I reached the middle.

Somebody pointed at me and let out a shout. Had they checked my stats? Maybe.

It didn’t matter anyway. It was good they were finally noticing me. That was what I wanted.

I transformed into a Hornie.

More shouts. Thankfully, no player groups were in my immediate neighborhood or else they would have drawn their weapons and attacked. But I knew that soon I would be the target of spells. I moved to the very edge of the bridge.

Throwing my head backwards, I began to howl. It was long and wolfish. Hornies howled sometimes. It was rare, and usually they did it on special occasions. Tonight was one. More shouts.

I sensed heat in the air and made a quick movement, barely escaping a ball of fire. I was well exposed now. I let out a final howl, drawing even more attention towards me and away from the place where Pook was establishing himself.

A sharp, forceful pain on my arm rocked me suddenly.

You lose 100 health!

I clenched my jaw. An arrow was sticking to my arm, embedded deep into my flesh.

I took in a deep breath, grabbed the shaft of the arrow and then, my lips quivering, I wrenched the arrow head out of my flesh. Mere seconds later another arrow whizzed past me.

I had drawn enough attention.

Pook should be done by now. I extracted a health vial, threw away the cork and licked the healing fluid. The pain in my arm vanished, and my health climbed back up. The bleeding ceased and the wound closed and in moments there was no trace of it. My sleeve retained a hole.

As a second ball of fire missed me by a few meters, I gazed down at the great river rushing below the bridge. Multiple groups of players were closing in on me from both ends of the bridge.

It was time for me to exit the late night show. I leapt.

It was only the second time I was falling from the bridge, and the third time I was diving into the mighty river. The wind whooshed as I fell. Time slowed down. More arrows rained, but thankfully none found their mark.

I hit the water. My feet were pointed and I went deep but did not touch the river bed.

I threw furious strokes and swam back to the surface as my lungs screamed for air. The players had gathered at the edge of the bridge and were trying to spot me.

I submerged, even as a few of the players screamed, pointing in my direction. I let the current of the river take me along with it. On occasions I would come back to the surface for a quick gulp of air. In this way, I covered at least a few kilometers.

Finally when I had come a considerable distance from the bridge and was quite positive that I had left the players behind, I swam to the bank. For some time I rested on the sand and rocks, looking up at the twinkling pinpricks of light in the sky. I wondered if the ‘amusement park’ was successfully set up. Were Nora and Nadir safe?

The journey to the palace from the river bank took me way longer than I anticipated. I had to make my way through thick forest. Insect bites and scratches from thorny plants left my skin bleeding, especially at the legs. The health vials I resolved to use only at the palace. I was deriving pleasure from the exertion and didn’t want to go too easy on myself.

Half way along, I rested at the base of a tree. My body was aching and my clothes were still soaked with the water from the river.

I wiped my face. Kiara would be freaking out if Nora and Nadir had returned to the palace without me. I closed my eyes, the irritating hum of mosquitoes at my ears. A sense of relaxation settled on me. I would have drifted off to sleep, but just then I heard a sound, like someone was moving.

My eyelids snapped open. I scanned the place, but there was nobody. Just then I caught the glint of eyes not far away.

I whistled in relief. It was only a rabbit.

I relaxed too soon. Another sound behind me. Someone or something was dashing away. Another rabbit? This was confirmed when I spotted a couple more animals not far away from the first one.

I resumed my trek. It was a couple of hours past dawn the next morning that I finally tramped into the courtyard of the palace. I was quite the mess. My clothes had not completely dried and stuck to my body uncomfortably. My hair housed ants and beetles. I was covered in numerous small cuts.

All the inhabitants of the palace were anxiously waiting for me. Nora and Nadir were thankfully in the group.

“What happened to you?” Kiara asked me, creasing her brows, looking me up and down.

“Did Pook establish himself?” I asked Nora and Nadir instead.

“Smoothly,” Nadir replied. “A group of players was near us, but when they saw you at the bridge then went for it, and Pook did his business.”

I allowed myself a health vial. The surge of energy was much appreciated. So was the healing of the countless small cuts that were itching more than they pained.

Kiara touched my shirt with one finger, crinkling her nose.

“Did you jump into the river?” she asked.

“I did indeed,” I told her. I suddenly grabbed hold of her and lifted her to the sky with a yip, even as she tried to break free, disgusted at my state. “And the ‘amusement park’ is set, my darling! We’ll be swimming in evilese from now on!”

***

General Information:

Name: Vicky

Affinity/Inclination: Evilun

Honors: King of Skhites, King of Hornies

Level: 4

2X(Health/Strength): 3777/4000

Stamina:277/400

Mana: 226/400

Spells/Abilities: Merge, Transform, Change

Average Trust and Faith of Fellows: 35