Chapter 5- Behind Enemy Lines
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After days alone on the road once more, Geralt had that feeling that he was being watched.
Again.
Or, perhaps this time he was just imagining it.
Perhaps, this time he hoped for it.
Every time there was a breeze through the trees.
Or a bird took flight.
Thinking Sable might be following him.
Wondering if she would appear…
But she didn't.
'Fuck.' Geralt growled under his breath.
Get her out of your head.
Focus on the task at hand.
Geralt urged Roach on to a brisk trot through the barren landscape.
This lifestyle allowed no opportunity for attachments.
That is why Witchers turned to whores from time to time.
Needs were met and coin exchanged.
An uncomplicated arrangement.
It wasn't wise to get close to anyone.
Or to let anyone get close to him.
But then, Sable wasn't just anyone.
She was… different.
And not just because of her physical appearance.
They saw the world in a similar light.
Helping people.
Knowing what it was like to be ridiculed, an outcast…
As much as Geralt tried, she was never far from his mind.
xxxx
As the light began to fade travelling deep into the woods, Geralt found a place to stop for the night.
He removed his armor and set up a place to sleep.
As Roach rested, tethered to a tree, Geralt sat on a fallen log by the riverbank with gently flowing water.
It was deceivingly peaceful here.
The calm before the storm.
Tomorrow he was certain he would locate the monster with three heads.
It could possibly be one of the most dangerous creatures he had encountered in the entirety of his long career of killing monsters.
'Tomorrow, you may be rid of me,' Geralt said to Roach.
The horse turned it's head toward Geralt, whinnying softly.
'If I do not return, go back to the village. You will be well taken care of there.'
Roach snorted in reply.
Suddenly Geralt heard a strange noise, like something cutting through the air behind him.
Up above.
'You... talk to your horse?' A familiar voice stated in jest.
Standing quickly, Geralt turned around.
He couldn't believe she was here, suspended in the air by the movement of her wings.
But Geralt contained his surprize.
'Horses make excellent confidants.' He remarked calmly, continuing.
'With a life of travel, Roach is usually my only company, on the road.' He explained.
'Well, it seems you want it that way...' Sable said sadly, continuing.
'…you never said goodbye.' Sable said as Geralt watched her land gently.
'No, I didn't.' Geralt replied, giving no apology.
'You left... without telling me.' Sable accused him.
'I thought it was… for the best.' Geralt said with honesty, continuing.
'I was glad to see you content, surrounded by villagers who would appreciate your ability and offer you a home… a place for you to belong… live a normal life.' Geralt explained.
Sable raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
That wasn't his call to make.
Her whole life had been determined by the decisions of others.
Her father, her own blood and flesh, had sold her.
Her owner and captor had used her for her valuable blood.
Now Geralt, who had helped her more than anyone had ever done so before… deserted her.
Maybe she didn't want a normal life after all.
'You should not be here. It is not safe.' Geralt warned, interrupting her thoughts.
'That, is exactly why I am here. I wanted to give you something.' Sable explained.
Reaching into the pocket of her tunic, she produced a sealed vile containing red liquid.
'I want you to have this… just in case you get injured.'
Moving closer, Sable held the vile out for Geralt to take.
Their fingers touched momentarily.
Thank you,' Geralt said gratefully, knowing the value of its contents.
'But now you need to leave.' Geralt insisted.
'Why are you so worried, you know I can heal.' Sable started, brushing off his warnings.
'Besides, I can't go yet.' Sable replied resolutely.
'There is… something else I want you to give you.' She said stepping towards him.
Nearer to him.
Being a Witcher, Geralt could hear that her heartbeat was faster than usual.
Slowly raising her hand, Sable ran her fingertips lightly across his prominent, stubble covered jawline.
Although Geralt was much taller, the incline in the bank of the stream allowed her to almost be at eye level with him.
Geralt remained motionless absorbing her touch.
Raising herself to her toes and looking into his yellow eyes, Sable gently planted her soft lips on his.
His scent was earthy, mixed in with sweat.
If only for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Eventually moving back, Sable looked to Geralt, watching, waiting for his reaction.
Holding her gaze, Geralt remained expressionless.
Sable questioned whether she had done the right thing.
She couldn't tell what Geralt was thinking.
If she had to guess, he sure didn't look pleased about it.
It was not the reaction she thought she would get.
After all, it was the first time she had ever kissed anyone.
It was the first time she had ever wanted to kiss a man.
Geralt was… different.
He was strong and fearless, but also, kind.
But perhaps she had been too forward.
Too… assuming…
To her, his silence spoke volumes.
Not a good sign.
Breaking their stare, Sable looked away, feeling uncertain.
A million thoughts were running through her head.
'I… I thought… that you….that we….had...' she stuttered, speaking to the ground.
Geralt paused a moment before speaking.
'Well, you thought wrong.' Geralt said firmly.
'You need to go. Return to the village and don't come back.' Geralt insisted.
Looking up at Geralt with big eyes, Sable remained motionless.
Shocked.
She was so sure that he felt the same way…
'Leeeave…. Now.' Geralt growled at her loudly.
With tears beginning to blur her gaze, Sable gave Geralt one last lingering glance before she turned on her heels.
Hanging her head, Sable let her wings droop, the longest feathers trailing in the earth behind her.
Sable slowly made her way back.
She didn't feel like flying.
She wanted to walk.
She needed time to think.
Geralt watched Sable dawdle away reluctantly until the forest had swallowed her completely into the growing darkness.
Shaking his head, again he sat by the stream, watching the water gently pass by as it was slowly lit by the early moon peaking through the trees.
Roach whinnied, throwing her nose up in the air.
'Don't judge me.' Geralt said in reply.
Roach stomped her hoof.
'Just leave it alone Roach. No good will come of it.' Geralt growled.
xxxx
Lightly dozing on the bank by the river, Geralt woke from his slumber to an almighty roar.
A sound announcing to all that the monster was by far the dominant creature in the area.
The beast was closer than he first thought.
Even from a distance away, he knew that this creature would be formidable.
Standing up quickly, he hastily fastened his armor and grabbed his sword.
Glancing to Roach, who pranced around unsettled, he skulled down a vile of elixir.
'You stay here.' Geralt ordered with blackened eyes before stalking off in the direction of the roar.
xxxx
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Dragging her feet and… her wings, Sable had been walking almost all night.
The walk back to the village was sooo much longer than Sable had expected.
If she kept walking at this rate, it would take her many days.
Much slower than flying.
But, she welcomed it.
She felt foolish, for ever thinking that Geralt, a mighty Witcher who had probably lived for a hundred years, was somehow interested in her.
Wanted her.
Sable shook her head.
He didn't even want to be in her company let alone anything else.
She really had thought that they had some type of… connection.
But what did she know about love?
Absolutely nothing.
Sable's disappointment slowly turned to anger.
Sable clenched her fist tightly.
She was angry at herself for imagining that Geralt felt something for her.
Angry at Geralt for yelling at her to leave.
Frustrated that she found him so intriguing and… alluring.
Yes, she had helped him first, but he had helped her in return more than once.
Was it really just gratitude?
He had stayed with her when she had been injured, killed the monster tracking her and then took her into the village when she had collapsed.
Yet, she may never see him again.
He didn't want her around.
He had made that quite clear.
Sable resolved that she would return to the village and live a good life.
A normal life.
A quiet life.
Enjoy Sedrick and Jayan's company and help on their farm.
Busy herself with work.
And not think of Geralt anymore.
Ever again…
Sable continued walking with her eyes down not really caring to look ahead.
Suddenly, she heard an almighty roar in the distance.
If she had thought the screech from the half wolf half bird beast was terrifying, this was ten times more ominous and powerful.
Spine tingling…
Stopping, she looked behind her, to the trees basking in darkness.
Birds roosting in branches quickly took flight.
Ground animals that had been curled up fast asleep quickly scurried out of their hiding places to put more distance between themselves and the apex predator.
Well, that was what Geralt was here for.
To kill the monster.
For coin.
That was more important.
More important than her.
Good luck… monster hunter.
Sable continued walking in the dark for a while longer.
Hearing another enormous distant roar, Sable had second thoughts.
She grew concerned.
This monster sounded formidable.
And Geralt was likely out there fighting the monster, alone.
As skilled as she knew he was, she couldn't walk away…
It was not in her nature to turn her back on anyone that may need help.
Even if that someone was a dashingly strong and fearless monster hunting mutant Witcher with masterful sword skills.
Even if that someone had scolded her to go away.
Stopping in her tracks, Sable sighed.
She knew Geralt didn't want to see her, but she didn't care.
That wasn't going to stop her from helping him if he needed it.
Sable pivoted on the spot, before flapping her powerful white wings.
Taking to the night sky, she flew towards the direction of the roar.
xxxx
Moonlight lit the clearing in the woods that the monster currently occupied.
Creeping in the shadow of a boulder a distance away, Geralt took in the creature's size for the first time.
The beast was similar to a dragon, but with three heads and a scorpion like tail.
Geralt watched it pulled apart a deer carcass with each of it's three heads.
The middle head was clearly the dominant of the three.
Tearing the deer into three equal parts, the two outer heads ripping off flesh and bone before crunching and swallowing.
Bones and once living creatures human and otherwise were scattered around it's current feasting area, a clearing in the woods.
Geralt wished he had another two brothers with him so they could take on all three of the heads at the same time.
But, it was just him.
Geralt sighed, thinking how few Witchers there were left.
He would need to draw on all his expertise to defeat this one.
If he didn't succeed, he would die.
But that was the life of a Witcher.
Spotting a headless body amongst others lying in the dirt, Geralt spotted the glint of a Witcher medallion.
The wolf.
But monsters couldn't touch Witcher medallions.
Perhaps that was why the headless body remained otherwise intact.
So it seems that this monster had already bested a Witcher.
They were meant to meet here days ago and fight the creature together.
But Geralt had been sidelined by the ghouls.
Why hadn't his brother waited for him?
Geralt knew could be next.
But he would do his very best to keep his head attached to his body.
He needed to kill the monster now, before it hurt anyone else.
Witchers killed to save lives, that was what Vesemir had always said.
It was not just the three heads to be cautious of, but the beast also had a dangerous tail with a sharp curved tip.
Four points of attack.
Four against one…
Coming out from behind the boulder, Geralt approached the monster from behind with sword drawn…
xxxx
Landing softly on all fours in a tree branch high above, Sable looked on as Geralt was already in full swing, fight mode.
Sable watched as Geralt seemingly danced around the monster, drawing blood here and there as he went, using his Witcher magic to his full ability for both attack bursts and defensive shield.
Bursts of fire from the beast's mouth lit up the area momentarily.
He was clearly the most experienced and accomplished fighter Sable had ever seen, in her limited experience of the outside world.
It didn't look like he needed her help after all.
Climbing upon it's scaly back, Geralt leapt into the air and sliced the monster's right head cleanly off it's long neck, jumping off the creature before one of the other heads tried to bite him in half.
Blood flowed from the stub of it's long neck.
Three against one…
The beast let out another almighty roar from it's other two heads, throwing fire in Geralt's direction from it's dominant head.
The tail of the now two headed creature was also formidable as it had a sharp hooked dagger like tip.
It swung around and sliced Geralt in the leg as he was fending off it's now only two heads.
Another burst of fire caused Geralt to use his protective shield once more.
Finding himself backed up against a boulder from the force of the flames, the monster knew it had him cornered.
Knowing it had the upper hand, the two remaining heads of the creature seemed to disagree which would be awarded the final blow of this annoying Witcher.
The dominant middle head seemed to be more convincing.
Seeing Geralt cornered, Sable flew down into action.
Clinging to the beast's scaly tail, she dug her small blade into the less scaly underside of it's tail, dragging her blade down.
Not impressed at being interrupted, the two remaining heads of the beast both drew their attention to Sable as it shook it's tail around wildly.
Sable let go, the force causing her to land heavily in the dirt but she recovered quickly, raising herself to her feet.
With the distraction, Geralt used his sword to slice off another of the beast's heads, leaving only the middle head remaining in between two stubs.
The odds had been levelled.
Two against two…
Retaliating, the monster swung it's sharp hooked tail in Sable's direction, piercing her completely through the middle.
Sable gasped, before looking down to see the sharp sting of the beast's tail embedded fully into her stomach.
Her mind didn't quite register what was happening to her body.
It picked her up and flung her into the air like a rag doll.
Geralt saw her go down out of sight behind a boulder.
Two against one…
Turning his full attention back to the final head remaining, Geralt lept onto a rock cutting at the beast's throat.
His sword glinting, reflecting the moonlight as he followed thorough.
No longer able to produce fire, one more swipe of his sword and the final head parted with it's body.
It's tail thrashed around wildly for a while before the headless body of the beast toppled and fell to the ground.
It was done.
xxxx
After taking a few moments to survey the scene from his position on the rock, Geralt took in the sight of the carnage.
The monster's three bloody heads were scattered around it's body, in addition to everything else it had killed or half eaten.
Geralt realized that Sable was nowhere in sight.
Wondering why she hadn't reappeared to celebrate the victory, Geralt hastily ventured to the other side of the boulder where she had fallen.
'It's a shame you missed it, the final blow….this one will definitely make for an entertaining story.' Geralt exclaimed victoriously.
Thinking he would find Sable a little sore but healed and on her feet, dusting herself off.
But he didn't.
Instead, Geralt found Sable motionless, lying on her side in shadow, facing away from him with what looked like a large wound at her middle.
Geralt made his way over to her.
Kneeling beside her, Geralt turned her onto her back to see the wound was even larger from the front.
Crouching on the earth, Geralt cradled Sable in his arms, rousing her to consciousness.
With blood spattered on her face, Sable opened her eyes enough to look up at him.
'It's done. The beast is dead.' Geralt exclaimed in celebration.
He knew that she would be hurting, but he was unconcerned with her injury.
He had no reason to be, she would heal.
In indescribable pain and coughing up blood, Sable felt it was a small comfort to be near Geralt.
She was no stranger to pain, but this was on a level that she had never experienced before.
Geralt looked down at the severity of her injury.
Her middle was completely torn open.
The gaping wound went all the way through.
Anyone else would already be dead, Sable included if not for her gift.
There was so much blood.
But she would recover very soon.
Geralt waited, glancing from her face to her injury, watching for the wound to begin to close.
It didn't.
Geralt furrowed his brows.
It was taking too long.
Geralt raised her shoulders further off the ground with his arm.
'Heal.' He said firmly.
'Why are you not healing?' He questioned, becoming concerned.
Already sensing that something wasn't right, Sable raised a bloody hand to his cheek, feeling the roughness of his stubble on her fingertips once more.
Leaving blood on his prominent jawline.
'….lost… too much blood…to…heal.' Sable mumbled, feeling sleepy.
Geralt furrowed his brows.
Surely that was not possible...
Or perhaps the beast's tail had contained some sort of venom.
Either way it didn't look good.
It started to sink in that Sable was fading as Geralt watched her eye lids flutter.
'No.… stay awake.' Geralt exclaimed gruffly, shaking her.
'Heal, damn you. You will heal.' He commanded as he held a firm hand to slow the flow from the wound.
Opening her eyes once more, Sable spluttered, coughing up blood.
'It's… alright.' Sable said, trying to stay awake.
She had never seen Geralt this worried before.
'Everyone… safe… monster… is dead. That is… all that… matters.' She mumbled.
'No…' Geralt said becoming distraught.
'You… matter...' He growled, with conviction.
'You matter…to me.'
Geralt could hear that Sable's heartbeat was very faint.
Weak.
'I… I do…?' She questioned.
As Sable looked up at Geralt one last time, a small smile graced her lips.
Her hand dropped away from his face as she closed her eyes…