Chapter 4: To Sourstone They Went
Greg was now awake and lying in bed in a room. The room was a room that was set aside for the doctors patients it seemed. A table next to the bed held some medical supplies and paintings of flowers and such lined the walls. The wallpaper was a nice shade of a pastel color of some sort and the floor had wooden planks. Greg could see a man reading something at a desk in the corner. He wore a simple shirt with rolled up sleeves and his hair was gray. Greg could only assume the man was the doctor.
"Hm let's see" said The Doctor, "strange dark mist receded towards the mountains, that's good. Statues of men discovered at site, huh." after a moment Greg noticed that his head was wrapped snugly with bandages. Whatever the doctor did, he did it well, besides the minor headache Greg felt great. He then notices he was not wearing his duster.
"Hey, where's my duster?" Greg asked.
"Ah, you're awake finally" said The Doctor, "good, good, you were out for a good while. As for the duster it's just over there, hanging on the wardrobe there and your undershirt is with it as well. Some of the stains would not come clean I am afraid to say."
"Okay" Greg said, "well thanks for that and fixing me up Doctor..?"
"Garrison" said The Doctor "your friend mostly told me everything, how you were injured and the monster. Quite a wild start for your search and rescue mission."
"Speaking of Dax" Greg said, "where is he?"
"Oh, yeah" Garrison said, "he decided to visit the local shop, guess he needed something." Indeed Dax did, meanwhile he was looking for certain items to change his breaths affinity.
"Okay, how about mints?" Dax asked, "got some of those in stock?"
"Yes" The Shopkeeper said, "but only one unfortunately."
"I'll take it" Dax said, "better than none I suppose." After his dealings Dax exited the shop and takes a look around. The village known as Stanarse was a typical fantasy setting village. There were homes, the shop and farmers market stalls. Dax also happened to look across the wide open plain with it's road stretching down the middle and into the town. He noticed three Dracomages, Black Dracomages, traveling towards the village.
"We've been here for too long" Dax said to himself, "they have caught up, time to go no matter what." Dax quickly teleported to the door of the doctors house and entered inside and came into the room Greg was in. Greg and Garrison were discussing payment for his treatment.
"So it is settled then" Garrison said, "the amount due will be covered through the mail. As difficult that could be with the way things are right now I can work it out."
"Hey Greg" Dax said, "you're awake, good we can get going now."
"So soon?" Greg asked, "why is that?"
"Uh, didn't he say?" Dax asked, "you've been out for four days."
"What?!" Greg asked in disbelief, "well, we gotta make up for some lost time, thanks again Doc."
"No problem" Garrison said, "you two be safe now." Greg slipped into his duster and re-equipped all of his gear.
"Alright" Greg said, "ready to go."
"Great" Dax said, "I will teleport ahead and make sure the main road is clear."
"Okay?" Greg said, "you really think I'd get clonked in the head again?"
"Better safe than sorry?" Dax said shrugging, "anyway stock up if you need to and I'll meet you down the main road towards Sourstone."
"Alright then, I'll see ya" Greg said, "I won't dally too much so wait up." Greg exits the Doctor's house and into the village. Looking up Greg could tell it was midday, and because it is winter that only meant a few hours of travel.
"So" Greg said, "camping gear, I wonder if the shop owner has any." Greg checked and he was able to obtain some ample camping gear. However even though he was a whole inch and a quarter bigger than the average Kobold it was quite a bit to carry. Greg managed though, he had quite the strong back and so he began to set out. Before leaving though he was stopped by the group of Black Dracomages.
"Young Kobold" said the Head of the Group, "we meet again I see."
"Hey" Greg said, "I assume you couldn't find whatever in Skyweather?"
"No" said The Head of the group.
"Taxilvalitous" said one of the Two Black Darcons, "just ask him if he has seen one of our own."
"Nexovalitas" Taxilvahui- er, y'know what, for the sake of time I'll just call him Tax, okay? Anyway, Tax continues
"I was getting to that."
"Well we are wasting time" said The Third Drcomage.
"We are not Arxilatiltos" Tax said, "I can still sense he is here."
"I need to get going" Greg said, "good luck finding your friend."
"Friend?" asked Arx, "hardly, we barely know him."
"Enough" Nex said, "he clearly knows naught, so let us continue."
"Hey" Tax said, "I am the one who is in charge.. so let's get searching then."
"I wonder.." Greg says to himself as he began walking the main road to meet up with Dax. After walking for a good hour Greg has seen nothing but the mountains in the distance and tons of snow covered trees. Dax was nowhere to be seen and Greg wondered just where he could be. Eventually his worries were put to rest when he spotted Dax off to the side of the road leaning against a big rock.
"Took you long enough" Dax said.
"You went pretty far on your own" Greg said, "does it have to do with those other Dracons back there?"
"There are others?" Dax asked, "wonder what they are doing."
"Looking for one of their own" Greg replies, "I am starting to think they are looking for you."
"Nonsense" Dax said, "I don't know any others, I left them behind in the East remember?"
"If you say so" Greg said, "we should keep moving then, it will be dark in a couple of hours."
"Right" Dax said, "I notice you have picked up some camping gear as well. I got some too just in case, more the merrier I suppose."
"Yep" Greg says, "anyway according to the map we still have about several hours if not more of travel."
"Okay" Dax said, "but what of a plan though? Got an idea what you'll do when we get there?"
"Ask around" Greg said, "maybe check and see if there are bandits around the area too, just in case."
"Not much of a plan" Dax says, "you really are relying on the luck of the draw here aren't you?"
"What else do I got?" Greg asks, "Like I said, if nothing comes up, then I guess I will have to figure something out."
"Alright" Dax said, "change of conversation, uh, meet anyone nice while you were if the city?" The two of them walked onwards discussing various things, the forest was getting thicker as they walked. The mountains of Sourstone loomed slightly closer as they continued to travel. Eventually as light was beginning to fade the two were having the sandwich argument.
"So" Dax says, "you're telling me smores don't count as sandwiches?"
"No" Greg said, "they don't, they don't use bread."
"Okay" Dax says, "but the crackers are sandwiched between the chocolate and marshmallow. The word is used to describe what you are doing with the two crackers."
"Still" Greg said, "not a traditional sandwich."
"Never said it had to be" Dax said, "so I am right."
"Well.." Greg says, "hey, it's getting dark, wanna set up camp?"
"Sure" Dax said, "there's a cave over there, we could try that."
"A cave?" Greg asked, "hm, I dunno." It started to snow heavily after Greg's hesitation. "Well, I guess Skies have decided for me."
"Yeah" Dax said, "come on, let's get to that cave." Upon entering the cave Greg's whiskers twitched, he sensed something was here.
"Hm" Greg hummed, "there is something off here, a beast of some sort is in this cave."
"So you sense danger?" Dax asked, "think we can handle it?"
"Maybe" Greg said, "if we can force it out of here or kill it then we could stay here."
"Who's going first then?" Dax asked.
"I can see in the dark" Greg said, "so I guess I should."
"Okay" Dax said, "I will be right behind you." Greg cautiously scanned the cave, and looked around eventually he seen.. It. The creature looked like a slightly larger than normal beastman at first. But Greg noticed the wings on it's back, it turned around and sniffed the air. Greg could clearly see now that it was a giant werebeast wolf creature but with ears and eyes like a bat. It's fur was in patches and its flesh seemed to be decaying and falling off in pieces.
"What do you see?" Dax asked.
"Shush" Greg said, "it will see us." That little exchange was enough to tip off the creature. It let out a rattling howling screech and breathed smoke clouding the entire cave.
"That's not good!" Dax shouted, "Greg where are you!?"
"Next to you still" Greg responded, "keep on your guard, this thing could be anywhere!" Dax could sense something coming from his right, he quickly breathed ice on to the creature and it froze.
"Whew" Greg huffed, "good thing you ate that mint awhile ago."
"Yeah" Dax said as he took out his camping lantern, "let me get a look at that thing. Wow what the heck? This is very unnatural, do you think one of those labs made it?"
"Maybe" Greg said, "I hope there aren't a lot of these things out there. They are bat like though so we should light this cave up as much as possible."
"Good idea" Dax says as he pops a chili pepper, "let's make some campfires." And so, they set up safety fires in the cave, one near the entrance and another not far from it.
"Hopefully that does it" Greg said, "now, the monster."
"Right" Dax said, "so should we just smash it while it's still frozen?"
"Shatter it?" Greg asked, "you can try." Dax attempted to shatter the creature, it didn't work. The ice cracked and shattered around the creature and it freaked out howling and screeching because of the light.
"Greg! Shoot it or something!" Dax shouted. Greg lined up a shot but the creature took a swipe at Greg, Greg rolled backwards and Dax breathed fire on to the creature. The creature engulfed in flames ran out of the cave and into the night.
"Well" Greg says, "that works too I suppose."
"Yup" Dax said, "we probably should take turns keeping watch."
"Who's first then?" Greg asked.
"I dunno, you?" Dax said.
"Sure" Greg says, "whatever, as long as you can wake up when it's your turn."
"Yeah" Dax said, "anyway, if we find nothing at Sourstone, what do you think you will do exactly?"
"Find another lead?" Greg says with uncertainty.
"No" Dax said, "you should just go home, what other lead would you find?"
"I have my ways" Greg said.
"Sure you do" Dax says, "but the thing is, I don't want to just leave you to this on your own, but I don't know if I can stick around."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Greg asked.
"It's about my ma" Dax said, "I should go back to her, so if you find nothing at Sourstone, let's just get back home okay?"
"Maybe" Greg grumbles, "no promises though."
"Just consider it then" Dax said, "anyway, wake me up when it's my turn to keep watch, goodnight." From evening to dawn nothing eventful happened, there were not anymore of those creatures. The two friends had some food to eat before setting out and left the cave. Walking along the road they eventually came to the charred corpse of The Creature from the night prior.
"Well" Greg said, "fire kills it pretty good."
"Yeah" Dax said, "so if we run into any more, light em up, got it." The couple of hours passed without much happening. The forest eventually dissipated into rocky terrain with patches of green and trees here and there. Eventually Sourstone was in sight, the day was particularly dark and cloudy.
"Here it is" Greg said, "Sourstone, this place from what I heard have beasts for the mining and they haven't been treated well recently for some reason."
"Sounds bad" Dax said, "should we even bother trying to enter through the front?" Greg cocked an ear towards the right. He could hear a child screaming and the screeching howl of another one of those monsters.
"A kid is in trouble!" Greg shouted, "come on Dax let's go!" Greg sped off leaving Dax behind.
"Woah, woah, wait a second!" Dax shouted teleporting after him. Greg ran around the main wall of Sourstone and sees the monster. The winged werebeast was upon the poor beast child. Greg drew his knives and threw them at the monster. It screeched and flew towards Greg. Greg rolled to the right, and the beast turned around a charged at him again. Greg draws his short sword and jumps at the charging beast and stabs it in the eye. It swipes at Greg but misses when Greg rolled away, Dax at this point caught up and engulfed the beast with flame. The monster screams with agony as it burns to death.
"Alright, it's over now" Dax said.
"Yeah" Greg said drawing his sword from the beast, "thanks, I don't know how much longer I would have kept that up for."
"As for the kid" Dax says, "what about him?"
"He's fine" Greg said, "what in the world are you doing out here though kid?"
"Food" The Beast Child said, "we hardly get none."
"That is horrible" Greg said, he reaches into his knapsack and gives the child some fruit.
"Really?" The Beast Child asked, "I can just have it.. for nothing in return?"
"Sure" Greg said, "why not? You need it don't you? Anyway, how'd you get out, the place is secured."
"The little hole over there" The Beast Child said, "I don't think you'll fit though."
"He's right" Dax said, "good thing I can teleport."
"Good" Greg said, "teleport us in".
"No" Dax said, "that wall could be too thick."
"What?" Greg asked.
"I don't think I can do it" Dax said, "and if I can it could do worse to you than a head injury."
"Well" Greg says, "how would I get in then?"
"Why would you wanna?" The Beast Child asked, "this place is pretty bad."
"I am looking for someone" Greg said, "I have a sneaking suspicion that whoever took my dad away left him in Sourstone."
"Or" The Beast Child said, "he was captured and brought here, they have done that for awhile now."
"What?" Dax asked, "why?"
"The Beasts keep dying" Greg said, "that or they are running away. We should look into the place if we get a chance."
"One thing at a time" Dax said, "looks like you'll have to get captured."
"Unfortunately" Greg said, "do you think you can teleport my gear to the other side?"
"Yeah" Dax said, "maybe not all at once but I can."
"Good" Greg says, "now, time for me to play prisoner"
"But why not use the grapple?" Dax asked. 'Oh yeah', Greg thought to himself, he totally forgot he had the thing, he never got an opportunity to use it so far. He fires the grapple to the top of the wall. It is no use since the wall is too tall and too smooth for it to latch.
"Well" Greg says, "at least I tried."
And so Greg sent out to get captured and gain entry into Sourstone…
End of Chapter 4
Chapter 5: Sourstone
out now