"Remember to keep to the road. Don't wander off into the woods or get distracted.. And keep the river in sight lest you lose your way." Kerga fussed over them, not unlike a mother hen, making sure braids were snug, cloaks were secure, and provisions were packed.
It'd been a week since they first arrived, since Kerga gave an odd explanation of why they were helping, and it was full of instruction and learning. Noxus drilled the maps into their minds, along with some tips on how to use their weapons.
"If something happens, don't try to be a hero," Noxus told them bluntly one day over breakfast. "There are very few things in this world you will be able to fight off with your current set of skills. Just run. Don't risk it."
"Not reassuring," Jaslyn had muttered.
And the nights? Well, at night, Kerga made sure they got plenty of sleep, shuffling Jaslyn, Brynn and Hazel off to bed as if they were children and not grown ass women.
"Maybe it's the age," Jaslyn commented, curling up on her side. She'd claimed a rather fluffy and soft blanket, making somewhat of a nest around herself.
"Maybe for you," Brynn shot back. Jaslyn was the youngest of the three at twenty five. "It makes sense for you to get fussed over. But for us?" she gestured between herself and Hazel. "That's weird."
"Maybe it's less our age and more the ogres' age," Hazel offered. Jaslyn and Brynn looked at her and she shrugged. "I'm just saying. Ogres, and probably a lot of other races here, most likely don't age the same as we do. So, maybe to them, we're like toddlers fumbling their way around the world."
Brynn narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. "I'll accept it, but it's weird."
With an exhausted snort, Jaslyn replied, "Yeah. That's the weird bit."
Most of the night was spent tossing and turning. The only one who got any sleep was Brynn. Even though they were both awake, Jaslyn and Hazel attempted to honor the unspoken agreement of trying to sleep. They could hear the shuffling of blankets, feel the movement of the mattress. But refrained from speaking.
At that point, Hazel wished she would have said something instead of staring at the ceiling all night. Her eyes were heavy and she just could not stop yawning. The pack slung over her shoulders felt heavier than it was and she wanted to go back to sleep already. The quiver at her side and the bow on her back were an addition she never thought she would ever carry. And yet…
"I think you have everything," Noxus nodded, hands on his hips and nodding in approval. "Don't lose that map. You'll have a hard time without it, as I'm sure you are aware."
Brynn nodded. "Thank you, really. You guys have been incredibly helpful and we would probably still be stumbling around the countryside if it weren't for you."
Noxus let out a laugh. "You would have figured something out. Humans have a strange perseverance to them. They just don't know when to quit."
Hazel wasn't entirely certain he meant it as a compliment, but Jaslyn made a noise of reluctant agreement. "Well," she glanced at Hazel and Brynn, hiking her bag higher up on her back and nodded once. "I guess we'll get going. Thank you so much."
The three women walked down the stone pathway and across the bridge. The moment they were out of sight, Hazel sighed and closed her eyes.
"Show of hands. Who feels like a little kid on their way to kindergarten right now?"
Needless to say, three hands shot into the air.
*
The first day was quiet enough. Several herds of something resembling buffalo wandered into their path, but never took interest in them. Once, a feline beast wandered close, its shrieking vocals warning Hazel, Brynn, and Jaslyn of its presence. It ignored them completely and attacked the buffalo instead. They hastily made their retreat at that point.
But other than some weird looking creatures, nothing else seemed to be out there. Hazel wondered more than once if there were no other living beings in this part of the country or if it was all land owned by a single entity.
"Okay so… he's a ten but...his dick is practically a forearm."
"Ugh, pass. I like my intestines where they are, thanks. Uhm, he's a ten but...he's also a mothman."
"Like, an actual moth? Or the essence of a moth?"
"Does it really matter? He's a mothman."
"But you don't mean like the actual mothman?"
"What actual mothman? That's a myth, just like everything else we're discussing."
"...well, does he have a good personality?"
"Can you just say yes or no?"
"Well, the minotaur had a good personality, so I wondered if that would be a supporting factor with the mothman!"
The conversation between Brynn and Jaslyn had been going on for the better part of the morning. They were rolling through the various social media trends that had been going around right before they were transferred to this world. It kept everyone busy and Hazel just used the opportunity to guess which books they were talking about just by the 'He's a ten, but…' conversation.
Their first two nights camping in the wilds went pretty okay. They didn't bother taking shifts watching for danger. They had no real way to defend themselves, so it didn't matter right now if they were caught off guard - they would still be unprepared and exhausted. Once they had a means to defend, once they knew how to use their weapons effectively, it would be different.
But at the moment? They were sitting ducks, whether they were awake or not. Might as well face whatever attacks lie ahead with full energy. Hazel was surprised to report she felt rather well rested upon waking. Once they were awake, even with drowsiness clinging to the edge of their consciousness, the desire to keep moving roared to life. Unwilling to wait any longer, they packed up, pulled a few rations from their packs and began their journey anew.
Which led to where they are now. Hazel had the book that started it all in her hands, trying to find clues about how they ended up in their current situation and maybe even how to fix it. But so far, all she read about was the typical prince who had a cool demeanor and didn't have many hobbies outside of his royal duties. The words on the page began to lose their appeal.
Absolutely typical.
"Ugh," she groaned, snapping the book shut. Jaslyn and Brynn stopped talking and peeked over their shoulders. "Can we take a breather?" Hazel asked. Most of the time asking for things made her skin crawl. And to be fair, the same effect took place as the words left her this time. But she was tired, her feet hurt, and she just wanted to get out of the sun.
Jaslyn nodded "Yeah. A break probably isn't the worst idea." She pointed to the edge of the forest. "We can hit up the trees for shade."
Hazel slowed to a stop, biting her lip. "Maybe we should just use our tent for shade?" she suggested. "We wouldn't have to do the whole thing, just secure the tarp to give us somewhere to relax."
Brynn and Jaslyn had already stepped off the road, slipping into the waist high grass. "I mean, it's only for a few minutes," Brynn replied, twisting her neck and listening to it crack. "It wouldn't make much sense to put up the tent for fifteen to twenty minutes of resting, you know?"
"Yeah, but…" Hazel hesitated. She really didn't want to push it but . . . "Kerga said to stay out of the forest. She wouldn't have said that unless it mattered."
Jaslyn stepped back onto the road and snatched up Hazel's wrist. "Don't worry. There's three of us, we aren't going that deep, and we aren't staying that long. We'll be fine." Once she was sure Hazel followed, Jaslyn let go of her wrist. "Besides, I would be more concerned about heat stroke at this point. We need to get out of this sunlight."
All great points, honestly.
I'm just being paranoid, Hazel told herself. We've been through a lot. I'm just being paranoid.
The three stumbled into the woods, looking for a place to take a break. Hazel peeked over her shoulder as they walked, concern furrowing her brow. They were definitely going too far. "We should stop, guys."
Brynn waved her forward a few more feet. "It looks like there's some fallen trees. We can use them to chill for a minute."
By the time they sat down and leaned their packs against the trees, Hazel lost sight of the road. In fact, she wasn't even entirely certain which way they came from. She breathed in slowly and closed her eyes.
Paranoid. She was just being paranoid.
"You two don't seem especially worried," Hazel commented, biting into one of the ration bars Kerga had packed for them. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise at how delicious it was.
Jaslyn leaned against one of the downed trees, tipping her head back. "The most we've really seen is that weird cat and some deer looking things. Kerga probably meant stay out of the forest at night, which I totally get." She shrugged and took a drink from the waterskin, sighing in relief.
Brynn was already dozing against one of the trees and Hazel was reluctant to wake her up, wondering if she'd been sleeping well enough during the night or if she was just exhausted from walking.
Hazel took a deep breath and tried to unclench, to relax for a minute. What could it hurt, honestly?
She shouldn't have asked.
The wonderful breeze slowed, disappearing altogether after a few minutes. The forest, which just a few minutes prior had been a calming and refreshing haven, slowly turned oppressive. It felt like someone turned off the air conditioner in a closed off room.
Hazel grabbed her bow, arrows already sitting in the quiver on her hip. Jaslyn felt it, the stifling feeling, and jumped to her feet with her axe. She nudged Brynn awake, a finger to her lips.
Something was watching them. Hazel put her back to Brynn and Jaslyn. "I have literally no idea what we're going to do," she whispered shakily, "But every fight scene I've ever watched has the characters standing back to back, so…" she trailed off as a rustling came from her left.
Hazel clutched the bow in her hand tighter. Why had she selected something so long range that took so long to work? A sword, she should have chosen a sword!
The oppressive feeling surrounding them grew, nearly tangible.
"What do we have here?" The voice which came from the trees sent shivers down her spine. The raspy creak of the voice was ancient and cruel, promising death and pain.
Eyes staring straight ahead, Hazel forced her hands to stop shaking. "What are you?" She called out. Brynn and Jaslyn stood by her side, their hands clasping the weapons they chose from Noxus and Kerga.
Several creatures emerged from the thicket, and Hazel felt her breath stick in her throat. Instinctively, she knew. She knew these creatures would not be here to offer a friendly word or help them find their way.
They were going to die.
Hazel swallowed, her mouth dry and sticky. Her body ached with the need to tremble. But she held back. Not that it matters, she thought darkly, these assholes can probably smell the fear rolling off us in waves.
"It doesn't matter what we are," one of them said, sickly sweet. Or at least, that's what they wanted. Its voice was still as hoarse and evil as the first. Hazel tried, but she couldn't figure out what they could possibly be. They were slim, almost stick-figured. Their skin was black, nearly oil like in texture, and at their fingertips…claws. Incredibly long, incredibly sharp claws. Those were meant to disembowel, to eviscerate.
She slowly backed up, pushing Jaslyn and Brynn with her. "It matters to me. A good deal, actually," she replied. The creatures were not taking any steps, though they definitely cataloged her movement. Hazel would take it. "So…what are you?"
They didn't reply. Their heads tilted and their bodies lightly swayed, the eerie nature of the encounter coming in full.
Hazel pressed against Brynn and Jaslyn. These things, whatever they were, were not going anywhere. They were predators. And Hazel knew she and her friends were the prey.
Keeping eye contact with the creatures, she whispered one word.
"Run."
She knew. She knew it would only buy them time. Those creatures would catch them, but Hazel could only hope for someone, anyone, to be nearby. Just enough. They needed just enough time.
Bursting through a grove of trees, Hazel peeked over her shoulder. The creatures had given chase and to make it worse, they were hunting as a pack. Of course.
"I don't think Noxus and Kerga would be very proud of us right now," Jaslyn managed to get out. Her breathing was labored. They were all struggling. Hazel wasn't exactly a gym rat. She exercised at home when she could, but workouts were not the first thing on her to do list. So she was incredibly out of shape. Brynn and Jaslyn didn't seem to be doing any better than her.
Pure adrenaline was the only thing keeping her upright and moving.
"I think Noxus and Kerga would just want us to survive this damn day!" Brynn shouted back. "Hazel, you literally have a bow! Just shoot them and get it over with! You've trained for this!"
"Twenty arrows at a Renaissance fair hardly qualifies as training!"
"You hit the deer!"
"I - -"
Hazel felt the breath knocked from her lungs and the words cut from her lips as a powerful force dug into her side and flung her to the ground. She gasped for air, her world tilting. Oh. Right. Those creatures were still after them. One towered over her, saliva dripping from its fangs, its eyes void and dark.
"I will savor every moment of this," it snarled, reaching for her.
Hazel scrambled to back away, still dizzy. She heard Brynn and Jaslyn, the sounds of a scuffle and cries of pain. Fuck it. If she was going to die here, she would go down swinging. Reaching down to her side, Hazel grabbed an arrow from the quiver. The creature yanked her arm, bringing her close.
The smell of decay, putrid and disgusting filled her nose and gagged her.
"Don't worry. None of this will matter once your blood is warming the soil," the creature hissed. Hazel desperately wished she knew what this bastard was called so she could scream how much it was hated.
Screaming anyway, she swung her other arm, the one with an arrow, around and punctured the creatures' neck. It yowled in pain, but didn't let her go. Hazel sliced its arm, stabbed it in the chest and shoulders. It only seemed to make it angrier.
Finally, Hazel was flung several feet, slamming into the ground. A sickening pop sounded in her ears and pain burst through her. Her right arm hung at her side and even flexing her fingers hurt. Looking around, Hazel found Brynn and Jaslyn close by. Not close enough, though. Brynn was bleeding. Her shoulder torn, ribbons of flesh hanging loosely. Blood seeped from the gaping wound and she was pale, eyes fluttering as if about to pass out. Multiple puncture wounds dotted her legs.
Jaslyns' leg was broken. It had to be with the way it bent. She was still, unmoving, but Hazel could see the barest movement of breathing. Hazel couldn't see bleeding from this angle, but it didn't mean Jaslyn couldn't be spilling blood by the pint. It didn't mean she wasn't internally bleeding from being thrown like a rag doll.
Hazel couldn't stop it. A sob left her lips. This was it. This is how she would die. In some foreign world, at the hands of living nightmares and her friends broken and bloody. Tears ran down her face as streams, cutting through the grim and blood oozing down her forehead. She assumed it was from being thrown earlier.
"Now, then," one of the creatures crooned. "Which one will be first?" it looked at Hazel, baring its teeth in a horrifying imitation of a smile. "You have nothing to fear," it assured, an assurance which only made Hazel cry harder. "You aren't dinner. You are far too smelly."
Another creature sniffed the air, coming close. "Yes, yes. Smelly. That will go away after a few days though. Once we wash them," a slow smile crept along it's face and Hazel could feel her heart stop. "The new skins we wear will be free of this scent."
Gritting her teeth, Hazel stabbed the creature, catching it only slightly off guard and digging the tip of the arrow in her left hand deep into its neck.
The creature didn't move, and for one blissful, hopeful moment, Hazel wondered if she did it. A small fissure of hope opened up. If she took down one, maybe she could take down another. They weren't invincible! She could -
White hot pain slashed across her face and vision. The creature hissed, slashing its claws. A guttural scream clawed from her throat, burning and visceral. Hazel curled up, dizziness taking over. Her vision was blurry and red; blood. Her blood was coating her vision. What little vision she had left at this point. She didn't know what had been sliced, only that it wouldn't be long at this point.
"Since you're so eager to die, you will be first," the creature hissed, dark and deadly. One claw dug into Hazels' shoulder, piercing under the skin - it was literally ripping off her skin. She cried out, the strength to fight gone. What could she possibly do against these creatures? She was human. "I will take great pleasure in peeling your flesh off your body."
Hazel sobbed again, eyes half closed. The pain melted together until her entire body felt like an inferno, raging and blistering. She sucked in a shaky breath, glaring as hard as she could and growled out, "Do. Your. Worst."