"Strange, it looks healthy but appears to be stone dead." Gale muttered, kneeling down beside the boar that happened to be blocking our path.
"The pig is dead my friend, staring at it won't bring it back." Astarion huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. I sighed, shifting side to side as I watched Wyll examine the boar a bit closer. We were on our way to free the druid from those damned goblins and of course, we must stop and look at every oddly shaped rock or dead animal that happens to be in our path. I shut my eyes, feeling weary from my armor and annoyed at the pace our journey had been moving. If we are to take note of every side attraction, we will never free any druid from any prison and I will never meet the end I so desperately desire. I opened my eyes slowly. That dusty skeleton will be receiving yet another earful tomorrow morning.
"These marks..." Wyll whispered, kicking the boar on its side for us to see deep puncture wounds, "Do you recognize them?" My eyes widened slightly, immediately knowing how this boar had met its end and by who. My body tensed, my hand reaching for the hilt of my sword at my hip as I turned around, examining our surroundings. There was plenty of gathered shade, but the trees were a bit too clumped together. If the beast were to be lurking in the shadows at this time of day, they would have nowhere to run. "(Y/n)?" I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder, an uneasy feeling boiling in my stomach.
"Well-, I-." Astarion began, a faint panic in his voice, "I wouldn't want to worry you but it looks like it's been drained of blood...by a vampire."
"Vampire?" Gale repeated, "Well that certainly complicates things a bit."
"We have to be wary of these things in our heads, goblins, and now vampires?" Shadowheart hissed, glancing back, "Has the world completely lost its mind?"
"Let's not worry quite yet, it is daytime and those kinds of beasts can't stand in the sun." Wyll assured everyone, his fingers squeezing my shoulder kindly.
"Look, see, the monster slayer is here to protect us all." Astarion motioned, barely hiding his sarcasm. I looked at the elf, watching as he glared at Wyll, unbeknownst to the warlock. I tilted my head to the side, seeing Astarion's ruby eyes lowering, his brows furrowing together as if he was troubled.
"Just keep your guard up, yeah?" Wyll sighed, patting my back with a clunk from my armor.
Strange.
