Chapter 20 – Nightbeast

Crys sat daydreaming about Pyre as the train continued its journey, the carriage in relative silence. Fairweather’s crossbows hung on the weapon rack, still primed, and she sat on Clocky’s lap, resting into him, Clocky hugging her back. Vorsce sat near Crys, weapon holstered and his eyes closed, while Dudley sat at one of the tables, intently staring out the nearby window, not that there was much to see in the mists. Alison had taken to pacing up and down the carriage, stopping to check out windows each cycle as well.

She wasn't sure why Pyre had suddenly came back up to her mind. Perhaps watching the others in action had triggered it, as Pyre had been a warrior after all, and in that battle she had glimpsed something of what Pyre could have been. Well, relatively, as Pyre had always been a hand to hand fighter, rather than a user of weapons. Crys had always played female characters where possible, as she identified better with them, and enjoyed playing them a lot more than male characters (expect where the character was forced into a romance with a guy – those bits she hated with a passion). In the social events such as the conventions and one off’s she was usually lucky enough to be able to get a female character out of the pool available, or be able to choose it’s gender, while for the campaigns that is where she usually navigated.

Her first real character had been the fairy from Millie’s one-shot that she had been able to transfer over into the following campaign. Il’isae Lightwing, a light fairy of course, one of the last of her kind. The shift of fae kind towards the more stereotypical trickster and glamour society that people were use to had meant that some kinds of magic had been rapidly fading from existence, and hence so to did those who were associated or born from it. Il’isae had spent a lot of the campaign trying to find a way for her to survive even with the changes, and she had succeeded, though in the end she was not the same being that she had been in the beginning. She had evolved into something else entirely.

A lot of her characters had been healers or those in support roles. Heavy on magic use, light on the physical offence and defence. Utility and diversity over combat prowess. Even in non fantasy games it was the same. They’d usually had a weapon as well, either a staff or sword, or equivalent for the modern or sci-fi settings, but it had mostly been there for backup rather than for anything else, their physical combat skills usually quite weak. It had worked well with the group too, most people preferring to play the more offensive styles of characters, or a hybrid, even Rachael (especially Rachael actually), so his character choice was always welcome. Someone else to do the essential and oft viewed as boring tasks, while they threw themselves into the heat of battle.

Pyre though had been completely different. She was both a mage and a warrior, her magic amplifying her combat ability, forged through the heat of battle. Literally. Lynnal, a young squire from a poor family, serving the local lord in order to pay off her family’s debt, had disobeyed her Knight’s orders in order to save some civilians who had been caught in the crossfire of a bitter battle between rival houses. Though mortally wounded by the one whom she served, she had continued to do what she saw as the right thing. She had struck a cord with a fire elemental bonded to one of the opposing house’s mages, and in a moment of desperation to defend a young child, they had merged together, becoming one. Becoming Pyre, warrior of fire.

Of course there would have been divine intervention there, as such things don’t normally occur, unless there is something special in your bloodline, or something else in manipulating things in the background. She had never found out the why of that event, the stories of the campaign taking precedence over a plot point from her background story that Millie had had a hand in creating. But she hadn’t minded. She’d probably had the most fun playing Pyre of all of her characters, well, right up until Paul had taken over. She had even purchased a figurine that closely matched the character, and gone to the effort of painting it. She was quite pleased with how it had turned out. It wasn’t perfect, far from it, but it had given Pyre that little bit of extra life.

Pyre had been strong, confident, and capable. Proud in who and what she was. Well, she hadn’t always shown that properly when she had been role-playing her, you know, shy boy not admitting who she truly is, but in her mind at least that is what she had been. To some degree Pyre was what she wished she could be like. An ideal of herself. Not just mentally and emotionally, but also physically. It would certainly be nice to be both beautiful and strong.

and yet you are her...

And that of course is also why it hurt so much when she had died in the way that she had. Killed by the GM’s whim because of some bigoted notions. By an element completely outside of her universe. The timing couldn’t have been worse either, given the events that had followed, and she’d never really had time to grieve her either. It’s an odd thing, probably quite weird too, wanting to grieve for a fictional character that you had created and played, and yet, to her, Pyre had been a very real part of her life. So while she had not had that closure, she also wasn’t sure that she wanted it either. Perhaps here, in this time, Pyre could live on as part of her. It certainly had an appeal to it. In a different set of circumstances perhaps she could have even taken the name Pyre for herself.

A jolt through the carriage brought Crys back to the now, a mug bouncing off the bench-top and smashing on the floor. Fairweather’s ears twitched, and she suddenly sat upright.

“We’re travelling too fast for downhill aren’t we?” she questioned, worry in her voice.

Clocky’s eyes went wide, and he bolted upright, Fairweather gracefully landing beside him.

“&#%!@! Something is toying with us. How did I not notice. Stop the train!” Not waiting for a response, Clocky sprinted towards the front of the carriage, Fairweather on his tail.

‘Whatever it is, it was using magic. I can sense residual traces...’ Spectre also sounded concerned.

“But there isn’t meant to be any real magic out here...”

‘No, there isn’t... Or should I say, no there wasn’t. Now though...’

Crys couldn’t help feeling panicked. How long had whatever it was been manipulating them? She guessed probably from the time of the tree on the tracks. But they had double checked and spotted nothing.

Vorsce had gone to the back of the carriage, opening a panel there, and was busy turning a wheel. The carriages emergency break she assumed, a screeching sound emanating from beneath them, and a shower of sparks visible.

“It’s still pulling us!” Vorsce yelled, giving up on the break. “If we can’t stop the engine we’re going to need to decouple.” Opening the hatch at the back he swung himself out.

“We’re going to fast for that...” Alison stated, her voice masked with fear. “&#%!@, I hope Mason’s alright. Nothing else is.” She then looked at Crys. “Come on kid, we need to get to the engine. Be prepared to brace for impact at any point. And hope whatever it is doesn’t get to us before that...”

Crys stole a quick look out the window of the carriage. The mists were still thick and she could barely see anything out them, but the shades of the mist implied that they were passing through a narrow section. If they were to come off the tracks now it may not be too bad. Once they were in an open section and hit a bend though it would be a different story. She then turned to follow Alison, rumbling going through the carriage on top of the screeching of the brakes and the associated shower of sparks. A glint took her eye, and she spotted Clocky’s gun sitting on the table still. She’d never seen him without it. In all of the confusion and panic he must have forgotten about it. She scooted over and picked it up. He’d likely need it given the circumstances.

it’s here

The carriage jumped, knocking Crys off her feet as the roof exploded in a shower of splinters, a large black form landing in the middle of the open area of the carriage, remains of the chairs and tables flying everywhere.

Wolves, why does it always have to be wolves.

Standing in front of Crys, as she she tried to scramble to her feet, growling menacingly with fangs bared, was a large wolf like creature. It was easily her height, its fur wisps of darkness that danced chaotically, muscles bulging underneath. It’s fangs were a silver colour, glistening in the misty light, its eyes a deep amber colour. Sickly flames seemed to lick at its tail as it stared straight at her.

Fear clawed at her, and she glared back. This time, she would not freeze up.

The Dark Wolf lunged, jaws aiming to tear her shoulder open, Crys managing to tumble out of the way it time. Alison charged in past her, sword drawn, the blade deflecting the claw of the wolf as it swiped at them both, pushing Alison back. She swore as she barely managed to parry an attempted bite from the creature, a counter strike drawing blood on its face. It snapped at her again, Alison just managing to dodge backwards, her sword not in the right position to parry. The carriage was possibly the worst place for them to fight in at the moment. Alison had little room to use her sword, and the size of the creature gave it a distinct advantage.

It’s attention momentarily away from her, Crys looked down, noticing that she still was holding Clocky’s gun. She was still useless with a sword, and trying to fight the Dark Wolf with it would likely get her killed, but perhaps she might be able to help Alison with the pistol instead.

that toy is not really our style

but we’ll make do with what we have

Trying to steady her nerves, Crys gripped the pistol with both hand, holding it straight out in front of her, pointing it at the Dark Wolf. The barrel wavered a bit as she watched, waiting. Alison attempted to attack the wolf again, the sword biting into its arm as it blocked it, her swing lacking its usual power. Alison was then forced to roll to the side to avoid a retaliatory attack, swearing as she collided with the remains of a table. The wolf was open. Praying to whoever was out there that it would work, Crys pulled the trigger.

The gun recoiled in her hands as a bolt of light shot out of the barrel, impacting with the wolf and pushing it back, deep red blood spilling on the floor. Gritting her teeth and bringing the pistol back down, Crys pulled the trigger again, another shot impacting with the wolf, shoving it into the side of the carriage. She pulled the trigger a third time, it’s eyes locking onto her as it leapt out of the carriage and onto the roof of the truck behind. She fired another shot, and it jumped again, out of sight.

“We need to get to the engine while we have time. Vorsce was down that way...” Alison grabbed her, pulling her back up the carriage, Crys complying, tucking the pistol into the harness and then following. Alison’s arm was bleeding. The wolf had managed to wound her in the end, getting through her armour. Another jolt went through the carriage.

Alison opened a secondary door at the front of the carriage, smokey wind rushing past them both, the sound of the train suddenly intense. Alison jumped over the coupling onto a plate on the engine’s tender, Crys following suit, trying to not look down at the track rushing by beneath them. Grabbing a hold of the railing they then made their way along the side of the tender towards the engine itself. Fairweather swung onto the plate as they neared the engine, Clocky following behind.

“They’re dead, and the brakes been damaged,” she said as loudly as she could, tears in her eyes. “We’ve tried to engage it as much as possible, but there is nothing more we can do.”

“We’re going to derail at the next open bend,” Clocky stated, shouting over the noise. “Wait behind the tender till we’re clear of the Narrows. Dudley’s still trying to slow it down and will jump from there.”

“We may not have that option Clocky,” Alison shouted in reply. “There’s at least one Nightbeast on the train...”

Clocky frowned, closing his eyes briefly, tears of blood forming. “We’ll have time. It won’t attack till after we’re on solid ground again,” he stated. Alison nodded, ushering Crys back around the tender, Fairweather and Clocky following suit.

Another jolt travelled through the train, Crys holding onto the tender for dear life. The wheels on one side of the train briefly left the track as they went through a mild bend, the locomotive scrapping against the rocky side of the narrows, the plate on which they had just been standing being sheared off, before it slipped back on again. Spectre had perched itself on her shoulder she noticed, gripping tightly.

“Any idea how much further?” Alison asked.

“I’m really hoping that we are near the end of the Narrows, or we’ll die to a firebomb instead,” Clocky answered. “I don’t know how much time passed while we were unawares. Was the beast you fought capable of such?”

Alison shook her head.

“Then we have multiple enemies on the train. I’m going have Sean’s scalp for this.”

“You’re sure he’s responsible?” Alison queried.

“Yes. Stupid brat. We’ll have our proof soon enough.”

Another jolt went through the train, sparks showering them as the tender again scrapped against the wall of the Narrows, Crys holding her breath as the wheels of the carriage threatened to stay permanently off the track before the skipped back into place again.

The carriage door opened, Vorsce coming into view. Alison sighed in relief. “At least you’re fine.”

“We won’t be for long. That thing is making it’s way back up the train...” he replied.

“That’s our cue,” Clocky stated, starting to move. “Jump as soon as there is space.”

Crys moved around to the other side of the tender, the others following behind her. She was relieved to see that the mists were thinning, and the walls of the valley moving further out. A shudder went through the train, but this time it stayed on the tracks. Looking ahead she could see a noticeable curve in the tracks.

tuck and roll...

“NOW!”

Having no clue as to what she should actually be doing, Crys leapt from the train, the ground still flowing by underneath her. She was after all still travelling as fast as the train. Hoping that it would work, she attempted to roll as she landed, and it sort of worked. She felt the landing, pain going through her body as she them tumbled for meters along the dirt floor of the valley, flattening a number of plants as she did so. She came to a halt on top of another one, branches and leaves tangled up in her hair, Spectre having been thrown clear, now running back towards her.

Unsteadily standing up she watched in horror as the engine left the tracks, bouncing off the rails as it then slid across the ground away from them, carving up the ground before it slammed into the opposite wall of the valley, the carriage and all of the trucks following suit before jackknifing behind it, the coupling snapping between some of them as they were then pushed around and past the engine. Looking around she could see that all of the others in various stages of standing up from their exit from the train. Except for Mason. He was nowhere to be seen. Had he been among those Clocky had said had died? She didn’t want to think about that right now.

Fairweather seemed to have landed the best, her feline nature likely helping with that, daggers at the ready. Clocky looked a little worse for the wear, more blood running down his face. He had drawn his sword. Vorsce looked like he had collected more branches than Crys had, his sword also drawn as he walked over to Clocky. Alison stood confidently where she had come to a stop, the tip of her sword resting on the ground. Dudley was a bit further down, and while he had his daggers drawn and was walking towards them, he appeared to be limping.

One of the trucks exploded in a shower of kindling, the Dark Wolf bursting out of it and landing in front of the group. Crys shuddered as it turned its head towards her. It looked more feral than before, his eye’s now blazing with intent and hate, blood seeping out of three wounds.

engage,

it remembers what you did

they’ll support you

Crys blinked. Something was off. Not surprising given how she’d landed. She shook her head, and then pulled out Clocky’s pistol, fumbling with it before she managed to grip it again firmly in her hands, the Dark Wolf howling with rage, launching itself towards her. Knowing that she wasn’t going to have the luxury to try and aim, she pointed it in it’s general direction and pulled the trigger. The recoil was less this time, a bolt of white streaking towards the wolf. It attempted to dodge, manoeuvring enough that the shot impacted it’s flank, blood spraying behind it but its charge unchanged. Crys fired again, the shot going wide as she tried to dodge the wolf’s fangs at the same time. Stumbling, she fell backwards, Alison appearing beside her, a powerful swing cutting deep into the side of the wolf’s face. Clocky came in from behind it, his sword cutting into its leg, while Vorsce ran around to stand defensively beside her. Grateful for the assistance, Crys scrambled to her feet.

Snarling, the wolf ineffectively swung at Alison, her blade blocking the attack as Clocky followed up with another attack from behind. Realising the position it was in, the Dark Wolf leapt over them, landing on the other side of Crys. Spinning around, she lost no time in loosing off another couple of shots, the first tearing into its shoulder, while the second smashed into it’s face, it’s right eye a smouldering mess. Howling in rage, it lunged at Crys faster than she had thought possible. She attempted to dodge out of the way, but she was too slow. Instinctively reacting, she fired off another shot as its maw started to close around her arm, landing true and pushing it back just enough that it bit down on just the pistol instead, tearing it from her hand and shattering it, smoke emanating from its mouth. Vorsce stepped in front of her, sword cutting deep into its throat, as Fairweather landed on top of it’s back, her daggers impaling into its other eye before she leapt clear. The wolf staggered as Alison and Clocky both then followed up, blades digging in deep as the creature slumped to the ground, unmoving, blood pooling out.

“Stay alert,” Clocky commanded, pulling his blade free. “There may be more.”

“Though I really hope not,” he then added.

i wasn’t sure why she chose you to be one of the champions

you are untrained, and naive in almost everything

your age was soft.

but you have shown courage, determination, willingness, desire,

and have overcome your fears,

even when knowing your own powerlessness.

and your potential, well both of your potentials,

is on par with the dawn.

however you cannot remain as you are,

you need to be complete.

awakened.

for now, a gift,

a part of me,

a part of what you desire.

the rest you will have to claim as your own.

Crys stood up, looking around. She couldn’t see any more of the creatures, and it appeared neither could any of the others. Dudley had now reached them, and he was definitely not in the best shape.

“Are you alright?” Fairweather asked as she walked over to Crys, flicking the blood off her daggers.

“I’m...” Crys started, before she suddenly felt a heavy impact on her mind, thoughts, feelings and memories flooding it, overwhelming her senses. She felt blood start to leak from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, before her vision became blurry and she became dizzy and nauseous. Fairweather caught her as she collapsed, the world fading from view.

Not again, she sighed internally.

mogust

The events in this chapter were a long time coming, as I worked towards them, in particular the last part. There is a lot of importance to certain aspects of what occurred, but it will take quite some time before it becomes apparent exactly what it is. I am quite happy how it all worked out though, especially given that it was Crys' first fight.

Of course there are other things that are also being worked towards, and the next major milestone is almost within reach, and I think I am only a chapter or two from getting them written.

In other news, the commission of the two main characters from this story is now complete, and hence we have a new cover. I am very pleased with how it turned out (many thanks to aldhendra for his awesome work), and here is a larger version of it (though still not the original size):

Let me know what you think :)

Yes, it doesn't quite match how the characters currently look, but there are many things to happen yet ^^

As always, thanks for reading. Feel free to comment.

Next chapter (21 - Illicit Cargo) will be up early next week.