Black Wolf Rising. Chapter 3: Witch in the Woods

The scent of various herbs intermingled together to create their own unique presence that slipped first into the odd dreams that plagued Arynn’s mind. Dreams and imagery vivid as reality collapsed into a mist that wavered at the edge of consciousness before they became but lost figments.

A groan of pain spilled from her lips as she became aware of the aches that throbbed through her chest, leg, and head. Her eyes stayed shut as her mind took in the sound of a crackling fire, and the warmth that bathed her, and the brush of a fur lined blanket against her naked skin. Something was wrapped around her leg tightly.

Slowly opening her eyes, Arynn looked around, finding herself laying in a bed against the wall of a cottage. As her vision became clearer, the blur of sleep fading, she noted that the walls were at once hewn by human hands, and grown. The natural curves and swells of a tree mingling with the straight cuts of a saw. Sunlight struggled to get in through the dusty windows, ivy both inside and out letting only strands of light to stab inwards, leaving only a few candles left carefully on shelves and tables to light the abode.

Confusion and concern swirled together in Arynn’s mind as she sat up, supporting herself on an elbow, groaning at the movement in her back. The blanket falling from her shoulder let cooler air wash across skin that was starting to feel too hot. Propped up, she continued her scan of the cottage.

There was sparse furniture, only a desk covered in parchment with a few ink pots and quills to the side, a few shelves littered with strange odds and ends, a counter that was growing out of the wall though the top had been cut into a perfectly flat surface, and a table with two chairs on either side. Herbs were everywhere in the place; dried, freshly diced, or pulled from the ground. Those were the scents that had broken into her mind.

With one hand keeping the blanket up at her chest, Arynn slowly swung her feet outwards. She spied her gear laying in a neat pile at the foot of the bed. Nothing seemed to be missing. Her tongue slid across dry lips, making for perfect timing when she found a wooden cup and a clay pitcher nestled carefully on the floor beside her.

Lifting the pitcher she sniffed at the contents; just water. Ignoring the cup she brought the pitcher to her lips. The water was cool,  refreshing as it splashed down her throat. As she drank, a raven’s cry almost made her choke and drop the pitcher. As it was, she set it down carefully, eyes moving to the window from where the sound had come.

The black feathered bird was perched upon the window sill. It tapped at the glass with its beak, as if to try and get Arynn's attention. Wiping a forearm across her lips, Arynn watched the bird, its eyes gazing at her through the pane.

The cottage door opened with a creak that pulled Arynn's attention from the window and the raven outside. A woman in a long dark green cloak stepped inside, a basket of herbs in one hand, blonde hair falling from within the shadows of the hood.

"You're awake," she said with a friendly voice, with a hint of a harsh rasp. Her free hand rose and drew back her hood, revealing pleasant features, and a ragged scar across her neck.

"Where am I?" Arynn asked, shifting in the bed, pinning the blankets to her upper chest with one hand. She was surprised when no pain flared in her leg.

"My home, in Venshoft Forest," the woman said, the second after a moment's pause. She pulled off her cloak and hung it upon a peg that grew out from the wall to accommodate the wool burden. Beneath it was a simple dark wool dress that clung to her curves.

"You saved me then. My thanks. But, I would know my saviour. My name is Arynn," the Demon Hunter said, bowing her head slightly. The woman paused in her approach to the bed, hesitating before giving an answer, her fingers absently tracing along her throat.

"Selena," she said gently and finished her walk to the bed. Carefully she took hold of the sheets and glanced up to Arynn, before pushing them back to reveal the hunter's leg, and the bandages wrapped around it.

In silence she unwrapped the bandages, Arynn letting go of the blankets considering what was unveiled by Selena just a moment before, letting the woman push them off her patient entirely.

As the bandages came free, Arynn stared down in wonder at her leg. Where a gaping wound should have been, was only a fine white scar.

"How long have I been here?" she asked, and Selena looked up.

"I found you last night, you've slept through the morning," she informed the hunter who blinked. It began to sink in; this woman was a practitioner of magic. The abode itself was certainly a strong hint, but this kind of healing did not happen without the aid of one of the Gods. Up here in Aenkleth, that meant the woman was either an apostate, or worshipped one of the dark Gods of Hell. Neither of which was good for Arynn.

Her sword was all the way across the bed. She had her bare hands, but she wasn't sure how quick the woman would be with her spell craft. Selena's eyes snapped up to Arynn.

"I could have left you out there. It was tempting. People doing what they thought was good gave me this," she said, fingertips gesturing to the line across her throat. This close, Arynn could see it was the scars of a noose.

"You demon hunters are even worse. Hunting and killing things that don't follow your Gods without trying to understand those you slay. This is my home hunter, and I will emerge from it alive no matter your actions. No matter that Lyxa wishes you alive for some reason," the witch said with narrowed eyes.

Arynn had her answer though, and lay back, pulling the blanket over herself again. She thought of the raven that had woken her last night, warned her of the druden attack just down the road. The bursting skull of the drude that had tried to kill her. Pieces falling into place, Arynn looked to Selena.

"It seems I find myself with strange allies in these dark times," she admitted, partially for immediate practicality. Partially because she knew Lyxa and Aalzgoth were not friends, and using the forces of one against the other could only be beneficial.

Even as the words left her mouth though, Arynn could not help but feel a clench of nervousness. If the witch spoke truth, then one of the dark Gods had taken an interest in her. Selena grunted as she stood, moving towards one of her counters. Her hips swayed gently with each step and Arynn leaned back. The witch had seen her utterly bared, she felt it fair to savour a peak.

As Selena grasped a string of vine like herbs hanging before her, chopping them into fine slivers. A sweet scent flowed through the cabin as oils flowed out onto the counter top. Selena glanced over her shoulder, and Arynn let her eyes move upwards.

"It seems your reputation was not entirely out of proportion," Selena said gently, and at this Arynn frowned. She did not have a reputation in the north as far as she knew, and very few knew much of her down in the south, save those with the coin to afford her services. Demon hunter's often worked alone and in the shadows.

"Do not look so surprised. I've heard enough whispers from the beaks of ravens to know of who you are. You've been watched for some time now from my understanding," Selena said, taking five strips of cloth and laying them carefully in the spreading puddle of oils.

"By what?"

"Spies. Demons. Ravens. I don't know the specifics, I'm just a forest witch."

Carefully Selena began to roll up the now pale green bandages, forming tight cylinders that she carefully tied off with a slip of red ribbon. She then carefully slid them into wooden tubes and sealed the ends with leaves tied into place. Taking a nearby candle, she snapped her fingers, lighting the wick with a flame that sprang from her fingertips.

"Why?" Arynn couldn't help but ask as she rose from the bed, letting the blankets fall from her form.

The only response she got was a simple shrug, and the hunter began to dress herself, though she did note how the witch took a peak over her shoulder before resuming her work. Tilting the candle she ensured no air would enter her tubes as wax dribbled over the edge of the leaves and placing each of her five containers on their sides to let the wax dry.

"We should leave as soon as you are ready," Selena said suddenly.

"We?" Arynn said as she gathered her weapons and slid them into place after a quick inspection to ensure the witch had done nothing to them.

"I've killed druden now. Whatever silent truce I had with the minions of Aalzgoth is over. It will not be long before they come for me, and I have no desire to be amongst the Sluagh. Besides," Selena turned then, staring at the hunter before her, eyes narrowed. "You owe me your life."

"Strange allies indeed. Where's Khali?" Arynn replied, adjusting the belts holding her weapons to rest comfortably.

"Your horse? Outside, probably munching in my garden, the beast," Selena said, testing the wax on her tubes with a single finger. Seemingly happy, she slid them into a satchel and slid it over one shoulder before grasping her cloak.

"There's still a lengthy ride to Lairdon," she warned, and Arynn nodded as she followed the witch out the door, the other woman slipping into the long cloak for travelling. Taking a hold of the twisted stick that served as a latch, Selena opened the way to the outside.

Arynn was the first to step over the threshold and in the sunlight that broke through to light the forest's floor. The trail that curled from the front door and into the forest soon vanished, hidden by fallen leaves and grass. Arynn doubted many would be able to find the witch out here in the depths of this far stretching forest. Just to her right, penned in by a simple wooden fence was the mentioned garden. Various herbs and vegetables were spouting up from the dark soil. And in its centre, munching on a head of lettuce, was Khali. The destrier snorted and looked up at Arynn, and began to make his way to the opened gate.

Soft whispers caught the hunter's ear, and she looked over her shoulder. Selena stood by her front door, fingers pressed gently against the entrance of her home. Soft green light ebbed out from her fingers and soaked into the wood. Branches twisted with deep groans and curled into the doorway itself. Without magic or a good axe, no one was getting inside. Arynn felt a shiver of nervousness run its cold finger down her spine.

Clicking her tongue behind her teeth, Arynn called Khali over, the horse letting out another grunt as he left the garden. Selena sighed at the sight of plants broken beneath the war horse's hooves.

"I don't suppose you have a ride for yourself," Arynn said as she grasped Khali's reins firmly, earning a snort from the beast.

"No. I've had little reason to travel for some years now," she said stepping towards the horse and Arynn nodded.

"Best we walk then. No need to wear Khali out," Arynn said, but kept a hand on the reins, turning to walk with him down the path. "Besides, if you can't ride, and I don't know where to go, walking will be better for everyone."

A rustle of branches caught her attention, and the hunter's hand flew up to the sword jutting over her shoulder. A single smooth motion had the silver edged steel sliding free as her eyes glanced amongst the trees that suddenly seemed too crowded.

It wasn't the druden, they never made a sound until they were upon you. The smell of rot that weaved through the forest answered Arynn's question for her. Just as Selena had feared, the Sluagh had found them.

With no sounds other than their footsteps, the undead slowly came into view. Flesh hung off their bones as slack faces stared at the victims that awaited them. From all around they came, the two women turning slowly to see more corpses walking around the cabin they had just left. Their stench was almost overpowering, brown blood crusted to their forms.

Neither Arynn or Selena said anything, the witch drawing a small dagger from within the confines of her cloak, while the hunter drew her sword. She couldn't fight them all, though most held no weapons.

"Get on the horse," Arynn said firmly without looking at the woman who had saved her.

"I don't know how to ride," Selena reminded her.

"Doesn't matter, just get on," she said, the first of the creatures now stepping free of the tree line, a fine blade held firmly in its hand. It must have been a soldier once, judging by the armour it was clad in, a great crack in the chest showing a possible cause of death.

As Selena climbed up into the saddle, Khali bared his teeth, letting out an angry snort at the approaching dead. Arynn though leapt forward to the nearest one, the dead soldier. Blade rang out against blade and the dance of death was upon them both.

Silver steel scraped against steel as Arynn swung her opponent's blade outwards. A quick twist of forearms and wrists brought her blade crashing down onto the sluagh's elbow. The sword's edge bit deep, pushing mail into flesh but not severing the arm. Thick brown blood seeped through the rings, and the creature launched its head forward for a brutal head butt.

Meeting the strike with the pommel of her sword, she watched the creature's nose crush inwards. It showed no pain, no concern for its well being. She had to turn, blocking a strike from the side, and kicking the top of its knee. Bone gave way and a long slice to its neck nearly took the creature's head off. More gore spilled down its front as Arynn pulled her blade free. The edge scraped against the sluagh's spine, pulling it forward. Yet still it did not fall into a true death.

"Selena, go, now," Arynn yelled, kicking the cracked chest plate to knock the creature back, and spun to meet a second. Her sword whistled in the air, and lopped an arm off in the mid forearm. The severed limb fell to the ground, but the creature came forward without concern.

"What about you?" Selena yelled, as Arynn kicked the second undead creature away, and thrust her sword through the centre of the first's face. A palm behind the pommel through enough force into the strike to send the point crushing through bone and out the back of the skull.

"I'll catch up. Just, hold on," she called out, pulled her blade free, and already having to deal with the second again. A quick slash downwards bit into its thigh, and her feet carried her backwards as a third and fourth monster came at her. One with a dagger, the other a pitchfork clutched in both hands.

Khali let out a whinny. Whether the destrier had reacted on his own, or Selena had figured out how to give commands, Arynn could not see. She had brought her sword up before her, catching the thrust of the long makeshift weapon between two of its prongs. A sharp twist tore the pitchfork from the sluagh's one hand, which reached out for Arynn's throat.

A quick stomp snapped the weapon in half, and she turned fast, swinging her blade in a tight arc. The second monster's head fell from its shoulders as the sword cut its way through, the body collapsing to the ground. But another was already nearly upon her. Arynn rolled backwards, away from the reaching arms. As she came to her feet, she led with the point of her sword, driving it up under the chin of yet another sluagh. Chips of bone broke off on the crown of its head, and Arynn pulled her blade free swiftly.

Khali had broken a hole in the circle when he ran off into the woods, Selena on his back. Broken, trampled bodies lay in his wake, leaving a neat hole for the demon hunter's escape. More and more of the Sluagh was pouring out into the opening, and Khali's hole would not be open long. Arynn burst forward, legs carrying her into the woods.

Twisting her body and ducking low, she avoided the branches that reached out to snag at her. All around her, the silent dead marched towards her. Relentless, uncaring for the bodies left in the witch's front yard.

Boots snapping twigs underfoot, Arynn sprinted as fast as she could. When a sluagh stepped out from behind a tree and levelled a spear at her gut, the hunter twisted out of the way as best she could. The point snagged on a ring in her mail after slicing into the leather overtop. Her momentum tore the spear from the sluagh's hand, but she stumbled in a roll to the ground. The creature turned and came at her, not even going for its own weapon.

A swift kick to its knees had the creature falling, a second sharply delivered strike with her boot had it tumbling to the ground beside her. With her free hand grasping her axe, she pulled it from the loop it hung in, and twisted her body. The axe blade burried in the back of the sluagh with a dull thump. The snap of bone told the hunter she had gotten its spine.

Pulling the weapon free, dripping blood, she looked back from whence she came. The forest was full of the dead, stumbling towards her, wanting her life for their own. The hunter scrambled to her feet, kicking leaves and dirt up behind her. She swiftly slid her axe back into place, and left the paralyzed sluagh were it lay.

By the time she reached the packed dirt road, her lungs were burning, but she had managed to get some space between her and the horde that followed. Selena waited there, sitting on Khali's back, her eyes wide with fear, knuckles white around the reins she clutched. The destrier's hooves were covered in that thick brown blood and scraps of flesh. The horse just snorted as Arynn came forward.

"Good boy," Arynn said, patting Khali's neck affectionately as she sheathed her blade, before gesturing for Selena to release the reins and slide back in the saddle. Just as the witch moved, the hunter climbed up into the saddle.

Wrapping her arms around the hunter, Selena pressed herself tightly to the hunter, who glanced back into the woods. She could see the slow moving forms of the dead moving amongst the trees. Pressing in her heels, Arynn had Khali start off down the road in a hard gallop.

~***~

A few more hours on the road, stalked by the Sluagh all the while, and the trees finally gave way to rolling fields of grass that the country was so well known for. To the north were the mountains and beyond the highlands of Aenkleth. To the south was a broad river that glistened in the late afternoon sun. Staring at it a few moments, Arynn eventually realized it was the Lora River, that ran through Lairdon itself, and east to the Elesan Sea. Even now she could see the furled sails of a trading barge making its way west, and eventually south. Out from Aenkleth, and perhaps freedom from Aalzgoth's newest campaign.

The fact that what looked to be a military vessel of some sort was following behind the barge told Arynn that the rivers were not safe from the dark God's wrath. She did not want to know what he had surging beneath those waters.

Able to breathe easily, she slowed Khali down to a trot. Gradually, she became aware of the sensation of the witch pressed tightly against her back, though the hunter's own armour dispelled much of the sensation of Selena's soft form. If the situation were any different, Arynn would have allowed herself to enjoy the press of breasts to her shoulder blades, delicate yet callused hands wrapped around her stomach.

As it was, the near escape had the hunter on edge, and a smudge of smoke streaking the sky between her and Lairdon had her nerves alight. The two rode in silence along the road until they began skirting a fence that blocked off wide fields of burned crops. Smoke curled up from the ashes, a few poles that had once held scarecrows jutted up from the smouldering rows of what should have been the coming harvest.

"His legions have gotten even closer to the capital than I guessed," Selena said softly, but Arynn said nothing in reply. She knew what was to come, for it would be the second such scene she would bear witness to in as many days.

If the Sluagh and Druden were staging raids so close to Lairdon, she doubted that troops would be able to head west to the Convent of Saint Genevieve. As Khali's hooves carried her further along, she saw the edge of the village itself. Now she saw the bodies, at least the ones too far mutilated or burned to rise again. Left amongst the skeletal remains of homes that had collapsed upon themselves.

Slipping from Khali's back, Arynn slowly walked to the village's centre, glancing at each torn form of each villager, and their children. Blood stained the ground, soaked into packed earth and the rubble of homes. Severed limbs and heads were scattered amongst the bodies, strings of entrails making macabre lines along the ground.

"Oh no," Selena whispered as her eyes settled on the pike in the circle of the village's centre.

Impaled upon it was a woman's head. A strikingly beautiful woman in life, though a pair of horns curled from her forehead and over her hair. Her eyes and tongue had been torn out from her face, leaving crusted blood running over her cheeks and her chin. Arynn frowned at the sight.

"What was a succubus doing here?" she said, as Selena slipped from Khali's body. The destrier snorted, uncomfortable amongst these ruins.

The witch moved towards a large ruin, and found a body trapped beneath a heavy wooden beam. Covered entirely in black chainmail, except for her back, the dead woman lay at what had once been the entrance, a bloodied sword still in hand. The stump of her neck was ragged, and the leathery wings emerging from her back were tattered and broken.

"Fighting, and trying to protect these people," Selena said, getting Arynn's attention.

The hunter looked at the slain demon, and the bodies behind her. All children. Before her, dark druden blood was splashed all over. It appeared the hand maiden of Lyxa had fought off a good number of the beasts before succumbing. She had never imagined the day would come that she felt respect for a demon, but here it was.

Kneeling by the body, Selena carefully pried the sword from the fingers of the fallen succubus. She brought it over to Arynn, hilt resting on one palm, blade on the other. The hunter looked upon the sword, forged with the near black metal of Hell, with veins of earthen silver running through the blade. Runes she couldn't read were carved on either side of the fuller, running from the rain guard to the midpoint.

The cross guard itself had two prongs that curled like talons aimed towards the point, and supple leather was wrapped around the grip. The piece was capped in a raven's head pommel, with twin gems for eyes.

"Designed to kill the damned," Arynn said, looking once again at the succubus, and the bodies of those she had died defending.

Selena nodded slowly, and pulled the sword to herself, taking off her cloak to wrap up the weapon, hiding it from view. Arynn moved again to Khali, and took the horse's reins in hand. She started to walk through the village, keeping her eyes straight ahead. She had seen enough death in her life, that she didn't need more memories.

Following quietly behind, Selena hugged the blade of her Goddess, her cheeks glistening. She said not a word.

The demon hunter could only think of how monumental her task had grown.

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