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The manticore won, although it was close for a while.

"Well the Orc camps to the north have been far more active lately. I wouldn't go that way." Runo said as they studied the map.

"Well we don't have the supplies to go via the Sphinx river or the hart forest. Unless we want to turn around and go back to town and buy some provisions." Aleoric replied, he hadn't picked up any supplies while in town like he planned. While they had got some from the goblins, they would be stretched getting all four there and back.

"We can't go to town, my owner will be there waiting for me." Jumped in Jarus nervously, his owner being the master of the mage's guild he could cause a lot of trouble for them.

"Then we should go through the Valley of the Manticore." Kenia said reaching over to put a paw on the horses shoulder. "And that guy is not your owner, you are your own person. Anybody says otherwise will have me to deal with."

"

The Valley of the Manticore great, all we have to face is a half lion half human demi god. Perfect!" The snake commented dryly as he checked his weapons.

"Please, the Manticore is just a myth. Nobody has seen him in living memory." The fox replied with a chuckle as he got his equipment and prepared for travel.

"What about the loot we got from the goblins?" Aleoric asked, the bear ever the one for details.

"Who care's after we hit Kafta's temple we will be set for life?" Kenia asked with a broad grin on his face.

"Or we'll be dead and unable to spend it." Runo added with a chortle. "Well unless we come back as zombies."

"Seriously, snake, zombies are about as real as the Manticore" The barbarian fox replied with a chuckle.

With one last glance at the small fortune they were leaving behind and after each of them had stuffed their pockets with a few coins and gems, just in case, the group headed out.

The next four days were exhausting, they travelled all day and spent time each night teaching Jarus some basic combat techniques. Runo showed no signs of betrayal, although Aleroic had his eye on him and with an unspoken agreement he and Kenia slept in shifts to make sure there was always one of them watching the naga.

Still as they neared the Valley of the Manticore the group grew closer. While they were to tired to re-enact the fun of their first night there was definitely some touching and those that were sleeping slept cuddled up to the others. The Naga coiled his longer tail around the group. Each night he offered to take a shift on watch and he did his best to hide his disappointment when he was turned down.

Finally they reached the Valley of the Manticore two huge cliffs towering above them, unclimbable and unpassable. The valley between them was narrow with a deep river running though it. The group made one last check of their weapons and then headed in. Travelling in a close group, the fox taking the lead and the naga covering the rear. Aleroic paused as he sensed something. "There's something up ahead, something powerful."

"We can't go back, if this Manticore is real and he gets in our way we have to take him down. We'll distract him and you bring your most powerful spells." Kenia said as he got his axe out. Jarus drew his sword, he was trembling a little.

Runo and Kenia both placed a reassuring paw on the horse. "Hey don't worry if you are nervous." The snake said quietly.

"Yeah, you'll do fine. Everyone gets the shakes their first time." The fox added giving the naga a wink. They both knew what the horse was feeling as they had felt it their first time.

Aleoric was far too busy flicking through his tome looking for a powerful battle spell. He found one a fire and lightening tempest, he had only ever managed to cast it once before and it was so powerful he had passed out afterwards. It was the most powerful spell he knew how to cast.

As the group advanced he followed behind beginning the long chant he needed to complete to finish the spell, fire runes appearing and spinning around his head as he walked. It wasn't long before the path curved around towards the river and the found themselves confronted with a bridge.

A narrow stone bridge spanned the deep water and right before it stood a tall muscular being. Leaning on a halberd the being was naked, his body covered in golden fur with a lion tail flicking in the wind. He had a huge mane of black fur cascading down his shoulders. His eyes were gold and glowing, his face a handsome bearded human, with a feline nose and catlike ears. Every muscle on his body appeared toned to perfection and between his legs dangled a heavy sheath and balls equal in size to Aleoric's huge organes.

As they approached cautiously the being turned to look at them. When they set foot on the bridge he said in a voice so deep it was felt more than heard. "None shall pass."

Before Aleoric could respond and try to reason with the being the little fiery barbarian screamed. "Bugger that!" The fox charged his axe held aloft. The snake and horse followed him a half second later, weapons drawn the naga hissing loudly and the horse silent, his eyes terrified but filled with determination.

The fox arrived first and swung his axe only for the manticore to duck the blow and sweep his legs out from under him. He dodged the horse's clumsy swing easily and punched Jarus in the gut so hard he yelped and collapsed into a ball on the group. As he turned back Runo jumped forward with the surprising speed of a snake. His eyes flashed as he locked gazes with the creature. "Let go, you are tired, why fight?"

With a brief look of doubt the manitcore faltered and the blinked, before throwing a powerful punch that caught the snake on the chin and send him sprawling backwards unconscious. He spun around afterwards lashing out with a foot to connect with the fox's head as Kenia was halfway back to his feet. The little fox was send flying into the wall of the bridge knocking him unconscious.

Aleoric watched as the beast spun his halberd around and advanced on his fallen friends. With the urgency of the truly desperate he finished his spell, holding his paws up to the sky he screamed out the activation chant, a streak of lightening leaping out of his fingers.

The manticore stopped in his tracks looking at the sky a second later a bolt of lightening struck him in the chest. It continued as a whirlwind of fire sprung up from the ground and combined with the lightening. The rocks on the bridge cracked and glowed with the heat of the spell as the manticore disappeared from sight.

Aleoric fell to his knees as the effect of the spell drained all the energy from him, leaving him weak as a kitten and unable to stand. He smiled with the success of his spell, they would sing songs of his deed for centuries.

Then as the fire faded the bear's jaw dropped open as the manticore stood there, his fur and hair not even singed and a smile on his face. "I was forged in the magic that created this world, from chaos and entropy unmatched. Did you really think your village magic could hope to hurt me?" The beast laughed as he advanced on the bear.

"You have trespassed and there must be a punishment, you are the strongest of your band I assume you are the leader. Now bear who shall face the punishment I shall give?"

Vote by commenting below

A Aleoric, he is a leader he must protect his friends

B Kenia, he would be willing to die to protect them

C Jarus, the weak link

D Runo, time for him to prove his commitment