WOLVERINE AND SPIDER-MAN RPG ISEKAI EPISODE 2: ARIANWYN THE PALADIN

"And on that day…as I stared down at the blood-soaked corpses of the ones I had held so dear…I made a vow on the holy powers to cleanse the darkness from this world…"

"…I made a vow of vengeance."

"Sorry hun. We haven't seen anyone like that around here," said the inn keeper.

Arianwyn, already dressed in full armor, stood at the front desk. The entrance of the inn had always struck her as a bit claustrophobic with a short ceiling and dark wood, but it was inviting enough. She had to scoot in awkwardly as a few patrons made their way down from the upstairs.

"Well, they may have changed clothes," she said struggling to keep her position as the group squeezed past.

Behind her, last night's guests and locals looking for someone else's cooking were making a bit of a racket, so she had to raise her voice.

"He's a short, heavily muscular man with pointed dark blue hair," she stated loudly at the inn keeper. "And there's a younger man with him – taller, leaner, and brunette."

"Doesn't ring a bell, dear," the innkeeper patronized.

Arianwyn had to hold back a sigh.

"Alright, thank you," she said as cordially as she could muster. Then she took her leave. The inn keeper waved her out.

It was a pleasant and sunny morning.

With her long lavender hair flowing behind her, and her massive mace swaying on her hip, the metal clad adventurer walked in sharp contrast against the majority of the plain dressed villagers. None of them paid her much mind though. She was a very familiar sight. As such, they continued their normal affairs: bustling about, setting up shops, and generally getting ready for the day as she made her way down the main street.

Arianwyn had realized earlier this morning that her new party had never established when and where they were going to meet today. They probably assumed they were just going to catch each other at the guild, which wasn't an unreasonable conclusion, but she wanted to get started before then.

"If they didn't stay at the inn last night, where did they sleep?" she thought. "They made it pretty clear they were from out of town."

She put a hand to her chin as she absent-mindedly swerved around a caged cart of squalling geese. A few villagers waved at her but she didn't notice.

"Maybe they're staying with someone?" she thought.

"Oh! Adventurer! Adventurer!" cried a voice breaking Wyn out of her thoughts.

Arianwyn turned to see an older woman running toward her.

"Thank the divine!" panted the woman as she caught up with her. "Adventurer please, help! There's something horrible behind my shop!" she cried.

Arianwyn grabbed her mace.

"Show me," she commanded.

Dashing behind the woman, she was led through the bustling street. They came to a stop at the back of one of the smaller buildings.

"It's there," whimpered the shop keeper pointing.

"Stay back," instructed Arianwyn, and the shop keeper gladly complied.

Arianwyn didn't have her shield on her but she poised her mace as she rounded the corner. Her eyes went wide as she spotted what had startled the shop keeper. It looked like…cocoons, the kind a moth or a spider might make, except they were each six foot long!

"By the divine, what abominable aberration is this?" she said under her breath. She lowered her stance as she cautiously advanced toward them.

There were two cocoons, each the size of a man, hung between the two walls of the back alley like a pair of perverse hammocks.

"What sort of creature could create something so large," thought Arianwyn. "And what is it doing here‽"

Her mind started flipping through the pages of her mental library. Her first thought was giant spiders, but it was also possible these might be the work of an Ettercap or even an Aranea. She couldn't think of anything else that was large enough to make something like this. Was it some sort of colony of smaller arachnids? Was it caterpillars? By the divine she hoped it was caterpillars.

She was only a few steps from the cocoons now and it was irrefutable, they were indeed the exact shape and weight of men, almost like burial shrouds. She wondered which of the villagers had met such an amazing fate – amazing and horrific. Looking closely, the silken threads that comprised them were thick and opaque. This was the work of a large being, not many small ones she unwillingly concluded.

Her grip tightened on her mace.

She had never encountered an Aranea or an Ettercap before, and had only encountered giant spiders once. She couldn't fathom what any of them would be doing here, in Boar Bramble, in the middle of town!

As close as she dared, she reached out and poked the first cocoon with her mace.

It wriggled.

She gasped and dropped into a fighting stance.

Her knuckles were white, her hand clutched around her enormous weapon so tightly, as the large creature within shifted and moved to emerge.

A flap on the cocoon was thrown open and the younger of her teammates popped out.

He was shirtless and sporting an impressive plume of bed head.

His groggy eyes landed on her.

"Oh, good morning," he said sleepily giving her a smile.

Arianwyn dropped her mace and shrieked.

Still in his cocoon Spider-man jumped at her scream.

The second cocoon thrashed. Her other teammate popped out.

"What is it?" he barked groggily looking around. "What is…Oh, hey tuts," he said noticing her.

She stared at them both slack-jawed.

"Is it morn'n?" asked Logan. "Thank fuck! I ain't never sleep'n like this again! It was just your smell all night long!" he barked at Spider-man. "It was like sleep'n in a pillowcase made outta your farts!"

Spider-man laughed.

"And here I made you that hammock out of the kindness of my own heart," he replied putting a hand over his chest.

"Outta your own farts!"

Spider-man was cracking up.

"So…" interrupted Arianwyn still reeling. "Is this something you two… do?"

"No." "Occasionally," they answered in unison.

"We didn't really have a place to sleep last night," said Spider-man getting out of his cocoon.

"What about the inn?" she asked.

"We didn't have enough money, not if we wanted to eat this week," he said wrangling his shirt over his head.

"Tonight, we're sleeping in the woods," said Logan slicing the cocoon apart freeing himself.

"You can sleep where you want," said Spider-man. "I prefer to sleep off the ground like a civilized arachnid."

"What'd you need tuts?" asked Logan blowing past him.

"Well…" she said trying to recompose herself. "I was hoping we could have a meeting at the library to go over some things before we take a quest."

Logan grunted.

"Fine," he said pushing his pointy, messy bed hair out of his face. "Probably a good idea. Wanna meet in a half an hour or so? I wanna dig up something to eat first."

Arianwyn nodded.

"Sounds good," she agreed. "Meet you there."

Like all the buildings in Boar Bramble, with the exception of maybe the guild, the library was a bit on the small side, but it was nice. The windows were large to let in the much-needed light to read by, the bookshelves were neatly organized, and the wooden floors and white plastered walls were clean.

Wolverine and Spider-man chose a seat on the second floor, which was smaller than the first but also more private.

Carrying a thick stack of tomes, Arianwyn clunked her heavy armored boots back toward their table.

"I thought before we take a new quest, we should get to know each other a little better," she said flopping them down on the table with a loud thunk. "Figure out what our party strengths and weaknesses are."

Spider-man and even Logan both looked surprised at the amount of noise she was making in the quiet library, but they both kept their big mouths shut.

"Sounds reasonable," said Spider-man. "Arry…Adrian?..."

"Arianwyn," she stated. "You can call me Wyn."

The men both nodded.

"So, I find it odd," she said pulling out a bag of scrolls. "You two have great skills but are new to adventuring. What did you used to do? Were you like military men or something?"

"Something like that," said Wolverine.

"I stopped uh…high intensity crime," said Spider-man. "Off the books."

Wyn thought then nodded.

"Is there a reason you two moved out to Boar Bramble? You could hardly find a town further out of the way. You aren't laying low, are you?"

"And what if we were?" asked Logan.

"We're not laying low," said Spider-man rolling his eyes at him. "We didn't plan to be out here. It's a long story and I feel like we've probably got better things to talk about," he said plainly.

Wyn gave him an agreeing nod.

She pulled out a scroll and quill.

"Let's start with the basics then. What are your races?" she asked preparing to write.

Wolverine and Spider-man looked at each other.

"Uhh…Caucasian?" said Spider-man.

"I've never heard of that," she said unsure.

"I think we might be talk'n 'bout different things," said Wolverine.

"Uh, you know, your race. For instance, I'm a man."

"You are?" asked Spider-man.

"I think she means she's a human."

"Oh,"

"Right, human," agreed Wyn. "You two must be from a more ancient dialect. So, I don't know what you might know them as but there are men, elves, dwarves, halflings, orcs, Tieflings…uh…Felinians, Saurians."

"Men," said Spider-man unsure. "We're men, right?" he asked Logan.

"I ain't convinced."

"The various types of lycanthropes are also considered a race," she said looking at Logan.

"I ain't a werewolf!" he snapped.

"Oh! I'm so sorry," exclaimed Wyn.

Spider-man just laughed.

"Don't be, he gets it all the time," he chuckled.

"Fuck knows why," grumbled Logan.

"Because you look like a werewolf! And act like a werewolf. …and smell like a werewolf," mumbled Spider-man,

Logan slugged him in the arm.

"Yow!"

"Ok," said Wyn recovering. "So, I'm just going to write down, 'Man, Question Mark'," she said marking it down.

"That's probably 'bout right," said Wolverine.

"And what about your classes?" said Wyn looking up.

Logan and Spider-man both looked at each other again.

"Uh… what's a class? In this context I mean?" asked Spider-man.

"A class is what skills you specialize in, your weapons, your armor, your spells," explained Wyn. "For example, I'm a paladin. I'm a holy warrior that specializes in melee and heavy defense."

Logan just grunted.

"We have no idea," translated Spider-man.

"Ok. Well, I have a few thoughts. Wolverine, based on the pure fury and passion you fought with and the sheer brutality of your close quarter combat, I have no doubt that you are a barbarian."

"A barbarian, eh?" he asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Yah, I think a lot of people would call him that," said Spider-man snidely.

Logan tried to slug him again.

"Heh ha!" exclaimed Spider-man dodging it this time.

She pulled over some of her notes and read them off.

"A barbarian is a melee fighter using light to medium armor. They are in tune with the ebbs and flows of the savage wild, have heightened senses, and can enter a state of primal rage that gives them combat bonuses. They also have a bit of a disdain for the trivialities of modern society and dress."

"Huh," said Spider-man. "Actually, that kind of fits him to a tee."

"Guess she does know shit about us," said Logan a little impressed.

"I like to be well researched."

"Barbarian, if you say so," said Logan shrugging.

She wrote it down.

"Now, as for you…" she said turning to Spider-man. "So, you're a spellcaster right?" she said pulling over some notes.

"No," he said blandly.

"No?"

"No, I don't know magic."

"But what about the magic thread?" she asked.

"Oh, that's not magic. That just comes out of me." He made a little web between his fingers and showed her. "It's no more magical than the stuff that comes out of you."

"The stuff that comes outta me is magical," said Logan to the side.

Spider-man covered a laugh.

Wyn wasn't laughing. She gave Spider-man a serious look.

Stone faced she asked, "Spider-man, are you an Aranea?"

"Um…I don't think so?"

"You can tell me. We're a party now. We can tell each other these things. I won't judge you for it."

"I don't even know what an Aranea is."

"A large, intelligent, shape shifting spider."

"I'm pretty sure I can't shape shift," said Spider-man putting a hand to his chin in false thought.

"You ever try?" asked Logan.

"Ok, so not a spellcaster…" she said confused but dutifully scrawling down the information. She pulled over a tome and started flipping through it. "Uh…did you train at a monastery or with another source of ancient wisdom?" she asked reading a page.

"No."

She made a face as she drew a line through more of her notes.

"Uh.." she flipped to a new page. "Are you an archer or specialize in short blades?"

"No."

"No to which one?"

"No to both. I've never shot an arrow in my life, and I don't use any blades."

"You, you were very agile. Are you a thief?"

"What kind of question is that?" asked Spider-man taken aback.

"Spider-man is pure as the driven snow," said Logan. "It's pretty annoying."

"Really? Alright," she said abandoning her previous page. "So strong morals. Have you sworn an oath to a righteous deity?"

"I don't think so."

"Right, and you clearly don't wear heavy armor…" she said struggling in thought. Uh…which weapons do you specialize in?"

"None."

"None‽"

"Just my feet, fists, and razor-sharp wit," he said cheeky.

"So, bare-handed combat?"

"I guess."

She looked down at the absolute mess her notes had become.

"I think we're going to have to come back to this," she said confused.

"Maybe I just don't fit cleanly into a class."

"Every adventurer has a class," she said resolutely.

A few other library guests drifted in and out as the adventurers spent the rest of the hour going over a few basic dynamics and strategies. None of them were a bother but a few did seem to covertly eavesdrop.

Rolling up the final scroll she had pulled out, Wyn piped up.

"Oh, by the way," she said. "There is one more thing."

She placed two sacks of coins on the table.

"What are these?" asked Logan.

"Your share."

"Huh?" asked Spider-man as Logan apprehensively took his bag.

"Even if it wasn't official yet, our party felled that giant. This is your two thirds of the reward. I thought you two could use some equipment before we take our first quest. I'll help you get set up with the basics."

Logan nodded.

"I would also like to make one other suggestion."

"What's that?" asked Spider-man.

"Please, use the money to sleep in the inn next time."

"Well, hey there Goosey," said Spider-man poking his finger through the wooden spokes of the cage cart. Spider sense, and he quickly snatched it back as one of the geese took a snap at him.

"No worries," he said checking his fingers. "I'd probably be cranky too if I were about to be turned into someone's delicious dinner. I have to say though," he said squinting at it. "I didn't know geese had teeth."

Before the goose vendor noticed him, Spider-man quickly jogged past a few manned stalls to catch back up with Wyn and Logan.

"So where are we going?" he asked falling back in step with them as they made their way down the main street.

"The armory," replied Wyn. "After all, a barbarian should have more than cloth armor," she said at Logan. "Fur or leather would be ideal."

"He doesn't really need armor," said Spider-man.

"No, but it still don't feel good gett'n the shit knocked out of me," said Logan. "Well, most days. I'll take suggestions."

"Which days does it feel good?" asked Spider-man.

"The days I have to listen to your mouth."

Wyn opened a door and the men entered.

The armory was a cluttered room of shelves and hooks overflowing with miscellaneous pieces. Armor, belts, shoes, helmets, cloaks, robes, and things neither of the men even recognized spilled over the struggling racks.

It did seem to be organized to some degree. There were several full sets of armor and some pieces that seemed similar were grouped together, but overall, the crowded store had the eclectic energy of the oldest and rustiest pawn shops.

At the far end of the room was a counter that separated the front of the house from a work area. They could see blacksmithing and leather-crafting equipment hanging from the walls and a large open door leading to a forge in the courtyard.

The three adventurers approached the counter.

A young man skiving a piece of hide pulled himself up and wiped his hands on his apron.

"Hi Wyn," he said pleasantly. "Who are these odd fellows? Are they the ones that helped you fell the giant?"

"Indeed, they are," she said proudly.

He whistled.

"Wow, they're even stranger than I imagined."

"We're right here you know," said Spider-man.

"Well, we're hoping to change that. We're looking for armor for the Wolverine here," she said motioning to Logan. "Preferably fur or leather."

"Definitely gonna need fur with a name like that. Come with me sir," said the armorer stepping out from behind the counter. Logan followed him over to a corner of the room to go through his options.

"Why don't I help you pick out something Spider-man," said Wyn.

"Um, sure…I don't think I need anything though. I made this suit myself and I love it."

"I'm sure you could still use some gear though. Also…maybe something to…um…cover up a little bit."

"What do you mean?"

"Um, you know. Your clothing, it's rather…um…well it certainly doesn't conceal any of your natural…shapes," she said struggling to find diplomatic words.

"She's say'n you dress like a slut," called Logan from somewhere across the room.

"What‽"

"People around here are just not used to clothing that hugs the body so…closely," said Wyn.

"Guys around here wear tights," argued Spider-man.

"Yes, but they have tunics and cod pieces to cover them," she said starting to peruse the shelves.

"A cod piece is really less distracting than me?"

"Oh, how about this?" she said pulling a dark navy cloak from the wall. "You could always use a cloak."

"Hmm," he said thinking. "You know, you might actually be right about that. It can get a bit chilly in this."

"Yah, we can tell."

"Logan!"

He put on the cloak. And for good measure, he put on his mask as well.

"How's it look?"

"Striking," said Wyn. "I think it suits you very well."

"Now, you both should get some belt packs," said Wyn searching through the clutter. "You'll want to keep health and stamina potions on you at all times as well as…"

Spider-man was looking up at a Viking-like helmet dusted over on a top shelf. It had two enormous horns sticking out of the top of it.

He picked it up.

"Put it back," called Logan from another room.

"How did you even know‽" cried Spider-man.

With the creak of a heavy wooden door, Wolverine stepped out of the fitting room.

Wyn and Spider-man, wearing the horned helmet, walked over to meet him as he debuted in his new armor.

"Now you look like a proper barbarian," said Wyn pleased putting her hands on her metal skirted hips.

He was dressed in a fur lined loin cloth and boots over top of striped leggings. He had a fresh leather belt around his waist and an open pelt vest draped over top of his shoulders. His entire furry chest and thick, muscular abdomen was left bare and on full display.

"What do you think?" asked the armorer to all three of them.

"I'm kind of enjoy'n the musky scent," said Logan. "It's a good weight," he said rolling a shoulder and shifting around in his new armor. "Not too restrictive at all. I forgot how good real fur feels. Yah, I can work with this. Don't know why you all keep call'n it armor though. Whatever. Always best to blend in, that's what I say."

"Oh yah, bright yellow stripes is so subdued," said Spider-man annoyed.

"Depends on who I'm blend'n in with bub."

"What's your problem?" asked Wyn at Spider-man.

Spider-man threw his hands in front of him.

"That! Are you all really saying that that's not too revealing but I am?"

"My dick and ass ain't hang'n out! That's the point," said Logan.

"Logan please. There's a paladin here," scolded Spider-man with some cheek.

"Yah, but he is right. Your dick and ass can be quite distracting," stated Wyn.

Spider-man gasped.

The armorer nodded.

"This is sexual harassment and I don't have to take it," said Spider-man sulking out the door.

"He hadn't paid for those yet," said the armorer.

"I've got it," said Wyn.

After purchasing their new armor and clothing, the group stopped by a few other shops. First, a general goods store to pick up some basic personal items: under garments, canteens, rations, personal hygiene, etc. Then they visited a tiny apothecary. It was practically an herbalist but they did have a few potions for sale, probably imported.

"Since neither of you are spell casters, you won't need any potions of mana. As I said earlier, we'll need to get you both a potion of stamina and health respectively. Ideally, you'd want more, but at minimum you should carry one of each," said Wyn.

Spider-man looked at the price of a thick, crimson vial – a health potion apparently.

"Uh, these are really pricey."

Logan looked over as well.

"We can't afford that," he said flatly.

"You guys are members of my party. A strong party needs basic equipment. I can cover it for now."

"We can't let you do that. You've already given us so much," said Spider-man.

"You can just pay me back after we start earning some coin."

"I don't need a health potion," said Logan.

"I'm paying. It's ok."

"No. Really tuts. I'm good. I heal up real nice. I probably heal faster than that potion would work."

"It's true," said Spider-man.

She gave them both a confused look then thought intensely.

"I'll cover your first potions," she said. "We'll write down the exact amount it costs and you can pay me back."

Logan sighed and rolled his eyes but didn't push it.

With their groceries and new gear in hand, the three stood near the guild as Wyn checked over a scroll one last time.

"Alright," she said reading her notes. "The only thing I have left for us to do before we take our first quest is to… go over our weapons. I'd like to check to make sure everything is well maintained and see if anything needs repaired before we head out," she said rolling up her scroll and sticking it back in her bag. "I would also just like to see what we're working with."

Logan and Spider-man both glanced at each other.

"Uh, what weapons?" asked Spider-man.

"I know you don't have any Spider-man," she corrected chipperly. "But I'd like to look over your set-up if you don't mind Wolverine."

"I don't have anything," he said shrugging.

Wyn's brow furrowed.

"What about your bladed gauntlets?" she pointed out. "Did you lose them since yesterday?"

A devious grin stretched across Logan's face.

"Oh," he said faking surprise. "You mean these?"

With his bare hands exposed, Wolverine whipped his wrists in front of his face and ejected his claws.

Wyn recoiled in surprise.

"Oh, are they the magical stuff?" asked Spider-man.

Logan thought for a moment.

"No," he said.

Smugly, he relaxed his stance and re-sheathed himself.

"By the divine. Your blades, they're…a part of you?" asked Wyn.

"That's about the sum of it tuts."

"M, may I?" she said reaching toward his hand.

Logan gave it over.

She examined the small metal slots that subtly emerged above his knuckles.

"Incredible. But what do you do if they're damaged?" she asked as he took his hand back. "How are they repaired and how did you have them put inside you? Was it the work of some sort of alchemist or artificer?"

"They don't get damaged… and you could say someth'n like that," he said bluntly and looking away.

Wyn stood to her full height and crossed her arms.

"You two truly are the strangest creatures I've ever had the pleasure of meeting," she said with a warm smile. "No wonder you were given such unique titles."

She turned to Spider-man.

"I have a spare dagger. I'd like you to carry it on you. I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't at least keep a small blade on you even if it's just used as a cutting tool."

"I have a pocketknife."

"Just take the dagger. Always better to have too much than too little," said Logan.

Wyn nodded approvingly and Spider-man accepted.

With races, classes, weapons, armor, equipment, and supplies all configured, purchased and squared away, the new party finally entered the guild. It was well before noon so there were still plenty of quests on the old wooden wall and plenty of adventurers wandering about to take them.

"There's our newest party," boomed Boksee behind the counter. Another group of adventurers took their leave as they approached. "Everyone's been a buzz about the giant slaying. Oh, and Stablemaster Willard was very pleased to have his horse back," he added on tongue-and-cheek.

Spider-man smiled regardless.

"Yes. Well," said Wyn coldly. "Unfortunately, we won't be giant slaying again any time soon, you know, since we can only accept quests up to steel."

"Are you really starting this again?" moaned Boksee.

"We took down a hill giant!" she exclaimed. "Just the three of us! That should at least make them emerald!"

"They failed the knowledge portion of the evaluation. There's more to being an adventurer than just swinging a sword around. Or a mace for that matter. You'd think our resident silver rank would know that," said Boksee snidely as Wyn looked like she was ready to throw hands.

"Guys! We don't mind," exclaimed Spider-man diplomatically. "Do we?" he asked at Logan.

"Huh?" he asked.

"Did you zone out‽"

Logan shrugged.

"Well, we'll be taking our quest now," said Wyn coolly but regaining her professionalism.

"Take these greenhorns under your wing Wyn and they'll climb the ranks," called Boksee as they took their leave.

The small party joined most of the other adventurers in front of the quest wall.

"Ok," said Wyn. "Man, it's been a while since I've had to take a steel. When choosing a quest, you'll want to try to choose something that one, has a subject you're familiar with, knowledge is your greatest weapon, and two, that plays to your party strengths," she instructed.

"But we don't know anything," said Spider-man as another party ripped down a quest paper.

"Well, that's why you're steel," she replied.

Logan smirked.

"So, you admit it then."

She raised an eyebrow at him.

As they scanned the papers, the adventurers around them continued to pull quests. Many stopped to watch or listen to the new party. A couple introduced themselves. Spider-man ended up on relations duty as he was working with Wolverine the grumbling wonder and Wyn who didn't even seem to notice the other people in the room.

"Here we go," said Wyn finally pulling a quest off the wall. "Classic dungeon crawl. Recover Cargo Stolen by Hobbes," she read. "Hobbes can be a bit tricky but we should be able to handle it."

Spider-man lazily raised his hand.

"Yes?" asked Wyn.

"What's a hobbe? Is it like a hobgoblin?"

"Not quite. They are somewhat goblin-like but they're not related. Hobbes are impish, nasty little creatures that raid and plunder. They're only the size of children but they are vicious."

"So, we're securing cargo, right?" asked Logan. "How do they keep us from just pocketing it ourselves? We're probably recovering something more valuable than what we're gonna get paid, right? Otherwise, it wouldn't be worth pay'n someone to go get it."

"Well because that's horrible," she said putting her hands on her hips.

"But no seriously, it can't just be the honor system, right?" asked Spider-man.

"When the caravan listed here submitted the quest, I'm sure they submitted an inventory. When we take the quest, it will be added to our queue. If we fail the quest by not recovering the cargo, we won't get paid and if the caravan has any reason to suspect we were thieves we would be investigated by the local authorities just like any thief. We'd also be expelled from the guild and be banned from adventuring if we were found guilty, not to mention what punishment we would receive from the law."

Logan grunted.

"Sounds fair," he said flatly.

"Were you two planning on stealing?" she asked.

"What‽ No! We're just trying to figure out how this whole thing works," replied Spider-man defensively.

"Mm," she said giving them one last skeptical look.

Wyn placed the paper in front of Boksee.

"Now you know this quest is a meet and greet right?" he asked opening his tome.

"Oh, I hadn't noticed," said Wyn. "No big deal. Do you have the correspondent info?"

"Of course."

He took the quest and scrawled down the information. Then after flipping through some folders, he pulled out a couple papers."

"Here you are," he said handing it to Wyn. "Correspondence. Inventory. Good luck adventurers."

"Thanks Boksee," said Spider-man waving as they left.

"So, what's a meet and greet?" he asked as the three made their way toward the door.

"It just means the quest submitter would like to meet with us in person before we begin," answered Wyn. "It's usually to go over finer details that couldn't fit onto a quest paper."

"We did one yesterday," scolded Logan.

"Oh…" said Spider-man. "We did, didn't we? Well, I don't remember him calling it that," he said sourly as they exited the guild.

A little bell jingled as they entered a black door.

"Oh, so is this the inn?" asked Spider-man looking around the dark wood foyer. "It's cute."

"Better than a fart bag," sassed Logan.

Wyn approached the front desk.

"Hello Arianwyn," said the innkeeper. "I see you've found your party."

"Yes, and they will happily be spending the night here next time. We're looking for a caravanner named Copo."

"He's that fellow by the kitchen," she said pointing into the dining area.

"Thanks, Glenda," said Wyn as they took their leave.

They crossed the lively room toward a middle-aged fellow sitting at a lone table. He was wearing velvet robes and a few pieces of jewelry, nursing a hot drink.

"No offense gentlemen, but let me do most of the talking here," said Wyn. "You're both new to the area and to adventuring. Plus, it's customary for the highest ranked adventurer to represent the party."

"Don't matter to me," said Logan shrugging.

The group approached the table.

"Hello sir," said Wyn. "Are you Copo?"

"Oh," he said happily. "Are you adventurers who have taken my quest?"

"We are."

She sat down across from him. As she did, he saw the silver tag clink against her impressive armor.

"A, a silver rank‽" he gasped. "The guild master told me this was going to be a steel ranked quest."

"It is. Don't worry. I'm working with a new party, and we are taking lower-level quests to get them up to speed."

"Oh," said the caravanner. "Gave me a heart attack. Wow! A silver rank! And for the price of steel!"

"Guess it's your lucky day, ain't it slick?" asked Logan sourly crossing his arms.

"Well, if you're asking, yes, I'd say it is," replied Copo giving him a smug smile.

"Yes…" said Wyn unimpressed with both of them. "Anyway. We're here because you requested to meet with the party before we begin the quest. What did you want to discuss?"

"Ah yes," said Copo getting to business. "So, I was traveling my caravan on the east road when I was attacked by a horde of hobbes."

Wyn threw an arm out to the side. Copo shut up at the command.

"Spider-man," she demanded.

"Uh, yes?"

"This man was attacked by hobbes on a public road. At what time or times of day did this attack most likely occur?"

Spider-man baulked.

"A pop quiz‽ That's low," said Spider-man, then he thought for a moment. "Uhhh…night," he answered.

"Hm," decent intuition. "Yes, hobbes prefer to attack by ambush so if they were out in the open, like on a road, they would have most likely attacked at the darkest hours of night and especially on new moons and cloudy nights."

"Lecture over?" asked Wolverine.

"Yes, now please continue," she said at the caravanner. He was looking incredibly uncomfortable.

"Uh, yes. It was dark. The caravan was running a little behind and was coming to Boar Bramble to camp. The hobbes killed the mules and plundered the cargo. They tried to kill me but I was able to flee before they're filthy hands met me. I'm sure the wagons have been totaled. They and the mules can be replaced but the cargo wagon was carrying thousands of gold coins worth of goods. They were non-perishable so there is still a chance to reclaim them. If I lose the entire inventory, I will never be able to recover. I will be in financial ruin."

"Seems like a pretty big deal to only shell out enough for steel ranks," said Logan skeptically.

"I already have three wagons and four mules to replace. The guild master assured me a steel would be able to handle my quest."

"Where did the attack happen?" asked Wyn.

"The first marker I noticed while I was fleeing with enough of my wits back about me to see was the twelfth, so the attack must have happened before then on the east road. Though, I was several hours from Fort Ruddy at that point. That's why I was pushing forward to Boar Bramble."

Wyn nodded.

"I realize forcing your way through a horde of hobbes is anything but tidy," continued Copo. "But please understand, every piece of broken cargo is another piece of my livelihood ruined. You must do your absolute best to recover as much of my cargo as you can and get it returned."

"We will try our best," said Wyn.

"If we're expected to recover an entire wagon's worth of cargo, how are we supposed to get it back to ya?" asked Logan.

"Excellent question Wolverine," said Wyn.

"I was hoping you would have your own transportation," said Copo expectantly.

"No dice. Sorry Chief, we don't do deliveries," said Spider-man.

"Nice," said Logan with a sneer.

Wyn made a sour face while trying to retain her professionalism.

"What my companions are trying to say is that we do not have transportation, especially none that is capable of moving so much cargo."

"Can't you rent a wagon?" started Copo. "I'm sure…"

"You're pay'n us to rescue your stuff and drag it outta some dark cave or the woods or whatever," snapped Logan. "The quest didn't say noth'n about carrying cross country so either pay up for the extra effort or rent your own stink'n wagon. We ain't pay'n your bills."

"Down Logan," said Wyn throwing up a gauntleted hand. "But he is right," she agreed. "The quest specified that we are recovering cargo. You'll need to find your own means of transporting it where you want it to go."

Copo huffed.

"Fine. Guess this is why you were so cheap. I'll have a wagon follow behind you to the wreck."

The adventures agreed to the terms.

The door to the inn closed behind them.

"Well, he was a pleasant fellow," said Spider-man sarcastically. "Reminds me of some bosses I've had."

"We don't need to like him," said Wyn. "We just need to fulfill his quest we've taken."

"Well maybe we should get to know ahead'a time who we're work'n for," said Logan.

"Or at least not have to meet them," added Spider-man.

The three adventures set out immediately on the east road. Like the one Wolverine and Spider-man had taken yesterday, it was a dirt road, though not the same one. There were three roads that attached to Boar Bramble, north, east, and south.

The day was still bright and pleasant, perhaps a little on the hot side. Sprouting green crops grew under the sunlight and cows grazed contently in the fields as the farmers who owned them took a moment to wave the adventurers along.

Wyn and Spider-man waved back.

"There are several farms and a stable surrounding Boar Bramble. You visited the stables yesterday, right?" asked Wyn as they walked.

"That's right," said Wolverine.

Wyn nodded.

"None of these fields are natural," she continued. "They all had to be cleared out generations ago when Boar Bramble was first being settled. After we pass through the agricultural area, it's nothing but the Nehfar Forest until Fort Ruddy. When the surveyors first began clearing out a place for their outpost, they said it was the thickest, sharpest, most hideous bramble they had ever come across. Of course, that's where they had been ordered to build, they said."

"I guess that's where the 'Bramble' part of Boar Bramble comes from," said Spider-man.

"And I'm guess'n you all've got a hog problem too," said Logan. "That's the 'Boar'."

"Aye, that we do," said Wyn. "It gives the town plenty of meat, I hear, but it's an absolute ravage on the crops and livestock. Plus, hogs are mean. They've killed and eaten a few villagers over the years."

"Wait what‽ Boars eat people‽" asked Spider-man.

"Indeed. They are brutal animals," said Wyn.

"Domestic pigs will eat ya' too kid," said Logan. "Don't fall in any pig pens."

"Ok. You are not serious."

Logan chuckled under his breath as he walked past him.

As Wyn had said, it didn't take very long, maybe an hour of walking before the fields surrendered to an endless expanse of towering trees.

They traveled the woods for hours.

Little was different about the Nehfar Forest from the last time Wolverine and Spider-man had been in it yesterday. The trees were just as straight and tall. The canopy high overhead was just as vivid a green and the story below was just as warm. The only slight difference, was here, there was a road cutting through the forest. The opening in the tree line allowed some thicker underbrush to grow along the sides of the path. The canopy was just too dense to allow much underbrush to grow deeper into the forest.

"Wait a minute," thought Spider-man.

"Hey Wyn," he said looking around. "You said the town was named after the forest right? The bramble filled, boar infested forest?"

"That's right," she answered pleasantly.

"Then where's all the bramble?"

Wyn stopped.

She looked around, then looked at him. She was about to speak but something caught her eye.

"There!" she exclaimed.

They ran over to what she had seen. She pulled a necklace from the dirt.

"We must be nearing the wreck."

They continued forward with a lighter step for another ten minutes or so. Finally, the broken remains of three wagons came into view.

"This looks like the place," said Wyn as they approached.

The wagons had been left where they had fallen, in the middle of the road, and they were in bad shape. The covers were slashed and tattered, the wheels were smashed and broken, and much of them had been burned. Tracks, blood, and torn bits of everything from fabric to flesh was littering the area.

"I don't have very high skills in tracking," said Wyn looking around. "Wolverine, it's up to you."

He nodded.

"Find me something of the hobbes'," he said.

After combing through the wreckage for a moment, Wyn returned with a shred of rawhide clothing. She handed it to him.

He took it and took a hard whiff.

He recoiled and pulled the thing away in disgust.

"Ughghghhg! Fuck!" he cried.

"Well, why are you smelling it‽" exclaimed Wyn.

He sniffed at it again, a little further away and actually gagged.

"Mother of fuck! Smells like death, shit, and piss! Spider-man get a whiff of this."

"What‽ No!"

"Come on," he snarled with a smile shoving it at him as Spider-man tried to escape.

Relenting, the other man leaned over and got a small smell.

He started dry heaving.

"Oh my gosh!" he gagged out.

"Yah, it's bad," said Logan amused.

"Men, is there a point to this?" asked Wyn confused and impatient.

"Gett'n the scent tuts," replied Logan still smiling as Spider-man had to put his hands on his knees. "How else am I supposed to track 'em? Ain't gonna mistake that smell."

He put his nose to the air and started probing the area.

"Don't think I even need to get on the ground for this one," he said as he started tracking the scent into the woods.

"Are you sure you're not a werewolf?" asked Wyn as she followed him off the road. Spider-man popped up from his dry heaving and quickly followed behind her.

"This looks like the place," said Wyn looking down into a deep hole. About a mile into the forest, Logan had found a narrow entrance to a cave. It was cleaved into the hillside between two broken halves of an enormous fallen boulder. A stampede's worth of small footprints led into it.

"Good work Wolverine," she said.

"Like I said. I could find that stench from Jupiter," he said looking down into the hole with disgust.

"Where's that?" asked Wyn.

Logan and Spider-man both made a face.

Spider-man pointed up, then he had to think for a moment.

"Uh, anyway," said Wyn. "Are you men ready?"

They both nodded.

"Keep your wits about you. Hobbes are stupid but they're savage. Don't underestimate them. Be prepared for ambush. Keep your senses peeled."

"On it," said Spider-man giving a faux salute.

Wolverine ejected his claws.

Wyn pulled her enormous shield from her back, and clamped it onto her forearm. With that, the party entered the miserable, stinking cave.

As they stepped forward, the men were both surprised to feel their feet land, not on ground made of natural stone but onto a wooden floor. The cave entrance was an immediate drop into a deep chamber, but a crude boardwalk had been constructed as a reasonable way to descend it.

As they started down, Wolverine peeked over the edge to assess how fucked they were if they fell or rather, were forced off. Large stalagmites pointed back up at him from below.

"So, these things are intelligent enough to build?" asked Spider-man.

"We're kill'n 'em so don't even start," said Logan.

"I was just asking."

"Based on the primitive construction and eclectic materials, I think it's safe to assume that this is hobbe-made," said Wyn. "Men, be on your guard."

Unlike what one might expect, the cave was not cool, but hot and muggy. There was a dampness hanging in the air that left water droplets on their armor and a clamminess on their skin and clothes. That same putrid, rotten scent seemed to breathe up at them as the three adventurers made their way down the boardwalk. The planks of that boardwalk were slick with mildew.

"Yep, definitely the place," grumbled Logan annoyed as his foot tried to slide out from under him. "Can't smell shit."

"I would have thought that was all you could smell," commented Spider-man quietly.

"Har."

Some thirty feet or so below the entrance, the soft thunks of boot on wood gave way to the crunch of grit under foot. The adventurers stepped off the boardwalk and onto the cave floor proper.

Once at the bottom of the cavern the only way forward was a tall, narrow crevice.

"This must serve as a bottle neck when there are intruders trying to take the cave," said Wyn examining it.

"Well then why ain't they using it?" asked Logan.

"Because there's only three of us?" said Wyn a little unsure as she took the first step into the tunnel.

With how thin the path was and how far they had already traversed from the small entrance, it didn't take long for the light from outside to be swallowed and dissipated.

With barely enough light to make out their own hands, Wyn took a moment to stop. She bent down and with the click and scrape of flint on steel, a torch ignited into flames. She lifted the blazing rod through the air bathing the trio in an eerie orange glow.

"Spider-man, bare the torch," she said handing it to him.

"Aye aye, captain," he said taking it blandly.

She made a face.

"I'm… not a captain?" she said confused.

"Huh?" asked Spider-man. "Oh, no, I was just…uh…never mind," he said dejected.

Logan snickered.

Spider-man slugged him in the arm.

"Fuck!" he exclaimed surprised. He grabbed his bicep and they kept walking.

The group continued navigating the narrow crevice. Only a few feet wide, the twisted fissure was so tall the torch light didn't reach the ceiling. It was blackness above them.

"Is this smart?" asked Spider-man quietly, the flames of the torch billowing by his masked face. "Just walking in through the front door? We couldn't have looked for a side entrance or something?"

"Did you see a side entrance?" asked Logan also keeping his voice down.

"I didn't get a chance to look."

"We'll be fine," whispered Wyn.

"But shouldn't we have seen some hobbes by now?" continued Spider-man. "Are they all taking a nap?"

"Could be," said Logan.

"Probably not," said Wyn. "Keep on your guard."

The tunnel was a slight incline down. As they walked, it became even more and more narrow. The ceiling remained as tall. Eventually it had become so tight that there was only room for one adventurer at a time to squeeze through.

"This is a choke tunnel," said Logan quietly to Wyn. "That's why we haven't met anyone yet. Either their gonna funnel us into a shooting gallery or flank us."

"I've never heard it called that but I agree," said Wyn. "Hobbes can't use ranged weapons so they won't be using murder holes but be prepared for attacks from the front and the back. Men, I'll take point," she said raising her absolutely enormous shield.

"Web head, you're in the middle," said Logan.

"Rodger," said Spider-man.

He leap-frogged over Logan and everyone twisted and shifted around each other until the party was in the correct formation.

They continued forward.

Spider-man's spider sense went off. He whipped his head around but it didn't matter. All three adventurers heard them at once.

The cave walls rumbled and a gale of hideous screeching rushed toward them from both directions.

Suddenly dozens of fat, pale, flabby monsters were upon them. They barreled at them squealing and shrieking with axes and clubs. Wyn threw up her shield but didn't have room to pull her mace before the hobbes slammed into her. They scratched and rooted and rammed at her trying to squeeze their pudgy bodies into any unguarded space, but they couldn't find one. Wyn held firm.

Wolverine turned on his heel and stabbed his claws into the first hobbe that reached him. With no room to move his arms to the side, he uppercut the next one in a geyser of blood as he cleaved through its carotid arteries.

The hobbes spilled and piled over themselves in a mad frenzy toward him. Two, three, four, five of the impish beasts could fight their way into the space of one man. Wolverine mowed them down. Shredding and gashing them open in a mist of crimson, the monster's bodies began piling at his feet. The scent of hot iron joined the putrid smell of the air. Hobbes screamed in both battle rage and death cries. Still, they came. Their numbers weren't even thinning. They were growing. As he killed them, more just spilled over top of the growing pile toward him.

In the front the hobbes hammered and shoved against Wyn's shield. Sinking her armored feet into the floor, she took a step and forced the horde backwards.

It was like a block in a drain. The longer she held back the horde the thicker it grew! They had climbed over each other and were almost taller than her shield.

"HEY! YOU FALL ASLEEP‽ WE COULD USE A LITTLE HELP HERE!" shouted Wolverine as hobbes practically fell on him.

Wyn snarled as sweat dripped down her face. She struggled to hold back the flood. If she could just reach her mace.

Suddenly, everything let up.

Wyn gasped in surprise. She looked around her shield to see the horde had been webbed down in a shrieking thrashing pile.

She whipped around to see Spider-man straddled high above them near the ceiling of the chasm.

"Two, going up!" he called. Wyn and Wolverine were both webbed and yanked into the air. Still carrying the torch, Spider-man caught Logan over his shoulders. Wyn grabbed onto Logan. Wearing his clinging party like a cape, Spider-man took off running down the walls of the crevice.

"Get us into a more open area!" shouted Wyn. "We need maneuverability!"

"On it!"

The hobbes below were already breaking free from the webbing, swarming and heaving up at them from below.

The crevice opened up ahead into a slightly wider tunnel. Running down the cave walls Spider-man leapt into it and flipped onto the ceiling. Wyn and Wolverine were tossed from his back.

Finally pulling her mace, Wyn brought the enormous ball of metal smashing down into a hobbe as she landed. The bones and flesh of its skull crunched and exploded into crimson. Without missing a step, she spun on her heal and sent her mace careening through a stalagmite. It shattered and fell backwards into the choke tunnel crushing a good dozen hobbes. Spider-man threw up a web into what was left of the opening cutting off the hobbes for a precious second.

At Wyn's back Wolverine landed in a roll and in a birl of his blades, carved a swath of hobbes. Impish heads went flying. They're decapitated necks erupted like geysers. In the dim fire light, Logan's claws glistened and dripped as he turned the never-ending wave of hobbes into a bloody rain.

"KEEP PUSHING FORWARD!" commanded Wyn. "BACK IN FORMATION!"

Spider-man leapt back between them as Wyn moved to the front. The tunnel was wide enough to move their arms and legs, but still didn't give them much room.

Stomping and smashing her way through the horde she started carving a way forward.

With shrieks and snaps and crunches and a constant mist of putrid blood the group made their way through the choke.

"How are you men holding up?" grunted Wyn as she smashed the hobbes like the most grizzly game of wack-a-mole. Step, smash, step, smash.

Logan had a rhythm going as well. Upper cut left, upper cut right, upper cut left, upper cut right. A new hobbe always jumped into the right position as the last one fell in time to be mutilated.

"Just peachy!" he called. He was drenched. "How many of these fuck'n things are there‽ Not that I couldn't do this all fuck'n DAY!" he shouted stabbing through a hobbe that had leapt at his face.

Wyn continued to smash and step, smash and step. Their squeals and cries and roars had become background noise.

"I don't know! I've never seen a horde this big! Keep concentrating and don't get too comfortable!"

They continued forward.

They were like a rogue bubble of torch lit humanity pushing its way through a solid tube of monsters.

"This is insane!" Spider-man exclaimed.

"FILTH!" squealed a hobbe before its skull was splattered into the floor.

"These things can talk‽" he cried.

"Just barely!" shouted Wyn. Its wretched blood had splattered across her face as she pulled back her mace. A rogue drop met her lip and the taste of raw blood mingled with her own sweat.

Eventually they noticed the tunnel opened. The two adventurers on the attack ends had to start hitting wide to keep the hobbes from getting past them.

One sped past Logan and went right at Spider-man. He round house kicked it into the wall. Logan dashed up and impaled it.

"Guys! Torch duty is starting to get old," grunted Spider-man.

Back handing with her shield, Wyn clobbered a circle of hobbes. She slaughtered another with her mace.

"Well unless anyone here knows a spell of illumination, it's all we've got!" she replied.

Spider-man kicked off and slugged the hobbes that came at him with his free hand.

One launched right at his face. It was his left side. Barely thinking, he beat it off with the torch. The weak wood snapped in half.

"Alright, this is ridiculous."

He leapt up onto the cave wall and suspended what was left of the torch from a web line and attached it to his belt. Turning himself into a mobile chandelier, all his limbs were finally free. With both arms at his disposal, he webbed up a clump of hobbes from the ground and slammed them into the cave wall. They were stunned. Axes and clubs clattered to the ground. He webbed them up into a net and hung them from the ceiling. Then he webbed up another group.

The horde to the front was finally starting to thin but the horde to the back showed no signs of slowing. They kept pushing forward.

"Hey is it just me or is it getting brighter?" called Spider-man.

They rounded a corner and saw up ahead.

A crude but towering wall had been erected in the tall, wide cave. It completely filled the cavern, reaching all the way to the ceiling twenty feet above. It was lit with fires and torches. A deep trench was dug in front of it. The only way across was a raised draw bridge.

"They're trying to force us into the drop!" shouted Logan slicing hobbes but having to step back to do so. Practically all the hobbes were now on the backside pushing them forward.

"We have to get through that wall!" Wyn shouted.

She slammed her shield into a group sending them flying. The squealing monsters fell into the chasm below and were impaled on wooden spikes.

"On it!" shouted Logan. He ran at the trench like he was about to take a running leap.

"Spider-man! Give him a leg to stand on!" shouted Wyn.

"Huh?" asked Spider-man webbing down a clump. "Oh!"

In a flourish of graceful swings and twisting limbs, he quickly threw out a series of webs over the trench. Stepping on the silken lines, Wolverine ran across the deep chasm and pummeled his claws into the wall. Wooden chunks and splinters sprayed into the air as he hammered away at it.

"Cover him!" Wyn shouted.

She and Spider-man flew around furiously keeping the hobbes from reaching him.

With a final slash, the wooden structure seemed to be ready to give. Logan rammed his shoulder into it trying to bust out a hole.

"GANG WAY!"

Flying feet first, Spider-man swung himself toward the wall like a wrecking ball. Logan ducked as Spider-man slammed into the slashed wood. The hole Logan had sliced out busted open and took a sizable chunk out with it. The entire right side of the wall began to crumble and fall down around them.

Her shield over her head, Wyn ran across the webbing with a mass of hobbes behind her. Wooden debris clanked and thunked against her metal.

As soon as her feet hit solid ground, Wolverine sliced the lines sending the web and every hobbe that had clambered onto it plummeting into the trench. The collapsing section of wall fell in after them.

With the adventurers on one side of the chasm, and the hobbes on the other, both groups stared at each other. The hobbes shrieked, and squealed, and roared in anger shaking their axes and clubs in the air. They were so enraged that their writhing accidently sent several more of them falling into the trench.

The adventurers just looked back at them, panting. With the realization that they were, for the moment, separated from the horde, they took a moment to catch their breath.

"So," barked Wolverine his chest heaving. "Is that it? Are those all that's left?"

Wyn looked around the new area they had entered beyond the felled wall. She shook her head.

"This looks like an antechamber," she replied just as winded.

"What's that mean?" asked Logan.

"It means there's another, bigger chamber up ahead," said Spider-man pointing.

Wyn nodded.

"What are we gonna do about them?" asked Logan watching the pig like imps rage across the trench. A few turned and ran in the other direction. "Ain't gonna be fun trying to fight through a horde of hobbes carrying a wagon's worth of cargo."

"Once we clear the rest of the cave, we'll take position here," said Wyn. "I've got a bow. You two can use whatever you can. We'll clear out as many as we can from a distance then kill the remainder up close once their numbers have thinned. Then once the entire cave is clear we'll work on getting the cargo out."

"We could always use the web and slash trick again," said Logan.

"Is that…"

"LOOK OUT!" cried Spider-man.

A dozen hobbes absolutely covered in explosives came running up at them from within the chamber. Spider-man webbed them in place before they reached them.

They still exploded.

Spider-man grabbed Wyn and flung them both out of the way. They careened into the farthest wall but it wasn't far enough. His spider sense screamed. By reflex, he futily threw his arms over his head.

The explosion thundered through the cave. A wave of pressure slammed into them followed by a thick dirty fire that engulfed the entire chamber like a molten tide. He gasped and it saved his ears. The shock wave felt like a punch to his lungs and organs. The heat of the thick dirty fire stung his skin as it passed.

Through blurry vision and ringing ears, Spider-man realized he wasn't dead. He looked up in shock to see Wyn crouched over him. Her wall of a shield smoked and sizzled as she held it firm. She had saved them.

Wolverine wasn't as lucky.

As the explosion erupted, he leapt to the other side of the chamber behind a rocky outcrop.

He didn't quite make it.

Mid jump, the explosion thundered through the cave. The wave of pressure blew out his ear drums. His neck and head were engulfed in fire; his flesh torn from his skull in a bloody spray of char and cinders.

He landed to the sizzling ground with a thud.

Wyn emerged from behind her shield and saw him.

"WOLVERINE!" she screamed.

Pushing his scorched fingers into the burning grit, Logan forced himself back to his feet. He was smoking in thick black plumes, embers caught in what was left of his hair. His skin was charcoal and blood. A mass of lose flesh slid from his brow exposing his metallic skull.

He was blind. His eyes had been melted out by the intense heat and he could barely hear. His eardrums were ruptured and he was drowning in a loud ringing.

Still, he heard them. A new wave of hobbes came shrieking out of the back of the chamber.

Logan's mutilated form whipped around, and an inhuman sound of anger roared from his ravaged throat.

Before Wyn and Spider-man had even made it to their feet, Wolverine blindly ran at the new monsters, his claws splayed and as clean and shimmering as ever. His white, pointed teeth bared against his black face, Wolverine screamed as his blades met the first hobbe.

His teammates both looked on in shock as Logan madly cleaved through the shrieking pigs.

Blood splattered across the charred walls and ran down his legs. Limbs and entrails were sent flying into the air.

"DEMON! DEMON!" cried a hobbe before being disemboweled.

Spider-man had to shield his eyes.

In seconds Wolverine had taken out the entire new wave.

What was left of the last hobbe slid to the ground with a wet slap.

Logan stood over his kills panting and gagging and snarling.

"Wolverine!" cried Wyn finally breaking from her frozen shock. "Your potions!" she cried chasing after him. "Drink your health potion! Quickly! The healer's might be able to save some of your face and…"

Wolverine whipped around at her, his claws still splayed, his teeth still bared.

"It's ok!" exclaimed Spider-man catching her around the shoulders.

"What‽" she cried.

"Just give him a little space," he said walking her back. "He's a bit cranky right after he gets his face blown off."

Logan snarled at him in unspeakable annoyance but didn't make a move. Then his two team members watched as before their eyes his burnt, bloody flesh started to heal. He closed his freshly grown eyelids then opened them again to reveal his dark blue eyes back in their rightful place.

Wyn gasped.

Within a minute, he had recovered.

Logan ran his hands over his face and his fingers up onto his singed scalp.

"Ffffffuuuuck. That hurt," he groaned.

"Are you alright?" asked Spider-man.

Logan huffed at him.

"Course I am. Any burnt hair?"

"Uh, yah. A lot. Sorry about that."

"It'll grow back."

Wyn was absolutely dumb struck.

"W, Wolverine," she tried to stutter out.

"Wait, hold it," he said throwing up a hand to stop her. "Anyone else notice everything's gone quiet?"

They stopped and listened.

Silence.

"Where did the hobbes on the other side of the trench go?" asked Spider-man as they turned.

The entire chamber was empty.

Wyn put a hand to her chin.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. Grabbing up a piece of burning wall, she used it like a torch and began scanning the chamber.

"Here!"

Below her was a hole, only a few feet tall and wide, carved into the cave wall.

"Side tunnel," said Logan annoyed.

"They must have had access to the mouth of the cave from here. That's how they ambushed us from the beginning."

"Makes sense to me," said Logan.

"I told you we should have looked around more!" said Spider-man.

"So does that mean those were our friends there?" asked Wolverine choosing to ignore him.

Wyn moved her makeshift torch over the pile of meat that used to be hobbes.

Spider-man cringed.

"I'd say so. Just to be on the safe side, Spider-man can you block off this tunnel?"

"Sure," he said.

He squatted down and started filling it with layers of sticky, tangled webbing.

"I don't care if they've got axes or whatever. They're not getting through that any time soon."

"Good work."

"But hey, that means we don't have to fight through the front afterwards, right?" he said standing back up.

"Right," said Wyn nodding with a relieved smile.

"Good," said Wolverine. "I'm just about sick of these things."

"Let's take a quick breather," said Wyn. "Stay on your guard though."

"No kidding," said Spider-man as he hopped up to sit on the wall.

Wyn looked up at him surprised for a moment then settled into relaxed standing with Wolverine. She took a moment to look at her teammates in wonder.

"Spider-man," said Wyn turning to him. "You seem to have high perception skills."

"Um thanks?"

"He's got ridiculously high perception skills," corrected Logan blandly crossing his arms.

"Oh, come on. You understand what she's talking about?"

"Yep."

"Keep a passive perception for us. Who knows how many hobbes are left in this horde. We don't want to be caught in another explosion or sneak attack."

"Uhh…"

"She say'n keep your spider sense on."

"It never turns off."

"Well, then mission accomplished," said Logan snidely.

"Are hobbes usually this bad?" asked Spider-man to Wyn. "I mean this was a steel ranked quest, right? If this is what steels have to deal with, I'm thinking Boksee made the right call when ranking us."

"No. This is the worst hobbe infestation I've ever seen," said Wyn. "It's a good thing we took this quest. No steel would have survived this. I doubt a sapphire could have survived this!"

"How much you wanna bet slick had something to do with it?" asked Logan.

"Who?" asked Wyn.

"The caravan, quest submitter guy," said Spider-man.

"Oh," said Wyn. "Copo? Do with what?"

"This horde. I don't know how mak'n a quest works but I gotta feel'n ol' slick might've left out some details about how many hobbes took his stuff… or someth'n," said Logan throwing up a hand in thought.

"I doubt the entire horde would have been out on the raid so we can't blame him for not knowing it's true size."

"I just gotta feel'n," said Logan firmly.

Wyn took a drink from her pouch and stood to her full height.

"Well men, ready for round two?" she asked.

The pair nodded.

"We move forward."

They started making their way down the antechamber. In short order they found themselves on a cliff overlooking a massive cavern. There was another wooden boardwalk that led down into it but they didn't take it yet. The three hid behind a few stalagmites and peered out over the chamber.

"Good news," Wyn whispered observing the area. "There seems to be only one true wave of hobbes left. Less than sixty I'd say. They're pretty spread out through this chamber so…oh no."

"Oh no?" asked Spider-man.

He and Logan shifted around to see. They looked across an enormous winding room. It was almost like a hobbe village. There were shacks, animal pelts, racks of supplies and weapons, and piles of plundered cargo lit by torch. Whole animal carcasses, Copo's mules it looked like, were cooking over a couple fires. The hobbes below were scattered about in a way that was reminiscent of the street of Boar Bramble, except the stench that rose up from it was fifty times as wretched.

At the very far end of the chamber was a crude pen thrown together out of spiked logs, bone, and rope. From this far away it was difficult, but the group could just make out unmistakable shapes held within it, the unmistakable shapes… of men.

"Prisoners," said Wyn.

The large cavern was hot, and the stink of hobbe and the hazy, unvented smoke made the adventurers' eyes and noses run.

"Do hobbes usually take prisoners?" asked Wolverine as the three crouched in a huddle. He wiped his arm across his sweaty forehead. Spider-man had to pull up his mask.

"No. Not adults. Usually only children," answered Wyn.

"What are we going to do?" he asked tactically.

"Getting the prisoners out has to be our top priority. No matter what our quest says."

"Absolutely," agreed Spider-man.

"We don't know what they're plans are for them and hobbes are unpredictable," she continued. "We can't risk a head on confrontation. It will take us ten minutes to get to the end of the chamber even if they all charge us at once. They only need a moment to kill the prisoners."

"Let me do it," said Spider-man.

"Huh?" she asked.

"I can clear this room quietly while you two rescue the prisoners."

Wyn looked to Wolverine.

He nodded.

"Ok," she said.

"I'll clear the way as we go. Stay behind me and stay quiet."

"Ok, but I don't have very high stealth skill," she said unsure.

"Just follow my lead tuts," said Logan.

Spider-man wove a web line for them to give them an alternative way down. Then he gave them a nod and leapt straight onto the ceiling.

Wyn and Wolverine watched as he crept away.

Crawling silently across the cave roof, his new cloak hanging from his body, Spider-man moved over top of a set of hobbes. They were isolated behind a weapons rack.

Like men on a lunch break, the hobbes were standing around gibbering at each other. Suddenly their mouths were webbed shut. Before they even had a chance to grunt for help. They were each snagged by their ankles and yanked straight up into the darkness. Their heads clanked together stunning them, then they were tossed back to the ground. They landed with a small thud in an unconscious pile.

Like an owl descending on a mouse, Spider-man leapt down from the black ceiling above and landed on them. He flipped off and quickly moved behind the rack and peered out assessing the next target.

"I've never seen anything like it," whispered Wyn noting his uncanny movements as she and Logan waited for their opening.

Spider-man yanked a lone hobbe out of the light and spun his body, kicking it into a wall. Then he webbed the beaten thing in place.

"That's Spider-man for ya," said Logan enjoying the show. "He's an idiot, but he's an idiot you wouldn't want to meet in a back alley." He paused. "Don't tell him I said that."

"I know he said he's not, but his movements. The way he can just walk on the ceiling, he must be some sort of…"

"There's our opening!" whisper shouted Logan.

Logan, followed by Wyn slid down the web line. They landed behind the rack.

Wolverine moved behind it and peered out.

"Alright. He's cleared a path to that shack over there. I'll run out first then you come after."

She nodded.

As a group of hobbes down the chamber stood around the cooking mule, Logan bolted across the main path and behind the shack. He turned and motioned for her to come.

With the sound of clanking metal, the heavily armed and armored adventurer dashed across the path. The hobbes turned from their meal. Wyn made it across just in time. As they looked for a moment to see what had made the noise, the group of hobbes was webbed and reeled into a crevice.

"Jeeze tuts. Could you make any more noise?" whispered Wolverine as she joined him.

"I told you," she hissed. "I don't have high stealth skills!"

"High? You don't have any!"

"Just watch for an opening!"

Logan sneered and moved to check the next corner.

As Spider-man cleared out the hobbe village, Logan and Wyn followed behind. It took a bit longer to do it the quiet way but no hobbe ever seemed to catch on before it was far too late for them.

Eventually a clean path had been cleared all the way to the prisoners. There hadn't been any guards per say, just hobbes standing nearby. Spider-man made quick work of them.

"We're in!" exclaimed Logan.

He and Wyn bolted from their last hiding spot and ran at the crude cage.

Wolverine sliced through its spiked walls in an explosion of splinters.

From inside, they could see the prisoners gasp up at them.

"PROTECT YOUR HEADS!" shouted Wyn.

She turned on a heal and sent her mace careening into the weakened cage. Like the wall before, it collapsed in an explosion of wooden debris.

Wolverine and Wyn stepped victoriously over the remains of the felled pen. Two prisoners, a man and a woman, were huddled in the back corner.

"Come on," declared Wyn. "We're getting you out."

As Spider-man was webbing up the last of the hobbes Wyn and Wolverine ran by carrying the prisoners on their backs.

"Hey! Do you guys need help?" he called after them.

"We got it," called back Wolverine.

He followed them.

They ran back up the boardwalk and up into the antechamber. Far before they reached the felled wall, the man seemed to get some of his wits back about him and started squirming on Logan's back.

"I can walk," he snapped hopping to the ground.

"You're in pretty bad shape," said Wyn with the woman still on hers. "It'll be faster this way."

"Let the man walk. All the hobbes are done for," said Logan with a huff.

"Fine, let's take a minute," said Wyn. She helped the woman down. As soon as her bare feet touched the floor the man was at her side. He wrapped his own trembling arms around her as they both sunk to the floor.

"Are they all dead?" asked the woman shaking.

"No," said Wyn. "But they are all restrained."

Both prisoners were battered and bloody. Their clothing was torn to rags.

"Are you two ok?" asked Wyn.

"N-no," stuttered the woman, her shaking worsening.

She doubled over and started violently retching.

"Netima!" cried the man grabbing her.

She flailed over to her side and started seizing. Foam and vomit frothed from her lips.

"NETIMA!" screamed the man. "HELP!" he begged at the adventurers.

Before the others had a chance to react, Spider-man rushed forward.

"Here, drink this!" he said popping off the cork of his health potion. He forced her seizing body onto its back and grabbed her around the head. With the glowing red fluid sloshing and her jaw clenched, he tipped it into her mouth. It was thick but managed to drain between her teeth.

Its effects were almost instant, but they didn't seem to be pleasant. She snarled as she was able to reach up to steady the vial through her shakes. As the last drop rolled down the glass and down her throat, she relaxed.

"Thank you," she said sitting up to lie against the male prisoner.

"I think I'm better now, Rahnd. It's ok," she said weakly turning to him.

He clutched her for dear life.

"Spider-man," said Wyn quietly.

She walked him over to one side.

She spoke quietly but firmly.

"As an adventurer, you should never give away one of your potions unless it absolutely cannot be helped. You can't help someone else if you're bleeding out on the floor."

Spider-man looked shocked for a moment then he thought. Finally, he nodded.

"Secure my own mask first, got it."

She pat him on the shoulder.

"Here, take mine you idiot," said Logan putting his own health potion in his hand. "You know I don't need it."

The adventurers moved back over to the prisoners.

"Don't worry. We're going to get you both out of here," said Wyn resolutely. "We're sorry we weren't here sooner. We had no idea there were prisoners."

They both looked up at her in shock.

"What‽" gasped Rahnd.

"C-Copo didn't send you to rescue us?" asked Netima, the words barely forcing their way out of her.

"Nope," said Logan.

"We- we're his workers! We run his caravan!" she cried.

"There was absolutely no mention of prisoners on the quest. Only cargo," said Wyn.

"That bastard!" snarled Rahnd.

"I knew it!" exclaimed Logan. "I knew I smelled a fuck'n rat!"

"Why would he do that," asked Spider-man.

"Let me guess. If this had been a prisoner rescue it would've had to have been a higher ranked quest. Right?" said Logan.

Wyn nodded.

"And a higher ranked quest…" he continued.

"Means higher pay," finished Wyn. "He left out the prisoners to save himself some coins. He knew no adventurer worth their tag would leave prisoners to hobbes if they came across them even if they were just sent in for cargo."

"Free labor," said Logan with a sneer. "Or at worst, save some money by not paying for workers already dead."

Netima began sobbing.

Rahnd and Spider-man both went over to comfort her.

"It's alright. We're here now," said Spider-man. "We're going to get you guys out," he said putting a hand to both of them.

"Then we'll make Copo pay for what he's done," Wyn proclaimed sternly.

"I got no idea how the bastard thought he was gett'n away with this," said Logan turning his attention to the felled wall. "Ain't like we weren't gonna come back and tattle."

Unsheathing a set of claws, Logan severed what was left of the ropes that held the draw bridge closed. It fell open with a rattling thud.

"Maybe he was hoping we just wouldn't figure it out," said Rahnd standing. "It's funny. He always thinks everyone around him is stupid when he's the idiot."

"Maybe he was hoping we we're already dead," said Netima.

"They should be safe here," said Wyn as she looked around the caravan wreck.

"Isn't this where they were attacked in the first place?" asked Spider-man as he gently put Netima down on the seat of a wagon. It had no wheels and was collapsed to the ground.

"Well yes, in the middle of the night," said Wyn. "It should be safe during the day."

"They came out of nowhere," said Rahnd hobbling over to Netima. "They came shrieking at us with clubs and fires. We didn't even know what was happening."

"They hurt me," said Netima, tears running down her face. "They hurt us."

Rahnd grabbed her wrist.

"Well," said Logan putting his hands to his hips. "Looks like slick never sent that wagon," he said looking around.

"Did you really expect him to at this point?" asked Spider-man.

Logan shrugged.

"It's his cargo that he cares so much about."

"Speaking of which, we need to go recover it, as well as finish up," said Wyn to the prisoners. "Will you be alright by yourselves while we're gone?"

"Of course," said Rahnd. "I'm never letting anything hurt us like that again. If anything even looks at us, I'll spill them where they stand!" he snarled nearly shaking with rage.

That drew a glint to Wyn's eye.

"Very good," she said patting his shoulder.

"Thank you, adventurers," said Netima.

Rising to her full height, Wyn nodded.

"We'll be back."

The trio headed back into the woods.

"Raw ruby necklace, 14k, yellow gold; matching ear rings; three green silk robes; four wedding amulets…" said Logan reading off the inventory list they had been given. "Bunch of little stuff. Gonna be a pain to find."

"Little stuff means lighter stuff," said Spider-man upbeat.

"And yet, there's still enough to fill a whole wagon."

"Oh,"

Passing through the choke tunnel, they came to the first net of hobbes. They were snarling and crying as they writhed about in the tangled mess of webbing. They were so crushed together that they were stomping and clawing across each other, blubbering and drooling.

"Yeesh," said Spider-man watching them.

Wyn pulled her weapon. Without a word she dropped into a fighting stance and launched it at a hobbe's face.

The hobbes screeched in terror.

Her hit landed but not on her target. Spider-man's red glove was suddenly clenched around the long handle of her mace. He caught her mid attack! His grip was so firm and sudden Wyn lost her footing from the force.

"What are you doing‽" she snapped regaining her balance. "You could've hurt me!"

"What are you doing‽" he demanded.

"Killing the hobbes!" she said surprised. She pulled her mace away from him.

"Why? They aren't a threat to us anymore."

Wolverine stomped forward.

"Would you rather us leave them tied up there 'til they kill each other‽" he barked. "Probably wouldn't take too long."

Spider-man looked to see a few were already biting at each other in the tight confinement. His masked face dropped.

"N-no," he said becoming unsure.

"So, what," asked Wyn annoyed. "You want us to let them go? Then kill them while they try to fight us in the open?"

"I…uh…" Spider-man was stuttering.

"Are you really doing this now?" snapped Wolverine. "Look around. We already killed hundreds!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the mounds of slaughtered hobbes. "What's the difference?"

Spider-man looked around at the carnage. A bead of sweat ran down his temple.

"Because!" he exclaimed. "They're already taken care of! We can't just go around killing defenseless creatures! How would we be any different from them?" he cried motioning to the mass of writhing hobbes.

"They want us dead," snapped Wolverine stabbing a finger into his chest. "They ain't defenseless. We either kill 'em quick or let 'em die slow. Which you think is nicer?"

"T-they might not kill each other," said Spider-man. "The webbing doesn't last forever. With the way their fighting they'll escape."

"Even better!" mocked Wyn exasperated. "Are you telling me, you want to let a ravenous horde of hobbes loose on the public? That way they can kidnap more prisoners? Plunder more cargo? You know what hobbes are best known for? Kidnapping children. And you want to let that loose on the country side‽" she shouted nearly as angry as Wolverine.

Spider-man collapsed under her scorn. He took a step in retreat and even raised his arms slightly as if to defend himself.

Wyn's violently pink eyes stared him over, then she sighed.

"Listen Spider-man," she said regaining some composure. "I see you are a man of strong morals, but so am I. I took a holy vow to purge darkness from this world. If you can look at these creatures and tell me honestly from the depth of your soul that these are not creatures of darkness, I'll let them live."

Spider-man looked at her. Then he really looked at her - regal, proud, beautiful, but her armor absolutely dripping with spilled blood, then he looked past her, his sight refocusing on the mangled ball of hobbes. They squealed and snarled and gnashed their teeth. They're pale flabby faces leaked and drooled. Urine dripped onto the cave floor. He thought about the prisoners…

Despite himself, Spider-man couldn't bring any words out.

"Then that's my answer," replied Wyn turning. "Come on claws."

The two walked past him towards the first net of hobbes.

Spider-man just stood there.

Wyn got back in her fighting stance and aimed her mace at the webbing. The hobbes looked at her and started shrieking.

Wolverine thought for a moment and then turned back to Spider-man.

"You can go get started on the cargo," he said handing him the inventory list.

With his head down, Spider-man nodded and accepted it. He headed down the cave.

It was a few steps later when he heard the first crunch and splatter. The hobbes erupted into squeals of terror.

"No! Mercy! Mercy!" a few of the more intelligent ones cried.

Spider-man flinched but kept walking.

"Nice one Wolverine!" shouted Wyn.

"Like shoot'n fish in a barrel!"

With a hard slash the last of the hobbes was cleaved in two.

Logan grinned satisfied then stood to his full height.

"I think that's all in this chamber," he declared.

Wyn stepped through the standing blood on the cave floor. Her metal boots caused ripples in her fire lit, crimson reflection. She handed him a handkerchief.

"Good work Logan."

"Almost too easy," he said wiping some splatter from his face. "Now at least. These hobbes were a good little workout at first."

"I can't believe a horde this size was this close to the east road," said Wyn. "I wonder how long they've been breeding here. I can only imagine the suffering they've caused. This road is going to be a lot safer thanks to us."

Logan grunted.

She thought for a moment, her attention turning down the cavern.

"So, what is Spider-man's deal?" she asked. "Has he taken an oath of life preservation or something?"

"Nah, he just doesn't want to get his hands dirty," he said wiping his own clean with the handkerchief. "He's all happy to eat a slaughtered hog but heaven forbid he has to be the one to do the kill'n."

They heard some wet footsteps.

Carrying an enormous webbed mass of goods, Spider-man emerged from the darkness.

"By the divine!" exclaimed Wyn. "How strong are you?"

"Pretty strong," he answered low energy.

Logan smirked.

"That's why I sent him to go get the cargo," he said throwing a thumb. "Good pack mule," he teased.

Spider-man didn't take the bait. He walked past him.

"Do you need any help?" asked Wyn.

"No, I've got it," he said stepping through the blood toward the choke tunnel.

"Alright. Go stay with the prisoners. We'll finish up in here and meet you back outside," she called.

Spider-man just kept walking.

Finally free for good from the heat and stench of the hobbe cave, Logan and Wyn re-emerged from the woods.

Rahnd and Netima had waited dutifully at the wreck for them. They turned to greet them as the adventurers stepped onto the east road.

"So, guess the wagon never did show," said Logan looking around. "Big surprise."

"Did you kill them all?" asked Rahnd.

"Every single one of them," Wyn said proudly.

The ex-prisoners both looked relieved.

"Where's Spider-man?" asked Wyn.

"Oh, he's just over there," said Rahnd pointing over a bank. "He went down to the creek. I think he was thirsty."

"We were," said Netima taking a drink from Spider-man's water pouch with a weak smile.

Wyn looked to see the massive pile of cargo.

"I can't believe he moved it all out by himself," she said stunned. "I had no idea. Guess he's not just a support member. Not if he's strong enough to do that."

"You thought he was support?" asked Logan. Then he turned his attention to Netima.

"How ya' feel'n darl'n?" he asked taking a knee beside her.

"I think I'm ok," she said.

"Her leg is pretty swollen," said Rahnd. "I thought the potion should have fixed it."

"Health potions can only restore a certain amount of damage," said Wyn. "And let's face it, Boar Bramble isn't going to have the highest quality ones anyway."

"Let me take a look," said Wolverine.

They pulled up her ragged dress for Logan to start looking over the wounded leg. Just as Rahnd had said it was painfully swollen and colored in shades of purple, red, and green. With his thick hands, Logan gently took ahold of her foot and rotated it.

She cried out in pain at the slight movement.

Rahnd held her concerned.

"That's a sprain I think," said Wolverine. "It don't hurt as bad if it's broken."

He turned to Wyn.

"Will you drag Spider-man back here? This needs to be wrapped. He should'a done it already."

Wyn nodded.

Pushing past a few trees, she headed down over the bank.

Spider-man was sat at the edge of a creek. His socks were sitting beside him wet with water. He had rinsed them out.

"Hey Spider-man, we need you," said Wyn walking up behind him. "The female prisoner needs her leg wrapped."

He didn't move.

"Spider-man?"

He looked away.

"Is…something wrong?" she asked confused and becoming uncomfortable.

"I heard what Logan said," he said bluntly.

"What he said?" asked Wyn. "About what?"

"About me being a hypocrite."

"He said you were a hypocrite?"

"Yes! He did! Back in the cave!" he snapped turning toward her. "There's a difference between killing an animal to eat it and killing just for the sake of it, or even for money! And yah, maybe I don't like to kill things if I don't have to but it doesn't mean I'm a hypocrite!" he nearly shouted.

It was Wyn's turn to baulk. She stared blankly at the sudden anger of her team mate, but then she thought.

"Spider-man," she said calmly. "What did you want us to do with the hobbes?"

He went wide eyed, then slumped over. He shook his head.

"I don't know," he sighed out.

Wyn sat down beside him.

"Look. I can tell you're a good man. You have a kind heart, but kind hearts are so often punished in this world. For evil to succeed, the good only need do nothing. We had to kill them. You understand that right?"

"But how can we call ourselves the good guys when we go around slaughtering the innocent and defenseless?"

"The hobbes were neither of those things."

"Innocent? No. Defenseless. Yah, they were," he said turning back to the creek.

"You subdued them so we could kill them," retorted Wyn. "Evil must be purged if good is to survive."

"But how is it your right to decide what's evil or not?" he asked back. "And, worse, what if you acted on that decision and then you realized you were wrong?"

"I have the right because I'm a paladin," she declared. "I took an oath on the holy powers to purge darkness from this world. I studied the holy scrolls and am granted holy miracles, therefor my decisions are pure."

"So, the divine powers leave no room for mercy?" he asked in good faith.

"The divine powers give mercy to those who deserve it."

Spider-man thought for a moment.

"I don't think that's what mercy is," he said honestly.

"Darkness exists," reiterated Wyn. "It's not just shades of grey. There is real and true light and darkness in this world and darkness does not deserve mercy."

They both just stared at each other.

Wyn sighed.

"You know, I didn't begin as a paladin," she said joining his gaze into the humble copper water. "I was just a normal warrior like the rest of my party. My party was my three brothers. We were really young. One day we were ambushed by highway men in some ruins. We gave them everything we had, even all our clothes but they wanted more. They tried to have their way with me, but my oldest brother tried to stop them. They killed him. They killed my other brothers too. They laughed."

Wyn looked to him, but Spider-man didn't have the reaction she had expected. He didn't have much of any reaction. Simply, he only asked:

"Did they…you know…do it?"

Wyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"No," she said surely. "No. They didn't. I don't know how. Maybe because I was so enraged at the murder of my brothers, but I was able to fend them off. I grabbed a blade from one and I killed them. Buck naked, barely more than a girl, I killed every single one of those bastards."

Spider-man looked back down at the water. She joined him.

"It was then…" she continued, watching a leaf get stuck on a rock. "…as I stared down at the blood-soaked corpses of the ones I had held so dear, I made a vow on the holy powers to cleanse the darkness from this world. I made a vow of vengeance."

She looked to Spider-man, tears running down her face. She gave him a sad smile.

"So, you see?" she said almost laughing. "How could I possibly shed a tear for a hobbe?"

It took him a surprised moment, but he nodded.

"I understand," he said. "I've wanted vengeance on a lot of people."

"But you've never taken it?"

"I've come close, but something's always stopped me and I'm grateful for that," he said turning away. "I don't think hurting others will ever heal yourself."

"I'm not trying to heal myself," said Wyn offended. "I'm trying to heal the world! I'm trying to heal a world that's so polluted with darkness that men like that could even be spawned."

"I know that feeling exactly," said Spider-man unphased. "But you know you never can, right?"

She exhaled and nodded.

"But I have to try."

"I know."

They both sat quietly, watching green leaves and debris float down the water.

"You know what's the worst part?" asked Wyn wrapping her arms around her heavily armored knees. Spider-man looked to her.

"I've relived that day so many times and one thing has always circled around in my head. Did my brothers die and I lived because they died protecting me, or did my brothers die and I live because I was a better fighter? I was always a prodigy, but we never let that get between us. I'm disgusted that I could even have a thought so horrible, that I was simply better and that's why I lived, that my brothers died for nothing. But as hard as I try to force myself to believe they died for me, that it was their sacrifice that gave me the moment to live… I just can't. They didn't sacrifice themselves for my honor. They were just killed…and I wasn't."

Spider-man thought.

"Did you ever think that they were killed but you weren't better?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" asked Wyn turning to him.

"Like you said, maybe you just got so enraged that you were able to take them," he said casually but respectfully. "Maybe they were caught off guard by a girl so strong. Maybe you just got lucky that you were in arm's length of a blade. It doesn't have to be either or. There could be other factors, you know?"

Her eyes went wide.

"It happens to the best of us. You can never be prepared for everything. Somedays you just get lucky," continued Spider-man. "You weren't better. The dice were just in your favor that day," he said shrugging.

Wyn was speechless.

Spider-man baulked.

"Not to say that your brothers being killed was lucky," he stumbled out. "Oh wait. Oh gosh! Uh, I mean. I'm so sorry about your family. I…"

"Stop," she said.

Her face scrunched in pain as she took a deep breath. Then she sighed.

"I understand what you're saying, and it makes sense. Thank you."

"Oh, uh, you're welcome," said Spider-man unsure but relieved.

"You know Spider-man," she said with a smile. "You're wiser than I would have ever had any reason to believe."

"No offense?" asked Spider-man.

"Oh! Of course. No offense," she said stumbling herself. "You're a strong, skilled warrior and a warm spirit. I see you are still trying to figure yourself out but I'll try to give you the room you need," she said standing. "Just know I will continue to uphold my vow."

She held out a hand.

He took it and she pulled him to his feet.

"Come on. We've got a quest to 'finish'."

Wyn got a head start back to the road as Spider-man put his socks back on. They were wet, but after a second of struggle, he managed to get the first one over his foot. After slipping on the second, he started in the right direction.

"She lived, because she was better."

Spider-man stopped in his tracks. His eyes went wide as Logan walked out from behind a tree and headed back toward the road.

Spider-man stood stunned.

Night had fallen over Boar Bramble. The pub was crowded, the streets were dark, and the first fireflies of the year were rehearsing their courtship.

Usually, the adventurer's guild wouldn't have been open this late, but Boksee had been held up by a particularly annoying quest submitter.

A man in velvet robes stood in front of the counter of the empty guild hall.

"Come on. It was your adventurers that took the quest and refused to transport the cargo. Let me use your wagon."

"If you want an adventurer to do something you've got to put it in a quest," barked Boksee at his wit's end. "You didn't say to carry cargo so they're not going to carry cargo. That isn't my problem, and I'm not letting you borrow my wagon! Now would you get out? I was supposed to be home two hours ago and the wife will have my head."

"You would have charged me three times as much!" cried Copo slamming his hands on the counter.

"Yah, enough for the adventurers to rent the wagon for you since you can't be bothered."

"Listen here you boar faced…"

The guild doors slammed open.

Wolverine stood in the entry, his blazing blue eyes practically glowing as everything but his pointed teeth were bathed in shadow.

"Well, this is where you ran off to, eh slick?" he sneered.

"Wolverine! You're a scary fellow when you wanna be!" exclaimed Boksee. "Gave me a right start!"

Wyn and Spider-man entered behind him.

Copo looked absolutely astounded.

"D-," he stuttered. "Did you just LEAVE my cargo‽ Did you even recover it at all‽"

"Oh, we recovered it," said Wolverine.

Spider-man, threw the huge guild doors open wide and webbed them in place. They revealed the entirety of the cargo sitting behind them in the street.

Copo's face lit up.

"And that's not all we recovered," said Wyn coldly.

On cue, Rahnd and Netima hobbled inside.

"Rahnd! Netima!" exclaimed Copo. "I'm so happy to see you are alright."

"Don't you even start! You don't give two shits about us," snapped Rahnd. "You left us there to die and then you didn't even bother to hire adventurers to save us!"

"What‽" asked Boksee.

"I had no idea you had been captured by the hobbes. I assumed you had fled, as I did," said Copo defensively.

"You watched!" shouted Netima. "We screamed and fought and I saw you watching as we were dragged away! Then you ran before they could catch you!"

"Now hold on," demanded Boksee stepping between the parties. "Are you telling me this was a rescue?"

"Exactly," said Wyn. "We believe this man knew there were prisoners involved and omitted that information from the quest he submitted."

"Either he didn't care if his workers were rescued or he was going to get them rescued for cheap," said Logan.

"How could you even accuse me of that?" demanded Copo. "You can't prove that kind of accusation."

Boksee was fuming.

"You!" he boomed shoving the man. "You submitted a quest under false pretenses‽"

"Absolutely not!" shouted Copo stumbling back. "I needed cargo recovered and I submitted that."

"So you did leave us to die!" screamed Netima.

"I didn't know you were captured!"

"You watched!"

"How dare you!" roared Boksee. "I would never have ranked this quest steel if I had known prisoners were involved! If I had sent any real steels down in there they wouldn't have come out! I don't care if you're the blasted king of Ries, you NEVER put my adventurers in danger like that!" he said storming at the caravanner.

"Boksee!" cried Wyn catching him. "Report him. Let the law handle it. Don't do anything rash. No one was hurt."

Boksee huffed but cooled.

"You'll, you'll be hearing from my lawyer!" shouted Copo as he took his chance to flee from the guild.

"And you'll be taken to the gallows by the rings of your ears you sneaksby, poltroon, soft skinned bastard!" cried Boksee chasing after him. He threw himself out the door and shouted down the street.

Everyone else just stood in the hall and stared.

Logan smiled.

"Well, that was fun," he said crossing his arms.

"Are you all alright?" asked Boksee turning to his adventures.

"We're fine," said Wyn. "But I think these two could do with a trip to the healers," she said motioning to Rahnd and Netima.

"Yes," said Rahnd. "Thank you again adventurers, for everything."

Both ex-prisoners gave the adventures a struggling bow.

Wyn bowed back.

As Rahnd helped Netima out the door, Boksee turned to them.

"Well, since you're here, and I'm here. I might as well get you your pay," he grumbled shuffling over behind the counter.

He pulled out a tome, opened the treasure box, and started counting out their payment.

"Want it in thirds?" he asked.

Logan nodded.

"So…Boksee," said Wyn with a gleam in her eyes. She put her arms behind her back and moseyed toward the guild master. "You said if you had sent any 'real' steels they wouldn't have come out. Are you implying my party mates aren't real steels, aka, not steels?"

Spider-man and even Wolverine both snorted trying to hold back their snickering.

Boksee looked up at them, then burst out laughing.

"Ah, Wyn. You are relentless. I like that about you."

He shoved a small coin bag into her hand.

"Unless these men miraculously learned enough to make a passing grade on the knowledge portion in one night, I'm not ranking them up yet."

"That's fair," said Spider-man.

Logan shrugged.

Wyn shot them both a look.

Boksee laughed as he handed Logan and Spider-man their pay.

As the ol' guild master finally got to lock up, he was suddenly faced with scraping Spider-man's webbing off his doors. He pulled at it in confusion. The three adventurers walked past him and stepped around the pile of cargo they had abandoned in the middle of the road.

"You know, there's no guarantee Copo will actually ever be brought to justice," said Wyn as they made their way down the dark main street of Boar Bramble.

"Yah, that seems to be how it usually works" said Spider-man.

"Sure as shit," agreed Logan.

"Regardless, good work though men. I think our first quest went well," said Wyn. "Considering. Do you guys want to grab some dinner before turning in for the night?"

"Yes," said Spider-man excited. "I don't know what it is but I feel like I've been constantly starving ever since I got here."

"Probably 'cause you ain't used to doing actual work," sassed Logan.

"Oh yah, fighting a bunch of monsters is so much different than my normal life," replied Spider-man unimpressed. "I carried all that cargo for hours you jerk! I'm thinking maybe it's all the hiking. I'm used to getting to swing everywhere. The ground sucks."

"It is what you make it," said Logan. "And you…you make it annoying."

"And you make it even more of a drag," replied Spider-man smugly.

Wyn slugged them both in the arms.

"Yow!" "Fuck!" they both exclaimed at once.

She chuckled.

The men joined her.

The End