WOLVERINE AND SPIDER-MAN RPG ISEKAI EPISODE 7 : NIHLAEL THE DRUID
He felt it before he saw it, the gentle rocking and jostling of a moving cart. With a grunt, Wolverine opened his eyes.
He was laying on the floor, bandaged and tucked beneath a blanket in the back of a crowded cargo wagon, he and his party loaded up amongst barrels and crates under a canvas ceiling. Wyn and Boksee were slumped in random corners, looking like they were trying their best to escape the most long and boring of road trips with uncomfortable sleep.
With a pep in his voice, Logan sat up.
"Morning ladies," he said stretching.
They both looked up and smiled at Logan's revival.
"Wolverine!" everyone exclaimed happy to see him alive and well.
"What'd I miss?"
"Two straight days of traveling at six miles an hour," growled Spider-man rolling into view on a high box.
"Sheesh," said Logan.
Spider-man rolled back out of view.
"Apparently webs doesn't travel well," said Boksee with a tired smile.
"I am a man with needs," he groaned pointedly laying on his back throwing his arms at the ceiling, "Needs to frolic and jump and swing and walk and do anything besides laying on a hard floor for ungodly amounts of time with literally not one thing to do."
"Yah, so like we said, not good at traveling."
"You'd think a pilgrim would be better at it," said Wyn.
"He wouldn't even join in on the caroling."
"No one wants to hear me sing!" he shouted.
"No really though gals, what'd I miss?" asked Logan interrupting the group's tirade.
"Well, after you were cured and bandaged you passed out," said Wyn. "Of course we told the authorities about the prisoners and they sent down some mages to disable the spell. We saw them starting to carry them out as we were leaving."
"Good," said Logan.
"They also went and scraped what was left of Lord Adaliz off that tombstone," said Boksee.
"Yah, we still need to talk about that," said Spider-man.
"What's there to discuss? I was dyin', you were dyin'. I ain't dyin' if I got a say in it."
"You really couldn't think of any other way‽" he snapped. "You killed a man!"
"You've had two days to think about it that I didn't. Have you?"
Spider-man rolled over with a huff.
"Yah," growled Logan. "That's what I thought."
"So…anyway," said Wyn. "We're heading to Rünton."
"What's in Rünton?"
"Summer, hopefully."
Wolverine gave Wyn a confused look.
The road was long and dirt but the country side was lush with vibrant greens. The wagon had pulled over in a clearing by a sparkling copper creek, cold and fresh.
Spider-man helped the driver water the horses as the rest of the team stretched their legs.
"So remember how we found a letter from someone that calls themselves Summer to Lord Adaliz, who called himself Spring apparently?" asked Wyn as she explained to Logan where he had left off.
"Yah," he answered.
"Well he said they had a 'shared purpose,' said Wyn reading her translation of the note, "and we know Adaliz had been a necromancer doing who knows what with a group of prisoners and the forty-year-old bones of a dead philosopher."
"So we never figured out what that was about?" asked Logan.
"No, unfortunately Lord Adaliz, was uh, sliced in half, and we had to sort of flee the scene but it stands to reason this Summer person might have some answers."
"They might have their own prisoners that need rescuing," said Boksee as she worked through a series of stretches.
"And whatever the case, they're our only lead now about how you and Spider-man ended up in our world. If you're still sticking with that story."
"It's the truth tuts."
"They do have other worldly knowledge. Steve said it himself," said Boksee stretching her arms over her head, squeezing her eyes shut as her pointed ears slightly twitched. "We already agreed they've at least pilgrimed to different realms of existence. Is being from one really that much further of a stretch?"
"Who's Steve?" asked Wyn.
"The mind flayer."
"Oh yah, I forgot Spider-man named it."
"Wish I could forget," sassed Logan.
"Anyway, the letter was from Rünton so that's where we're going," said Wyn.
With the thunking footsteps of the adventurers hopping back inside, and the clatter of the horses pulling at their harnesses, the wagon again began to jostle and jolt down the long dirt road.
Spider-man had climbed the ropes, figuratively and literally and was now sitting up front with the driver chatting away, possibly about something related to cart driving. Boksee hung her legs off the back of the wagon as Wolverine sat quietly against a barrel looking past her. They both watched the rolling hills of forests and pastures slowly drift behind.
Wyn spoke up.
"Listen up team," she said scooting into the center of the wagon. "Spider-man, get back here," she called.
There was a small scuffle as Spider-man crawled over the top of the wagon and flipped back into the cargo area with them.
"Boksee?" she asked.
"I'm listening," she called back still at the edge of the bed.
"Ok, so I've been thinking," said Wyn. "We're going to Rünton to investigate this Summer person, since they seem to have something to do with Lord Adaliz right?"
The adventurers nodded.
"Well, I'm convinced we can't confront any associate of Adaliz without a proper healer on the team."
"What, you mean you want another team mate?" asked Spider-man.
Wyn pulled out some notes.
"We've needed one since our party started but I fear the time has come that we can put it off no longer. We still have no supporting defense, aka healing and shields. The closest things we have is Spider-man and his webs and Boksee with a few divination levels. We're up a creek. Look what happened against Adaliz. We almost lost Wolverine."
"You're overexaggeratin' tuts. I was fine once I was unpoisoned."
"If we hadn't been in the middle of Ries no one would have been able to get to you in time."
Logan just snorted.
"Plus, remember Spider-man's shoulder the other day? We need a basic healer at least."
"Hm, might have a point there," he agreed.
"What? When it's you it's fine, but when it's me suddenly there's a problem?" asked Spider-man.
"Yep."
"So, let me get this straight," Spider-man continued. "You're wanting to find a healer to join our party to go track down and possibly engage in glorious battle with this Summer guy…for free?"
"Huh?" asked Wyn.
"Hrm, good point," said Logan. "Ain't like this is a quest. Unless we want to put up cash for 'em. Personally I ain't look'n to hire."
"People may be interested. After all it's, um, good experience?" Wyn said unsure.
The group collectively face palmed.
"Well I don't hear anyone else coming up with any ideas!" she snapped.
"I've got one," said Spider-man. "Why don't we just take a quest? We find a healer, take a quest, get paid, and build comradery with them enough until we tell them what's going on. Then hopefully we'll have made a good enough impression that they'll still want to help us."
"Actually, that's not a bad idea," said Wyn a little surprised.
"You put too much faith in people," said Logan.
"And your idea?" asked Wyn.
Logan just crossed his arms.
"Right. Well, sounds like we have a plan."
Hours passed by on the long road.
Logan had swiped a good branch from a tree and was using a claw to whittle it.
"That looks like fun," said Boksee. "Got enough stick for two?"
"Darl'n I got enough stick for all of us."
He broke off a piece and handed it to her. In turn, she took out a small blade and began to whittle.
"I see it!" shouted Spider-man from the front.
The group all scrambled to stick their heads out the back and hung off the sides.
Cresting a hill, they saw the city down below.
Rünton, the city of ruins, and truly it lived up to its name. The city was an ancient ring of stone temples and towers. Every building was a grey remanent of a kingdom a thousand years ago. Every road was an ancient cobbled pathway. Every home and every business were like a hermit crab living in the bones of a magnificent extinct beast. The denizens of Rünton where merely inhabiting the hollow remains of a people who had been all but forgotten.
The buildings grew taller and taller as they neared the city center. Where the ancient stone structures crumbled, or gave way, brand new bricks or plaster was used to fill it. Eventually their wagon entered into the narrow crowded down town area. The road was crooked and jammed to the brim with foot traffic, carts, and stalls, and the high walls were leaning, but here, like in the cities Wolverine and Spider-man were familiar with, the buildings that made up the heart of the city were massive, towering spires.
"Now this is what I'm talking about!" exclaimed Spider-man excitedly. He leapt from the cart, throwing a web line and began to soar through the buildings to the sounds of shock and amazement. Even Wyn and Boksee looked on in astonishment. They had never truly seen him in his element before. Spider-man web swung just as he would back in New York, flipping and spinning and throwing himself freely in the whipping wind, his blue cloak fluttering behind him.
After doing a few good rounds, he threw himself into a backflip, tumbled through the air, and landed in a squat on the hanging end of the wagon bed.
"AHH! I can't tell you how much I've missed that!" he exclaimed.
Wyn and Boksee clapped.
"Thank you, thank you. You're too kind," said Spider-man standing and bowing. "Be sure to tip your waiter. I'll be here all…uh, who knows actually."
He chuckled as he joined them back in the wagon, sitting with his legs dangling off the back with Boksee.
"I like that you have your cloak back," commented Boksee. "I missed it in Ries."
"It's got drag in the air but I think I should wear it. I'm thinking that's why I got scalped for modeling. That painter saw…too much of me."
"Aka, ya' dress…like a slut," said Wolverine.
"Oh shut it."
As they continued through the crowded inner-city road, they noticed only the bottom few stories of any given building were occupied. Curtains hung from freshly painted windows, rugs were strewn across ancient stone floors, but only the bottom few stories shown this sort of life. Above the first four or five stories wooden scaffolding reached and spindled its way up to less desirable homes, ones where windows were dull and laundry was left in the sun to dry; and above that still, only remained the bygone, hollow, grey floors of a city long dead. It seemed every home, every neighborhood, was always haunted by dozens of empty floors above them.
Who knew what sorts of things were hidden away up there, Spider-man wondered.
Eventually their wagon came to a stop in the middle of the street. Carts and pedestrians just walked around them as the adventurers hopped out.
"Thanks for the ride," said Wyn handing the wagon driver the rest of his payment.
"Tell the colorful one thanks for the conversation. Never heard someone talk so much about fancy maths before. Had no idea what he was saying but it made the trip go by a little faster. Fair thee well adventurers!" he called as he continued on to wherever he had to deliver his payload to.
"Hey colorful one," said Wyn at Spider-man.
"Ooh, is that my new nickname?"
"The driver said thanks for talking his ear off about math."
Spider-man laughed.
"Explain one simple Newtonian law and suddenly you're the guy who can't stop talking about math."
"Imagine that," grumbled Wolverine walking past.
The Rünton adventurer's guild hall was a great heaping mass of tilted stone pillars and massive stone slabs. It was held together with magic, or at least that was the most reasonable explanation. The thing was practically a jumble of ruins but that didn't seem to concern anyone as people made their way in and out.
"So we can take quests from another guild right?" asked Spider-man as they reached the stone stairs.
"Wasn't this your idea?" asked Logan.
"I hadn't thought about that yet."
Wyn chuckled.
"Yes. We'll just need to register as wandering adventurers and as a wandering party. It doesn't take very long."
"I'm already a wandering adventurer," said Boksee.
"Oh excellent," said Wyn.
"Yah, pretty much you just write your name," she said with a laugh as they entered the large open doors.
As tilted and ramshackle as the outside was, the inside was quite nice. It was rustic, but it was clear that years of upkeep, replastering, re-masoning, and re-lumbering had gone into it. It was spacious, if not a bit stony and cavernous but well furnished.
"Nice place," said Spider-man looking up at a massive tusked chandelier.
"Don't even think about it," muttered Logan.
"What, you don't want me to swing from the chandelier? Don't want me to live like tomorrow doesn't exist?"
"I don't want you to do a lot of things."
Without warning there was a mild rumbling and shaking through the guild hall. Furniture creaked; people gasped in confusion. They watched the shaking chandelier warily. Then as suddenly as it came, it stopped.
"What was that?" muttered Logan.
"Earthquake," said Spider-man. "I think."
"Either that or this old thing's finally comin' apart."
The adventurers all decided to move past it.
Like the Boar Bramble guild there was a long counter at the back, but instead of being solely manned by the guild master, this hall actually had a few employees.
Wyn, followed by the rest of the party, approached one.
"Oh, a wandering silver rank," said the employee impressed.
"Well, not wandering yet. My party would like to fill out the proper paperwork to take quests at this guild.
"Sure thing," said the employee pulling out a tome. "You can read and write, correct silver?"
"Yes."
"Excellent. If you'll fill out these pages…"
The employee scooted the tome toward her and Wyn grabbed an ink quill.
"While she's doi'n that," said Logan. "Know any healers look'n to join a party?" he asked the employee. "That's what we're look'n for right?" he asked Boksee.
"Yep," she answered. "A magic user with healing and some shields would be nice, and paladin will probably want a sapphire."
"Indeed," she agreed scrawling away in the book. "Spider-man is your name two words or one?"
"It's one word, but there's a hyphen in the middle."
"Hyphen," she said to herself as she wrote. "Yes, we're looking for a healer to join our party," she said to the employee as she handed back the tome. "And we'd be more than willing to go through any proper processes."
"What's this?" barked a harsh voice.
The team looked to see a woman, or rather, what was left of a woman limping towards them. She was missing an eye, missing a hand, and missing an entire leg, causing her limping gait.
"Oh hello guild master," said the employee, who in comparison was an innocent little ray of sunlight. "You're looking well this morning," she said.
"Don't give me that shit. I look like shit, like always. What's this about wanting a healer? A wandering party try'n to poach my adventurers?"
"Please tell me that's not what we're doing," whispered Spider-man leaning over to Boksee.
"Uh, no, it's pretty much what we're doing."
"Crap."
"Well if any backstabbing, opportunistic adventurers of mine want to run off with you lot, you can have them," snarled the woman limping away with a mutter under her breath.
"Charming lady," said Spider-man.
"Oh, she's actually very sweet when you get to know her," said the employee. "Alright, here's your permit. You four are officially a wandering party. That means you can take a quest from any guild in Strana."
"Thank you very much," said Wyn taking it and putting it in her bag.
As they walked away Logan piped up.
"Why do I get the feel'n that was the easy part," he asked.
"Because it was?" asked Spider-man.
"Come now," said Wyn strangely chipper. "This isn't Boar Bramble. I'm sure we'll be able to find a healer in no time."
"And you have a plan on how to do that?" asked Boksee.
"Well, as a matter of fact…"
"ADVENTURER WANTED. MINIMUM RANK SAPPHIRE. MUST KNOW HEALING MAGIC AND SHIELD SPELLS. PLEASE APPLY INSIDE. Thank you. :)" read a quickly made sign propped up outside a small office. The 'thank you' and smiley face were written in two different hand writings then the main sign.
"Interviews?" asked Boksee skeptically as Logan scowled particularly grizzly.
Wyn was sat at a desk as the rest of the party stood behind her.
"Indeed. I've always wanted to be a little more professional about things," said the paladin organizing her notes.
"You see the rest of us here, right?" grunted Logan crossing his arms.
"The guild master said she'd send anyone who might be a good fit our way."
"Um, and you trust her?" asked Spider-man. "After she was worried we were poaching her adventurers?"
"Yah, I'm with web head on this one," said Wolverine. "I…"
"Oh! Here comes the first candidate!" said Wyn excitedly.
A young man wielding a staff, cloak, and dull fuchsia hair poked his head inside.
"Hello," said Wyn. "Are you interested in joining our party as a healer?"
"Oh, healer? I thought you all were just looking for a magic user. Never mind," he said ducking out as quickly as he had stepped in.
Wyn was left dumbstruck.
"This is gonna be fun," said Logan as Spider-man and Boksee snickered.
"Name and class please," said Wyn.
"Janelle," said the candidate in the chair, a cheerful and beautiful brunette in white robes. "A cleric."
"I do see you are only an obsidian rank. You did see that we were looking for a sapphire rank minimum right?"
"Well, they say you should apply for jobs even when you're not qualified," she said giving them a smile. "They could be desperate enough to give you a shot."
"Alright thank you for your time, next."
"Name and class please," said Wyn.
"I'm a sorcerer and my name is Brasque," said a muscular man with fiery red hair.
"You might have heard of me."
"No. What school of magic do you study?"
"Mainly abjuration."
"Do you know healing magic?"
"Healing, no, but I do know a shield spell."
"Alright, thank you for your honesty, we'll keep you in mind. Next please."
"Name and class please."
"Vrishla, I'm a wizard," said a man with a shaved head and blazing purple eyes.
"Do you know healing magic?"
"Nope."
"Well then why are you here?"
"Well you see I'm an aspiring necromancer and…"
"NEXT!"
Wyn thumped her head down on the desk.
"Can't these people read?" she moaned, her face in the wood.
"Some might not," said Boksee.
"I can't believe that guy just admitted to wanting to be a necromancer," said Spider-man.
"Well, it's technically not illegal if you have the right permits," answered Boksee.
"Seriously?"
"Yah, but in the same way cannibalism isn't technically illegal if you don't kill anyone and you have consent from the eaten. Still not something you brag about at the dinner table."
"Unless it's a dinner table of cannibals," said Spider-man.
"Yah, and the dinner is a cannibal dinner."
"A dinner table of dining cannibals dining on a cannibal dinner? How dreadful," said Spider-man.
"Indeed, dastardly," added Boksee. "Dare I say…"
"So, how's it go'in all professional like?" asked Wolverine to Wyn with a smug grin as Spider-man and Boksee alliterated badly at each other and laughed about it. Wyn just thumped her head into the desk again with a groan.
"Hold up!" hissed Boksee suddenly. "Paladin pull your face out of the desk. We've got another applicant!"
Wyn quickly snapped to attention as the rest of the group recomposed themselves.
Calmly, as if he hadn't just walked in on an ongoing circus of idiots, a very tall dark elf strode in, his long hair, robes, and shawl flowing behind him as he sat down in front of them. He gave them all a pleasant smile.
"Oooh," said Spider-man intrigued.
Boksee slugged him.
"Greetings," said Wyn. "Are you interested in joining our party?"
"Perhaps," he said plainly.
"Name and class please,"
"Nihlael and I'm a druid."
"What's a druid?" asked Spider-man.
"They blaze and trip balls at Stone Henge," said Wolverine.
"Don't mind them," said Wyn annoyed. "They're not from around here. Now I see that you are a ruby rank."
"Yes."
"Very good. Do you use healing magic?"
"Yes.
Wyn looked surprised for a second that they had made it this far.
She checked her notes.
"And which school of magic do you practice?"
"I study in evocation and transmutation."
"Are you capable of any shield spells?"
"I can control the wind and evoke different types of elemental walls."
"Hm," she said satisfied.
"Well, it seems we have a prime candidate," she said a bit patronizingly.
"And you actually want to join this group of misfits?" asked Wolverine throwing a thumb at the other members.
"Speak for yourself!" snapped Wyn.
"I've been looking for a party for awhile now," answered the dark elf. "Yes," he said looking at the group. "I do believe this one is a…what did you say, ah yes, prime candidate," he said with cool cheek.
Boksee snickered.
"Well," said Wyn, her cheeks turning red but trying to preserve her dignity. "You are clearly exactly what we were looking for. The offer to join our party is yours. I'm Arianwyn. This is Boksee Junior, the Wolverine, and the Spider-Man."
"Interesting names," he said looking them over. "Tell me, what is the pay?"
"I'm sorry?" asked Wyn.
"The pay, what is it?"
"Oh, um. We haven't taken a quest yet. Naturally you'll receive a fifth of the payment for whichever quest we take."
"Hm, I have a counter offer. I will require no coin if you do not require coin. I will join your party and accompany you on future quests wherever that may take you, if you join me for a quest first. You see I am in need of adventurers. I am putting in a quest."
The city bustled by a deep muddy river that separated it from a dense forest.
"This is the Maiden by the River," said Boksee as the party approached a section of a building. "My divination teacher said she ate here once. Said they have great crab."
"Ugh," said Spider-man grabbing his stomach. "No crab please."
Boksee laughed.
The five adventurers had decided to get something to eat so they could sit down and discuss the details of their arrangement.
"Why don't you lot get a table," said Wyn. "I'll book us in."
"I've got to visit the loo," said Boksee heading off.
Shrugging, Wolverine, Spider-man, and Nihlael took one of the stone tables near the edge of the patio overlooking the dark, forested river.
Since they were trying to make a good impression for a new team member, Spider-man had had his mask on, but now, as they were about to eat, Spider-man decided to take it off. With a floof of his thick, brown hair, Spider-man popped the fabric from his head.
Nihlael casually took a moment to look him over then baulked.
"Oh, you're not elvish," he said surprised. It was the first time he had broken his calm demeanor.
"Huh?" asked Spider-man. "No. Did I say I was?" he asked genuinely confused.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just, with your body, I mistook you."
"What does that mean?" asked Spider-man his face blushing red.
"He's say'n your hung like an elf."
Spider-man smacked Logan upside the head.
"That's probably so offensive!"
"We can compare our race's malehoods later," the dark elf said regaining his cool demeanor. "I was only saying Spider-man has a rather graceful form that I find resembles the elvish more than man."
"Um thanks?"
"Looks like the cloak didn't help champ. Folks still can't stop staring," tormented Logan elbowing Spider-man, much to his annoyance.
"Oh well," continued Nihlael in his dark, cool voice. "I suppose you all will simply have to be my party of snail ears."
"Snail ears?" asked Spider-man.
"Yes. It's what my family like to call men, since your ears look like little snails."
Spider-man looked over at the side of Wolverine's head.
"I guess they kind of do? I never thought about that before?"
"Mine ain't snails," grumbled Logan.
"Yours are extra snaily."
Wyn and Boksee returned and joined them, taking a seat at the table.
"So, please forgive me," said Wyn sitting. "I've never met a dark elf before. I have to say, I had no idea you were so tall.
Nihlael chuckled.
"No, I'm just tall. We're about the same height as other elves."
As a dark elf, the druid had dark greyish blue skin, long straight white hair, and blood red eyes. His eyes had no pupils or whites, only blank crimson. It made it hard to tell where he was looking. Besides that he had the typical elegant and youthful beauty associated with both sexes of elves.
"Oh man," said Spider-man. "This means I'm not the tallest one in the group anymore."
"Oh lord," said Logan. "I just realized that."
"It was nice while it lasted," he said sadly. "I don't think I've ever been the tallest in anything."
"Nor should ya'," said Logan. "Ah," he said happily taking a drink as the restaurant server brought some over.
"Oh like you have room to talk," said Spider-man.
Logan took a swig and choked.
"The fuck? It's tea!"
"Ha ha," said Spider-man taking his own drink.
"I've heard elves are extremely long lived," said Boksee. "But I've never known one well enough to ask. Is that true?"
"Yes, the elvish are the longest lived of all the races though the different elf races themselves have different life spans. The high elves are the longest lived and the dark elves like myself are actually the shortest lived. That still makes us fourth though so I'd say that's pretty good."
"How old are you?" asked Boksee.
"Boksee that's rude," scolded Wyn.
Nihlael chuckled again.
"It's fine. I find her curiosity endearing. I'm not too old halfling, one thousand and four"
"Wow!" she exclaimed.
"That's incredible," said Spider-man.
"Oh, congratulations on your recent millennium," said Wyn professionally.
"Thank you," he said genuinely pleased. "Yes, hit the big one-triple-zero. It's all downhill from here."
"Fuck," grumbled Logan. "How do you keep track of the years?" he asked taking a drink.
"Our world does a full rotation around the sun on a regular basis. Typically, we build calendars around this cycle," he said with cheek.
"Oh har har."
"I can't believe it," said Spider-man. "I've finally met someone older than Wolverine!"
"What‽ You've met folks older than me!"
"Well, I mean, not like on a personal level."
Boksee chuckled.
"I don't even know why you're always mak'n a big deal out'a it anyway. I look fuck'n fantastic. Let's see how you look in another hundred years."
"Wait, what?" asked Wyn.
"Oh… yah. I'll be a skeleton man," said Spider-man taking a drink.
"You better not be a skeleton man!" said Boksee. "I don't care if we were past friends. I'm gonna have to put you back in the crypt, bone boy!"
"But it's so stuffy in there! Can't you let me wander the earth? These old bones need sunlight," said Spider-man in an old man voice hugging his shoulders.
Boksee laughed.
"I feel like I've lost track of this conversation," said Nihlael confused and looking from one adventurer to the other.
"Get used to it, bub."
In not too long, the party was brought out their meal. It was food caught fresh from the river, cooked flat fish, prawn, sides of potato and spicy burzur, and of course, some boiled mud crab.
Spider-man stayed clear of it.
"Not a fan of crab?" asked the dark elf to his greening face.
"I used to like it, but nothing destroys an appetite like scrubbing the raw guts of something out of taxidermy fur."
Boksee burst out laughing, cracking open her own crab leg.
"UUuughhgh."
"So," said Wyn. "Nihleel?"
"Nihlael."
"Um, got a nickname?" asked Spider-man.
"Nickname?" he asked confused.
"Can we call you Nih?"
"If you wish to that is fine?" he said unsure and giving him a look.
"Anyway," said Wyn. "So, um, Nih. Can you tell us about this quest we're taking on?"
"Yes," said Nih. "We need to rescue a tree."
"We're rescuing a tree?" huffed Logan like he hadn't heard him right.
"That is correct."
"Is it a magical tree?" asked Boksee.
"Well yes and no. It is not of a magical species but the tree is the magical heart of the Warrark forest. You see, the tree I speak of is the oldest in Strana."
"Really?"
"The oldest?"
"How do you know?"
"I am a druid. It is my job to know these things, and it is also my job to protect the natural magics of the world. I do not know why but the tree has taken ill. A dark, polluting energy has spread through it and because of that, a sickness has spread through the forest, dark and violent. I tried to investigate it myself, but the energy has attracted too many dark creatures for me to get close."
"And that's where we come in?"
"Yes. I need a party to help me clear out enough of the ruins to reach the root heart of the tree. That's where I believe we will find the problem and I can perform a cleansing spell.
"Woah, woah. Slow down elf boy. Ruins?" asked Logan. "I thought we were going to a tree, not ruins."
"The roots of the tree inhabit a vast network of ancient underground ruins."
"Hrm," growled Logan taking a drink of his tea.
His drink started sloshing.
Suddenly everything started shaking again, only this time much more violently.
"Earthquake!" shouted frightened civilians.
Buildings broke and cracked.
Roots erupted out of the ground, splitting and jutting the pavement.
The waitress was flung over the edge into the river.
Spider-man threw a web over the bank catching her safely before she hit the water. As quickly as it had started, the shaking stopped. New roots were left sticking through the restaurant patio and the nearby streets and an ancient stone building had been cracked in half.
"What is going on?" asked Wolverine as Spider-man leapt down to carry the woman back to safety.
"It's the illness in the forest," said Nih. "It's destabilizing the land, causing unnatural growth and shifts."
He looked to the adventurers.
"We might wish to begin our quest."
After quickly resupplying in town, the adventurers took off.
Like Boar Bramble, the cliffs and quarries of Rünton were surrounded by thick forest, but unlike Boar Bramble this was not the Nehfar forest, but Warrark.
The Warrark forest, a thick deciduous jungle of damp trees, fields of stony moss and almost as many mushrooms as the Ashen woods. This, as Boksee had remarked to them, was the kind of woods where animals hid from sunlight and the fae were always sure to be stalking silently behind.
The dark elf, followed closely by Boksee guided the party through the woods.
Many of the trees were twisted and unnaturally dark as their branches stretched and wove together above into a thick canopy.
"This forest isn't usually this dismal," said Nih putting his hand to the blackened wood. He uttered a small chant and a few glowing sparkles veined across the bark.
"I don't know," said Boksee. "I've always heard Warrack's a piece of work."
"Perhaps, but the sickness of the tree, I fear, has brought a darkness unknown to this forest. You all are from Boar Bramble yes? I fear if this imbalance is not corrected this forest could become as twisted as the Ashen Woods in short order.
"And suddenly Rünton is surrounded by a dark forest," said Wyn.
"Based on what we saw in town, Rünton might be swallowed by a dark forest," said Spider-man.
"If this tree is so important why didn't anyone else go to fix it?" gruffed Logan. "There's plenty of adventurers in town."
"Because no one else knows about it," replied Nih casually. "And I did not have enough money to put in a proper quest."
"Oh, that's it?" asked Spider-man.
"That's it."
"So how far do we have to go?" asked Logan looking over his shoulder.
"Not too far. We will need to make camp tonight."
"A two-day trip? And that ain't too far?"
"No."
Logan made a face.
"I see tracks of so many different animals walking the same trails we are. Is that what you're following?" asked Boksee.
"Ah, good eye ranger," answered Nih calmly, his robes flowing behind him. "No, I am a druid. Though I am trained in tracking, I am more in tune with the magical energies. Magic flows to and from the tree like a heart in these woods. I am following the energy."
"Neat," said Spider-man. "Do all forests have hearts?"
"Everything has a heart."
"Even a…mmm…a rock?" asked Spider-man a bit like an annoying child.
Wyn made a face, as Logan looked on annoyed.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Everyone look sharp," said Logan.
They looked ahead and saw that they were nearing a ravine.
The adventurers came to a stop at the edge of a deep, wide cut in the earth. A few roots and rocks jutted out into the air from the steep cliffs.
"Alright, how do we get across?" asked Wyn putting her hands on her hips. "Unless anyone wants to work on their climbing skills."
"I could just swing us across," said Spider-man. "I'll have to make a few trips though, unless anyone wants to play Tarzan themselves."
"I'll just cut down a tree," said Logan.
"No need," said Nih pleasantly. He approached the drop off.
"By the soil that builds form..," he began to chant. "…and the water that brings life, may these plants bend and grow. Grow!"
The roots of the nearby trees suddenly began to shift and move. They spread and joined together stretching across the ravine until a makeshift bridge had formed.
"That was awesome!" cried Spider-man.
"Sweet magic!" exclaimed Boksee.
"Well done," said Wyn.
Wolverine huffed.
"We just gonna sit here and jerk the guy off or are we going to keep mov'n?" he asked lumbering past. As soon as he started across the makeshift bridge it jerked slightly. He cried out as he steadied himself then whipped back around toward Nih.
"Hm, must not have been fully set yet," said the elf giving him a friendly smile.
Logan huffed again as Spider-man burst out laughing.
With various degrees of difficulties, the rest of the party started to follow and began to cross.
Spider-man, who was strolling along in the front without a hint of trepidation, was about half way across when suddenly a massive animal fell from the sky.
"AHH!"
A dozen spindly legs, flapping leathery wings, and a body like an enormous wasp entangled itself around him.
He let out a scream as he started flailing and punching at the thing to release.
"Spider-man!" cried the team.
In the tussle he lost his balance and went tumbling over the side of the bridge. Claws ejected; Wolverine jumped in after him.
Spider-man spiraled through the air, the massive animal biting and lashing at him, until he managed to catch himself in a web net. He and his attacker both landed seconds before hitting the ground. Wolverine fell down behind directly on the animal and without hesitation sliced his claws through its back. It let out a hissing cry as its blood erupted into the air then, still twitching it collapsed.
"Are you men alright‽" called Wyn from high above.
Spider-man gasped from adrenaline as, using his mutant strength, Wolverine shoved the gigantic insect-like monstrosity off of him. It had a five-foot-long stinger that had just barely missed skewering the younger man through the gut.
Wolverine rolled it out of the web net and sent it falling into the bottom of the deep ravine.
"It, it didn't set off my spider sense," Spider-man gasped.
"It's alright champ. We all miss one from time to time," Wolverine mocked with a sharp grin.
"I didn't miss it! It didn't set off my spider sense!" Spider-man snapped again.
"Wahh," said Logan curtly. "So you gonna get us back up there or am I gonna have to do that too?"
Muttering angrily under his breath, much to Wolverine's amusement, Spider-man grabbed him around the waist, shot up a web line and swung them both to the other side of the bank above to rejoin the party.
"Does anyone know what that thing was?" asked Spider-man as he landed and put down Logan.
"That was a spider eater," said Nih as the group instinctively circled around them to make sure they were alright.
"Oh, is that what they look like?" asked Boksee. "They're bigger than I imagined."
"That did seem to be a rather impressive member of the species."
"A spider eater‽" exclaimed Spider-man.
"I have read they have been known to prey on humanoids from time to time," said Wyn.
"That's why it didn't set off my spider sense! It has some sort of natural advantage against me! It's my predator! I was predated on!" he exclaimed wrapping himself in his arms.
"Spare me," said Logan.
"Easy for you to say. I bet there's no wolverine eaters out here."
"Wouldn't matter if there was bub."
"How common are those things?" asked Wyn calmly to Nih.
"Not very. Likely a random encounter. I doubt we'll be seeing any more."
There were four.
They were attacked by a total of four spider eaters during their travels through the day.
"Alright," said Boksee holding a handful of animal droppings. "Come here webs, we're going to have to disguise your natural spidery scent. I can't take one more spider eater attack!"
"NOO!"
Spider-man ran around as Boksee chased him. Wolverine just laughed at the scene.
"I had to do it. You gotta do it," he laughed.
Eventually Spider-man ran straight up a tree to what he thought was safety. Jumping from branch to branch like an urban parkourist Boksee effortlessly followed him.
"Woah nelly!" exclaimed Spider-man in a bad southern accent.
"Do you think the droppings will actually help?" asked Wyn to Nih as she was also tired of the attacks.
"Doubtful, they're attracted to his pheromones perhaps and those will not be blocked by filth."
"Shame," said Wyn. "Stand down ranger! Nih said it won't help anyway!"
"Bollocks," she said annoyed and hopping out of the tree. Spider-man stayed up in it like a cat staying away from a dog. "I've gone and messed my hand for nothing then."
"Serves you right!" shouted Spider-man.
Boksee threw the dung at him.
"AH!" he said hopping to avoid it.
Wolverine just laughed at the entire exchange.
"Shall we continue?" asked Nih.
As the adventurers continued trekking through the dense woods they casually spoke while keeping their wits about them.
"By the way," said Nih. "I've been wondering, Spider-man, what race are you? In all my years I have never met a creature such as you. You can weave thread and climb the walls, but I detect no magic is being used."
"He's an Aranea," said Boksee chipperly.
"Ah, that would explain why the spider eaters favor you so."
"I am not."
"Then what are you?" asked Wyn skeptically with a smirk.
"I'm just your friendly neighborhood Spider-man."
"I'm a mutant if anyone cares," grumbled Logan.
"Aw, does little Logan feel left out?" tormented Spider-man.
Wolverine slugged him.
Spider-man responded by tackling him. The two ended up rolling on the ground wrestling.
"Ah," said Nih pleased as the rest of the party stood awkwardly watching them. "That's the nature of their relationship. Push and pull. Nodel ent alu," he said in elvish with a pleased smile. "How equalizing."
"That's one way to describe it," said Wyn raising her eyebrow as the pair continued to roll around in the dirt.
Boksee cracked her knuckles.
"Don't even think about it," scolded Wyn.
"Hmm," said Boksee disappointed.
"OW! No bities!" cried Spider-man.
"Anyway," said Nih as they continued. He and Spider-man had taken up the front and Wolverine in the far back. The women had decided to separate the two men.
"You are a spider man, similar to a drider in some aspects I suppose. Tell me then, what is your class. I see we have a noble paladin, a crafty ranger, and a brave barbarian, but what of you my snail ears?"
"We have no idea," said Boksee to Wyn's dismay.
"Actually," said Spider-man. "I was reading some of Wyn's notes on the wagon ride. Do you guys think I might be an artificer?"
"Hm?"
"What is that?" asked Boksee.
"They are a little obscure," said Wyn. "Having only recently been added as an official class."
"Apparently they use inventions to fight," said Spider-man.
"Like Stark?" asked Wolverine from the back.
"Yah, exactly," called back Spider-man. "I might not use as much tech as he does but I built my web shooters."
"I thought that just comes out of you," said Logan.
"Well, it didn't always. I started off with mechanical web shooters I made. I still have them," he said pulling the mechanisms out of his belt. "I use them for specialty web formulas now in days. And occasionally when I'm not feeling well. Sometimes it can get a little dry and weak or way too runny when I'm not feeling too hot."
"TMI web head."
"How fascinating," said Nih. "Though, one of the requirements to be an artificer is the use of magic. Are you skilled in magic?"
"Oh. No."
"Yes, an artificer is practically defined by their mixture of the arcane with machinations. An artificer without magic is like an apothecarist without magic. They wouldn't be an apothecarist, simply a brewer. You aren't an artificer, you're a machinist, which isn't a class."
"Well."
Night was beginning to fall. Fireflies began to sparkle and blink in the thick foliage and the glow of mushrooms was beginning to show now that the sun was waning.
"We need to stop for the night," said Nih. "With the darkness infecting the forest I believe it will be too dangerous to move around without the safety of sunlight."
Wyn nodded.
"Sounds like a good idea-"
"HELP ME!"
The group stopped. A voice had called out in the distance. It echoed a lonely and hollow sound through the story of the forest.
No one moved.
"HELP ME!" it called again.
"Well are you all just gonna stand there!" snapped Logan. He threw out his claws and ran off following the sound.
"Wolvie WAIT!" cried Spider-man.
Weaving and dashing his way through the thick underbrush, Wolverine followed the cry. In short order he was led into a clearing. A lone woman was standing in the center of it.
"I'm here," he said coming to a stop in front of her. "What's wrong darlin'?"
She had a hood covering her face and a cloak covering her body.
Wolverine felt a pit drop in his stomach as she didn't move.
"Oh fuck," he muttered under his breath. "Darlin'? I'm here. You need help?"
She looked up at him revealing withered green skin, a massive, toothy smile, and wild, pinpricked eyes.
Logan gasped from surprise.
The hideous woman then held up a rotting, decapitated head. She held it by its hair while its jaw flopped open and closed like a crude puppet.
"HELP ME!" it screamed.
"Wolverine!" cried the team running behind.
It snapped Logan out of his shock and he slashed at the green woman. She leapt back and cackled.
"It's a hag!" cried Boksee as they ran up to him.
Suddenly the entire clearing was encircled in them trapping the adventurers within.
"It's an entire coven!" exclaimed Wyn.
"That's entirely not a problem!" gruffed Wolverine. Throwing his claws, he made another lunge at the first hag. Again he missed, and the withered old woman slashed back at him with long blade like finger nails.
Boksee quickly pulled her bow and managed three shots before any one hag closed the distance toward her. Two of her arrows found their mark, embedding into the chest and gut of one of the monstrous women. It screamed as it flailed and tried to yank the arrows out of itself. Taking the moment, Wyn rushed forward and brought her mace smashing over the hag's head. It exploded into putrid blood and the first hag was dead.
"By the eternal light of the sun," chanted Nih raising his arms, "May I too be given daylight! Ignite!"
A bright ball of light erupted between his hands. The hags all shrieked in the overpowering light and started to flee.
"Don't let them escape!" commanded Nih. "They'll attack again as soon as my spell wears off."
Spider-man leapt forward and webbed one. It barely touched the woman before she cackled and the web lit and dissolved in green fire.
"Spider-man, they're fae!" shouted Wyn.
"I don't know what that means!"
"That means you gotta…" Logan leapt after his hag and his hit finally connected.
She shrieked as her putrid blood splattered into the air and her body rapidly decayed until she dissolved into a puddle of putrid liquid.
"Their weakness is metal!" declared Wyn caught up with another and smashed it with her mace.
"Metal huh?" asked Spider-man. "WOAH!" he cried as one lunged at him. Nih's burst of daylight was beginning to fade and the fae were out for blood. He kicked her hard against a tree, her claws barely missing him and before she had a chance to recover Boksee ran up and stabbed her blade into her chest.
The hag screamed as she too dissolved.
Only a few more left.
Without a word, Nih summoned a massive thorny vine from his arm and used it like a whip slicing gouges across a pair of them. Wolverine and Wyn both took the moment and lunged at their respective hags bludgeoning and blading them.
The clearing was empty and had gone eerily silent.
"Wait, there was another one!" exclaimed Boksee.
Spider sense!
"Nih behind you!" cried Spider-man jumping at him.
Spider-man collided with a hag knocking her out of her invisibility. Nih turned on a heel and brought a sharp sickle through her neck. Her head went flying off her shoulders as she dissolved.
"And now we're done," said Nih pleasantly wiping off his blade.
The adventurers cheered.
"That was nuts!" said Boksee.
"Indeed, but I feel our team did exceptional. We handled that rather quickly."
"Ew, I'm covered in hag goo," said Spider-man. The women laughed at him.
Wolverine silently walked past them. He looked down to see the decapitated head the hag had used to call him on the ground still flopping and crying.
"Help me," said the decapitated head. "Help me. Help me…"
Nih calmly approached behind him.
"Can you help it?" asked Logan to him.
The dark elf sat down on his knees beside it and holding out his hands, he began to chant.
"By the spirits that surround us and the firmament that hangs above, may whatever remains of this damned creature's soul be released."
The head closed its eyes and went still.
Logan nodded as the rest of the team walked up.
"Poor thing," said Boksee.
"At least it's not suffering anymore," said Wyn. "Team, let's go."
As the group turned to leave Spider-man spoke up.
"Wait," he said looking at the head somberly. "We can't just leave it here."
"You want to take it with us?" asked Boksee horrified.
"No. We need to bury it."
"Out here?" asked Wyn.
"It's almost dark," said Boksee.
"No, kid's right," said Wolverine. "We don't just leave a man out in the elements like this."
The women looked to Nih.
"It's important to follow the rituals of your people," he agreed. "If Spider-man and Wolverine wish to bury the dead, it will be buried."
Nih held up a hand and swished it through the air.
A small lump of dirt shifted both on top of it, and beneath it. The head was swallowed into the ground.
"Will that suffice?" asked Nih.
The two men looked down at it.
"Yah. That'll do," said Wolverine
Nih looked at them, then without a word he took a hand from Spider-man and Wolverine, pulled them to the ground and put their hands on the mound.
"What are you…?" "What's the big idea‽" they asked in unison.
Ignoring them the druid began to chant. His hand, as well as Spider-man's and Wolverine's began to glow on the dirt in three different colors and magically three different species of flowers grew beneath them.
"There," said Nih calmly letting go of their hands. "The dead is given new life as it becomes part of the living. That is the custom of my people."
As the group started to continue on Logan took a moment. He looked down at the flowered, unmarked grave, one last time then he joined the others.
As night began to settle in, the adventurers quickly set up camp. They had found the smallest of clearings by a rock face, but it gave them enough room to build a fire and have enough room for everyone's sleeping bag.
"By the soil that builds form..," chanted Nih waving his arms through the air.. "…and the water that brings life, may these plants bend and grow. Grow!"
A wall of vines and thorny tendrils grew up around them.
"There," he said satisfied. "I believe this will give us some protection while we rest."
"Excellent work," complimented Wyn.
"So how do people go to the bathroom?" asked Spider-man.
"You're just gonna have to carry 'em out bug brain," sassed Logan.
"Better toss me out now," said Boksee. "That is if we want to eat something besides jerky for dinner tonight.
The night was dark under the canopy of the thick forest. Their fire cast an orange glow across the branches above and the viny walls around them as the group sat around it. Boksee was roasting a fat fish.
"Something is definitely going on," said Wyn crossing her arms. "There has to be for an entire coven of hags to be on the hunt before it's even night."
"The hags were emboldened by the dark energy that is killing the tree," said Nih. "It's shifted the balance of these woods giving creatures of darkness more power and vigor. They can feel it. It's what I warned of."
"All this talk about dark creatures. Ain't this been happening since we got here?" asked Logan.
"What do you mean?" asked Boksee.
"Well the first day here we fought a hill giant, and tuts said that ain't usual."
"That's right!" she exclaimed in realization. "There was a hill giant in the Nehfar forest of all places!"
"Yah, and the blights hunting in packs in the Ashen woods," said Boksee.
"And the locust flies! They weren't supposed to be there at all. Right?" said Spider-man.
"Exactly," said Wyn.
"It seems perhaps a darkness has grown in more than one forest," said Nih.
"So this is happening not just here, but at least in three places?" asked Boksee.
"It might be happening all over Strana," said Wyn.
"What can cause something like that?" asked Spider-man.
"I'm not sure," said Nih. "The energy of a land can shift but it happens slowly, as slowly as desert turns to forest. Whatever can cause shifts this quickly is not natural."
They all sat and thought for a moment.
"Well, in any case, maybe your tree will have some answers," said Wyn to Nih.
Spider-man casually looked over at their new teammate.
"Hey your eyes," he said.
"Hm?" asked Nih.
Nih's eyes were no longer a solid red. Instead, he had pupils and sclera like anyone else. His irises were still a brilliant crimson.
"What about them?" asked the elf.
"They're different."
Nih had to think for a minute.
"Oh! You've never met a dark elf before have you snail ears? My eyes are much more sensitive to light than yours. In daylight a lens covers my eyes to protect them. Otherwise, I would go blind."
"So you have built in sunglasses? Neat!"
"Soup's on," said Boksee prodding the fish.
The five adventurers made short work of the animal.
"You're a very good cook," said Wyn to Boksee as they tucked in.
"Thank you. The secret is proper ingredients. Every ranger knows to always carry a pouch of salt and a few choice spices."
"Glad you do," grumbled Wolverine sincerely.
The fire was beginning to settle into hot embers. The electric orange light sizzled and sputtered across the charred wood.
"If it's all right with you all," said Nih. "I would like to perform a small spell that if performed at night will provide us all with boosted vitality for the duration of the next day."
"Sure," said Boksee.
"I like feeling vital," said Spider-man.
Wyn smiled warmly as she settled in.
Logan was Logan.
Nih cleared his throat. Then, he began to sing.
"Ahnvae, ent Tel' nodel nha nevae…"
His voice was calm and cool, silky and dark. Everyone was completely entranced by the ethereal singing. Even Wolverine looked like he was mesmerized.
"…Aulor Tel' Alus Tel' ni radh fals…"
The dark elf continued singing, the notes gliding along in their melody like water. After a few stanzas the song ended on a triumphant note.
"…ki veri!"
Wyn, Spider-man, and Boksee clapped appropriately.
"That was beautiful," said Boksee blushing.
"It was," agreed Wynn happily.
"That was in elvish right? What was it about?" asked Spider-man.
"Oh," said Nih casually pleasant. "It's a song about some tadpoles that fell off a leaf and started eating each other."
"And that grants vitality?" asked Wyn raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I didn't decide these things."
"What were tadpoles doing on a leaf anyway?" muttered Logan quietly.
"They were treefrog tadpoles," said Spider-man unsure if Wolverine was joking or not.
"Well now what," said Boksee slapping a knee. "Anyone have a good tale before we settle in for the night? How about you two?" she asked toward Wolverine and Spider-man. "You must have some great stories from uh…actually never mind," she said looking at Nih. He raised an eyebrow.
"Where are you two from?" asked Nih. "I've never seen clothing of that nature," he said to Spider-man. "Or heard a tongue with quite the same inflection," he said to both.
"Uh…it's a long…"
"Oh I know!" exclaimed Wyn. "Why don't you sing us a song from your land?"
Spider-man went wide eyed.
Logan just crossed his arms.
"You don't want that." "Ain't gonna happen," they said in unison.
"You can't expect either one of us to follow that up," said Spider-man tossing a thumb at Nih.
"Oh come on," said Boksee. "You wouldn't carol with us earlier and Logan was passed out."
"And glad for it."
"Yah seriously girls…and Nih, you all don't want to hear me break out into Sia," said Spider-man firmly.
"I think they mean more of folk songs," said Logan.
"Still not a good idea."
"Agreed."
"Oh come on boys," said Boksee. "Please Logan. For me?" she said giving him a look.
Logan huffed.
"Darlin', even for you, I'd need a lot more alcohol. Like any."
"And still. Miraculously, I don't think I want to hear that," sassed Spider-man.
"Oh, is that all?" asked Nih.
He rummaged through his satchel for a minute and pulled out a leathery pouch.
Logan looked intrigued.
"You been hold'n out on the good stuff elf boy?"
"Very good. I made it myself," he said holding it up. "Be warned though, it's certainly not for the faint of heart. I made it in a tree stump," he said wriggling it happily.
Logan's eyebrows shot up.
"Hand it over."
Nih did as he was asked, and with very little hesitation, Wolverine took a swing.
He pulled it away and gagged.
"Mother of fuck! It's like moldy hand sanitizer!"
"With some ginger," said Nih pleasantly.
Logan laughed.
He took another swig and gagged again.
"Shit! That's shit! I mean it's some good fuck'n shit, but it's shit!"
"Must be for such an eloquent vocabulary," said Spider-man.
"Can I try?" asked Boksee.
"Sure darl'n. But that's some strong shit if even I'm belly ach'n."
Boksee took it and took a swing. She spit it out.
"Nih! How can you drink that‽"
He just smiled pleasantly.
"Hand it back over. A few more drinks of that and I'll be sing'n for you," said Logan.
"What do you do with a drunken sailor, what do you do with a drunken sailor, what do you do with a drunken sailor early in the morn'n‽" Wolverine sung in a drunken shout.
"Tell us!" shouted Boksee happily.
"Put him in bed with the captain's daughter. Put him in bed with the captain's daughter, but him in bed with the captain's daughter early in the morning!"
The group laughed.
"I think he missed like three versus," said Spider-man as the group clapped and Logan sat back down.
"Oh, up the fuck shut you dripp'n piece of pasta."
"My gosh. He's so drunk I think he just called me a limp noodle but it didn't come out right."
"I think I like dripping piece of pasta better," said Boksee.
Logan fell backwards and started snoring loudly.
"And he's down. Someone start a stop watch," said Spider-man.
"Why don't you try a drink?" asked Boksee to Spider-man.
"No thanks. You don't want to hear my singing. Besides, a few of us need to stay sober for the night."
"He does have a point," said Wyn. "We don't want to make ourselves too vulnerable. Still I doubt a drink will hurt," she said taking a swig straight and handing the pouch toward Spider-man.
"Seriously. No thanks. I don't drink."
"Why is that?" she asked.
"I've been wondering about that," said Boksee.
"As have I," said Wyn. "Not even I took a vow of teetotalism."
"Yah, I can tell," said Boksee. "You didn't even flinch at that mess," she said referring to Nih's special drink.
Wyn shrugged.
"I just don't want to risk getting drunk," answered Spider-man. "I don't think it's responsible, you know, for someone like me. I want to always have my right mind about me. You know?"
They shrugged.
"I don't think a drink's going to hurt you though," said Boksee.
"A drink? Probably not. A drink of that," said Spider-man eyeing the pouch. "Yah."
"Seriously. Did you make that with skeever piss?" asked Boksee.
"I don't reveal my trade secrets," answered Nih. "I'll just have to find something else to make in a tree stump for you."
Logan rose back up.
"Uhhhh, fuck," he groaned rubbing his face. "What a fuck'n hang over. What I miss?"
"A whole forty-seven seconds," said Spider-man pretending to look at a watch.
"I'll take it. So what song did I sing?"
"You don't remember?"
"No."
The party laughed.
"Ahhh," groaned Logan
"Second thought. Tell me in a minute," he grunted. "Let's just sit quietly."
After a long and somewhat awkward minute of sitting quietly watching the fire, Logan was the first to speak up.
"Ah, that's better. So, the song?" he asked.
"Ironically, it was drunken sailor," answered Spider-man dryly.
Wolverine huffed.
"Weak shit. Was hoping I sung Danny Boy."
Night in the Warrark forest was a mixture of pitch blacks and glowing bioluminescence. Crickets, and frogs, and all manner of creature sung their mating songs as many other animals attempted to sleep. If one watched diligently enough, one might spy fae dancing in the mushroom light.
It was in the deepest part of the night when Wolverine awoke with a start.
He shot up, his claws ejected, a cold sweat covering his body from his nightmare.
Wyn, Boksee, and Nih were all watching him.
"There, that's what his claws look like," said Boksee to Nih.
"Ah, I see. I didn't get a good look earlier," he replied casually
Logan felt anger rise in his chest. How long had they been watching him? Then he felt hot breath on his nape.
He turned around.
A creature the size of a horse with a long elephant trunk and tusks was hovering over him.
He let out a cry of surprise and whipped around ready to slice the thing to pieces.
"Easy man!" exclaimed Wyn.
"It means you no harm," said Nih calmly.
"The fuck is it‽"
"It's a baku," said Boksee.
"What's that? And why shouldn't I kill it?"
The animal turned its attention away from Wolverine.
"Hm, just watch," said Nih.
Swishing its long lion like tail behind it, the golden creature lumbered casually over to a still sleeping Spider-man. He was twitching and slightly moaning in his sleep.
"It seems more than one snail ears is having unpleasant dreams this night," remarked Nih.
Wolverine watched as the animal whiffed its trunk around Spider-man's head. A wispy cloud of fog formed around it. Then using its trunk like an elephant drinking, it began sucking up the cloud and depositing it in its mouth.
"What in the actual-," snarled Logan ready to attack the thing.
"Look," said Wyn.
As the last bit of the cloud was eaten, Spider-man let out a sigh and visibly relaxed. He started sleeping far more soundly.
"They eat nightmares," said Boksee to Logan's confused face.
"I've never seen one before," said Wyn. "Not in real life."
"I have," said Nih. "But only two other times. One of you must have been having truly horrific dreams to call one so eagerly to our camp."
The creature began floating gently off the ground then disappeared while Logan, still damp with sweat just huffed.
Morning came, and the adventurers resumed their quest.
"So, what did you dream about last night?" asked Boksee to Spider-man as they traveled through the forest damp with cool morning dew.
"Huh?"
"You were kind of muttering in your sleep. Do you remember your dreams?"
"Oh, yah I do actually. Well it started off as one of my usual nightmares, being buried alive, then it turned into a nightmare about pink elephants, but then it turned into a dream about real elephants and that was fine."
"Being buried alive?" asked Wyn. "That does sound like a terrible nightmare."
"Well, it's even worse in real life," said Spider-man casually.
"Wait what?"
The group went on to explain what had happened last night.
"Ew, that's creepy," said Spider-man after the story. "I don't think I like that."
"Hey it works doesn't it?" said Boksee.
"Men," said Nih calmly.
He had come to a stop. The party came up behind him to see what he was looking at.
A lone building was poking out of the ground. It was tilted and covered in dirt and plants.
"We've arrived," said Nih. "Here is the entrance to the ruins."
Logan huffed looking around.
"Don't see no tree," he said.
"There are tons of trees," said Spider-man.
"You know what I mean you little smart ass."
"The roots of the tree, as well as the ruins that they fill span miles," said Nih.
"Just peachy," grumbled Wolverine.
"If this was going to be easy, Nih could have just done it himself," said Wyn.
"That is correct," said Nih with a pleased smile.
"Alright then men," declared Wyn pulling her shield. "Make yourselves ready. The real quest begins."
The End
Hey everyone. I've got a deviant page where I've posted a few sketches I've done of characters. I'm not the best artist but it's better than nothing right? Check it out at deviantartdotcom/wasriwriter. (They won't let me attach a hyperlink. Just replace the word dot with a period or google wasriwriter deviantart.)