Moren's breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted down the jagged cavern path, her eyes locked on her Master, who vanished around the corner ahead. "Don't stop running!" she bellowed, her voice echoing as she barely slowed to navigate the turn. A quick glance revealed Veska struggling a few paces behind, her breath labored, while Jaycen clanked heavily at the rear, burdened by his armor and shield. Moren snapped her focus back to the treacherous path to avoid a disastrous fall.
"Come on, you said!" Veska's voice was a sharp snarl, her side burning with each step. "It's just some Orcs and Kobolds, you said!" Her grip tightened on her whip as the ground quaked ominously, the air filled with Orcish screams that were abruptly silenced. "You so owe me after this!" she vowed through gritted teeth.
Overhead, Luna soared through the narrow cavern, her keen eyes scouting the path ahead. Her wings beat soundlessly, guiding Moren around a jutting rock through their mental link just in time.
"Just run!" Jaycen roared, his eyes on a frenzied Kobold attempting a desperate escape. Without hesitation, he slammed his massive, turtle-like shield into the creature's face, sending it sprawling lifelessly to the ground. "I hope your Master finds an exit!" he shouted, urgency propelling every word.
Moren whipped her head around, eyes wide with urgency, as an Orc thundered closer, its heavy footsteps pounding the earth like a war drum. With a surge of raw energy, she unleashed a telekinetic blast that slammed into the hulking beast. The Orc's scream of agony pierced the air, but Moren didn't spare a glance to see its fate. Her focus was a razor's edge, fixed on the treacherous path ahead—a descent littered with a chaotic scatter of gold, silver, and copper coins gleaming among the ominous remnants of bones and the tattered shreds of clothing and armor. "Simple job, my ass," she spat, her voice dripping with bitter frustration.
Initially, the task appeared simple: Kymera, a tiny village near the Iron Ridge mountains, was plagued by Kobolds and Orcs who exploited the dangerous landscape to attack passing caravans. Two skilled Veilborn Hunters were contracted to resolve the issue but disappeared without a trace. It had been nearly a month since they took on the task from Kymera's anxious mayor and began their investigation.
A few days after returning to Ethos following her time with Vaelwyn, Lucius informed Moren about a letter from the Order requesting their assistance in searching for the missing members. He mentioned it was related to the job he already planned to accept.
Jaycen and Veska went along for a change of pace and to keep an eye on Moren and the chance to make some gold in the process. They found the remains of the missing Veilborn Hunter's ransacked camp and tracked them back to an entrance in the mountain.
They found the Orcs and Kobolds rather quickly, but they looked injured, and their camp was also destroyed. About half a dozen Orcs and roughly 20 or so Kobolds milling about in a large cavern. A fight broke out when Jaycen bumped his shoulder armor against a rock protruding from the wall.
Lucius sprang into action with the agility of a wolf, his sword gleaming in the sunlight as he swung it toward the hulking Orc. The blade sliced through the air with ease, striking its target with deadly accuracy. With a swift and precise movement, Lucius decapitated his opponent before they could even raise their weapon to retaliate. The Orc's body fell to the ground with a heavy thud, its blood staining the earth.
With fierce resolve, Veska unleashed a devastating Fireball at the horde of Kobolds, cutting their numbers in half. The surviving creatures scattered and tried to strike back, but she was prepared. Her whip spun around her in a captivating dance, keeping the Kobolds at a distance and stopping them from surrounding her. Every lash of her weapon was precise and intentional, as she concentrated all her energy on defending against their relentless assault. Sweat formed on her forehead as she continued to fend off the attackers with expert skill and unwavering determination.
Jaycen charged directly at the towering Orc, his heart racing with adrenaline. The Orc, equally determined, wielded a rusty machete and a battered shield, blocking and deflecting each of Jaycen's fierce attacks. His muscles strained with each clash against his turtle-like shield, but Jaycen remained undeterred, drawing his longsword with lightning speed and launching a series of punishing strikes. Years of training powered each blow as he pushed forward relentlessly, ignoring the Orc's furious roars. Nothing would stop him from vanquishing this monstrous foe at any cost.
Moren was engaged in an intense battle with a female Orc, whose battle axe bore the scars of many conflicts. Whenever she blocked the Orc's savage blows, her arms reverberated with the impact. From her peripheral vision, Moren noticed a male Orc rushing toward her with a warclub, intending to attack from the side. She let out a powerful roar and used a telekinetic blast to destroy a Kobold, its lifeless body flying through the air and colliding with the approaching Orc. She then quickly refocused on the female Orc.
Suddenly, an earth-shattering roar exploded off the stone walls, sending a jolt of terror through Moren's spine like a lightning strike. The ground beneath her feet convulsed violently, nearly tossing her off balance as she clutched her spear with white-knuckled intensity, steeling herself for the impending chaos. The clash of battle came to a grinding halt as the menacing sound swelled, crashing over them like a tidal wave, engulfing Moren in an overwhelming, primal dread.
A few Kobolds whimpered in fear while some Orcs edged back toward the other tunnel entrance. Two Orcs turned to confront the approaching danger.
Tension hung thick in the air, stifling and suffocating as she exchanged worried glances with her partner. Veska's eyes widened in a mix of fear and resolve, her grip tightening on her whip as she prepared for the impending danger. Jaycen's jaw clenched so tightly that his teeth threatened to shatter, his knuckles white as he gripped his sword hilt and shield strap. Every step closer to his cousin felt like an eternity, the leather creaking under his tight hold as he braced himself for what was to come.
Lucius emitted a deep growl, his sharpened instincts and expertise alerting him to the approaching danger. "We have to go," he rasped, moving toward the sole escape route. "We need to run now!"
Moren's heart started racing as the second roar echoed louder this time, reverberating throughout the cave. The roar was full of power and had a primal, feral sound to it. A dark shadow loomed over the edge of the opening as she followed her Master's instructions to run.
As Moren and the party plunged further into the cave depths, the walls shimmered with slick moisture, and the air turned icy, enveloping them like a chilling shroud. Their footsteps thundered through the cavern as they sprinted, casting powerful light spells to pierce the suffocating darkness that clawed at them. The path twisted and writhed like a serpent, and ahead, a sinister pale orange glow beckoned from an opening, promising both danger and discovery.
"There!" Lucius barked out and picked up the pace as the roars became louder and the vibrations grew more substantial.
"Almost there!" Moren yelled as she stepped through the entrance and was greeted by a vast cavern brimming with glowing orange crystals. The crystals radiated warmth, and she identified them as fire crystals, known for absorbing ambient magic and emitting a magical heat and light akin to a campfire. Her heart sank when she noticed the cavern's steep stone walls soaring 40 feet high into a dome with no other exits in sight.
Moren scanned her companions, her heart pounding like a drum. "We must have taken a wrong turn or missed another passage somewhere," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the oppressive silence. She ventured further into the eerie room, casting a wary glance at the ominous tunnel yawning behind her.
Luna flew around the room quickly, letting out a distressed hoot. 'No exit,' She warned Moren through their link.
"No, this was the only path," Veska gasped, her breath ragged as her eyes darted around the dimly lit area. "We'll have to fight our way out." With a fierce determination, she unfurled her wings, giving them a rapid, decisive flap, a signal of readiness. "We need a plan fast."
"Lucius and I can hold off whatever is charging at us, buying you and Moren time to strike from a distance," Jaycen declared, his voice firm as he shifted into a defensive stance, ready to meet whatever danger loomed in the darkness.
"That seems like our best plan," Lucius remarked, sheathing his longsword and stowing his shield in the storage space on his glove. In its place, a two-handed greatsword materialized in his grip. "I know what's ahead, and we need to keep moving and eliminate it swiftly." Lucius pressed the blade against his forearm, drawing blood, and murmured a few incantations. The sword burst into red-orange flames.
"What is it?" Moren asked, her breath quickened as she followed her Master's lead, feeling a surge of excitement and fear coursing through her veins. She winced as the sharp edge of her spear sliced into her skin, coating the tip with a thin layer of blood. "Blitz," she growled in the language taught to her by her Master, her lips curling into a feral snarl. The tip crackled with electric energy in an instant, twisting and pulsing with blueish-white lightning that sparked and snapped like angry vipers ready to strike.
Lucius felt the familiar tingling sensation as he shifted into his Lycan form, muscles bulging and fur prickling along his spine. With a deep growl, he rolled his shoulders and prepared for battle. "It's a Wyvern," he announced, gripping his greatsword with both hands.
Veska darted frantically around the room, her eyes scanning for the perfect vantage point, when her gaze locked onto something near a massive cluster of pulsating red-orange crystals. "I can see why it's furious," she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of awe and fear. She gestured urgently to a cluster of eggs encircled by the grim remnants of battle—shattered weapons and glittering treasure strewn haphazardly. "Mommy is enraged that we have invaded her sacred nest."
'Danger!' Luna released a warning screech from above, circling nervously as her sharp eyes locked onto the cluster of eggs. She flapped once, agitated, then perched on a ledge to keep watch.
"Fuck." Lucius swore, his face contorted into a look of anger and frustration, his brows furrowing and his lips forming into a tight line as he swore.
Lucius' jaw muscles tightened, creating pronounced ridges on his skin as his mouth curled into a frown. His eyes became slits, filled with intense determination. His whole body braced itself, prepared for the upcoming battle.
Moren moved to a nearby cluster of crystals to use as cover if needed and grabbed a vial from a bandolier she had started wearing along with her black leather armor. She removed the cork between her teeth and spat it out before downing the slightly bitter liquid. A surge of energy coursed through her body, and her muscles limbered up. "I'm not going to be this beast's meal," she declared, forcing the fear out of her thoughts as the Agility Potion surged through her system. The potion enhanced her agility and reflexes for a span of ten minutes.
Luna let out a shrill cry from the rafters above, circling frantically in warning. The change in her flight pattern was the first sign that something terrible was about to enter.
The thunderous roar of the approaching creature sent a chill down Moren's spine as she prepared her weapon, eyes fixed on the cavern's entrance. From a nearby vantage point 10 feet above on a cluster of rocks, Veska's melodic voice echoed, heralding the impending battle. The ground trembled, and shadows shifted as a colossal figure entered the chamber. Its scales shimmered like fiery rubies in the dim light, with powerful wings unfurling in a menacing display. The creature's deep growls and snarls filled the space, overpowering every other sound.
Moren's breath hitched violently in her throat, her eyes wide with disbelief as she faced the monstrous beast from countless tales, now ominously looming before her and her companions. The Wyvern's eyes blazed with an insatiable hunger and seething rage, its massive neck twisting menacingly towards the direction of its lair. With a mighty flap of its colossal wings, it unleashed a turbulent gust of wind that roared through the cavern, whipping her hair into a frenzy and hurling loose debris chaotically across the stone floor.
"Get ready!" Lucius growled as he prepared to rush the creature and bared his teeth as the creature before them. "We can win this!"
Veska kept singing as two more arms emerged from her body, and she moved them to cast her first spells of the battle.
Jaycen lifted his shield and faced the Wyvern with resolve, his boots scraping against the stone floor as he tightened his grip on his sword.
Moren braced herself, feeling the rush of adrenaline. "We can do this!" she yelled, encouraging her Master and their friends. The Wyvern hissed, baring its sharp teeth. Moren focused her gaze. Although they were cornered, they knew they could conquer this fierce enemy together. The Wyvern roared again and lunged, using its wings to launch itself into the air with alarming speed within the confines of its small nesting area.
"Watch out!" Moren yelled, gripping her weapon tightly and preparing to cast a ranged spell as the wyvern dove toward them, its sharp fangs and talons gleaming dangerously.
In a split second, the creature was upon Jaycen. The Half-Elf charged forward, shield still raised, and positioned himself between the Wyvern and the others. Jaycen evaded the Wyvern's bite attack and angled his shield, which seemed to absorb the impact and deflect its poisonous stinger by taking a few steps back. The shield began to glow a dull green. He managed to land a quick slash to its tail, but his second swing missed it by mere inches. Jaycen mumbled a few words, and a blast of energy launched from the shield and slammed into the Wyvern.
Veska's fingers danced through the air with a frenzied urgency, crafting an intricate web of arcane energy before unleashing Burning Ray. A searing beam of fire erupted from her hand with blistering ferocity, crashing into the creature's wing. Another fiery lance followed, carving through the air with lethal precision. But the final beam veered off course, exploding against the wall in a shower of sparks before vanishing.
The Wyvern lunged at her with a savage snarl, but Veska was ready, her whip cracking like thunder as it struck the beast's left eye. The creature's roar of agony reverberated through the chamber, a sound that threatened to shatter the very stones. As the Wyvern's jaws snapped toward her, Veska hurled herself from her precarious perch, narrowly escaping those razor-sharp teeth. Yet pain seared through her as its claws raked her side, tearing flesh just above her hip. Gritting her teeth, her song was silenced, and she plummeted through the air, desperately fighting to steady herself and arrest her fall before the unforgiving ground rushed up to meet her.
Luna swooped in with a sharp screech, trying to distract the Wyvern with erratic dives. She fluttered close to Veska, following her descent with protective urgency. Luna dove alongside her, letting out a shrill cry as if to urge Veska to hold on.
"Veska!" Moren shouted, a mix of urgency and doubt in her voice, as she cast Fey Blast. Her hands trembled slightly, sending two beams of crackling red-purplish energy toward the same spot on the Wyvern's wing that Veska had scorched earlier. Moren's smirk was fleeting as the creature roared in pain, its flight faltering. Yet, a part of her hesitated—was this the right way? "Go for the wing!" she urged, reaching Veska's side, her voice betraying uncertainty. "How bad is it?" Her next Fey Blast was unleashed, but her focus wavered, causing both attacks to miss their target entirely.
"I'll be fine; armor took the brunt of it," Veska grunted as she waved Moren off. "We need to end this before it kills us." She flashed Moren a quick smile and moved away to start her Spellsong again.
Lucius braced himself for the Wyvern's inevitable attack and sprang off a pile of rocks using his enhanced body. His flaming sword connected with the creature's long neck but only managed to sink a few inches before the flames seared the wound shut. "You're not getting away that easily!" he growled, quickly chanting and pointing two fingers towards the Wyvern. He grimaced in pain from the Veilborn's Curse he cast, utilizing the creature's own blood against it. The Wyvern's wings froze mid-flap, and its body became rigid, plummeting to the ground. "This won't hold it for long!" Lucius shouted as he prepared to strike again at his fallen enemy.
"I'll help!" Jaycen shouted, rushing toward the Wyvern with a fierce determination. He closed his eyes, summoning every ounce of his faith as he chanted a powerful prayer to his goddess in the ancient druidic tongue. He directed his will at the beast with a swift, commanding gesture of his sword. Ethereal green vines erupted violently from the earth, snaking upwards and constricting around the already fallen creature with relentless force. "End it quick!" he urged, his entire being focused on holding the Wyvern firmly against the ground, the strain of his effort visible in the taut lines of his body.
Moren moved with the agility of a dancer, her long strides carrying her swiftly toward the Wyvern. She aimed her spear with practiced precision and struck two decisive blows to its neck and injured wing, channeling lightning through her weapon. The Wyvern released a roar of pain as it reeled from the powerful strikes. Moren's keen eyes caught sight of one of its wings drooping limply. "One of its wings is crippled!" She exclaimed to her companions, a glimmer of hope in her voice as they continued their battle against the formidable beast.
Veska's magical voice resonated through the air as she unleashed Arcane Missile from two of her arms, launching five mystical darts each toward the wyvern's face and eyes. With a smirk, she switched to a more lively and mocking tune in Elvish, aimed at taunting the dragon.
Lucius drove his blade deep into the Wyvern's chest, delivering a devastating blow that shook the ground. He was poised to finish the creature when Jaycen's agonized scream pierced the air. His heart pounded as he glanced over to see two battered and bloodied Orcs relentlessly assailing the young paladin, who struggled to fend them off. "Scatter!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos as the ethereal vines surrounding them began to wane. "Veska, aid Jaycen, now!"
In a blur of motion, Veska nodded and soared in a wide arc, her whip a furious whirlwind as she descended like a tempest from the sky. With precision, her flail struck one of the Orcs savagely across the face, a crack resonating through the battleground. Her war song, fierce and unyielding, reverberated off the walls, driving her into a relentless offensive.
Jaycen regained his composure after being ambushed and ignored the pain in his back. He shield bashed the other Orc in the face, poured his divine energy into his sword in a powerful Smite, and landed a lethal blow across his opponent's chest.
Moren staggered backward in sheer terror as the colossal Wyvern erupted with fury, its jagged claws carving through the air with lethal precision, mere inches from her face. She ducked with desperate speed, narrowly escaping the vicious lash of its barbed tail that whistled past her ear. The stone floor trembled violently under the beast's wrath, threatening to crack and splinter beneath its might. But before she could even gasp for air, its powerful wing crashed into her with devastating force, hurling her across the chamber like a ragdoll.
The impact hurled her across the chamber like a rag doll. She struck the stone wall with a sickening thud, and the breath knocked from her lungs. Blood trickled down her forehead from a gash above her brow, blurring her vision — but she refused to stay down.
A high-pitched hoot pierced the air as Luna dove after her, trying to track Moren's crash against the far wall. The owl landed beside her, wings spread in alarm as if shielding her from further harm.
Gritting her teeth, Moren staggered upright just as the Wyvern lunged again, its gaping maw lined with gleaming fangs. She rolled aside, feeling the rush of fetid breath at her heels, and sprang to her feet with desperate speed.
Summoning the threads of her Fey magic, Moren uttered a sharp incantation. Three shimmering replicas of herself burst into existence, fanning out and weaving around the Wyvern to confuse its senses. The beast snarled in frustration, snapping at the empty air as illusions darted past its flailing claws.
Luna launched into the air again, weaving between the shifting illusions, adding to the confusion with her fluttering, darting form—making it harder for the Wyvern to track Moren's actual location.
Using the chaos to her advantage, Moren raised her hand and unleashed a crackling Fey Blast into the Wyvern's flank. The impact staggered the beast — just enough for her to follow up with a searing Scorching Bolt that scorched its hide and left smoldering burns along its scales.
Spear in hand, Moren charged. She ducked low under a wild swing of the Wyvern's talons and drove the point of her weapon deep into its exposed underbelly. A roar of pain shook the cavernous space, but Moren did not relent — her spear flashed repeatedly, each strike finding its mark with precision born of furious resolve.
Moren's body trembled — not with fear, but with rage. She refused to be broken. She refused to fall here.
Snarling, she thrust her hand forward, and a blazing stream of whitish-gold fire erupted from her palm, searing the air with its intensity. The flames roared toward the Wyvern, engulfing its head and neck in a tempest of crackling light.
"Feel the power of Witchfire!" Moren yelled, her voice raw with anger. The Wyvern cried out in agony, staggering backward as the brilliant flames seared its scaly skin. It rose on its hind legs, attempting to rid itself of the fiery magic, but the Witchfire held fast, consuming the dark energy that kept it alive.
Seizing the opening, Lucius pressed the attack. Moving with the lethal precision of a seasoned Blood Hunter, he darted around the beast's flailing limbs, his silvered blades carving deep gouges into the Wyvern's exposed flank. Blood — thick and black — splattered the ground with each strike.
"Keep the pressure on!" Lucius barked, his voice sharp and commanding, even as he landed another brutal blow that made the creature roar and stagger again.
Moren wiped the blood from her brow with the back of her hand, her mirrored selves still dancing and weaving around the Wyvern, like specters. She narrowed her eyes, her fury sharpening into grim determination.
Above, Luna gave a final cry—sharp and resolute—as if lending her own voice to the assault. It echoed off the crystal-lined walls like a rallying call, a signal that this was the moment to end it.
The Wyvern bellowed in fury, snapping blindly at the illusions still flickering in and out of view. Moren seized the moment. Without hesitation, she sprinted forward and dropped into a low roll, sliding under the beast's gaping, snarling maw.
The stench of blood and bile filled her nose, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through, feeling the rush of air as those monstrous jaws slammed shut just behind her. The ground trembled beneath her as the Wyvern's head slammed down where she had been a heartbeat before.
Coming out of the roll in a crouch, Moren pivoted sharply and drove her spear upward in a vicious, practiced strike, burying the weapon deep into the tender flesh beneath the Wyvern's jaw. The beast roared, thrashing violently — but before Moren could pull away, a searing, blinding pain exploded in her gut.
Her eyes widened in shock.
She staggered, looking down just in time to see the Wyvern's barbed stinger, slick with venom, buried deep into her side.
"Damn," she exhaled, the word slipping out in a shaky breath. The Wyvern pulled its tail away with a moist, ripping noise. Moren collapsed onto the stone floor with a resounding thud, her spear slipping from her lifeless grip. Intense heat coursed through her veins as the venom spread, her blood oozing between her quivering fingers as she pressed a hand urgently against the wound.
The world tilted around her. Her mirror images flickered and wavered, their forms beginning to break apart like mist.
Through the haze of pain, Moren heard Lucius shout her name, his voice distant — panicked — but she could barely turn her head to find him.
Luna landed at her side again, softly hooting and nudging her cheek, trying to rouse her. Her feathers bristled with agitation, and her wide amber eyes never left the wounded Wyvern.
The Wyvern, wounded but enraged, reared back for another killing blow.
Moren gritted her teeth, her vision swimming.
"No!" Lucius yelled as he sprinted up the Wyvern's back and plunged his greatsword deep into its heart. He gave the blade a forceful twist, creating a large, fatal wound. The Wyvern roared and thrashed in agony for what felt like an eternity before finally succumbing to its injuries. As the creature fell to the ground with a deafening thud,
Lucius hesitated for a moment before rushing to his fallen apprentice, Moren. She was barely conscious, her complexion growing alarmingly pale. "Hang in there, kid," Lucius muttered, torn between desperation and doubt. "I need your help!"
Veska's eyes blaze with fierce determination as she unleashes a Cone of Frost, a devastating torrent of icy magic that obliterates the last Orc, encasing its body in an impenetrable tomb of ice—a chilling testament to their hard-won victory. Yet, there is no time for even a moment's respite.
With her heart pounding and breath quickening, Veska pivots sharply to her fallen sister, Moren. A storm of fear and desperation churns within her as she races to Moren's side. "Stay awake, sweetie," Veska implores, patting Moren's clammy face with shaking hands, her voice cracking with raw emotion as she desperately urges him to hold on. "Don't you dare leave me, little sister," she pleads through clenched teeth, a torrent of tears threatening to spill. "You have to stay with me."
"Move!" Jaycen barked, pushing past Lucius as he dropped to his knees beside Moren's crumpled form. His heart lurched, seeing the blood pooling around her, the ugly puncture wound leaking dark, venom-tinged fluid.
Luna fluttered to a nearby perch, letting out a sorrowful hoot.
"Keep an eye out for any more stragglers," Jaycen snapped at Lucius without looking up, his voice sharp with command. Lucius gave a grim nod and turned, swords ready, scanning the battlefield for more threats.
Jaycen placed one steady hand over Moren's stomach, already calling up a soft glow of divine energy. His brows furrowed deeply, his jaw tight with focus. "Stay with me, Moren," he muttered under his breath. Warmth surged from his palm into the wound, slowing the bleeding and beginning the delicate work of neutralizing the Wyvern's venom. It fought back viciously, but Jaycen poured more of his strength into the magic, refusing to lose her.
"Veska!" he called out without missing a beat. "Dig out a few healing potions — strong ones. I'm focusing on the poison."
Veska, face pale but hands steady, rummaged frantically through her satchel.
Jaycen's face twisted into a grimace as he ripped open his medical bag with a single, determined hand. He yanked out gauze, salves, and vials with a feverish urgency. "This isn't how I envisioned using my medical skills," he growled, his voice laced with a dark, biting humor that barely masked his frustration and desperation.
Moren's breathing was shallow but steadying under his hands.
Good.
She was a fighter. Moren wasn't leaving them— not today.
With a deep sigh, Lucius straightened his tall posture, ready to take on his role as the guard at the entrance. His body morphed, merging flesh and fur until he returned to his human form. The transformation was always a challenge, as if Lucius was losing a part of himself each time. Nevertheless, duty beckoned, and he couldn't ignore it. As Lucius surveyed the area, his keen senses attuned to any sign of danger, he couldn't help but yearn for the freedom and strength of his wolf form. Yet, for now, he remained alert in his human guise, prepared to defend and protect at a moment's notice.
Moren sensed the burning sensation within her, which began to subside, and she exhaled shaky. She intended to speak, but Veska gently raised Moren's head and placed a potion vial against her lips. Moren swallowed the liquid and sighed with relief.
"Sylphara, grant me your healing hand in this time of need," Jaycen prayed as he moved his hand over the wound on Moren's stomach. Gold and green light started glowing from the palms of his hands as the wound slowly began to close. "I can close the wound, but she will need to rest a bit until she is back on her feet."
"Not going to argue," Moren groaned, feeling a weight settle over her body. "Sorry, Sis, I got overconfident and missed the stinger." She offered Veska a faint smile.
"You can pay me back later with several games of Arcane Ante and share a few drinks," Veska replied, taking a spare cloth from her belt pouch and wetting it with her waterskin before wiping the sweat from Moren's forehead. "Just let Jaycen and I take care of you."
Luna glided down from a perch and nestled gently beside Moren's shoulder, hooting softly as she nuzzled into her hair. Moren offered a weak smile and reached up to stroke the owl's feathers.
Lucius sighed in relief at seeing some color return to Moren's face. "We need to hunker down for the night," He said, keeping his eyes locked on the cavern's opening. "No telling if any of the Orcs or Kobolds survived." He glanced over at Veska. "A wizard friend of mine used to use a spell to create a safe place to sleep in a pinch. You know that spell?"
"Yes, Wanderer's Haven. I usually prepare it during my travels, just in case," Veska replied, taking a small crystal bead from her component pouch. "We need to move her over there," She pointed to a large clearing away from the dead Wyvern. "That is large enough to set up the circle, and let us rest for the night."
"Set it up," Lucius grunted as he helped Jaycen move Moren to the clearing Veska had pointed out and laid her on a bedroll. "After that, Jaycen and I will search the path to the exit and see if anything is still alive to be a threat to us." Lucius nodded his head at Moren. "Veska will stay here and keep an eye on her."
Moren struggled to raise her head. "Give me a few minutes, and I'll be good to go, Master," She said, trying to push herself up to her elbow, but her arms gave out. "I'm feeling better."
"That wasn't a suggestion," Lucius barked, glaring at his apprentice. "You nearly died, and I am telling you to rest until I get back, or so help me. I will run you through another Hell Week and make the first one look like a stroll in the park."
"Yes, Master," Moren replied, laying her head on the stone floor. The last thing she wanted was to relive Hell Week, and she decided to listen to him as her body hurt all over. "I'm just going to lay here until the pain stops."
"I'll make sure that she rests," Veska said, sending Moren a stern sisterly glare. "I will magically bind you to the ground if necessary." She finished drawing her circle and began chanting for a full minute to complete her spell and ensure they were protected for the next 12 hours with Wanderer's Haven.
"Good," Lucius grunted as he hefted his longsword and adjusted the shield on his arm. The metal gleamed under the dim light, and he settled into a ready stance. "Let's get going, Jaycen. I want to get back here as soon as possible."
Jaycen nodded, feeling the weight of exhaustion in his limbs. He reached for a small vial from his belt, uncorked it, and drank the potion in one swift gulp. The liquid burned down his throat, and he could feel warmth spreading through his body, knitting his wounds together. "Right behind you, Sir," he replied, looking sternly at Moren sprawled on the ground. "Stay put, Momo, or I am telling my Mother about this."
Luna let out a loud hoot in agreement and settled down, puffing up her feathers to resemble a marshmallow. 'Don't move.'
"Traitors," Moren grumbled, her voice tinged with mock indignation. She let out a deep sigh, watching as Veska gently draped a woolen blanket over her. The fabric was soft and warm, comforting against the chill seeping through the earth. "I promise to lay here until you and Master return," she conceded, her eyes drooping with fatigue.
Lucius let out another grunt as confirmation that he heard her and headed back into the tunnel passage with Jaycen following behind him with his sword at the ready.