Several miles away the road side vendors smoked fish still danced on her tongue. Off ahead Mount Denli overshadowed the region depressing any hope of further way north.

Beyond this the rest of the cities and towns were a mystery, really should have traveled more. Maybe the townsfolk would know of a way. Hope the water here is clean. Licking her lips did little to soothe the dry cracked lips. Two pine trees marked the entrance and a cute picket fence encircled the edges of the town. The inn wasn't much further in. A tad ordinary, but clean.

A middle-aged woman stood outside sweeping the steps.

"Have any rooms free?" said Merryn.

The middle-aged woman of sun-starved white complexion ignored her and continued sweeping.

She patted the coin pouch and it clanked.

"The last of your kind to visit daya' near set fire to my kitchen! An left grungy muddy boots on my clean sheets! No elvin. Go away," said the woman. She sniffed and went back to sweeping, a cloud of dust clung to her feet.

Clenching her teeth, she squeezed the pouch, then let go. Don't make it worse, try. "I'm not them."

The woman sneezed and wiped the snot on her dress. "Four hundred copper." She held out a hand.

A bit of a ripoff, why most rooms cost less than 200. Still need to get out of sight, maybe even stay out of towns. "Right." The exchange was quick and the woman brought her to a small ground-level room.

"Breakfast is at six sharp don' miss it, I don't make extra."

That took forever. Marryn dragged her feet inside and closed the door. Damn this confounded armor! The top piece finally pulled free of the buckles, she threw it on the floor. She then wiggled under the covers and fell asleep.

During the night a burst of rolling laughter resounded in her head. She bolted out of bed, falling on her side.

Do not fight this. You require no others, nor spirits. Your prayers to them are wasted. I will no longer be ignored.

"I—am sleeping. Wake up." A punch should do it. She punched her thigh.

Be glad I haven't taken all your energy now.

Another punch. Come on wake up.

Are you listening to me? It shouted in her mind.

"Go away."

Your perfect world is a lie. Everything you know, everything you see is going to shatter. I will be all. I'm what is real.

If her skin could crawl off and escape, it would.

Quiet spirit! Begone!

Somehow, after pacing the room, checking the windows, and washing her face, she fell back to sleep. The next morning she pulled her armor on quickly her wound smarted, but wasn't as bad as before.

Rushing out the door, she smacked right into someone, an eye just missed smacking the hard metal emblem on his shoulder.

He grunted and rubbed his head, several strands of black hair fell loose from a leather tie. His warm brown thin eyes scrunched as he rubbed his head again.

She blinked. "It's you. Thank you, if you hadn't delayed that man..." How did that go again? She stuck her arm and hand out stiffly. Mother told me to watch my manners around these humans.

His forehead wrinkled while his lips quirked as he shook her hand. "You're an interesting Elvin. Do try not to wilt before we meet again."

"This flower has thorns I'll be fine. Now, I have to leave. Good day." The old speek it's pretty awkward.

Turning around, she walked down to the lobby and bought assorted supplies, filling her backpack, as stealing anything would grant unwanted attention. Outside a kind, cape weaver mentioned a path through the grove off to the east.

The guards and Maxwell would be here soon. An ake twinged in her shoulders, she rolled them before moving on. The god seemed hungrier today. Touching the banges coated her fingers with blood. Healing would take longer now, with it doing this.

An hour later, he was leaning against a tree near the town's back exit. Muttering several burning curses under her breath, she stopped. Don't panic, it's probably nothing. Doubling back to the seaport might work, can't miss the boat back home. Pushing past the slog of busy people she made it back to the main entrance.

She managed to make it out to the woods just past the front gate. Is he an assassin? He didn't act like one. She rubbed her neck.

Scanning ahead off towards the left was a cleared area with a shack in a grove of trees. It'll be safer than sleeping outside at least. Knocking on the door, she waited a while for an answer before pushing it open.

"Anyone here?" Clenching her fists, she stepped inside and opened them. Spiderwebs glued to her ears and face. "Ach." Nasty! The sticky stuff took forever to pull off. Everything was rotted, had better camp outside. Under a pine tree near the shack, she cleared the pine needles. Mother loved camping during missions, and she always made the best hennit stew.

The fire hissed as a drop of rich fat fell into the flames from the skewered bird. The sun sank lower in the southern sky. The more hostile creatures would be out soon.

Snuffing out the fire she picked up the pack and headed behind the shack.

Someone was here! The forest became silent-not even a Harper-beetle dared wax its tune. It was too soon to cast a spell. Peaking around the side of the shack it stood there.

Four curved and pointed legs stepped out of the shadows. As it continued forward, the shadows parted from its middle, a white furry body where the legs attached. It emerged skittering. Its head appeared next with a pink nose wiggling up and down, sniffing the air. The creature's eyes were vile arachnid eyes, gleaming in the moonlight. Its ears long and fluffy, like those of a rabbit, and reached about four feet high. It inched closer to where she sat a moment before, its fangs dripping poison. Only a fool messed with them. Quietly she padded away, aiming for the edge of the forest.

Easing onto her stomach, she crawled over behind a fat tree. A bear ambled about eating berries from a bush.

She tucked a lock of hair that hung in front of her eyes, then peeked. The spider-nab was in the tree near and was wrapping the branches drawing them together with webbing, this hid all but the tips of its legs. She swallowed. Maybie call a spirit? No, it's too soon.

Running full tilt under the webbed tree, she scrambled behind a large boulder just past it.

Over to the tree, the bear's outline was a flat bloodless husk. Running now would be smart. The fang holes oozed twin rivers of blood that pooled onto the grass. She gripped a dagger tight and focused on her breaths. It had to be around, eternally hungry, they always wanted more.

A clicking and hissing behind her.

With her heart damn near climbing up her throat, she faced around. To be home, home, home!

Or right depending on your view, I have taken a portion of your energy be glad in my kindness, I didn't take it all.

Glad? Being hobbled is what you consider kindness?

Considering the alternatives, yes. It became silent again.

Should've taken that secondary training as a priest instead.

The spider-nab blocked her way it's mandables rubbing both fangs togeather.

She dashed at the spider loping off an ear where it splattered on the ground. It screeched turned toward her hissing. Ho boy.

The spider kicked her away and spun around full till just missing her cheek with its fangs. Rolling under its head she lopped off a foreleg. It chattered, turned, and ran off limping.

She sprinted out of the woods. Maybie I'll stay on the path after all, the creatures here were more anoying then back home.

The branches ahead scraped together, she turned to eye the nearest bunch. Was it back again? Better keep an eye out for it. There were worse things to fear, must keep moving. She continued down the path.