The Adventure of Hell's Gate

Chapter 8: Ghost of His Past

"We're moving! Right now!" Cedric shouted, his boots digging into the gravel as he shoved off. Cedric took out his last Alchemist's Fire, his adrenaline surging through him. It took all he had to focus and not crush the glass vial he held in his glove.

Mara, Hamilton, and about six other soldiers followed suit, darting from the entrance to meet their unknown combatants. They stopped about halfway between the entrance gate and the hidden line of oil, preparing a wall of steel and fierce determination.

Cedric kept running, the cold air burning as he gasped for breath. He raised the vial high in the air, a clear signal to the two others that held similar concoctions. Mara and Hamilton focused, their hands resting upon the cool glass vials Cedric had given them. His sprint carried him across Harrison, who looked forward fearfully.

The wolves were the first to cross the nearly invisible boarder of oil, their eyes locked upon the fools before them. Their speed was astonishing, nearly upon Cedric before he realized they were across the border. His fear screamed at him to throw the vial, trap what they already had and kill the monstrous wolves that were inside, but his instincts said otherwise. The three individuals before him were the true prize.

The wolves were closing in, only thirty or so feet from Cedric.

They were going to reach him before the three figures crossed the border. Or would they? Maker, it was going to be close. Should he throw it early? No, just a little longer.

The figures crossed the border.

Cedric threw the vial.

The wolves lunged.

As the vial left his hand, he instantly raised his arm to protect himself from the jaws of a hungry wolf. The sheer force of the jumping wolf was enough to knock Cedric off his feet, where he landed on his back skidding a few feet, the jaws of the terrifying animal before him only held back by the metal armor protecting his forearm.

A single arrow fired from the expert Tiefling archer sunk into the hide of the struggling wolf, which Cedric shoved off of him. He heard the faint shattering of glass, and turned to see a wall of fire erupt as the Alchemist's Fire instantly lit the oil. Within moments, the tall grass was aflame, sealing off their possible rear retreat.

Cedric rolled to his feet. "NOW!"

Mara and Hamilton threw their vials, each hitting their respective mark. Mara threw towards the left, Hamilton the right. The resulting creation was a completed wall of fire, sealing them in with whatever beasts had crawled out from the forest.

As Cedric turned, he quickly uncorked one of his Mutagens and downed the contents. The taste was revolting, but that wasn't what he was after, it was the inhuman strength that came with it. As he faced those who meant harm to Pinesgrove, his adrenaline spiked. His chest expanded and muscles bulged. His arms grew bigger, stronger, denser. His legs grew stronger, his armor no longer as heavy as it once was. His eyes dilated, his nightvision increased as he took shallow breaths.

This was it.

He took a long deep breath as he slowly drew his Greatsword, the metal glinting in the moonlight as he stared up at the humans before him. The moonlight did little to reveal who they were, as they each wore brown hoods to cover their faces.

The wolves began to scatter and yelp at the fire burning around them, but from a piercing whistle from the tall figure they instantly fell silent and re-grouped around the three. Cedric kept his blade steady, but his nerves were through the roof. He counted two Dire wolves, six smaller wolves and the three figures. He needed to get back to the barrier, or they needed to come to him. He'd be ripped apart before Mara and the others got there if they were to attack now.