With silent agreement passing between us, we did the only sensible thing one was to do when faced with certain death:
We turned tail and ran.
Kevin took the lead. She sprinted along the bank of the brook, her claws gouging furrows into the earth as her powerful legs launched her forward across the rocky ground.
Next came my sister, pounding along behind with her bushy tail instinctively balancing out her headlong rush between the trees. Mirrin came after, slower if only from her plantigrade biology, followed by Karl who stumbled along in a painful half-limp.
Last came me. Not for lack of trying, mind you. Two in strength and five in dexterity only went so far. After only a handful of seconds, my breath came in great ragged gasps and my legs burned with the effort. Not knowing what else to do, I opened my status screen and shoved both free points into strength. Strength and power surged through my limbs, but it wasn’t enough.
You don’t have to run faster than the bear. You just have to run faster than everyone else.
The words ran through my mind in a mocking tone. Self-doubt flooded through me. I knew in my heart that none of us could outrun the beetles. They moved faster than any of us.
Kevin glanced over her shoulder and saw me lagging behind. She slowed.
NO! My mind cried out. Run!
Then my sister saw Kevin’s intent and she too slowed.
Why? My heart leaped and shattered at the same time. Why risk yourselves when only one of us needs to stay behind?
I kept running, glancing back to see a wall of gleaming chitin in the woods behind us. They gained ground with incredible speed, their buzzing wingbeats growing louder and louder with each passing moment.
I kept running as Kevin and Sarah fell into step beside me. I kept running even when Karl and Mirrin pulled far ahead.
I was afraid. Tears welled in the corners of my eyes. Tears from the wind. Tears from the pain of my screaming lungs and cramping legs. Tears from the presence of my friends beside me.
Trees flew by, ferns were trampled beneath us, and the cool autumn air brushed through my exposed fur. I pushed myself that little bit further. But it wasn’t enough.
I heard the beetles practically nipping at my heels.
It wasn’t enough and I had nothing more to give.
“Down!”
My weary mind blinked in confusion. I didn’t recognize the voice beyond that it sounded vaguely human. Why down? I didn’t want to die.
I kept running.
Kevin danced behind me, moving from my right to my left until she positioned herself between my sister and I. She then reached out, grabbed both of us by the scruff of our necks, and wrenched us sideways with impressive strength.
The three of us tumbled to the hard ground. Our momentum carried us forward and sideways towards the edge of the brook where a steep, five-foot drop ended in a shallow pool of water. My sister, the closest to the bank, disappeared over the edge while Kevin and I were left in a tangled heap atop the embankment.
I glanced back at my approaching death. More than fifty beetles careened through the woods where we stood a second before. The swarm of black chitinous carapaces and gossamer wings came to a clumsy halt - their heavy bodies too clunky to follow our change in direction.
One by one the swarm turned towards their now motionless prey.
“DIE!”
A human wearing a glinting steel breastplate over padded leather armor launched himself into the middle of the beetle swarm. He swung a massive two-handed bronze sword with the full momentum of his charge behind it. Chitin parted like paper and within a heartbeat half a dozen bugs fell dead at his feet.
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The man leaped a full ten feet into the air before the creatures could recover. The bronze blade pulsed blue with power as the man swung it back down to the earth with a massive overhead swing. The ground trembled beneath me as a shockwave of dust and rock spread from the impact to engulf the swarm.
Seconds later the dust cleared to reveal the man standing at the ready amidst the dazed beetles. He gripped his sword in a low stance, a gleeful smile upon his face. The entire swarm of insects had turned to face him, Kevin, Sarah and I forgotten in the chaos.
Human: Level 119
A glowing arrow shrieked out of the sky. It struck a beetle near the center of the group, exploding into a ball of flame which engulfed several more. Wings burned beyond use, the affected insects crashed twitching to the ground.
With a roar, the human man stepped sword first into the chaos. His blade carved through the insects with controlled, practiced swipes. One fell, and then five, and then ten. Another ball of fire engulfed the swarm followed by a dozen more mundane arrows in quick succession.
Soon the last insect lay dead upon the ground and the human warrior stood alone amidst the field of carnage. The triumphant smile on his face fading when he looked down at the brown ichor staining every inch of his armor.
“I hate those things.” He grumbled.
“That is why I prefer to shoot them from a distance. I’d never get that out of my fur.” A new voice responded.
I looked over to see a vul’heli appear from the forest. He wore a similar kilt to mine, but was bare-chested except for a thick leather strap that ran from his left shoulder to his belt upon which a quiver was secured. He carried a strung bow in his left hand and a fist full of arrows in his right.
Vul’heli: Level 124
“Maybe there is something to that.” The human agreed. “I’m going to be cleaning this all afternoon.”
“That was incredible.” Sarah’s voice carried a hint of awe from behind me. She had scrambled partway up the mossy bank with her head and shoulders peaking out above the rim. Attempting to heave herself onto flat ground, my sister’s hand slipped on the loose soil and she tumbled back out of sight. I heard a loud ‘eep’ followed by a splash of water and a peal of high-pitched laughter from the brook below.
Tension eased at the innocent sound and I smiled despite my still-pounding heartbeat and heaving lungs. Kevin seemed to deflate beside me as she pushed herself back up into a sitting position. The human and the vul’heli looked in our direction with amused expressions.
“Thank you.” I wheezed out as the two approached the bank.
“Now what are five unclassed-” The human began, but words were cut off by another round of giggling from my sister. When her head popped above the bank once more, the vul’heli reached down and lifted her up onto flat ground. Water soaked the lower half of her body, I noted with amusement.
By this point the adrenaline began to fade from my limbs, leaving a distinct feeling of nausea in its place. My exhausted legs and bruises from our tumble made themselves painfully known.
“Now why are five unpathed individuals roaming the center of the Heartwood?” The human tried again.
“I think the more puzzling question is how rather than why.” The vul’heli interjected. “I am quite curious.”
“I don’t know if any of us know the answer to that.” Karl’s rumbling voice sounded out from nearby. He limped down the bank with Mirrin beside him. The human gave Karl a skeptical look.
“We went to sleep on our world and woke up here in the forest not two hours ago.” I said, deciding to go with honesty.
“Explain.” The human barked, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.
I shrank back and began to babble beneath his glare. “Uh, yesterday a red crack appeared in the sky. We thought nothing of it at first, but then people started disappeared when they fell asleep and we didn’t know why. Then when I went to sleep I flew across the universe and ended here with this strange system and-”
Kevin placed a steady hand on my shoulder, stopping me.
A thoughtful look had appeared in the vul'heli savior's eyes. “It fits the legends of the Lost.” He said to his human friend.
“Weren’t the Lost supposed to appear near towns and cities?” The human asked.
The vul’heli shrugged. “We’re camped within the influence of the old wardstone. Our expedition is probably big enough to count as a settlement.”
“If you’re right, this is going to be a mess.” The human groaned.
“Why don’t we head back to camp and get the sanask’s wound looked at before we make any decisions.” The Vul’heli suggested. “We can let Earth and Rain deal with them.”
“Erm, that’s nice and all,” I said. “...but who are you?”
“The name’s Hendric.” The human answered, holding out his hand in a familiar gesture. I shook it.
“James.” I said. The vul’heli raised his eyebrows at that, but instead of saying anything offered his hand in turn.
“Wind.” He said.
“Wind?” Mirrin snorted. “What kind of name is that?”
Wind’s expression darkened visibly at her words. He spun to face her.
“I will forgive you, elf, because you are of the Lost.” He growled. “However, I will warn you that intolerance runs deep in these lands and I will not tolerate any such mockery of my name and culture. We came here in part to escape it, so I recommend keeping those thoughts to yourself unless you wish to suffer these wilds alone.”
“Wind, she doesn’t know any better.” Hendric murmured.
“I know.” Wind spat. “But she does now.”
“I’m sorry.” Mirrin muttered, looking confused. “It won’t happen again.”
Wind’s expression softened at her apology. “Just be careful. It’s a sore subject for all of us ‘heli. Let’s start over: what are you called?”
“Mirrin.” She said.
“A pleasure.” He turned to Karl
“Karl. Karl Mason” the sanask offered.
“James.” I said.
“Sarah, James’s sister.”
“I can see the resemblance.” Wind gave her a charming grin and turned to Kevin.
“Just call me ‘K’ for now.” Kevin said.
“Well met.” Wind nodded at her.
“All you ‘heli have human names.” Hendric observed.
“They’re not affiliated with any tribe either.” Wind responded. “They’ll get a proper name soon enough if Earth and Rain decide to take them in.”
“You get a name for joining a tribe?” I asked.
Wind gave me a considering look. “You really aren’t from this world are you?”
“Let’s save the explanation for later” Hendric spoke up. “We should head back to camp. The smell here may attract beasts before long, and I’d like to wash my armor before this shit dries.”
The mention of the smell drew my attention to the horrid stench of the insect guts spilled across the ground. I tried to stand, but my growing nausea sent me back to my knees.
“One moment.” I croaked, and vomited all over the forest floor.