Eyes flutter open into the darkness. The distant familiar hum of machines comforting her.
“Welcome back Vex.” A smooth robotic voice echoes softly around her as a message box floods her vision. White text blinding in the blackness.
System Notification
You have been offline for three hours forty-three minutes.
You are active in the Sierra Server.
Location: The Red Forest
Your campfire has six minutes twenty-six seconds remaining.
Would you like to spawn at your campfire?
“Yes,” Vex confidently commands the system. Preparing herself for what is to come, she snaps her eyes shut. Holding them tightly down. Her mind begins to spin at an unruly rate. Nails dig hard into her palms, fighting back the sickness. It never gets easier. In an instant. The sensation stops.
Vex holds her eyes closed. Allowing her body to become reacquainted with the surroundings of the world. Listening as chirping birds and crackling fire replace the hum of mechanics.
Slowly her eyes unclench, allowing the sight of the hungry fire in. Its flickering flames warming her skin against the cold breeze. Vex lets out a sigh as she regains her bearings.
Leaves crumple. Movement on the hard forest floor. Electricity pierces into her skin. Hair raising on her neck. Instinct takes a hold. Her hand snatches hard onto the staff resting next to her. As her ears strain to pinpoint the noise.
A nearby bush rustles. Too hard for the wind. In a heartbeat, Vex twists in her position. Staff, firmly in both hands. End pointing directly at the bush. A quick inhale breaks into the air, as her thumb shoots across the small touchpad on the staff.
Without hesitation, the staff quivers. Power surging from within, tip exposing its inner barrel. Her thumb presses hard against the touchpad. Every fiber of her body freezing. Steadying the shot. The staff begins to buzz with anticipation.
An electric bolt darts into the bush with the release of her thumb. The slight zap cracking into the air.
A small squeak signals the death of a small animal.
The words dance across the corner of her vision confirming the kill.
Vex remains still. Ears and eyes straining to identify anything that doesn’t belong. Satisfied with nothing nearby, she releases the tension in her body. Returning the staff to her side, beginning the search for the animal.
It isn’t long before she finds the rabbit carcass lying peacefully amongst the bush. With the end of the staff, Vex prods the carcass. Smoldering fur showing a clean hit through the neck.
Vex grumbles slightly. Not a critical. “Still not bad for a blind shot,” she mutters under her breath. Abruptly her view becomes obstruct with an opaque box of text. A vibration rumbling in her ears.
System Notification
Incoming communication from Greymore.
Accept?
A long sigh escapes into the air as Vex lifts her free hand tapping twice onto her ear. Accepting the call.
“Pup,” The gruff voice tears into her eardrum. Vex slides a finger down her jaw, lowering the volume.
“Grey,” she responds sharply.
“Where are you?” If she wasn’t mistaken there was a tinge of concern in his words.
“Red Forest,” Vex responds., voice dripping with annoyance and anger. She had been back online for no longer than two minutes. Please let me have some peace for once. She silently pleads.
“Scouts are back. He wants everyone in camp immediately. How long will it take you?”
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Vex glances around at her surroundings. Trying to remember how far she had strayed. “Twenty minutes or so?”
“I’ll try buy you some time. I can’t promise though.”
With a quick tap, Vex disconnects from the communication. Returning her attention back to the carcass lying in front of her. Silently, she curses herself, admiring the fine grey pelt. A better shot would’ve fetched a decent price for it. With a huff, she shoves the carcass into the pouch attached to her belt.
Vex pierces a short low pitch whistle into the air. “Pip, time to go.” She calls begrudgingly into the forest. The forest lies silent at her call. “Pip! Let's go!” She snaps.
Leaves rustle in response to the angry command. A puff of thick dark smoke appearing close to Vex’s feet. Transforming into a small red fox. Coat, red as fresh blood. Vex raises an eyebrow towards the fox, noticing an object in her mouth. “What have you been up to then?”
Vex inspects closer. Observing, a small twitching wood mouse hanging gingerly in the fox’s mouth. Pip’s eyes glowing with pride as she firmly snaps onto the creature, killing it in an instant. Pip drops the lifeless body into Vex’s open palm. “Good job, Pip” Vex praises the fox. Ruffling the top of her head, before placing the find in her pouch.
“Time to go Pip,” Vex instructs the fox, turning on her heel as she walks to the outer edge of the forest. Pip by her side, in line with each step.
----------------------------------------
Vex pulls her cloak’s hood up, shielding her face from the setting sun. Noting how the hours of the days are increasing. Out of the corner of her eye, Vex sees Pip’s body shift. Ears pricking up at the sounds of camp. Faint to the human ear.
Vex’s mind swirls with anticipation of hopes and fears for news from the scouts. We must be close by now? According to the others, we should have reached an outpost last week.
Smoke from many fires spiral into the air, identifying the camp’s location. As the soft sound of camp life sing across the plain. Clashing voices mingling with laughter. The camp is loud tonight, must be good news.
A quick shrieking bark yips into the air. Pulling Vex away from thoughts of warm mead and a belly full of meat, as Pip sounds off an alarm. Vex snaps her eyes to the sky. Instantly finding the encroacher. A small dot circling high above the pair, Just as she had expected. Sanka.
“Ugh, he must be pissed if Sanka is out,” Vex mutters to the fox, now relaxing by her side. Vex speeds up her walk, observing Sanka returning towards the camp. That’s right Sanka, go tell Grey I’m back.
Within a few minutes, the pair were on the outskirts of the camp. Animals and their masters mingle amongst each other. Vex couldn’t help to notice the disapproving stares that shot towards her.
She bites back the urge to scream at them. We don’t always have to stay in camp. There is an entire world out there. We aren’t trapped here. Vex silently argues against the stares.
A large hulking man barrels his way down the beaten path towards Vex. Face tanned and worn. Scars adorning his features from past battles. The brown Merlin now sat on his iron pauldron, squawking at the sight of Vex.
“Pup! There you are!” The man booms.
“Grey. What’s happening?”
“Don’t know he won’t say. Only that it was good news.” Grey slaps his large hand hard onto Vex’s shoulder. Vex tries to hide her pain at his affection.
“You’re the last one to come back to camp. Other than the scouts of course.” Grey roars, as he walks next to her towards the heart of the camp. “expected any minute. Good timing probably. He wants to do an area announcement. How was your little adventure?”
“Not bad,” Vex sighs. “Nearly up another level… also took a small break.”
Grey halts his movements, looking at Vex with a small sparkle in his eyes. “You have to catch me up with what’s happening out there," Grey smirks before raising his hand, double-tapping on his ear. “Everyone’s back now, except for the scouts.” Grey pauses for a moment, looking past Vex. “Okay, good to go.”
System Notification
Area announcement from Bann Cailan
Starting in 00:00:10
Watching as the timer ticks down, Vex whispers to Grey. “You sure this is good news?”
“Yeah, pup” Grey smiles down at her.
“Good evening all,” His voice soft as velvet and diplomatic as a worthy politician. “As the rumors may have swirled already, the scout team has made a significant discovery. A small hamlet. Half a day’s travel from here. Initial reports suggest various NPC traders and AI’s currently occupy the settlement. Yes, AI’s have occupied the settlement. We believe this is an outpost.”
The voice pauses for a moment as hush whispers and excitement increase across the camp. “This is only a theory for now. A party will be used to clear out the settlement. The party will be announced as soon as more information is received from the scouts. Thank-you.”
A click signals the end of the announcement.
Grey slaps Vex on the back, lurching her forwards. “How about that Pup? An outpost.”
“Could be an outpost” Vex remarks “We still don’t know where the entrance is.”
“It won’t be long now!” Grey booms.
Vex’s eyes travel down to Pip, watching her nose twitch at the scent of nearby roasting meat. “I’m sure you said that weeks ago when I joined this guild.” Vex sighs.
“Why don’t you come and hear about all the nitty gritty?” Grey asks, gesturing to the large tent housed by the Bann.
Her stomach grumbles, as the cooking smell strongly wafts into her nostrils. I’m not dealing with questions on an empty stomach. “Not yet, best wait for Letty to return.”
Grey nods. “I’ll see you soon then,” he says, leaving her side.