Things went fine for the first night of the return trip. We almost reached the cursed campsite. One repellent potion used. One left.

Cloude and I are jogging in the forest. Our steps over the fallen leaves make a ruckus in the otherwise quiet forest, but it can’t be helped. The trees are already getting in that orange-yellow hue typical of autumn. It won’t be long before the equinox. I have to hurry to Helen’s side. I must break her out of that stockade, and flee with her to the northern kingdom.

Then I hear sounds of trampling to our side. Several creatures walking at a fast pace to our left. I talk to Cloude without stopping.

“Cloude, can you run like yesterday? At full pace?”

“Don’t joke. I’m hungry, and my legs hurt.” My legs also hurt, but I am not complaining, am I?

“Then do you want to stay and chat with that mob there?” I point to my left.

“What is there? I can feel the ground shaking!!!” I’m also afraid of what is there. But I must make sure.”

“A big mob of monsters. I don’t know what. I’m going to take a look, keep going forward.”

I break left, and activate [Stealth] and [Presence Detection] with maximum range. The skill forces me to move at half my walking pace. After a few minutes, the source of all that stomping comes into my view. Orcs. Dozens of Orcs. More than a hundred. Maybe two hundred something. I almost get a headache from that many presences. I can’t even count them based on the feeling from the skill. Deactivated!

A horde. They are walking slow though. There seem to be children with them. It is worse than a war horde. It is a migration. They have poor weapons, mostly makeshift clubs. No bows or javelins.

I move away before they notice me, and after some distance, I turn off [Stealth] and dash with all the power of my [Athletics] skill.

Soon I catch up with Cloude.

“Cloude, this is bad. Get ready to run like hell.” I am panting already. But the fear doesn’t allow my breathing to stabilize.

“Exactly WHAT is in there? Your face is white!!”

“An Orc horde. Over two hundred. And they are walking towards town. We must run and deliver the report.”

And then Cloude does the exact opposite of running, that is freezing on the spot. There is no time to waste. If the orcs notice us here, they will overrun us. Probably the group we met a couple days ago was an advanced scout for this horde. I have to do something. I move close to Cloude’s ear and whisper almost inside it.

“Cloude, if you make it alive to town with me, I’ll give you one kiss. Now come and catch me.”

Then I begin to run, but I look behind me. Cloude is moving his mouth up and down, like a fish. But his legs are frozen solid. If you are staying behind to collect your thoughts while you die, I’ll give you a nudge.

“RUN YOU IDIOOOOOOT!!!!”

And then the orcs notice us. “Boogiiiihh”. Some of them are running toward us. I don’t know whose shout startled Cloude, but he bolts. I move to his side.

“Oi, you dumbass why did you freeze back there? Want to die? Give me all your gold first, please!!!”

“Th-the kiss, are you serious?” Good gracious, how much of a callow boy are you!!

“It is just one kiss, you know? There is nothing after it. But please live.” I move a bit ahead of him.

“Marcy!!! I love you!! Marry me and have my children!!!”

“Not even if you save Helen!!! Run.” What the hell is this guy talking about?!?!?!?! At a time like this.

I run ahead of Cloude, stop and shoot at the pursuing orcs. I can’t use [Rapid Fire] because I must save my MP for [Athletics]. Cloude gets past me. I shoot again. An orc gets hit on the leg, and falls down. I must keep my cool here. There is no way to stop them from pursuing us, so I must think the fastest runners in their group.

I dash, pass Cloude, take some distance and stop to shoot again. The orcs are now almost in a single line. The one in front is the fastest of the pack. Two arrows for him. It dodges the first, but takes the second in the chest. Right side, damn. It has a pierced lung though.

I repeat the tactic several times. A skill goes up.

- Skill [Athletics] level 4 acquired.

- Title [Guerrilla Warrior] acquired.

Great. If I only had more arrows. Only two left. They rattle inside the quiver. I strap the bow around the quiver, and pair with Cloude.

“I’m almost out of arrows. And almost out of MP. If I use any skill now, I’m going into MP exhaustion.”

“I’m going to use the repellent potion. Maybe the orcs will give up.”

“Do it!!!” Cloude had an idea!!! Nice Cloude. Cool.

Cloude is cool? All this stress is making me crazy.

He uncorks the potion flask, and the reagent vial.

“Slow down or you will spill it.” All this shaking from running in a forest will ruin our last hope.

Cloude stops, mixes both, then resumes running.

“Marcy, forgive me.”

“Don’t you dare stay behind.”

“I’m not. But the potion will stain your clothes.” He sprinkles repellent potion on me, then dumps the rest on his head.

The pursuing orcs give up chasing us. If the potion worked, I’ll never know. It doesn’t matter a bit.

We reach the further fields. Wilted. There is people tending the fields. We scream at full lungs.

“Orc! Orc! Orc horde! Run to town! Sound the Alarm!!!!”

The orcs are behind a hill, people can’t see them. There is a wooden watchtower along the road. No guard inside.

I shoot an arrow at the watchtower roof. It sticks to the wood. A guard that was sleeping inside jumps and leans on the rampart.

“Oi, who goes there.” Another idiot. I wonder what men’s brains are made of. Even his sleepy face is stupid. I cup my hands in front of my mouth.

“GOOD MORNING MR. GUARD. THERE IS A ORC HORDE BEHIND THAT HILL, SOUND THE ALARM!!!!”

“Hey girl, stop joking or I’ll lock you in the stockades.” Oh, nice. I wanted to go there anyway.

“She is not lying sir. Just look at the god damned hill.” And Cloude does an awesome assist. The idiocy is contaminating me.

The guard looks east, and makes the same mouth movement as Cloude. The town is doomed.

I take my last arrow, and fire at the alarm bell as we pass past the tower. The sound takes the guard out of its stupor.

“SOUND THE ALARM!!!! INCOMING urghhs...” And my voice is hoarse. No more shouting for me.

BONG! DING! BONG! DING! BONG! DING! BONG! DING! BONG! DING! BONG! DING! BONG! DING! The guard hoists a red flag on the watchtower roof, and keep ringing the bell.

I nudge Cloude with my elbow. He picks up the shouting “Orc! Orc! Orc horde! Run to the walls!”

We reach the wall gate as the first orcs are visible atop the hill. Actually you can only see a green smudge moving on the hill.

We run inside together with the farmers. I need to go home see mother. I can’t go to the Guild, or I’ll be held there.

Cloude, I’m going home to see if mother is fine. Go to the Guild and give the report. Also...” I hold his shoulder and stop him; we move to a back alley.

“Turn in the scouting quest. Here is the medals.”

“Medals? Didn’t you take only one?”

“There was no reason to take only one medal, was there? The second one is your keepsake, and our secret.”

“Thanks, I’ll...” I don’t let him finish the phrase, as I assault his lips.

If I am going to kiss Cloude, it is better done in the heat of the moment, when I can rationalize later as being impaired due to stress. Cloude makes that fish mouth movement again as I part from his lips. Why am I finding that pathetic thing cute????? WHY?????

“My promise is fulfilled. Now go to the guild, and make sure to save my reward money for me.”

I walk past the alley, and Cloude goes to the other side. I need to reach home and see mom before the entire town goes crazy. People are running everywhere. The rumor about the orcs is spreading like wildfire. First mom, then Helen. I might be able to use the confusion from this orc raid to skip town.

Worried, I reach my home and enter at once. “Mom! Mom are you there??”

“I’m in the back, Marcy! Come here.”

I walk to the backyard, and see mom feeding a rat. I double take. Mom is feeding a rat. A rat with a ribbon bow on its back. Cute. No!! I’m hallucinating now.

“Mom, why are you feeding a rat while a orc horde attacks the town?”

She placed her hand down, the rat climbed on her hand.

“Oh, what a hectic equinox we are going to have, isn’t it so?” Mother is unfazed by an orc horde. Are you a brave hero?

I freeze hearing equinox. Helen!!! “Is the equinox today???”

“Yes, and I think you have somewhere else you need to be, right?” She hands over the rat to me. I flinch and blatantly refuse the free rat. I don’t know where it has been.

“Mom, what is this rat?” I’m flustered. I can’t comprehend nothing today. I am tired as hell also. I even kissed Cloude. And now my mom has a pet rat. At least is not a rabbit. I’m dizzy now that the hurry to get home is over.

“Oh. You are all over the place. Go to your room, get a change of clothes, fix this hair of yours, then come downstairs.”

“I can’t. I’m not feeling well, I was… poisoned.” Mom jumps to a standing position. Nice moves, mom. “Death Willow. Need antidote. Please help...”

I pass out while the alarm bells ring all over the town.

It is already night when I wake up. I sit down on the bed, and look around. I’m wearing a tunic. My armor was removed, and I am wearing clean clothes. All my gear is in its place, and on my desk, a rat with a ribbon bow is staring at me. Somehow I was healed from the poison. Maybe mom has called the apothecary.

The bow rat is on my desk. I was not hallucinating.

I wave at the rat, the rat waves at me. The level of surreality of the situation goes to the extreme. The rat takes a quill from my desk, and scribbles something on a piece of parchment. I stand up, and walk to the desk.

In the parchment, the word “Helen” is written next to an arrow. And the arrow points at the rat. Oh, I understand now. I pick up the rat, and rub my cheek against it. It smells of flowers.

“Helen, you got out of the stockades, great!” the rat nods. “My friend Helen has transformed into a rat, how nice!!!”

The rat bites my nose and jumps back on the desk. While I am flinching, it picks up the pen and writes again.

“Helen’s Pet. ---> ”...

I’ve never thought Helen to be a ‘rat’ person. She was in the puppies camp before. The rat is angry. It points at me and squeaks. I’m not right in the head yet. I can try talking to the rat.

“Do you know where is Helen?” Nods.

“Is Helen safe?” Nods.

“Can you show me the way?” Nods.

I equip all my gear, and remember I have absolutely no arrows. I take the bow and quiver anyway. Maybe I can procure some arrows in the way. When I turn to pick up the rat, there is another message:

“Bring panties and a towel.”

“Are you…” The rat nods and hides its eyes with the front paws.

An awkward silence descends on the room.

“Congratulations, Helen!” I smirk.

The rat pouts. I had no idea rats could pout, but there is one on my desk right now. I'll just ignore it, and take all my money from the drawer's secret stash.

Everything packed up, I place the rat in the safest place I have to offer for carrying small things, and get out of my room. She is squeaky clean and smells of flowers, so there is no problem.

“Marcy, it is better if you leave through the yard. There are some guys outside stalking our door.”

“Mom, I want you to come with me. I’m leaving town with Helen.”

“I know. But I will stay here. This is my town anyway… Don’t make that face. Your mother is strong enough to avoid being pushed around by some stupid Guild Master. He won’t dare make a move against me. I’ve brought to life enough babies in this town to earn some respect, I did.”

I sigh, kiss my mom, and mysterious water damps my face. I have to be strong here.

“I’m going then. We will see each other again… Sometime.”

“Be happy and do what you want, my daughter. And introduce me to my grandchild one day.”

I walk to the back door, and turn around poking my tongue out. “As if!”

I must rendezvous with Helen and get us both out of town before the night is over. As I climb into the roof of the house next door, I see fire and smoke rising from beyond the east walls. The orcs are pillaging the fields. Several lanterns and torchs move back and forth in the city streets. Yelling and shouting here and there. Horseriders running errands. Chaos.

Were the me of 10 days ago, I'd be on the wall fighting. But now I have a different kind of mission. The town can fend for itself. I'll take care only of what is mine. Call me callous. Call me selfish.

I've lived for someone else's sake enough.