The Gate Saga: The Landing

Part Five

Colton started from the balcony of the newly constructed tower on the Eastern side of the camp. From his vantage he could see the people of The Expedition milling about completing their daily jobs. The gates now opened periodically to allow the groups of brave adventurers in and out as they sought out fortune in the forest beyond. By now many had found new and interesting creatures worth hunting and destroying for the good of the camp. Though today Colton felt an energy flowing through him. A feeling he hadn't felt in months... the call to adventure. Today, Colton would trek out into the forest with his friends and defeat one of these fabled monsters harrassing the camp. Colton smiled and turned away from the railing and strode to the door leading outside.

Colton quickly b-lined to Imbrose's lean-to where he ran the scouting guild from. With a sweep of his hand he threw the curtains aside to see Imbrose pulling away from an embrace with Ember.

"Uh... sorry" Colton said lamely as he watched their skin tones darken in embarrassment.

Imbrose looked at Colton then at Ember, finally he relaxed and shrugged, "it's exactly what it looks like".

Ember slapped his arm with lightning fast speed with a coy smile on her face.

"Well... I was going to say about damn time." Colton smiled and approached his friends and brought them into a hug "I am happy for you both, and I'm sorry I have been so distant these last months. Turns out running a whole shindig is more work than I thought."

Imbrose shrugged out of the hug and Ember quickly spoke "It's nothing Colton, you just need to remember your friends too"

Colton looked at Imbrose with a curious glance but then turned back to Ember, "Of course, I will be better I promise." An awkward moment of silence passed "I was hoping to start that whole getting better thing today, if yall are up for it?"

"What do you have in mind?" Ember asked.

Colton paced the room looking at them both in turn, "Well there is this crazy insect-like creature that burrows into trees and snatching people as they walk by. Unfortunately, many of our younger recruits have had a pretty nasty run in with this guy. I'm thinking a group like us could find and squish it in... say two maybe three hours tops?"

"I don't know Colton, I'm pretty busy myself. You know with running the scouts and such. Quite the little 'shindig' going on here too" Imbrose said with all humor gone from his voice.

"Ah, well how about I treat you to a drink for just the two of us after? Come on, it'll be like old times, and there is no one I trust more to watch my back." Colton said while placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

After a long moment and a quiet glare from Ember, Imbrose smiled "well if you are going to be needing me to baby you through this, it's going to cost you two drinks."

Colton laughed, "You're on! Meet me by the south gate in 30." He said as he left the room with a hop in his step.

"Sulking really brings out your eyes." Ember said quietly before swatting Imbrose's butt on her way out the door.

------------

The shadows grew long as the trio made their way through the forest. The sounds of wildlife all around them as they prepared themselves to be attacked at any given moment.

"I think it's in that oak tree there." Imbrose said as he pointed into the carved out trunk of a nearby tree "What did you say this thing was called again?"

"We've taken to calling it The Tree Snatcher, since it grabs it's victims then pulls them into the tree." Colton whispered.

"Charming." Ember said mildly. "What is the play?"

"Well I say we spook it into the open with some fire, and try to finish it off before it escapes" Colton said while shifting his weight to his other foot.

"Sounds good to me, flush it out and let's bring this thing down." Imbrose nodded and summoned a dagger in both hands as he crept forward.

"I suppose the fire is up to me then? Ember questioned amusedly.

"If you would be so kind" Colton said with a smirk.

"Ah, very well take a flanking position you two." Ember moved forward into the clearing as Colton and Imbrose flanked her to either side.

The tree was large and a jagged hole had been torn into the trunk where black ichor dripped off its serrated edges. With a fluid motion Ember sent a torrent of fire into the opening, engulfing the interior with white hot flames. A screech pierced the air and a long legged spider like creature with massive crushing mandibles scurried out of the hole headed directly for Ember. The party broke into action as Ember brought her naginata to bear on the creature, dealing two slashes across the creature's face before it even reached her. However, the creature was too fast and it quickly worked it's way into Ember's guard throwing her off balance. Colton lashed out with his whip entangling two of its hind legs and causing it to topple to the ground in a heap. Imbrose seeing the opportunity quickly jumped onto the creatures back and drove both daggers down in a fatal strike to the back of the head causing the creature to go limp.

"Well that thing was faster than I thought," Colton said as he walked to the opening in the trunk, "I am glad it's dead, most would be overwhelmed by the sp-"

As soon as Colton got within 5 feet of the still burning trunk a massive leg reached out and pierced him through the shoulder, then yanked him into the tree in a blink of an eye.

"Colton!" Imbrose exclaimed as he ran toward the opening of the tree.

Without a moments hesitation he looked into the tree seeing Coltons form being drug up higher into the hollowed out tree.

"Ember, it's going up. Climb the tree on the outside and wait for my signal, I'm going in." and without another word he started climbing inside and up the tree.

The inside of the tree was coated in a thick black sludge that made it hard to climb quickly, but Imbrose could see the creature was having a hard time managing Colton as he sliced with his knife he kept on his hip. With a flick of his wrist he sent his blink dagger into the darkness above aiming just above the creature and Colton. In the same moment he linked minds with Ember.

"Aim just below my mark." Imbrose instructed.

"Got it" came the reply.

Suddenly, the world slowed to a crawl as Imbrose teleported above the creature dangling from his embedded dagger. With a thought he sent a burst of energy into his dagger illuminating it a bright purple. The creature continued its climb only mildly annoyed at Colton's incessant stabbing. The creature reached for Imbrose with a pointy limb just as the massive blade of Ember's naginata pierced one of its bulbous eyes pinning it to the inside of the tree. With a shriek the creature expired with Colton still dangling from one of its sharp appendages.

"This is going to cost you three drinks friend." Imbrose said with a laugh.

Colton grunted in pain as he flashed a smile "Fair enough, guess I'm getting old."

"No, just lazy", came the smooth voice of Ember through newly made hole in the tree.

They all laughed as Colton said, "mind getting this leg out of me?"

"Sure thing boss", said Imbrose as he crawled around the outside of the creature and swiftly severing the leg embedded in Colton's shoulder.

"Thanks for saving my ass, told you I knew I could count on you" Colton said.

Imbrose paused, "you can always count on me, but don't go living in your new tower and forget about us lower lifeforms you hear?"

"Never, my friend" Colton said as he clasped Imbrose's hand to make their way back down.

As they made their way back to the camp Colton looked over to see Ember and Imbrose holding hands, and a moment of longing struck him as he wished for the same before a smile brushed his lips. Now was not the time for such thoughts, and besides his friends deserved this.

The three of them continued on in companionable silence until they reached the outpost, then quickly made their way to the inn to delve into an evening of drunken storytelling.