A tense reunion...

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 7022

Frederigo awoke with a start, and realized, even without looking, that Lady Andrea Croix was gone.

The little noble's daughter was proving troublesome. Her behaviour had gotten more erratic ever since they had left Cicatrice, and now the fool wench had gone to seek out Astra. What troubled him more was the apparent latent magical ability Andrea had. Twice now, he'd seen her reflexively use simple, yet somehow familiar spells. He couldn't quite place what magical style they were, or where he had seen them before...

He shook his head, focusing on the task at hand. He had to act now. If Andrea reached Astra, it would be extremely problematic. Ordinarily, he would simply slay her, or let the Aquilarian Princess' wolfish savagery take care of her, as he knew Andrea would reach the valley before sunrise. The whelp's arcane talent changed things, though, and he knew he could use her before he had to dispose of her...


Lady Andrea Croix choked back her tears and pressed on, making her way through the Fens of Canmoor. She had been at it several hours now, and she guessed it was nearly midnight. Slowly, the swamp gave way to jagged rocks that the trees twined their roots about, and before long she found herself climbing a ridge, illumined by the full moon. Though little was known of the Fens themselves, she knew this was Dagger Ridge, the entrance to the wild lands. Due to the revelation when touching the medallion, she also knew she was leaving Sicarii territory, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking out over the valley, she heard another mournful howl, and worry crossed her brow as she brushed her long brown hair out of her face. She had made it to the edge faster than she had anticipated. It would be hours until sunrise, and somehow she knew that Astra stalked this valley, unrestrained.

She shuddered thinking of the tales of those afflicted with the disease after eating the ergot mushrooms. She realized that if Astra found her, she was at serious risk. Though she stood a significant chance of managing to keep herself alive until the sun rose, she would likely not escape unscathed. If Astra managed to bite her, if the tales were true, then the disease would claim Andrea as well...


Lord Frederigo D'Honaire traveled the fens with the supernatural speed only the Thoabath, the infernal oathbreakers, could summon. If Andrea was killed by Astra, he lost a valuable tool, one he could turn to the ends of the mandate of Hell.

That wasn't a loss he was about to let transpire...


Andrea made her way down into the valley with caution, reaching a grassy clearing where the moon shone full and bright, unimpeded by the branches of trees. It was a beautiful night, crisp and clear, yet Andrea's fear ruined any enjoyment she might of gotten out of it. Suddenly, from the opposite end of the clearing, she heard a low growl.

A beast crept out of the woods towards Andrea, and when it rose to stand on two legs, she knew it was Astra.

Some of Astra's features were still discernable in the she-wolf that approached Andrea. It was still noticeably womanlike, with feminine curves and an obvious pair of breasts. Andrea noted it still had Astra's long auburn tresses, though these had grown wild and manelike, trailing along the ground. Pointed ears poked out of the sides of her head. Astra's face had twisted into a bestial parody of itself, baring yellowed fangs at the young noblewoman. Almost luminous icy blue eyes sized up their prey, and tufts of auburn fur splayed out from Astra's cheeks. As it progressed along her body, the she-wolf's fur faded from auburn to a sleek greyish brown, culminating in a long bushy lupine tail protruding at the rear, anxiously twitching. Andrea noted Astra's gnarled hairy hands, the fingers tipped with sharp dark claws.

This creature was the ultimate predator.

It would reach her very soon...

  1. Astra lunged at Andrea, and though she tried to flee, the she-wolf's teeth pierced Andrea's ankle before she got away...
  2. Astra hesitated. Andrea watched as a struggle for control ensued...
  3. A blur from the shadows, Frederigo tackled Astra, and yelled to Andrea "Run!"
  4. Before Astra reached Andrea, a curious old man, clad in rags, steps out of the forest...

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1/26/2000 11:16:03 PM

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