- Chapter Seven -
We ran through the Town of Beginnings as fast as we could. Right when we got to the edge of the city, I got a message from Mindy, my wife. I yelled for Ronin to stop and I read it. It consisted of the usual scowling me for being so stupid and telling me if I don't make it out alive, she'll resurrect me and kill me again.
I wrote her back, telling her how much I love her and the kids. And that I PROMISE to make it home to them. I can only imagine how devastated she is. Her next message both broke my heart and gave me hope. She told me my older brother Carey was also trapped in the game.
I turned to Ronin, he could clearly see the worry on my face. "What happened?" He asked. "We've gotta find Carey." I replied. A collective, "Awe fuck" was said. I messaged Mindy back to tell her to get in touch with him and ask his location. She immediately messaged back that she already did and he was in the first town to the west of us. I told her that I would keep her updated and we took off into the field heading west.
After demolishing a couple dire wolves, I got a "Level Up" notification saying I was now level 2. Remembering Sampson this time, I stopped Ronin and opened my inventory. After a few seconds of scrolling, I saw it.
(Sampson's egg)
I pressed it and it materialized on the ground. I touched the now vibrating egg and it cracked. A sharp talon protruded from the egg shell, then the shell exploded into blue shards leaving a small gryphon laying on the ground.
"Sampson - Level 1" displayed above it with a health bar. I lowered my hand to it...It screamed and launched itself straight up into the air. We watched it fly around for a few seconds before it landed on my shoulder. It's sharp talons somehow not puncturing my armor, thank God.
It easily surpassed my expectations of what I thought a gryphon would be. A small lion body with giant eagle wings and surprisingly, a bald eagle's head. "Shoulda named you Murica" I joked, getting a chuckle from Ronin.
It laid across both of my shoulders as if falling asleep with its head resting on the handle of my sword. I felt the heat coming from its feathers on my neck and it somehow comforted me.
"You look happier than a pig in shit." Ronin joked.
"Yeah, yeah. Carey must have taken off before we did or just ran past everything. I don't know how he got to that town before us." I replied as we got back on the trail. "Either way, I'm glad we're not alone in this game."