Sunlight filtered down into the camp. Cleatus dropped more wood into the fire. Shaynen got to his feet, woken up as soon as Cleatus came back into camp.

“Morning!” Cleatus called, Shaynen paused. Watching the tabaxi whistle along as he packed up the camp. He curiously started packing up as well. Over time, Haagut also woke up groggily shoving the new rats into his bag but pausing at the happily whistling Cleatus as he passed out breakfast. Shaynen and Haagut shared a worried look.

“Did something happen?” Shaynen asked. Haagut shook his head.

“Not that I know of,” he whispered Shaynen shrugged.

“Hey, then maybe he got enough sleep last night.” Shaynen smiled. “I won’t object.”

Odelia started moving slowly. Pulling on her boots with her eyes still closed. Cleatus came over and sat down beside her.

“Hey, Odelia.” Cleatus said. Odelia turned to him and pried open one of her eyes.

“Wh’ss wrong with yer voice?” She said. “Y’s’und funny.”

“Uh, yeah. Just a little hoarse.” He cleared his throat. “But last night the spirits of the forest was able to cleanse the ick from me. If you’re interested, I could put in a good word or two for you. Maybe get that ick outta you too.” Odelia blinked both of her eyes open so that she could narrow them at him.

“Uh. Thanks. I’ll. I’ll consider that.” Odelia said. Cleatus patted her shoulder and then stood back up.

“Let’s get moving,” He said. The party packed up and started down the road. As Cleatus led the party, the spirits in his bag began to shift and chitter in alarm. Haagut in the middle noticed looming figures stalking between the trees.

“We have company. All sides.” He said lowly. Cleatus looked up and into the woods where the figures were stalking alongside them. Cleatus pulled a few daggers from his bag. Dropping to the back of the group and slipping them into Odelia’s hands.

“Here. In case you need them.” He said. Odelia nodded. Slipping them away and pulling out her blade instead.

“Be on guard,” Cleatus said as he went back to the front of the party. Out of the forest came two wolves on either side of Haagut and Cleatus. Cleatus pulled out his bow and shot the first wolf as it came at him. Killing it in one hit.

From behind. Two hulking figures with the faces of spiders came lumbering out on either side of Shaynen and Odelia. Haagut turned and brought out a little carved skull. Clanging it like a bell. The second wolf charged at Cleatus, lunging and missing as Cleatus pushed the jaws away.

The spider like ettercaps vanished between the trees.

“Where’d they go?” Odelia yelled.

“I don’t know.” Shaynen responded.

“I thought you could see ev-” Odelia was cut off as a rope of web slipped around her neck and pulled her down. The ettercap emerged from behind. Pulling Odelia to it, strangling her.

“Odelia!” Shaynen yelled. He jumped forward, narrowly avoiding a net of webbing. He slipped to the side of Odelia as she struggled to breathe. His astral arms appeared as he moved. Delivering quick punches to the ettercap’s torso. It flinched but didn’t lose focus on Odelia. In her hand she swiped around the side Shaynen wasn’t. Cutting into the spider-creature. Still it didn’t let go.

Cleatus turned away from the wolf and ran, the wolf that had charged him snapped. Catching and tearing at his calf. Dropping him to the ground. As soon as the wolf released his grip, Cleatus got to his feet and ran. Shooting the wolf and killing it as he did. Haagut ran to Odelia trying to help pry the webbing off of her neck. Looking around for the second ettercap but not seeing it.

“There’s still another out there!” He yelled over his shoulder. Cleatus nocked another arrow. Looking into the forest. The ettercap holding Odelia yanked her away from Haagut, with one claw tangled up and fending off Shaynen’s attacks the other grabbed onto her arm. Pulling her neck and arm apart enough to make a gap in her leather armor. It bared it’s dripping fangs and plunged them into her skin. Odelia choked in a silent scream, feeling the burn of poison tensing up the muscles in her shoulder painfully; the tensing carried all the way down her arm and made her drop the glowing sword.

Shaynen took a quick step forward to punch the ettercap in it’s exposed throat. A second line of webbing tangled around his neck and yanked him back. The second ettercap appeared from the trees and pulled Shaynen up against it. Pulling the noose up high enough that Shaynen could only barely feel the ground.

Shaynen clawed at his neck. Trying to pry the webbing loose enough to breathe. The astral arms turned and attacked the ettercap but it just pulled the webbing tighter. Odelia felt the world around her going dark. In the dark she felt something ignite in her soul. Both the ettercaps suddenly burst into flames as a bright light burst out of her. Haagut watched in stunned awe as her wounds started to close themselves. The light settling into a giant halo around Odelia. Haagut felt a strong feeling of confidence and strength blooming around him.

Cleatus moved his arrow between the two ettercaps. The one holding Shaynen was using him as a shield of sorts. But the one holding Odelia was blocked by her and Haagut.

“Duck!” He yelled and shot at the one holding Odelia. Haagut instinctively covered his head and knelt to the ground. The arrow sailed over his head and sunk into the ettercap’s shoulder. It squealed and dropped the webbing. Odelia dropped to the ground choking and gasping. Her vision blurry but clearing as her heart pounded in her ears.

Haagut jumped back and pulled out his enchanted spear free. He smacked it against the animal skull and created the ringing sound again. Then he threw the spear at the ettercap before him. It sank beside Cleatus’ arrow then pulled itself free. The ettercap knocked it to the side and ran at Haagut swiping its claws but only hitting air.

The ettercap holding Shaynen started clawing at his hands. Stopping him from getting beneath the webbing. Lack of air was making his vision unfocused and his body heavy. The ettercap jerked backwards, dragging Shaynen into the treeline where they disappeared into the forest.

Odelia jumped to her feet as the ettercap that had strangled her advanced further toward Haagut. She snatched up her blade as Cleatus readied another arrow. He took the shot as Odelia swung her blade up. The light coming from it; blinding. The arrow hit and made the beast stumble back into the arc of the blade. It met no resistance. The radiant light sliding through the ettercap and cleaving it in half.

Odelia dropped her blade again as she dropped to a knee. Her arm cramping painfully as the poison kept it stiff. Her head still spinning from lack of air.

“Shaynen?!” Haagut yelled. Odelia looked up as Haagut ran into the bushes. The spear charged from where it hovered into the bush after Haagut.

Shaynen couldn’t breathe, the ettercap faced little resistance as it kept pulling him back. The spear came fast, rounding the corner and sinking deeply into the creature’s side. Odelia got to her feet.

“I’m feelin pretty lucky,” She muttered with half a smug grin. Pulling out a dagger from her armor; slowly walking into the treeline.

Shaynen’s chest felt like it would burst, pressure was building in his face. All sensory information faded until there was nothing but the coarse feeling of his shirt being pressed too hard around his neck. His last thought before the darkness closed in;

“I hope it doesn’t scar,”

Shaynen’s body went limp. Dropping down as he fell unconscious. A dagger flew through the air and buried itself into the ettercap. Digging in where only a second before Shaynen had been. The ettercap fell backwards, dead. In the distance, Odelia rolled her sore shoulder. The throw had shaken some of the poison loose.

Haagut ran and cut the webbing off from around Shaynen’s neck. But he didn’t begin breathing right away. Haagut dug into his bag and pulled out a flat river rock; Placing it onto Shaynen’s sternum.

“Wake Up.” Haagut commanded. Shaynen’s eyes opened and he drew in a rasping breath. He choked and turned over. He looked up as the blinding golden light approached and he felt his stomach drop as for half a second he thought he’d died. Then the light engulfed him and the figure inside it was revealed to be Odelia.

Shaynen sighed in relief and fell onto his back. Cleatus ran up and side-eyed Odelia unsurely.

“You guys for a second there I thought I saw God.” Shaynen said, covering his eyes with his arm.

“Yeah.. Funny that.” Haagut said, staring at the woman; still glowing brightly.