How many of those Tonic things do we have left? Aster asked, as the Beasts closed in around them.
said Gavin.
I don't suppose you know any spells that can teleport us out of here or something? Aster asked of Linnis.
I don't suppose your skills as a thief allow you to sneak past them? she shot back.
Hey, I was just asking. Excuse me if my trying to stay alive offended you in any way!
If I knew a way to get out of this, I would have used it already!
With or without taking us with you?
First of all, that is terrible grammar, and second —
Would you two cut it out? Gavin shouted. We have a little bit of a problem here!
One of the dogs, slightly larger than the others and streaked with gray, stepped forward. For a moment, it seemed to simply stare at them, and then, teeth bared, it lunged at Aster, claws outstretched.
Another form collided with it in midair, knocking it to the side and back to the ground. A surprised yelp emanated from the other Beasts as the two rolled about on the ground. Aster could make out little in the flurry of motion, but the Beast's attacker seemed to be human.
The Beast was on its back, clawing wildly at the air as the attacker restrained it. Then, the human drew back a raised hand — on which Aster caught what looked to be claws, but bore the glint of metal — and swiped across its neck. The Beast let out a stifled gurgle, and the human struck again. As a red glow engulfed the creature's body the human stood, turning to Aster and the others. Aster noticed that the person was a woman perhaps a little taller than he was, with hair down to her shoulders and a knee-length cape. The Beasts backed a step away.
Run, quickly! she directed them. This way!
She took off to their left, and was nearly gone from their sight before any of them could give chase. The three of them, however, needed little encouragement to get away from the pack of Beasts, and sprinted off after the stranger.
A few moments later, a great, concerted wailing howl arose behind them, and Aster fancied he could hear the sounds of a dozen angry Beasts tearing through the grass to avenge their leader. Keep going! called the voice from ahead of them. Don't slow down!
They didn't need to be told twice. Aster lost track of how long or how far he had been running, only that the grade of the slope was ever increasing uphill. Now he was certain he could hear the Beasts closing behind him.
Hey, up ahead! called Gavin.
The fog seemed to be thinning, and a dark hilltop loomed ahead of them, with the silhouette of the stranger running up ahead of them. Not only that, but atop it they could see a now familiar and very welcome pale glow. Finding newfound energy, Aster redoubled his efforts.
From behind him came indications that it would not be enough. Though he did not dare pause to look behind him, he could hear the panting of the Beasts as they closed up behind him, could hear their feet padding across the grass, could even feel the air displaced by the snapping of one's teeth, at best an inch away from his ankle. But then, as he approached the crest of the hill, the sounds disappeared, and the beasts seemed to be skidding to a halt. All three of them reached the Waypoint unharmed, and found themselves standing, exhausted, upon the North Road once again. The Beasts stood, snarling, thirty paces away.
You three are very lucky, the stranger said, folding her arms. Though the black sky showed that the sun had long set, it was possible in the thinner fog and the light of the Waypoint to get a fair look at her. Her clothes consisted mostly of white leather, with her arms bare save for a pair of long, deep-blue gloves which reached back past her elbows. Her cape, fastened with a high-collared shoulder piece, was a matching shade of blue and looked to be made of no fabric Aster could identify. A gold-and-silver band wrapped around her head beneath her reddish-brown hair, and her eyes were a strange shade of greenish blue. A set of metal claws were strapped to her right hand.
I'll buy that, Aster agreed, panting. Who are you?
My name's Kestra, she said. And you're welcome, by the way.
Thank you, Gavin said, stepping forward. We'd...definitely be dead if it weren't for you.
Don't mention it, she said. So what were you guys doing off the road in the first place? The Mistvale isn't a great place to go off sightseeing.
Hey, it wasn't by choice, okay? Aster said defensively.
Kestra smiled. Let me guess. You saw the will-o'-the-wisp and thought the road was taking you right past the town? She glanced at Linnis, who had been staring at her ever since they had reached the road. she demanded. Do I have a tail or something?
Linnis jumped at the sudden attention. No! It's just.... She paused. You're a Blue Mage, aren't you?
Why, yes, she said, raising her eyebrows innocently. What tipped you off? The cape? Or was it the claws? And I know my eyes are kind of blue, but....
Wait wait wait! Aster demanded, throwing up his hands. A what Mage?
The Blue Mages are nomads, who don't observe the boundaries of any country, Linnis said. They fight with the skills of the animals and Beasts. I'd always wondered what meeting one would be like.
We run on all fours and eat raw meat and on every full moon, we turn into Beasts and go hunting for human blood, Kestra said. Didn't anyone tell you?
Aster blinked.
I'm sorry, Linnis said, bowing slightly. I didn't mean to cause you any offense. I've simply never seen one of your kind before.
Kestra shrugged. Don't worry about it. Believe me, I get a lot worse.
Aster leaned over to Gavin, whispering, She was joking about that blood-hunting part, right?
Yes, I was joking! Kestra rolled her eyes. Seriously, who are you guys? It's been a long time since I ran across anyone dumb enough to wander into the Mistvale and still come out alive. Like, never.
I'm Gavin, he's Aster, and she's Linnis, Gavin said. We're on the run from Cardinal. Sometime this morning, we heard a rider coming, and ran off so we couldn't be followed. We didn't know what this place was like. Right now, we have no food, no supplies, and we need to get to Mira.
Kestra's eyebrows shot up again. Well, that's something new, she observed. Two peasants and a Red Mage, on the run from Cardinal. Okay, I have to see where this one goes. Plus, taking out a will-o'-the-wisp with your level of fighting skill isn't bad. I think I'll go with you to Mira — that is, if you think you might use a little help.
Please, yes, Gavin said.
She clapped her hands together. I can't remember the last time I had any good company on the road. Right now, though, we should lie down and go to sleep. Traveling at night in these parts is just begging for trouble, even on the road, and especially right after you've killed a Leader Fang. They usually like to stay down in the mist, but when their boss gets killed, they get angry. And they hunt in packs. Smiling, she sat down beside the Waypoint, stretching. Anyway, it's not far to Mira. We should probably make it there safely enough, if we wait till morning.
Aster, Gavin and Linnis exchanged a look. Gavin shrugged. I'm not gonna argue.
The four of them arranged themselves about the Waypoint, in a manner in which only Kestra appeared to find comfortable. Though it was well past sundown, Aster did not pass into sleep easily.
he asked, after some minutes of shifting restlessly on the hard stone.
Do we really want another Mage hanging around?
Oh, for crying out loud, Aster! She doesn't have anything to do with Cardinal!
I know. But...this whole thing just keeps getting more out of control.
When exactly was it in control?
...That's not the point.
Go to sleep.
Aster rolled over onto his back, and promptly rolled back onto his side as something sharp jabbed him. This whole thing is crazy.
All right, all right!
