Chapter Thirty Seven
Laguna opened his eyes to find the building still dark. He wondered briefly what woke him, before he heard a noise-again. Sitting up, he reached for his pants.
After he'd pulled them on, he shook Jea gently. "Jea," he hissed. "wake up. I hear something."
The half elven woman's eyes snapped open, and she was on her feet in half a second. Laguna blinked and blushed; Jea noticed her lack of attire by following his gaze. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her own clothing, and indicated his armor and weapons.
The couple armed themselves quickly and quietly, then went to investigate. Wolf raised his head briefly and Jea told him to stand guard.
The paladin and ranger hurried through the streets toward the sound-which they soon recognized as the ruckus of a fight. They reached the front gates to find a bitter struggle between a dozen werewolves and the village guard. The werewolves were winning.
Jea glanced sidelong at her husband. He grinned back at her, ferally. With a harmony borne of long association, the pair charged as one into the fray.
Laguna rammed full on into one werewolf, hitting him with such force that his ribcage caved in. The beast slumped to the ground, his death rattle escaping from ruined lungs with a bloody gurgle (think of the sound of a clogged drain trying-vainly-to clear itself.) Jea thrust her mace into the stomach of her first target, hearing the satisfying sound of breath leaving his lungs. Then, with the long hunting knife in her other hand, she slit his gut open in a wicked slash. He screamed as he attempted to hold the pulverized pieces of viscera inside where entrails normally belong. The stench was appalling, and the half elven woman grimaced violently as a well placed kick crushed the wounded creature's throat.
Laguna gave a cheer, and barely managed to avoid a slashing set of claws directed at his open faceplate. Snarling wordlessly, the paladin shut his visor, and then grabbed the were in a bearhug. It howled in fury and raked at his armor with its long, sharp claws, leaving deep gouges in the steel. The man began to squeeze, praying silently to his god and using an ever increasing amount of his incredible strength. The were's struggles turned from enraged to panicked, as the armored human slowly crushed his ribs.
With a grunt of tremendous effort, Laguna brought his arms clanging together. The loud sound of bones crumbling and tearing through organs echoed in the night. A great fountain of blood gushed from the broken werewolf's mouth, and Laguna dropped the writhing, dying body to the dirt. Then he picked up his weapon from where it had dropped.
"Good show, Laguna!" Jea called from behind him, where she defended his back. She was coated in blood-none of it hers.
"Messy fight," commented her mate, as he casually beheaded a third opponent.
Jea brained one wolf-beast and slashed the throat of another before she replied. "Yeah.That's why I had all of my clothes spelled against stains!"
The village defenders gave a rough cheer and redoubled their efforts, confidence restored now that they had allies. Between the three guards, Barak, and the natural disaster that was the husband-wife team of Jea and Laguna, the remaining invaders were utterly destroyed in a matter of minutes.
Barak, who was leaning in exhaustion against an enormous great-sword, thanked them for their timely help. The duo nodded, panting and gasping to catch their breath.
Suddenly, both of them snapped their heads back towards the rest of their party's location. Wolf's voice bellowed for them, echoing like a thunderclap inside their skulls. *JEA! LAGUNA! Get back-AARRGG!!!*
Without pause, the two warriors took off at a run.
* * * * * *
When they reached the meeting house, they knew instantly that something was wrong. The back wall of the village had been broken through, and the meeting house door was shattered inward. Jea and Laguna rushed inside. Wolf lay half conscious, with a wide gash in his forehead, among the ruins of the door. Dumbugg had a large, swollen contusion on the side of his head. Phalyssa and Ambermist were missing.
Jea immediately cast a healing spell on her comrades. "Wolf! What happened?!"
*Ow! Well, you guys left, and it was quiet for a little while. But we heard a strange noise. I got the girls up and armored, and there was a loud crash. A bunch of ratmen busted in the door, and threw some sorta spell at them-I don't remember anything after that-the door hit me in the head.*
Jea growled loudly, an ominous, spine chilling sound. "Wererats took the girls.took Phalyssa! I'll kill them!" she grated between clenched teeth. She was already on her feet.
Laguna's knuckles tightened whitely on his sword hilt. Jea looked at him, Rage and worry etched across her features-the very first time Laguna had ever seen such a degree of those emotions since he'd met her. They headed in unison for the door.
It was darkened by the enormous Barak. "Is everything alright? Is anyone missing?"
"Phalyssa and Ambermist. Wererats took them," Laguna stated bluntly.
The werebear's face was filled with anger. "They took my wife and children with them as well."
Laguna nodded tightly. "We must go after them." He tried to head out the door, but Barak stopped him.
"Easy friend. It's dark-you're human. You wouldn't last five minutes. We must wait 'til morning. Get some rest, and when dawn comes, we begin the Hunt."
Laguna acquiesced, and turned to regard Jea. She was standing, deep in thought. Worry had completely overshadowed her anger, etching deep lines across her tanned skin. Barak squeezed Laguna's shoulder once and left. The knight shucked his armor and went to his wife.
The ranger had dropped her mace, and Laguna drew her into his arms, cuddling her close.
Jea clung anxiously to him, burying her face in his chest. "I'm worried," she admitted softly.
"I know," he whispered soothingly. "I know. Me too. It'll be okay. We'll find them. I promise. Now, change out of those clothes and come to bed. We need sleep."
She nodded hesitantly. For the first time in her life, true neutral Ranger/Druid Jea Kinnaran Kimsteed was petrified for someone else's safety and well being-her daughter's life was in danger, and the half elf was terrified. Laguna held her close and tight as they lay down to go to bed-but neither slept.
Laguna opened his eyes to find the building still dark. He wondered briefly what woke him, before he heard a noise-again. Sitting up, he reached for his pants.
After he'd pulled them on, he shook Jea gently. "Jea," he hissed. "wake up. I hear something."
The half elven woman's eyes snapped open, and she was on her feet in half a second. Laguna blinked and blushed; Jea noticed her lack of attire by following his gaze. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her own clothing, and indicated his armor and weapons.
The couple armed themselves quickly and quietly, then went to investigate. Wolf raised his head briefly and Jea told him to stand guard.
The paladin and ranger hurried through the streets toward the sound-which they soon recognized as the ruckus of a fight. They reached the front gates to find a bitter struggle between a dozen werewolves and the village guard. The werewolves were winning.
Jea glanced sidelong at her husband. He grinned back at her, ferally. With a harmony borne of long association, the pair charged as one into the fray.
Laguna rammed full on into one werewolf, hitting him with such force that his ribcage caved in. The beast slumped to the ground, his death rattle escaping from ruined lungs with a bloody gurgle (think of the sound of a clogged drain trying-vainly-to clear itself.) Jea thrust her mace into the stomach of her first target, hearing the satisfying sound of breath leaving his lungs. Then, with the long hunting knife in her other hand, she slit his gut open in a wicked slash. He screamed as he attempted to hold the pulverized pieces of viscera inside where entrails normally belong. The stench was appalling, and the half elven woman grimaced violently as a well placed kick crushed the wounded creature's throat.
Laguna gave a cheer, and barely managed to avoid a slashing set of claws directed at his open faceplate. Snarling wordlessly, the paladin shut his visor, and then grabbed the were in a bearhug. It howled in fury and raked at his armor with its long, sharp claws, leaving deep gouges in the steel. The man began to squeeze, praying silently to his god and using an ever increasing amount of his incredible strength. The were's struggles turned from enraged to panicked, as the armored human slowly crushed his ribs.
With a grunt of tremendous effort, Laguna brought his arms clanging together. The loud sound of bones crumbling and tearing through organs echoed in the night. A great fountain of blood gushed from the broken werewolf's mouth, and Laguna dropped the writhing, dying body to the dirt. Then he picked up his weapon from where it had dropped.
"Good show, Laguna!" Jea called from behind him, where she defended his back. She was coated in blood-none of it hers.
"Messy fight," commented her mate, as he casually beheaded a third opponent.
Jea brained one wolf-beast and slashed the throat of another before she replied. "Yeah.That's why I had all of my clothes spelled against stains!"
The village defenders gave a rough cheer and redoubled their efforts, confidence restored now that they had allies. Between the three guards, Barak, and the natural disaster that was the husband-wife team of Jea and Laguna, the remaining invaders were utterly destroyed in a matter of minutes.
Barak, who was leaning in exhaustion against an enormous great-sword, thanked them for their timely help. The duo nodded, panting and gasping to catch their breath.
Suddenly, both of them snapped their heads back towards the rest of their party's location. Wolf's voice bellowed for them, echoing like a thunderclap inside their skulls. *JEA! LAGUNA! Get back-AARRGG!!!*
Without pause, the two warriors took off at a run.
* * * * * *
When they reached the meeting house, they knew instantly that something was wrong. The back wall of the village had been broken through, and the meeting house door was shattered inward. Jea and Laguna rushed inside. Wolf lay half conscious, with a wide gash in his forehead, among the ruins of the door. Dumbugg had a large, swollen contusion on the side of his head. Phalyssa and Ambermist were missing.
Jea immediately cast a healing spell on her comrades. "Wolf! What happened?!"
*Ow! Well, you guys left, and it was quiet for a little while. But we heard a strange noise. I got the girls up and armored, and there was a loud crash. A bunch of ratmen busted in the door, and threw some sorta spell at them-I don't remember anything after that-the door hit me in the head.*
Jea growled loudly, an ominous, spine chilling sound. "Wererats took the girls.took Phalyssa! I'll kill them!" she grated between clenched teeth. She was already on her feet.
Laguna's knuckles tightened whitely on his sword hilt. Jea looked at him, Rage and worry etched across her features-the very first time Laguna had ever seen such a degree of those emotions since he'd met her. They headed in unison for the door.
It was darkened by the enormous Barak. "Is everything alright? Is anyone missing?"
"Phalyssa and Ambermist. Wererats took them," Laguna stated bluntly.
The werebear's face was filled with anger. "They took my wife and children with them as well."
Laguna nodded tightly. "We must go after them." He tried to head out the door, but Barak stopped him.
"Easy friend. It's dark-you're human. You wouldn't last five minutes. We must wait 'til morning. Get some rest, and when dawn comes, we begin the Hunt."
Laguna acquiesced, and turned to regard Jea. She was standing, deep in thought. Worry had completely overshadowed her anger, etching deep lines across her tanned skin. Barak squeezed Laguna's shoulder once and left. The knight shucked his armor and went to his wife.
The ranger had dropped her mace, and Laguna drew her into his arms, cuddling her close.
Jea clung anxiously to him, burying her face in his chest. "I'm worried," she admitted softly.
"I know," he whispered soothingly. "I know. Me too. It'll be okay. We'll find them. I promise. Now, change out of those clothes and come to bed. We need sleep."
She nodded hesitantly. For the first time in her life, true neutral Ranger/Druid Jea Kinnaran Kimsteed was petrified for someone else's safety and well being-her daughter's life was in danger, and the half elf was terrified. Laguna held her close and tight as they lay down to go to bed-but neither slept.