the Forest glade

Was she cursed or blessed?

Then a new odor came upon her nostrils, the scent of Man.

Lord Fred sighed as he put the finishing touches on his campsight. He lifted his head, smelled the autumn air and thought about how he came to be here. He killed the Dragon....HE killed the Dragon! But then it's Master bent ether's fabric and he found himself and the warrior princess in the desolate desert wastes of the Calamari. Then he ran afoul of the strange mage, got ripped to shreds from it's purplish pet and then was transformed into a freak with scissors for hands; to make things worse the southern princess was whisked away to Qrom knows where. Fred was thankful that at least the spell was able to return him to his rightful form. The wizard had been full of apologies, and had re-equiped Fred with decent traveling gear....even a horse. Then the mage warped the ether too and Fred found himself in this wood, a region that the mage's calculations had pointed to as the place nearest the princess.

With a growl, Fred had stepped through the glowing portal of the spell, and into this forest. After a day of futile searching, Fred was of the opinion that Dr. Vincent was misled by his calculations. Still angry, the young knight had made camp, hobbled his horse, and was getting ready to turn in for the night, when he heard the bushes rustle. He turned, drawing his sword, and then stopped at the sight before him.

He was staring at a creature, or a monster, and it was obviously female. The face of the creature was staring intently at the knight, and it was sniffing at the air. Fred was not sure what he was looking at, yet it displayed not any evil intent. He looked at the creature's face, and though it had a snout and protruding ears and grizzled teeth behind it's wet lips, the thing looked almost...human.

~~by Qrom!~~ thought Fred. ~~this must be a damned were-beast!~~ Fred held steady, remembering the tales of the dreaded were-beasts. They were humans cursed by the Fates to roam the world as half-animals, and their appetites included ripping men to shreds! Fred did not take his eyes off the creature. It looked to be larger than a greyhound and it's body was trimmed in red fur. It's legs were long and graceful, it's tail flicked this way and that. It teets were full and Fred wondered if he had accidentally come too close to it's den, to it's pups. At that thought he knew he had to kill it. To have this abomination reproduce would be damnation multiplied.

"Here kitty, kitty," said Fred half in jest, half hoping the creature wouldn't run away or leap at him. He edged toward the beast with sword in hand, the beast only smelled him. When Fred was only one meter away, the creature must have sensed something for it lept away from Fred and bounded into the forest. Fred would have continued pursuit, but a new action caught his attention, it was the form of a full woman entering his camp!

"Well, well," said the woman. "What are you doing out here? I hope you aren't lost."

"Indeed I am not," said Fred, not putting away his sword. "Who are you and why are you out here?"

"Why, my name is Alicia D'Veres and I....live here."

1. Fred questions the woman thoroughly
2. The woman invites Fred to her home nearby

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree