The Harpy perched itself on an old tree stump, with oversized raptor-like talons. The carcass of a Coyadae lay still beneath it. It shared the same height as Randy's Dwarven avatar. From it's "ankles" rose a thin layer of dark green feather's that bloomed out like a flower at the "knee." Fleshy humanoid thighs of a light green color gave way to a thinner feather plumage covering it's unmentionables up to its collar bones like a onepiece swimsuit. Its wide wingspan that jutted out from humanoid arms and hands were folded and tucked to its sides. Where I expected to find a bird beak, was a light green human face now looking our way.

I didn't need my AVA to know, this harpy was higher level than us. Or that we may not survive this fight. Still the AVA confirmed what I could sense:

Monster: Forest Harpy Level:6 HP:180/180 MP:50/50

Humanoid-bird monster. Common in forest and mountain terrain. Capable of basic magic.

"Just to be clear ..Incase we die, worst case scenario: we stroke out and suffer brain damage the rest of our natural lives, Right?" I tried to sound unworried.

"Great pep talk, coach." Randy sneered.

"No, I was just thinking... I'll draw its aggro and you guys get back to town. One loss is more rational, than three right?" I blurted out.

"Yo, I aint no bitch like that." Randy grumbled, "Fuck runnin."

"I think what Randy is trying to articulate is this: Just one of us wont last long enough to distract it, we would just be making it's job easier." Ned sullenly pointed out.

The harpy had not attacked us yet, instead I assume it was deciding if it should trust its eye's that saw three against one, or it's instincts that it's level was higher than all of ours combined. It puffed its body up and spread its wings out, letting out a shriek that would linger in my memory for years to come. We approached in an arrowhead formation, Randy and Ned preparing long range attacks in the rear, and I took point with shield and axe.

"It's mobility will decide this fight! Take it's wings and we win, but watch out for magic!" I shouted back.

At that time, the Harpy took flight. It held a low, circle pattern and watched for any weakness it could use. It cast some kind of wind blast from it's mouth, but I got my shield up in time to meet the attack. The ringing and vibration in my shield was loud, and stung my arms. I instructed Randy and Ned to get closer to me, but stay arm length apart from each other. This gave me the freedom to move back and forth, inverting the triangular formation at will. The harpy didn't anticipate this strategy. So when It tried to attack our rear, It was forced to grapple with my shield. I activated my Guard skill the moment before impact, and barely managed to stay on my feet. The rusted edge of my shield crumbled off a little. Ned launched a Windshot nearly missing the monster with a burst of compressed air. Randy loosed an arrow missing the creatures wing, but planting deep in the Harpy's thigh. It shrieked in pain, and withdrew to it's circle formation.

"Shit," Ned shouted, "I almost had its wing!"

"That arrow didn't even scare it off, This is gonna suck!" Randy observed.

The creature swooped to Ned's side out of my protection range and managed to graze Neds shoulder.

"AAgggh!" Ned cried out in pain. "Damn it. It slashed my shoulder!"

"Ok, we need to move as a unit, keeping formation just like this. We exploit it's human eye's, and make it harder to find an opening. Ned if you get a good shot take it. Randy, use Minor heal on Ned. When you do ...Its gonna swoop on your side. Be careful!" I directed, while putting a throwing knife between my teeth.

The winged beast swooped for Randy's side the moment he started healing Ned. The monster spun in mid air, as Ned the Lich shot a burst of compressed air at the Harpy just grazing it's winged arm. My throwing knife gouged its midsection, but was too shallow. The knife fell to the ground. The Harpy shrieked in agony. It returned to it's circular flight pattern, but it was wounded and bleeding. It was struggling to fly with its injured wing. I used my AVA

Monster: Forest Harpy Level:6 HP:078/180 MP:35/50

"It still has MP!" I shouted, "And less than half health. I don't know why it doesn't run."

As if to respond, with an 'I'm still in this fight!' The beast made a slow feint for Ned, but sharply changed course for Randy. I had thrown my weight to Ned's side and couldn't protect Randy. The Harpy clawed Randy's leather jerkin pressing him to the ground, and in trying to bite Randy's face, sunk its teeth in his upheld pine bow. Ned couldn't cast his spell with the beast on top of the Dwarf, so I charged into the beast shoving all of my weight into my shield. The Harpy released Randy and lunged upward, clamping on to my shield and pulling hard in the direction of my charge prying it away from my grip. Before my rusty and now bent shield could hit the ground, the monster's razor-like talons found the weak leather gaps in my armor. The claws tore through my Dragonkin scales, causing me to scream out in agony.

"Fuck my life that hurt's!" I shrieked in a girlish-toned 'battlecry',"you fucking.. Shitty bird!"

The Harpy opened It's maw, preparing to bite my face off, and I released my Firebreath, burning its fleshy, humanoid face. The monster flailed, ripping my flesh even more, then releasing me, falling to the ground where it writhed and shrieked in agony.

"Ned!" I gasped through painful breathes.

Ned was casting Windshot as I was trying to call out his name. Next Randy, now on his feet, grabbed my discarded throwing knife from earlier, and buried it in the Harpy's throat, silencing its terrible cry. The beast jerked and twisted in its death throes, then became forever still. The battle was won. Randy and I saw a notification in our AVA's, but were too battered to celebrate.

You have reached level 2!

Your HP/ST/MP have increased. Gained one stat point.

I Lay on the ground bloodied and exhausted. Ned was yelling, but to me it was inaudible. My HP was flashing 25/170. Had that meant before my level it was 15/160, or 25/160? These were the thoughts that went through my mind, as I noticed a flash of light and a warm sensation in my chest. The world felt miles away in a foggy haze, but with each burst of light and warmth, the world got closer. Clearer. I heard Randy's voice say... No he wouldn't say that to a dead man... Would he? I heard his voice clearly now:

"Fathead! Yo Fathead, get up! I used all my fucking MP healing your fat ass, I ain't carrying ya too!" Randy shouted.

"Yes, let's get back to town before anything else show's up." Ned pleaded.

Sitting up I felt ragged, like my worse hangover would be an improvement to this current state. I pulled up my stat's to check my active effects:

Name: Bruno Jenkins Level:2. (1 point available)

Race: Beastkin(Dragon type) Class: Tank. HP:089/170 ST:052/120 MP:095/130

Age: 22. Height:6ft. Weight: 215 lbs.

Stealth:5, Strength:8, Agility:5, Speed:5, Charisma:7, Mercantile:6, Vitality:10, Endurance:9, Intelligence:7 Wisdom:6.

Skills: Dragon Scales(Racial/passive). Appraise (General/active)

(novice10%), Basic firebreath (Racial/active) (novice15%) Guard(Combat/active)(novice09%)

Active effects: +5% stamina regen(racial), +2% health regen. (racial), +10% elemental resistance(racial).

Armor base: 10 Damage base: 00

Good, Randy's healing had stopped the bleeding effect. I noticed my 1h axe and broken shield laying on the battlefield. I touched my gouged armor while looking down at my semi healed chest. I pushed the clouds from my mind, and ignored the pain in my body as I stood up. I looked at Randy, who was pale and dizzy from MP loss. I looked to Ned whos shoulder wasn't bleeding but still needed treatment. I picked up the deceased Harpy and concentrated until the corpse disappeared into my inventory. I didn't even bother to remove the throwing knife from it's neck. We picked up our belongings, and the Coyadaes we had killed earlier. Then we staggered to the gates of Greenthorn, holding each other up like three drunkards walking home from the tavern.