Den of Thieves

“Carr,” a female voice calls out.

The young rogue looks around seeing no one, “hello?”

The voice calls out again, “you-hoo Carr.”

He focuses on the area the voice is coming from, “who’s out there?”

A young lean female with yellow hair darts from one tree to another giggling.

Standing up Carr yells out, “what are you up to?”

“Nothing,” giggles the young female running to a different tree.

Recognizing the voice Carr asks, “Sonja? Is that you?” Feeling for the sword’s hilt makes sure he’s armed in case it’s a trick. “Have you been following me?”

There’s no reply, Carr carefully moves to the last tree he saw her at. Rounding it gives his head a shake thinking he’s hallucinating.

Standing in place he surveys the woods.

Two hands reach out from behind covering his eyes. She whispers in his ear, “guess who?”

He quickly turns about causing the girl to run off giggling.

“Sonja?” Not fully seeing the face Carr is certain that’s her. “What are you doing here?”

She taunts him, “catch me if you can and I’ll tell you.”

“Oh, yeah?” Carr chases after her, “do your parents know where you are?”

Giggling away, she leads Carr around trees and bushes.

Gaining on her Carr reaches out to grab her shoulder.

She quickly veers left around a big tree. Circling back the opposite way Carr hopes to catch her. She’s not there.

“Sonja!” He calls out panting with a smile, “where did you get to?”

She reveals herself with a laugh, “you hoo Carr.”

Turning to his right sees her standing in front of a small cave opening, “what are you up to?”

Motioning with a finger to follow she enters the opening, “I found treasure.”

“Treasure?” Walking over to the cave Carr peers in.

Her voice echoes from within, “we can live like royalty. Are you coming?”

Seeing a faint glow of light Carr enters the cave feeling his way along. “How did you find this place?’

Snickering she teases, “what’s the matter Carr? Are you scared?”

“No.” Following the turning tunnel Carr sees her standing in a large cavern. The ground is rough and uneven several stalactites are behind her. “Where is this treasure you’re talking about?”

“Treasure? Is that all that interests you?” Grinning she using a mere finger to coax him closer.

An unusually sly look is noticeable on the young girl’s face as Carr nears, “what’s on your mind?”

Sonja speaks in a soothing tone, “I’ve been waiting to get you alone.” Slowly she drops her cloak.

Excited and curious Carr steps closer gazing at her lighter clothing and young developing body, “wow Sonja.” Unsure he studies her face, “I didn’t think you actually felt the same as me.”

“That’s because you talk too much,” with a sparkle in her eye Sonja reaches for Carr’s hand.

Gladly Carr joins hands, she pulls him in close to plant a soft kiss on his lips. So soft he can barely feel it but eagerly returns the kiss.

As his body tingles the kisses become more passionate. Carr lightly tongues her lips, trying to get her going.

She runs her fingers through his long dark hair.

Cupping her butt cheek with one hand Carr lightly runs his free hand along her back.

Firmly she keeps Carr’s face close to hers, sliding her tongue into his mouth. Enjoying it at first but her tongue begins to feel like a small snake in his mouth.

Opening his eyes Carr sees familiar red cat like eyes starring into his soul.

Trying to pull away her limbs lengthen wrapping around him, keeping him in place. Her snake like tongue wriggles its way down his throat. Choking on it Carr attempts to push her away but feels like he has no strength.

Biting down on her tongue she yelps releasing him. Carr steps back wiping off his lips confirming it’s not Sonja. The black straw like hair and red eyes belong to the face of the evil Night-hag, Tetra.

Fumbling to grasp his sword Carr questions, “not you again. Didn’t we kill you?”

Tetra laughs manically. “You can’t kill a memory.” Waving her hands, a dozen large Larvae surround him.

Looking at the dog-sized maggots Carr panics unable get his sword free of its sheath.

Trying to avoid the Larvae as they nip at his legs, Carr has a horrifying realization. The Larvae all have distorted faces of those he knows: Elija, Avilo, Paul, Cornelious, King Halford, Junior, Dell, Hal, Effim.

Carr cries out to his Deity, “Oh, no it can’t be! Great Chislev tell me it isn’t so.” Stunning him recognizes the faces of his parents in the mix.

Overwhelmed the Larvae knock him off his feet and begin peeling away his armor like the skin of an overcooked chicken.

Tetra continues to laugh as he tries to free himself. The Larvae bite onto his flailing limbs pinning Carr to the ground.

Struggling Carr pleads, “don’t turn me into one of these.” He yelps as they continue biting into him.

Laughing Tetra promises, “Oh I won’t.” Her body seems to stretch out bending over to look him in the eyes, “I told you I had plans for you.” Smiling wide showing her fanged teeth, “the Larvae need to eat too.”

“Nooo!” Screaming out Carr uses great strength trying to free himself.

Struggling in vain as several of the dull yellow Larvae are weighing him down. The distorted creatures tear away Carr’s flesh piece by piece.

One Larva slinks across his body towards his face.

Struggling to live Carr yells, “foul hag!”

The Larva on his chest brings its’ face in distracting and horrifying him.

“Not you too,” a tear forms in Carr’s eye seeing Violetta’s distorted face.

Violetta the Larva cruelly replies. “You should have stayed on the farm.”

“Yeah, farm boy,” adds Tetra laughing at him.

Becoming distraught as every second another chunk of flesh is being bitten off, Carr’s adrenaline kicks in. He makes one last attempt to break free while letting out a high pitched, war cry.

On his feet Carr opens his eyes to see it’s early morning and he’s standing where he slept. Ebony is staring at him with a look of concern as all else is quiet.

Dizziness from standing too quickly sets in causing Carr to hit the ground butt first.

“Whew,” Carr gives his head a shake, “Ebony girl, what an awful dream I had. Sorry if I scared you.” Looking at his hand, “Oh crap,” notices a fat dangling land leech.

Grimacing Carr plucks off the rubbery parasite.

Feeling others under the clothing Carr fully disrobes.

“Damn bloodsuckers!” Carr curses the last one tossing it into the woods. “Well better than being eaten, I guess.”

Redressed Carr sets out.

Hacking away he attempts to analyze the dream. Really hoping it was just a combination of the leeches’ sleeping toxins and recent memories.

Ma would say Sonja is what he needs. The urge for adventure is going to get the best of him. The Larvae are people he wants to help but they are wearing him away.

He’s sure Violetta would tell him to give up the adventuring, pursue Sonja and the simple farm life. The Larvae would only be the leeches. However knowing the person she’d say that was actually her in the dream.

He amuses himself with Hal’s possible opinion, it was something eaten. Knowing that he’d also laugh at him for screwing up what could have been a really good dream.

Before the sun sits high in the sky Carr breaks free of the thick brush. The woods are open but not safe enough to ride through. Sheathing the sword observes his calloused palms have no blisters.

Sightings of life’s safer critters help pass the time. Late in the afternoon Carr hears the sound of a swift flowing river.

Glimpsing the Cirran River Carr walks quickly, Ebony also seeing the water moves ahead.

The horse walks the shallow edge of the river for a drink and some splashing.

Watching her trot up and down the river’s edge Carr thinks Ebony’s got the right idea. Dropping his gear to jump into the wide river for a much-needed skinny dip.

Content with the surroundings they camp on the beach for the night. Starting a fire Carr wonders if the stench on the armor can at least be altered.

Finding some long branches, he creates a frame over the fire. After dunking the armor in the river, he carefully hangs the armor to dry.

Finding fresh cedar branches, he throws them on the fire. Making it smoky in an attempt to cover the smell of skunk.

Early the next morning Carr wakes refreshed. Smelling the armor as he puts it back on finds the odor is now a smoky skunk scent.

Emptying the bladder Carr catches sight of something out of the corner of his eye, floating down the river. Turning to for a better look, has to rubs his eyes making sure of what is seen, a body.

Wading in the river Carr grabs an exposed arm of a large heavy body. Studying the body, he can see it’s an Orc with a few arrows embedded into the torso. Wanting to investigate further he drags the body to the bank.

On the sandy bank Carr attempts to remove one of the oddly fashioned arrows. The arrow breaks apart leaving the tip buried deep in the flesh. The shaft is made from a pale-yellow reed the flight is white feathers.

Impressed he tries to remove the other two, only managing to get one out in complete form. The arrow’s tip is very sharp and colorful, crafted from a piece of mother of pearl. The finely fletched arrow is half the weight of any ordinary arrow. Deciding to keep it Carr carefully places it in his quiver.

Rolling the dead Orc over, a deep slash across the male’s throat is easily noticed. It also appears to him the Orc was slain within the last day. A black mark peeks from under its’ leather armor. Pulling back the leather collar he can see the Orc is tattooed.

“Tattoos?” Must be of a high ranking. Wonder why he’s only wearing leather? Searching the body Carr finds little, an empty belted scabbard. A small pouch tied to the belt holds six small gems and a single gold coin. Adding the gems and coin to his own pouch scans the male from foot to face.

Studying the male he contemplates. Older Orc. Warrior, maybe assassin. Whoever he was, must’ve clashed the wrong person. Best be careful today.

Glancing about for such a person Carr decides best to get moving.

Ready to travel, Carr gets into the saddle. With a gentle nudge Ebony walks the bank upriver. Worried some dangerous being is out there he scrutinizes the surroundings. Too much moving brush, from wind, makes him nervous enough to slide the bow with an arrow onto the lap.