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Rekkdyr

Something was wrong. It had been nearly three days since Skempta and Ciara had gone off to Manir alone. Still no word had reached us.

“We need to move. This was a mistake." I said, pacing restlessly.

“Relax, Rekk, perhaps they are merely laying low in town, gathering information." Riddaris said. I glared at the centaur for the nickname.

“I'm not so sure. Halflings are not exactly common travelers in these lands. I doubt they would go unnoticed for long." Ivaylis stated.

“I'm not certain I can wait anymore. We have to move." I growled. I couldn't explain the unease that filled me.

“Easier said than done. Our kind are not welcome in Manir, and you don't exactly have the slaver look to you." Hestross said, stepping forward.

Perhaps not, however, that could be corrected. Aklys projected.

“What do you mean?" I asked, turning to the snow leopard.

It probably wouldn't take much to make you look the part. Perhaps dirty up your fur, strip your armor and tunic. You're scarred enough to succeed in a feral look, granted you leave your upright posture and human tongue behind.

“I don't speak gnoll." I reminded her. “My kin are xenophobic in nature. Not many of them speak common."

“You don't have too!" Ivaylis burst suddenly, reaching for her bag. “I have a spell, an illusion capable of masking the words you speak. They can appear to the listener as if you are speaking a selected language!" she said excitedly, pulling her leather-bound book from her pack.

“I don't see an issue with this plan, granted Rekkdyr can prove he is capable of pulling off this sort of deception." Riddaris stated, eyeing me.

“I can certainly try." I said, eyes meeting his. He nodded at length.

“What of us? Brother, I would rather not leave the rescue of my sister up to folk we just met." Hestross said harshly.

“Look, brother, we may not have a choice. It's not like we can just walk in there. Rekkdyr cannot possibly capture two centaurs, an elf, and a snow leopard single-handedly." Riddaris told his brother.

No, but perhaps an illusion could solve that issue as well. I'm still weak from our encounter with the undead, but I may be able to hold a simple camouflage spell. It won't be true invisibility, but it will bind your aura with your surroundings, enabling you two to follow behind. Aklys stated.

It was true that over the course of the last few days, the Naettura's health had seemed to make an improvement. Before, she had barely been able to walk on her own, let alone call upon any of her magics.

“Perhaps I can help in that regard." Hestross said, nodding at the animal.

“This plan is full of maybe's and perhaps." I stated, glancing around at the group. “But I'm not seeing any other options."

A short time later, I found myself stripped of my armor, and tunic, all but nude, save for a roughly stitched tunic Hestross had quickly made from an extra rucksack. I had given Silvernight's scabbard, along with my fine mithril breastplate to the centaurs for safekeeping, strapping the blade against all my judgement freely at my side.

I was caked in dirt, having smeared earth into my fur, and I had attempted best I could to hone my dull claws into actual weapons using my whetstone.

I groaned, glancing at myself in the rippling water of the stream.

“You're standing too tall. You need to hunch more." Ivaylis stated.

“I've worked my entire life at keeping a relatively straight posture." I argued.

“We don't need you to have a straight posture! We need you to be a hunchbacked, dirty gnoll slaver!" Riddaris laughed.

I snarled at him.

“That's more like it!" he grinned.

“Easy, Rekkdyr. One last thing. That ring. It's too elvish. Can't imagine a gnoll would find much use for it." Ivaylis said, pointing at my hand.

“No. This ring shall not leave my possession." I stated sharply.

“You risk endangering everything." Hestross snapped.

“I cannot trust myself, should battle find us. Believe me, you would prefer I keep the ring." I replied.

It helped him remain himself when everyone else fell to madness. Including you Ivaylis. Aklys reminded everyone.

“Very well, keep the ring." Riddaris folded.

With that, we finished up our preparations, ensuring that the proper spells were cast, and headed off for the gates of Manir. To any observer, the group consisted of a feral-looking gnoll, leading an elf and a cat by a tether.

Aatu

I remained with Fornvarr for about a day, going over maps and landmarks that would help me to determine the proper way to reach the Island Kingdoms.

By sea, it could take sailors a good week to arrive at the islands, longer if the weather was poor. Fornvarr estimated that if winds were fair, I could reach the islands in about three days. The hardest part would be the flight across the sea, which would probably be about a full day and a night of nonstop flight. He feared for my ability to sustain the magic necessary to hold the form of a raven that long. Not to mention the constant physical exertion.

Regardless, I was determined to find what may remain of our pack.

So, it was early in the morning that I had set off. Fornvarr had made a simple satchel-like pouch, containing various salted pork strips and a simple map. It hung about my neck like a collar, or pendant, and when I took other forms, it would meld into my new form.

The pork was to expedite my journey, hopefully limiting the need for hunting.

The landscape passed swiftly below, as black wings carried me far over the horizon to the east. I was seeing the world like few wolves had, through the eyes of a raven. It was hard to not marvel at its magnificence.

Fornvarr had taught me to listen to the world, and its rhythm. The heartbeat of the earth, the song of all life. It was what allowed a druid to don the form of other creatures. This understanding of the interconnectedness of all life.

I could see wild horses far below, each bounding and leaping through a mountain meadow. The sea to the far north, gusting southwards, the winds of autumn.

Soaring high, I bathed in the feeling of true freedom I felt, diving and spinning through the air. The freedom, granted at the hands of a human, whom I'd always been warned were one of the greatest oppressors.

It wouldn't be long now. I would find the Island of Manir, and hopefully with it, my lost kin.

Ciara

I shouldn't have left her!

I cursed myself, slamming my tiny fist into the bark of the oak tree. Had I known her intentions, I would never have fled!

Glancing up into the canopy of the tree, I fought back tears. The memories of the fight came back to me.

“Ciara, Run!" Skempta had roared, shield bashing one of the hyena creatures aside, making an opening in their line.

I launched an arrow deep into the chest of another, before rushing forward, Skempta right behind me.

“Any plans on getting out of this?" I called back behind me, hearing our pursuers.

“Split up? Make them divide their numbers?" Skempta offered. “Meet up at the intersection we passed outside the main gates."

Before I could argue, she broke off down a side alley. I cursed, turning left onto the main street. Perhaps my smaller size could lose them in the crowded marketplace.

Bursting from the back alleys, I ducked below a large cart, crawling to the other side, and running to the opposite side of the street, ducking and dodging the various monsters that filled the marketplace. Turning, I could see no sign of my pursuers.

A few minutes later, Skempta appeared in the busy street, a few buildings down from where I had. She quickly turned around, brandishing her shield and sword threateningly.

A large group of hyena-men stepped out, quickly followed by the large Gnoll woman whom Skempta had recognized.

“Throw down your weapon, orc." She cackled, stepping forward.

Skempta had no escape, as passerby's on the street circled around to block the orcs escape.

“No chance!" She growled.

I tried to fight my way to her, but a voice behind me made me start.

“There you are!" the gnoll cackled snatching me around the waist with a mighty clawed hand. I quickly drew my hunting knife, driving it deep into his wrist.

He yelp, dropping me. I took off down the easiest route open to me, spinning around just enough to launch an arrow into his chest. His companions leaped over his falling form, chasing in pursuit.

It would be easier to lose them in the crowd, seeing as their longer legs could outrun mine in a straight shot.

I couldn't make it through the crowed now surrounding Skempta, who was fighting off any attacker foolish enough to enter the ring.

The gnolls, and hyena hybrids in pursuit kept me from finding an opening in the crowed, therefore I had no choice, but to flee.

Returning to the present, I clenched my eyes shut, tears rolling freely down them. No choice. I kept telling myself that, but it sounded wrong. I could have found a way. I should have.

Now, I was somewhere in the forest north of Manir, hiding out. I had managed to flee out the north gate, and evade capture from those brutes.

I had attempted to push west, and circle the town around to try and link up with the others, but it was no use. The patrols from Manir seemed to be on high alert since my escape. They kept forcing me back northeast in my attempts to evade them.

I slammed the tree again. Blood ran freely from my tiny fist. I couldn't just march back into town alone and find Camden, and there seemed to be no way of returning to the others, not this way at least. Trying to circle the city wide enough south to avoid detection would take a week, due to the thinning out of the forest in that area. The mountains further north were not passable. It seemed for the time being, it was hopeless. How could so much go so wrong so fast?"

I clenched my fist, seeing the blood rise up around my fingers, coating my silver ring in red.

The ring.

My heart raced, as I spoke the elvish command word. I whispered the quick message, hoping Livillios would hear. It was then I realized the true fool I'd been. I should have contacted him immediately upon learning that the dead walk the land. Now, with one message to send for the day, I couldn't tell if I should ask for aid, or warn of the damned. I sighed.

“Lord Livillios, The dead walk, and we've been separated." I managed before the ring grew too hot.

I sighed. Damn elves. They are capable of building wondrous magical weapons that are suitable for legends to wield, and yet this simple magic ring cut out after one sentence!

I collapsed onto a large rock at the base of the oak, defeated. The sunlight was fading slowly into the west, beyond the mountains.

I had come so close to my brother, I just knew it. To be this close, and yet unable to reach him! To do anything!

Night found me before I was able to pull myself from the rock. Wiping my tear streaked face, I wandered off to find a suitable camp for the night.

Skempta

The world was black.

There was something urging me to rise, to break the bonds about my wrists. I couldn't seem to hear. The world had faded away.

Far from reality, I drifted, struggling to surface. I could hear the hoof beats of my father, the huntsman astride his brilliant war-stag. He gripped his magnificent spear, calling to me from a great distance.

His words fell on deaf ears.

Pain wracked my body, every muscle burning with a terrible ache. My head throbbed, and my limbs seemed unresponsive.

A rough hand pulled me up roughly by my binds, and I cracked open a swollen eye. I was met by the face of a heavily scarred, one eyed orc.

His lips moved, but I couldn't quite make out his words through the fog.

He shook me vigorously, enraged.

“You hear me, bitch!" Drangis growled fiercely. “Before the end, you will wish you were dead."

“I-I should have gutted you." I coughed.

He slammed me painfully to the ground, a harsh chuckle escaping his lips.

“It would have spared you your fate." He whispered in my ear, ramming his cock deep into my pussy with a single thrust.

I was so sore and battered that I clenched my teeth against the pain. He forced my head into the cold stone of the cell floor by gripping an antler.

He bucked against me, slamming again and again, roughly hammering away at my love hole. I tried to pull away, but my limbs would not answer my commands.

He forced his cock as deep as he could, exploding inside me in climax.

Panting heavily, he slipped out, roughly pushing himself up from me.

“How many children can I fuck you pregnant with until you give out, I wonder?" I growled, kicking me roughly in the side.

“Fuck you!" I spat weakly.

He just laughed, walking to the door. He pulled it open, letting light flood in from an outside corridor.

“Get accustomed to your new place, bitch. I'm not the only one you'll be serving." He grinned, turning to leave.

The door to the cell slammed shut behind him, and I slowly drifted back into the world of darkness.