The depth of my mistake was sinking in. I made a friend and I was getting comfortable in this body. I felt joyful to be a woman, even if I was a little monstrous. But the Emel Weald is dangerous, I underestimated that. Now Telar is gone. In the depths of the monster infested river.

  I jumped up and started taking my fury out on the tree trunk, slashing it again and again. I sent wood chips flying in every direction.

  “Stupid, stupid, stupid! You knew there were monsters in the river. Why’d you let your guard down!” I screamed.

  Then I felt my claw brush over an impression in the bark. I stopped my onslaught. What was that?

  I examined the tree. Above the mess of clawmarks was something I hadn’t noticed. A message carved into the trunk. The letters were almost English. With what Telar taught me I could read it. It said Tangle. And below the name was an arrow pointing down an overgrown trail. The same trail that we followed on the other side of the bridge. It must lead to Telar’s village! I could go there and get help, or at least get something to rescue Telar. Then I’d hunt the giant octopus and bring Telar back.

  I was resolved, no more tantrums. I started following the trail, hopefully towards the village of Tangle.

  I followed the trail. The canopy above me was tightly woven. It formed a shaded tunnel, only interrupted by luminous beams of light that filtered through. It was beautiful. This path had to be made by Tangle’s villagers. Just the thought made me nervous. What would the villagers think about me? I was suddenly very conscious of my nakedness.

  The path slowly became more well trodden. A clear sign that I was getting close. But it wasn’t the only sign. Also along the path was a small grove with a mossy bench set below an old fruit tree. From its branches hung a rusty wind chime. Its gentle chimes made me feel safe and hopeful.

  Those hopes were soon dashed. The tree tunnel opened to a clearing. I’d arrived in Tangle and it was abandoned.

  Tangle was built around a large ancient tree. Not as large as the one I’d seen in the distance to the North, just the size of a large apartment building. It had dark grey bark. Huge gnarled roots curled and twisted outwards from its colossal trunk. Among these roots was built the town of Tangle. Wooden homes rested under and atop the roots. Connected by a maze of platforms, ladders, and stairs. All the buildings, save one, were burnt out husks.

  I wandered the ruins among the lowest part of Tangle. There was a building of which only a stone chimney remained, maybe a bakery. Another collapsed hut with a huge slab of metal, an anvil! Meaning this place used to be a blacksmith. Guess even elves need metal weapons. I dug through the debris, finding nothing beside rusted scraps. I peeked inside a few homes. All I saw was smashed furniture and ash.

  After failing to find anything on the lowest level I climbed the creaking stairs up the side of the thickest root. The whole way I was anticipating a collapse. It held, but all I found were more ruins. Most of these were overgrown, covered in moss and plants. I saw a few old arrows stuck in the side of a wooden wall. Like someone had shot them up here from below. Nearby was a small enclave built within an opening in the tree. Inside was a stone platform, atop which were the delicate legs of a statue. The top half was completely smashed and scattered. Maybe this was their goddess, or they were big fans of fe- nope, not the time for jokes!

  Up one last ladder was the pinnacle of the village, and the final place left to explore. Halfway up the ladder my talon went through a rotted wooden rung. I scrambled for a moment, but my other talon dug into the tree. I could have climbed up here, but it felt wrong. Like I was desecrating a grave, though I hadn’t seen a single corpse.

  The building on the highest platform was the grandest and most intact structure in Tangle. It was painted a sunfaded blue, every window was shuttered, the roof sagged, and the facade was covered in vines. The front door was completely smashed down, revealing a dark interior.

  The platform outside the entrance had two tables and a handful of wooden chairs. Each table held a single glass vase with a single long dead stalk. People once enjoyed tea up here, where they could overlook the entire village. I could imagine it: The sound of children playing far below, villagers singing as they put out clothes to dry, the smell of freshly baked bread wafting upwards. Now it was silent, and empty.

  The sky was darkening. I didn’t want to spend the night here, I felt like I was being watched. Not a malevolent gaze, but a mournful one. But I still had to search the last building. I needed an advantage, I had to save my friend.

  I walked through the smashed door of the blue building. There were slash marks on the doorframe.

  As I entered, my eyes adjusted to the darkness. I recoiled in horror from what I saw. The floor of the room was covered in skeletal remains. Some still wearing dented old plate armor, others laying atop dirty sleeping mats. All told, at least a dozen empty skulls watched me. Or it felt like they were watching me.

  I kicked through some of the trash on the floor. Nothing of value. A few broken dull swords. Pieces of pottery. I heard a rat or squirrel rustle somewhere. Were these people the villagers or the soldiers of the Nameless Empire? Did they capture Telar? I couldn’t tell if these were elf bones.

  After more searching I picked up an old leather rucksack. A simple thing that I could sling over my shoulders. I also found about 10 silver coins. Each had an engraved profile of a face. All the features were scratched off. Every single coin was disfigured in the same way.

  “Why..” I muttered to myself.

  With the rucksack on my back I climbed the stairs to the second floor. Orange light was flooding into the room through the window. The sun was setting.

  The second floor was a bit smaller, and in slightly better condition. A big window. A wooden desk, full of old papers. A wooden trunk and a few barrels. Behind the desk, on the wall, was mounted a spear. It was about 4 feet long, with a pristine silver tip. A root-like decoration curled up the length of the shaft. A couple small leaves grew from it, as if it were a living thing.

  I couldn’t resist the wooden trunk. As I opened it I heard an audible *click*. A cloud of sickly green gas spewed out of the trunk. It was trapped! I coughed and shielded my eyes as I tried to find the exit. But it was so dense, I couldn’t see! This was bad! I blindly reached out looking for the way down. Any second now this poison would start to hurt. Any second now I would be in trouble. Wait. I took my elbow away from my mouth and inhaled. I was immune to poison! I waited for the gas to clear and then inspected the loot (apparently good enough to put in a trapped chest).

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  The trunk contained two cloudy red potions and a green gold-trimmed silk cloak. I wore it over my shoulders. Hmm, I gave a little twirl. Didn’t feel magical, but this cloak swished nicely. What did magic feel like? Anyway, I could take a closer look later. As for the potions, I would try those later too –probably for healing. I am NOT crazy enough to try them just because I’m immune to some poison.

  Next I grabbed the spear off the wall. It tore away, like plucking a stubborn weed. It was literally growing into the building! I felt a power course through me as I gave a few tentative thrusts. But I dropped it. I tried again. Dropped it again. No, it wasn’t magic that prevented me from using it. I don’t have thumbs. It was literally too difficult to hold. I’d have to modify it. For now I tucked it between the straps of my bag. This spear could be the key to rescuing Telar.

  As I was preparing to leave, I heard a gravelly voice shouting from lower in the village.

  “Come out. Now. This village is the property of the 3rd Company of the Imperial Expeditionary Army,” he shouted.

  It was a stern male voice.

  “We know you’re in there. Don’t make us get you,” the man said.

  I climbed down the stairs and peered over the balcony. I needed to know what I was up against and I wasn’t afraid.

  There were three of them. Three walking skeletons. Undead. All wearing leather and chainmail. The two in the back were underlings I assumed. One was missing an arm and held a broken sword. The other was pointing a loaded crossbow up at me. The most forward one, the leader, stood a foot taller than the other two. Almost 7 feet. He was wearing a full set of plate armor, except for the helm. Instead his gleaming bare skull was visible. On his back was a hulking greatsword held in a leather holster. Unlike Telar’s body when I found him, they didn’t have any modifications. I didn’t see any crystals in their skulls either.

  “Is your owner an Imperial Citizen or soldier? Are they around here,” their leader asked me.

  His voice wasn’t like Telar’s robotic voice, it sounded like a person but somehow came from his skull. And they thought I had an owner? Like a pet…or worse, a slave?

  “I don’t live here. And I own myself,” I shouted down.

  “Is that so…well come down so we can get a better look at ya,” he responded.

  It would be reckless to go down. But now I was itching for a fight, it was time to take risks! I climbed down from the top of the village, until face to face with the undead trio.

  They were even more wrecked up close. The two in the back looked positively brittle. Their leader, while tall and armored, would probably be just as delicate under his plate.

  “We’ll have to punish this one’s owner, Captain,” the crossbow undead said. “It doesn't know to bow to an Imperial Captain. Poorly trained whelp.”

  He shook his head. I imagined he’d have a smug smile if his expression wasn’t a fixed skeletal grin for eternity.

  “Yes, quite. But there are bigger issues, how about you drop your stolen loot,” the Captain said.

  He meant the bag and the spear.

  “I have no issues giving this stuff back, I’m not a thief!” I said. “But do you, um, men, live here? Is this your home?”

  The three of them croaked out sickening laughs.

  “Oh, that’s a good one. Not bad for a stupid lizard, maybe your owner isn’t half bad,” the Captain said. “Do we look like those savage knife ears? We’re part of the Empire’s expeditionary force.”

  He gestured to a damaged insignia on his pauldron.

  “We’re occupying this village until the end of the War.”

  Come to think of it, their armor did look similar to the corpses I found. Except for the captain’s ornate plate armor. And that insignia, it was just a blank spot. Like that part of his armor was sheared off.

  “Okay. I told you. I own myself,” I said, holding back my temper. “And you three boney boys, you do realize that you’re walking skeletons right?”

  A long moment of silence passed.

  “Is that a threat?” barked the captain. He unholstered his great sword, pointing it towards me with a skeletal hand.

  Wow, this one is not slacking on the calcium. I didn’t think he’d be able to lift that, let alone lift it with one hand.

  He flicked my green cloak aside with the tip of his sword revealing my chest. I stood firm, not betraying a hint of fear.

  “If you don’t have an owner, me and my men can take care of you. Your body ain’t half bad. Go on, stop playing at civilization and come with us,” the captain said.

  The desire practically dripped off each word. I was now being sexually harassed by a group of three skeletons. Enough intel gathering for now!

  “Okay take a look!” I shouted.

  I threw my arms back, swooping my cloak behind me. Before hopping onto the captain’s uplifted sword. Clank. Clank. Clank. That was the sound of my talons as I strode atop his blunt sword. Then I reeled my leg back, and in one smooth motion delivered a full force talon kick to his skull.

  I half-expected the captain’s skull to go flying, but instead it shattered with a gruesome*crunch*.

  I leapt from the captain straight towards the crossbow undead. His crossbow was already pointed at me. I heard the bolt whizz past my ear, before I collided shoulder first with his torso. He smashed into the ground. Bones scattered across the ground with a melodic clattering.

  I rolled to my feet. Ready to dodge whatever the sword-undead had in store for me. Instead I saw him slowly limping towards me. I saved the worst for last.

  I circled the sword undead, watching as he turned to follow me.

  “Please…the war has gone on so long. I just want to go home…” he muttered.

  “What war? And when was the last time you heard from a general? Gotten a letter from home? Or any news from outside here?” I asked. Some compassion might earn me information.

  “Years. Decades. I don’t remember. The newsheets said we were winning. That the Usurper was scared. That new weapons were being developed each day…and then…and then”

  His body went limp and he collapsed next to his comrades.

  Huh, that was unexpected. So they were Imperial soldiers from the Nameless Empire. But, these three were on autopilot. Just going through the motions even though the Empire might not exist anymore. Yes, the motions were evil. Occupation, slavery, hatred. But why would they do that? Could the same thing that affected Telar be affecting them too?

  I heard some skittering. The bones of the captain were moving! Being slowly drawn together. I had enough video game knowledge to know what happened next.

  Sorry not today. I spent the next few minutes piling the bones into a noisy quivering mass. Then I let loose my Arcane Breath. I charred the bones into a cute smoldering pile of ash. Rest in peace bozos.

  I felt energy spread throughout my body. It felt like taking a cold shower first thing in the morning. That would be my level up.

  My muscles felt rejuvenated and lighter. I hopped a couple times. It’s hard to describe, but I felt an extra reservoir of energy. A reservoir that I could unlock at will, giving myself a surge of speed and power when I needed. This was my new ability, just like Arcane Breath.

  Since it was night, and there was no way I was sleeping here, I decided to try it out. The goal was to run to the windchime tree faster -I wanted to sleep in that safe feeling grove. I activated my Action Surge and started running. I practically exploded forward! I was running twice, no three times as fast. Not only was I moving fast, I was thinking fast as well! But it didn’t last long, probably only 30 seconds. In that time I’d covered half the distance to the tree! This was it. The advantage I was looking for! I tried activating it again. No luck. Like Arcane Breath, it would likely require a rest before I could use it again.

  It wasn't difficult to make it back to the windchime grove, where I was greeted by familiar chimes. Telar’s people must have placed protective magic here. It was like an oasis.

  Atop one of the higher branches I curled up to rest. I hugged my rucksack and my new spear close to my chest, twisted my tail around my body, and used my cloak as a blanket. From within my comfy burrito, I soon drifted off to a deep sleep. That night I had my first dream in this new world.