The walls of the ravine towered high, with thick vegetation clinging to the jagged landscape. Natural paths wound through the rugged terrain, while man-made roads snaked down to the valley below. Colorful mushrooms and flowers sprouted up from the underbrush lining much of the walls, while vines and creepers twined around the trunks of ancient trees. In the distance, a waterfall cascaded down a rocky outcropping, sending a cool mist drifting across the ravine. Maria took a deep breath, inhaling the pleasant aromas of the ravine. A river ran down the middle, weaving through the earth until it conjoined with the Oxfell River. Despite the otherwise imposing atmosphere, the sound of the water was soothing, and the air smelled of fresh vegetation and damp earth.

Nature was so unchallenged in this world. The tales she had heard of her father’s carnage felt unreal. Not with how fast the world retook the land from the scorched, barren wastelands he had left. Maybe she wasn’t far enough out to witness the true destruction.

Chariot glanced to her left, where an old, rickety cart had been pushed off the road. It looked abandoned and was covered in dried blood. “Stay on guard. Pythors patrol these lands.”

Tanalia laughed. “You scared of those things?”

“Don’t mistake vigilance for cowardice. Even weak foes have strength in numbers.”

“You said the same about Hallows, but they went down easy.”

“The two are nothing alike.”

“Both wield weapons and have four limbs. Close enough.”

Maria chuckled and rolled her eyes at the two.

The group came to a fork in the road. To the right was the end of the first ravine, and to the left, a wide, cavernous opening, with dripping stalagmites.

Chariot pointed at the cave. “This should be the route.”

“You don’t know?” Tanalia asked.

“I’ve never been through here before. When I came to Oxfell, I chose to venture around the ravines, rather than through. It was a much lengthier, but scenic route. Safer too.”

“So our guide has never been through here before?”

“I’m just leading the way. Have you ventured through these ravines before? Would you perhaps wish to guide us?”

“By all means, keep going,” Tanalia gestured ahead. “Might have a little trouble though. It’s completely dark inside that cave.” She smirked. “We elves have incredible eyesight. Guess you’ll be reliant on me. Better not piss me off, or I’ll leave ya in the dark.”

“Is it really so good you can see in total darkness?” asked Maria.

“I ain’t saying I’m a bat or anything, but my night vision is still pretty damn good.”

Chariot scoffed and drew her sword. The blade made a luminous glow. Light filled the cavern, casting long, looming shadows from the stalagmites and stalactites. “We’ve no need for your gimmicks. Let us not dawdle longer.”

Tanalia crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue.

The trio moved through the cavern, climbing up the layers of the ravine. The cave floor was smooth and set at a gradual incline. It wound back and forth, spiraling up and down.

“How long is this cave?” Maria asked.

Chariot shrugged. “Could be quite some time. It’s like a labyrinth, but as long as we follow the main road, it will still be faster than going around.”

Tanalia stopped. She squinted her eyes and turned around.

“What is it?” Maria asked.

“Somethings coming.”

“What is it?”

“Can’t tell. I just know it’s behind us.” Tanalia listened closer. “A set of footsteps. There’s more than one.”

“I don’t hear anything,” Chariot said.

Tanalia snickered, drew her bow, and aimed into the darkness. She fired an arrow. A squeal echoed through the cave. Violent hisses rose in anger.

Maria drew her sword. Chariot stood in front, giving the team more light. A monster lunged from the darkness, but Chariot cut it down in one strike. Maria didn’t have time to see it. A hiss came from behind. She turned and raised her sword. Her blade clashed with a weapon held by a creature. The monster was squat and stocky, encased in steel armor covered in ragged cloth. It possessed the body of a man, but the head of a snake with long fangs.

Pythor - Lvl 13

Maria blocked its follow-up attack. Chariot dashed over and sliced the monster. Its neck shot from its armor, and tried biting Maria, but Chariot beheaded it with one swing.

More Pythors emerged from the darkness. Tanalia shot a few, but couldn’t get them all. She knocked one aside with her bow, drew her dagger and stabbed its neck.

Another Pythor emerged with a golden scepter. The monster swung it, unleashing an enormous fireball from the tip. Maria dropped to the ground, dodging by the skin of her teeth. The flame was so huge it ended up hitting two Pythors trying to ambush Maria. An explosion went off, burning even more Pythors to cinders. The rod-wielding Pythor swung again.

No time to stand! She braced for impact.

Nothing…?

Maria peeked up. The creature was swinging in a frenzy. It stared at the rod, surprised.

An opening! She used {Firebolt}, knocking the Pythor back. Chariot stabbed through a gap in its armor, killing it.

It was quiet. Seemed like the explosion had killed off the rest of the foes.

Maria panted. “Where’d they come from?”

Tanalia pointed her dagger into the darkness. “Somewhere back there. Probably a path we didn’t see.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“We’ll have to be vigilant,” Chariot said.

“Count yourselves lucky I was with you. You would have been ambushed otherwise.”

Chariot glared at Tanalia while Maria retrieved the golden scepter.

N-Stoff Scepter

Damage: 5

Magic Attack Boost: +1%

“Now you’re cooking with gas!”

Maria read the description, confused. The text was red. “What is this?”

Tanalia glanced at the scepter and went wide-eyed. “Ooooo! That’s got a hidden effect!”

Maria still looked confused.

Tanalia pointed at the scepter’s description box. “When you see a red line of text below the cost, it means the item has unlisted effects. You won’t know ‘em till you try it out. It’s a fun surprise!”

Chariot crossed her arms. “It’s a potentially dangerous surprise. Those effects can be a boon or a bane.”

“Whatever.” Tanalia waved her hand dismissively. “You just hate fun.”

Chariot ignored her and turned to Maria. “I suggest you leave it. Hidden effects normally appear on expensive or unique items. Red text on weak items is highly suspect.”

“You’re kidding, right?” said Tanalia. “You saw that giant fireball that Pythor shot. That hidden effect probably has something to do with it. Imagine the power we could have!”

Maria stared at the scepter. Tanalia had a point. “Let’s keep it. If we encounter a swarm of Pythors again, this thing can turn them to ash.”

Chariot grumbled. “Just promise you shall not use that thing until we’re in a more open space. I have no desire to learn whatever consequences it may have.”

“Promise.” Maria stashed the scepter in her inventory.

They left the cavern, and came into a high up, narrow ravine. The natural path was just as narrow but had been extended out thanks to man-made scaffolding. Maria peeked over the edge of the wooden guardrails. Below was a dense bramble.

Chariot, instead, looked up at the trees growing out of the side of the ravine. “Stay alert. If Pythors rely on ambush tactics, then hiding in the trees is ideal for them. Vile creatures favor striking from concealment.”

Tanalia raised her eyebrow. “You trying to say something?”

“If you take offense to my words, that speaks of your character,” said Chariot.

The two glared at each other, seeming poised to get at the other’s throat.

Maria stepped between them. “So, Tanalia, are you from around here?” Each time Tanalia tried looking back at Chariot, Maria moved her head, obstructing the view.

Tanalia relented. “No, I was born in the elven capital.”

“Which is…?” asked Maria.

“Mathh Aethel. You live under a rock or what?”

“You traveled far from home?” said Chariot. “Or were you driven far from home?”

“I just needed to get away for a while,” said Tanalia.

“Elves from the capital are generally well-mannered and respectable,” said Chariot. “I cannot fathom meeting one who causes as much trouble as you.”

Tanalia stomped. “I ain’t causing trouble, but you sure are asking for it”

A neigh from further along the road interrupted them. A horse came galloping, a torn rein dragging behind it. Chariot held her arms out and stopped it.

“Something spooked it,” Tanalia said. She crept towards the horse, reaching a hand out. The steed turned its head, snorting and thrashing. Tanalia whispered something under her breath, and the horse relaxed. She stroked its nose in a gentle, circular motion. It flinched at first, then remained still. “There, good boy,” Tanalia said.

Maria approached the horse and reached to pet it. She made sure she was visible to it first before stroking it’s mane. “What do you think spooked it?”

“It's most likely Pythors,” said Chariot.

Tanalia grabbed the rein, then followed it around to the other side where it was supposed to be attached. “It must have belonged to someone.”

“No saddle,” said Chariot. “It was likely pulling a cart.”

They looked ahead. No signs of a cart or anything else. The horse broke free of Tanalia’s grip and galloped away. It neighed and vanished as it turned into one of the caves.

“Do we go after it?” Maria asked.

“It’ll be fine.” Tanalia pointed down the road. “It came from this way. We might find what spooked it if we continue ahead.”

“Or who it left behind,” Chariot said.

The road ahead led into the maze of ravines. They hurried through the caves, up the narrow paths, and over rickety rope bridges. Exiting another cave, they found themselves at the bottom of a ‘Y’ shaped ravine. Maria peered over the edge of the walkway. The road snaked along the walls of the ravine, leading down to the bottom where the road was overgrown with bramble. A horseless cart had crashed into the bush. One of its wheels had broken off and was shattered in two. Splintered wood and squashed fruit littered the ground, and blood stains had splattered onto the cart and nearby foliage.

The trio hurried down to the cart. All around it were tracks left in the dirt. Maria noted the claw marks at the end of each toe. “Pythors, maybe?”

Tanalia looked into the cart. It was nearly empty, save for one crate of fruit, and a cloth tarp. “They were merchants, most likely.”

The bushes rustled. The trio quickly whipped around. Tanalia drew an arrow, Chariot grabbed the handle of her blade, and Maria prepared to cast a spell.

The air went quiet.

Chariot stepped ahead of the two. The foliage was thick enough to hide in. If a monster was waiting inside to ambush people, it seemed like a good place to do so.

“W- Wait!” A voice said.

Chariot stopped, then stepped further into the bushes, pulling some of the foliage aside. A boy was hiding. He looked to be around the same age as Maria, or possibly younger. His hair was long and scraggly, and his cheek was bruised and cut.

“It’s not a monster,” Chariot said.

Maria and Tanalia hurried over and helped Chariot pull the boy out of the bushes. He fought back. “No!” he cried. “Go away!”

“Calm yourself. We’re here to help,” Chariot said.

“What happened here?” Tanalia asked.

Chariot managed to get a grip on the boy's tunic and pulled him from the bushes.

“No! We need to hide!” he said.

“Chariot, let him go,” Maria said. As soon as the boy was released, he dove back into the bushes. Maria glanced at Chariot and Tanalia, then approached the boy again. “Are you alright?”

The boy shook his head. “Go away! Hide!”

“Hide? From Pythors?” asked Maria.

“Hide,” the boy repeated.

Tanalia looked around. “I’m not seeing any Pythors. These are their tracks though.” She gestured to the footprints all around them.

Maria sighed. “Look, they’re gone. It’s safe to come out.”

The boy didn’t respond. Despite looking Maria’s age and being about the same height as her, he was still cowering like a scared child.

“What’s your name?” Maria asked.

The boy’s gaze darted around, eyes wide and voice hoarse. “Matteo.”

“Hey, Matteo. I’m Maria, and this is Chariot and Tanalia. We’re adventurers.”

“A-are you s-sure they’re gone?”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Maria didn’t really know, but she trusted Tanalia. “Can you tell me what happened here?”

Matteo was quiet again. He sat up, finally peeking his head up over the brush. “We were attacked.”

“We?” Chariot asked.

Matteo nodded. “My dad and sister. They were taken.”

“Can you tell us what happened?” Maria asked. “Was it Pythors?”

Matteo nodded. “They jumped out of the bushes and attacked our horse.” He clenched his fists. “My dad wanted my sister and I to accompany him to Oxfell.”

“We can find them,” said Chariot.

“Better be quick,” Tanalia said. “Pythors eat people. The tracks are still fresh.” She pointed to herself and smirked. “We elves are expert trackers. You ain’t got a sword for that, do you?”

“Now’s not the time,” said Chariot. “Have your silly victory. Just hurry.”

Chariot smiled and gestured for everyone to follow her. “I’ll find where they went.”

“Wait, what about Matteo?” Maria asked.

“Leave him,” Tanalia said. “What good’s he going to do when his first instinct is to hide?”

“Absolutely not.” Chariot went and stood over Matteo. “You’re a man, aren’t you? Your family is in danger. Take up a sword. Stand and fight!”

Matteo hesitated, but nodded. He rose out of the bushes. Maria offered her hand, but he swatted it away. “I don’t need to be babied.”

“Sorry. I’m just trying to be reassuring. We’ll get your family back. I promise.”