The venom of a poisonous beast's claw or the venom of her new mentor's words, Tressa didn't particularly want to know which would hurt her worse.
Venomous Sting
Something was very, very wrong in this cavern.
Ever since Tressa had stepped foot inside, she'd felt it: that constant, unwavering gaze that followed her every step yet seemed to have no origin. With her bow held low and lance ready to be pulled free of its sheath, Tressa had cautiously made her way through the narrow cavern paths, twisting and turning as she made her way ever closer to the sound of the sea, the gentle glow of sunlight. Yet not once had she been attacked.
It wasn't as if there were no monsters, in fact there were monsters everywhere, but it seemed as though they were all too busy to pay a young adventurer any attention. The skeletons sharpened their weapons, the elementals simply flitted this way and that in an almost anxious fashion and the bats and snakes seemed to be sleeping, though they were poised and ready. It was as though all the monsters were waiting for a call, the shout of their alpha, before they turned on the girl.
Tressa could only assume that alpha was the monster watching her every step, waiting for her to falter, waiting to pounce.
Still, she carried on, map in hand. She'd promised herself she'd find Mr Leon's friend's last treasure and she was going to find it, whatever it took. She'd fought pirates and mercenaries, a lower IQ monster was no match for her.
Finally, she happened upon the clearing, a half-buried treasure chest glowing beneath the sun in the centre. Her travels had made her cautious, of course, she knew such a clearing was the prime spot for the alpha to attack, so she searched the area once again, her bow low and arrow ready as she entered.
Still she saw nothing, no monster hiding on the cliffs as far as her eye could see. But she could feel it, the monster's gaze. She could smell it, the scent of wet dog mixed with… well, the only smell it reminded her of was addlewort, the poisonous herb. And beneath that smell was the monster, watching her, waiting, waiting to pounce.
Still she couldn't see it, so she cautiously continued to the chest.
Even stood next to it, nothing attacked her, the gaze made no move to waver nor pounce, only the air stilled. The atmosphere was tense, waiting for a pin to drop, waiting, waiting for Tressa to let her guard down even a fraction so that the beast might attack.
Then she knelt next to the chest and pulled out her trowel.
Then the monster let out a mighty roar and launched itself into the clearing, its talons sharp and dripping with a clearly poisonous substance.
Tressa had barely a second to turn, to raise her bow, before it would be upon her. Terrified, instead of turning, instead of trying to protect herself, Tressa found herself rooted to the spot, paralysed by the roar. She couldn't raise her weapon, she couldn't protect herself, she couldn't do anything but watch as the tiger bore down on her with its talons.
All of a sudden, a shadow flew into her view, placing itself squarely between her and the beast as it levelled its lance and pierced the tiger's chest.
The beast let out a shallower roar, one that gurgled into silence as blood and venom rose in the tiger's throat. The shadow before Tressa swung its lance in one fell swoop and twisted the beast onto its side, crashing it into the solid sand of the clearing with an almighty thud. The beast twitched once, spat blood and poison and finally fell still. Even dead, the beast's eyes were still open, still staring deep into Tressa's very soul as she at last managed to move from her cowering position to take a good look at the shadow that had saved her.
"Mr… Leon." She breathed, watching as the merchant pulled his lance free of the tiger's chest in disgust. "You-"
"What were you thinkin', Lass?!" Leon shouted at her, wiping the tip of his lance on the tiger's fur.
"I!" Tressa stood, her bow and arrow dropped into the sand behind her as she clenched her fists and willed herself not to cry. "I wanted to find Baltasar's treasure-"
"And so you entered a dangerous cavern alone to do so?" Sheathing his lance, Leon stood before her with his arms resolutely crossed over his chest.
"I thought- Mr Leon, let me-"
"Tressa," Leon shook his head as his voice lowered to its normal volume yet lost none of its disappointed tone. "What you did here today was not only reckless but dangerous. Had I not followed you, I dread to think what might have occurred."
"Mr Leon, please." Tressa took a deep breath, her voice quivering as she shook. "I'm-I'm so sorry."
"As you should be!" Once again, Leon shook his head and looked back over his shoulder at the beast he'd killed. "Did you learn nothin' from my story, Lass? No treasure, no adventure is worth the price of your life."
With that, Leon left, leaving behind him the heavy air of disappointment. Tressa stood where she was, not watching as he walked away, as her eyes filled with tears.
Before her, the dead tiger still had its eyes open. Even clouded over with death, they still stared deep into her very being… As she stared back at it, Tressa couldn't help but wonder if its talon would have stung her worse than Leon's words...
