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Equal Shares pt. 1

By: MoarSausNou

Why indeed is a bounty hunter going to fight front-lines in a war? I ask that question to myself as I reached my destination, the Radiant Capitol. Bounty hunters do just as their name suggests: hunt targets for a bounty. We specialize in single targets, not large masses. So why am I, Gondar, one of the most infamous bounty hunters, signing himself up for what is almost certainly a death warrant?

I walked up to the recruitment officer and slammed a letter of recruitment on the table in front of him that I had received two days ago.

"What's this?" I ask softly.

The recruitment officer, in a bored fashion, rotated the letter around so he could read it. He glanced at me with one eyebrow raised and responded with a huff of annoyance, "It's a recruitment letter." As if I hadn't read it.

I glare at him, "I meant the offered payment." I hissed through my red bandana covering my mouth.

He looked back down at the letter momentarily and sighed, "'Pardon of all crimes, property, and a monthly allowance of five thousand gold for the remaining duration of your life at the completion of your assigned task.' Namely, in your case, the destruction of a Dire Ancient."

"Why me? What pushed the capitol to hire a bounty hunter to do their dirty work? For such a generous reward, no less," I hissed. I knew the crimes that I had done in order to kill most of my bounties. Most were considered unforgivable by anyone. What did the Radiant want from me that required them to go to such extremes to hire me?

"We need the best," The officer replied drily. Does he not know who I am? He must because he said that I was the best, but why is he being so expressionless?

I sigh inwardly, I am asking too many questions. I am distracting myself. The reward is significant, a chance to escape from my career as a bounty hunter. An official pardon, in addition to money and property. It is too good to be true. There is no way that there could be such a huge offering without a catch. I know that they won't tell me what that catch is until it's too late. I weigh my options in my head. The whole thing is probably a trap, a way to remove a possible threat for the Radiant. Being a bounty hunter, I am compelled to hunt anyone with a bounty regardless of the person's status or side in the war. However, there is no way that anyone would place any potential threat close to something valuable of theirs, like an Ancient, which is certainly something that they'd be doing. The reward as well, it is too tempting of a prize.

"Very well, I'll join your war," The words sound more confident and aloof than I feel. I know I am going to regret my decision soon enough, but I might as well commit to it.

"Excellent," The recruitment officer states with the same tone of passiveness as always. He pulls out a slip of paper from a drawer to his right and slides it in front of me along with a quill and an ink well. "Sign here, here, here, and here." He indicates with a finger where I should sign. I hesitate. If I sign this, then I have no way out. If I attempt to default, then a bounty will be placed on my head so high that hunters for miles will attempt to kill me and claim the bounty. I may be among the best, but I cannot hope to evade them all. That's how the system works. I chuckle to myself at the irony. Fortunately, I have no reason to default and the reward still beckons, so I steel myself and sign.

The next moment, I am being whisked away by an associate down a hallway. I am soon dropped off in an empty stone room with a barred window and a simple wooden table with a lit candle on it and instructed to wait for more orders in a familiar dry tone. Huh, I think to myself, Is everyone here expressionless? Seeing no chairs, I lower myself to the floor, bring myself into a butterfly sitting position, close my eyes, and begin to meditate. I clear my mind and listen to my breath rustle my red bandana. I rarely take the darn thing off. It's the only thing of my childhood left, the only thing that comforted me when I was alone, an orphan cub, crying in the forest. But that was years ago. I've grown stronger since then. So, why do I still wear it? That answer still eludes me, but I can never will myself to be rid of the red square of cloth. Besides, it calms me.

I sit on the floor motionless for around an hour. Eventually, I feel the urge to move around creep up on me. I resist the urge for another half an hour until it overwhelms me. I open my eyes and stare at the opposite wall. I get up off the floor and decide to do some stretches. My stiff muscles complain at the contortions I move through, but the movements feel good. Flexibility and dexterity have been invaluable to me throughout my career, allowing me to stay hidden in unlikely places, and to strike past defenses in ways that no one would think of. I continue through a full routine of stretches demonstrating flexibility that would make a court acrobat jealous.

Just as I finish, I start to wonder if I had been forgotten. Just then the door opens introducing another man in a scribe's uniform holding several scrolls. He's clearly new to the job considering his nervous posture and youthful face. He couldn't be any older than fifteen. I stare at him silently as he drops the scrolls messily on the table and rushes out an apology as one of the scrolls falls off the table. The sight would have been considered humorous in another context, but right now...

"You're new." I state. There was no question in my voice.

The poor boy practically jumped out of his skin, but retorts. "And you're Gondar the bounty hunter."

I smile behind my mask. At least someone here knows who I am, or at least what I can do. "Relax, I'm not here to scare you."

The poor boy swallows and nods and composes himself before stating with authority. "I'm here to provide you details on your mission... and your opposition." That last part gave me a sense of unease, or rather, the way it was said. Of course I'd have opposition for something as big as destroying an opposing Ancient, but what prompted that kind of tone? The scribe said it with fear, but not for himself. For me. I realize. Why for me?

I walk up to the side of the table opposite to the young scribe and sigh, "Spill it then, what's the deal?"

The youth spread out the largest of the scrolls. I immediately recognized it as a map of the Radiant and Dire realms. "We have discovered that the Dire are preparing an offensive on an Ancient located here" and the boy points at a dot near the bordering line between the Dire and the Radiant. "This Ancient is important because it is located near a vital trading route between these two cities." He points out two well populated cities that I am familiar with. I am also familiar with the route. The mountain ranges in between the two cities make any other route severely inconvenient and immediately recognize the importance of the Ancient for the Radiant. "The Dire have recognized the value of this location and have rallied their own Heroes to assault our Ancient. For now, our troops have kept them at bay, but the Ancient will fall without our own group of Heroes, including you, to counter their assault. If you are able to destroy their Ancient, then they would be unable to sustain their warriors for additional assaults on this location."

Seems pretty basic so far, "So what's the catch?"

The young scribe hesitates a second, and flattens out another scroll over the map. I take one look at the paper and feel my heart sink. "This is your opposition," the scribe whispers.

I knew I would regret my decision.

***

I stare at the list of five names and look at their portraits to verify what I had read. Balanar the Nightstalker, Rotund'jere the Necrolyte, Akasha the Queen of Pain, Lucifer the Doom Bringer, and Demnok the Warlock. They are gods amongst men, legendary for their accomplishments and feared throughout the land for it.

Balanar is the reason people don't wander off the beaten path or travel at night. He controls the night in a both literal and figurative sense. He can, at will, turn day to night or entrap someone in the throughs of darkness. He delights in the fear of other and likes to savor his victim's screams before he kills them.

Rotund'jere used to be a holy monk, but as he rose in power, he fell into the entrapments of greed and stole from dying nobles in a plagued land and was sentenced to death in a plagued town for it, but the plaugue ended up giving him unexpected power, and now wanders around spreading disease and death.

Akasha used to be a demon concubine bound to a mortal king who had a fetish for pain, when the king died due to an upheaval, she was let loose and now enjoys torturing random people before slaying them.

Lucifer is a fallen angel who wanders bringing hell and destruction in his wake. He is known to consume his victims whole and is said to be able to kill an ordinary person at a glance.

Demnok is a prodigal warlock who, in his quest for hidden knowledge discovered his talent for dark magic out of need to protect himself from dangers in the ruins he so loved to delve into for hidden secrets. It is said that the trademark staff that he carries that should have taken a large group of magi to summon and wrestle a demon into the wood was only created by himself as an afterthought.

How could I compare to such foes? The task that had seemed so basic only moments before now seems impossible.

Whatever confidence I had before had vanished. I stare a few more moments at the list of names before I look back up to the scribe. I must have looked as though I had a million questions, as I did, and the young scribe hurriedly told me, "We don't know how they of all people were recruited. They must have sacrificed much in order to get them." If the child was trying to comfort me, it wasn't working. I looked back down, dejected. I can't run away, I'll be killed before I reach the edge of the Capitol border, but continuing is surely a death sentence.

I look back up sick to my stomach, but was startled by something I didn't expect. The youth was on the verge of tears.

"Why do you cry?" I wonder aloud.

"I fear for you." He replied.

"Why?" No one has ever shown such emotion for a lowlife bounty hunter before.

The child looks away for a moment and rests his elbows on the table and looks down at the wood. "You saved me." He says. I stare at him, confused.

"I do not remember saving anyone. All I do is kill." I respond skeptically, unused to this behavior.

"I know, but... A man you killed had held me captive, tortured me and... used me. I saw you kill him in front of me. You could have left me, but you freed me and gave me food and bandaged me. I owe you everything."

I remember now, an earlier job maybe seven or so years ago. A man in power had been abducting children in plain sight and the law enforcement did nothing. A joint bounty had been set up by the victims' parents to kill the man responsible. I caught the man as he was about to rape one of the children, slit his throat before he noticed me and freed the children. I ended up receiving a bonus for returning the children alive. So this young scribe must have been one of those children. I smiled despite myself recognizing him. I then started and realized the position the boy was in. His savior was being sent to his death, and the child had to be the news bearer.

"Hey, relax." I say in a soothing voice, "I think you forget who I am! I've tracked and killed hundreds of dangerous targets, and I've never failed to complete a bounty."

The boy struggles out a laugh and sniffles a bit, wiping his nose on his sleeve. I relax a bit, I've managed to calm him down. Now to convince myself that I was going to be fine as well.

The boy nods once and then explains the layout of the terrain in between the Radiant and Dire Ancients. I pay attention to his words obsessively in order to distract myself from who my opponents are. I take comfort in the fact that there are an extensive amount of trees and therefore ample opportunities to hide, or ambush.

Suddenly, I was reminded of something the scribe had mentioned and motioned for the scribe to pause. "You said I'd be working with others? Who?"

The scribe shuffled his feet anxiously, "I don't actually know myself, they were recruited recently as well and in different areas no less. All I was told was that we only have four others who signed up." Great. I wonder if they are as desperate as me, or if they know exactly who we are up against.

"All right, I think I get the general idea. When am I scheduled to leave?" I ask.

"Immediately."

*****

The carriage jostled me awake as it ran over a rock in the road. I push back the blinds on the windows of the carriage and recognized the trade route mentioned in the debriefing. I only have perhaps ten more minutes of riding in this carriage to go. I sigh dejectedly and wonder who my fellow Heroes are. I still haven't been told who they are, but I was told that we are supposed to meet at the fountain near the Ancient. Apparently, we are supposed to all just arrive today. The Radiant are really scrambling. I think numbly. I decide to meditate for the remaining amount of time and close my eyes and imagine myself in a glade filled with flowers where I had wandered into as a pup. I remember it being the most magical area I had ever seen at the time. I sigh and wonder if I'll ever see that kind of splendor again. I rub the edge of my red kerchief covering my mouth out of habit.

The carriage came to a stop and the door opened revealing the Radiant Ancient. I looked around and couldn't see anyone else, so I focused my attention back onto the Ancient. I had never been so close to one before. It looked like a well of light encompassed by blossoming cherry trees, which was odd considering that it was almost the end of Summer. The driver told me that the Ancient fed the nearby fountain with the sunlight it captures. Somehow, the two combined was able to produce a liquid that was sweet to taste and could heal any wound. Should I ever be injured, I'd be able to return here and heal myself, no matter how close to death I was.

Interesting, I thought to myself. I walked over to the fountain and noticed the air was moist, yet cool. I felt certain parts of my body respond to the moisture in the air more than other parts of my body. I looked over at my arm and noticed with alarm that old scars were disappearing. A quick check around my body verified that my old wounds were repairing themselves, slowly but surely. I looked back at the driver and noticed his amused expression. "The effect is faster if you drink from the fountain, you know." He added. I nodded back to him. I look back at the fountain and marvel at how something like this could exist. I knew the Capitol has a fountain like this with an Ancient, but that area was reserved to the elite and trusted few for fear of abuse by vagabonds. Like me. I remind myself. I don't blame the Radiant. It was necessary to guard the fountains. There are too many people out there who are willing to harm others to allow pubic usage of such a marvel.

I hear behind me, "The others should be arriving soon," I look back to the driver and showed that I understood as he climbed back onto the driver's seat and directed the horses to move onwards.

Alone at last. Well, not quite, there's still the Dire. I suddenly felt very exposed. I decided to use a little trick that I had picked up over my years of staying cloaked in shadow. I tapped into what mana I had and willed the shadows to obscure me. There was a small pop and a cloud of darkness washed over me. Confident that I was more or less invisible, I vaulted up the fountain and awaited my companions. Throughout my years, it was always a good idea to observe who you were working with before you interacted with them. You never know if someone you didn't know was going to stab you in the back. I sat under a ledge where the shadows were sure to hide me and waited.

I didn't have to wait long before I heard another carriage pull up. I saw the door being opened by the driver in a curious fashion, almost as though he feared what was inside. Once the door opened the driver leaped back and allowed, to my surprise, a leather-armored ash-gray ursine. I was familiar with ursine tribes, as I used to live in forests where they'd live, though this particular specimen was far more muscular than any of the others that I had seen in my previous dealings. Also, most had a thick layer of fat on them, but this warrior didn't seem to have any excess fat anywhere on him. As for personalities, they aren't the most welcoming of people, but they aren't known to be vicious without due cause. I've dealt with them on many occasions, but only to help them deal with poachers trespassing in their areas. I've never known one to use back-handed tactics and they are very forward with their emotions. They also hate surprises. I would be mad and try to surprise one I'd be working with. I rose from my hiding place and dropped my cloak of shadow.

The ursine noticed me immediately and stared silently as I dropped from where I was hiding and made my way over to him, stopping around ten feet away. I noticed the ursine's driver hurrying to distance himself from the warrior as he hopped into the driver's seat and sped off. I also now notice that the warrior towers over me by at least two and a half feet. I fortify my resolve, stand straight, and look into the Ursa's eyes.

"Why hide?" The ursine growls first in a gravelly voice.

"I have much to fear from the unknown" I respond truthfully staring into the other's eyes.

"You speak like prey." The Ursa warrior's eyes narrow.

"More like the young pup who ate the wrong berries too often." I grin, using an ursine idiom as reply. I was rewarded with a hearty laugh in return.

"True indeed," The ursine chuckled. "Come, my name is Ulfsaar. I see you are familiar with my people."

"I helped a few tribes deal with poachers on many an occasion. My name is Gondar." I respond bowing my head arms crossed over my chest to show respect.

"Indeed? I have heard of you from the other tribes. You have no need to fear me then, for you have helped my people. Call upon me should you need aid." Ulfsaar bowed his head arms crossed over his chest in reply. I sigh in relief. An Ursa warrior is not someone you want crossed, and something tells me that Ulfsaar is a fierce combatant.

I decide to show Ulfsaar the fountain and its properties as he likely hasn't had the opportunity to learn about them. As I lead him over to the fountain, I notice something peculiar. Ulfsaar's steps are lighter than they should be. He looks to be at least six hundred pounds of solid muscle and is probably over seven feet high, but his steps say that he is only a quarter of that. That implies that the ursine is accustomed to quick and light motions. The implications are stunning. An agile Ursa? That's practically an oxymoron. The ursine tribes pride themselves with their strength and size, not agility and lightness. While I'm sure the first two apply to Ulfsaar as a trait, the latter two also seem to apply. Odd.

I showed the fountain to Ulfsaar, and I noticed him start as he noticed his old scars begin to heal. I saw that he had a similar reaction as I had to the change. He then did something that I did not expect. He shed his armor and check all over his body to ensure that all of his scars were fading. I couldn't help but notice what was hanging between his legs and I suppressed a gasp and swallowed. I'm surprised I didn't notice them before. They were... a lot larger than I had considered normal for ursine folk, which was large. I found myself blushing hard. I suddenly noticed that that Ursa warrior was staring at me with an amused expression on his face. "See something you like?" He asks playfully in his gruff voice, and then offers with all seriousness. "You want to rut?"

I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped at what the Ursa was asking as I stared wide-eye at him, looking to see if he was serious. Was he attracted to men? The forwardness of it all! He couldn't be serious, we just got to know one another, but ursine people were not known to play around when it came to requests. I also couldn't believe that my brain was actually contemplating his offer. Then again, I haven't been laid in months. I was glad my bandana was still covering my mouth as it hid my mouth as it was trying to word out a response.

Fortunately, I was saved by the sound of another carriage arriving. I closed my mouth, lowered my head, and simply walked away blushing furiously to meet the new arrival as the sound of booming laughter followed in my wake.

I slid the bandana further up my face until it hid my cheeks from the scrutinizing gaze of whoever else might be in the carriage. As it turns out, there were two people in the carriage. The first one to step off was a species that I had never seen before. He has a golden coat of fur that was thicker on the back, looking almost like a cape. He has an impressive beard braided down the front that comes down so far as to almost brush the ground. His arms are massive, I believe even larger than Ulfsaar's arms. These arms are impressive, but then I see that his torso is positively massive. It is clear to me that this creature was occupying over half of the carriage. It is clear that strength is his speciality. I also notice that he walks on all fours. Very few civilized creatures travel on all fours. It is odd that I have never encountered his kind before, you'd think that these creatures would stand out. What's also strange is that he doesn't smell like any normal creature. I sniff more carefully, and notice the smell of stone. Why does he smell of stone? And then I see it. I hit myself for not noticing it before, but he seems to be carrying a monstrous stone totem the size of his torso. I could only guess at its weight, but it must be incredible. It's held on his back with a stone cradle secured like a saddle. The combined weight of all of the gear would have definitely crushed me. Once the creature left the carriage, I noticed that the carriage stood much higher off the ground than it did before.

The next person to exit the carriage made me stop breathing. Huskar. The troll warrior is a legend. He is a warrior who made the ultimate sacrifice to save his land, and succeeded, but was then resurrected by a shadow priest. Rumor has it that he seeks an honorable death once more. If that is true, then I can hardly be surprised that he's here. Huskar glances at me, nods once, and proceeds to the fountain. Undoubtedly, he is accustomed to fighting off attacks on Ancients.

I turn my attention back onto the other new arrival. I notice that he is talking to Ulfsaar which, to my infinite relief, has put back on his armor. The two are sitting on their hindquarters and introducing themselves. The two seem to have hit it off fairly well, they are laughing heartily towards each other. Ulfsaar notices me and then beckons me to come over. I walk over and sit down next to the two.

"You move very quietly," The golden-furred creature rumbles. His voice sounds as though boulders were rolling down a hill. The sound vibrated through my entire frame. "You as well, Ulfsaar."

Ulfsaar's ears pick up at the mention of his name.

"I have met many ursians in my travels, but none move quite as deftly as you." Ulfsaar turned is head to the side as though ashamed at the creature's words. "It is nothing to be ashamed of. Light-footedness is a trait most underestimate." The creature chuckles. "I should know."

Considering the weight of his totem and himself, I don't doubt him. He would have trouble walking around on anything solid that wasn't the ground as it would almost certainly break under the weight. It's a wonder how the carriage managed to not shatter with the man in it.

"Ah! How rude of me," The creature starts, "I call myself Raigor. Raigor Stonehoof." He holds out his hand to me and I grasp it and shake hands. I could feel the strength in his hand, but Raigor's control is impressive as he shakes my hand firmly but without crushing my hand into nothingness.

"Gondar," Again, I smell the scent of earth. It can't be coming from his totem, but then where?

We exchange more pleasantries, and head over to the fountain. It's starting to get dark, but the fifth person has yet to arrive. Who could it be? It'd be a problem if the Dire attacked with us missing someone. Perhaps they defaulted, considering who we're up against, but I doubt it. No one is that stupid to risk that high of a bounty being placed on their head.

After a few hours of waiting, I decide to meditate for a while. Raigor and Ulfsaar move off to the side of the fountain and continue their conversation. Apparently, they enjoy each other's company. A few minutes later, I notice a sudden change in atmosphere. Raigor and Ulfsaar had stopped talking. As I open my eyes, I notice that they are staring at each other intently. Ulfsaar seems to be panting, as though he had run a marathon, while Raigor is giving him a wicked chuckle.

I start to grow concerned when suddenly, the two rise.

"We need to settle this now," Ulfsaar declares.

"Agreed," rumbles Raigor.

I look at Ulfsaar with an eyebrow raised. He notices my inquisitive gaze and responds, "A... test of strength." He shakes out his arms and gives a loud laugh, "I'm shaking! I haven't been this excited in a long time."

I don't contest, ursians love a good competition of strength, and Raigor does look as though he'd be able to give Ulfsaar a good run for his money.

I pretend to meditate as I watch the two wander off into the forest until I lose sight of the two, wondering how they're going to figure out who is the stronger.

Huskar and I content ourselves while waiting for the two by sharpening our blades. I sharpened my shurikens and my two trusty blades. When I finished, I looked over to see how Huskar was doing. Huskar's dagger seemed to glow under his ministrations. Once polished and sharpened, he moved to his spears. He then did something to them that I was unfamiliar with.

"What is that you're doing to your spears" I ask inquisitively.

"Fire-proofing them." Huskar responds dryly. I'm confused. I'm familiar with fire-proofing weaponry, but what Huskar is doing is different than what I had expected. Besides, one of our opponents, namely Lucifer, is a creature of fire. I decide to play along.

"Doesn't fire-proofing require a different method?"

Huskar gives a single short laugh lacking humor, "This isn't for normal fire."

This quiets me. I don't know what he's talking about, but I've only know one kind of fire. However, Huskar seems to know what his weapons need. I don't think I'd be able to really understand why he treated his weapons like that until I see him fight.

***

I sit meditating at the base of the ancient. The sun had set a long time ago, and I'm starting to worry about Raigor and Ulfsaar. Just then I see two figures emerging from the forest. I squint to see what manner of creatures are approaching. I have to keep my guard up as the Dire have become far more situated in this forest that we have been able to.

What I see makes my heart stop. Raigor is dragging Ulfsaar back. The Ursa warrior seems unconscious as he isn't moving. I rush out of the base to try and help, but Raigor only laughs at my distress.

Wait, did he just laugh? This is serious! Ulfsaar appears near death! I feel my anger rising. Raigor must have sense my rage and held up his free hand.

"Hold, Ulfsaar is fine, just tired. He..." Raigor looks down at the now groaning Ulfsaar and chuckles, "He lost."

"I guess that's what I get for trying to challenge a creature of stone" grunts Ulfsaar, and then pants, "but... how could I have known... you had such a huge... amount of strength." Raigor laughed heartily.

I relax my guard a bit. "Damn it, don't scare me like that! Don't you realize we're right next to the enemy?"

"Funny, that you mention it..."

I didn't recognize that voice. It was gravelly, like Ulfsaar's, but more sinister. It also came from right next to me. I only managed to look to my side where the voice came from before darkness fell upon me. This wasn't like I was unconscious, I could feel the darkness swirling around me. I couldn't breathe. That was when the darkness started to tear at my flesh. I screamed in pain as my blood spilled on the ground. It was as though the darkness wanted me to rip me to pieces. And then it was over. The violent darkness lifted to reveal the regular night darkness.

Escape. I drew into my mind and summoned my own shadows to hide me. I heard a wooshing sound behind me that ended in a tone that resembled a bell's chime. I then dove to the side to avoid a second burst. It was a good thing too, as when I looked back to where I was standing, there was a demonic looking woman with bat wings poised in midstrike with a dagger. I almost died. It was then when I recognized our attackers: Balanar the Nightstalker and Akasha the Queen of Pain.

"Aw... he got away." Akasha pouts, "I wanted to see him squirm as he died..."

"No matter," retorts Balanar, "You can have your fun with these two. We'll pick off the others tomorrow."

I look down to see Raigor laying on the ground, face bleeding and struggling to stand. Ulfsaar is a bigger wreck. It looks as though he cannot even process what had happened as stumbles to his feet.

"Aw... poor baby, look at you. You look like a mess." Cooed Akasha as she circle around Ulfsaar. "Here, let me make it all... better!" as she shoves her dagger into Ulfsaar's back.

Ulfsaar roars and tries to swipe at the Queen of Pain, but she just dances out of his reach. "Unh, Unh, Unh!" she taunts, "Soon you won't be able to stand. You see, that dagger was poisoned," she cackles, "My own special blend! Your body will tense up, painfully so. Your muscles will keep contracting until your body tears itself apart!"

Ulfsaar's eyes widen as he feels his body tighten. He collapses onto the ground silently. All I can do is watch. I'd never be able to take down both right now. As soon as I break my shadow cover, I'd be vulnerable to another attack.

"They never scream when you want them to," sighs Akasha.

Just then the Nightstalker chuckles a bit, "You think the night hides you, bounty hunter?" My eye widen as I realize he's referring to me. "The night is my realm. Its shadows are my shadows. You think you can hide from me? You have no hope here." He then looks straight into my eyes.

Just then, a roar erupts from the base. A figure leaps forward and embeds his dagger into Balanar's back. The Nightstalker roars at the pain.

Huskar.

Huskar leaps back from the Nightstalker and readies a spear and then cuts his hand with it. What are you doing?! My question was answered immediately when the blade of Huskar's spear burst into flames.

I notice that Akasha's back is turned to me. I ready my knife and aim it to strike the most painful part of her body. Now!

I plunge my knife into her body. And then bring my other blade up to her neck. I then whisper into her ear, "I heard you like pain," and then I twisted my knife. The scream that erupted from her is more than I expected. It tore into me and ripped at my soul. It's enough to knock me away from her. I catch myself and ready my weapons again. She then looks at me with a bewildered look on her face. She looks at her accomplice and noticed that he isn't faring any better. Huskar had severely wounded Balanar and scorch marks are covering the night terror's body.

She huffs annoyance and starts to run towards Balanar. I run to chase her down. I am almost upon her when she grabs onto Balanar and I hear that whooshing chime again. All of a sudden, the two are gone. I make a quick check to see if we are actually alone again, and then I run to the aid of Raigor and Ulfsaar. Raigor is able to get up by himself and shakes off any attempt for help. "I'm fine,"

Ulfsaar isn't so lucky. He is curled into a ball is mewling in pain.

"Raigor, can you help him to the fountain?" I ask.

Raigor nods and carries Ulfsaar off to the fountain.

I walk over to Huskar, "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, I did more damage to myself than he did to me," He replies calmly. I double-check Huskar and I am alarmed by the number of cuts bleeding all over his arms. I wonder how he's still standing. He must have lost a lot of blood.

"We should get you to the fountain." I state. Huskar resists at first and then realizes that it's becoming difficult to stand. I help him back to the fountain.

I discover Raigor hovering over Ulfsaar's face. The Ursine is still curled with a pained expression on his face. He looks up to me, "I don't understand, his wounds are healed, but the poison is still killing him."

"That's because the fountain doesn't cure poison."

I ready my blades once again. Another strange voice. It doesn't help that this voice also sounds sinister and almost snakelike.

"Relax, if I were here to harm you, then the fountain would have rejected me and I'd be dead."

"Where are you, show yourself if you're no threat." I yell. There was no need, I could tell he was behind the fountain using some kind of ventriloquism to hide his presence, but I didn't want someone I didn't trust from seeing how strong my powers of observation are when primed. I just didn't know who was behind the fountain.

I ready my shuriken and huskar readies a spear in case the mysterious creature ended up being hostile. Then I saw what appeared to be a cross between a snake and a slug with an armored carapace and two bug-like arms but with two appendages on its head that appeared to be some sort of sprayers. Huskar and I both start at the sight and both of us growl, "Venomancer," as we raise our weapons again.

"Now, now, is that how you treat someone who is on your side? And no less towards the person who's going to save your friend. Besides, it's Lesale to you. Perhaps defaulting from the Dire was a bad idea..."

Husker and I hesitate. I look at Huskar. He looks confused. He then says, "I don't understand, the fountain should have rejected you."

Lesale huffs with impatience bringing his bug-like appendages to his side resembling someone putting their hands on their hips. "And I already told you that I mean you no harm and that I'm on your side. The fountain hasn't obliterated me yet, so I guess you'll just have to take that as proof that I'm telling the truth. Besides, time is running out for your ursine friend. The poison is getting into his heart and the fountain can't heal a heart that has stopped."

"Fine," I state, lowering my weapons, we're running out of time, "What do you want us to do?"

"Trust me" the Venomancer says as he slithers over to the fallen Ursa warrior. He gestures Raigor to move aside. Raigor shuffles to the side and awaits anxiously.

Nobody could have expected what came next. Lesale's venom sprayers attached themselves to Ulfsaar's mouth and began to pump venom into the ursine's mouth. Ulfsaar's eye's shot open and his arms begin flail and his throat swells with what is being forced down his throat.

Huskar and I roar and brandish our weapons again. As we being to charge, the Venomancer yells, "STOP!"

"You're killing him!" I roar.

"I'm saving him! The poison in his body is being countered by my venom. I'm delivering a powerful relaxant into him. This should counter the tensing effect of Akasha's poison." Lesale yells back.

As he says it, Ulfsaar's arms begin to relax and fall to his sides. Lesale then releases his venom sprayers from Ulfsaar's mouth. Ulfsaar's face is plastered with a goofy smile and then looks over to Raigor and chokes out a small laugh. Raigor starts for a second, and then starts chuckling which turns into a full-body laugh that is so powerful that he's on his own side gasping for air.

I stare at Raigor for a moment, glance over at Huskar and see him fling his arms up in the air in a way that says "I give up." The Venomancer seems to be pleased by his work and shuffles over to the ancient saying as he goes, "I'm going to fortify our defences."

This is who I'm working with. I sit down on the ground with my hands propping up my head as struggled with the conflicting emotions that followed. I wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry, scream in rage, or... something.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will figure things out. Now, I need some sleep.

***