how he fought—off on his own rather than sticking with the group. But he was a Level 12 and for now, at least, they were in the same party.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Kurtis walked quietly at Matt’s side, tail in an oven-mitted hand. Then his ears flared. “I think—”

Dirk held up a stop sign hand. He swept the arm across the group. Then he morphed into a shadow and was gone.

“Guess we wait?” whispered Matt.

Fallyn pressed her lips into a line.

‘Five,’ Dirk mimed, reappearing to hold up a hand.

Sofia stepped forward, using her staff as a walking stick. Weapons appeared in hands all around.

“Hee?” said the beaver.

“It’s okay,” whispered Val.

Matt pulled his swords toward him. Then he turned to Kurtis, eyebrows raised, and offered him a ‘whatever’ smile.

Dirk motioned ‘forward’ and then was swallowed by shadow again.

Matt shrugged and hustled to the top of the dune, steaming sand receding with each step. Clangs and caws sounded from the other side. When he finally saw the scene, all he could think was, They make those for birds?

The crows were the size of Canada Geese and were dressed in pirate clothes. Three were chasing Dirk, who kept disappearing and reappearing. One was stuck in a magical bear trap and the other was somehow stunned. Matt half ran, half slid, down the dune to help, but didn’t know where to start.

Crystal shards sprung up around the three chasing Dirk. Then the stunned one got free, stretching its wings wide, showing off a white shirt and black eyepatch. The casters lit it up and it ran in their direction.

“Bright ‘n shinies,” the eyepatch crow said. Then it leaped for Fallyn’s diadem. It grabbed hold with its beak and pulled, flapping.

“Ah!” Fallyn cried and tried to whack it with her staff.

“Body slam!” yelled Val.

“Erwu!” said the beaver. Feathers flew and then the beaver somersaulted down the sand.

“Rrraw!” the crow squawked. It let go and tumbled after the beaver.

Matt Blood Slashed as it rolled by, leaving dim red lines that wavered in the steam.

Then a conduit of fire and lightning erupted from Sofia’s staff, driving the bird to the sand. It wobbled against it, like Jack Sparrow drunk on rum, and then fell, not drunk but dead.

Matt ran up to the three that were trapped near Dirk. He’d already managed to kill one and was still darting and disappearing all over. Matt Blood Slashed, hitting all three crows. The leftmost one was almost dead.

He Conked the one in the middle, on its green tricorne hat, then activated Shadow Flurry and leaned in. The left crow dropped, leaving only two, and the right one turned to face him.

“Bright ‘n shinies,” the crow said, then snapped at the pin on Matt’s pauldron.

Matt lunged right just in time. The crow hissed and flapped its wings, knocking Matt back on his ass.

“Wu wu wu,” said the beaver, barreling past. Then he stood on his hind legs and looked at Val for confirmation. He held a hesitant hand to the crow with the tricorn hat. Then arrows and purple light rained down and the bird. It collapsed to the sand.

“Eee!” said the beaver, hopping back.

“Attack the other one!” Val yelled.

Matt Blood Slashed that other crow and the beaver stepped up beside him.

“You can do it,” Val encouraged.

The beaver raised a tiny hand, then started his toilet paper scratch. Matt Blood Slashed again and the wizards unleashed their beams, driving the final crow into the sand. Matt’s heads-up display dropped and the clear crystals fuzzed. The beaver kept scratching the air.

“You can stop there, Wiggles,” Dirk said.

“Good job, Mr. Beaver!” Val praised.

The beaver slowed his little hands, staring back at Val. Then he dropped to all fours and happily bounced away. He scrambled up an incline and then rolled back down. He squeaked and shook his head once he landed.

Matt smiled and bent to loot. The window contained ‘10 CCs,’ ‘1 light feather,’ and ‘1 pirate bootie’ which had an icon that looked like an old boot. Matt opened his inventory hoping to replace his shoes, but was disappointed by a strong instinct. Somehow, just looking at the icon, he was certain he couldn’t equip it.

“Earth to Matt.” Val waved a hand in front of his face.

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“Get somethin’ good?”

“No. Sorry.” Matt continued to loot the crows. “But hey, does anyone else have this Basic Heal skill?”

Kurtis shook his head.

“Not me,” said Sofia.

“I haven’t been able to make it work yet,” Matt explained. “It says…” He opened his Skills Menu for reference. “It says, ‘Basic Heal. A weak heal. Cast on yourself for medium mana.’”

“Ha! Like, ‘ya basic,’” Val said dramatically, snapping three times.

Please no, Matt thought, closing his eyes and imitating her snap. When he opened his eyes he caught the end of a blue glow as it disappeared from his hand.

“Well,” Matt sighed, “forty-five more to go.”

The next several groups of crows were much the same: four to six pirates hanging out in a desert valley. Fallyn had said that the proper name was ‘murder’—a murder of crows—but Matt didn’t want to think of anyone else dying. If anything, the birds felt more like a gang—a gang of klepto pets dressed up for Halloween.

After about an hour of the gangs, Matt learned why they were called a cult. Kurtis was first to sound the alarm, ears flaring to a strange murmur. The group crept towards it, a chanting that reminded him of Mom’s church.

“Duh duh da-duh. Duh duh da-duh…”

Matt could almost make out what they were saying.

“Bright ‘n shinies. Bright ‘n shinies…”

Dirk mimed ‘stop’ and then collapsed into a shadow. A minute later he reappeared, shaking his head and whispering, “Not good.”

“What is it?” asked Sofia.

“Lots,” Dirk said. “Go see, if you like. They seem distracted.”

“Hee?” said the beaver.

“Might want to keep Wiggles here a minute,” Dirk suggested with a nod to the creature.

“Wiggles,” Val whispered to her pet. “Do you like that name?” She smiled and the beaver squeaked.

“I didn’t…” Dirk trailed off. He sighed. “Just go take a look.”

Matt climbed to the dunetop, sand steaming all around him, a red glow spilling over the edge. As he got closer to the light and the summit, he dropped to a crouch. His trashcan lid clinked and he cringed. He looked over at Fallyn who was crawling on his left, then right to Kurtis, Sofia, and Val. None of them had noticed. The chanting had gotten louder and louder.

Here goes nothing, Matt thought and snuck a glance over the dune.