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[afireinside]

no title as of yet... By Casey Patch (afireinside)

With my back pressed firm against the cold stone monument, marking directions for various towns and villages in The Sword Coast, lit by a flickering torch hanging still, the noises failed to soften. And the recent stories and rumours of bandits and monsters didn?t help the situation. As I gazed through the darkness of the trees and branches of the Cloak Woods, the noises now as loud as screams were ringing in my ears. As I took a second glance at the withered and twisted branches of the trees, I saw a shadow? It was getting closer? Faster? The shadow of the dog-like creature, against the harsh smelling, smoky fog of the wood, closed in on me. Ten feet away. Seven feet. Four feet.

THWACK!

A bolt shot through the trees hitting the beast in the side of the belly. A high pitched howl projected into the misty air as the force from the shot sent it flying a few inches to my right side. CRUNCH! I flinched as its whole body smashed against the monument and blood sprayed all over me.

?You shouldn?t be out here alone,? I drew my sword as a mysterious figure appeared from the darkness of the branches holding a crossbow in her right hand. The voice was that of a woman, as she slowly glided towards me. The hooded woman walking into the light of the now blood splattered torch, swinging freely from the monument, revealed her identity. She was an elf, with pale skin, pointed ears and a button nose.

She looked towards me and spoke again, ?you may come with me, unless you wish yourself dead.? As she turned away from me she pointed her crossbow into the woods and let out a stray bolt that wisped through the air, disappearing into the mist.

As I stepped forward, following the footsteps of the elf, I heard a noise. It sounded like a squeal of pain, not a human noise.

A second beast leapt from the branches. Its front left leg limp and blood splattered from a bolt forced through at the joint. The blood stained fur of the beast and high pitched, demonic squeal almost unbearable. The predator pounced towards the elf as she turned around.

With a lightning fast swing of my sword, timed perfectly, I sliced through the throat of the squealing wolf.

The body of the animal fell before the now blood drenched elf. She looked at the corpse and then myself, ?I can see why he wants to meet you,? she spoke smiling. ?We must hurry if we are to escape these woods alive. There are many who want you, and I, dead.?

?First I would know your name.? I looked the elf in the eye and told her.

?My name is not important. All you need to know is that you will be paid for your time and that you are safer travelling with me than on your own,? she said as she turned and glided away from me.

So I followed the elf into the pitch black darkness of the woods uncertain of what was to come?