Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7587064" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 276Kosk pulled himself a bit further up on the thick trunk of the fallen tree and peered through the scattered undergrowth between them and the clearing.  “I don’t see anything,” the dwarf said.  He looked over at Bredan and Glori, who both shrugged.Mrrik couldn’t understand their words, but the tabaxi accurately sensed their doubt.  He reached back and tore a segment of broken branch off of the dead tree.  The cat tossed it into the clearing, where it landed in the middle of the open space.Instantly the bushes to either side of the open space came alive with movement.  Tendrils of what looked like creeping vines lunged out and seized hold of the branch.  They pulled on it hard enough to snap the wood in two, pulling both pieces into the undergrowth.“Maybe it would be a good idea to go around,” Kosk said.As they retraced their steps to where the others waited Bredan watched the sleek figure of the tabaxi hunter.  He was grateful that Mrrik and his scouts were with them.  This was only the latest of a number of hazards that the tabaxi had helped them evade since they’d left the meadow and the fallen dragonborn chief behind them that morning.  Their fears about the dangers of the jungle had been confirmed several times over, and Bredan could not help but think about what they would face once their guides left them and they made their way into the forbidden valley that was their destination.Mrrik escorted them through the jungle, the tabaxi like a silent ghost in contrast to the rest of them.  Bredan spotted a green and yellow snake dangling from a tree branch off to their left.  The creature was as thick around as his leg, but since the cats did not seem worried he ignored it and kept his attention on the jungle around them.  He heard one of the sailors exclaim and point at the thing a few moments later.  He could hear Quellan reassuring them, then a question about whether the thing might be edible.  That drew a tired smile from Bredan.Fortunately, the detour was brief, and Mrrik gestured them back onto the trail that they’d been following for most of that afternoon.  It wasn’t much of a path, the forest pressing up around them on both sides, often obscuring the route until they were literally on top of it.  Without the tabaxi they would have been lost immediately.  Rodan was a good tracker, but this place was alien compared to anything any of them had experienced before.They passed a tree bearing fruit, juicy-looking red globes that dangled invitingly close to the trail.  One of the sailors reached for one, only to be cautioned by a growl from one of Mrrik’s scouts.  The two groups were learning to understand each other better, saving Quellan’s spells for circumstances when spoken communication was absolutely necessary.  Mrrik saw the exchange and made a gesture with his claws at his throat that was unmistakable.“The rules here seem simple,” Xeeta said to Bredan as they continued forward.  “If it looks good, it will probably kill you.  Also, if it looks dangerous, it will also probably kill you.  Basically, everything will probably kill you.”“The tabaxi haven’t tried to kill us,” Quellan pointed out.  “Well, not after that first encounter.  But that was a misunderstanding.”The cleric was a little out of breath.  Bredan could empathize; he was drenched in sweat under his armor.  Fortunately the cats had no difficulty finding fresh water, so dehydration wasn’t a concern, but carrying around sixty pounds of metal, in addition to his other gear, was grueling in this environment.  But removing it was not an option, so he gritted his teeth and soldiered on.A squall caught up to them a bit later, dumping a torrent of rain onto them before disappearing as quickly as it had arrived.  The rain was refreshing, but the relief was short-lived; it quickly grew as hot as it had been before, and the added moisture made the air so muggy that Bredan thought he could almost drink it.  The tabaxi merely shook out their furred bodies and kept on, forcing the others to do the same.Night came on them so quickly that Bredan almost didn’t notice, or maybe it was the exhaustion from the long trek.  He blinked as he realized that the column had stopped, then looked around to see that the surrounding jungle was already deep in shadow.  Mrrik directed them a short distance off the trail, to a rocky hollow edged by a shallow pool of clear water.“Oh, thank the gods,” Sandros said.  He started toward the pool, but hesitated and looked at Mrrik.  “It’s not bloody poisonous, is it?”The cat barked a laugh then made a permissive gesture.  Several others followed the sailor over to the pool, where they drank deeply before splashing the water on their faces.“Hey, are you okay?” Glori asked.Bredan blinked; he’d sort of drifted off for a moment.  “Yeah.  Just tired.”“Not surprising, given all that metal you’re lugging around.  And the fact that you got your ass kicked this morning.”“You should see the other guy,” Bredan said.“Yeah.  Listen, you should take off the armor, wash up, relax a bit.”Bredan started to respond that it was still dangerous, but the thought of remaining in his sweat-soaked clothes became suddenly intolerable.  “That sounds like a good idea.”They began setting up camp.  Quellan cast his tongues spell again and began talking with Mrrik about what lay ahead.  The tabaxi hunter didn’t have any new information to add about the valley, but he told them that they should reach the mountains that rimmed it by tomorrow evening, if they were able to maintain the same grueling pace.Malik and Kavek began gathering wood for a fire, but Mrrik warned them that the scent of smoke carried too far in the jungle.  Even after the sun set it remained hot enough that they didn’t need to the fire for warmth, but the looks on the faces of the tired travelers said they missed the reassurance that a glowing campfire would have offered.“Maybe we can have a fire in the morning,” Quellan said.  “We need to make sure our clothes are dry before we set out again.”“I don’t think I have a single piece of clothing left that is even close to dry,” Glori complained as she unlimbered her pack and stretched her back.Bredan made his way back from the pool, carrying his armor, while the others began sharing out food from the supplies that the tabaxi had prepared for them.  Once again it was fruit and paste wrapped in leaves, the former juicy and sweet, the latter blank but filling.Malik made a face as he picked a bit of shell out of his paste.  “Ugh, there’s a bug in this,” he said.“I think it’s mostly bugs, actually,” Rodan said, as he loudly crunched into a bite of the stuff.“Gah,” Malik said, putting his leaf down on a rock.“Insects actually can be quite nutritious,” Quellan said.  “Lots of protein.”“You can have mine,” the sailor said.“Eat it or don’t, but we’re going to be keeping the same pace tomorrow,” Kosk said.  “If you can’t keep up, we won’t be slowing down for you.”Malik shook his head, but finally reached for the paste again with obvious reluctance.“Do you eat meat?” Glori asked Malik.The tabaxi listened as Quellan repeated her question, then growled a response.  “They do eat meat while on the hunt,” the cleric explained.  “But at the moment their primary goal is to get us to the valley and get back to their village as quickly as possible.”“Are you afraid that the dragonborn won’t honor Natak’s pledge?” Bredan asked.  “What will happen with them now?”“There will be a new leader,” Mrrik replied.  “He will need to prove himself.  There will likely be raids.”“So nothing’s changed, then?” Xeeta asked.The tabaxi considered.  “The defeat of Natak was significant,” he said.  “He was a mighty foe, and none of his possible successors will be as much of a threat.  And the dragonborn may be hesitant to attack us again, especially while your people remain with us.”“The rest of our crew aren’t warriors,” Sandros pointed out.“Don’t underestimate Captain Sond and her magic,” Glori said.“We appreciate all that you have done for us,” Quellan said.“You brought our lost ones back to us,” Mrrik replied.They consumed their meal quickly; they were all too tired for much idle chatter.  As they were finishing one of the cats began yowling, a guttural sound that rose to a high-pitched screech.  The others joined in, with Mrrik finally adding his voice to the din.“Gods, that’s an awful racket!” Malik said, covering his ears.“Show some respect,” Rodan said, but he clearly didn’t enjoy the sound either.“Does it mean anything?” Glori asked Quellan.The cleric shook his head.  “It may be some kind of ritual,” he said.“Or maybe it’s what passes for music among them,” Glori said with a smile.The companions waited until the tabaxi finished their “song.”  “What was that?” Bredan asked.“We bid the day farewell,” Mrrik said.  “And thank the spirits of the sky and land for their generosity this day.”“If today was generous, I don’t want to see what it’s like when they’re being stingy,” Kosk said.“Why don’t you play something for us, Glori?” Bredan suggested.The bard touched her lyre.  “We’re all tired…”“I think we could all use a lift,” the warrior said.Glori looked at Quellan, who nodded.  She took out the instrument and began to play a soft melody that filled the hollow.  The cats watched her, entranced as she strummed an increasingly intricate lattice of notes that somehow evoked more peaceful times and the camaraderie of old friends gathered around a hearth.Xeeta came over and sat down next to Bredan.  “You seem melancholy,” she said quietly.“I feel like I’m supposed to be here,” he said.  “But I’m not sure I’m going to like what we’re going to find in the coming days.”“All we can do is live each day,” she said.“You’re all here because of me,” he said.The sorcerer poked him in the side.  “It is arrogance to bear the weight of others’ choices,” she said.  “We are here because we care for you, Bredan.  We will support you, whatever waits for us in Savek Vor.”“Thank you,” Bredan said.The music came to an end.  The companions applauded, while the cats made hissing sounds of appreciation.  Mrrik stood and faced them.  “Sleep,” he said.  “You need not fear the jungle tonight; we will keep watch over your rest.  We have a long march ahead of us tomorrow if we wish to reach the base of the peaks that ward the sacred valley by nightfall.”With that announcement the tabaxi rose and disappeared into the surrounding jungle, leaving the adventurers to unfold their bedrolls and seek comfortable spots around the hollow to take their rest.  The ground was rocky and uncomfortable, and the jungle a looming presence that filled the night with unidentified sounds, but within just a few minutes all of them were in the deep sleep of the physically and emotionally spent.</blockquote>

Verification