Chapter 5: The Pack

Kat wasn’t kidding when she said they wanted to make good time. By the time she and Annita had gotten back to the fireplace room, Bren had already gotten most of their things packed up. Kat got to work on finishing up the last parts of it and re-donning her leather armour. Not having much to do, Annita stood to the side and watched.

“So,” Bren spoke without turning from his duties, “did you manage to procure a Path?”

“Yeah, I guess I did. Though I’m not sure if it’s a good one after the reaction Kat gave.” Annita shrugged as she moved and sat down next to her companions.

“Aye, that’s fuckin’ right. It’s a solid combat class. Got some other things fer ‘er, too. ‘S her business tae talk about though.” Kat grunted as she strapped her bedroll to her backpack.

“Yeah, I think I’m gonna keep that under wraps for the most part.” Annita worried if this would offend Bren, since Kat clearly knew what her Path was. To his credit, he just glanced over at her, silver eyes searching her for more, but when he got nothing, he returned to his work.

While they were busy, Annita took some time to figure out her claws. Apparently, they could retract like a cat’s, but it seems like they retained the thickness of a dog’s. The anatomy didn’t really make sense as she watched them replace her fingernails and then go back. Taking an experimental scratch at the floor, they didn’t hurt when she put pressure into the action.

While experimenting, Annita also noticed she’d stopped having issues with loud noises. She closed her eyes and listened. She could hear the clinking and rustling of Bren and Kat packing, but could hear a lot more. Soft creaks in the house, the wind down the hall coming in through the roof, the skitter of some small animal living in the walls. The world came alive in a way she’d never experienced before.

A hand rested on her shoulder, and she looked up to see Kat leaning down. “Ye doin’ all right?”

“Ah, yeah, was just listening,” Annita sighed as she stood.

“I could tell. Yer ears were flickin’ every which way. Interestin’ to watch for sure. Hear anythin’ interestin’?”

“No, not really. Just the sounds of the house. We ready to go?”

“Aye. C’mon, I’ll give ya a hand.” Kat said softly as she reached out.

Annita took her lead. A quiet look between the three of them confirmed everyone was prepared.

They all stepped out into the overcast day and took in their surroundings.

“So, which way are we headed?” Annita asked.

“West, back behind the house. It will be the best path to the nearest outpost.” Bren said in his clean-cut way of speaking. “It would have been about a day’s ride on the sledge; however, since that’s out of the picture, I believe it will be around three days.”

“Aye, providin’ we don’t run into any trouble, which is likely considering how close to the Seed we are. Annita, ye’ve got those ears, yeah? Keep listenin’ for somethin’ movin’ out there. Anythin’ bigger than a squirrel and let us know. Might be an animal, might be a Warped. Can never tell.”

“Sorry, a Warped?” Annita cocked an ear in confusion.

“Aye, nasty beasties. I think I mentioned we lost Arty? Was to one of ‘em. Creatures that’re all sorts of wrong. Whole buncha’ animals an’ men all mashed together. That’s the usual for ‘em. I’ve heard o’ more dangerous versions, smarter, but none of ‘em should be outside the Seeds, so at least we’ve got that goin’ fer us.”

“Until that assumption fails,” Bren muttered.

“Ah, hush. Let’s get back to civilisation before we get to mournin’. C’mon, gloomyguts.” Kat clapped Bren on the shoulder, causing the slighter man to stumble but also bringing a wan grin to his face.

The route Bren and Kat had chosen led into the woods behind the mansion. It was an untamed area full of dead underbrush and trees. Everything, as Annita was becoming used to, was covered in a few inches of snow. This seemed to bother her and Kat less than it did Bren, most likely due to their more physically focused Paths.

They walked for a couple of hours until the sun was high in the sky, or as best they could tell with the cloud cover. Kat called a break and co-opted Annita into helping clear a small area of snow to rest. While they did so, Bren unpacked food and melted some snow for water. It wasn’t good food, mostly hardtack and preserved fruits, but it was filling.

“So, what should I expect out of this outpost you two have mentioned?” Annita asked between bites.

“Oh, that is right, you wouldn’t know,” Bren replied, dusting some crumbs from his cloak. “It will not be a very hospitable place. It is mostly intended to house mercenaries and soldiers. It is surrounded by log walls about twelve feet high with a gate and guards. Inside, you will find an area for members of The Watch and other structures for others to sleep. There is a mess hall and several official buildings. Rough, utilitarian, but it serves its purpose as a forward position well.” With that, Bren went back to eating.

“So, sounds like it’s kinda official. Would I be allowed in?” Annita took another bite.

“Oh, aye. If ye were like ye were when we found ye, then that’d be a problem. All nekkid. But as ye are? No problems at all. What ye are, mind, will draw some attention. There’re some clans that have some level of bestial traits, but ye’re a bit more than the others.”

“That is correct.” Bren picked up, “Most of the people who have taken on animal traits due to the Warping effect around the Seeds are generally minor. Ears, tails, teeth. Usually, only a single trait. To have one such as yourself so extensively changed is a nigh unseen rarity. I am certain that scholars back in Indelholm would love to study your nature.”

“Yeaaah, I’m gonna have to pass on that one,” Annita blushed. “Not really keen on being poked and prodded all over. It’s my body, as strange as it is.”

“Oh, I quite agree with the sentiment. I simply meant to warn that it may come up if you visit. The changes the Warp invoke on the creatures of this world are a constant point of research. Normally, someone with such extensive changes would have long since lost their mind and become a slavering, rage-filled beast. But here you sit, conducting a proper conversation. I will admit my own intellectual curiosity has been piqued. However, I will not press if it causes you discomfort.”

Annita scratched behind one ear, a wonderful feeling she’d been trying to chase whenever she could. “I mean, if you have some questions, I can’t really promise an answer, but I can hear you out? Can’t really say much if it feels normal, though.”

“Oh, I quite understand,” Bren said as he sat forward. “Well, let us start with this, then. Canines, by and large, are known for their fantastic sense of hearing and smell. You seem to have the ears. Do you share these senses?”

“Well, I definitely share the hearing. I’ve been listening since we started walking, but that’s pretty normal for me. Seems to be about a hundred feet or so clearly, and from there, it falls off.” Another half-lie. Again, nothing she felt great about, but still was worried about how others would perceive her situation. “As for the smell, no, thankfully. I don’t think I’d like being able to smell everyone and everything in a large radius around me.”

“Ah, yes, I can imagine that would be off-putting. Then I suppose your eyes do not see the way they do as well? I understand that they have a limited perception of colour based on the few I’ve met that had the trait.”

“Yeah, full colour here. From my experience, it seems the same as a human’s?” It was hard trying to keep up the act that she hadn’t been human before this.

“Well, that is probably a blessing. I could not imagine this life without being able to see the vibrancy of the world. Moving on, if you would permit, you seem to have the lower legs of your bestial kin. Is there anything special regarding them?”

“Uh, not that I can tell? I can run pretty quick, I guess, but otherwise they’re just my feet.”

“Hm, understood. Well, thank you for humouring me for the moment. Kat, do you have any questions for our new travelling partner?” He turned to Kat, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Oh, nae, at least none ye’ve got the right tae be around fer.” At a quizzical glance, she continued, “Girl talk ye twit.”

“Oh!” Bren’s cheeks colored quickly as he caught her implication. “Yes, of course. That would be a more private matter. But, yes, like I was saying, thank you Annita for being so open.”

“You’re welcome?” Annita shook her head. “Gotta say it’s a bit weird being quizzed about my body. It’s just been normal for all my life? Loud noises generally bother me, but I’ve gotten used to filtering it all out. I’m really not sure how much more I could give you for info. At least, not that I’m comfortable with.” Annita hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them.

“Nae, it’s fine, darlin’. Must be terrible not knowin’ much about yerself. At least you seem to know yer body, and how tae talk. That’s a good starter.” As she spoke, Kat shifted so she was leaning up against Annita, wrapping an arm around her shoulders comfortingly.

“Yeah, I guess. Also, thanks for helping me out. Don’t know what I would have done with-“ Annita cut off mid-sentence as her ears twitched. Something bigger was approaching. She could hear the patter of what she thought might be paws, but wasn’t quite sure.

“Ye ok?” Kat looked at her concernedly.

“Yeah, you remember that whole thing about listening for something bigger than squirrels? Yeah. It’s got paws. I think I can hear breath, but I can’t make out details.”

“Ah shite, Bren, at the ready. We’ve got company.” Kat tossed what was left of her rations aside and quickly strapped her shield to her right arm, gripping her sword in her left. Bren similarly stood and pulled out what looked like a wand from what Annita could see, and began scanning the surrounding woods.

“Can ye tell where they’re comin’ from, Ann?” Kat asked, standing at full alert.

“Uh,” Annita paused as she tried to pinpoint it, “that way.” She pointed behind where Kat was currently facing.

“All right, good. Now, ye don’t have armour or much in the way of strength. Stay behind me, try to help as best ye can, and keep whatever gets past me off Bren. Got it?”

“Got it,” Annita confirmed, extending her claws and crouching low as she waited.

“All right, ye bawbags. We know yer there. Come on out, and we can get this o’er with.” Kat yelled into the woods while smacking her shield with her sword.

“A taunt,” Bren explained from behind Annita. “Draws some attention to her. It will keep most of the enemies focused, but several are likely to come around to the sides.”

Sure enough, as he spoke, six wolf-like creatures shuffled from the underbrush into the clearing. Annita recoiled slightly as she took in their forms. All of them had two heads, or, at least, sort of. It was more that they had one head split into two halves that seemed to be working independently. As they twisted and turned, she could see the inside of their mouths, nose, and throat. Slobber dripped out of the space for their mouths as they snarled at the group.

“Aye, that’s right. C’mere ye mangy mutts.” Kat goaded them further, continuing to make noise with her shield.

Several barks rang out, and three rushed her at once, two flanked while the other took the front. As they neared her, Kat lunged and skewered the middle of the group with her sword, the body going limp almost immediately. The wolf on the right met her shield with a crunch of bone and desperately tried to work its way around the barrier.

As it did, the third got past Kat’s sword and bit down hard on her armoured leg. “Feck, gerrof me,” she grunted as she kicked at it. Without full power from both halves of its jaw, it was launched free fairly easily. At least, that’s what Annita assumed. It might just be that Kat was that strong. While she was preoccupied, another twin-headed wolf attempted to take the place of its dead companion.

“Hey, eyes up!” Bren called behind her, his hands moving as he cast some kind of magic.

Looking around, Annita saw that the remaining wolves had circled past Kat and were angling toward the rear of their group, meaning Bren. She turned and moved so she was in the path to intercept them and growled low in her throat. Surprised at such a familiar sound, the wolves hesitated for a moment, but that’s what she needed.

Sprinting as quickly as she could, she sank her claws into the chest of the leftmost wolf. Black ooze seeped over her hand as the beast writhed in pain. Pulling back, she barely caught the second wolf coming in for her legs. Instead, it got a good bite of her arm. Annita cried out in pain as she began to pummel the writhing heads of the creature, trying to take chunks out of her to little effect. She changed angles and stabbed her claws deep into one of its eyes. This got the reaction she was looking for as she tore her arm free from its loosening jaws. Seizing the advantage, she bowled the animal over and used her claws to dig at its chest, tearing flesh and sending black blood flying.

Before she could finish the severely wounded creature, she felt another bite close around her left calf. Without protection, like Kat, she let out another yelp as blood began to run down her leg. “Oh, fuck this. Fuck you!” She screamed. “I just got here, I’m. Not. Fucking. Dying. To. DOGS!” as she yelled, she clawed frantically at the slavering hound. Ripping its jaws from her leg, and a bit of that with it, she snarled, pulled its half heads together and sank her teeth deep into its necks. An awful taste filled her mouth. Something like mouldy soup, but she didn’t stop. She dug her teeth in until she felt them meet and pulled as hard as she could. The wolf fell dead at her feet as blood poured from its throat.

Annita spit out the black ooze and turned back to the other creature. Limping, she approached its ragged side and kneeled. Without a word, she drove her clawed fist into its chest and felt something give way. The body twitched once, twice, and was still.

Panting, she stood over the dead wolves, adrenaline coursing through her as her hands began to shake. Her blood roared in her ears as she reared her head back. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH”, Annita screamed to the slate grey sky. She wasn’t quite sure why she did it, but it felt good and right.

“Fuck, how hurt am I?” she panted, looking at her bleeding arm and leg. Pulling her stat screen up, she saw her Health was showing a 76/150. “Ow, not good. Just over half from that? Two bites is all it took?”

“Yes,” Bren said close by, causing her to jump out of her skin. “And that is why a healer is crucial for these excursions. Allow me to attend to your wounds.”

“I’ll be fine. Go help Kat.” Annita brushed off his hands.

“Oh, I have. She is already back to top shape and finished with her combat.”

Looking around, Annita saw Kat leaning against a nearby tree.

“Aye, get yerself healed. Not bad for a first fight. Gotta ask, what’s that black shite taste like?” She was clearly not concerned, so Annita let herself relax as well.

“Awful. Like old spoiled food, and maybe shit. I, ugh.” Annita shivered and grabbed some untainted snow, stuffing it in her mouth and spitting out more of the foul liquid. “If my teeth weren’t just about the best weapon I’ve got, I’d never bite those things again. The hell were they, anyway?”

“Those,” Bren said as his healing magic got to work, “are what we call Twinwolves. They are a fairly common type of Warped around this area. Wolves that either spent too much time near the Seed or were unlucky enough to stumble into it. It twists them into those things. Thankfully, they’re weak, relatively speaking, since they are numerous. Each head’s bite counts as individual attacks, though, so they can overwhelm ya quickly.”

“Weak, yeah. I guess they would be to you guys,” Annita grumbled as the pain began to fade in her arm and leg. She watched the wounds begin to stop bleeding, and the flesh knit itself back together. “Me, though? I thought I was gonna die.”

“Well, knowin’ what I know, ye’re gonna be in a lot more o’ these situations. So ye best start gettin’ used to ‘em,” Kat sighed, standing and walking over to Annita. “No promises it’ll all stay so easy, but at least ye’ve got us ta help in yer early stages.”

“Yeah, guess I am lucky. Totally lucky,” Annita mumbled, silently thanking Orenous for the help. Taking a deep breath, she noticed something in the corner of her vision. A small silver notification. Pulling it up, she was greeted with a new Screen that simply stated:

Level Up!

Please review your Stat Screen for further information!