Chapter 4 – Party Time

Noble:

Awoken by a bright light. I rise from the ground covered in a dry flaking crimson. The sun high in the sky, I could feel a pleasant warmth in its glow.

Caked blood flakes of me with every movement, I groan in pain as I limp over to the long dead coals of my fire. Collecting my stone tools I look at the corpses and decide to get to work.

A few hours later my arms are covered in a fresh layer of blood and I now have 10 wolf pelts in varying conditions as well as meat ready to cook.

I spent the next few days curing the leather and working on my stone implements, having succeeded in creating a full getup from the wold fur every inch of my pale skin was covered in the unpredictable pattern of the wolves’ fur. With the wolf fur acting as a sort of natural camouflage I collected my small selection of stone tipped spears and set off the scout the surrounding area.

Holly:

Holly D’Arvit shivered as a soft breeze got under her collar. Looking over to her two companions she mused about what a strange sight they must be a motley crew of still fairly new adventurers Gellar not included ‘that old goats probably half my age’. She looked fondly at the Satyr Demon who had frozen and was peering into the shadows, sniffing at the air the parties scout slash tracker slash hunter stepped into a patch of sunlight which had broken through the foliage high above. His dull red flesh under his leather armour gleamed in the sunlight.

”Oi guys get over here and be quiet” the demon whispered harshly load enough that she could hear quiet enough for the sound not to travel far, “ I’ve picked up a scent but no obvious tracks… I don’t think we’re alone in here”.

Looking over to a tall man in plate helmet under his arm, his dark hair appearing to absorb the light around it. Allen the parties designated leader pursed his lips for a moment before speaking “what we need is information Gellar we’ll follow and see what we’re dealing with, we’ll come up with a plan then.”

He paused to check we were both on board with his plan, a curt nod from Gellar nearly poked Allen’s eye out he’d stood to close and the demons long goat like horns almost speared his dark brown almost black eyes.

Turning around chuckling softly he looked to Holly for confirmation. A flashed thumbs up later and they were on the move.

With Gellar at the front and Allen and Holly trailing a step or two behind them moved silently through the underbrush or as quietly as a knight in full plate can move. Soft metallic clinking excluded the party moved with speed through the forest in what confusingly felt like a spiral around something whatever it was they were getting closer. After half an hour a trudging the party finally made to the end of the scent trail. According to Gellar whoever or whatever they were following must either fly or be experienced in covering their tracks for there where none for him to follow. Instead he followed what he claimed to be a day old and peculiar scent a mixture human sweat and wolf it was that worried them if it was a Lycan and if it was hostile we were in great danger.

Eventually we came to a clearing. Hiding within shrubbery at the edge of the clearing Holly peered watched as a figure entered the clearing from the opposite side the figure was swathed entirely in wolf furs without an inch of skin visible, he stood perhaps a little under the average height presuming it was male and human Holly thought her mind racing. The forests were the home of the Wood Elves and none could enter without their consent so how this person had gotten this deep was indicative to a hole in the Wood Elves defence.

Holly glanced over at her companions both looked on with grim expressions upon their faces likely coming to similar conclusions. The figure walked over to the centre of the clearing shrugging the hooded cloak from his shoulders Holly got a long look at the man’s face.

He wore his hair in a long undercut like style, cropped short on the sides but long enough on top to wear tied back as he did. He face was gaunt with prominent cheekbones giving his face an angular appearance. As he turned she saw an ugly mark on the left side of his head. A painful looking burn scar starting at the outer edge of the cheekbones and extended past where his ear would have been, it reached below the collar. He sat opposite them at a small campfire.

Holly looked at her party and shrugged, none of them knew what to do, their confusion was quickly dashed against the rocks as a harsh voice cut through the silence in the air “would the three of you please come out I promise I mean no harm” the voice gone silence filled the gap again Gellar looked panicked he had been sure they were out of sight, “unless of course” the voice started again, “you mean harm to me”.

Sighing loudly Allen stood up dusting the dirt of his armoured knees “we hear you, we’re coming over”.