Hunting Party
My eyes shot open, and my heart was racing. I reached for my blade in the quiver nearby, where I left it leaning on a tree. But in the couple of steps that it took to traverse the makeshift camp, I realized that there was no danger. It was just a dream. I sat down on my blanket and tried to remember it.
Nothing
With a frown and a sigh, I began to pack up my things. I’m sure it will reveal itself in time. These things often do. When I was finished I noticed that the other bed was nowhere to be seen. The fire was also already extinguished.
“Ms. Nirka!” A voice called out from a nearby tree.
Stepping into view was a young man, barley out of boyhood. He was dressed in makeshift leathers, and on his back was slung a well-crafted, but simple bow. His hair was a brown-gold, falling just short of his slightly-pointed ears. Gerold was the latest youth to ask for my instruction since I had returned. Seems that the tales of the strange huntress had spread in my absence. It was a strange experience to find myself the object of admiration for once.
“I already cleaned everything and I think I found something.” He said excitedly. Wasting no time he ran off. For his speed his footfalls were quite gentle. I smiled.
He showed me a carcass laying on the ground. It was unrecognizable from a distance, but upon closer inspection it’s nature was clear.
“A horse. Good gods, this is Bailey!” I said.
“Mrs. Laurel isn’t going to happy. That’s what? The third one now. Ms. Nirka we need to stop this thing!” Gerold said, determined.
“Well then, let’s hop to it. Look here, see the lack of bugs. It’s fresh.” I pointed out. There was also something odd about the way the flesh was torn. But before I had time to examine it my partner was off to the races.
“Oh, look! Look! There are broken branches this way!” He shouted, and beckoned me further.
Gerold took the lead. I probably could have but this way he would get some practice. I doubt we would lose even a dire bear if it took him a little longer to find the path. In the meantime I took the time to look inward. After walking for an hour, I gave up on trying to remember my dream. Hopefully it was a normal dream for once.
We traveled for a while, being careful not to disturb the light snow that covered the forest. Eventually I began to thirst. It wasn’t unbearable though. I would quench my thirst when we next broke. But this feeling lingered on my mind, and before I knew it I was no longer in the forest.
The first thing Nirka noticed was the dryness in the air. It felt oppressive amplified by the sunlight burning into her exposed skin. She looked down and was met with a loose cotton dress instead of her normal steel and leather armor. As she raised her head again she took in the foreign lands where she now stood. A sea of sand, as far as the eye could see with nothing in all directions. It was then that the thirst hit, and she began wandering into the desert in search of water.
“Ms. Nirka, I found it!” Gerold whispered as he tugged on my cloak. It snapped me out of the piece of the dream. I didn’t have time to contemplate it. There was a hunt to complete.
As we approached the cave a stench assaulted me. Blood and rot, in various states of decay, surrounded the nearby trees and rocks.
“Ugh, gross!” my companion exclaimed, covering his nose with bit of his cloak.
Something seemed off about this den, but I was distracted by a creeping, familiar fear. I’m not sure where this feeling came from, but it is all I could focus on. Doing my best to shake it off, I crouched low and got my bow out from my quiver.
“Follow and be quiet. Something isn’t right.” I instructed.
The cave was lit sufficiently by the large opening. It helped that both of us were good at seeing in low light. I had Gerold stay close behind, watching our rear for if the beast returned to the cave. As we got to the end, the fear rose.
A flat part of the cave, enough space for multiple large creatures, was filled with bodies. The largest of which was a dire bear.
“We need to leave” I said behind my shoulder. I’m sure the boy could feel my trepidation.
“Um, Ms. Nirka.” He said, tugging again.
Between us and the exit stood a pair of large furred creatures. Their coats transitioned into feathers around the neck. Theirs heads held large beaks and tiny, black eyes.
Owlbears.
My heart exploded with fear, and again I left this place and time for another.
It felt like days before she noticed a change in the landscape. A black dot off in front of her, slowly getting closer. As she approached the dot formed into a humanoid figure, and Nirka stopped dead in her tracks. She felt eyes on her, close enough to touch. But the person still stood a great distance away. With a pang of fear Nirka turned and began walking off away from what she had seen.
When she looked again the figure seemed to have begun to follow, so she picked up the pace. When she turned a final time the figure stood almost close enough to touch. With a flash, the figure lashed out and the world turned to a silent sea of black. But that split second was enough for her to make out some features.
A creature from beyond this world. An Outsider. It had to be.
“Nirka!” I heard a shout. I snapped back to the present to see Gerold hiding behind a rock, slinging arrows at the Owlbears. There was blood on his head.
How long was I just standing there?
I sprung into action, taking out my greatsword as it ignited. I swung it menacingly. The creatures’ charge halted temporarily as they reared up on their legs. With a low whistle the wind began to magically swirl around me. Taking advantage of the Owlbears’ confusion, I ran between them taking a slash at each.
Horrifying screeches filled the air as both turned towards me. I was sure to position myself at the side of the cave, giving Gerold a path to escape behind them as they turned. The boy did, but stood outside the mouth of the cave to provide arrow support.
A set of claws missed me entirely, but in the flurry the beak managed to put a dent in my chest piece. I spit out some blood and stepped back. With no time to think, I ducked behind the second beast’s swings and spoke words in celestial. "Find the path in-between".
My sword dissappeared from my hand as I swung towards the first beast’s neck. In the middle of my strike my sword reappeared. The Owlbear’s flesh made an awful noise as it parted to make way for the sudden appearance of a flaming blade. As I finished my blow, the creature’s head came clean off.
The remaining Owlbear charged, and I noticed it’s leg was already weakened from my first strike. Taking the advantage, I clenched my left fist. A rune appeared above it and in an instant my vision of the cave was gray and fuzzy. I moved quickly to the other side of the beast and reappeared as it leaped into thin air.
It stood confused. I took the time to swipe at it’s hind legs. Off they came, followed by a final two blows to the Owlbear’s stomach. With a gurgle and a screech the beast stopped breathing.
Immediately I ran for Gerold. I clutched his head close to me, and in a flash from my hands the wound was gone.
“I’m so sorry! I should have known from the beak marks on the horse.”
“Are you kidding? That was awesome!” He said, breaking the hug. “You killed TWO Owlbears!”
“We killed them. Without you I would have died before I drew my sword. Now come on slayer, we have kills to dress.”
When we arrived back with the good news, the village of Lovak was quick to throw together a celebration. Their animals were safe once again thanks to their fearless heroes.
That night I stood among the other residents describing the hunt. I looked over and saw Gerold doing the same to a group of adolescents. His version was a lot more animated, and the way the other looked up to him put a smile on my face. The boy would make us all proud one day.
My eyes drifted again to the center of the celebration where both Owlbears’ heads were mounted for all to see. Once again, I felt the dream come to mind.
With a jolt, she awoke but was met with a foreign room. Looking down Nirka still wore the cotton dress from earlier. She got up slowly, taking in her surroundings. The room seemed to be made of some sort of clay, with the sun streaming in through a window on the far wall. To her side stood her equipment, but something in the back of her mind said to leave it. A staircase led down the far wall into a room below, and a carpet covered the clay floor.
She made her way downstairs and out the door into a bustling street. Some internal desire drove her to follow the crowd, and before long she arrived in a large square. The desire drove her to a large platform at the center of the square. As she got closer she noticed the prisoner, noose around their neck. A gallows. She looked closer, and fear filled her chest. Without a thought, Nirka charged through the crowd towards the gallows, but her progress seemed in vain. Dark clouds rolled in as she ran through the infinite distance. As she ran the fear in her chest amplified. The Outsider.
He was here.
The hangman pulled the lever and a familiar body dropped with a snap. Nirka stopped, her heavy breath filling the now ever-present silence. She looked up into a sea of darkness before closing her eyes and waking.
I nearly dropped my drink, but quickly regained myself. My near-dreamless time with Into the Wild had almost made me forget what these visions usually contained. Shaking, I went to find Mrs. Laurel.
“I need a horse” I said, not even looking at the elderly dwarf.
“Of course deary.” She said, but before she could continue I was on my way to the stables. Luckily I still had my pack from earlier. Soon enough I was riding north.
It seems fate, or Celise, or whatever was not done with me yet. My return home was always meant to be temporary, but I guess now I didn't have a choice. This dream was a new path. One with too much at risk not to follow.