FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The slippery stone cobbled road weaves through the forest; promising safe refuge for those willing to make the journey. Behind us lies a monstrous cloud that lurks over the mountains, threatening a sweeping winter storm over the valley. I try to keep up with Edgar so that our group can avoid the cold snap. When my feet happen to slip over one of the stones, I feel Alonso's scaly hand grab onto my wrist. The cold-blooded lizard's quick reflexes save me from an embarrassing and painful fall. Alonso's amber eyes are glimmering with concern; his hand still tightly holding my wrist. I express a smile, assuring him that I haven't twisted an ankle. Even with our other companion Edgar a few feet ahead, I can see the spotted white cat ears shifting from the sound of my stumble.

Without looking back, he says, “Careful love, you shouldn't injure yourself before we get there."

Panting, I reply, “I know, darling. I just need a moment of rest."

Edgar snaps back, “Can't do. We must keep moving."

There is no point in arguing, especially when the feline is correct about the urgency of our travel. We have been on the hunt after a notorious group of bandits led by Roarick the Beheader for weeks now. After kidnapping Galena, the sacred medicine woman from Alonso's tribe, they immediately request a ransom in return for her safe passage. We are never going to negotiate with those fiends once word reaches our ears, committing ourselves to the task of ensuring her safe journey back home. After receiving several warnings from locals to never pass through Thornwood as an outsider, Beastmen and humans alike, we begin our search there.

I cannot admit this to the duo, but the journey is already shaking my confidence after dealing with the chilling environment. I can feel every piece of my chain mail armor embedding into the fibers of my body with every step. Even with the lights of the small settlement coming into view, it does little to ease my mind. I watch the warm air escaping my body with every heavy breath as the cold wind dries out my skin. The muscles within my limbs strain, my bones feeling as brittle as wood chips.

Yet I put on a brave face for my lovers anytime they glance back towards me. I muster the will mainly for Alonso's sake, as I cannot let the poor soul despair about Galena's fate if we delay any longer. Though dread clings to my back when I notice snow beginning to descend onto us. The lamp posts act as our only source of light upon entering the village. Not a soul is out at night, the residents are acutely aware of the harsh storm approaching the valley. Edgar's cat-like senses pick up the body heat of other humans huddling together inside various buildings. Before I can even spot the lodging sign, Edgar knows the exact location of where the primitive logged building stands. We all solemnly enter and begin to unpack our things. I always make it a point to bring an ample amount of firewood wherever we reside as an act of generosity. It tends to placate the owner and the rest of the patrons to our company.

The crowd is minuscule, only housing a few ironclad sellswords drinking their last few rounds in the main hall. While Alonso and Edgar begin setting aside the firewood, I approach the hostess. I partly dread the interactions with other humans of this land. Because of my foreign nature to them, I am only treated slightly better compared to my Beastmen counterpart. Still, I am optimistic about our chances of finding lodging as I pass by the seemingly empty resting areas. Approaching the counter, the fair-skinned woman doesn't appear super attentive to her surroundings. When she looks up after wiping down a few iron mugs, her demeanor changes. The hostess's shoulders straighten, her blue eyes intensely looking into mine. My throat tenses up, I try not to make eye contact with her.

She leans over, “How may I be of assistance, handsome?"

I speak softly, “I require lodging for myself and my two companions by the wood pile. We would also like to commandeer the bath during our stay if that's alright?"

My hands are already on the coin purse as I prepare to meet her price. I have no intentions of making small talk or bargaining with her, not wanting this to be drawn out.

The woman winks at me, “Would you prefer separate rooms? I can provide a generous discount if you're interested."

I reply, “No madam, one shared room will suffice."

She smirks and reaches out to touch my hand, “Are you sure? There aren't many men with your dark complexion that come around these parts. It's probably better if you have someone to keep your bed warm."

No matter the village or town, I often attract unnecessary attention from the locals of this land. I don't find it amusing to entertain the advances of the opposite sex, especially those who wish to immediately bed with me. If only they knew how their flattery is more irritating than the buzzing of flies. However, I could not risk being outwardly rude to her. Not with the potential cost of being thrown out and endangering my loved ones. Thankfully from what I spot from the corner of my eye, an older fair skin woman gets behind the hostess, lightly tapping on her shoulder.

The older woman says, “My dear, I need you in the back to prepare for tomorrow's meals."

The younger hostess motions her head towards me before trying to shoo her away. However, after giving the younger woman a fierce furrowed expression, the older woman manages to take her place.

She lowers her head, “I apologize for my daughter's behavior. We've rarely attracted visitors for the past few months, especially members from other foreign tribes. I hope she didn't deeply offend you. My name is Greta and we will be happy to accommodate you and your fellow companions for this evening."

I bow my head, “Thank you for your sympathies."

After making the transaction, we were finally able to settle in. I then decide to inquire with Greta as to why they have been attracting less visitors. Greta's prior comments, it confirms my suspicion that there is a problem that their local Chieftain hasn't been dealing with.

Politely inquiring, I continue, “Greta, may I ask if there has been any trouble in recent months?"

She sighs through her nose, “I'm afraid so. Roarick and his cutthroats are residing in Skull Cave and causing problems around here. They slay and kidnap all manner of Beastman and human foreigners who travel through Thornwood. It's such a terrible thing."

“Does the Great Chieftain Garos plan to address it?"

“Afraid not, because the bandits never target the locals here, Chieftain Garos doesn't see the value in putting a stop to it. So long as our farming and iron mining haven't come to a halt, he chooses to ignore them."

“I see, maybe there is something my men and I can do?"

Greta lifts her head, “If you're serious about aiding us in our time of need, I suggest you check with Gunther. He's a sellsword fellow who's been looking to get rid of them for a while. He's already retired to one of the rooms, but you can catch him out here in the morning. He's wearing iron-scaled armor, you can't miss him."

Someone with expensive armor like that sounds very promising. Though I try to inquire further, “How friendly do you perceive him to be among outsiders?"

Greta smiles, “Every time I see him return home from one of his adventures, he's always chatting up other tribal groups of foreigners and Beastmen alike. He even saved a young fox nomad from one of his adventures a few months ago. He is a kind-natured fellow with a good head on his shoulders."

I simply give a small nod, “Then I humbly thank you for the suggestion. For now, I will retire to my quarters."

After leaving the conversation to enter my room, Alonso passes me before heading for the nearby bathing area. The poor scaly fellow is probably eager to wash up and let the hot water warm up his scales. In the meantime, I use the remainder of my leisure to sit beside Edgar and begin the night's preparation. We all attend to our armor and weapons while one of us commandeers the baths. As tempting as it is to have all three of us bathe together, we can't exercise our affection for one another freely unlike our previous nights camping outside. Still, it is nice when Edgar allows me to sit next to him as I sharpen the long iron blade of my Akrafena. The feeling of his tail teasingly snaking around my left leg brings a small chuckle from my throat.

Before finishing our tasks, Edgar engages me in conversation, “So, what are you and that fine lady discussing earlier?"

“I was gathering information. Roarick and his bastards are holding up in a nearby cave. Galena might be held up in their main hideout from my impressions."

“Are there any indications of collaborators residing in this village?"

“There is one person who could fit that role. Greta mentions a local man named Gunther who could aid us in our effort. Supposedly, he's been looking to get rid of them as well."

“Do you trust him?"

“Can't say, haven't met the man yet. But it wouldn't surprise me if he's somehow mixed up in all this. It would be wise to employ a local guide, but I'll engage him in conversation tomorrow, see where we go from there."

Edgar affirms, “Smart man."

After the conversation ends at its natural conclusion, I spend the remainder of my leisure time completing my nightly preparations. When Alonso and Edgar finish their baths, I am the last to bathe. I don't mind the slightly chilled water after stepping into the small pool. My lovers need the extra warmth as their bodies can't handle extreme weather. With the slightly frigid air blowing over my backside, my skin feels alive. For me, it is simply nice to wash off the excess dirt, leaves, and twigs that cling to my body and dreadlocks. I find it easy to lose sense of time in this place, letting the deafening quiet soothe my thoughts. Eventually, I manage to work myself out from the waters, seeking the warmth among my lovers for the night. When I quietly head towards my room, my hands gently open the door.

A smirk forms across my face as I see Alonso on his knees before Edgar. I can't say I blame Alonso; he's always been the more affectionate one. The sight simply puts me at ease. And I'm sure it does for Edgar as well, having his trousers lying around his ankles with his legs spread open. Despite all his verbal restraints, the low mumbling feline purrs resonate throughout the room.

I sit next to Edgar and lean in to kiss his neck, “Are you settling in alright, my love?"

Edgar turns to me, “Yeah… I apologize for not waiting. I couldn't contain myself, not when the poor soul asked."

Alonso's outer scales flush with blood, the red tone overtaking his cheeks. I simply rest my right hand on top of Alonso's head, signaling him to continue.

I whisper, “No need for apologies. Take as long as you need."

With Edgar's muzzle inches closer towards me, our lips hungrily cling to one another. The low purrs from Edgar cause his ticklish lips to lightly vibrate against mine during our kiss. My left-hand strokes his backside, gently combing throughout his soft outer fur coat. Edgar's left foot paw lightly taps against the wooden floor, edging ever so closer. It is always an adorable sight to study Edgar's face contorting in multiple expressions with each passing second. When he breaks away from our kiss, a shaky pant puff blows out from his lips. Alonso suddenly pauses for a few moments, receiving Edgar's love.

Alonso then lifts up his head to provide Edgar with his own kiss. The feline returns it and simply falls backwards on the bed, scooting towards the end. It serves as an invitation to allow the three of us to climb on. Usually, Edgar and I sleep on the outer edges with Alonso in the middle. To share and trap our body heat for Alonso's comfort is an essential part of our ritual.

Settling into the bed, Edgar quickly slips into a deep slumber before the rest of us climb in. As I settle into our bed, I cling to Alonso from behind and press my naked body against his. To my impression, my scaly lover is clearly not ready to surrender to sleep, feeling his scaly hands reaching down to touch me. I can't contain a small chuckle, softly nudging myself against the intimate teasing. There thankfully is very little prep work needed as I give into Alonso's demands. To make love to him on our sides becomes as familiar as sliding a dagger into a sheath. Our body heat is palpable, making the air dense and heavy. We share an experience that no bliss from strong drink nor awe-inspiring sight can truly rival.

The more noises he makes, the more I yearn to fulfill our shared desire. Some sessions conclude faster than others depending on how much he seeks after my love. Tonight, I intend to share a full week's worth of my love for him. I soon bury my face into his scaly neck before trapping him in a tight hold. A flush of blood drains from my face, the pleasure paralyzing my body for a few sweet moments. Alonso turns his head to face me, panting and huffing about. I shower hushed praises onto Alonso, nudging our bodies into one another. Alonso's breathing starts slowing down, his eyelids lazily closing half-shut. I could listen to the soft sighs and breathings of my two lovers all night if my stamina allows for it. But eventually, I surrender myself to a sound slumber, my arms tightly embracing Alonso.

When morning finally arrives, I feel a warm paw nudging my shoulder. Edgar is already up, his shiny inlay bronze plated armor indirectly reflecting a bright glare towards my face awakens me. For his breakfast, the feline snacks on a large flamed chard fish on a stick along with some hard-boiled eggs. When I glance over to Alonso, I see him sliding on his tunic before downing a flame chard chicken breast. I roll out from the pelt cover bed and summon my body to commit to its daily obligations.

Edgar gives me a salted baked flat bread and some cabbage soup to fill my stomach. My tongue tries its best to not yearn for the taste of the exquisite yams back home in Makala as I down the Noris tribal bread. Once I finish my meal and fully dawn my gear, we head to the main dining hall in search of Gunther. We quickly find him sitting alone by the fireplace with a cup of mead in his hands and a strange ax resting on his lap.

Unlike other two handed axes I come across, there is a unique feature present in this one. Having a shorter ax head, attached to the very tip is a seemingly sharp pointed spear on its end. Upon further inspection, the heavy iron scaled armor he wears reflects little damage from years of combat. Whomever this person is, they either have the funds of a minor prince or are skilled as a fierce raider. Men who throw themselves to the excitement of combat do not often survive long enough to be rich old men. I try my best to not reserve too much harsh judgment so quickly on this stranger.

Alonso and Edgar glance at me, motioning me to approach him. I give a brief nod before addressing Gunther, watching him looking over to me with a raised eyebrow when I come closer.

He asks, “Something you need?"

I sit down across from him, “Greta tells us that you're looking to get rid Roarick and his band of cutthroats. Is that correct?"

“Ah, I see, didn't think the old woman would finally find someone. What are your names?"

“I am Dunstan, the feline companion is Edgar and the lizard is Alonso. So, what spurs you to take action on these bandits?"

Gunther finishes his mead and speaks, “Just can't stand the sight of grown men picking on the weak for an easy living. As if we don't already get that enough from the so-called Chieftain Garos the Lazy and the rest of the Druids. I would face them myself, but I am currently without anyone to assist me."

I glance over to see if anyone is eavesdropping about the Chieftain. If such insults came from my lips, the expectation to flee would have been a given. Yet, judging the lack of death-like glares and disapproving nods from other patrons, they were either indifferent or in agreement to his statement.

I continue, "Then, would you be interested in letting us join you for this task? Whatever we find, my companions and I will take half of the spoils, and you'll have ownership of the other half."

Gunther cocks his head slightly, "Are you sure you're fine with splitting your share amongst yourselves? Sounds very generous on my end of the bargain. Is there any particular reason why you and your men want to join me, even by taking a slight monetary loss?"

I give him a partly truthful answer, "It's mainly out of convenience to clear the road of unnecessary hazards. Thornwood is an important central route to many paths throughout your homeland. And, we feel it is our duty as guests in your domain to provide our aid when the occasion arises."

Gunther smiles, "Very well, in that case, I'm happy to lend my assistance. Edgar, Alonso, please take a seat with us. Let's discuss tactics."

After my two lovers sit down next to me, Gunther retrieves a large tree bark from his belongings to sit it center on the table. To my surprise, Gunther possesses a rudimentary map that displays geographically significant landmarks throughout his domain. Upon displaying the map, he extends his fingers to pinpoint to us the bandits' hunting routes. The plan is simple: we travel alongside the main road near the mountain side and try to lure the bandit scouts by sending out Edgar alone. Because Alonso is the only skilled archer in our group, he will ready his bow to provide support while Gunther and I charge in to aid Edgar. It is a simple yet effective strategy, which is key to minimizing potential casualties. I cannot find any obvious flaws with Gunther's idea, to which I agree on my lover's behalf. After our agreement, Gunther excuses himself to retrieve the rest of his gear before we venture off. My two lovers flash a concerning expression, unsure about the sincerity of Gunther's nature in aiding us so easily. I whisper to them to wait till we're deep in the forest before interrogating him further. Because if my question does provoke hostilities from Gunther, then it would be best not to have to fight off an entire village in the process.

Gunther returns with all of his gear and we head out on our journey north towards the main route. The air has a light chill with the sun still out, raising the temperature mildly causing some of the ice to melt into the nearby river. The travel towards the main hunting ground for the bandits is at best a few hours on foot. Because of Gunther's heavier armor, we proceed at a slower pace in order to conserve his energy. He does his best to not show any signs of weakness as he guards our rear. Inevitably once we are deep in the forest path, I signal to my two lovers to hang back as I take the front.

Turning to Gunther, I say, “Before we continue, I still would like to discuss something with you."

Gunther stands straight up, “I see… are there some reservations you have about letting me join you?"

I step forward, “I'm afraid you're correct. I cannot shake the feeling that you may try to mislead us during our journey. How can we be sure you're not a collaborator with Roarick? Since Greta highly praises you for mingling with outsiders, you would have ample opportunity to lull them in a false sense of security. Am I wrong?"

Gunther shifts in place, his eyes glancing from side to side noticing my two lovers closing him in. Despite the uneasy situation we place upon him, he isn't reaching for his weapon.

Gunther nods his head, “You're not mistaken, but I assume simply stating my innocence wouldn't suffice either, correct?"

After I nod, Gunther reaches into a small pouch to dig for something. He retrieves a small wooden bracelet and throws it my way before speaking, “I'll be honest, I didn't want to mention this in fear of how others would perceive me if my true intentions were made known. But for me, this fight is personal. I'm sure you recognize what that is?"

I study the bracelet, yet remain perplexed by its meaning. The dimensions suggest it's measured to fit someone of a feminine stock, judging from the small size and complex designs that are intricately carved into it. In the center of the bracelet lies a side portrait of a red deer with antlers adorn of flowers. To my dismay, I couldn't pick up on its significance.

Edgar breaks away from the rear to look over the bracelet with me, “That's a Fay bracelet!"

Turning to Edgar, I ask, “Is it some sort of high valued item?"

Gunther chimes in, “I'm surprised you're unaware of its meaning, Dunstan. Considering your close affinity with beastman. Edgar, was it? Could you enlighten your friend here about your people's customs?"

Edgar responds, “It's a matrimony bracelet. They're more common among the mammalian peoples by the symbol of the love deity Fay, a deer who possesses the feminine features of a hind and the masculine antlers of a stag. It's usually made by the suitor out of precious metals, but I've never seen one crafted from wood. Who was this for, exactly?"

Gunther sighs, “It was for an arctic fox I fell in love with named Yana. She would pass by my village every few months with the rest of her nomadic fox people when I was a young lad. As I became a man and developed a relationship with Yana, I sought her hand in marriage. And using the carpentry skills my father passed down to me, I obtained the best native wood I could find to make that."

I glance at Edgar, “Does his word strike true?"

Edgar strokes his chin, “His method is still a perfectly valid substitute. As our customs place more significance on the suitor crafting it rather than the materials used."

Edgar's response shocks me, as I never truly inquire about their love customs beforehand. And for this other human to have deeper knowledge of beastman culture than my own strikes me with a sense of jealousy. It makes me feel inadequate about my declaration of love for Alonso and Edgar. There aren't any grand ceremonies or love artifacts employed during our vows. The sense of foolishness on my part clings to my skin for not inquiring about their respective histories and customs. Still, I try not to let the thoughts linger as Gunther begins to speak once more.

“I was going to surprise her with it before the start of winter. But on my journey home from adventuring, I come across their wreckage and… it looks like a bloody massacre. Only one survivor remains, Oleg, a platinum fox who hid amongst the dead. Those who weren't slain from the raid were taken prisoner. Seeing no other choice, I bring him back to the village to heal his wounds."

Edgar asks, “And what happens to him after?"

Gunther looks down, “He ventured back home. I had to use my remaining funds to hire a carriage to take him as he is in no shape to make the journey on foot let alone fight by my side. And after months of failed attempts to find capable companions… I suspect my lovely Yana is probably dead by now. The reason I agree to this is so I may avenge my love and her family! To make Roarick pay for enacting such barbarity on my poor Yana."

He averts his eyes from us, the lower part of his lip twitches. Alonso walks over to gently clasp one hand on Gunther's shoulder, gently patting him. Gunther inhales sharply from his nose before releasing a shaky sigh.

Composing himself, he continues, “So please, I beg of you to let me join your cause."

Alonso continues to empathetically rub Gunther's backside, sticking close to him. Without even speaking, Alonso's gestures suggest he is more convinced to let Gunther join us after hearing his tale. I bite my lower lip, trying to decipher any inconsistencies with his story. However, with Greta's prior comments and Gunther's story perfectly matching, I find little means to doubt him. When I glance over to Edgar, to me, he still seems unsure about what to believe.

Edgar pulls me aside, “His story appears too perfect to be truthful for my liking."

I whisper, “I understand, Edgar. But Alonso seems to believe his tale. If you can answer me this one question, I will come to a final decision. Would your love deity Fay be common knowledge amongst the humans of this land?"

Edgar flashes a contemplative expression for a moment before responding, “It's highly unlikely other humans would learn of Fay's existence. As the ritual would be practiced in secret ceremonies."

I nod, “As I suspected. Therefore, I have little reason to doubt his story. He shall continue to journey with us as we need every capable warrior for this mission. We cannot fail Alonso over superstitious thinking!"

Edgar clicks his teeth, “Very well, we'll let him tag along. But just know this, I'll be keeping a close eye on him from here on forward."

With that, I walk over to Gunther, handing back the bracelet before speaking, “I'm sorry to have questioned your character with such skepticism. I hope you will forgive my transgressions and continue to lend us your aid."

Gunther somberly nods, “Your caution is understandable. You were simply looking out for your companions. I might have done the same if I was put in a similar scenario. With that, let's continue on with our journey."

I signal Edgar to keep towards the front as the rest of us stay on the rear, following close by. Alonso keeps a close distance with Gunther as I walk a few paces ahead of them. To my impression, my reptilian lover might be finding comradery with Gunther after the recent revelation of his past. It's certainly understandable as the two find connection by sharing a similar tragedy. When Gunther attempts to engage him in polite conversation, I couldn't have anticipated my lover opening up to him by verbally speaking. He is always self-conscious about the nature of his raspy voice let alone having him share intimate details of his past.

And yet, after a few hours of traveling, the two engage in long periods of conversation with one another. Gunther and Alonso trade tales of their respective loved ones. Seeing glimpses of Alonso's smile and laughter improves my mood, watching glimpses of my lover gradually returning to life. If we truly succeed in securing Galena's safe passage, perhaps my Alonso will continue to act as his normal self once more.

Before their conversation could continue, Gunther motions his head towards the road. He signals to us that we are getting close to the bandits' usual hunting grounds. I motion Edgar forward, having him walk several paces ahead while we stick close to the edge of the path. From our perspective, my feline lover appears to be nothing more than a noble traveler simply lost in the vast wild snowy lands. We continue to tail him, till the sun centers itself in the sky. Before making it towards the end of the trail, Edgar stops and shifts his figure to the right side. We all hunker down in the fluffy snow, trying to see what Edgar is spotting. A small figure approaches the tall feline, slowly coming into view. Upon closer inspection, Edgar discovers it to be a tiny boy who is barely aging into young adulthood.

He holds a large bronze dagger in his hands and addresses Edgar, “You're passing through a toll road. Pay, and I'll maybe leave you unscathed."

Edgar chuckles, “You can't be serious? Don't you have some wood chopping to do, back home? Boy?"

“Last chance, pay up or I'll take more than just your money!"

“And you'll take what else exactly?"

After speaking those words, Edgar's feline ears flicker from side to side. Many men sprout from the ground like weeds, appearing out from the top layer of snow. In all, eight heavily armed men come forward with a mix of primitive spears, clubs, and axes. Even with Edgar's longsword, the feline wouldn't be able to fend for himself against such numbers and weaponry. One of the older shaky looking men approaches him as the rest form a semi-circle around the feline.

“Pay the boy or I'll skin you alive and use you as a loincloth," The man barks.

Edgar retrieves the longsword from his back, “I rather surrender my life in battle then be strong armed into paying you lot!"

Gunther and I ready ourselves by drawing our weapons. I then signal Alonso to take his shot as we crouch down. I trust his instincts to hone in his first strike at the bandit who seems to be the most skilled amongst them. Alonso assumes his stance, readies his aim, and lets the arrow fly. It quickly finds its mark as the arrow tip pierces through the back nape of one bandit, causing him to fall forward and collapse onto the ground. The momentary shock of losing one of their men causes them to break their formation around Edgar, letting the feline create some distance. Gunther and I proceed to charge in with our weapons drawn, trying to quickly dispose of the nearest bandit. We make fast work as every engagement is two on one. And with the help of Edgar harassing them from the rear and Alonso firing arrows from afar, it prevents them from coordinating an effective formation and taking advantage of their superior numbers. I use my tribal shield to block incoming blows and create openings for Gunther to exploit with his long ax.

While Gunther and I suffer mild bruises and scrapes along our bodies, none of us take on serious injuries. I couldn't say the same for the rest of the bandits as their corpses dot the stone pathway. When it's all said and done, the only one left is the boy. He clenches onto the bronze dagger with both hands, sniffling while flooding his trousers. Before any one of us could approach him, the boy flees screaming to the high heavens. Without hesitation, I chase him down while casting aside my sword and shield for better mobility. If the boy slips away, not only will it be difficult to get information about the rest of the bandits, but he could alert them to our whereabouts. I couldn't afford such a risk and muster all of my energy to tackle him to the ground.

My heavier body pins the boy to the snow as I disarm him of the dagger. I rip apart his shirt and make a firm binding around his wrist to de-incentivize him from retaliating. Gunther and Edgar catch up with me as Alonso works to hide the slain bodies in the thorny plant life and snow, disguising our previous battle.

The boy turns over onto his back and spits in my face, “Curse all of you and your families!"

For once in my life, I consider crushing a child's skull between my hands for such outrageous behavior. But he is just a simple boy, taken advantage of by the undue influence of his surroundings. Killing him would be unfruitful, especially when it serves little purpose. What I need most is information.

Gunther leans down beside me and speaks to the boy, “You're lucky to still be alive. Tell us how many bandits are held up in Skull Cave and I'll see to it you'll be let go."

I flash him a questionable glare if it's really a good idea? The boy could simply alert other bandits that are allies of his close by if set free. However, I step back and trust Gunther's judgment as I assume letting another native speak to one of their own would easier convince the boy.

He snarls, “Why should I trust the likes of you? Working with Beastmen and foreigners!"

Gunther leans forward, “I don't need you to trust me. But you're in no position to bargain. Either tell us how many bandits are held up in that cave, or be tied here and freeze to death. Choice is yours."

The boy stays silent for a moment, biting his lower lip. As he weighs his options, I glance over to see Alonso walking over towards us with my sword and shield. I graciously receive them before turning my attention back to the boy to see if he comes to an answer.

He sighs, “Fine, I'll talk. There's about two dozen or so men in that cave ahead at any given time. We recently captured some Beastmen a few weeks ago but I'm sure Roarick has probably dealt with them. You'll never take him down, as not even our best fighters could ever land a scratch on him. Have fun getting your heads lopped off!"

Gunther stands up, “We'll see about that. Thanks for the tip though."

The boy yells, “Hey! You agree to untie me, so get on with it!"

Gunther crouches back down, “Alright, deal's a deal. Just need to do one thing."

Before the boy can flash a confused gaze, Gunther lunges a powerful fist dead center between the child's eyes. The blow instantly knocks the boy out before Gunther proceeds to cut the ties off him. He gives a casual shrug at me before standing up and leading the rest of us towards Skull Cave. The trail to our destination is an easy endeavor as the bandits leave a noticeable pathway. Within a few minutes of traversal, I can see plumes of smoke looming over our heads. All of us sprint towards our destination, crouching near a few low hanging brittle branches. We come across the entrance of the skull-shaped cave on the side of a nearby rocky cliff. Immediately, we spot two Beastmen in the distance, a massive elk and a petite fox, carrying enormous tree branches over their shoulders before dumping them into a massive fire pit. Two human guards preside over them with drawn swords in hand.

Edgar gags before covering his nose, “Oh Kara... bless these poor souls."

I peer in further, looking into the fire pit. My being recoils, spotting a large femur popping and crackling among the flames. When a gust of wind blows over the pit, I notice several skeletal limbs and half-burnt corpses littering the ground. After the two Beastmen lay down the branches, they feed the fire once more. The smell of burnt fur and flesh causes a lump in my throat to form. A gag attempts to escape my mouth as the revolting smell lingers in my nose. While the horrid sight makes me fantasize about charging ahead and killing every bandit in sight, I resist such temptations. It becomes imperative to strike at the most opportune moment, as Alonso can't take out both guards with his recurve bow. Eventually, one of the bandits breaks away from his companion and walks over to the side of the cave to relieve himself. Due to the distance and angle, I find it to be an opportune moment for me to strike. I signal to everyone else to stay and keep watch while I deal with his companion. This wouldn't be the first time I needed to kill someone up close. While a difficult and messy business, my steel dagger, my most highly prized possession, will more than easily cut through flesh and bone.

I aim to plunge the blade into the side of his exposed torso first once I am in range. Just as the bandit starts finishing up, I spring forward to quickly wrap my left hand over his mouth while the other drives the blade into his side. He immediately tries to buck me off to scream for help, but the effort is futile. I keep a tight seal around his mouth, stabbing him multiple times while moving to his upper torso. Though what finally did him in is the dagger strike to his chest, piercing his heart which causes his body to collapse onto me.

I throw his corpse onto the ground and hide it amongst the bushes before looking back towards my group. After signaling to Alonso the go ahead, I watch from a distance as he readies his bow. The arrow snaps through the air, having it pierce deep inside the bandit's chest cavity half way through. He lets out a soft agonizing cry as he rolls around on the ground, catching the attention of the Beastmen. We venture out from our hiding spot and motion the two Beastmen to stay quiet as I move in to finish the job. Even if Alonso's arrow would have eventually proven fatal, I need to make sure the bastard didn't make too much noise. After finishing the task, I hide the bandit's corpse before meeting up with the rest of my group.

Edgar engages them in conversation by the time I arrive. To me, the Beastmen are at ease, feeling a sense of safety after conversing with one of their own. I catch Edgar already introducing all of us to the two before continuing on with their conversation.

Edgar looks over to the Elk, “Could you tell us if there are other survivors inside?"

The elk nods, “Yes, a medicine woman and a few others. They're currently locked up in a wooden cage and near death after having no nourishment for days. You have to help them, please!"

Edgar affirms, “We will, don't worry. Is there anything else we should be aware of before heading inside?"

The fox speaks up, “Yes! The tallest one has a cell key on him at all times. They call him The Beheader so please be careful around him!"

Edgar looks at the both of them, “Understood! Before we venture in, I have one favor to ask. May you two keep watch of the entrance while we explore the cave? If there's trouble, seek us and we'll rush to aid you!"

They nod in agreement, taking positions outside the cave to act as our eyes while the rest of us head inside. As we delve deeper, we are already close to a passageway that connects to the main dining and resting area. We can see the shadows of bandits among the walls, sitting near a fireplace. The aroma and sounds of cooking meats, veggies, and stews suggest we catch them during a feast. Edgar, Gunther, and myself take the front position while Alonso guards our rear. Because his specialty lies in bows, he stays behind us. There isn't much scouting we can do beyond where we hid. Once we expose ourselves to our targets, everyone will be alert to our presence. So, for this element of surprise to work, we need to hit them fast and hard. Our hope is that most will not have their weapons on their person's when we charge in for the attack.

I find my arms shaking as the fright of charging in blindly strikes an ungodly fear in me. But, when Gunther gives me a reassuring pat on my left shoulder and Edgar flashes a smile, the gestures help relieve my nerves. I take a deep breath and ready my legs to rush forward. Finding my resolve, I dash in and spot five people huddling around the fire pit with meals in their hands. They are all sitting in the center of the room, with the captives locked behind a wooden cage near the far-left side of the wall.

Before any of the bandits can scatter, I manage to reach one of them, striking my blade down onto a person's collarbone. They scream wildly before falling backwards, clenching onto their wounds to stop the bleeding. Edgar passes by me, slashing down another unarmed bandit before quickly moving onto the next one. Gunther, meanwhile, keeps three others at bay from rushing forward at us with his long ax. Even when Gunther couldn't get a clean kill shot, he leaves deep puncture wounds with his spear-like pointed tip to weaken them. With Edgar and I finishing our targets, we swiftly support Gunther by setting up scenarios for him to strike the killing blow on each of the bandits.

Before any of us can rest to regain our strength, five more start charging in from another entrance. To prevent them from encircling us, I dash forward with my wooden and iron hand shield to block their paths, trapping them inside the passageway. Even though my shield can't sustain all of their potential blows, it does protect me from receiving strikes to my head. My plan thankfully appears to work as all five of them are stuck in the passageway. Our advantage quickly returns to our favor.

With Edgar and Gunther also blocking their path, their longer weapons are able to strike devastating blows on our opponents. After killing the four amongst them, the rear guard skillfully slips away from the combat. We could hear the panic in the bandits' voice reverberate off the walls as he explains to the rest of the group that they are now cornered. From our initial understanding, there aren't any other passageways that the rest can escape, trapping them inside. A loud booming voice echoes from inside the cave walls, urging the men to hunker down and prepare their counter attack.

I glance back to Alonso as he enters into the common area of the cave, signaling to us that there weren't any more coming from behind. Though when he spots Galena from inside the cage, he sprints towards her and whispers joyful pleasantries in his native tongue. To me, it is apparent we finally locate the sacred medicine woman, as she gently strokes Alonso's hands through the wooden bars. Despite finding her alive, we are by no means done. To my fear, I sense my excitement from battle slowly dissipating from my body, forcing me to confront the aches from the previous engagements. My left shield arm has been dealt the worst of it, as most of the blows I block still send shockwaves of pain throughout my entire arm.

Thankfully, the damage still remains minimal and I can graciously say the same to our allies. Because of our vast years of combat experiences and unique fighting styles, we could make up for each other's deficiencies. Yet, we could not rest for long as at any moment as Roarick could urge his men to push forward and attack us. We again face a similar situation of entering another area of the cave with little idea as to what is on the other side. We have already lost the element of surprise so our foes have an ample opportunity to set up an ambush. To my worry, the longer we delay, the more time our foes will have to prepare.

I urge Edgar to stick beside me with Gunther close to our rear. Once in formation, we fast walk down the passageway and make a left turn towards the last area of the cave. When we make it out to the other side, Roarick is there aiming a heavy bow at us. Seven of the bandits are hiding behind wooden furniture while Roarick fires an arrow. To my horror, I could see Edgar getting struck by Roarick's arrow. He manages to break through his bronze armor, piercing into his lower abdomen. Edgar stumbles backwards and falls onto his knees with blood spilling onto the floor.

I yell out to him, “Edgar! Fall back, now!"

All the feline can do is slowly crawl away as Gunther takes his place. I briefly glance back towards the entrance to see Alonso retrieving Edgar and pulling him away from the battle. Just as Gunther positions himself near my side, the seven bandits hiding behind the wooden furniture come out with axes and swords in a fierce charge. At first, the prospect of a seven on two engagement appears bleak.

While Roarick couldn't fire another shot from his heavy bow, having allies crowding in front of him, he didn't need to. These men are very well experienced in the arts of combat, trying to draw us out in the center. We didn't take the bait, instead keeping our backs near the entrance and letting the bandits come to us. Still, even with our strategy, three of the bandits try to strike at us all at once. Several wooden planks from my shield deteriorate with every block I make from the strikes towards my head. Some feel opportunistic enough to try and chip away at my chain mail armor by striking the sides of my torso. Though, it is only thanks to Gunther's quick thinking and perfect form did he prevent them from overwhelming me.

With the long reach of his ax, he critically wounds two of them before defending himself against three others. And when he starts receiving attacks, I return the favor by slashing at the bandit's sides to cripple one and slain two others. With five of them down, two more bandits and the leader remain. Gunther and I charge forward to quickly dispatch the other bandits with swords before Roarick could join the fight. The bandit leader stands at attention with his mighty sword, holding it with one hand as the gargantuan iron blade could easily dismember any foe in its path.

Eventually, Gunther and I are able to push back the two skilled bandits and slay them in battle, leaving just Roarick inside the room. His body serves as a display of vast years of experience in melee combat. And his only source for clothing is an arctic white fox loincloth with leather pouches fastening tightly to his hips. He glares at both of us before pointing the tip of the greatsword towards the center with one hand.

Roarick speaks, “A foreigner and a native traitor, how dare you invade my domain and strike down my fine men! I will have all of you burned by the end of the day!"

Gunther retorts, “Curse you, Roarick! You're going to pay for killing these people who have committed no wrongdoings to you! Innocent people like my Yana, the very one you've used to make that vile loincloth!"

Roarick screams, “Innocent? You mean the same savage Beastsmen and foreigners who come to invade our land? To rape our women? To destroy our proud heritage with their wicked presence? They don't deserve to live in our domain! And scum like you who come to their aid are the most foul of them all!"

Gunther roars, “Enough! I will not stand for your wicked lies! You shall answer for all of your crimes with your life! Now, die!"

He sprints forward in a screaming battle cry and makes the first maneuver as I quickly support him. To my amazement, Roarick is light on his feet, dodging all of Gunther's incoming attacks. Whenever the ax comes close to striking the oversized bandit leader, he swats the attack aside with his mighty blade. Roarick even manages to avoid my strikes, making it difficult to engage with him as my body is consumed with exhaustion. And he exploits my moment of weakness by lunging a powerful kick towards my body, sending me flying across the room. My chest refuses to let me breathe as I struggle to find air. Gunther, meanwhile, goes on the offensive and makes Roarick spend his energy dodging and defending.

However, when Roarick goes on the offensive, Gunther manages to block his blows. One of Roaricks failed strikes causes the massive sword to get caught underneath the ax head. Instead of pulling back, Roarick uses his body's momentum to push the blade forward along the axe's wooden handle, causing the tip of his sword to slash against Gunther's neck. Gunther falls to the floor while holding onto the right side of his neck, rivers of blood pouring out between his fingers.

I shout, “Gunther!"

I am helpless to rush to his aid as the pain from the kick spreads like fire throughout my body, making it difficult to charge forward to defend him. And with my companion on his knees, Roarick raises his blade with both hands and slices down directly on Gunther's neck. I helplessly watch Gunther's head roll as his decapitated body slumps onto the dirt floor.

My voice cracks, “Gunther…"

For now, it is just myself and Roarick staring at one another. And in the handful of times that I am truly terrified for my life, this is one of them. The overwhelming emotions of sadness, grief, and rage overfill my soul. Yet, there is little I can do as my body becomes difficult to move. If I receive too many blows, I will soon perish. Instead, I try to study my opponent as quickly as possible before he can attack. Due to the difficulty of handling a massive sword, Roarick requires both hands to effectively wield it. If I could strike his dominant arm, perhaps I can then go in for a finishing blow. But I have to be strategic with my energy and not waste it needlessly. Just when I have enough strength to engage in battle, I try to lure Roarick forward to strike me. It works and while he extends both arms to attack, I shift my entire body to the side and use my sword arm to slash at his dominant hand. Trickles of blood rain from the wounds as Roarick steps back. And due to the nature of the strike, he is unable to hold the greatsword properly with both hands.

While holding the greatsword in his non-dominant hand, I charge forward and raise my Akrafena to strike him down. Yet, instead of trying to defend himself, Roarick drops his weapon entirely and steps forward to close the gap. Using his uninjured hand, he manages to grab my neck and charges forward, pressing me against a nearby wooden table. With one hand around my throat, he uses his injured hand to disarm me of my blade and keeps me down. Roarick takes advantage of his massive body, pinning me underneath him as he tightens his grip. While gasping for air, he leans closer and stares directly into my eyes.

Roarick growls, “I will reduce you to ash by sundown. And I will see to it no trace of you remains!"

My senses are dull, a sign of my soul leaving my earthly vessel. As much as I struggle to push him off, my mind becomes a hot haze. A blackness spreads from the corners of my vision, my body growing weaker. An entire spectrum of my lifespan overtakes my vision, showing scenes of my early boyhood in my home village, barely escaping a massacre on my tribe, my arrival to this land from a trade ship, my meeting with Edgar, our eventual meeting with Alonso, our vows to each other, and the events that lead to this very day is shown to me in an instant. I make a small prayer to Yame, hoping she'll protect Alonso and Edgar while I'm gone if I can't break free. Though before slipping away, I suddenly feel Roarick's grip on my neck loosen as I regain my breath.

When my sight returns, I see Alonso driving the point of Gunther's ax head into Roarick's side. Alonso manages to hit a perfect weak spot, making Roarick wail out as he tries to lunge towards him. However, because of Alonso's perfect strike, Roarick couldn't retaliate, stumbling backwards. After regaining my breath, I retrieve the dagger sheathed near my side and rush in to tackle Roarick. Once overtaking him, I repeatedly shove the blade deep into his broad chest multiple times. I found myself screaming as my hands became a bloody mess during my rampage. I can't even tell if Roarick is dead as everything around me becomes a red mist. Even when losing my dagger, I begin punching and slamming both fists onto his face, wanting to destroy any recognizable feature of him. I feel someone pull me off, leaving Roarick's face a mangled mess. Before I fully give myself in the rage, Alonso grabs my head and directs my gaze towards him.

Alonso commands, “Dunstan! Focus on me!"

He forces me to stare at him, smothering the rage inside me. Though the more he calms me down, the more pain starts coursing through my body. I didn't realize at the time, but I found injuries along both of my arms and upper torso.

Alonso helps me up as I speak, “Where's Edgar? Is he alright?"

Alonso replies, “He needs our help! We need Galena! Grab the key, quickly!"

I break away to rush over to Roarick's corpse, combing through his pouches before finding a key in a secret pocket. After retrieving it, I sprint towards the wooden cage to release everyone trapped inside. Galena clings onto one of my arms as the rest of the Beastmen and lone human foreigner raid the supplies to nourish themselves and regain their strength. I guide Galena towards Edgar as he lays down on the makeshift bed, trying his best not to move around. She has me carefully remove his bronze armor so we could better study his injury. While it didn't manage to pass through his entire body, the arrow head still resides deep inside of him. From my impressions, removing the arrow carelessly will certainly cause Edgar to bleed out.

After checking over my love, the scaly medicine woman speaks to me, “After you remove the arrow, cleanse the wound with strong wine, then wrap it in wild herbs to prevent infection. Though, if you're unable to control the bleeding during the removal, you must heal the wound by fire to seal it. That is the only way to ensure his best survival."

I ask, “Could you help in the removal process?"

**Galena displays her shivering skeletal hands, “I'm sorry my dear, but I'm in no state to complete such a task. I haven't had any nourishment for over a week. Forgive me."

I bow my head, “No need to apologize. You've experienced more than most people have in a single lifetime. Thank you for your wisdom. You have bestowed on me the best chance of saving his life."**

She carefully pats my shoulders, flashing me a tiny smile. While Alonso takes over to tend to Edgar, the various Beastmen and lone human foreigner approach me. They offer to cremate the corpses for us in exchange for a quarter of the bandit's supplies. Considering the dire state they are in, I agree to the terms, with the condition that they give a respectful burial to Gunther, as he sacrificed himself to save them. When they are made aware which body belongs to Gunther, they handle him with great care and give him a proper burial. During this affair, I take great importance to nurse Galena back to health, helping to regain some of her strength.

With sunset arriving, the former prisoners finish their tasks and adequately split the bandit's supplies with us. They all plan to head towards Thornwood before the evening winter storm could pass through. Galena urges Alonso to join her as she plans to head to the docks in a few weeks' time. She couldn't risk braving the elements from inside the cave any longer and sought proper lodging. While the offer tempts us, I could sense Alonso feels how it would be unsafe to move Edgar in his current state. As such, we agree to stay in place in the meantime and let the rest of them depart towards the village.

Galena strolls over to tightly embrace Alonso and me, patting our backs and showering us with gratitude. Her misty tears soak into our clothes as we both tightly cling to her in return. As we softly break away from the embrace, I have the elk Beastmen from before usher her from the cave as everyone begins to depart. As we watch all the former captives make their journey out from the cave, Alonso and I prepare to treat Edgar's wounds.

I place Edgar's unused iron dagger on top of the fire to heat the metal before starting. Alonso grabs all of the materials we need while I carefully strip Edgar of the rest of his gear. As I wash my hands in a separate bowl to cleanse them, Edgar speaks to me, “Be honest with me love, is this procedure going to be excruciatingly painful?"

I shake my head, “Not if Alonso and I have anything to say about it. We've dealt with similar wounds before. Just lay back and try to relax."

Edgar swallows, nodding and trying to slow down his breathing. Just getting Edgar to move his weight proves difficult as the arrowhead might possibly be lodging against a bone or two. After Edgar settles in place, Alonso just behind the feline's head. Alonso guides Edgar's head to rest on his lap while I begin the procedure. I apply honey along the outside of the wound to help ensure an easier time removing it. Though when I arrive at the tip, the jagged arrowhead refuses to surface. Edgar grunts, trying his best not to squirm around.

Using my careful strength, I finally manage to free it from Edgar's body. However, another problem surfaces as blood starts gushing out from his wound. The arrow tip manages to cut open a major blood vessel, causing all manner of bodily fluids to pour out. With no other choice, I grab the heated blade from the fire pit and start applying the hot metal onto the wound. Edgar released a powerful and wall shaking scream, one that resonates within my bones.

As much as it pains me to see him in such a dire state, I cannot risk him bleeding out. The treatment seems to work as the wound closes up entirely, leaving a chard burned scar. Edgar shifts in place as Alonso gently caresses his cheek, trying to calm him down. The sentimentalities from his lover distracts the feline long enough for me to finish up. After applying some wild medicinal herbs and my own native dry powder remedy, I gently cover the wound with a clean cloth.

I lean down to kiss Edgar's forehead and speak, “It's alright love, it's over. I'm sorry for putting you through all that."

Edgar manages to let out a chuckle through his heavy panting, “You're lucky I love you. Because if I didn't, I would have gouged your eyes out!"

The comment made us all share a small laugh, empathizing with his pain. While Alonso and I have our share of battle scars, we understand that for a novice like Edgar, he will have a rougher time recovering. In order to not have the pain linger in his body, I feed him some medicine before letting him wash it down with strong wine. Edgar seems to settle down as my treatment has a powerful effect on him. I watch his breathing relax while he settles in the makeshift bed. Even in his relaxed state, Edgar fights the urge to sleep despite all the comforts we provide for him. I decide to broach the subject and see what's bothering him.

I ask, “Edgar, something troubling you?"

He averts his eyes, “It's nothing. You and Alonso should tend to your wounds before retiring for bed."

Alonso says, “Are you sure we can't assist in some way?"

Edgar snipes, “No… it's alright. You two have done plenty for me already. I can handle my own issues just fine, I'm not a helpless cub."

I gently scoot closer and sit next to Alonso so Edgar can more easily look at the both of us. We use our bodies to shield him from the cold wind that occasionally blows into the cave.

I speak, “Edgar, when we made that sacred vow, we agreed to come to each other's aid no matter what. I'm sure I can speak for Alonso and say, we won't judge you harshly if there's something troubling you? You're always welcome to tell us when you're ready."

Edgar is silent, his gaze not meeting ours. The only sounds inside the cave are the soft whistles of the wind blowing through the passageways. I feel Alonso shiver next to me as his scaly body is more exposed to the elements. I grab a nearby blanket to conceal the both of us as we bundle up close to share each other's body heat. Eventually, I hear a few sniffles from below as Edgar's eyes glisten with tears.

He speaks, “I… I'm worried about falling asleep. Because, what if I don't wake up? What if this is goodbye?"

Tears cascade down the sides of Edgar's muzzle after expressing his true feelings. His emerald green eyes become cloudy as he weeps. An acorn-sized lump resides in my throat while holding back my own tears. We stick close and gently caress him with soft loving rubs. Alonso leans down to gently kiss his lips before cradling his head. I then reach down to cling onto the feline's paw, interlacing my fingers with his.

To appease my lover's mind, I propose a suggestion, “How about we watch over you throughout the night? We will make sure nothing happens to you. I can assure you, this won't be our last goodbye. But in order for you to fully recover, you must let your body and mind rest. Can you do that for us, please?"

Edgar nods, tightly clutching my hand while sniffling. Seeing him attempting to relax his mind and body, I reward his efforts with one long kiss and provide gentle rubs along his chest. When I pull back to study Edgar's face, I watch his expression finally soften a bit. While keeping a tight grip on my hand, he continues resting his head on Alonso's lap and surrenders himself to a peaceful slumber.

We don't move from his side for what seems like hours, trying to spot any abnormalities. Sometimes, Edgar takes a while to breathe in a deep breath as though his lungs struggle to find air. Other times his face cringes as a small rush of pain spreads from his wounds before settling back down. Throughout that night, I hunch over him, preparing to intervene and revive my love if his breathing ever stops. Even when my eyes become heavy with exhaustion, I work myself up to keep alert for Edgar's sake.

Alonso gently nudges me, “Let me check on your injuries, my love. Before you fall asleep."

I nod, not fighting his request as I neglect my own care absentmindedly. Alonso gently cleans my injuries with whatever strong wine is left before applying medicinal herbs on top of it. Once he finishes, I feel him carefully reach around to softly rub my backside while resting his head near mine. I sense him noticing the handprint on my throat, the bruising leaving a reminder of how truly I come close to death. Without saying a word, he gently kisses my neck before continuing to rest his head on my right shoulder. All I can do is sit there, reflecting about what we all experience.

To lose an ally, nearly risk all of our lives, and end up residing in a cold windy cave makes it one difficult day to swallow. Even with the vast treasures and the certainty of Alonso's loved one's safety, the cost has almost been too great. And who knows what lies in store for us when Edgar recovers and we venture out beyond the cave? If Edgar truly recovers from the grave injury to begin with? Still, when I gaze upon the faces of Alonso and Edgar, they remind me why I continue on this journey. How our time on earth doesn't need to be spent in unnecessary squalor and cruelty. This becomes more than just a rescue mission for Galena after saving countless lives today. I make another small prayer to Yame, asking the goddess blessing to settle deep roots on this land. Because no matter how many long bitter winters we must endure, our bond will forever act as our eternal spring.