Half-Dragon Priestess and her friends struggled to move through the swamp, with every step it felt like they were sinking into the mud. Both Half-Dragon Priestess and Harpy Scout had considered flying overhead, but with the think forest overhead there would not be a lot of room to maneuver, and they both felt bad leaving their friends to continue the slow trek.
"Yuck! All this mud and slime is clinging to my fur way to easily." Wolf Brawler grunted with every step then heard the whine escape from Specter. "I hear you boy, the others just can't comprehend our suffering. Speaking of others, how are you holding up?"
"Oh be quiet "Dog Girl", there is mud sticking to my feathers as well. The sooner we're out of here the better."
Directly behind Wolf Brawler was Padfoot Monk who kept a firm hand on her shoulder, with the current state of the swamp it would be easy to get lost or fall into the water so he relied on her for guidance.
"For the moment I am fine Huntress. I prefer firmer ground as my staff can tell me where items are, here it sinks into the mud too easily."
"Swamps not good to travel through. Water deeper than it look. Too many creatures able to hide." Saber Rider grunted as he nearly fell when his foot became stuck in the mud and had to really pull to free himself. "Stupid mud."
The group soon heard the sound of Talon screeching above them as it looked down at them before flying over to another tree then once again screeching.
"Stupid Fat Bird! We not care that you can move easily through trees! You come down here so I throw you in mud!"
Talon continued to screech as overhead, Fang down below was growling as he moved toward the tree Talon was resting upon and raised himself up to claw at it, but this only made the hawk screech even more.
"Talon…he's laughing at us isn't he?" Harpy Scout frowned as she looked at the bird with a frown, tempted to use her bow and arrow. "You know, some roasted hawk sounds pretty good right about now!"
The other laughed as the moved onward until Half-Dragon Priestess stopped, a slight gasp escaping from her mouth as she looked down at the water below. The others saw this and also stopped, wondering if she had felt something or spotted something moving in the water.
"What? What do you see?" Wolf Brawler nervously looked about the area for potential threats but could see nothing.
"The water gets deeper over here…we might have to swim through this part."
There was a look of revulsion on her friend's faces while the monk and wildman grunted in defeat, but everyone pushed forward. Their bodies sank into the swamp finding the water coming up to their chest, Specter, Fang and Brawler were forced to swim through the water as the water would cover their heads if they tried to walk as the others.
"Curse this damn swamp." Wolf Brawler grunted as she moved through the water, sweeping it away with both arms as moved further.
"I tend to agree, with all this water, it will take my wings forever before they're dry enough to fly again." Harpy Scout grunted as every step forward caused the water to splash against her face.
"That and we should hurry before we attract the attention of any of the wildlife. I'd hate to find any leeches on my body once we get out of the water." Half-Dragon Priestess too grunted as she moved through the water, she sparred a quick glance toward her side to see Specter paddling through the water. "Good to see you're handling this well boy."
The party slowly moved through the thick swamp constantly finding themselves turning with every splash or slight movement through the water. All around them were various red flowers atop the tree branches; thankfully ahead of them was what appeared to be dry land but a thick fog or mist covered the area.
"Stupid mist. Make it hard to see." Saber Rider waved his hands before him in an attempt to clear the way.
"A mist you say? Perhaps some form of swamp gas…there does appear to be some strange smell lingering in the air." Padfoot Monk kept a hand on Rider's shoulder since Brawler was practically swimming through the water.
Wolf Brawler tried to take in the smells Monk had been mentioning but with her nose so close to the water, all she was getting was the stink of stagnant water. Onward the moved though the mist around them seemed to grow thicker, soon enough they all be out of the water and back on dry land, then they'd be able to find their bearings. Half-Dragon Priestess could feel a bit of a headache as she and the others moved into the mist, the land was no longer visible and the last things she remembered before her eyes grew heavy was the frantic sound of Specter, Fang and Talon.
xxxx
Half-Dragon Priestess groaned as she struggled to open her eyes, her eyes slowly adjusted to the bright light of the sun coming in through the nearby window. It only took her a few moments to realize she was no longer in the swamp and sat up with a start, frantically looking around as the room she was in seemed so familiar.
"This…this is my old room back home."
She then turned her attention toward her right as she heard the door begin to creak before slowly opening. A massive figure slowly entered the room, from his appearance it was clear he was a member of the lizardman race and a familiar one she knew quite well.
"Good morning little one, I trust you slept well?" Lizard Priest smiled as he entered the room to check on his daughter.
"Father? I…wait, what am I doing here? Are the others alright?"
"Others?"
"My friends, the monk and the wildman! Specter and Fang…and Talon, we were in the swamp running from the Dragon Executioner!"
"Steady little one. I fear you may have had a bad dream." Lizard Priest smiled as he calmly placed both hands on his daughter's shoulders.
"You don't understand father! There is this giant of a man hunting us down and…"
"I know you're eager to become an adventurer, but it's still a bit early for all of that. It's only been a few days since we finally returned from the Capital."
"What…the Capital? That can't be."
Half-Dragon Priestess quickly got out of bed only to find the difference in height between her and her father was as great when she was a child. She moved toward the nearby mirror and was surprised to find herself back in her younger body; she placed a hand on her face while keeping her other on the mirror.
"Was it all a dream? A vision of the future?"
"Come my dear, no need to dwell on this nightmare you had; your mother and the others are waiting for us downstairs. You can tell us all about this "Dragon Executioner" over some breakfast. I feel Sir Mage and Lady Ranger will be most interested in this tale."
"I…uh, yes father…or papa. I'll be right down." Half-Dragon Daughter sighed as she nodded her head. "It all seemed so real. The adventurers and friends we made. But no need to dwell on the negatives, time for some breakfast."
xxxx
Harpy Scout too groaned as she struggled to open her eyes, she looked up to see the bright blue sky, so much different from the thick, tree-covered swamp. A small smile crossed her face, believing they had finally exited the swamp and then she saw something flying overhead, she believed it to be Talon, but she then realized that the shape was far larger than the hawk and now she could see more of them in the sky.
"Harpies!"
Harpy Scout quickly sat up, she took in her surroundings and was surprised to find herself atop a mountain. All around here were several wooden houses built into the sides of the mountain and flying above them and dwelling inside were harpies. Harpy Scout could not keep her mouth closed as she took in the sights dozens upon dozens of harpies residing here, smiles upon their faces as families happily held their children.
"A…a village of harpies!"
"Oh you're awake."
Harpy Scout turned, surprised to see her mother calmly walking out of a nearby house with a bowl of fruit in her hand and a bundle in a white cloth in her other arm.
"You really should avoid just taking naps wherever you feel comfortable. I figured you'd be hungry when you woke up. What's wrong…you seemed shocked?"
"Mother! What….what are you doing here? Where are we?" Harpy Scout still shocked by all she was seeing couldn't remember anything when she noticed her mother was holding something.
"Did you hit your head or something? You found this place for us on your travels and sent a letter to Crossroads."
"I found this place? Wait…where are the others? Saber Rider and that stupid fat bird? My friends where is everyone? Wait…what are you holding?"
"It's your child, my grandchild. Are you sure you're okay?"
Harpy Scout slowly moved toward the two and in the white sheets she could see a small figure with black hair and small wings sleeping gently in the wildman's arms.
"A baby...my baby?" Harpy Scout was at a loss as she heard these words then looked at her mother. "Uh…the father? Who?"
"What do you mean, who is the father? He's the man you met, I'm hopeful the one you love. He should still be asleep in the hut."
Harpy Scout moved past her mother towards the hut and found the figure still asleep, his back towards her. She could see his muscular back, various scars present and his long black unkempt hair all of which seemed so familiar to her, but she could not place it.
"I have a child with him, but…who is he, why does he seem so familiar? I found my mother a home, a paradise for harpies? Just how much time has passed since we were in the swamp? Or was that a dream of my past? I'm so confused."
"Dear you okay? I'm a bit worried." Harpy Mother placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder when the baby began to fuss. "There, there little one. Here, let me pass you to your mother."
"Are you sure it's okay for me to hold her?"
Harpy Scout cautiously reached out to take the child in her arms, feeling very nervous as she held the baby in her arms. There was fear she might drop the child but all that faded as she saw the small smile on its face while being held, this action brought tears to Harpy Scout's face.
"Dear you alright? I can hold her if you're not feeling well."
"No. I'm fine mother. Right now, I couldn't be happier."
xxxx
Wolf Brawler slowly opened her eyes, she found that she was no longer in the swamp but now upon a soft bed on pelts inside a hut of some kind. She quickly got to her feet suspicious of her new location, yet as she looked inside many of the items looked familiar and the scent was very nostalgic. She cautiously opened the flap to the hut and stepped out only to see the wolf padfoots of her tribe busily tending to their duties around their new home. Her people had been used to a nomadic lifestyle but had recently established themselves less than a day's travel from Frontier Town.
"What? I'm home, but how?"
"Oh Boss! You're finally up!"
"Good morning Boss!"
"Another fine day in our village isn't it Boss?"
"Boss? Me? But I thought…no wait, where is my sister?" Wolf Brawler nervously looked around the small village worried that she would be known as Boss when her older sister was supposed to be in charge.
"What do you mean Boss? Your sister is over in the other tent."
Wolf Brawler quickly rushed off to the nearby tent to check on her Older Sister; she quickly entered into the tent, practically screaming her sister's name only to find her lying on a bed.
"What are you screaming about? The Boss of the village shouldn't be acting in such a manner." Older Padfoot Sister had a frown upon her face as she looked toward her younger sister.
"You're still alive, thank the gods!"
"Of course I'm still alive! How can you say something like that to your older sister?"
"If you're alive why am I now Boss, why aren't you? For that matter, how the hell did I get back here? What of my friends? The Swamp? The Dragon Executioner?"
"Calm yourself, you're being quite irrational. I don't know if this some kind of joke, but I'll answer your questions to the best of my ability. First, you're Boss because I called for you to return." Older Padfoot Sister slowly swung her lower half of her body out of the bed and there Wolf Brawler could see her sister was missing the lower part of her left leg. "I can't quite run things in this village with this injury."
"I…how did that happen?"
"Hunting accident. Encountered a bear and stayed behind to protecting the hunting party. I won, but was injured in the process. That's when I sent a message for you to return to properly run this village; I needed someone who truly cared for our people."
"I…I understand. I would never abandon my people…wait, what about my friends?"
"It's been about a year since you all left. Your friends are back in Frontier Town, you just visited with them the other day when you got supplies didn't you?"
"I…I'm so confused. The last thing I remember was being in a swamp, we were running from some giant of a man, no more like a monster. It seemed like only yesterday, but you say it's already been a year."
"You sure you're alright sister?"
"I…yes, I'm just dwelling on an old nightmare. My head is clear, as Boss I need to be someone my people can look to for guidance."
xxxx
"Damn fog! Where are everyone?"
Saber Rider growled as he continued to wave his hands through the fog; he had finally reached dry land but was all alone. His friends, Fang and Talon were nowhere to be seen; he moved to his left and right constantly calling out for them but there was no response.
"Fang! Talon! Dog Face! Bird Girl! Anyone!"
"Here! I can hear you!"
Saber Rider grunted as he turned, quickly drawing his ax as the voice was not one of the ones he recognized. He remembered Lizard Girl had mentioned something about a witch in the swamp, he readied himself to attack before she could cast any magic against him.
"Swamp witch must be responsible for fog. If she hurt Fang or Talon, I kill her!" Saber Rider cautiously looked through the mist, it was beginning to clear and he could make out a shape moving through the fog. "There she is. Just a bit more and I'll be able to strike then I find others."
Saber Rider crouched close to the ground watching the figure move through the fog continually calling out for him to respond. He of course would not give away his position only waiting for the figure to move closer towards him. The figure finally moved through the fog and he leapt forward to strike, but as the figure turned he stopped himself from striking. The witch was not some old woman, but a rather beautiful middle aged woman, one Saber Rider knew well.
"Mo…Mother?"
"I…is it you? I told my son to run when the goblins attacked, I thought I lost him."
"You…you died. Little green men kill you. I saw."
"No. I hid and waited until it was safe to get away. My boy…I thought I lost you." Rider's Mother rushed forward to hug the young man.
"I…Mother. I thought I lost you." Saber Rider dropped his ax and hugged his human mother, tears running down his face. "I…I need find friends, find brother!"
"But you don't have a brother."
"He Saber Cat. Much happen after little green men, I mean goblin, attack. Need to find others."
"Then if they are your friends let us find them. I have my house nearby so let's check near there."
"Yes mother."
Saber Rider retrieved his ax and happily followed his mother as they looked around for any signs of the others.
xxxx
"I…must have fallen asleep. I take it the others carried me over…"
Padfoot Monk looked about the area and could see that he was no longer in the swamp, but something else alerted him, he could actually see his surroundings. He placed his hand on his face but could not feel his golden visor, all this was foreign to him as he tried to gather as much information.
"Calm yourself. Steady your breathing. Think carefully about what had happened." Padfoot Monk placed both hand on either side of his head to calm himself taking in a deep breath before slowly exhaling. "I was in the swamp, there was a strange mist and…"
He tried to get out of this bed but as he placed his hand on his side he could feel something beside him. He calmly looked over and could see the nude form of a female padfoot beside him, there was a slight gasp as he marveled at her beautiful form. He wanted to reach out to touch her but stopped himself as he reached for the sheet and covered her form to which she smiled as she continued to snuggle into the bed.
"Gods she is truly beautiful, but I must keep a calm mind." Padfoot Monk got to his feet and quickly put his pants on before moving toward the flap covering the hut.
He opened the flap and squinted his eyes, greeted by the bright sunlight and the other padfoots of his village.
"Good Morning Chief."
"Chief? Me? Am I Chieftain of my village?" Padfoot Monk was completely shocked by what he was seeing and hearing.
"Are you alright my love?"
Padfoot Monk turned, he could have sworn he heard the voice of the Huntress, but saw it was the female padfoot walking towards him, still using the sheet to cover her nude body, until she stood by his side.
"You look as though you've seen a ghost my love."
"I…I am at a loss, confused by everything around me. I last recall moving through the swamp and yet I am here now and now I find my vision restored. What is going on?"
"A swamp? My love that was quite some time ago. You had finished your questing and returned to take your rightful place as leader of this village."
"So…I was just thinking back to an old dream? I am still confused, I don't remember how I was able to restore my sight."
"You told me that was done in one of the kingdoms you visited, one of the healers managed to restore your sight. Are you sure you are alright? Perhaps we should go back to bed, I'd be more than happy to take your mind off any bad memories." The female padfoot smiled as she reached up to gently stroke the side of his face.
"I am fine thank you, though I am quite eager to take you up on your offer." Padfoot Monk smiled as he took hold of her hand and gently squeezed her hand back. "Let us take a look at the village, for some reason I am eager to see how much has changed since I could last see everything."
xxxx
Swamp Hag could hear the sound of animals frantically calling out, she moved through the swamp annoyed by the sounds. Her familiar grunted as it followed behind her through the thick trees above, eager to devour whatever had intruded into the swamp. The Swamp Hag soon came to a halt as a large white wolf, a saber cat and hawk pulled at the vines that had surrounded five individuals. The vines were part of a larger tree which would use the vines to bind its victims towards the trunk where it would then be able to drain the blood of its prey.
"The Kulamtu. Those fools were taken in by the mist, unaware that the flowers release a form of pollen that will incapacitate them. They are not long for this world, before being devoured by the tree, at least they shall experience moments of bliss so they remain unaware of their fate." The Swamp Hag grunted as she began to turn away, she would not have to do anything with these fools but heard the sounds of the animals. "Those beasts, they were not affected by the plant and continue to fight…let's us see what shall happen."
xxxx
"The Dragon Executioner! It almost sounds like a monster the Necromancer would have created." High Elf Archer was surprised by the description of this monster created by her little sister.
Half-Dragon Daughter told her family all about she could remember from her dream, dealing with the goblins after their years of training, discovering the jackalope, meeting Padfoot Monk and Saber Rider, and the awful Dragon Executioner.
"I tell you lass, the way you and the others battled against him was admirable. Even if it was a dream, you all handled yourself very well." Dwarf Shaman chuckled as he drank his wine.
"A beast who hunts dragons for pleasure and to devour their hearts a truly dreadful monster." Lizard Priest shook his head before happily eating his cheese.
"Thankfully it was only a dream."
Half-Dragon Daughter smiled as she happily enjoyed her time with her family, part of her thankful all had been a dream, but now that much more eager to become a true adventurer. Suddenly she placed a hand to the side of her head, there was a slight pain and a strange sound, like the growling of an animal.
"Are you all right little one?"
"I…ugh." Again there was a twinge of pain, the growling of an animal could be heard, one she recognized. "Specter…are you here?"
"Specter? Who is Specter?" Priestess was a bit confused by her sister's sudden actions.
"That may be the name of her future wolf."
Half-Dragon Daughter looked ahead, her mother had finally emerged from the tavern area to meet with them. Half-Dragon Priestess was happy to see her mother, but gasped as she noticed something that was not right as her mother moved to sit beside her father.
"Mama…how did you get your wing back?"
The guild grew silent as many looked toward Half-Dragon Daughter then back toward Half-Dragon Mother who had both wings present on her back.
"What are you saying dear? I've always had two wings, just like you."
"No. You lost your right wing protecting me from those bandits…when papa and the others saved us. This…this isn't real!"
Half-Dragon Daughter stood from her seat, her body now grown to what she was an adventurer. Half-Dragon Priestess carefully examined her body before looking back toward her family, they were all stunned by her new appearance.
"I can't stay here. The others need my help." Half-Dragon Priestess turned and walked toward the entrance for the Guild, for some reason, she knew that by leaving the Guild she be awake once again.
"Wait! If you leave now, you'll be thrown back into that nightmare you had been living!" Lizard Priest stood and slowly moved around the table towards his daughter. "Stay here! Stay with me and your mother!"
"I would like nothing more than be here with you all in such a peaceful time, but you all raised me to do the right thing! You all saved me when I needed help, and now my friends need my help. Goodbye."
Half-Dragon Priestess turned and ran toward the door despite the protests of her friends and family, crashing through the door before being engulfed by a bright light.
xxxx
Half-Dragon Priestess awoke with a start to find she was covered in thick green vines, nearby was Specter growling as he grabbed at the vines with his jaws. She struggled to move her arms until she finally freed one arm and with swordclaw in hand, slashed at the vines that entrapped her. Now free she fell forward, using her hands to stop herself from completely collapsing to the ground, Specter quickly rushed to her side, happily licking her face.
"Thanks boy, I heard you growling and it helped me find my way back." Half-Dragon Priestess gave the beast a quick pet before getting back to her feet looking at the massive trees still attempting to devour her friends. "Damn weed. I won't let you trick us any further."
She rushed ahead hacking at the vines that attempted to keep her away from her bound friends. Specter, Fang and Talon also went tearing at the vines in an attempt to aid the others as the tree continued to attack.
"Everyone! Wake up! It's an illusion!"
xxxx
Harpy Scout Happily held her daughter while looking out at the mountain village, dozens of harpies flying around with smiled on their faces. For so long, harpies had been viewed only as monsters as many frequented the dark lands or dwelled in dungeons, but now her people had a home.
"Hey, that lay bum of a husband is finally waking up. I'll have lunch ready soon." Harpy Mother called out from within the small hut with a wide smile across her face.
There was a sudden tremor that seemed to shake the very mountain itself, the harpies all around were screaming as the moved toward the ground or took to the sky. Harpy Scout closely held her daughter as she looked around, unsure of what was causing the tremors. The tremors subsided for a moment but now there was a new sound, the sound of a voice calling out to them.
"Wake up! This is an illusion! You're in great danger!"
The voice echoed all around them, many of the harpies confused by what was going on but for Harpy Scout it spoke volumes.
"That was Priestess. An illusion? None of this is real?" Harpy Scout looked down to the child in her hands and found her eyes tearing up. "I know what I have to do, but I don't want to."
"What was that? An earthquake?" Harpy Mother rushed to her daughter's side only to find her daughter crying. "What's wrong?"
"Here."
Harpy Scout carefully handed her daughter over toward her mother, tears still running down her face as she backed away.
"What…what are you doing?"
"I'm so sorry…all of you. I want to stay here but I can't, the others need me and I have to awaken from this dream."
Harpy Scout flapped her wings and flew away from her family, they called out for her to return but she ignored it and flew further away from the mountain.
xxxx
Wolf Brawler met with the people of her village, there they discussed supplies and opportunities for trade with Frontier Town. It had been a lot of work but Wolf Brawler felt happy that she could be counted upon to help her people and her sister was also quick to approve.
"You had me a bit worried there this morning with how you seemingly forgot about everything that had happened, but I see it really nothing to worry about." Elder Wolf Padfoot smiled as she followed along with her sister using a wooden crutch.
"Of course, mother and father trained us both well to lead this village. You and I may be a bit stubborn at times but we always do what is right." Wolf Brawler smiled as she looked up at her older sister.
"Well listen to you. Don't we sound all mature?"
"Well one of us has to be the leader." Wolf Brawler turned her head and crossed her arms with a small smirk across her face.
"What's that? I'm more than happy to wrestle away the title of Boss from you. This injury is not nearly enough to stop me from beating you."
"I'll happily take on your challenge any…"
The sky above them erupted as thunder and lightning could bee heard echoing all around them as well as seen illuminating the skyline. The wolf padfoots all gathered to look upward greatly concerned by this sudden change when Wolf Brawler placed both hands on either side of her head.
"Sister! You okay?"
"This pain…what is it? How is connected to the storm above?" Wolf Brawler struggled to figure out what was causing this pain as she too looked toward the clouds when her eyes suddenly went wide. "The…the thunder…I can hear words!"
"Brawler! Wake Up!"
"What you see isn't real!"
The thunder continued to roar across the sky but now Wolf Brawler looked ahead with a clear head. The voices she heard sounded just like her friends, they were calling out to her to awaken from this dream.
"My friends…I hear you."
Wolf Brawler looked toward the edge of the border of the village, there was the tree line there, but beyond it she did not know. She took off towards the trees as everyone called out for her to stop, questioning where she was going.
"What are you doing? Come back!" Elder Wolf Padfoot stretched out her arm towards her sister was running further away.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! But I can't stay here! The others need my help!" Wolf Brawler pushed ahead towards the tree line with all her might.
xxxx
"It doesn't look like your friends are here by my house, but why don't you come in and get something to eat. We can search again once you have some food in your belly."
"Yes. Mother right. Once I…"
The two stopped as the growl of an animal could be heard echoing through the swamp around them. Saber Rider quickly moved to protect his mother as he looked for the source of the growling but paused as he listened carefully.
"Noises…sound like Fang. Fang are you there!"
"Who are you calling to?"
"Fang. He brother. Other Mother save me and…she save me after goblins attack. Fang! Fang needs my help!"
"Rider! Can you hear me? Wake up!"
"Lizard Girl. What you mean wake up? This is no dream…is it?" Saber Rider looked toward his mother, realizing that his mother was exactly as he had remembered her, but he had changed. "Mother…you not real."
"What do you mean? I'm right here! Your mother is right here." His mother outstretched her arms toward her son.
Saber Rider took a couple steps back from his mother, wanting to believe she was real but he remembered what had happened in their village. Her cries were engraved in his head, something he would never forget, but he also remembered her telling him to run and to live. Fang's roar sounded again and was followed by Talon's screech, Saber Rider tightened his grip on his ax and turned away from his mother.
"My son?"
"No. You gone. Died long ago. Second Mother gone too. Only Fang left and I not abandon him!" Saber Rider growled as he rushed away from his mother back into the fog. "Fang! Talon! I coming!"
"Son no! Don't leave me! Don't leave me alone here!" His mother pleading, practically pleading for him to return to her.
Saber Rider refused to listen, this dream was not real, his friends and family needed him to wake up and keep fighting.
xxxx
"Monk! Can you hear us? This is an illusion!"
"Huntress!"
Padfoot Monk looked toward the sky as he heard the voice echoing across the sky although a powerful tremor shook the land around them. The padfoots of his village screamed as they ran for safety; the female padfoot rushed to Monk's side as she moved toward him for comfort.
"My love, what is it? What's happening?"
"Huntress! I could have sworn I heard her voice." Padfoot Monk ignored the female padfoot at his side while scanning the sky.
"Who is the Huntress? Who are you calling for?" The female padfoot was more scared of the tremors to truly be jealous.
"I heard…I thought I heard the voice of…"
"Monk! Please wake up!"
Padfoot Monk gasped as he definitely heard the voice of the Wolf Brawler, he carefully looked about the area and realized the gravity of the situation. His friends needed his aid, Huntress was calling and he would respond but he would first have to leave this illusion.
"My love…"
The female padfoot reached out to grasp his arm, only for him to pull his arm away from her and rake his clawed fingers across his eyes. The female padfoot screamed as she saw the blood running down his face, the others padfoots also saw this and wondered what had driven their chieftain mad.
"My, my love…why?"
"So that I can properly see again." Padfoot Monk tore a strip off his pants and tied it tightly around his wounded eyes. "It was truly a wonderful illusion, but an illusion all the same. I shall make my own reality and along with those who need my aid."
Padfoot Monk heard the calls of his friends clear as day, if the fake padfoots were calling out to him he could not hear it. He charged ahead in the direction of the voices, not knowing what to expect but he would be free from this prison.
xxxx
Padfoot Monk gasped as he collapsed to the ground, now free from the Kulamtu's vines, he could hear the sounds of battle directly behind him. Wolf Brawler quickly rushed Padfoot Monk's side to help him back to his feet, with her fighting skills it would be ill advised to attack this tree head on.
"Monk are you alright?" Wolf Brawler reached for his staff to hand to him so he could aid in getting back to his feet.
"I…no, I'm not alright but I can still fight." Padfoot Monk turned toward his right, he could feel the golden visor over his face and could no longer see his surroundings. "I don't know what devilry trick us all, but it must not be allowed to remain."
"Monk! Can you enchant these arrows I have ready? I intend to burn this wicked tree." Harpy Scout looked toward the tree, tears still running down her face as she fired a couple arrows but could see they would not be ass effective as they were.
"I shall be glad too assist you."
While Padfoot Monk was enchanting his own weapon and three of Harpy Scout's arrows, Half-Dragon Priestess and Saber Rider hacked away at the vines and trunk of the tree. Specter, Fang and Talon each taking hold of various vines and pulling and tearing as green fluid splattered against their fur and feathers respectively. Half-Dragon Priestess took in a deep breath and spewed forth a stream of fire, the tree shrieking as several of its branches catching ablaze.
"Damn you and your insidious tactics!" Half-Dragon Priestess once again spewed forth fire against the tree, dodging the vines that tried to knock her back.
Soon enough flaming arrows began to hit the other side of the carnivorous tree and Padfoot Monk moved in swiping at the vines with staff in hand. The group soon moved away from the shrieking tree, watching as the creature thrashed about in an attempt to stop the flames that were harming it, but being rooted deep into the ground it could do nothing. The vines soon stopped their thrashing and fell limp as the flowers burned and the stench of the burning bark permeated the air. For those who had experienced a true paradise only to be ripped away from it, looked toward the burning tree with disgust and a bit of sadness.
"Quite impressive."
The group turned, there in front of them was a figure in a filthy, black shroud, a deer skull atop their head with glowing green eyes. There was an initial feeling that she was also an illusion but the figure slowly walked toward them only to pass by to examine the burning tree.
"You are the witch of the swamp are you not?" Half-Dragon Priestess tightened her grip on her swordclaw, ready to attack her before she could cast a spell.
"I am, though the people around here refer to me as the Swamp Hag…a much less flattering title. I have yet to see anyone be able to break free from the Kulamtu's grasp." The Swamp Hag turned her attention back toward the group of adventurers.
"Kulamtu?" Half-Dragon Priestess was confused by the name but quickly associated it with the tree that had attacked them.
"The Vampire Tree. The flowers release a pollen which renders its victims unconscious and creates hallucinations while the vines drag the prey toward the tree to be absorbed." The Swamp Hag carefully examined the five adventurers and noticed tears on the faces of a few. "The visions people see are said to be quite pleasant that one is normally unable to wake…or would want to. I can see that what you left behind was most difficult."
"You have no idea what we were forced to give up." Harpy Scout was practically spitting venom as she clenched her fists.
"The tree is not my doing. One of the local plants. Now, what are you doing in my swamp? Surely you were warned not to ventured into my domain."
"We did not mean to trespass. We had sought a way to lose a frightening pursuer." Half-Dragon Priestess did not lower her weapon but kept a neutral tone when speaking.
The Swamp Witch carefully eyed group before looking over at the large dire wolf and saber cat, each would make for a fine meal for her familiar.
"Those beasts…if you give them to me, I can guarantee you safe passage through my domain."
"Stupid witch! You not take my brother from me! I kill you first!" Saber Rider immediately stepped forward with ax in hand and Fang growling at his side.
The others also readied their weapons to attack, Half-Dragon Priestess keeping a hand firmly placed on the back of Specter who growled at the old woman. The Swamp Hag herself raised her staff high, ready to cast a spell and summon forth her familiar who slithered through the tree with its long tail while gripping at the thick branches overhead.
"We will not give up our companions." Half-Dragon Priestess slowly walked toward the front of the group and moved her weapon toward her side. "We mean no disrespect, but we shall move away from your territory so as not to disturb you any further."
The Swamp Hag was silent as she looked them over; directly above them was her familiar hidden in the leaves ready to attack on her command, but she instead simple lowered her staff.
"I shall honor your victory over the Kulamtu, but should you linger in the swamp, you will soon come to regret your decision. Go now."
The Swamp Hag turned and slowly walked away from the group back into the swamp, almost appearing to disappear into the fog. The group carefully watched her and became aware of something large growling as he moved overhead, but it's growls began to grow quieter as it followed the witch. The group spared a final glance back to the burning tree, watching as large chunks of the branches snapped off and splashed into the water. There was still a bit of lingering sadness for the pleasures they were forced to leave behind, but each knew they could not spend their time trapped in a simple dream, they would have to make their realities come true on their own.
Author's Note: Apology for the long delay between chapters, with school back in full swing, a teacher's job is never done. I'm hopeful you liked this little chapter, a bit of an homage to the Black Mercy from Justice League Unlimited. A couple of the dreams were going to have a more direct connection between the characters, but a friend suggested not spoiling it just yet and he was right, I shouldn't give away too much. I'll do my best to try and get the next chapter out in a more timely manner and it will see the brief return of a terrible formula…For the Miracle of Life.
