Avilien: Tutorial islands

Hunted

One hour before Nebs burst into the blacksmith with tears flowing from panicked eyes and begging for Luke to help Nagori and Split a wooden sailboat with a single mast docked on a pier south of Mixten. Two petrified Grenchitties were on board the vessel, both quivering. One being Dave who blew a sigh of relief as he dropped anchor. He remained silent for the entire journey. The other was a skinny Smoot with fur dropping off of him and ribs on show. Jet black matted fur from mistreatment and being underfed he struggled to breathe as Moto grasped his fat hands around a chain that wrapped around Smoot's neck.

Damocles, Moto, and Salamay had come from Coco island on the hunt for the rare royal Grenchitty. Damocles could have taken care of business on his own, but he was always cautious and liked to be prepared. Anything could happen in Avilien. For all his duels and fights across the Tutorial Islands, he had lost four times and all four could have resulted in his demise if not for his enforcers.

Dave hurried to lower the boarding plank and then bowed his head as the three red players strolled by him. Smoot gasping for air as Moto dragged him along with the chain. He gasped and whimpered like a sack of helpless spuds.

"Think he can sniff out the Grenchitty from here?" asked Moto as he yanked the chain hard and made Smoot fly to his side.

"I... cannot smell... any guides yet," croaked Smoot as he nursed his sore throat. Moto finally releasing the tight grip.

"Wouldn't be lying to us now? Would you?" Damocles didn't even turn to look down at Smoot.

Smoot looked up at the towering Damocles dressed in his suit. His size cast a radiating fear making Smoot shiver and shake in its eclipsing shadow.

"No sir. I mean no, Master Damocles. I'm a good tracker I swear. But not from this distance. I'm only a peasant Grenchitty. If I'm near the city I should be able to sniff out any guides within." Smoot recoiled and slunk back as Damocles now turned and looked down at him.

"You better. Otherwise, you become exp." Red hair blew in the wind and cold eyes rested on a fear riddled Smoot.

Smoot wasn't any random game guide. Once filled with joy and a bit of a clown he enjoyed his days in Aloy. The first time he was summoned to his master's side was when he realised there were to be no more good days. Damocles stole or took game guides with brute force, but not Smoot. Smoot was Damocles's game guide and he wished every day he wasn't or that they would delete him. It had been endless torment for years, but with Damocles so strong and the guild even stronger there was no hope of rescue. No hope of salvation. No one dared go against the Devils or CC.

From the pier to the main gates of Mixten armed guards looked at Damocles and the others. Their red names on display even made the Avilien guards clench their weapons tight. They awaited an attack, but none came as Damocles, Salamay, and Moto strolled through and onto the busy streets. Smells, sights, and sounds of a busy city made Damocles grind his teeth. He already missed his quiet town of Ice. If he had the manpower he would hold Mixten under siege and auto-deletion. Coco island was far more strategic as it was the only island in the Tutorial Islands that offered cooking as a profession, and all players needed to eat.

"Smell anything yet?" Moto asked as he yanked Smoot through crowds of people, he yanked him so far the Grenchitty landed on his face. His paws too weak to pull him back up.

Moto ready to kick Smoot watched as he sniffed the air and caught a familiar scent. A scent he knew well, a scent that he hadn't smelled in years. Smoots tail rose in delight then turned to jelly as he realised he had to give away the location

"Yes, I believe I have a scent," said a meek Smoot.

The target Damocles wanted was in a cluster of three. No matter what Smoot did, if he wanted to continue to exist then he had to lead his master to the other Grenchity. Smoot would ignore the other guides and players, they needn't get involved and Smoot wanted casualties at a minimum from his twisted master.