By the time I step out of the guest house, it's close to noon. The sun is up high and the chill in the air isn't too bad. But still enough to make me shiver the moment it hits me.
Winter is definitely coming early this year. Which means it'll likely be almost five months long as opposed to the usual three. And those winters are always the hardest. Our food supply here should be fine, but our harvest is not going to be sufficient for Llancercost, especially if they are relying so heavily on us with the plague poisoning everything else.
We might have been able to sustain a good portion of our soil because of that weird blessing. But that doesn't change the fact that a lot of our crops have died either by poisoning or, more recently, to trampling jackalopes.
But as far as I know, we are nearing deadline to get what we have delivered. And I haven't seen anyone putting the caravan together. So obviously we aren't planning on doing that soon. And I think that is Lord Felix's fault.
Which frustrates me a bit. Cause I'd like to know what the hell the plan is here. But I'm not going to beg to be included if they don't think I should be there.
I wrap my new red scarf tighter around my neck while standing outside the door to the guest house. Watching a few of my neighbors moving about. A lot of the [Farmers] likely taking a break and heading home for lunch. They've all been harvesting and replanting for the last few weeks, so workdays have been long. And with an early winter coming in, it's a great time for growing lots of herbs and root vegetables.
"Liore!"
My skin feels like it jumps off me at the sudden call. Whipping my head in that direction to spot a familiar curtain of brown curls approaching. Framing a round face dotted with freckles and a wide smile. Dressed in a simple blue and white dress.
I let my shoulders relax as she gets close, putting on an admittedly awkward smile. "Good morning, Felicia."
She giggles, looking a bit sheepish. "Sorry if I scared you there. You did look mighty distracted."
My cheeks burn a bit, and my hand reaches up to rub the back of my neck. "I wasn't scared. Just—just surprised." I shake my head and offer a more genuine smile. "It's been a while though. I don't think we've talked since I was nine."
Felicia nods and waves her hand dismissively. "Aye. But it's fine. You've been busy and all, right?" She asks with a slight sadness, but it's quickly overtaken by some excitement as she leans over to look at the short sword on my hip. "Ooooooh! Is that one new? I've only seen you with your big one."
I purse my lips at the brief, sad look in her eyes, but I don't push it. Instead, patting my new sidearm. "It is! The captain of those mercenaries gifted it to me for my birthday."
She frowns and awkwardly shuffles her feet. "Oh..." She mutters while rubbing her hands together. "I'm sorry I couldn't come. I was a bit sickly that day."
"It's no big deal. Your health matters more than me getting older." I assure. But to be honest I hadn't even noticed she wasn't there. Which makes me feel a bit bad. "Besides. I feel like there was way too many people there already."
The brunette doesn't look entirely sold on my assurance, but she nods. "Almost half the village went to it. Papa said you looked overwhelmed the whole night." She notes with sympathetic look. "Mr. Teovar basically forced Papa to let him help when he heard how big it ended up being."
My brow raises in surprise at that. I had figured that Teovar was involved the entire time. But I guess Mr. Gordon was taking on more than he could handle. Which isn't exactly uncharacteristic for him. Mama thinks he takes special requests too often and doesn't get enough sleep.
I shake my head lightly, "Well, I'm glad he did. They worked really well together. The food was delicious." And I still think about how good it was even two weeks later. Not even the meal I just ate could compare to what the two [Cooks] did together.
Felicia smiles proudly. "Papa really got to stretch his legs with it. All he makes every day are the preserved foods for everyone to use. He rarely gets to make full-course meals anymore since Mama passed. So having Mr. Teovar around has made him really happy."
I can't help but smile at that. Mr. Gordon deserves some wiggle room for how much he does for us. And I can tell that Teovar has relaxed a lot as well. "That's good. I hope he gets to stay. We're only supposed to have one, aren't we?"
Felicia shrugs a little. "Kind of. But Papa isn't worried. Mr. Teovar has a lot more privileges because he's old and higher level. At least that's what your mom said."
"Oooh right. I do think I heard that before." I admit. It does sound familiar. But another thought occurs to me as well. "Aren't you going to be a [Cook] too?"
Felicia smiles wide and nods firmly, placing her hands on her hips. "Yes! Next month there will officially be three [Cooks] in the village. So Papa will have even more help!" She states, but then her expression gets a little awkward. "Well. He's going to have to spend a lot of time training me though, too. But that should be easier with Mr. Teovar here."
"Let's hope he doesn't overdo it," I remark with a chuckle. And my mouth opens to ask something else, but it gets halted by a sharp whistle in the air. A sound that makes my brow furrow.
Felicia covers her ears and grimaces. "What is that sound?"
I shake my head lightly and look off in the direction the sound seems to be coming from. "I don't know. Seems to be coming from outside..."
My palm hits my forehead with loud smack. "The whistle! I'm such an idiot!" And immediately I'm booking it in that direction. Felicia yelling something at me that I can't quite make out. But I yell back,
"We'll talk later! Duty calls!"
The whistle is still going off repeatedly, causing me to go faster. Taking my first leap over a few of the villagers that were in my way and onto the roof of a cottage. Using that as another launch point to send me hurling over the southeast wall and right into the fenced pasture.
And before I even tuck and roll, I already spot the issue.
Far out near the edge of the pasture is what I thought was big pile of mud and grass at first. But once I've hit the ground and rolled back up to my feet, I spot the black and white fur beneath it. The long snout, elongated tusk-like front teeth, and the massive paws with claws as long as my whole body.
It's definitely a Saber Badger. But this one is way too big.
Even their adults are usually only as big as a large dog. This one is at least as wide as a good sized wagon. And half of it is still submerged underground!
The herd of cattle that was likely grazing around there has backed off a distance away. Save for one who is dangerously close and calling out at the badger angrily stomping its hooves.
The badger is visibly horking down something as well. A grimace spreading across my face as I spot the small back hooves of an unfortunate calf vanishing down its throat. The beast bobbing its head up and down to force it through.
It feels even bigger as I sprint through the pasture and skid to a halt next to Thomas, the older [Guard] with the graying beard who has kept a safe but defensive distance away. His spear at the ready. He spits the whistle out of his mouth once he sees me, letting it drop back down around his neck. "Thought you'd been caged away by his lordship. He kick ya out that quick?" The old man jests, looking as stoney as usual. But I can tell by the sweat on his brow that he is just as perturbed by the size of this thing as I am.
I shake my head and chuckle nervously. "Just talked and ate. Then they let me loose. So I'm ready and able." Then sneaking a glance at the creature currently trying to wiggle its way back into its tunnel. "Or as ready as I'll ever be."
You'd think I'd be fine fighting something of this size with how many large monsters I've fought recently. But I have to remind myself that the only reason those fights succeeded was because I had help. So I am not stupid enough to go charging in at this thing without more people.
Or just one Thorpe, but he should be sleeping right now.
Although we might have better chances than I initially thought. Thomas and I tilt our heads as we observe the wide creature wiggling around wildly as it slowly worms its way back from whence it came. Honestly, seems like it's having quite a bit of trouble. A lot of its mass appears to be rather loose and flabby. And as more dirt and grass fall off it, I can clearly see some of its rolls bunching up around the breach in the earth.
"That—is the biggest Saber Badger I've ever seen."
Both of us jolt as a new voice speaks from beside me. Turning to notice Arric, the mercenary [Ranger], has joined up with us. His bow drawn and an arrow already nocked.
I give a deep breath and nod in agreement. "Aye. I don't think they're supposed to get this big." Turning my attention back over to it as the creature is truly exerting itself to get back into its tunnel. At least it seems to be getting through finally. "It just swallowed a whole calf."
Arric scoffs and lowers to a kneeling position. "I don't think my arrows will get through all that fat," he muses while scratching his scraggily beard.
A grimace returns to my face as I weigh my own chances of actually cutting through it. Even the standard Saber Badgers have really tough hides, but this is just excessive. "I could probably cut pretty deep at speed, but I doubt I could get through enough on the first go. And those claws are as long as I am tall, sooooooo...." My voice trails off as we watch the beast finally sinking itself back into the ground, tossing dirt around with those previously mentioned claws. Claws that seem to have no issue cleaving through dense earth whatsoever.
Thomas lets out a deep breath, his hands wringing the staff of his spear hard enough you'd swear he's about to get sap from it. "Well. It's gotten its meal. So mayhaps it will just piss off."
And just when we think he might be right, the earth in front of the hole begins to ripple in our direction.
"Or not, FUCK!" The elderly [Guard] blurts out before he jumps and rolls off to the side. Arric bolting like a startled deer. Leaving me to tilt myself back and use [Leap Stride], flipping backwards out of the way just before the ground where we were erupts into a geyser of dirt and rock. The Saber Badger wildly swiping around aimlessly as it lets out a menacing chittering roar.
I land awkwardly but recover quickly. Back up to my feet and quickly whipping my broadsword out from its sheath on my back. "I think we're gonna need backup!"
Thomas gets up a bit too shakily for my liking, but at least he doesn't look hurt. The greying [Guard] pulling back from the beast as it lashes out. He puts the whistle back into his mouth and starts blowing, waving his arms at the other [Guards] on the south wall.
Unfortunately, the whistle seems to draw the beast's attention. Its head tilting to the side to spot him. Letting out a snarl and winds up an arm.
And my heart starts beating hard against my chest while watching those already five-foot claws lengthen out to likely more than ten feet. "THOMAS! DROP!"
Thomas whips his head around at the yell and goes pale at the sight of the claws long enough to reach him. Letting himself drop like a sack of potatoes near one of the trees we grow out here for shade.
The Saber Badger swipes with its elongated claws, slashing right above where Thomas had dropped and cleaving through the tree trunk effortlessly. Leaving four wide gaps more than halfway through the trunk. Enough to hear an almost immediate creak and snap as the tree breaks at the cuts.
Thomas hears the crack at least early enough to roll out of the way as the tree begins to fall over in the only direction it feasibly could.
And so the Badger looks up to see the crown of a tree crashing down right onto it.
THUD
A pain filled roar fills the air. One of the trees thick upper branches has speared down into its flesh with all that dense weight. While all the other branches act as a sort of net, keeping the creature from getting any leverage with its long claws to cut through them.
An arrow whizzes past my vision and through the thicket to hits with an oddly satisfying smack as it connects with the beast's hide. Causing it to screech and thrash around inside its own wooden prison of mistakes.
Arric sighs, knocking another arrow. "I surmised as much. Barely halfway through and it's all fat," he comments as he cautiously approaches the trapped creature.
As for me, I turn my attention toward Thomas, sprinting over to him. "You alright, old man?"
The greying [Guard] tries to get back up on his own but falters a bit. His legs shaking while he uses the newly created stump for support. "I'm alright. Just a little rattled. Saw my life flash before my eyes." He jests, but genuinely looks a bit shaken in the eyes.
"It's submerging again!" Arric calls out, firing another arrow through the canopy to thunk against the Badger's arm as it shields its face. Escaping in the only direction it can go.
And to its credit, it manages to get back down much quicker this time. But unfortunately for us, it isn't a quitter either.
The earth rumbles as the creature begins tunneling towards us, the ground rippling as it passes beneath it.
Thomas starts booking it and dragging me along with him, but we are far too close to run fast enough. The sharp prickling sensation rushing up my legs warning me enough. So I wrap my arms around his midsection and leap forward, sending us both hurling head over heels. The ground collapsing behind us into a sinkhole with a clear set of jaws inside.
I manage to turn us over so I'm below him, taking the brunt of the impact as we hit the ground and roll. Which definitely still knocks the wind out of me as all of his weight goes straight into my chest. But at least neither of us will break anything.
"Liore!? Captain will skin me if I hurt you!" Thomas yells as he shakily turns over to check on my, but I've already sprung up to my feet.
"I'm fine! We need to move!" I bark out, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him up to a stand as I can already feel the ground rumbling. And with a brief glance over my shoulder to see the earth rolling at speed towards us as we run.
This is feeling achingly familiar to a certain bird...
All we can do is try to outrun it until more help arrives. None of us can hit it when it's underground. And even if it surfaces, those claws make it way too risky. Arric's arrows aren't going deep enough either. But I can't just keep jumping us out of the way. I'd just increase the chances of hurting Thomas or running out of stamina.
Another glance over my shoulder makes my hair stand on it. The rolling earth only but a few yards behind with the admittedly stuttered pace we are going at.
I almost grab Thomas again to do another leap when a loud clanging echoes over the pasture. Coming down the hill towards the village.
The relieving sight of Ser Steppan in his half-plate and smacking his sword against his shield. "COME ON YOU FAT FUCK! OVER HERE!"
The tunneling beast suddenly cuts a sharp turn away from us to aim its subterranean charge at the armored mercenary. Letting Thomas and me stop to catch our breath. The elderly [Guard] falling to his knees and heaving with each breath. "Getting—too—old for this."
I give him a pat on the back but keep my attention on the monster as it tunnels towards Steppan, who has his shield up and is slowly backing away. But he isn't alone. Behind him, and currently spreading out, are three of the other [Guards]. Each carrying their shields with their spears at the ready.
Steppan keeps bashing his shield with his sword until the Badger gets near enough. Then he quickly backs up just before the ground erupts. The beast surfacing to slash wildly with its absurdly long claws. Steppan still close enough to get hit, but his shield takes it head on. The claws clashing with the metal surface and sparking off. But the force of the strike sends Steppan stumbling back with fierce grimace on his face. "GOOD LORD!" he yells out in surprise.
One of the [Guards] was close as well, attempting to block the strike with his own shield. But instead of clashing off of it, the claw cuts through and gets stuck halfway. Yanking and tossing the [Guard] off to the side with a sickening thud. The only indication of him surviving being the scream of pain.
My stomach churns at the sight, but I can't stall myself. Quickly barking down at Thomas "I'm going to go help! Go check the wounded!" Before pushing into a full sprint towards the tension. Steppan already ordering everyone to back off from it.
This thing is definitely proving to be trouble. But with him here, we might be able to get a handle on it.
At least that's the hope…