-Chapter 2-
-Taking Flight-
The sun shined reflecting off the sea and sand as I walked along the beach. The very beach I first woke up on several weeks ago. Enjoying my leisurely walk along the hot sand I contemplated the situation and how I could change it.
"First of all I need to get off this island and find civilization. Next I need to find a type of magic that allows control over and communication via the mind with others. After that I can start building my swarm. I wonder if I could evolve my Zerg to use the magic of this world? That would be cool. And using magic my self doubly so. Ok time to kill that bird and blow this tropical popsicle stand."
Resolved to follow my path I begin upgrading my arsenal. Forging more arrows from my own teeth dipped in my own poison and the shafts made from my own hardened creep and feathers for stability. Growing a chitin shell I forge it's shape into that of a large spear tip to replace the obsolete stone ones. The steel swords and bow become my main weapons as nothing else can beat them at the moment, though they are a little old. Preparing further I wove a net from my silk folding it up.
With my gear ready I hiked up the mountain remaining stealthy to avoid being sighted by the giant Osprey. The hike is just as grueling as the first time but after several hours of trekking I finally reach a certain line of bush's. Dropping to my belly I crawl through the under brush for several hundred feet finally arriving at the nest. Peeking through the bush I spy a pair of chicks. Huge dog sized Osprey chicks with a layer of feathers on them already indicating they are nearly ready to take flight.
"Oh well more food for me. Wait? Will I be able to gain the flight ability if I eat chicks when they haven't even flown yet? Eh don't want to risk it. I'll wait a bit for mommy to return and eat her."
And so I wait.
Hours passed before the giant predator returned. As the chicks squeak and chirp the mother begins up chucking her meal. Feeding the two chicks who voraciously gorge themselves on their mommies pre-ate-fish. Just as the chicks pick at the fish bits mommy brought them I raise my bow drawing a poison steel arrow. Mommy Osprey turned her head out towards the sea flying off abruptly.
"Damn. It's like she knows there's a threat. No if she did know a dangerous threat was here she wouldn't abandon her young. Wait. Normally with birds both parents take care of their young together. If there's only one of them I wonder is the father Osprey was killed. Or Mother. Not like I can tell their gender."
Brain storming a plan I decide to lay a trap around the nest. Sneaking back down the mountain a few hundred feet I start sawing down smaller thin trees and webbing them together. The sun begins to set just as I place my trap near the nest with only a few shrubs separating them and tosh a few leafy branches over it for camouflage. The two chicks stare at me dumbly not knowing what I'm planning.
"Heh stupid birds. I'm ma going to eat your mommy and there's nothing you two can do about it."
Hearing a squawk from high above I dive into the bushes and wait. Not a minute later mommy arrives with a full sized shark in her talons. The chicks cry as the food drops into the nest and they peck and rip at the sharks corpse happily eating away. Mommy Osprey watches them a moment occasionally glancing up and looking around.
"Your mine big bird. Ow!" headache. "Not that kind of Big-Bird. Why does shit like that pop into my head when I make a random comment like that?"
Pulling the steel short sword from it's sheath I quietly cut the web thread restraining the trap. Elastic silk strands tear apart with each slice of the blade until the trap releases launching a large silk-net over the nest. Mommy Osprey shrieks as she's covered in the sticky net. Strongly beating her wings mommy Osprey try's getting away but the sticky net keeps her stuck in place.
"Oh no you don't."
Dropping the short sword I draw my bow and notch a arrow. Taking a second to aim for the Ospreys chest I release sending a poison arrow flying. It hits the giant bird squarely in the chest burying its self in a few inches. Without pausing I draw another arrow and release. In less then a minute I fire five arrows nearly all hitting their target. Two hit the net and the flapping wings missing but it hardly matters if a few missed. As the mother weakens and chicks squawk in panic. I retrieve the short sword from the ground and charge in around to the side thrusting by blade between the net I stab the Mother Osprey in the side.
She crays in pain louder as the steel blade pierces her side and with a twist of my wrist I slice through muscle and skin leaving a large gash across her side. I retreat and leave the nest and fire more poison arrows into her from a distance until all my steel tipped arrows are used up. I then switch to using the tooth tipped ones emptying my quiver until their all struck into the mother osprey.
The mothers trashing stopes as she become too weak to raise her wings as the poison runs it's course through her system which is only speed up by her trying to break through the net. Backing off I wait in the bushes as the mother Osprey slowly dies surrounded by her chicks. Her breathing becomes more and more difficult until she was unable to stand. She leaned over her chicks as her live drained away and finally dies.
"It's been awhile. I should check on her."
Walking closer I stab her in the side getting no reaction. I slash and stab a few more times but again no reaction. Confident that she was dead I cut the silk net off her and weave new threads into a rope and pull the mother Osprey down the mountain leaving the chicks to fend for themselves.
"It's a little too morbid to eat their mother in front of them. So I'll just have take out to night."
At the bottom of the mountain I feast on the giant mother Osprey draining her blood and drinking it. Then filleting her muscles and skin cutting them on a log with the sword and feasting. I eat for what seems like hours devouring large portions of the birds organs but there's so much that I can't eat all of it. Eventually even with me chewing every bit thoroughly my belly becomes full to bursting and I can't eat another bite.
[Strong/sharp claws-gained]
[Strong Wings-gained]
[Flight-mid-gained]
[Long Sight-gained]
"Ugh. Im full. Can't eat another bit. But at least I gained the abilities I needed." Sigh.
With my full belly full from my successes I bask in my achievement. I do feel a little bad a bout killing those chick mother but hey that's the law of the jungle. And besides those chicks are nearly fully grown and look ready to take flight themselves. Im sure they'll be fine.
-Next morning-
The sun shines brightly over me as it raises from the eastern horizon. Placing a hand over my face to block the bright light I moan and yawn stretching in my morning routine as I wake up.
"Ok time to leave this island behind."
Standing up I make my way to my hut at the beach and focus beginning my transformation. Creep grew out from the pours all over my body as my flesh and skin start morphing and shifting as I use Essence Weaving to alter my genetic and cellular expression. The creep accelerates the process growing over my arms replacing certain parts and adding new parts as it formed into birds wings on my arms and a tail feathers on my back side. My legs become longer and elongated from the knee down as my feet change form into predatory birds talons covered in scales.
The transformation takes hours and by the time its finished my whole body feels weak and tired from the exertion.
"Uh? I guess a full body transformation." deep breath "Is a lot more tiring then I thought?"
Taking the rest of the day to rest I just sleep in my new harpy like form and let my self acclimate to it. By next morning I'm rested but hungry. So I fish. Stepping out onto the beach my now longer legs shake and flop up and down as I re-learn how to walk.
"This is going to take some time to get used to?"
Awkwardly tromping up and down the beach a while I finally become adapt at walking and move on to my wings. Flapping them in rotating circular motions over and over I slowly get used to how it feels to use them. Hours pass as I train to fly without rest. After mid day hits I'm able to glide across the beach and reach over the jungle canopy. But my stamina still sucks. Flopping onto the beach I rest a while. My stomach growls and I go looking for food catching a large beach crab in my talons and smash it against a rock. However bringing it up to my mouth I find a problem with my new form.
Dry laugh
"I don't have hands." Sigh "Guess I'm eating with my feet from now on."
Sitting awkwardly on my ass I lift the crab with both wings and bit into its shell. Sighing at the hardness of the shell I keep chewing until it gives way. My teeth and strong jaws crushing the shell a little bit at a time with every bit. But it's still hard and hurts a bit and I chip a few teeth but their easily replaced. By the time I'm finished my wings are partly stained red from the blood along with my mouth. Stoically I stand up and walk over to the beach washing my face and wings off in the salty water. Shaking off I look at my reflection in the water. Examining my new form I look like a cross between a fish-person and a harpy.
-Hours later-
With my legs back and wings out I glide over the sparkling waves. Each flap taking me higher and higher as my tail feathers twitch and tilt to one side to another stabilizing my flight path. It took a lot of getting used to my new body but I've finally flown. For several hours I glide over the island flying in circles to develop my stamina so I can reach the nearest island. Glancing indirectly at the horizon I see the sun about to set with a few bright stars slightly visible in the diming sky.
"Maybe I should check in on those two chicks?"
Wondering how their doing I fly up the mountain to the summit. Gliding over the top I circle around looking down at the nest spotting both chicks still in there. They eat at the now mostly devoured shark that was the last meal their mother brought for them.
"Their ok. They'll eat it up and get hungry and start hunting for themselves. Wonder if they'll make it on their own or die to another predator? Then again considering how big they can get unless a Wyvern or another large beast shows up they should be ok."
Satisfied at my scouting mission I return to the canopy house at the base of the mountain and rest.
-A Week Later-
After spending over a week training I finally mastered flying and developed my stamina to be able to fly for extended periods. I can even fly for most of the day if I get a good continues updraft of wind from the ocean. Flapping my wings I smile at finally having mastered flight. I had also eaten a few Squids and Octopi that I had found in deeper water. From them I gained the tentacles now extending from my sides like a pseudo-hand with smaller finger like tentacles with joints growing from the sides of their tips. Along with pseudo-hands I also gained the ability to produce squid ink which might be useful some day. Gathering up everything I can carry with me into two web sacks, one on my lower back above my tail feathers and another tied tightly against my chest I prepare to take off for the last time. Looking back at the beach hut I start feeling nostalgic about the time I've spent in it.
"Heh. It really wasn't all that long ago. But it was sure fun to live in. I'm sure some animals can make use of it after I'm gone."
Looking forwards I prepare my self. Breaking into a sprint I run along the beach flapping my wings gaining altitude with each wing stroke. Ascending ever higher I leave the ground gliding over the sand then ocean as I skim over the water. The extra weight of my supplies pulling be down forcing me to put more force into each flap of my wings. Flapping harder and harder I raise high and higher until I'm higher then the mountain top. Gliding on the air currents I give the island one last look. Circling around I spot the young chicks on the beach with the ship. Looking closer with my Long sight I can see that their eating some of the sand crabs.
"I knew they would be fine. Well good by island. Here I come world ready or not!"
I bank to the left aiming straight for one of the islands in the far distance.
-One Week later-
Yawn.
"Man these islands ae boring."
I'm perched a top a tree over looking a cliff above the see. I've been island hopping for a few days and having my fill of the wild life. Most of the islands are mostly the same as far as the wild life is concerned and there by lacking in useful essence. I've even encountered more giant Ospreys but they don't seem all that numerous and seem to remain independent from each other. And from what I've seen so far the islands are apart of a archipelago of around a hundred islands maybe more that stretch off in one direction. Given the fact the sun rises roughly due east and sets roughly due west. I assume I'm going north-west moving up the island chain from its south-east tip that could lie at or below the equator.
"I'm a little depressed that I haven't found any ships or people. I thought I would have found one by now given how far I can see?" sigh.
Sitting there on the tree over looking the ocean I watch as the waves lap onto the beach far below me. The sea gulls and other birds squawking in the distance flying over the surface of the water far below me.
"Well. I should move on to the next island then."
Extending my wings I leap off the tree into a stable glide curving away from the cliffs. I keep heading north-west towards the largest number of islands hoping I'll find the main-land. Keeping a eye out for ships or towns as I go. Hours pass as I travel past dozens islands casually gliding along the warmest air currents that fuel my flight. Glancing over at the dusk horizon I yawn actually feeling tired.
"Well time to find a place to sleep."
Dropping closer to a island I find a nice big tree and perch in its upper branches.
"This'll make a great tree house."
Examining the tree I begin weaving threads for a hammock. Hanging four thick threads over both sides of a large branch I attach them to two large dead branches I found on the jungle floor and make a hammock. Hopping in I lay there relaxing as I swing among the trees drifting off to sleep.
In the distance on what appears to be the other side of the island multiple columns of smoke ascended into the sky.
-Next Morning-
My eyes open to the illumination of the day as my ears sense the sound of the living jungle all around me. Monkeys, insects, birds and wind blowing through the canopy greet me. Stretching my body I swoop down to the beach and dunk my head into the salty water waking my self up.
"Ok time to get moving."
A feathered dart shoots through the air.
"Yelp!"
A sharp pain jolts me awake. Looking down at my wing I see a dart sticking out. With a unamused expression I glance towards the jungle spotting a rough looking human sailor with a red bandana on his head and a carved wood stick in his hands which I quickly assume to be a blow-dart gun carved from wood.
"Didn't your mother every teach you to say hello before you shoot someone." I say dead pan as my head starts going woozy.
The man gives a jolly laugh.
"%%%^$# !))(^^%$## ." He says.
I sigh realizing I can't understand his language.
"Let me guess you'll next say that I'll fetch a high price or something?"
The man just shrugs.
"%%^$$#." He says.
That fuzzy feeling increases to a heavy dizziness as my whole body starts wobbling.
"Fecking hell. Sleeping poison!"
My face hits the sand as my consciousness leaves me. I dream. I dream of a black void. Of a disembodied voice. Of choices. The dream fades and I remember when I first woke up on that beach. It seemed like so long ago.
"I wonder what the Osprey chicks are doing right around now? Hope there doing well?"
Loud clanking noise.
"#%^ )(%$% #$!. !(&^%$#{y}." someone said.
"Huh? what I can't understand?" I mumble out.
My senses quickly return along with awareness of my surroundings.
[Sleeping poison resistance-lesser-gained]
"Glad to know your still here Announcer-chan." sarcastic sigh.
My eyes open. My sight's blurry for a few moments as my eyes adjust. Blinking I find my self in a prison cell like room with hay on the floor and several other identical cadged rooms. Six in total with three running in two rows on opposite sides of the relatively small building. All occupied by what I could only call demi-humans. My other room mates all look at me which weirds me out a little. I know I was looking for other people but that doesn't mean I like being stared at.
"##$%%^." One says.
"%%^$#*." Says another.
I sit up feeling around my self with my tentacle hands patting around myself quickly finding my gear gone.
"Ok I'm killing somebody. Direct me to the nearest thief for said murdering." I groggily let out like a drunk.
One of my neighbour's a werewolf growls at me and says what I feel is a insult. I kick the bars separating our rooms bending them. The werewolf guy backs off giving me a look of surprise that turned into a respectful smirk.
")$# &**^%$. ?}{&&*^*&^." one of the others say.
I shrug annoyed at the language barrier problem.
"I have no idea what any of you guys are saying ok. Well given the situation I guess its time to kill some fools like a proper Zerg. Now then...?"
Before I say another word the door opens and a guy wearing what could only be called sailor/pirate clothes and his bigger uglier brother enters the building. Some of the other non-humans shrink back submissively except for the werewolf guy who just growls at the humans.
"! ^$# {{})(%!." The shorter guy says bringing up a small black rod.
He taps the rod against werewolf guys bars causing it to shoot out arcing lightning. The lightning spreads to all three cells on that side side of the room including mine.
"OW! son of a bitch! Ok your dying first dip shit!"
The lightning dies down and the werewolf and the other three of what look to be cat-beast men hunch in pain from the lightning. The shark bit comes close but that lightning hurts like, well like lighting. I feel pins and needles all over.
The humans half heartedly throw some food bowls into all the prison cells except for the werewolf guys and leave locking the door on their way out. I look down at the bowl of chopped meat and, berries?
"I'm not eating this shit."
Ignoring the others munching on their food I stand up feeling the tingling sensation of the lighting fade. Looking around at my companions I notice their races. With me in the left row of caged rooms is the werewolf guy and 3 male cat-beast men. And in the opposite row of three cells were a male and female Tiger type-beast men together in the same room and 2 Harpies together in another room with the last cell empty.
"This is so cliche. I'm got to murder some humans or I'll die of annoyance."
Turning around I look out the window seeing a village of mostly wood and leaf huts with a few brick buildings making up the center of town and others scattered around the rest of the village between the huts. I can see a few dozen people walking around. Both human males and a mix of demi-human males and females. I've already decided to spare the non-humans so their off the chopping block regardless of the situation. But if they attack me I'll rip a arm off just for good measure.
I notice another werewolf walking by has a metal collar around his neck as he walks passed my window carrying four large sacks. Now that I look closer all the non humans outside have the same metal collars on.
"If that lightning before was magic then I bet those collars are too. Slave or obedience magic?"
"I'm in a regular fantasy world huh? Except for the fact technology looks more in line with the 1800s era then mid-evil times. Which is a enjoyable change to the trope but I wonder how society is changed by that."
I glance back at the others in the room all eating except the werewolf. With a shrug I casually pick up my bowl placing it in his cell. He gives me a curious look as if wondering why I'm being so kind or something. I don't know I can't read his mind. He looks between me and the bowl a moment before taking it and quickly eating his fill. While he's eating I observe the outside making plans. I need to strike while the irons hot or else I may find my self under a slave contract magic. I know I can't evolve out of that. Squatting down by the wall I spit small amounts of acid onto the wood slowly eating away at it.
With a square traced with the acid I kick the wall punching out a square hole, alerting all the other non-humans.
"$$%^# ((*&." the werewolf says surprised.
"::!))(*#." the male tiger says angrily.
"**&^%$$." one of the male cat-beast men says sounding worried.
I turn to them pointing to my ears with my tentacle arms and shrug.
"Me no speak what the hell you're speaking?"
I hop out the hole rolling to my feet and run behind the building towards the jungle out of sight. Passing the back half of the building I spot a pool with four merwoman held in by a cage over the water. With a sigh I keep going running as fast as my feet can take me.
-Back in the Prison Shack-
Agnox the male tiger-beast man fumed as the odd mutant harpy escaped.
"What's that bitch thinking she's going to get us killed!"
Roroara, Agnox's wife placed her arms on his shoulders trying to calm her husband.
"Dear please calm yourself. She doesn't know how things work around here. You can't blame her!"
Agnox glanced into his beloveds eyes and sighed.
"I'm sorry my dear. It's just."
Werewolf Vallin interrupted.
"Just she's more awesome then you yellow belly."
Agnox growled as he glared at Vallin.
"IF WE WEARN'T CAGED LIKE THIS I WOULD RIP YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!"
One of the cat men spoke up.
"Yeah Vallin. It's your fault were in this mess."
Another cat man spoke up.
"If it wasn't for your horsing around with that officer we would have gotten away with the treasure and the Humans would be happy and we wouldn't be locked in here."
Vallin stared daggers at the three cat-beast men.
"The only reason I don't rip these humans apart with my claws and fangs is the damn slave contracts were under. I wouldn't mind dying if I killed their leader. That bitch. But that damn magic keeps me from even moving my body to attack them damn it!"
The harpies just sat in the corner watching reluctantly as the others argued and fought.
"She was brave if foolish."
"Yes sister. But something was odd about her. Given how she looked I wonder if she was a mutant or a artificial Harpy?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Because she had tentacles, scales and gills. And the fact she bent hardened steel like that without breaking her own foot?"
"She did kick that metal bare so hard it bent! What is she?"
Moments later the mood was broken as a high ranking female pirate type woman entered the prison. Casually holding up a cigarette as she walked to the back of the building she looked over the demi-humans before turning back to two men standing at the door.
"So where's the intruder you caught?" she stated sounding slightly annoyed.
One of the men looked around fearfully seeing the hole in the wall of one cell.
"Oh for heavens sake what the hell is gong on?" He said gravely worried.
The female leader walked up to him glancing at the hole then to the bent metal bar raising a eyebrow.
"Well that's new? Never seen iron wood or steel bars bent and melted through like that before. Steven your spending a night in the brig for gross incompetence."
"Wha? What did I do mistress?"
The mistress of the pirates flicked the used hot ash off her cigarette before taking a puff.
"Not using enough sedative and taking so long to inform me of a unique catch. Take him away."
The other man grabbed Steven's neck pulling him away. As soon as they left Roroara patted the floor putting out the still hot cigarette ash before it could cause the hay to catch fire.
"I hate that bitch." She snarled.
Agnox knelled down behind his beloved.
"Don't worry dear. First chance I get I'm gonna rip her throat out."
-Meanwhile in the Jungle-
I finally stopped running taking a moment to catch my breath. Breathing calmly I planed my next move.
"Ok one of me against a bunch of armed pirates with unknown magic abilities who are keeping or possibly trading demi-human slaves?"
The odds weren't in my favor. I need intel. And unfortunately the best way to get it was to observe the humans. If I could understand their language I would go back and ask them about the humans magic and weapons. Climbing up a large tree I flap my wings taking flight. In no time I arrive back at the village seeing its whole layout from above.
There was a main foot path separating two rows of buildings with multiple docks along the back of the one row of buildings and a few scattered buildings around periphery of the town.
"I would say a hundred people live there. At least I have more info now. H'm?" I get a idea.
Swooping down I perch on a branch on a very large three story high tree beside the central edge of the village. Laying on my belly my Octo-camouflage ability activates. My bodies color and texture shift and change mimicking the trees surface. I had found a camouflaging species of octopus and engorged my self on them to get their bio-cloaking ability and then altered the ability several times so it could work on parts of my body other then just skin like feathers and scales.
I give a quiet laugh.
"I love sneaking around."
I stay there in the tree observing the village to get a better head count. Now that I'm seeing things from a better perspective I notice that there's actually more demi-humans then humans. And all the humans are male and armed. The one female pirate I spot looks important given her clothes. Observing her I watch as she walks around and between certain buildings a few times but mostly staying in the largest brick house near the center of town for most of the day. The fact she also always has at least one body guard following her around when not in her house also tells me she's probably a high ranking officer or the captain of this group.
"I'm guessing she's the boss. Interesting to see a female pirate leader? Glad to see them being so progressive. Doesn't change the fact there all dead-meat."
Night falls which gives my night vision the advantage. A few guards stand around the village patrolling at certain points with torch's which gives me a idea. Quietly I climb down from the tree and sneak around a building where I saw the closest guard. Peeking around the corner I spot a man with a sword I remember is a cutlass at his side. He's alone standing on a porch looking away from me.
"This is going to be so fun. I feel like solid snake." que another headache.
I stifle a pained groan.
I've noticed that I'm starting to remember things before getting the headaches. And also my pain resistance doesn't seem to help with them unfortunately. Wonder why that is?
Using my feet I gently claw at the buildings wall making scraping noises. Its a storage shed so I don't haft to worry about alerting anyone who might have been inside. Moments later I hear the guard walking closer and silently climb up the side of the building to the roof. A quick check of the area I see that I'm not in anyone of the other guard's line of sight. Looking down the guard reached the corner and looks around keeping that torch up over his head.
"%%$$%* ?" He says.
With my wings spread wide I hop down on top of him grabbing his head with my talons. With a quick jerking motion my legs and waist twist around. His head rotates with them to its breaking point making a satisfying snap as the body goes limb rag-dolling. I drag the body back to the big tree and up into the canopy and begin using my jaws to rip him apart eating his organs and eventually cracking open his skull and eating his brain. I get the usual essence data but nothing about language or his memories.
Standing up from the remains his arms and legs hang limply over the tree branch as I lick my lips cleaning the gore off.
"That's a bust. Guess I can't learn the local dialect the easy way."
Planning my next move I almost take flight again before deciding on a different course of action. Snickering at my devilish idea I fly off with the hollowed out corpse in my talons. Its weight weighing me down even with the torso and skull emptied. Gliding as far as I can I land on the opposite end of the village from where I killed the man and leave the body and some of my feathers scattered around where it's sure to be found but not directly out in the open.
With the body in place I slowly circle around the village through the jungle to keep from being spotted as I return to the large tree. Climbing to the top well out of view I weave a camouflage nest making it look like just another part of the canopy with my creep enhanced octo-camo ability allowing it to alter its color and texture to mimic the trees own bark and leaves. Resting in my stealth house I get some shut eye.
As day light illuminates the world in its brilliant light a scream resounds waking me up. My eyes shoot open as the noise echoes through the village. Yawning I roll over peeking over the edge of my hidden nest. Peeking over the town I see a crowed gathering where I left the body. I stifle a laugh as that pirate boss lady runs out half dressed with that a flintlock pistol and sword in hand. At least she has her fancy red pants on.
I hear lots of shouting and yelling from the twenty or so armed humans gathering around the body as they pull it out into the street. They all look a mix of mad and frightened but as expected the female leader slaps the men around a bit and pulls their heads together. She shouts some more and the men scatter with two men left to take the body away. I watch as many of the men go around questioning people until reaching the prisoners shack I escaped from.
-Prison Shack-
The door slammed open as two men enter.
"What the hell is all the yelling about?" Vallin asked yawning as he sat up yawning.
"All right you all stand up. We've got questions for you lot."
Agnox rubbed his eyes as he and his wife sat up against the wall of their cell.
"Ah What is it now? Did you find that escapee?" He questioned.
One of the humans shot him a glare.
"No! The monster bitch killed one of our men last night and ate him!"
The eyes of every demi-human blinked in surprise and shock.
"What? Really?" Vallin asked with a tiny snicker to his surprised tone.
"Watch your tone wolf boy. The only reason I haven't skinned yea yet is because the boss said we couldn't take your pelts."
Vallin glared at the man a moment before shrugging.
"If you're here to ask if we know anything we don't. That girl couldn't even understand our language."
The two human's glanced at each other then back to Vallin more interested now.
"Really. And how do you know that?"
Vallin rolled his eyes.
"H'm? I can't seem to remember. Maybe a nice stake would jog my memory?"
One of the humans huffed in annoyance striking the cage with the black rod shocking Vallin and the cat-Beast men.
"Damn it Vallin! Just tell them my furs catching fire!"
Sighing reluctantly Vallin's body feeling numb as He turned to the humans.
"When she woke up after that guy brought her in here yesterday She talked in a strange language I couldn't understand. And it seemed she didn't understand our words either."
One of the humans turned to Agnox cell.
"Hey you is what he's saying correct?"
Agnox glanced at Vallin then back to the human.
"Yeah. I've never heard words like what she spoke before. Must be from a far away country or something?"
"Thanks for the info."
The humans left closing the door behind them. As soon as they were gone Agnox glared at Vallin.
"You think they'll have us go after her like before?"
With down cast eyes seeming to remember a unwanted memory Vallin sighed.
"Maybe? I remember the first time they had us do that."
Vallins eyes closed as his teeth clinched from the bad taste of the memory. Images of a memory flashed in Vallins mind. A bloody tiger-beast man that looked like a younger version of Agnox kneeled begging for his life as a blood covered Vallin stood over him. Vallin glanced back eyes filled with anger and regret seeing a bloody Agnox on the ground with four humans standing over him with swords and guns pointed at him. His wife Roroara was on her knees with a knife to her neck as the human pirate leader Bennett stood calmly observing everything. She ordered Vallin to finish the job or the other two would be punished too. Gritting his teeth Vallin turned back to the young man and raised his sword.
As the memory flashed by Vallins claws dug into his own flesh.
"Your not the only one who wants revenge Agnox."
Agnox stared passively at Vallin.
"I know."
-Back in the large Tree-
I spent the day observing the humans and Demi-humans as they went about their daily lives. Fishers went out to sea catching fish and crabs. Woman demi-humans went around the village transporting things or talking with each other or the human guards who more often the not would grab their butts and chests. The woman would just shrink back and take the abuse and all the while the gears of my sick imagination turned. Around midday a group of thirty people left the village splitting up into three groups of ten as they searched through the jungle.
They must be either hunting for me or looking to capture me. Either way it left the village more vulnerable and with fewer eyes to see me. Camouflaging my self I climbed down the trees back side facing away from the village. I circled around to the docks scouting the area up close. Peeking around the corner of a building I spotted one of the men that had been groping the demi-human woman atop a watchtower. He was guarding the docks along with another guard on the other side of the docks in another watchtower. Rows of small boats and a few docks between them.
Glancing around I made sure no one was looking in my direction before I dashed out diving into the water. My camo is even better in the water because of the liquids nature of optical refraction and it's darker depths. Slowly I swam over to the towers stilt supports over the water and peeked my head around making sure no one was around. Seeing it was all clear I quickly climbed up the supports timing my movements with the sounds of the waves. With my own noise drowned out by the sea I hang under the floor boards of the towers platform right below my target. Looking around again I made sure no one saw me before I slowly creeped up to my target.
Yawn. "%*(&^." I hear the man mumbling to him self.
Peeking over the solid wall handrailing that was obscuring my body I see the man facing out to sea. His arms crossed as he sat on a simple wood chair. Silently I creeped over the handrailing and in one smooth movement leap behind the man forcing his head back as my jaws clamp down on his throat. He sputtered out some gasping noises as my teeth punctured his windpipe and jugular vain drawing a stream of blood from under my lips. Despite the wound and me biting down on his neck he surprisingly still had the strength to reach for his knife.
The moment I see his hand grab for the blade I in one motion twist my head back tearing through his neck. Blood shoots everywhere over me as his major blood vessels are ripped wide open. Gurgling in pain he dropped the blade and started bleeding all over himself grasping for his bloody neck. Pulling his hands away I clamp back down on his neck again to keep him silent until he expires. When he finally looses all strength and dies I look at my self to see the blood all over me. With blood all over my self I can't hide as well and it makes my octo-camouflage ability useless. But not wanting to waste the food I spend some time feasting on the humans body to build up my biomass.
After having eaten my fill I leap into the ocean leaving a quickly fading bloody stain in the water. Diving back under the waves I circle around the village going back onto land. In the shrubs I keep low to the ground as I make my way back to the large tree and climb up it to my hideout. There are a few buildings and huts close by the tree but the base of the tree is obscured by are large bushes and a few smaller trees between them. So I can easily hide so long as no one is looking. In my nest I relax and let my food digest.
-Next day-
-Captain Bennet's House-
"Damn it!"
Bennet cursed. Half of her men had wondered around the jungle for that damned mutant Harpy only to find another of her men dead at his post at the docks. There were a few people she knew that would pay a quit high price for a Mutant like that Harpy. Mages. Nobles. Slavers A famous circus troupe or two. Though she was more of a pirate/mercenary by her own accord Bennet had always steered clear of being a slaver. Though she's done business with a few in her time. It's more profitable to capture and sell off people who are on the boats you attack then just killing everyone. Though the times are changing with the governments cracking down on pirates so Bennet decided to look for a place to finally settle down at with her crew and retire. Mostly.
This little demi-human colony was the perfect place to do that. Far out of the way of the major nations as well as their major trading lanes. And in the middle of nowhere. Just had to subjugate the locales and pacify them. The fact they lacked any major armed forces or even magic users and metal weapons helped a lot.
But what was now making Captain Bennett's life miserable was the mutant Harpy that just in the span of two days killed two of her men.
Bennet sat back down in her chair crossing her legs as she felt frustrated.
"I'm goin to kill or sell that bitch. If I didn't know shed sell for so much I would just hunt her down and stick a few spears through her end to end."
Bennet sighed. A moment later the door opened.
"Ma'am." A man said.
"Yes."
"We've buried the bodies."
"Good. Have all our men stay in pairs for now on and with stun rods on hand."
The man looked uncomfortable.
"Um ma'am we only have a dozen of them. If we hand them out to all the men on patrol it will leave the work overseers unable to punish the demi-humans without risking themselves or the workers. And then we would loose man power and waste medical resources on them."
Captain bennet looked at the man thinking.
"Fine. Only transfer half of the stun rods and have the men share them."
The man nodded.
"Very well ma'am."
And left.
Now alone Bennet contemplated over her options. She really wanted the money for selling the mutant off but at the same time she doesn't want to loose too many of her men attempting to capture the harpy. A few losses she could live with. Less dividing up the spoils and all. But if she looses to many men she would risk loosing control over the none humans. Then a idea struck her.
"I could use the demi-humans as soldiers to hunt the mutant down like with the run-aways before? Mixing them with my own men would be useful and they could increase the area the searchers could cover. Plus they have better senses then humans."
As she considered the option Captain Bennett looked down at the large lower drawer of her desk. Opening it she pulled out the two books and medallion taken off the mutant harpy when she was first caught. The log book she placed onto the desk while she flipped through the magic book also known as a Mages Arcana. She new a few spells but was not a naturally skilled or gifted mage. She could make out a few of the spells and descriptions in the book but not many. And others require major materials to cast or lots of mana.
"Nostalgic. Been a while since I came across a book of magic. Though this one is much more then I can understand. Must be a advanced tome?"
Placing the book on the desk she picked up the medallion giving it a close look. Being a pirate Bennett could not help but marvel at the perfect facets of the crystal as the medallion spun in her hand dangling from its silver string.
"I wander if this things magical? Or is it just a pretty jewel?"
Turning to the log book Bennett flipped through its pages. She didn't recognize the captains name but from the writing it seemed he was a pirate like her but from decades ago. In the log it said they had found a medallion and a magic book and one of their crew who could read it said it was the key to a door that lead to untold treasure and power.
Bennett laughed at that one.
In her time as a pirate she had come across many silly proclamations of great treasure be it from other pirates or fancy books like this one. All or most proved to be false or trapes planned by the governments of the ships she's raided. After loosing many good men and suffering injury her self on several occasions Bennett was more then a little skeptical.
Still was this Harpy a treasure hunter or something? Was she on her way to obtain this treasure or not? As she read further in the log book it explained that the medallion was the key to the door. However there were multiple keys that formed one-piece to open the door and the medallion was but one of them.
"Not that interesting. But perhaps valuable?"
Placing the books and medallion back into the desk Bennett locked it and put her hat on its rack and went to bed.
-Next morning-
-Prison Shack-
Captain Bennett and two of her men stood at the entrance while the Demi-humans stood up at attention.
"Even though it's only been five days since the incident you all are to be released." Bennett stated.
Everyone was surprised with expressions of shock.
"Really?" Vallin said crossing his arms. "Even me?"
Bennett glanced at him.
"I have a special task for you, Agnox and those three." Bennett stated pointing to three cat-beast men. "I want you to join my men in their search for the mutant harpy. If you don't obey and I'll be giving you some fingers from those kids we keep at the other side of the village."
Agnox his wife and Vallin growled but did nothing more as the other demi-humans leered angrily at Bennett and her men.
"Very well. I suppose we are to capture the escape alive?" asked Agnox.
"Yes. Preferably in one piece. Scars and damage will reduce the price and mutants like that one don't come along everyday."
"Will we be given weapons?" one of the three cat-beast men asked.
"No." one of Bennetts men answered.
Vallin and Agnox sighed.
"Do you have a idea as to where the mutant is staying at least?" Vallin asked.
"We know she's staying some where on the island and hasn't left other wise the intruder detection magic covering the island would have gone off like the first time she arrived."
"Does she have a reason for staying?" Roroara asked.
"Yes. When she was captured she had two books and a medallion on her along with some weapons and other stuff. They must be quit valuable to her if she's risking her self staying here to try to retrieve them."
Agnox rubbed his head.
"Very well. We'll do my best to capture her. Right guys?"
Vallin and the three cat-beast men replied with yes.
Bennett smirked and left. Enjoying her control over the non-humans. Outside fifteen of Bennett's men waited. They split Vallin, Agnox and the others up into four man teams consisting of one Demi-human and three humans before leaving to hunt for the escapee. As for Roroara and the harpies they were allowed to return to their normal work duties.
-Meanwhile in the Large Tree-
I watched as the humans split the demi-humans up into multiple four man search parties.
"Well that's sooner then I had anticipated?" I said grinning ear to ear as I began the next phase of my plan.
Climbing down out of the tree I dashed out into the forest while secreting squid ink while making a beeline to the other side of the island. The ink had a distinct smell that was easily detected by anyone with a sensitive nose making it perfect bait. And since their demi-humans I figured at least one of them could smell as well as a dog. Waiting in my ambush tree I looked up to the sky seeing the sun pass the mid day mark and still no one had taken my bait. Looking down over the edge of my camouflage tree house made from creep, branches and webbing I sigh.
"No one coming?"
Almost on que a group clears the dense tree line approaching the hill where my tree house was at. They approached slowly with caution. The humans keeping their eyes out for any danger while the silver werewolf sniffed at the ground and air cautiously.
"Wolfy it is then."
I put my plan into motion moving into the bioweapon I had created while waiting for them. It was a combination of my essence weaving, octo-camo and Creep generation and control abilities. The monstrous false body was shaped like a giant Drider. A spider Demi-human with six thick legs on its spider like lower pelvis and four arms and white hair with red markings on the upper humanoid torso.
It's just a fake body with a small brain but it would work for my plan. Climbing into the large abdomen I control the rest of the body via creep based nerve connections. Allowing me to observe through it's senses and control the meat puppet as if it was my own body. Which it kind of is.
As the humans and werewolf reach the clearing just before the hill I use the false driders hand to grab a hardened creep spear which I had also created for the Drider. Taking a moment to aim I throw he spear full force impaling one of the humans into the ground.
The others with surprised and horrified faces glance at the body as it ragdolls sliding down the smooth spear shaft. I (the Drider body) scream in a high pitched shriek drawing the human and were-wolfs attention. I glare down at them before climbing down the tree with the greatest of ease and was soon upon them.
"$$## !." one human shouts.
"()&&%!#$$." another says, nervous as he pulls his sword and flint-lock-pistol.
"##%$ ***&&" The werewolf says at least some what calmly.
The other human pulls out what look like the same magic lightning rod I saw before. Reacting quickly I pull one of my four arms raising a silk thread triggering a trap. A pair of branches separate propelling a silk-net through the air. The werewolf leapt out of the way as the net hit the humans and dashed towards me baring his claws and fangs. Extending my meat puppets arms I grab the beast by the arms and legs forcing him to the ground with my larger frame. Gritting his teeth the werewolf pulls his legs up and with his whole body pushes me off him and backwards and freeing himself from my grip.
"He's surprisingly strong?"
I quickly scuttle away retrieving my spear and ripping the human corpse off it and casually throw the body at the other two humans knocking them down and further scaring them. Again the werewolf charged at me but more cautious then before.
With lightning fast leaps He dashed around me several times before leaping at my exposed flank. With his steel claws He ripped into the main body with a powerful cleaving slash. The wound to the Drider body doesn't really wound me but I scream in pain all the same for realism and quickly turn around swinging and thrusting my spear. We continue fighting for several minutes as the humans cut themselves free of my silk trap. The human with the lightning rod aims it at me but I see the attack coming with the Driders multiple eyes and block the lightning bolt with my spear using it like a lightning rod to deflect the bolt of energy. The other man shots me with his primitive pistol both eliciting a annoyed glare and growl from me. I stare directly into their eyes making them flinch and provoking them to flee leaving the werewolf man behind.
"!%^^&)(?" the werewolf shouts at the two humans seeming quite angry at their cowardice.
One human turned around.
"!)((**&&^%" he replied continuing to run away.
In that moment as the werewolf was distracted I lunged biting down on his arm. The paralysis venom I had obtained from one of the many fish I had ate during my long trip to this island worked quickly. His body weakened and movements slowed but was still strong enough to put up a good struggle so I injected a little more into him. The humans watched from a distance in the tree line as the werewolf lost all fight in him hanging like a ragdoll in my arms.
I stared back at them with a wide grin. Readying my spear as I began to pursue them with the werewolf hanging limply in my lower arms. They quickly retreated running like coward's through the jungle. Once they were out of sight I recovered the dead human devouring the body whole. With its biomass I was able to maintain the fake Drider puppet for longer by converting the human bodies biomass into new creep to feed the Drider and fuel its metabolism.
Checking the Were-wolfs pulse I made sure he was alive before leaving to create a more permanent hideout. With him in my meat puppets arms I went straight for the edge of the island and traveled along the beach until finding a hill facing the ocean. At the top of the hill I found a nice place and weaved a camouflage cocoon like structure around a dozen trees and camouflaged it's surface to look like a giant rock with trees grown up around it. Within the new nest I gave the werewolf the antidote to the paralysis venom. Slowly he woke up groaning weakly as his eyes blinked and looked around the chamber until fixing on my meat puppet.
"%$# *&?" he mumbled half awake.
Waking up fully he backed off obviously frightened of the Drider form. I moved the Drider body around facing away from him and popped open the large rear abdomen on the lower torso revealing my true body inside.
-Vallin POV-
"What the hell! Seriously what the fuck is this girl?"
The mutant Harpy exited the abdomen of the giant Drider and slowly approached Vallin.
"## !&&*.$%$## &?." She said.
Vallin couldn't understand any of the Harpies words but it was obvious she meant him no harm. If she did she could have had that weird organic golem kill him. Vallin reached a hand to his neck remembering how painful the bit was. But He was alive so it must have been a paralyzing agent instead of deadly venom.
"So I m guessing your not going to kill me then?"
She just tilted her head and shrugged.
"This is difficult ?" Vallin sighed pinching his temple. "Not being able to communicate is going to make things so awkward."
With Her wing the mutant Harpy taped Vallins shoulder and started gesturing. Pointing to her self and then to Vallin. Vallin became shocked when she produced a grey purple stuff from her own skin and shaped it into a copy of his head.
"The hell?"
The Mutant Harpy gestured again indicating she was going to use the copy to make the others believe he was dead and then keep kidnaping any Demi-humans bringing them here to the hideout.
"I don't really get why your doing all this? But I'm glad you didn't kill me and may be wanting to help my people?" Sigh. "We really need to learn a better way of communicating."
While Vallin was thinking the mutant harpy hopped in the fake Drider meat golem again and left. Returning some time later with a bunch of fish in a net made of silk.
"For me?" Vallin pointed to him self.
The giant Driders head nodded with a creepy smile.
"Ok? Thanks."
Taking the fish Vallin ate to his hearts content as the meat golem left again. A hour passed and this time when She returned the meat golem had two of the cat-beast men in her arms along with two human corpses.
"Kaede. Isao. Nice to see you." Vallin said casually as they were let down.
"Vallin! Your alive?" said a surprised Isao.
"We ran into those two humans that were apart of your group. They said you and one of their men were killed by a giant Drider? " explained Kaede.
The giant Drider staying at the entrance to the hideout started eating the humans much to the Demi-humans dismay.
"Oh by the goddess is she going to eat us!" Isao stammered watching as the humans were ripped to pieces and eaten.
"I don't think so. If she intended us harm we wouldn't be breathing right now."
"Well I guess that's true?" said Kaede sweating bullets.
The Drider finished eating and produced a pair of severed heads identical to Kaede and Isao though looking more damaged.
"What the hell! That looks like me?"
"Um Vallin could you explain what she's doing? Please because I feel very uncomfortable."
Vallin scratched his head.
"Well I think she's planned on going around kidnapping us demi-humans and rescuing us from the humans I guess. She may be bringing us here gathering so we can organize a rebellion I think? I don't know what's exactly going through her head."
Both Kaede and Isao glanced at each other with unsure worried expressions.
"But Bennett still has our contracts." said Isao. "We can't do anything against her will so long as she has them?"
Kaede sighed in relief.
"At least she has to be in ear shot for it to effect us thank the goddess."
Vallin sighed looking at the Drider golem with a thought brewing in his head.
"I know." said Vallin. "Hey you I need to show you something."
The Drider golem stopped licking it's fingers turning to Vallin. He gathered up some dirt and churned it up until making a area of relatively flat dirt. He then used his claws to make images in the dirt that indicated the demi-humans were all under a slave contract and couldn't resist the contract holders will. And that it only worked with direct orders in person.
-My POV-
"Ok I get it. So these contracts are held by that pirate woman then?"
I surmised as the werewolf finished making his pictures in the dirt. This was a problem. I had known that such magic may exist but this puts a wrinkle in my plan. Still I can work around this. From my creep I formed a few bone spears and knives making sure they were sharp before leaving. As I turned to leave the werewolf called to me.
"%%$#*&(())$$%# ." He said.
"Your welcome. I think if that's what he means? Language barriers suck."
Leaving the camouflaged hideout I once again moved around the islands edge back to the village staying far enough away so no one notices me. In a cluster of trees by the beach I dig out a hole and lower the Drider into it. Dragging a few bushes over it for camouflage I leave the Giant Drider puppet behind and go on foot. With night falling I again infiltrate the village.
This time using a full body cloak of creep skin with octo-camo. All my memories of playing stealth games was paying off. Using various tricks I distract and slip passed the human guards slowly infiltrating further into the town. Those not taken in by the distractions are promptly knocked out by my paralysis venom and dragged away to a hiding spot.
Leaving another guard out cold I infiltrated the largest building in the center of town which belongs to the pirate leader lady. Luckily for me the guards were making regular patrols around the place instead of staying in one place. It was tight but I slipped in between patrols and using my acid I broke the lock to a side door without leaving any obvious damage.
Slowly closing the door I turned around. The dining room had fancy decorations on the chandelier over the table, the wood carved painted chairs and on the stairs hand rail and the fine candle stick holders on the lacquered dining table. The place screamed aristocrat and wealth despite the some what shoddy external shape and condition of the house.
There wasn't any electricity or advanced tech but this place was quite new looking with fancy paintings and other decorations such as pictures of cities, people, animals and maps. Most of the candle's on the table and along the walls were lite. The house illuminated with their wavering warm light. Quietly I walked to the stairs and waited. Using my relatively small size I took on the disguise of a small sack of potatoes in my cloak by the stairs. I waited there for a few minutes as I could hear others in the house and didn't want to just run into someone let alone that pirate queen wannabe.
Shortly after two female demi-humans who look like a cat and a tiger entered the room and started setting the table. They were moving quickly as if in a hurry so they probably didn't notice me at all. Neither saying anything or looking directly at me.
"Hehe. Guess my disguise was more natural looking then I thought. Still lets not get a big head."
"## &**%?." the cat woman said.
"?%%$!()*^." the tiger woman replied.
They talked as they worked leaving for what I would think is the kitchen and returning with plates of food and glass cups filled a red drink. Maybe wine. This goes on for a few minutes as I just lay there watching them through the tiny holes in the cloak/sack. After the table was set the cat woman went up stairs a for a few minutes before coming back down again. Shortly after the pirate boss lady came down the stairs wearing a embroidered red dress.
"*((&&%$##$%." the pirate woman said.
"&%%##((*))." the tiger woman replied holding a tray of steaming steak.
The demi-humans served the woman as I watched for a what seemed like a hour.
"Damn this woman takes her sweet time." I thought rolling my eyes.
I almost fell asleep before she finished up her meal. It was almost as if she intently savored every bit of food and drink of her expensive looking wine. She finally stood up and left returning to the second floor. The two demi-human woman cleaned up the plates eating some of the left over food as they did. I sighed not even wanting to think about anything but my objective. Once they were done in the dinning room they left and I was alone again for some time. I at first thought it was all clear but then the tiger woman returned making a beeline straight for me. With a tug she failed to fully lift me.
"$^# **&. %%$# )))((*^." she frustratingly stated, cursing I think.
Grasping my cloak with both hands this time She lifted me up and hulled me to the kitchen where she plopped me down beside a stove wood box and left. Peeking through the tiny array of holes the room looked like a old fashioned kitchen matching the era and its level of technology. All except for the glowing red crystal under the stove burner which I was at just the right eye level to see.
A little annoyed at this point I opened the cloak peeking around. No one was around so I exited full cloaking mode and stood up. Now fully reviled I worried if I would have to attack those two demi-human woman if they spotted me. I was about to start sneaking around for those contracts when a shout came from the front of the house. Peeking through kitchen door way I spied on a group of people all gathered in the main room. The pirate boss lady was there with seven of her men along with that tiger-demi-human and one of the cat-beast men.
"&&^! #$%)&." the boss lady shouted in frustration.
One of the humans held up the fake severed heads of the werewolf and the other two cat-beast men I had left where they could be found. The tiger man stared at it his eyes wide in shock while I heard crying came from a corner of the room out of my line of sight. His face sneering in anger and his fists clenching until his hands started bleeding.
"Guess they were friends or something. I should probably steer clear of him until I make the reveal that his buddy is alive."
The conversation got heated after that point as I surmise they told the boss lady about the giant drider. My deception worked and I got a big grin on my face as the pirate boss lady shouted in anger looking quite confused about something. After some pacing around she stared her men in the eyes and gave some stern sounding orders accompanied with lots of pointing. The men nodded and left with the demi-humans leaving the boss lady to fume by her self. With one last sigh she went back towards the stairs. With a shout from Her the two demi-human maids who had been in one of my blind spots behind corner joined her. I heard all three pairs of feet go up the stairs leaving me alone to do my thing.
Turning around I eyed the larders and food cabinets containing the bread, vegetables, pastries, milk, butter, cheeses and salt-cured meats.
"I can work with this."
Quietly I went around gorging on all the available food. As I stuffed my self I heard talking from the second floor. Keeping quite I listened as I raided the pantry. After I had stuffed my self I weaved a pair of silk bags and stuffed them with as much food as I could. Then with a head on a swivel I left the way I came. I may have not found the slave contracts but I scouted the home of the enemy leader and that was enough for now. Opening the door in the dining room where I initially entered through I peeked around catching sight of a pair of guards walking passed the back ally. Ducking back in for a moment I waited a minute for them to pass.
In a moment of fate my body froze as the sounds of foot steps thudded overhead making their way down the stairs. Looking over my shoulder both of the demi-human maids walked down the stairs. And just because they had to they turned directly towards me. We stared at each other like deer in head lights for a moment. No doubt they were more surprised then me.
A half second ticked by.
I slid the silk bags off my shoulders.
A full second passed.
The cat-beast men maid gasped in fear.
A second and a half passed.
I leaped at them.
Both maids turned to get away as I tackled them both to the floor and held their mouths shut. Events flew by as I bit both of them injecting my paralyzing venom. They both stopped struggling and quickly became limb in my hands.
"Damn it now this complicates things?"
Glancing back to the two bags then to the two woman I sighed and looked at my self cursing my thin body frame. Creating two more octo-camo-cloaks I placed them on the woman and hulled them out of the village leaving the two silk bags stuffed with food behind. Remembering my route I easily evaded the patrols though it did take more time because of the extra weight I was carrying.
Trying to hid two large limp bodies even in octo-camo cloaks was also difficult. Returning to the hidden Giant Drider body I more easily made my return to the hidden base. When I returned the werewolf and two cat-beast men were sleeping along the wall of webbing. The heavy foot falls of the Drider puppet woke them and with surprised eyes they stared at me as I placed the two woman down on the ground.
One of the cat-beast men started shouting when he saw the female cat-beast men and quickly went to her side.
"I guess you know each other then?"
He glared at me along with the werewolf who had gone over to the tiger-beast woman's side. Both seemed looking quite worried for the women. Probably thinking or worried their dead.
"Ok ok. I'll fix them."
Exiting the Drider I give both the woman the anti-agent for the paralyzing venom. In just a few minutes the two woman quickly woke up with a bit of lethargy as their movements and speech is slowed.
"^^%%$#$ # !." the female cat-beast men said as her eyes met the male cat-beast men's eyes.
"$%%# %#$^&*%%$.# $^&%." the werewolf sad to the tiger-beast women as she woke up.
Exiting the puppet Drider I yawned feeling quite tired. I climbed up to the top of the upper apex of the room and wove a hammock. As I worked the werewolf looked up at me and said something. I looked down understanding the look in his and the tiger woman's eyes.
"Your welcome."
I hopped in the hammock as distant thunder echoed in the distance. As a storm seemed to be rolling in we all settled in for the night. The night was turbulent as we road out the storm. Heavy winds and torrential down pour of rain hammered the hideout but thanks to the multilayered shell of silk threads and branches it held up and even reinforced the trees that made up its supports.
-Next Morning: Vallin POV-
Blinking Vallin woke up to the calm sound of gentle wind rushing through the canopy making branches and leaves sway and rustle outside. Standing up He saw that everyone was gone. Feeling a sense of apprehension he rushed outside glancing around he quickly spotted everyone down the hill at the beach.
"Geeze don't give me a heart attack." he muttered.
He gingerly made his way down the steep hill to his friends.
"Hey Vallin about time you woke up." Isao said turning to him.
"Why did you all come down here." Vallin looked around not seeing the Harpy or her bizarre flesh golem Drider. "Where's the Harpy and her wired golem?"
Isao shrugged.
"Don't know? She left a few minutes ago."
Giggling and laughter drew Isao and Vllins attention. Kaede and the female cat-beast men were both playing on the beach a short distance away enjoying the cool water.
"Im glad you two are having fun." Vallin said.
"Ah Vallin." said Nari. "Im so glad your alive. But im confused. I saw them bring your head to the mistress. Agnox was quite enraged at the thought of your death."
Vallin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Is that so! Those fake head things She made worked pretty well then."
"You mean That mutant Harpy." interjected Roraora as she approached.
"Yes. It seems she's making the others think those of us she takes are being killed and eaten."
"But why?" Nari questioned.
"I surmise it's so that the others wont be harmed." speculated Vallin.
"I see." Roroara contemplated. "Because if it looked like she was just taking us with no intention of harming us then Bennett and her men would more then likely use the others as hostages or worse. That mutant Harpy is quite smart. It's a shame we can't thank her properly."
"Yeah her language is different then ours." Kaede stated. "I don't even know how to start learning hers or teaching her ours. Not like we have the time."
"Exactly." Vallin said. "It makes coordinating our planes problematic. It does seem she knows what she's doing but unless we all work together Bennett will still win in the end. Remember her ship and strongest men are still out to sea at the moment."
Isao sighed.
"And we don't have a clue as to when they'll return. If we don't take our island back before then we may as well give up and accept that those damn humans will push us around for the rest of our lives."
"I can not accept that" Roroara growled. "We spent ten years building up this town for ourselves after we escaped the slavers ship. I'm not just going to lie down and do nothing. How am I going to let that young girl do everything for us when this is our home?"
Everyone glanced around at each other. Vallin grinned showing his fangs.
"Then shall we begin our rebellion then?" He proposed extending a hand.
Roroara walked up to him placing her hand over his.
"We most certainly shall."
Nari glanced to Kaede and the two joined the hand pile. Isao shrugged and joined the moment placing his hand on top the others.
"Then where do we start?"
-Agnox POV-
Agnox roared staring at the door to Bennetts house. The lock's internal mechanisms had been eaten through by acid. The mutant Harpy had some how infiltrated the village again and kidnapped both Nari and more importantly Roroara his wife. All after killing three of his friends.
"For goddess sake how did that damned Harpy get into my own house without being spotted?" Captain Bennett growled in frustration.
Her anger barely contained as a number of her men gathered around.
"Were doing our best ma'am but our patrols can't cover the whole village all at once."
Captain Bennett slammed her fist against the door frame smashing it into a splintered mess.
"I don't care. We took this village over because we could use it as a base of operations and a place to retire when we met our quota for the Duke. If he's not satisfied then it's all of our heads. The only reason we can operate as we do is because were privateer's under his authority and protection. If we break our contract were done for. Got it. And our operations are only so good at the moment is because of why? "
The captain stared intensely at her subordinate officer.
"Be, because of this islands location."
"Exactly! Meaning we wont be able to meet our quota of goods to give to the Duke if we lose this island. And if we can't even keep it secure from some random Harpy and a Drider how in the hell are we supposed to fight off the navy or rival pirates?"
Bennetts men shrunk back from her roaring voice and temper.
"Well burn the jungle if we have to. Well need permission to mobilize all our men though ma'am. That would leave the town vulnerable?"
Bennett rolled her eyes with a shrug.
"I can't really blame you for everything. I've given you lot to much credit and responsibility. I wanted to let you learn and developed your own skills since your all fresh recruits. But it seems I was wrong about this situation. I'll be over seeing the protection of the town my self."
Bennetts men all looked more up beat and gave their leader a respectful glance.
"That will free the rest of you up to hunt that giant Drider down. I have no clue as to how that thing got on my island. Maybe its from a rival pirates crew or it some how teleported into the island. The Magic Detection Circle He crated only detects things crossing into its area of effect so it can't sense those using other methods like teleportation. Speaking of my first mate and my real crew they should be getting back any day now."
Bennett turned to Agnox.
"I suppose since your woman was taken you'll want to go after her then. Or do you want to go after the Drider that killed your friends?"
Agnox stared Bennett down but failed to intimidate. His gaze lowered with his head.
"I'll look for the Harpy after helping your men deal with the Drider. They maybe working together. And the Giant Drider is the larger threat."
Bennett smiled smugly.
"I've also considered that possibility. Perhaps the Harpy served as a beacon for the Drider to teleport to the island. I've heard of that method being done before to leap frog military forces large and small from place to place. But enough talk move out. You all know what you need to do."
Bennetts men with Agnox and the last cat-beast men in tow walked away together to gather their forces to hunt the Drider down. Captain Bennett walked to her to her private study on the second floor of her house. Walking behind her desk she took a sword off the mantle on the wall unsheathing it. The pure dark metal blade radiated a sense of unease.
"It's been fun relaxing and leaving everything to the new recruits and my first mate but it seems I need to come out of retirement. And after all the trouble of faking my own death at that battle a year ago. Well at least I won't actually be declaring to the world I'm alive. Just have to stomp a few rats. I swear I'm going to de feather that Harpy. And if my men don't do it I'll cut that damn Drider up my self too. Spiders aren't my favorite dish but I hear that some nations like using them in medicine and food."
-Chapter End-