The Snake Warriors

Chapter Two

Finally, I made it to the Southern Road. Looks like I won't be making past Rächer after all. I'll have to make camp soon, but where? I'll go off the path, less chance of encountering anyone, but can I find a clearing? Well, my tent is small enough that I don't really need a clearing, and that would leave me out in the open. I need cover. If I really do encounter a band of thieves, I can't do squat to stop them if they spot my tent before I spot them. I sigh and turn off the path. If I'm lucky, I'll find some trees or rather tall shrubs growing closely together. I freeze. Did I just hear a branch crack behind me? I turn my head. I see a flash of orangey-red disappear behind a small bush. That was way too small to be a person, so either some fairies moved into these woods or it was an animal. I'm guessing an animal, a fox maybe. I hear some leaves rustle in front of me. I whip my head back around that way. There's nothing. I scan the ground. Take that back, there's a fox sitting in front of me. It's gazing at me intently. Hey, it noticed me staring. And now it's going to run awa- no, it's looking me in the eye. Those eyes are way too intelligent for this to be a normal fox. So a shapeshifter or a cursed. Probably a cursed, since a shapeshifter would have avoided me or started talking to me by now. I sigh with relief. I look around the area. Well, no one else is here... Maybe I should offer some condolences to the unfortunate soul. I crouch down so our heads are about level, my bags banging against me. The fox cocks its head at me, puzzled.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but the witch that cursed you was most likely unjust and cruel in doing so. I wish I could help, but my knowledge of shapeshifting magic is rather. For what it's worth, I wish you the best in your new life," I offer. The fox perks its ears, considers me for a moment, and then begins gekkering at me. The fox gets up and runs off behind me. Well, at least being a fox was a good fit for whoever this person was. I roll my eyes and stand back up. I hear some more rustling. That fox is not the stealthiest. Wait, those were way too loud to be an animal as small as a fox. I curse under my breath as I open the bag of herbs on my belt. I turn around and begin walking back to the road. If they realize I know they're here, I'm done for. I reach my hand for where the dried Aspen, Lady's Slipper, and Blueberry Leaf should be if Mother organized this right. Found them. The rustling I heard comes back, louder and more than just one sound. Crap, thieves. Lyndis was right. I take the herbs and hold them up to my mouth. I mutter the protection spell and the herbs gain a slightly different energy. I slow down a little bit, crush them in my hand and sprinkle them over my head. The energy strengthens and flows into me. The crushed herbs fall out of my hair as I break into a run. If I get a decent amount of speed, I'll outrun them enough to get some combat spells ready. Suddenly a man wearing a lot of daggers, some ridiculously oversized and pointless belts, and a black mask jumps in front me, holding a single-edged sword. Unless they already outran me.

"Hey little lady, how 'bout you stop running and give me all your money?" He says, his grin revealing yellowish brown and broken teeth. Lucky for me he's wearing a mask that only hides the top half of his face, leaving his nose unprotected. I fake a sigh of defeat. and sneak a hand into my bag of herbs. He must think it's a coin purse since his grin somehow got even wider. I feel around for where the powered chamomile should be. It's a good thing Mother made sure I knew this spell well. I say it in my head and quickly blow the powered chamomile at his face. He breathes it in. Mistake! Well, it was probably an involuntary reflex, and his mouth was still open, so it will still take effect. The bandit's eyes begin to flutter and he falls to the ground. He's still in the air when I take off. Come on, come on! Where's the road!? I must've gotten turned around somehow. The bandits are still around me, but they're probably waiting until they can encircle me in a clearing. So avoid clearings. Guess I won't be going back on the road. Wonder how I got turned arou- the protection spell! It must have been guiding me away somehow. But it won't last forever. I'll need to get to safety. There's another cave system by Rächer, and if I'm lucky they aren't the people who live there and I'll lose them in the caves. I'll get lost too, but they're probably not gonna follow me into the caves. I pick up my pace. I have about three miles to make before the caves, so I best hurry. I focus my attention on dodging roots and branches. Wait, I think one of the bandits shriek. Must've tripped on something. Wait, I heard something else immediately after. Almost sounded like a pair of feet hitting the ground, but muffled. Weird. Aw crap, I hit a clearing. I should have paid less attention to the sounds and more to where I'm going. I'm surrounded by the bandits. Damn it, I thought I was ahead of them. Wait, they haven't flanked me. I turn around. Too late, some more bandits come up out of the woods, completely encircling me. Goddamn, there isn't enough powdered chamomile for all of them. Maybe if I use the minimum amount of the spell and had some of them share it... no, that still wouldn't be enough for them all. Even if it was, some of them would get to me before I finished the spells. Suddenly, a cry echoes from outside the clearing. Some of the bandits look... nervous. Why? An arrow comes right about where the cry originated. It hits a bandit directly in front of me in his ugly face. The guy gets knocked out. Suddenly, a blaze of orange and black explodes out of the woods, powerful canine legs kicking away more of the bandits. I hear the bandits cry out, and one of them shouting something about a fox tail. Now's my chance! I turn around and grab a handful of chamomile. I've never used this much before. This'll be interesting. I cast the spell and blow it out of my hand at the bandits. The powdered chamomile glows bright yellow. When it hits them, they drop like flies. Weird, the sounds of fighting that were coming from behind me have stopped. I turn to look back at the man... fox... thing... who sort of rescued me. I think they're male, but I'm not sure. From the looks of it, he's... he's taken out all the bandits that were behind me! That was at least twelve rather strong people. How did he... wait, where is he? I scan the clearing. No one else here but unconscious bandits.

"Who are you and what is your business in this forest?" a harsh male voice seems to echo from around me. So he's hiding in the forest around this clearing. But how is his voice so... loud? What kind of magic does he have? Well, since he's asking me questions about my business he probably doesn't trust me. I might as well answer the question and make him trust me.

"My name is Sorcha Vedaldi of Hazelhill. I'm searching for a friend of mine who left home about four years ago and hasn't returned since," I say, making sure to sound confident in my answer. Now maybe he'll reveal himself. Doubtful, but... was he the fox I encountered earlier? He's might not be a cursed, but not your average shapeshifter either. Why has he been silent enough for me to think about all of this?

"Are you coming?" I jump when his voice comes from right behind me at a normal volume. I turn around. I seem to be doing a lot of that lately. He's covered with fur, bright orange fur. I can see his white tail tip from behind him. That has to be at least four feet long. He was the head of a fox, but it's proportionate to the rest of his body. Interesting. How is this possible? And why is he wearing all black? It's normal adventuring gear, but it's all black with his bow being a mahogany color. Even the quiver is black!

"I said, are you coming?" his tail tip just twitched a little! With annoyance? Judging by the tone of his voice, yes.

'Where?" I ask.

"Rächer of course. My friends up there have been hiding out in that cave for a long time. I think if anyone passed through here, they would know." Rächer!?

"You mean those ruffians! No, no way!"

"Those 'ruffians,' are my friends and have been responsible for keeping this forest and the towns in it safe from bandits and the like for the past 100 years. You probably wouldn't have been born if they hadn't been there," he narrows his eyes at me. Even fox-people do the same things as non-cursed. Interesting. But I should probably apologize.

"I apologize, but I was told that they... weren't exactly the nicest people," I look down at the ground. He rolls his eyes in disgust at whoever told me that. At least, that's probably what he's doing. I'm going to try not to take offense to that.

"Well, whoever said that was wrong. In fact, I'm living proof of that. This area of the forest; today it's my turn to protect it from people like these bandits," he gestures around the clearing.  "We take shifts,"

"Okay... Oh spirits, where are my manners!? Thank you for helping me out. And pardon me, but I don't believe I caught your name?" Now I'll learn some more about him.

"Most people call me Foxtail. Pleasure to meet you m'lady," Foxtail does a mock bow. So he's an honorable goofball. Almost reminds me of Cac- a wave of emotions washes over me. I'm not entirely sure what I'm feeling, but I know it's not good. I make my face smile and my voice chuckle. That will help me feel better. Foxtail stops bowing and looks me in the eye.

"So, you coming?"

"Sure. I need all the help I can get," I smile.

"Follow me then," and with that, Foxtail turns around and walks away. He steps over a bandit or two. I follow him, stepping over some snoring bandits as well.