Fishwhacked: Reign of the Walrus Witch

Chapter 18

Ebb found herself standing in the dismantled remains of a stone altar. A crystal ball was propped up on something that was once a table, but not glowing nearly as much. She was surrounded by dark forest, and the ocean could be seen in the distance, as well as the lights of Port Starboard. Night had fallen, but Omno's glow was like a campfire.

"You're really bright. Can you, uh, turn it down?" Ebb asked.

"I'll try," Omno replied. He slowly grew dimmer. "How is that?"

"Too late," came a smug, sharp voice. "We already saw you. Guys, we've got another one!"

Ebb held Omno up and scanned the trees. Shadows amassed around her. She glanced back at the warp platform, which was dim and inactive.

"Looks like it's just us," Omno declared.

"Holy hell, did that fish just talk?" The man emerged from the darkness. He was in rough furs and carried a sword that was less of a sword and more of a blade-shaped rock tied to a branch. The other men and women were similarly dressed. "It's got to be worth a fortune."

They formed a circle around Ebb. One of the bandits pulled a crumpled paper from underneath his loincloth, and then showed the boss.

"She's the one what killed the king."

The leader's face lit up. "Our days of beating up the robed dorks that come out of this thing are over. We can retire after this."

Ebb stepped forward and swung Omno. The three bandits caught off guard each received a hefty blow to the face. Ebb spun around and smacked away the rocks that had been flung from a couple of slings, and then swung at the bandit leader. He managed to contain his surprise enough to jump back and parry with his sword.

More bandits moved in. Several of their weapons cracked upon hitting Omno's hide, and Ebb growled as she fishslapped whichever bodies were near her. Omno's glow left a trail of light as he was swung around, creating loops and knots in the air. Ebb focused on the boss, who feigned a swing and then backpedaled. When Ebb rushed towards him, another assailant landed a hit into Ebb's ribs. Ebb was knocked to her knees as the wind left her lungs. She noticed the her attacker's legs, and another swing of Omno toppled the bandit over.

The bandit leader watched Ebb struggle to breath. He pulled a throwing knife off his belt and grinned. Ebb waited for the glint of Omno's glow to reflect off the knife as it left the man's hand, before she swung Omno blindly and knocked the knife aside. With the same momentum, she strode forward and brought Omno down onto the bandit's head. The unk of the slap echoed through the woods as the man collapsed.

Ebb struggled to her feet. She began to say something, but a rustling in the bushes got her attention. A final bandit, wielding an axe in each hand, ran at her, screaming. Ebb fumbled Omno into position and shot high-pressure water into the man's face. It knocked him off his feet and his impact with the ground left him winded.

There was a flash as Yawp appeared on the altar. He cracked his neck, and stepped down. "Hello, Ebb." He looked around at the groaning, writhing bandits. "Whoa. What happened to them?"

"I did," Ebb replied. She leaned back against a tree trunk.

"Oh. Well, good work!" Yawp patted her on the head. She twitched in pain. "Oh. Sorry. They got you? That's just part of the job." He pointed to a twisted scar on his chest. "I got this one from the Peacock Men up in the Oint Mountains, horrible flying beasts with the upper bodies of men, who shrieked and-"

Ebb listened to Yawp explain several scars before Paistra appeared on the altar. She noticed Ebb and rushed over.

"Are you alright?"