We rushed forward towards the screams, ducking under branches, through puddles and over twisting roots. From just up ahead was another scream, a high pitched child-like shrill. The further we ran the swampier the ground became – and just when we were free of it!

  Finally, we arrived at a tiny island of muck and mud, surrounded by ankle-deep brown water. Two Harengon children shivered behind an injured Harengon teenager –all three were covered in muck with only small patches of white fur visible. The juvenile waved a broken dagger, frantically trying to keep their attackers away. A futile last stand.

  Their assailants had no intention of letting them escape. Surrounding the island were two abominations. Horrific creatures shaped like fleshy stalagmites rose from the water, each about 6 feet tall. Dozens of bloodshot eyes were scattered across their bodies; a design that was neither natural nor intelligent. The creatures continuously whipped 6 tendrils towards the frightened kids. It would have looked like an ineffective attack, if not for the monster’s jagged grins…

  These things were having fun torturing their prey; they were playing with their food.

  I decided to call them Stalags, simply because of their shape. And the sooner we killed them the better!

  Windthrow reached the same decision, and started readying an arrow. I’d be taking a more hands on approach.

  “I’ll jump to the island and protect the them!”

  I cast Jump! Energy flowed into my legs –the same feeling from my dream. Then I sprinted towards the murky water and leapt into the air. Too many of the Stalag’s misplaced eyes watched as I soared through the air. Instead of trying to stop me, like I hoped, it decided to finish off the injured Harengon.

  A tendril streaked towards the teenager, aiming to finish them in a single blow. Still midair, I immediately activated Action Surge. As my perception accelerated, the tendril slowed. But gravity has a way of being so damn consistent. The chance of directly intercepting the tendril was zero. Luckily, my trusty partner (not Windthrow, the other one) could move much faster than I could.

  I pulled back Tanglewood and launched it! My entire body was put into the throw, like a railgun it slammed into the Stalag from above. An immense splash of dark water erupted upwards, before raining down all around us. The butt of my spear peeked out the top of the now squealing creature. Its tendril missed, but like a squashed roach its many limbs still whipped about wildly.

  Tumbling to my feet, I landed on the boggy island. One behind me, and the –somehow still alive– one in front of me. Also, no Tanglewood.

  Meanwhile, Windthrow pelted the uninjured one with arrows, poking out a few of its eyes. It emitted a sickly groan, and slowly moved towards him. When I say slow, I mean like a snail. These ugly fuckers could hardly move. Suddenly I was a lot less worried, might as well finish off the injured one.

  Sharp booms echoed across the water as it continuously tried to hit me with its tendrils. Still not much of a threat while Impaled to the ground. Only two of its tendrils could reach me.

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  This was the perfect opportunity to try out Frost Ray! As I cast the spell, cold energy gathered at my horns. I pointed myself at the Stalag and unleashed the ray. The freezing energy splashed over it, causing more pathetic gurgles of pain. Now the tendrils were moving sluggishly, giving me a chance for the coup de grace. On all fours, for extra stability, I sauntered into Arcane Breath range.

  In preparation, I activated the strange organ in my throat. The monster tried to lash out, but I easily rolled to the side.

  My Arcane Breath was ready! From my open mouth, thick waves of roiling energy spilled forth over the Stalag. Its scream became a high pitched crescendo as it’s body crumpled under the arcane brilliance of my attack. When finished all that remained of the abomination was a pile of ash, floating atop the water like an oil slick. An undamaged Tanglewood marked the spot like a buried pirate’s treasure.

  The injured Harengon was staring at me with wide open red eyes, their shaky hand still holding the dagger.

  “Who- who are you?! I won’t let you hurt my sisters!” he shouted at me.

  “Hold on! We’re here to help,” I said, holding my hands in the air. “I’ll quickly kill the last one then we can talk, okay?”

  I sprinted across the island towards the final Stalag. Every one of its eyes were pierced with an arrow, streaks of dark blood pooled in the water. It flailed around blindly. Kinda sad, it never stood a chance. Whatever, next time don’t try and hurt kids.

  “Vylet, let’s wait for it to bleed more!” Windthrow shouted over the water. “Stay there and wait it out!”

  Eh. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. A few claw slashes and we’ll call this another win for the Windthrow Vylet duo.

  The Stalag span and attacked in every direction. I jogged through the water, becoming soaking wet -in a bad way. Ducking a tendril whip, I directed all my energy into an upwards slash.

  Suddenly, I was falling forward. My foot had collided with a root hidden under the water! As I tumbled, something glimmered on the Stalag, just below the water line. An undamaged eye, staring right at me!

  Burning pain in my left shoulder, and immediately more pain in my left leg. Then I was face first in the swamp water. Before I could get up, I was slashed again across my back –through my cloak!

  Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up.

  “Vylet run!” a voice said. Why would they tell me to run? This thing deserved to die. Now.

  This time it was my blood pooling in the water. I would tear this oversized upside down ice cream cone to shreds! I circled the Stalag, avoiding its remaining eye. Then I wrapped my tail around the top of it. And yanked it down. The underside was a mass of squirming legs. Disgusting.

  I dove on top of it and started slashing. One tendril gone, then two, then three. Soon it was limbless, but I wasn’t finished. I carved into it like a rotisserie chicken until it stopped moving.

  Panting heavily, I rolled off the Stalag. Darkness ate at the edges of my vision. So dizzy. I saw Windthrow, he was searching for bandages. That was nice of him.

  “You’ll be okay. We’ll get you patched up, walk this way…” He grabbed my hand and led me back to dry land.

  All blackness now, so tired…

  “Hey Mr, is she okay?! She’ll be okay right!?”

  What a nice kid. My thoughts unwound and spiraled around and around into nothingness.

  The Journey so Far: