This is the fourth chapter in my story. It is a lot of fun to put characters I play with on a daily basis into an adventure like this. I hope everyone reading it enjoys it as much as I do writing it.
Lyssa had really been enjoying her time with Kat so far. It was a beautiful day and the landscape was spectacular. They were riding along an old river bed at the moment and there were a lot of pretty wildflowers growing along the banks.
"In case I haven't said it enough, thanks again for asking me to come along." Lyssa turned to Kat who rode beside her. "I've never really been away from the tavern and it is so great to see other places. I really feel free for the first time in my life."
"It's just great to have someone to ride with again." Kat replied "I had a companion on my trip north, but she had to ride home suddenly because of a family emergency. She's a blademaster by the way; in training. Her name is Nina and if I get a chance I will introduce you to her. Heck, if you decide to be a blademaster, you two could train together."
"I will consider it, though I still have reservations." Lyssa glanced at Lucky. "Lucky seems a little nervous, is it safe around here."
"With the wraith troubles there is no safe place." Kat told Lyssa. "Your right though, my horse is a little fidgety as well. Being an Untamed and a venomancer at that, I have an affinity with animals and these guys are a little spooked."
Kat started looking around to see what might be scaring the horses. She didn't detect anything at first but then she noticed that there were no birds singing, clearly an indication that something was amiss.
"I think we are in a little trouble Lyssa." Kat looked anxiously at her companion. "You may want to get that spear ready." Kat started working on something with her hands, some kind of spell.
Lyssa held her spear up and prepared for whatever was coming.
It didn't take long. Out of some bushes ahead of them came a small group of wild Ursogs. They were hideous looking, kind of orc like with boney plates running down their backs. They yelled and started charging toward the mounted pair.
Kat quickly unleashed her spell. A scarab sprang forward and erupted at the feet of the first creature causing it to stagger and knockdown two of its fellows. There were six in all and the other three kept charging.
Lyssa angled her spear toward the Ursog closest to her and kicked Lucky forward at a swift gallop, intent on skewering the beast. As she got closer the ursog threw a stone directly at her head causing her to duck and almost miss her target. She did manage to graze its shoulder causing it to twirl in a circle and fall to the ground.
In the meantime Kat found herself facing the two remaining Ursogs who were coming at her in a mad rush. She decided to throw one last scarab and high tail it in the other direction. Unfortunately she didn't have the time to get the spell off before the closest Ursog was on top of her. It reached for her horse intending to pull it over.
Suddenly a spear sprouted from the beast's chest and he fell, face first before her. Lyssa had somehow managed to get back in time to not only put an end to the one attacking her, but in her mad charge Lucky had bowled over the other one.
"We have to move now, the first ones you knocked over are getting back up and they look pissed." Lyssa turned Lucky to head west of the river bed away from the recovering creatures.
Both young women thought it would be best to go full speed away from the Ursogs. They were strong creatures but could not run very fast or far. That was why they usually hid until some unlucky person got close to them.
They were pushing their horses at a fast gallop through tall grass away from the now bellowing creatures, obviously upset at losing their catch.
"That was closer than I like."Lyssa was looking at Kat and did not notice a human form appearing directly in front of them.
"Fool!" Kat yelled. "Get out of the way!"
The man who had appeared looked in shock at the charging horses just before he vanished yet again.