Crimson Revenge - Payback in Blood. Part 10

It was 3 years since Ravvyn was successfully extracted from the Whispering Woods.  Even now, she remembered how a giant panda, Mengtao, came crashing and bouncing through the forest like a black and white bouncy ball.  He was followed shortly by a stuck up blood elf named Cazora and her mysterious and sneaky spirit feline, Saberhagen.  If she hadn't pinched herself, she would have thought it was some bizarre dream.

Ravvyn enjoyed being with her new clan.  Crimson Revenge was a guild of exceptionally talented fighters, from all races and backgrounds.  They believed that justice involved more than a simple punishment.  They believed in revenge.  They fought for all that was good and Light in the world and weren't afraid to kill for it.

Ravvyn stood at the gates of an ancient, night elf temple, holding Joliset's acorn.  She had consulted many scholars.  She searched old libraries for scrolls... she was finally sure that this was the right course of action.

Ravvyn stepped over the fallen pieces of stonework, vines that wound there way around and into the temple. Inside a large hole in the domed ceiling allowed a soft and vibrant beam of light to shine down on a statue of the druid goddess of nature... Ashia Timberspark.  The statue was still magnificent, even though it had stood for millenia. Her arms outstretched and in mid transformation into a tree, her hands were branches and her feet were roots.  At the base of the statue glittered a small pool of glowing water.

Ravvyn stared down at the acorn in her pale hand with a mixture of hope and fear.  She gently placed the acorn into the pool, watching it float for a moment, then slowly sink below the surface.  She took a couple steps back and waited.  The look of fear and hope interchanging as the moments ticked by.

Suddenly, she felt the smallest vibration.  It began to increase in intensity and the water began to bubble up until it could have been a boiling cauldron.  Ravvyn looked around her nervously. And then the vibrations and boiling stopped.

"Is that it?"  she asked the statue, puzzled. There was no reply, of course.

She peered over the edge of the pool to see where the acorn had gone, but it wasn't there anymore.  Only two halves of the shell bobbed to the surface.

Ravvyn sigh sadly.  Picking up the two halves, closing one in each hand.  She hung her head in defeat.

"Years of research... for nothing." she whispered to the ground.  So she turned to leave.

After a few steps a tiny scratch sound came from behind her... by the pool.  She turned to see what had made the noise.  "Probably the wind on the vines." she thought.  But the scratching sound persisted.

She walked back to the pool, placing the acorn shells in her pockets and drawing her weapons, taking up a cautious stance.  She couldn't see anything, so moved some of the tangled vines and then, she saw...  It?  Her?

A tiny living sapling was trying to free itself from the vines next to the pool.  It looked up at Ravvyn with large innocent eyes, then it squeaked and smiled, holding it's tiny branches out to Ravvyn.

Ravvyn had never smiled as big as she did at that moment as she gasped, scooping up the fragile plant in her hands.

"Hello...  Joliset." she whispered to the smiling baby tree druid.  It squeaked and bounced excitedly in her palms.  Ravvyn laugh/cried.  "Oh, I missed you!"

She held the baby tree like a precious treasure and left the temple on their way...  home.

Crimson Revenge - Payback in Blood. Part 9

The next morning was hard to tell if the sun had risen or not... the sky was covered with clouds and thick smoke from the burning farms and fields in the middle of the valley.  Lavineen had not slept very well at all.  She tossed and turned, worrying about Christopher on his mission.  She got up early, ate some bread for breakfast, read the reports.  Christopher's group had not yet returned. So she went to spend time with Starmane.  

The celestial horse stood munching happily at the grass.  He snorted and shook his head with happiness when his mistress came over and began to pat him and speak softly in the elven tongue.  Starmane twitched his ears as he listened.  He butted his head and neck against her gently, in his way of comforting her.

Many hours passed and the other paladins and soldiers began to whisper and create rumors.  Lavineen mounted Starmane and went to stand upon the hill to watch.  She sat stoically. Several more hours passed.  The evening was now upon them. Lavineen took a deep jagged breath, then hung her head in defeat.  He was never coming...

Suddenly, Starmane whinnied loudly, stomping his foot on the ground. He snorted excitedly and began dancing his hooves in place. Lavineen looked up to see a ragged looking group of paladins slowly making their way across a field.  Some were walking, limping, hunched. Some of the steeds were gone.  Some held their injured riders. There in the front, leading his own steed with an injured paladin soldier slung over the saddle, was Christopher.

As he came closer to the encampment, he could see Lavi staring at him.  He had never seen her allow her face to express the emotion she was expressing right now, let alone in front of others.  Upon seeing the sorrow, happiness and love on her face, his heart tightened in his chest as if the overflowing love he felt would explode his chest.  He smiled at her, a tear welling in his eye.

Lavi slid quickly and gracefully off of Starmane's back as Christopher handed the reigns of his steed off to one of the camp paladins.  He knew they shouldn't, but they couldn't help themselves.  The rushed together and embraced with such passion that those around them merely smiled and left them alone.  The tear Chris had been able to hold back until now trailed down his face as he held Lavi in his arms.  The sweet smell of her hair, the silky threads on his face, catching in his whiskers, the warmth of her against him.  He would remember this moment forever.

Lavineen gazed into his eyes and Christopher realized she also had tears in her eyes.  He gently held her face in his hands, rubbing the tears away with his thumbs so tenderly.  Droplets of tears twinkled in the light of the camp torches and fires and reflected in her eyes.  She was so beautiful.  He finally kissed her for the first time in front of the world.  At first Lavi was shocked, but she no longer cared who knew of their love.  Consequences no longer mattered.  True love is a rare and precious gift. She kissed him back.

After another few moments of embracing each other, Christopher took a deep breath and a few steps back from Lavi,  knelt down on one knee.  Lavi, still holding his hand, looked at him puzzled.

"Are you injured?!  Do you need a healer?" she asked, frightened.

"No. No, I'm fine.  It's just that..." he tried to clear his throat as his heart pounded in his chest and his face flushed red. The whole camp seemed to be watching him now, but he didn't care.

"My dearest Lavineen... we went through the academy together as teenagers and we have watched each other grow.  What has grown most in those years is my overwhelming respect, devotion and love for you..." he spoke with a slight waver to his voice, his face breaking out in a sweat.

Lavineen stared down at him with surprise as he held her hand in both of his.

"I don't know what tomorrow may bring for us, but I know that I can't live a single day without you by my side.  You are the light of my life.  Will you please take me as your husband?"  he asked her, his eyes hopefully looking into hers as he awaited her answer.  He held his breath.

Lavi looked around for a moment, at him, at those that had gathered, at the General of the camp who was smiling at them.

Then she turned back to Chris.  "I can't live another day without you either.  I will take you as my husband."  then a rare and radiant smile beamed from her face as Christopher jumped up, embracing her and lifting her off the ground.  The camp erupted in cheers.  As he brought her feet back to the ground, he kissed her once more.

He turned to the General stiffly, at attention.  "General, sir! With your permission of course?  Would you marry us right now.  Sir, I don't want to waste another second of my life without this beautiful woman." he saluted respectfully.

The General grinned widely.  "Granted Lieutenant! And it would be my pleasure." he saluted. Allow me to get myself ready for a quick ceremony.  He went to his tent.

The ceremony was not fancy, the bride and groom were wearing their armor, but no one could doubt the happiness of that moment.  As short lived as it was...

For a mere couple hours after the impromptu wedding and the celebrations were taking place the scourge of undead had decided to make a sneaky attack of their own.  Soldiers were yelling, rushing around, screaming...

Christopher and the General began barking orders at their soldiers and finally, they were in some type of order, but the undead were already attacking and there were a lot of them.  Christopher pulled out his shield and one handed sword.  He yelled out prayers to the Light to fill him and the soldiers around him with it's holy blessings.  They all immediately perked up, shining with inner light and determination.  Christopher then held a hand out at an incoming undead that gnashed it's rotten maw threateningly.

"By the Light, be turned away!"  Christopher yelled.  Holy light shot from his hand, burning the evil creature and made it turn away and flee.  He shield slammed another undead in the face and chopped the head off another beside it.

Lavineen held her massive two handed sword , chopping through undead bodies like they were clouds and not bones and rotten flesh.  The General was out in front, yelling and crushing the enemies with his huge hammer.

The fight was furious, it smelled like putrescence and fresh blood. Dark soil and sweat.  Holy light was beaming around everywhere, but so was unholy light desecrating the very ground.  The sun began to peak it's way into the sky as morning came.

Christopher shouted to Lavineen, "I have to push them back.  Fall back to the village with the injured and keep them safe!" and before she could protest he yelled "And that's an order soldier!"  with that, he grabbed her and kissed her one last time, then ran off leading his men.

Lavineen gathered the rest and the injured and they did as they were ordered and fell back to the village.  Thistlemoore was a small, but pretty village and the folks living there were always kind and thankful to the paladins and soldiers.  They would help take care of the sick and injured.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Christopher lay there on the ground.  The scourge scum still chewing on him as he lay dying.  He closed his eyes and thought of Lavi.  Her beautiful face.  They way she had smiled today.

He died with her smile in his heart.


A light began to shine in his eyes as he began to float bodiless in a dark void.  Closer.  Closer.  Whispers.  Closer, brighter.  Brighter.  The being of Light reached down a hand to him as it flapped it's ethereal wings. He reached out, but something became incredibly wrong...  The light began to cry  in despair and sorrow as it was pulled away. Then the darkness returned.  He was alone. He didn't know for how long...

"Oy!  Caretaker?!  Where ya wann we should dump these duds?" a gravelly voice said with a strange accent.

"Jes line um up righ 'ere! Yes yes. good." another voice said.

"Wha' a waste a good meat!" said a third voice with a gurgle.

"Oh, it ain't no waste.  Jes you wait an' see!" the caretaker said excitedly, rubbing together his pruney hands. "Now git ye back ter werk ye maggot heads!" he shooed them away.

As he turned back to examine the failed undead recruit bodies a sparkle of a glint caught his eye.  Christopher's body was still wearing the necklace Lavineen made him promise to return to her, but he never got the chance.

"Oy... wuts this??" the wrinkled hand reached out to grab the necklace when suddenly it was grabbed.  The caretaker jumped back several feet in surprise.

"....d...d....on't.....t..ouch.....th....a...t......."  the corpse said, gripping the celestial medalion in it's boney hand.

"Ah!  So's ye ain't a dud.  Good fer you, now report to the priest and git outter my crypt ye bag of pus!" The caretaker pointed to the exit.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Five years had passed since that fateful day...  the day Christopher and Lavineen had gotten married.  Lavineen sat mounted on Starmane overlooking a different valley.  The undead scourge had pushed back very hard.  She hadn't seen Christopher since their wedding day.  He was dead.  Gone.

Lavineen stared blankly out over the fields with sorrow in her heart and a sense of deja vu.  These farmlands were next on the scourge's list, but this time, they'd be ready.  The King and Queen had gathered together all their troops and made the front line unbreakable.  At least they felt they had.

Lavineen growled angrily.  Anger was the only thing that she would allow herself to feel anymore.  It hurt less...  She would often scout the fields and treeline alone. Recklessly seeking out undead filth to destroy.

Starmane snorted and pawed at the soil.  He was ready!

With a click of her heels to his flanks he was off like a shot.  Galloping through the tangle of trees with ease.

Suddenly Starmane reared up in surprise, throwing Lavineen to the ground.  It was such a surprise because it had never happened before.  Lavineen brushed dirt, and leaves out of her face and hair, stood up and dusted herself off.

"Starmane?!  What was that....."  she stopped speaking as she saw the reason for her fall.

"Christopher?!" she stared in disbelief at the rotting creature before her, wearing her pendant, resembling the lost love of her life.

[to be continued...]

**I do not own any of the images included in this story.  Just the story!  All rights for the images go tto their owners.  I am merely a fan and admirer.  **

Crimson Revenge- Payback in Blood. Part 8

Lavineen Lightbringer held a hand up to her face, blocking the sun from her gaze as she surveyed the fields below. Her pointed ears poked out delicately from her sunbeam colored hair. The plate armor she wore was immaculate, shining and very ornate.  It was paladin armor.  On her back was a beautiful crimson and black cloak and over that, a large two handed sword named "Hope's Blessing" glinted and glowed with an inner light.

Starmane bent his head to gaze on the hillside flowers as his mistress sat upon his golden saddle. He was a celestial being from the astral planes of the ancients.  A billion stars twinkled in his coat of sky, his wings folded neatly at his sides.

The farms below lay in ruin, the crops ruined, the buildings burning.  Smoke billowed into the sky, thousands of feet high.  Farm animals that had escaped their pens were all running around panicked. The undead scourge was here. The farms were all lost.  In the center of the largest field sat an immense cauldron. It bubbled with a sickly purple liquid that spewed a noxious cloud of gas. This was the scourge poison. Once dead, any creature could be brought back to fight in the undead army for the Dread Queen, Malvissa Frozenheart.

Seeing the horror below frightened Lavineen, as it would anyone, but her face remained the same, calm expression.  She didn't move at all when another paladin rode up beside her and stopped.

"My group is up next. On a special mission." the male paladin said, looking at the fields instead of Lavineen. His armor plated horse snorted a greeting to Starmane who bobbed his head in return.

"We head out tonight." he removed his plate helmet, shook his black hair and ran his fingers through it a couple times.  He turned to look at Lavineen's face expectantly.  His human emotions written clearly on his face.

A stab of pain shot through her heart. She boiled with fear and worry, but mostly overwhelming love.  Even though she felt so much, her face didn't betray her feelings. Her expression remained the same.  After a moment she put her hand down and turned to look at him.

"Congratulations on your important mission, lieutenant." she said evenly. "I'm sure you will do an excellent job leading, as always, sir. May the light protect you."

Christopher grinned slyly at her words.
"No need to be so formal, soldier. We're the only ones in ear shot."  His steed bumped against hers gently, the two animals clearly used to being this close to each other. He suddenly embraced Lavineen, pulling her close and kissing her passionately. She returned his kisses with her own passion for several minutes before sighing and laying her head on his chest armor.  Christopher caressed her head lovingly.

"I want to go with you, Chris. I can't bear to be apart from you. It's so dangerous... I never want to lose you." she spoke softly.

Chris gently lifted up her chin to look in her eyes tenderly.

"Lavi. I feel the same way, but everything will be okay. I love you more than life!  I won't be gone long. I'll be back before you wake in the morning." he smiled warmly. He kissed her nose playfully, making her smile as only he could.

"I love you, Christopher. More than you'll ever know." Lavi removed a necklace from around her neck, placing it around Chris's neck.  "I want you to take this with you." she said as she clasped the chain.  The necklace held a silver pendant with a small piece of a celestial star embedded in it.

"I will wear it proudly and return it to you tomorrow." he smiled as he tucked it under his armor, close to his heart. They kissed and held each other for as long as they dared, not wanting to get caught in their fraternizing. It was against the paladin order after all.

[to be continued... ]

At War - Poetry

At War

I am at war with myself.

Constantly.

I am sweet, kind, accepting, giving.

Then

I am mean, hateful, rejecting and selfish.

What am I?

Who am I?

I hate each form while in the other.

I am blonde, energetic, smiling.

But

I am dark, thoughtful and brooding.

I love you.

I hate you.

Light and dark collide within.

Eternally struggling.

Who am I?

What am I?

I want you.  I need you.  I love you.

No.

I desire you.  I hate you.  You need me.

I am lonely.

I love being alone.

I am at war with myself.

-Renny Hall

I Can't Recall - Poetry

I have died a million times.
And every time, my smile lies.
You see the mask, it covers my insides.
You fail to penetrate my disguise .

Even now, I rot away.
Dead again, but not to stay.
How much failure must I replay?
Too much debt. I can't repay.

My shell is cracked.  Inside I burn.
Hatred seething, unconcerned.
I scream out, but no one turns.
For sweet relief, my spirit yearns.

After hate, my sadness falls.
In the darkness, in my halls.
You think you've broken down my walls
But I moved them. Where? I can't recall.

Crimson Revenge - Payback in Blood - Part 7

Underneath the ruins of an ancient temple of the goddess,  in the Whispering Woods grew something foul. A thick stench filled the air. Death.

Many bones littered the once-sacred crypts of the noble high elf race. In an adjoining chamber, built for religious ceremonies, sat Malvissa Frozenheart in a throne of twisted roots and bones. Her eyes glowing red in the eerie purple firelight, emitted by black braziers, lining both sides of the chamber. Large demonic horns protruded from her head.  Long, sleek black hair reflected the firelight.

Nightmare Queen by AlexRuizArt on deviantART

At one time, she could have been human, but whatever she was now was far from humanity.  A large werewolf stood guard at her side.  On the other side of  her twisted throne stood an ugly creature with pointed teeth and greenish grey skin and a long tail that ended with an arrow point. An imp.  Clearly without a sane mind, the imp fidgetted and giggled intermittedly by his mistress's side.

The chamber had rows of ornate chairs lining a pathway from the door to the throne. Nearly every one of the chairs had a rotting skeleton slumped in it. There were close to a hundred chairs with skeletons in them.  Behind the row of chairs many glowing, red eyes of werewolves blinked in anticipation.

Malvissa stood then sauntered down the path, her hair trailing behind her like a wedding veil. She came to pause at the first skeleton slumped in a chair. With one finger she gently, seductively traced the lines of the skull, ending with the mouth. She grinned, though there was nothing but malice in her eyes.

"You have done well, my pets." she spoke as she glanced around the chamber at the many eyes watching her.

Malvissa returned to her throne, but did not sit. She turned to face the room. A werewolf gently placed a gnarled black staff, with a small skull fastened atop, into her hand when she reached out. She closed her eyes and held the staff in her hands breathing deeply.  Then, with both hands, she drove the staff into the ground with a loud scream and a devious look on her face.

Purple light snaked out from her staff across the ground, traveling to each chair, up the legs and all over the bones of each skeleton covering them in purple glowing light. Malvissa began to yell out her spell in demonic tongue.  The chamber began to shake, dust and rocks falling from all around.  A thick fog seeped up from the ground.  Some of the werewolves stepped back in fear. Some looked around, but the truly devoted werewolves grinned widely and howled with delight.

The chairs and skeletons shook, then the fog and light was sucked into the bones.  As Malvissa ended her vile spell casting,  everything and everyone was quiet. After several moments in silence, the bones began to wiggle... A finger here, a jawbone there.  The skeletons began to sit up in their chairs. When all of them were sitting, Malvissa gestured for all of the skeletons to stand.  Each of them stood and faced their Dark Mistress, awaiting her orders.  The werewolves began to clap and cheer loudly.  Malvissa smiled wickedly, enjoying the accolades. When she gestured that she wished to speak, the crowd became silent, eagerly listening.

"It is finally time, my pets!  It is OUR time! No longer will we dwell in the shadows of but a single forest. No!  We shall take our place in this realm! We shall take it ALL!" more howling and cheering.  "Too long have they hunted and killed us, my pets.  We are now the hunters!  They WILL FEAR US! They will run and they will hide. But they will join us...  alive OR dead! Let the nightmare begin!"

The crowd cheered louder than ever, excluding the skeletons who stood awaiting new orders. The Dark Mistress cackled with twisted delight.

**************************************

Ravvyn had found a small empty herb pouch in Joliset's backpack. She gently placed the acorn in the pouch, tied it, then placed it like a necklace around her neck. She tucked it under her clothing so it would not get snagged on a tree limb, or a creature claw...

Without the fire trail to guide her anymore, Ravvyn had to make an educated guess as to which way to head out.  She was deciding which way to go when suddenly the ground beneath her feet began to shake and rumble.  Ravvyn knelt to place one hand on the ground.  The source was under the ground and not an Earth Rumble...  Purple light snaked out of the ground turning the whole forest a purple glowing hue.

Ravvyn drew her hand back and stood to look around.  The forest had stopped whispering.  An eerie silence fell over the Whispering Woods.

Ravvyn blinked her lavender eyes. "Evil is coming." she whispered to herself, her heart filled with dread.

[to be continued...]

Crimson Revenge - Payback in Blood. Part 6

Mengtao, Cazora and Saberhagen had entered the forest and its dark, dank fog.  Cazora reached into her pack, pulling out two pairs of goggles.  These weren't just any goggles.  These were enchanted vision goggles, built by Cazora herself.  Not many knew she was a brilliant engineer and a skilled enchantress of items.  She handed one pair to Mengtao and put on her own.  Pressing a few calibration buttons and turning the nobs until she could see very well.  She turned to Mengtao,  gently tugged his face down and calibrated his goggles.

"Better?" she asked him.

"Um..."  He stammered as he realized he had been staring at Cazora's chest during the calibrating. He began looking around. "Yes.  Much better!" he hoped she hadn't noticed his ungentlemanly eye gaze. The last thing he wanted to do was treat her as anything but the breath-taking creature she was.  A person that he respected immensely.

Cazora continued on, seemingly unaware of the wandering eyes.  She knelt down by Saberhagen and whispered to him.

"Sabey. Can you see in here?" she asked.  The large feline made a a short purr sound to acknowledge he could see very well. "Excellent." Caz whispered as she straightened up.  She looked over her shoulder to Mengtao who quickly began scanning the forest. Cazora smirked knowingly.  "Are we ready to continue?" she asked.

"Mmhmm" Meng nodded, grinning. "Lead the way, General Cazora." he gestured politely.

"That's General Cazora Starfall to you,  Commander." she teased. Meng grinned widely.

Cazora drew her golden bow,  'Wing Fury'. As she held it,  the two wings of the design began to flutter their feathers, as if they were alive.  Caz readied an arrow from her magic, never empty, quiver. The arrow she took was replaced instantly with another.

The trio made their way through the forest.  It was a twisted mess of roots, dead looking trees,  ugly mushroom and spore plants squirting their noxious clouds into the air.  The air was thick and musty.  The smell was of decaying and rotting plant matter, mildew,  and something else they just couldn't place. With the goggles on, the forest took on creepy purple and green hues. There were cockroaches, ants and insects scurrying around, their bodies mutated and grotesque.  Some had extra appendages, others had pulsating pustules all over their exoskeletons.

Cazora wrinkled her nose in disgust as she accidentally stepped on a particularly large and pus filled larva.  It's squishy squirt sounds echoed into the forest loudly.

Mengtao looked at Caz with horror and disgust on his face.  He was not a fan of bugs... or pus. Cazora raised her boot up and a thick string of pus dangled. Meng gagged loudly,  covering his mouth and nose and clenched his eyes shut.  "That's so disgusting!" he gasped.

"Ugh!" Caz frowned as she scraped her boot on a nearby tree root. "This place and all that dwell within are tainted." she said, scraping.

Saberhagen snuffed the air.  Saberhagen's heckles raised and he growled.  They were being watched by many eyes...

Cazora looked up from her scraping and saw several pairs of glowing eyes blinking at them. Several growls rumbled from the forest around them that were not Saberhagen.  Mengtao pulled his bo staff from his back and took his stance.  "Incoming." he whispered.

A large werewolf emerged from behind a gnarled tree and lunged at Meng with teeth and claws as two others crawled menacingly toward Caz, snarling and slavering.  Meng ducked gracefully, flattening his body, extending his leg and kicking the werewolf squarely in it's gut as it sailed over him.  It yelped in surprise and thudded heavily against a tree.  Cazora swiftly released two arrows in such swift succession, her arm was a blur as it loosed and reloaded.  The two werewolves that had been crawling toward her were snarling as they clutched at arrows sticking from their eye sockets, before falling limply on the ground.

Another werewolf jumped out of the trees to her left, but she turned right, shooting more arrows at new werewolves advancing.  Saberhagen appeared behind the werewolf, pouncing on the back of it's neck, breaking through the skin with his long pointed fangs.  The sound of a loud bony crunch emitted from the werewolf who slumped to the ground, his neck broken.  Saberhagen released the dead werewolf as he shimmered and disappeared once again.

The werewolf that had fallen against the tree, was getting ready for another lunge. Meng twirled in the air, kicking the werewolf multiple times in the jaw before landing and taking his stance again.  The werewolf didn't get back up.  Mentao rolled forward like a furry ball, knocking down a couple of werewolves as they emerged from hiding to attack.  They fell over flailing clumsily as Meng stood and turned swiftly, bo staff in hand, to knock them over the heads. Whack! Whack!

Cazora was showering arrows at the other glowing eyes in the forest.  Each arrow produced an angry scream or growl.  Meanwhile Saberhagen was slinking around, pouncing on the enemies from behind to snap their necks.  A few moments later, Meng, Caz and Saberhagen stood together in a circle of furry bodies, panting from the effort.  Nothing moved.  The other eyes had disappeared, fleeing into the trees.

"I guess they bit off more than  they could chew." Caz laughed and finished wiping the bug goo off her boot onto a dead werewolf.

"Indeed." Meng agreed, smiling, as he picked up his pack, re-slinging it onto his back.

Saberhagen was visible and nonchalantly licking blood off his paws.  Cazora patted him on the head.  Stepping over the circle of bodies, she led the way onward once more.

***********************************

Ravvyn had awakened from her sleep to find herself drooling a bit onto Joliset's fur.  Joliset was still asleep in her giant Dire Bear form and snoring loudly.  Ravvyn wiped her mouth, embarrassed.  She hadn't slept like that since she was a mere infant.  The fog was still very dense, but she could tell it was daytime from the slightly brighter hue above.  She stood, brushing off dirt and moss from sleeping on the ancient cobblestone covered ground.

After awhile she decided to awaken Joliset, so they could continue on their journey out of this evil place.  She patted Joliset, "Time to awaken."

But Joliset did not stir.

"Time to awaken, Joliset."  Ravvyn said as she shook the bear.

Still nothing.

Ravvyn was now worried.  "Joliset!  Wake up! Joliset!  Joliset!"  She shook and patted the great bear, opening it's eyelids to look at it's eyes.

Joliset stirred weakly.  Snuffed her bear nose, then tried to get up.  She seemed very disoriented to Ravvyn.  "Change into your humanoid form, Joliset.  Can you do that?"  Ravvyn asked, clearly concerned.  Slowly, the cloud surrounded Joliset as she changed into her humanoid form.  She lay limply in Ravvyn's arms.

Ravvyn gasped as she saw the claw marks on Joliset from the evil spirits the night before.  They had changed color and were now obviously infected or poisoned as the wounds pulsated with long dark veins radiating outward from the wound.  "You have been infected."  Ravvyn said to Joliset who fluttered her eyes and groaned, breathing in small wisps.

"Can you use your Earth Magics to heal yourself?" Ravvyn asked. Joliset moved her mouth weakly, trying to asnwer.  Ravvyn leaned in closer to hear what she was trying to say.

"D.... dy...ing."  Joliset said.

"No!!  You can't die!  We...  There must be something I can do."  Ravvyn stammered.

"H....old... me..."  Joliset managed, as she began to swirl into one last cloud.  Ravvyn clutched at Joliset's body and began to cry.  Her hands were closing together in the cloud until they clasped each other.  The cloud dissipated and she held something very small and light in her hands.

She sobbed at the loss of the only person who had ever shown her kindness in this life.  Even though they had only known each other for a short while, she had felt connected.  Like a sisterhood.  Tears dripped down her face as she looked down, slowly opening her hands.  She held a small acorn with a white stem. "Ussta... abbil.." she sobbed.  ('My friend', in Drow.)


(To be continued...)

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