Gamers

by Cambry Varner

  Upon first glance, Sally wondered why the kid didn’t just climb up the tree and out of reach, but then noticed the white arrow pinning the boy’s leg to the trunk. A streamer of blood oozed down his ankle and dropped off the toe of his shoe and a wolf was lapping at the blood as it fell on the ground, saliva dripping hungrily from its maw. The boy was trapped where he clung, with his blood keeping the wolves interested and hungry.

  Tom roared and rushed the animals and bashed the torch into the side of a startled wolf. The smell of singed fur filled the air along with the painful yelps in a replay of the previous night. Before the wolves could turn on Tom, Sally jabbed the rapier tip into the heart of one, ending its life. The third wolf howled bitterly and took off with its tail tucked between its legs, followed by its still smoking fellow.

  Tom dropped the torch and kicked dirt over it to douse the flames before heading to the tree where the boy was still screaming. Being tall, he could reach the boy’s lower half and touched the arrow, causing the boy to shriek.

  “Easy! Easy, lad, we’re here to help you,” Tom said, inspecting the arrow and grimacing at what he saw. “Sally, it went through his leg and into the tree.”

  Not since Darcy was kidnapped had Sally so wished for her presence now. She would know what to do or cast a spell on the injury. “Should we leave the arrow in? In his leg, I mean. It’ll keep him from losing more blood than he has already.”

  “Yes, but we have to him free him from this tree, or he’ll fall and cause more harm to his leg. Here, can you hold him while I pull the arrow free?”

  “What if you cut the arrow near the head? That way, you won’t risk hurting him.” She stepped up close to where Tom was supporting the weeping child who let go of his death grip on the tree.

  His small hands were raw and bleeding from continually trying to pull himself up onto the branch and away from the snapping jaws of wolves. How long had this kid been trapped like this? Terrified and in pain with death below, waiting for him to lose his strength and fall.

  Tom took a knife and tried to cut through the arrow, but the blade couldn’t make a mark on the white wood. To Sally’s eyes, the wood seemed to have the smooth surface of plastic with the durability of metal. Sally swallowed a lump in her throat when she recognized it as a mastercraft arrow. A white mastercraft arrow…

  They had no choice but to pull it free. Sally braced the boy while Tom took a firm grip on the leg and arrow. He didn’t bother counting, as doing so would make the boy anticipate the pain so with a dull crack, the shaft was jerked free. The boy made no noise and shuddered in Sally’s arms as she lowered him onto the ground. For a moment, she believed he had passed out until she saw his pale face with large eyes staring at her.

  As Tom bound the wound, Sally comforted the boy in the only way she was sure of. She held his hand and patted his head until Tom finished tying off a cloth around the ankle to keep the arrow in place until they returned him to the village. By then, the boy had calmed down enough to tell them his name was Mikel.

  “Mikel,” Tom said gently, “if it doesn’t frighten you, will you tell us what happened?”

  As his sister had said, he had gone into the forest to check his snares. Mikel didn’t believe the wolves would attack in daylight, despite the warnings. When the wolves broke through the bushes, he ran to the nearest tree to seek refuge in the boughs, but searing pain lanced through his leg, and he couldn’t move. Each time he tried to move his leg, agony shot up it. It was all he could do to cling to the tree, just out of reach of the wolves.

  “It’s alright, lad, we’ll get you safely home,” Tom promised.

  Silently, Sally stared at the white arrow as her stomach filled with dread. Seeing it brought chills down her spine, and she looked around in the trees furtively for a figure watching them from the dark boughs. It was too much of a coincidence for this not to be connected to whoever killed the captured Cut Throat and was attacking caravans. And whoever it was might still be close by.

  “Mikel, your sister sent us to find you. Once you’re rested, my friend and I will take you home.”

  “You’re friends with an elf?”

  Sally blinked, realizing that her hood was still down. She jerked it up over her head, hoping that Tom will take the hint to deny she was an elf.

  “She’s a half-elf,” Tom said firmly, much to her horror. “And she’s also a brave young woman who risked herself to save you, a stranger she had never met. Her name is Sally.”

  It was all she could do to keep from groaning. Dammit, now the whole village was going to know about her race. Hopefully, the adventurers would leave before the villagers decided to chase them out.

  “I won’t tell anyone,” Mikel said meekly. “She helped me!”

  “Good, remember that whenever you meet another elf.”

  Jeez, Tom, you don’t have to keep lobbying for elf rights, Sally thought then froze when a noise reached her ears.

  “Mikel, I’m going to carry you home. It might hurt your leg, but there’s a Cleric that can help you…”

  “Tom, get him back up the tree, now.” Sally unsheathed her rapier and dagger.

  “What?”

  “Something’s coming.” She could hear the bushes being disturbed and the sound of heavy breathing coming closer and closer. “This was a trap!”

  She was so stupid! She was a Rogue, and didn’t realize this was all a trap until it was too late. It was too perfect! The boy was bait, but not for the wolves.

  “He can’t climb with his leg like this!” Tom stood with Mikel in his arms. The boy’s face was white, either from pain or terror, Sally couldn’t possibly tell.

  Her heart began to race as they came closer. Yes, they. She could hear several large animals cutting through the thick verdure towards them. “Then take him back to the village while I hold them off.”

  “I can’t leave you alone…”

  “Dammit! Then do whatever you want, but hurry up and decide!” Sally snapped.

  To keep herself from panicking, she went over the advantages she had in a fight. She had a high Dex of +4, two weapons meant she had two attacks each turn, and she was level two. And being a Rogue granted her a higher chance of dealing a critical strike. The disadvantages, however, still flooded her mind. She only had 18 HP, and if her attacks weren’t critical, they dealt little damage. The reason she had just killed the wolf so quickly was her Sneak Attack bonus to damage. By themselves, Rogues were mediocre fighters and served better fighting in a group, particularly backing up front line fighters like Tom or Mina or even Naomi.

  She needed Tom with her if she was going to have a chance, but the reason they came out here was to save the kid. The boy had to come first, and that meant Tom had to get him to safety while she fended off their attackers. Was it selfish of her that she rather he protect her than the boy? No, just cowardly.

  “How many?” Tom asked from her right.

  She looked at him, stunned. In any TV show, movie, or video game, someone always took the wounded to safety while the hero stayed behind to ensure their escape. What was going on? “What about the kid?”

  “I helped him onto one of the lower branches. He’s safely out of the way.”

  “No, you need to get him away from here.”

  “I’d rather take both of you away from here,” Tom said firmly. “How many are coming?”

  She barely felt any shame at being relieved and happy that he chose to stay. Without any further thought of the boy, she focused on what lay before them. “I think there’s five, but something pretty big coming with them. It’s bigger than a wolf.”

  “A person?”

  “No, not a person. Something bigger.”

  Within seconds, they got their answer. They came from the shadow as if molded from it. Four wolves with bared white teeth served as entourage for a wolf the size of a pony with fur white as snow and eyes like black coals that gleamed with malice.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Tom’s face go several sh
ades pale, and he drew an unconscious step backward. “A dire wolf.”

  “Oh God,” Sally breathed, knowing they were not going to get out of this alive. Four wolves and this monstrosity was too much for a Fighter and Rogue alone. This must be a boss fight they’d stumbled into.

  Dammit, they should have both taken Mikel and ran. The more pragmatic part of her said that outrunning the dire wolf would have been impossible. And what about the owner of the white arrows? Arrows might have perforated them before they had a chance to clear the forest.

  With a vicious snarl, the dire wolf charged. It barreled at them with the ferocity of a speeding train. Sally and Tom split apart, and the monstrosity cut through where they had stood together moments ago; it spun in place, unable to decide which of them to go for, until it settled on Sally.

  As if predicting its intentions, Sally backpedaled as it lunged. Swinging the rapier, she nicked its snout with the rapier’s tip and blood bloomed across its ebony nose, but it kept coming, fangs wet, and glistening snapping the air.

  From behind it, Tom swung his sword in a wide arc and caught the monster along the side. The cut wasn’t deep as the thick fur offered natural armor and it seemed only to serve to make the dire wolf angrier. It whipped around so fast it was a blur, and Tom barely ducked its snapping jaws. At its back, Sally was in her element as a Rogue and she thrust forward and would have found her mark if it wasn’t for the searing pain lancing up her leg.

  Damn, they had forgotten the other wolves. One was now tearing into her leg, and after a downward thrust through the throat with the rapier, it let go. Tom was holding his own against the dire wolf, giving ground while standing close enough to return attacks. Sally spotted another wolf about to take a bite out of Tom’s leg, and she sprinted towards it.

  Her boot had protected her from most of the damage, but it still hurt to run on her leg. Zipping past the dire wolf before it had a chance to notice her, she shoved the rapier between the encroaching wolf’s ribs and straight into the heart. It died on her blade, and she pulled it free just as the dire wolf, angered by the death of a pack member, attacked her. Teeth snapped inches from her elbow, and she returned with a dagger aimed for its eye. She missed but slashed along the long muzzle. The cut wasn’t deep, but it was enough to make it back away, shaking its head and howling. The last two wolves were stalking forward to avenge their fallen.

  “Sally, can you take care of the wolves if I keep their leader off your back?” Tom asked, adjusting his grip on the sword.

  “Yeah, I think so,” she said, breathing hard. The pain in her ankle had lessened, maybe from the adrenaline.

  Tom hollered, waving an arm to get the dire wolf’s attention and moved in a broad circle to draw it away. The monster stalked after Tom with murderous intent, lunging for him again. Tom danced backward just in time, but it was a close call.

  How long could Tom handle that beast on his own? She needed to kill the wolves quickly and help him as soon as possible.

  As if sensing they were being paired off, the wolves parted to flank her. Maintaining her stance, her eyes switched between them. If she attacked one, then the other would jump on her. If one of them attacked, she could counter it with a thrust of the rapier and a slash from the dagger. But if they both attacked her at once…

  As if reading her mind, they went for her, one immediately after the other. She pivoted to the left and then to the right, ducking one and then the other. With a twist at the hips, she retaliated with a long swing. The tip of the rapier bit into the dirt, leaving a short, shallow trench no wider than her small finger before it arced upward and caught the wolf’s flank.

  Damn, the cut wasn’t deep enough to kill the wolf, but it was enough to make it retreat. The creature crouched with its tail tucked growling menacingly. The other wolf wasn’t dissuaded by its companion’s injury and went for her uninjured leg. Sally danced backward, slashing the rapier back and forth, but missing the mark each swing.

  The back of her foot hit a root, and losing her balance, she fell on her ass. The wolf took advantage of this opportunity, but Sally was faster. Her dagger caught it in the throat just when its snout was less than an inch from her face. It collapsed, eyes still open and tongue lolling as if it were an affectionate dog resting its head on her lap.

  She kicked it off and got to her feet and checked for the other wolf. It had vanished, likely fleeing when its partner was killed. Tom was still facing off with the dire wolf. Its bloody side revealed that he had managed to score some hits on it, but not enough to warrant severe damage.

  With Tom drawing the dire wolf’s attention, she could get a sneak attack and if not kill it outright, at least deal some critical damage. They might actually get out of this alive. The thought hadn’t fully formed in her head when a flash of white left the highest boughs. The arrow hit Tom in the shoulder so hard his body twisted from the impact creating an opening for the dire wolf to act. Its jaws locked across Tom’s chest and torso and began to savage him like a chew toy. Blood spurted, spraying across the grass and dotting the tree.

  “No!” Sally churned up dried leaves in her mad dash. Sheathing her dagger, she gripped the rapier with both hands intending to shove straight deep into the dire wolf’s heart.

  Then the monster wrenched Tom around, putting him between Sally and itself and she came to such a sudden halt that her boots left skid marks in the dirt. Tom’s face was contorted in agony, but he still held onto his sword and lifting it in one hand, he brought it down across the head of the beast. The strike had more impetus from gravity than from any strength behind it, but it was enough to shear off an ear.

  The dire wolf howled, dropping Tom onto the grass and it began rubbing its head with a forepaw as if it were a cat. Sally didn’t dare let herself look at Tom, who had fallen in a bloody heap on the ground. As long as the dire wolf still stood, it was a danger to them.

  The dire wolf raised its head, blood streaming down its face from its cut ear and it looked at her with the evident intention of tearing her violently to ribbons. Sally was impressed that her rapier wasn’t quivering in her shaking hands. If it lunged at her, she only had one shot to stab it in the throat.

  A shrill whistle cut the air like a siren. Instantly, the dire wolf drew back and sat down on its haunches. Its enormous maw opened with a pant like a dog who had just enjoyed a day outside playing catch. For Sally, it was surreal to see the animal take a long yawn and then lope lazily through the trees.

  Was it over? Just like that?

  A choking noise from Tom drew her attention and she rushed to his side, dropping the rapier and looked over his injuries. His shirt was soaked in crimson and had to be cut off him with the dagger. A large half-ring of deep punctures all seeped blood, spurting at each breath he took. This was more than she could handle with basic first aid, and she didn’t even have so much as a Band-Aid. This would require cleaning and suturing, that is if he hadn’t suffered some internal damage. He needed a health potion or a spell to survive the next few minutes.

  Tom’s face was turning a sickening shade of white. He was going to die, and she had not apologized to him yet. It was stupid to worry about, but it seemed like the most important thing in the world since he was bleeding out before her.

  Something sailed through the air and landed next to her. She drew away, fearful it was another attack, but then stare in stunned silence at the large bottle with a golden clasp filled with red liquid.

  “It’s a high-level health potion. Pour it over the wounds, and they’ll close up,” said a woman’s voice from the boughs.

  Sally couldn’t see the source of the voice. “Who’s there?”

  “You gonna worry about me or you gonna worry about your pet NPC?” a sarcastic voice said. “He’s lost about two liters of blood, give or take. Hurry before he exsanguinates.”

  What if this was poison? Yet, what did Tom have to lose? His blood was staining her knees and the grass around him. The potion had a thicker consistency than the sm
aller potions she had seen. It was like thin syrup that almost glittered in the sunlight and like syrup, when she poured it across Tom’s chest, it drizzled. Slowly, as it mixed with the blood and was absorbed into the skin the wounds stopped bleeding, and the flesh molded back together. She could be mistaken, but it seemed some of the color was returning to his face. The arrow was still in his shoulder, and she pulled it out before the flesh could close around the head. The action barely drew any blood. The hole closed without leaving a mark.

  Sally turned her gaze back to the boughs. “That dire wolf…it’s your animal, isn’t it? And you were the one who shot Tom!”

  “I couldn’t let him hurt my dog,” the voice replied wryly.

  The word dog was pronounced “dawg.”

  “And you were the one who shot the kid and trapped him against the tree! You sick freak!”

  “Careful,” the voice said with a warning edge. “Your tone is pissing me off, and, honey, I promise you that ain’t a smart thing to do right now.”

  Sally could imagine the stranger whistling for the dire wolf to return or just putting an arrow between her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she spoke slowly, “You’re the reason why the wolves have been attacking people.”

  “After my dog killed the pack leaders all the wolves fell in line behind him. I wanted to see what they could do, but they only understand basic commands. Go here and attack these people or go over there and attack those people. I’ve gotten bored with it, so we’ll be moving on.”

  All of this was done for fun? Sally felt her stomach heaving, but swallowed it back. “You’ve been attacking caravans too.”

  “I’m just playing the game.”

  “You’re killing people.”

  “Oh Christ, of all the other players I could have run into, I come across one with a bleeding heart.” Sally could hear the eye roll behind those words. “They’re not real. They are not people. They’re NPCs. You know what an NPC is, right?”