“Hey Robin, Is aid coming or what?” a gruff voice called out within a forest. A rather substantial and husky looking man sits at a vacant campsite. “There must be somebody willing to take this offer on.” He then started grumbling under his breath. “Knowing this town, we’ll probably receive outside help.”
“Yea, someone coming,” The now-named Robin responded. A much shorter man compared to Guilliam, looking at his smartphone. “Though this one this a bit of an oddball if Serena info is correct.”
Guilliam gave out a hearty laugh before calming down. “An oddball huh?” Well, any help is good right now, so I can’t judge just yet. Speaking of Serena, where is our little mage at?”
“Coming!”
Both men turned around to see a young woman running towards them with Guilliam saying: “Ah, there she is. Though I would appreciate that you wear more appropriate clothing besides the vest. Those bell bottoms ain't going to work for ya.”
Serena gives Guilliam an annoyed look and groan. “Uncle, not you too.”
He chuckles, amused by Serena's words. “I’m just fooling around, young lady. Unlike your father, as long as you're wearing something bright and protective you’ll be fine. So... where is this person at?”
Serena stops pouting to put on a smile. “Our helper is coming, but you'll be surprised by what he looks like.”
Guilliam raises an eyebrow. “Really, how so?”
Serena scratches her head. “Um...Have you heard of the term bike tourist on the internet uncle?”
Guilliam's eyes widened a little. “Oh... I remember you were researching them. What makes our man different from them?
“Well...what I got the call from Thad is that he’s armed while wearing armor to boot.
“Oh! So this guy is an adventurer too?” Robin chimed into the conversion. “Not much of an anomaly nowadays. Making a career out of it has been around for five-hundred years when guilds were established,” He conducted. “Perhaps riding a bicycle on top of that might be considered odd...But, when bikes were invented and perfected. People did have adventures riding them back in the day.”
“I appreciate the backstory there, Robin.” Guilliam was entertained by Robin’s history lessons. “Then again, You were an adventurer yourself.” He turns back to Serena. “Alright young lady, any other info about our guy?”
“Oh! Y-yes!” Serena snapped out of listening to Robin's lecture. “What Thad also told me is that this person is from the West coast.” This information got Guilliam interested.
‘an easterner huh? I wonder what’s he doing all the way out here…’ Guilliam begins to ponder for a moment but stops short when a bell sound alerts the trio. “Guess I won’t have long to wait. Let’s greet our guest shall we?” They headed over to the entrance of their camp where therein lies the biker parking his bike with the gremlin while taking notice of the group and tugs its owner's sleeves.
“I sense them, don’t worry.” He puts away his rope on his side before turning around to face them and bows. “You must be the guild. A pleasure to meet you three, the name’s Lien, and my green friend here is Bobo.”
“Likewise, I’m Guilliam and these two are Robin and Serena.”
“Howdy.” Robin makes the first move to introduce himself.
Serena follows suit. “Hello!” She waves at Liem and Bobo with the two of them waves in return.
Liem turns to face Guilliam. “Where should we look for the armadon?”
“Oh ho! Straight to the point! I like that despite how you look!” Guilliam's laugh echoes throughout the campsite before settling down. “Fortunately for you and me, our police department got some leads for us to use. Everyone, follow me!” Guilliam turns right back around to lead them. ‘The new guy is all business, eh? Not that I mind, I’ll learn more about him later.’
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With Bobo on Lien’s knapsack, they followed the guild through the depths of forestry until coming into what appears to be an open area. “Seems like there was a struggle here…” Was all Lien could say.
“You catch on quick,” Robin responded. “This is where the armadon was awhile ago and it isn't pretty.” Robin takes a knee and looks at some bloodstains. “Still fresh as well, which leads to... there.” Everyone looks at a trail of blood in the midst of destroyed vegetation. “We follow this trail here, Let’s move!” They continue through a passageway made during the struggle session and wade past trees and broken branches. Lien has been silent for a while during all the walking until finally spoke.
“Is the armadon outside of its intended area?”
“Pretty much, the poor thing must have got lost and went off on its own on knife-tooth territory,” Serena answered but also thought. ‘Lien sure grasps the situation quickly without us explaining it to him.’
“Say, Lien.” Robin decides to break the ice while they pace themselves. “I don’t mean to be up in your grill, but what brings you to this part of the country?” he asked. “I’m sure you have your reasons if you don’t want to say...”
“I have family at Hamerville,” Lien responded in kind.
Robin whistles at this new development. “Hoowee! That practically across the entire country from where you started,” He said. “Although, I suppose you're not the first person to do something like that on a bike.”
“What made you want to go over there along with your green friend?” Serena asks next but is stopped by Guilliam.
“Whoa there young lady, no need to gang up on them. I’m sure they have their reasons so ask later, listen.” All of them stopped by his word and looked around until hearing an animal cry close by.
“It’s coming to our right! Lien shouted and the rest agreed and followed the cries until they stumbled upon a cage and therein lies the beast, limping at a nearby river crying and bleeding out.
“There it is. Lien, Serena, and I will calm the armadon down. Robin, move in with your pallet wagon once we stop it in its tracks and sedate it. Let’s go!” Guilliam gave commands and everyone went into action. Upon reaching the armadon, Guilliam along with Serena, Lien, and Bobo got in front of it.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Alright you two, followed my lead.” Guillam put his hands in front of him and made his way forward with Lien and Serena following suit. The armadon becomes alerted and turns to face the trio, ready to fight albeit very weak to do so.
“It’s alright big guy,” Guilliam reinsured it while still walking forward. “It's going to be okay.”
Serena circles around it to her left without going too far with Lien doing the same on his right. Robin meanwhile comes from behind it but to where he could get hit, surrounding the creature. The armadon cried out before Guilliam placed his hand on the creature's head once he got close.
“Shhh, you’re fine. We’re not going to hurt you, so relax.” As if on command, the armadon begins calming down. Serena took this opportunity to reach for her staff to conjure up a spell.
Somnus, she uttered. The orb that’s inserted into her staff began to illuminate a soft glow. Guilliam moves out of the way and Serena comes in and places her staff in front of the armadon and becomes relaxed and falls asleep. Satisfied with this, Serena said Desisito and the orb stopped glowing and ended with her sighing. “Okay, let’s get it patched up now.”
Robin moves in with the pallet wagon setup and everybody lifts the armadon into it. After that was performed, the small group then mended its injuries.
“Damn, this fella sure took a beating by some knife-tooth.” Guilliam grimaced at the wounds the armadon received. “Could be worse if it weren’t for its carapace.”
He looked towards Lien who was busy treating wounds with Serena while Bobo was somewhere on top of the armadon, looking around. ‘Clever creature he’s got. Looking out for us,’ he thought to himself before speaking. “I gotta say, Lien, it’s your first day here and you're already working like you're been with us forever.”
“You flatter me Guilliam.” Lien was finishing up dressing the armadon wounds. “Though, I thought it would be harder than what it is.”
“What we did was easy enough!” Guillam laughed and patted the armadon. “This fella here was in pretty bad shape to begin with.”
“I’m just glad we found it before it turned to food.” Serena shivered at the thought. “Well, the wounds are all taken care of now.”
“Alright then!” Robin binds the armadon in place to the pallet wagon with Lien’s rope. “Let’s hull this bad boy back to where it came from.” He looked towards the other side of the river. “Past this river here leads to a trail out of knife-tooth territory to somewhere safer.”
“Sounds good, let’s hurry before evening,” Guilliam recommended and everyone agreed and planned to make their way across until Bobo blew a whistle and frantically pointed at some bushes.
“Looks like we got company.” Lien stands up to face the incoming confrontation. Out from the bushes comes a feline with two of their front teeth the size of knives. Medium in stature and build but also larger than a household pet.
“Everyone, I’m going to distract it with some firecrackers. We go on my mark.” It was Lein's turn to command.
“No arguments there, I hope you know what you’re doing,” Serena said but began to worry about Lien's safety. Guilliam and Robin could only watch and prepare as Lien brought out some firecrackers and lit it up. The knife tooth comes reeling in with Lien’s crew stepping back ever so slightly to the edge of the river. Lien then throws the still- cooking firecrackers at it who in turn gets curious and moves towards it. Suddenly, harsh popping sounds came out of the firecrackers and it hissed at what’s happening and backed away.
“Go!” Lien shouted. Guilliam pulled with Robin pushing the wagon across the river with Serena and Lien following behind. They were able to make the halfway point until the firecrackers cease. “Here it comes again!” The feline was coming around and again moved in at the river. Lien and the guild with Bobo were almost on the other side to safety with Lien still facing forward and not turning back, hand on the sword handle. The feline charges at Lien and pounce upon him. Lien draws his sword a mere moment before colliding, drawing momentum from it, he places his free hand at its chest area right when he’s about to turn and proceeds to slam it into the flowing river, causing a huge slash, knocking the beast out cold before Lien slips away with everything intact.
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Lien ran as far as he could in the forest before making it to safety with the others. Bobo sees and latches on him, happy that its owner has returned.
“Okay…” He sheathed his sword while catching his breath. “I’m here.”
“Quick thinking back there! Had us worried for a moment.” Guilliam slaps Lien’s back. “Quite a feat that you slam one hundred-eighty-pound feline into the ground!
“We usually don’t tangle with knife tooths like that.” Robin was impressed. “Folks stay away if they could, but this one wasn’t letting up and we’re in the way.”
“This confrontation was bound to happen after it failed to secure its prey,’ Lein finished off Robin’s thoughts.
“Hey, you’re not hurt are you?” Serena asked while looking around him. “You look fine besides your clothes.”
“My armor does need mending.” Lein crosses his arms, looking downcast. “Also a little shook from what happened back there.”
“No kidding, You just took out a huge feline!” Robin remarked. “Not to mention, the way you draw your sword...was that quick drawing?”
“Yes, not much different from that of fast drawing for pistols.”
“Huh… They do seem similar.” Robin ponders at the information that he just received. “In any case, Let’s finish this. The meadows shouldn’t be too far where we’re at.”
They are on the move again and Lien looks back on where he came earlier. “It’s not going to follow us right?”
“Nope,” Guilliam responds plainly. “We got crystal wards to scare off predators around the areas we feel that are in danger, we'll be fine.”
Lien could only sigh in relief and continue walking to their destination.
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After placing the armadon down at a nearby meadow, the group makes a roundabout trip back to their campsite. Evening came for them during their stay there. Robin was cooking something while both Serena and Lien made small talk with Bobo wandering around freely. Guilliam got on the video call with Thaddeus to discuss what happened during their task. The clerk couldn’t believe what he was hearing after Guilliam was finished talking. “The new guy slammed an almost two-hundred-pound cat!? Is that what I’m hearing?”
“You saw the claw marks on his armor no?” Guilliam tries to relay the information again to Thaddeus. “Saw it with my own eyes.”
“Shoot! Kinda wish I had seen it myself. It’s not like I don't believe you Guilliam,” Thaddeus sighs. “So, we’re done here?”
“The armadon is safe now.”
“Alright then, tell Lien that he can pick his money up tomorrow morning or if he wants, I’ll directly deposit it to his bank of choice.”
“I’ll let him know, take care.” Guilliam hangs up. ‘Today has been a wild one.’ He walks over to where Lien and Serena are. “A job well done!” the big man had the biggest grins on his face. “ You really save my guild hides back there.”
“Don’t mention it.” Lien smiles back. “Just doing my part.”
But still, thank you,” Serena was mending Lien’s armor as she spoke. “We always have four people doing this normally and feel safer that way. We were one person short until you came along.”
“I just happen to be in the right place at the right time.”
“Are you staying for the night? Or you gonna go now?” Serena asked
“No, I would stay for the night. I and Bobo were on the road all night yesterday.”
“Oh? If so, how do you like to stay at the guild house?” Guilliam recommends. “We got an extra bunk if you want.”
“That’ll be wonderful, Thank you,” Lien accepted. “Oh, don’t worry, I'll pick up the money tomorrow morning... I would like to say my farewells properly to you guys.”
“It's settled then, I hope you tell more about yourself in the meantime.” Guillam went over to a nearby cooler and bought drinks for everyone excluding Bobo. “I forgot to tell you something while you were here.”
“And what’s that uncle?” Serena takes a sip of her drink.
“Why a toast of course!” Guilliam raises his can into the evening sky. “To Lien and Bobo! Cheers! Welcome to Limeinback, we hope you two enjoy your stay here.”