Willow's Point, Forest of Dain, Kingdom of Dain- Mid Summer 14 years AR

That night Jon was called to the command tent to explain his idea to the leadership. A series of tests were done and it was determined that certain magics could not be cast through it but some effects such as CONCEAL still could be seen, or rather not considering what CONCEAL did. No one was really sure if the latter applied to the basilisks, as CONCEAL was cast on yourself, not your enemy. In the end, evidence of the werewolves led to a call for volunteers. Jon wasn’t selected as the 19 lost to the monster had left friends and, in a few cases, family that were out for blood. Willow had even demanded to be the first one in.

“How do you think they’re doin’?” Andrew asked looking towards the direction of the village, “They should be there now, right?” The expedition had moved forward till it was three miles away while 30 people now wore makeshift goggles or monocles. Jon had showed them how to score the glass with hot metal and snap it cleanly with cool water. Both the thicker bottom and thinner sides of the bottles were used.

“Dunno, we’ll find out soon” Jon sat on a rock with his friends, “let’s just wait.”

“Like we have any other choice in the matter,” Aethred pointed out, that was really all they could do but Jon didn’t appreciate his tone. He could only reluctantly agree that finding the village was better than not finding it but last night as Willow held his arm he’d gotten an idea. Of course he just blurted it out and now 20 people had marched off while another 10 patrolled the perimeter of the group. He’d tried to volunteer, twice! Both times he’d been turned down and later hit repeatedly by Erin. Cara started fidgeting and kicking her legs as they dangled from her seat.

“I hope that Willow’s okay,” She finally let out looking worried. They all were.

“We should have just gone around.” Jon felt defeated, down. It was his idea that led to 20 people putting themselves in mortal peril. He was second guessing himself and wished he could be there with them. Not that he’d be allowed to go even if the leadership had agreed, Erin and Jaes had already threatened to volunteer as well if he did.

“hmmmm,” an agreeing, slightly condescending hum came from Aethred. Several sets of eyes turned to glare or scowl at him.

Aaaand they were back to waiting. Time passed and by midday the mood in the expedition was starting to turn hopeful. Only Willow was to go in and if she didn’t come back out or announce it worked the other’s were to return. The only reason why it should take longer is if the plan worked and the group sent out was busy hunting basilisks and securing the area. The entire group held their collective breath as a Ranger in makeshift goggles came running up, immediately met by Ser Erik and Lady Kyanna.

“The basilisks are slain!” Erik yelled to the camp which let out a triumphant cheer. Jon felt his heart grow lighter knowing he hadn’t sent people to their deaths. Well, they volunteered but again, it was his idea.

The expedition was on the move again and headed straight towards the village. It hadn’t taken the scouts or revenge parties long to get there but moving with so many people was slower. They’d likely camp in or near the village that night. Jon wasn’t sure which one he would prefer. The expedition moved along a familiar trail and soon reached a creek, Finn at the front leading the way. They approached the village to find the 19 others sent already standing guard around the gaps in the defenses. Willow spotted the Badgers approach and rushed out to meet them. She still looked sad but also satisfied and slightly relieved. She walked up to Jon to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you,” she whispered before turning to Jaes and whispering something to her. Jon wasn’t sure what was said but Jaes blushed and Leo gave him a meaningful nod. He realized his friend had heard but no one clued Jon into what was going on. He was just confused but he’d been feeling like that a lot lately, so he ignored it. As expected they entered the village and it was announced that they would make camp there and the dead would be burned.

“How are they going to burn stone?” Cara asked but got her answer as a Ranger poured a liquid from a fleshy organ onto the head of a stoned corpse. The stone gave way and slowly turned back into flesh, it wasn’t enough to turn the entire body with the neck being a mottled mixture of skin and stone but it’d be enough for a funeral. The three southerners that had passed were already being moved carefully as graves were being dug outside.

“Let’s go find a place,” Leo said and started leading the way through the village. Jon felt a hand take his and squeeze, he knew just by feel it was Jaesmin. They walked hand in hand while they passed the ruined houses again, not staring at their feet this time. Jon was surprised as they made their way through the village as he could clearly see water out of the palisade and couldn’t help but give out a sigh, they found a lake. The idea of fresh fish dampened by the loss of Daren and Deld.

The village had been built on the spit of land where the stream flowed into the large lake. He hadn’t seen it previously because of the trees and the village itself. Others had seen it though, there were statues… bodies near the gate on the other side of the village. The passage through the defenses heading toward a half collapsed wooden dock and a rotted boat. They claimed a spot in the back garden of a nearby ruined house and set camp.

“Gods! Look, there’s potatoes here!” Erin exclaimed and started digging through the dirt before pulling out a large brown root. The garden had been planted and left by the former inhabitants, despite years passing the plants had continued to grow and spread. Willow had let out an amused huff and started looking around her feet. They started digging up the various hardy plants. A pile of carrots, onions, and potatoes started growing in the middle of their tents. Ser Hallr walked up and looked at the growing pile of food a few minutes later.

“Miss Willow, Mister Daren's pack. We’ll be burying him just outside the walls on the north side. If you wish to say anything, or need a free moment, your welcome to it.”

“Thank you Ser… Can you just mark his grave? I’ll take a moment this evening,” she hugged the pack tightly but smiled and sniffed, “Daren wouldn’t want me to make a spectacle? He’d probably joke that it’d be better to let our team’s namesake out if I insisted in causing a scene, at least people might enjoy that.” She laughed at the thought of herself running through the village topless in honor of her lost friend. Jon couldn’t help but feel she was right, Aethred and Daren had similar outlooks and personality. Aethred would definitely want to turn his own funeral into a joke or prank of some sort.

Ser Hallr stared a moment as he took in the implication, he obviously knew what her team name was, “I’m sure that can be arranged, we’ll find a proper marker. Also don’t work too hard gathering the food. We’ll be here for a few days to a week.”

“Ser Hallr, are we close?” Leo asked at the news. Jon wondered the same thing, were they preparing for the final push.

“Possibly but the main reason is to restock our supplies and repair the defenses as a fallback point. The only reason we hadn’t stopped yet was we had yet to find a suitable location.” Jon looked at the moss and vine covered logs that made the wall, a few were rotted and there were gaps where they fell but it shouldn’t take too long to shore it up. He knew it wouldn’t keep werewolves out but it would keep out other things.

“Guess this is as good as anything…” Jon looked around at their surroundings, it had probably once looked like his families own back garden.

“Is someone going to build a smokehouse?” Aethred asked and started pulling out one of the four reeled fishing poles, Andrew and Jaes following suit immediately after.

Hallr studied the reel for a moment before answering, “I believe a few will be in order.”

“Then lets leave the taters and go get some fish.”

**********

True to Jaesmin’s word, lines stayed in the water. If one person decided on a break or went on watch, someone else took over. Even that night on first watch she sat on the shore fishing. Even though the space between the village and the lake was within 50 paces they needed to keep an eye on it. There wasn’t a shortage of dangerous things that could swim. But that was fine by her as she sat with Neera. She didn’t know how she’d ended up on watch with that particular Ranger but she didn’t complain. Neera held a pole in her hand and they watched as a second set of watchmen hauled in a fish down the shoreline.

“How many is that? Four?” Neera asked taking her eyes from the shadows fighting with the fish.

“I think so, they’re winning now. We need to catch something.” Jaesmin gave a few slight tugs on her line. She wasn’t sure what it did but she’d seen Jon and the others do it before.

“Pfft, they just got lucky. I’d say they give us one because they’re using your fishing gear.” Neera turned around at the sound of someone walking up in the darkness, “Who’s there?”

“Just me. Ah, Jon” they were only using the moonlight that night, making it harder to see but Jaesmin recognized his build and gate as he approached, “Brought you some hot food. Fried fish, some boiled potatoes and an apple each. Don’t tell the others but I found some wild oregano and sage. Yours is seasoned.”

“You cook it?” Neera accepted one of the bowls and the apple. She set the fruit down before taking a bite. Her eyes closed while she enjoyed the taste of the pan seared fish, “Are you still assigned to watch with Finn?” Her eyes were still closed enjoying the food that wasn’t gristly monster, burnt reptile, or giant arachnid.

“Yes, we don’t have it till tomorrow though,” Jon answered while pulling out a thick cord and stringing the three fish they’d caught on it through the gills and mouth.

“Good! Teach that man. We’ve been together for months and never has he cooked for me.” Jaesmin tried her own as Neera spoke. Her watch partner’s reaction wasn’t an exaggeration. It was far from the quality she had grown up with but even compared to normal travel rations it was incredible. After weeks of nothing but rations, disgusting mushrooms, and overcooked monster she nearly cried.

“Hehe, that could be him being sweet, his best meal might taste like burnt snake,” She said taking another bite. She knew for a fact that not everyone could cook, for example: Jaesmin herself.

“It’s not the taste. It’s the thought behind it, young Jon here went out of his way to make you a meal. You telling me you wouldn’t think it sweet, even if it tasted like dirt?” She delivered her rhetorical question with a smirk that made Jaesmin look down at her meal, “he didn’t season it for my sake.”

“Ahhh… Yup, you two enjoy your meal. I need to get these to the smoker.” He held up the fish and turned to leave. Jaesmin grabbed his hand before he could go.

“Thank you for the Meal, Jon,” she stood on her toes and gave him a peck on the lips. His goofy grin wasn’t as prominent anymore but was there. She giggled as even in the moonlight she could see his face go red as he rubbed his neck.

“Aah, thank you… I mean your welcome,” he seemed flustered and backed away, waving at her as he left. A dozen paces off he turned and went to the next group of fisherman. As he walked away Jaes noticed that Neera was holding her forearm over her mouth trying not to laugh. Jaes on the other hand was disappointed, he still hadn’t kissed her back.

“Do boys get better at that or are they always going to be that dumb?” She asked feeling frustrated.

Neera tilted her head back and forth in a slight bob before saying, “It takes them a while but they learn. You’re both young, he’ll figure it out eventually. Just don’t get caught up on the first boy to get your interest. Two sixteen year olds can wed but still… better to keep your options open till you find the right one.”

Jaes hadn’t thought of it like that before. She didn’t actually correct Neera on the fact that she was only about to turn 14 at the beginning of Autumn and Jon would be fifteen by early winter. She was right, they were both still technically children but they wouldn't exactly be getting wed or having kids. She liked their dynamic except for the lack of returned affection.

The two sat in silence for a while watching the gentle waves and the reflection of the moon on the surface. Another fish was caught but their rival fishermen/watchmen pulled a fifth one in immediately after. She looked out at the lake and an elongated neck rose above the surface in the distance. It had a humped back and she could see flippers as it rolled over back into the water.

“No alarm,” Neera said before Jaes could yell out, “It’s harmless as long as we’re not in the water with it.” It popped back up with a large fish in it’s mouth. It thrashed around before tilting it’s head and swallowing it whole.

“Go over there and quit stealing our fish,” Jaesmin called out quietly pointing at the next watch over.

**********

Jon had kept his word and passed on the idea of cooking for Neera to Finn. The man was originally dismissive of the idea but not so subtly started asking about how to cook certain things. Jon suggested a stew. Throw in some fish or meat, veggies, and wild herbs and let it cook; maybe some rough ground flour or crumbled hardtack if he could get a hold of some to thicken it. Jon wasn’t the best cook but he had helped his mother from time to time.

He walked through their new village encampment, that was now officially named ‘Willow’s Point' after the female adventurer that led the charge to take it two days prior. Things were better for him now, mainly in the fact that the nightly beatings had finally stopped after a month. He still had training but it was with the squires and revolved around learning to properly use his weapons. The other Badgers joined in as well. He took special pleasure in watching Aethred finally get what was coming to him, repeated strikes with the rough staves they used as practice swords ended the jokes about training in the old way.

The food was also better, a small orchard was located just outside the village, wheat and barley grew wild, long since outgrown their fields. Inside and out of the village was everything from potatoes to peppers that were popular in Ravenna. They’d also learned who the original occupants likely were; a few pieces of legion armor and tools made from chains or collars pointed towards criminals or slaves pressed into service that had fled en mass. Odds were good that there were other ruins and maybe a few occupied villages spread throughout the remote forest founded by people in similar situations.

Jon could relate to an extent, being pressed into service himself. He had no intention of deserting the expedition, even if he could. The fact of the matter was that his choice of either join or die didn’t really matter anymore. He was starting to enjoy the life, not the people dying every few days but living with his friends, learning to fight, or seeing new and exciting monsters… then killing them.

He wasn’t assigned to a hunting team. His fishing poles were hot commodities and even if he could make more, the trick was the fishing line. He couldn’t even offer to take a post on the perimeter because Afgheir had commandeered his axes… It annoyed him but he couldn’t argue that his weapons were designed to chop down trees, a big part of filling the gaps in the wooden wall. He was carrying Erin’s falcatta at the moment but he had never even swung a sword. So he just wandered.

A young woman walked towards him but turned to look at him as he passed, “You’re Jon, aren’t ya?”

“Ah, yeah.” he vaguely recognized her but didn’t know her name. She was a lycan squire, evident by her pale blond hair, facepaint, and armor. Her teeth were also a dead giveaway as she smiled.

“Lagertha… Tell Leo I said hi,” she said with a bright smile and turned to head where ever she was going, war hammer over her shoulder. Jon had no idea what that was about but figured he’d relay it regardless. As he reached the central square he hesitated, he looked around him trying to find something to do. Even before Terra fell he could find something to do in a village this size but there wasn’t exactly a lively population and a market to visit. He just decided to head to his tent and work on one of his projects.

He regrettably had nothing new to work on, well not really. He was building a larger crossbow for one of the knights. For nearly anyone else it would a waste as they couldn’t even pull it back but for the knight, it shouldn’t be an issue. He collected his tools and materials then left the walls to head for the water. Just because he had decided he was going to work on the heavy crossbow didn’t mean he wouldn’t at least enjoy the breeze off the lake. He sat a little way away from some people fishing and started hammering away at a chisel to shape the wood. It was already half completed and he didn’t need to make the sinew bowstring, Andrew was doing that.

He’d tried to think of a better way to make a heavy crossbow but only got a vision of a crossbow like machine that had to sit on a stand, it’s two arms held by twisted rope rather than one solid bow, and an axle with a crank used to pull the heavy line back. It looked interesting but he’d need more materials than he had and it wasn’t something he could easily carry through a forest.

A figure walked up behind him, “New crossbow?” Erin's voice greeted his ear. He didn’t look up at her but just nodded his head. He was trying to shape catch of the trigger block, too much of a hook and it’d snag the line, too little and the line would slip over and it would loose on it’s own.

“Heavy crossbow, what are you up to? Thought you were on the northern perimeter till midday?”

“It is midday.” Jon stopped at that and looked up at the sun at or near it’s highest point. He’d been working on the crossbow for hours now, not including what he had done the day before. The main mechanisms were nearly finished and the stock was done. After that it was just to carve the bow itself and start assembly. He could probably finish today or tomorrow.

He set his tools down and stretched out his fingers which had started to cramp from holding a tight grip as he worked. He was a little hungry, “Anyone we know fishing?”

“Nope! Nearly everything caught is being smoked anyways. Apparently it’s faster,” She sighed and sat down next to him, “So it’s slabs of monster meat and whatever else they kill out there for now. We get old smoked fish when we’re marching… But I did hear some good news!”

“What’s that?” Jon looked at her when she didn’t just say it.

“Ser Erik hadn’t really considered the amount of fish that could be caught but made the decision that unless it takes us too far off the trail, we’ll be camping near water from now on to catch them!” She was really excited and Jon liked the idea of having an alternative source of food but…

“Problem is, even with whatever anyone else brought plus all four fishing poles and two spare spools of line that we did… that’s not going to bring in much.”

She reached over and flicked him on the head, “We’ve caught dozens of fish in the past couple days and that’s not including fish traps or nets they have set up on the stream.”

“True…” Jon idly said but put the point out of his mind as he picked up his work again, his hands more loose. He started working again but in less than a minute others walked up to join them. A set of hands came over his head in front of his eyes, he froze. Whoever it was… it was Jaesmin, hadn’t noticed that he was working with his freshly sharpened whittling knife.

“Did you hear the news?!” her voice confirming what he already knew. He dropped the knife and pulled her hands down as he looked up, her face upside down from his perspective and inches away from him.

“That we’re going to set camp near lakes and rivers so we can fish?” She pouted for a second but kissed his forehead and sat down on his other side. She pulled out the widest piece of wendigo antler and the hard drake fang she’d traded someone for. He’d have given her one of his but he was wearing two of them and he’d already given the other two away. She just helped herself to his tools and got to work.

“Drakefang-wendigo antler dagger?” Erin said eyeing the pieces after giving Jon a smirk. Jon looked over and saw that she’d already carved the antler in a design of the braided lines she liked. It was split down the center and hollowed out slightly, she just needed to finish carving the tang from the drake tooth and she could put it together. He of course was studying it to avoid his sister seeing his face.

“That it is!” Jaes said, concentrating on her work, slowly grinding down the hard material, “What about you, doing anything to pass the time?”

“I don’t have anything to work with. I was thinking about going fishing but…” She gestured to the people fishing along the shore. The rule was you got first pick on any materials of the monsters you killed, the rest would be put into the pool and sold with half going to reimburse the families of the people that died and as an equal split for the remainder. It meant that even without killing anything, Erin would still make some coin to spend when they eventually left the forest. At the same time she wouldn’t be walking around with razor sharp drakefang daggers.

“Andrew has some stuff from the drifters that he’d probably give you,” Jaesmin said without stopping her work, “If not you can always do what Jon does and make things no one has ever seen before out of wood.”

“I’m fine, I never said I wanted to make something. I’ll leave that to you and Jon,” She said and laid back in the dirt. Hands behind her head.

Jon looked back at her, she looked relaxed, “I’ve got a few ideas if you change your mind.” She didn’t stir, only smiled.

“No I’ll just steal your ideas and get rich AFTER we get back to civilization,” she said with her eyes closed.

Jaesmin leaned back to look at Erin from around Jon’s back, “What are you going to do with your new found riches?” Erin just remained quiet for a bit, she must have had a thoughtful look on her face because Jaesmin didn’t repeat the question.

“I’m going to travel with you guys and when we eventually settle down I’ll have TWO houses. One in Jorvik and the other in Valentia…. I’m going to live in one and give Aethred the other,” Both giggled while Jon wasn’t sure the majority of the island between them would be far enough, “Really, I have no clue… Not just about what to buy but what to do in general… I need to see what magic I end up with.”

“Guess we’re both waiting on our 16th birthday,” Jon said with a light laugh, he was nervous about the idea but if Leofrith could handle it in such a short period. There was no reason Jon would have issues.

“I’m going to buy-” Just then Jaes stopped her speech instantly. He looked around to see what had stopped her. She was staring at the far side of the lake. It was distant but as Jon looked he could see three familiar figures standing on the shoreline. Tall, strong, and with brown fur… He wasn’t sure what they were doing but he didn’t want them to leave without someone who knew werewolves getting the chance to see. After a few moments he decided on a plan.

“Keep an eye on them, I’ll be back,” Jon looked at the people watching the forest to their north and west, “One of you go go warn the perimeter watch that there could be more out there. Don’t run.”

Jaesmin rose to her feet and grabbed Jon’s hand a moment before letting it go and she walked off. Erin shifted and laid sideways to watch them without them noticing. As for Jon, he headed into the village and as soon as he rounded the wooden wall he ran to the command tent. He didn’t even announce himself as he busted through the tent flaps, he should have as he was grabbed within a step after entering.

“Werewolves on the far shore!” he said before anyone else could get a word out, causing Ser Erik’s and the other’s angry or annoyed looks to turn to raised eyebrows.

Afgheir turned him, it was he that had grabbed Jon, “You sure! Not one of the hunting parties?”

Jon nodded but added, “I’m sure, three of them standing there watching us. None of them are wearing clothes. Jaesmin’s warning the perimeter and Erin’s keeping watch on them.” Jon was forcefully shoved out of the tent and after pointing, led the way. The camp leadership was either right behind him or headed out the other gate to check on the perimeter as in Ser Hallr’s case. He slowed to a walk as he rounded back outside of the wall.

“Far side by the tall skinny boulder, straight where Erin’s head’s facing,” He’d checked to ensure they were still there before he said it. There were all… more than three. A lot more than three, now that he really looked. Other ones were moving through the trees behind the ones watching them, heading around the lake!

Ser Erik must have noticed the same because he shifted, raised his head, and howled! Jon didn’t know exactly what the howl meant but he didn’t need to. He could easily guess it was a call to arms.

“Boy, good job! Now go find your axes!”

**********

Aethred was walking along with his patrol group of six, nearly a quarter turn around the lake. It wasn’t a scouting mission as they already knew what was there, more an extra precaution. Well that and with hundreds of idle hands in camp they needed something to do. He held his crossbow in his hands, bolt at the ready, and his sword over his back. And it was HIS crossbow now, he had killed a bandit and two direwolves with it already. This time though he was hoping for deer or boar, decent food was worth more in camp than the actually valuable monster parts of the Dain.

Dame Helga raised her hand in a fist signaling them to stop. She shifted to her lycan form and held still, only her ears shifting. She’d heard something.

“What is it?” Aethred asked, her temporary squire as Astrid had been revealed to all as a young Princess and kept in camp. Dame Helga remained quiet but a moment later a howl pierced the silence from Willow’s Post. They all turned to look.

“We’re under attack! Move!” Helga revealed the meaning of the howl and they all ran heading back to the camp. Soon though, the sounds of barks and growls could be heard behind them. Aethred dared a look and saw several beasts running on all fours through the trees, they looked like wolves but he could tell they weren’t direwolves.

Helga turned in front of him and her eyes went wide and her ears went up in alarm, “Those mangy-bastards are here! Get on my back!” She skidded to a halt and dropped to all fours as Aethred raised his crossbow at the fast approaching enemy. He pulled the trigger and watched the bolt fly as he climbed onto Helga. It caught a werewolf in the head and he watched as the monster dropped, flipping end over end.

Aethred looked as the two rangers crawled on the back of the other knight and grown squire who’d already shifted. As soon as he was fully on Dame Helga kicked her back legs hard, kicking up dirt and ferns as she accelerated. The other two lycans half a moment later. He rode on her back, occasionally glancing back at the wall of fur and teeth closing in.

‘Fuck! She can’t run as fast! She’s carrying me and wearing fucking armor!’He thought. He watched as one of the werewolves sprinted up next to the squire and slammed into his side. The squire managed to keep his feet while the werewolf tumbled to the ground, yet the ranger on the squires back wasn’t so lucky. He lost his grip and fell off… Aethred closed his eyes a moment before they descended on the injured Elvanni, he could still hear him though. Screaming.

After a moment he opened them again but was only rewarded with seeing the other knight go down, the Ranger on his back and a werewolf on him. The knight rolled to his pawed feet and stood, immediately fighting tooth and claw with their pursuers. His roars of defiance ended sharply soon after. Aethred was nearly crying at this point, the only thing stopping him was the shock setting in.

“How many?” the question came quickly from under him, he glanced back again while holding tight….

“Hundreds…” He could barely get the words out but he was right behind Dame Helga’s ears, she heard. He knew she did as her body stiffened for a step or two. The trees around them suddenly disappeared as they entered the clearing that had once been the village’s fields. He looked behind him as they all came into the open, a sea of fur, claws and teeth. Just a glance told him they outnumbered the the expedition two to one!

“Hold on!” Helga yelled and he did, looking forward to lay his eyes on more fur, claws, and teeth… all in armor with stupid red plumes… Not so stupid anymore.

As hundreds of arrows started flying overhead, Helga jumped.