Chapter 26

"Wendigo?" Satella repeated.

As Mercury scanned the trees, the branches rustled as if something was dashing across them.

"I didn't think this world had creatures like this..." Mercury said softly.

"What's a Wendigo?" Daenerys asked.

"Now isn't the time." Mercury stated. Igniting his blade in a hot fire, he scanned the trees for the creature. "Transform, Daenerys." Mercury told her. "And if you spot the thing, do not hesitate to light its ass on fire."

Doing as told, Daenerys hunched over as she turned into her dragon form, much to Satella's shock.

"She's a dragon?!"

"Shh!" Mercury quickly hushed the girl.

Watching the trees carefully, Mercury kept an eye out for the creature. "C'mon... show yourself."

With another inhuman screech, the bushes around the group began rustling. Suddenly, Makoto was yanked up and into the trees.

"Makoto!!" Mercury immediately began to give chase, with Satella and Daenerys close behind. "Makoto!!"

Pushing through bush after bush, Mercury tripped over the root of a tree. Quickly getting to his feet, Mercury continued to sprint until stopping once the creature fell completely silent, no longer giving them a clue as to where the creature was.

"Wh-where is it?" Satella asked.

Mercury ran his hands through his hair, gritting his teeth.

"Fuck!" He shouted as he turned around.

"We're not leaving her, r-"

"Hell no!" Mercury said quickly. "But if we chase this thing, we'll just be making ourselves easier to pick off."

Satella looked up into the trees.

"Where would it have taken her?"

Mercury took a breath.

"Somewhere dark, and secluded." Mercury replied. "Most likely a cave, or something similar."

Satella glanced at Daenerys, who was staring at Mercury.

"How do you know that?"

"They're part of my world's mythology." Mercury replied. "Seems in this world, they aren't so much a myth." Mercury took a moment to think. "It'll keep Makoto alive, stripping pieces of flesh off when it's hungry." The thought alone filled Mercury with a burning rage. "I hope we can reach her before then."

A few hours later

With the sun having disappeared, and the moon replacing it in the sky, the group continued to search for the cave at the base of the mountain. Leading the way, the group soon approached what looked to be an abandoned mining tunnel.

Glancing around the entrance, Mercury spotted claw marks in the wood as well as on the dirt.

"It's here." Mercury told the others.

Satella took one look at the dark tunnel and immediately shook her head.

"I am not-"

"You two stay out here." Mercury ordered them. "If it's inside, I want you, Daenerys, to light its ass up with fire if it tries to escape."

"And if it's outside?"

"Light it up on sight." Mercury ordered. "I'll be out in a bit."

Entering the mine, Mercury egulfed his dagger in flames for light as he began his search for his missing party member.

It soon dawned on him, however, that this mine was a goddamn maze. But, Mercury knew the exact skill to figure out exactly where Makoto was.

Opening his skill trees, Mercury found the 'Dagger of Time' skilltree and activated 'Recall'. Instantly, a ghostly image of the Wendigo appeared before Mercury's eyes, dragging an unconscious, and bloody, Makoto behind it. Following the vision, Mercury kept his guard up and eyes peeled in case the wendigo decided to make an appearance.

Arriving at the end of the mine, Mercury came to, what appeared to be, its nest. Bodies hung from the ceiling, some old, some not so old, and a few still fresh. Among them was Makoto, her eyes shut. She was covered in blood, but was still alive, thankfully.

Approaching her, Mercury went to cut her down but saw she was cuffed to a chain, not tied to a rope.

"Mm."

Makoto's eyes flickered open, letting out a gentle groan.

"Makoto, it's me." Mercury said in a hushed whisper.

Makoto gave a slight smile.

"I'm glad to see you're okay." Mercury told his party member. "I'll get you outta here, just-"

Makoto's eyes grew wide as she stared at something behind Mercury. Noticing her reaction, Mercury spun around, his flaming dagger held at the ready. But nothing was there.

Letting out a breath, Mercury turned back to Makoto, only to see the wendigo standing behind her.

"Shi-"

The wendigo gave an ear piercing schreech, forcing Mercury to cover his ears. Shaking his head, the wendigo pushed Makoto as it charged at Mercury.

As it pulled its arm back to slash him, Mercury raised his arms in an attempt to shield himself. Knocked onto his back by the force, Mercury's arms were shreded, blood pouring from his freshly opened wounds.

"Ghk! Fuck!" Mercury groaned in pain as his arms began to shake uncontrollably.

The wendigo pounced atop Mercury, slashing at him again and again, knocking his dagger from his grasp. Doing his best to shield himself with his arms, the wendigo kept up its barrage of attacks, stopping only to screech before grabbing Mercury by the leg and tossing him across the room. Hitting the wall of the mine, Mercury coughed up blood upon impact.

As Mercury groaned in pain, the wendigo stalked towards him, its claws ready to finish him off.

Pulling back to impale Mercury, he quickly rolled out of the way. Hearing a metallic scrape by his foot, he glanced down to see his dagger. Picking it up, he quickly ignited the blade just as the wendigo pounced, knocking both of them down.

Makoto watched in horror as the wendigo slowly moved, only to collapse to the side as Mercury pushed it off himself. Grabbing his dagger that was impaled in the wendigo's chest, Mercury sheathed it before approaching Makoto. Holding his arm as it bled, Mercury stumbled over to Makoto, barely able to keep himself upright.

Grabbing his dagger, Mercury used the last of his strength to ignite the blade and slash through Makoto's bindings. Once she was free, Mercury's eyes rolled back into his head and he passed out from exhaustion.

End of chapter 26