Nila helped X stand up, as he limped and struggled to balance himself. The redheaded elf took the Fireball scroll out of his pocket and turned his gaze toward the road. With no second thoughts, he threw the scroll into the air and, looking at the incoming carriage, chanted the incantation: “Ha’rin sello’fe du!”

From the scroll, fire erupted, rapidly growing in size. The searing ball of flames lunged at the carriage, impacting the wooden transport before exploding safely in the middle of the road.

“Nila,” X knelt before her. His hands clutched his knees and his face twisted in discomfort. “Take it out!” The elf stared at the piece of wood embedded in his shoulder.

“Stay still... one, two--” Nila removed the lodged piece of wood from his shoulder. 

“Ah! It stings,” X exclaimed before telling the female gnome to wrap his shoulder in clothing.

The veiled dark elf remained seated on the ground, flanked by her two protectors who crouched beside her. They helped the elderly female to her feet. The feralis katnip had one arm over his partner’s shoulder, and a trail of blood dripped from the dogoon’s leg. 

In that instant, a painful scream captured everyone’s attention.

“What have you done to my forest!?” The dryad had arrived.

Every creature turned their heads upon hearing her guttural scream, yet only Del’vario members assumed defensive positions.

“It wasn't us, dryad!” the redheaded elf exclaimed as soon as he saw her.

The trio understood they were done for if they couldn’t assuage her bloodlust. 

“Oh, great one, hear us out! Our resident elf speaks the truth!” Nila bowed her head, her words ringing with dread.

“We even protected your forest! Look at the flaming carriage now safely burning in the middle of the road! We stopped it from engulfing your forest in fire!” X argued their case.

Ignoring Del’vhario’s words, her eyes skimmed the scene where the carriage had crashed into a tree. Like a seasoned murder investigator she examined the damage inflicted upon her woods. Her fingers trembled with anxiety and anger, while her vines slowly surrounded all creatures present. 

“Hal’lei fuguar de. Ikse lei dei,” the young female dark elf communicated with the dryad. However, a frown mixed with anger and spite formed on the dryad’s face. Sensing the escalating danger, the two young dark elven escorts stepped before the Seeresss.

Nature’s thoughts twisted into a violent uproar. A voice, gradually louder, spoke, and the dryad, with an attentive ear, listened to the soothing tone; kill them all, nature’s murderers. But a floral scream interrupted the dryad’s musings. Her eyes shifted towards the two bandits. A flower suffered under the paw of the dogoon.

“Step off that flower!” X warned him.

“Arf?” The dogoon noticed the redheaded elf’s stressed demeanor but disregarded his words of caution. “Arf mean woof shit?” he quipped before crushing the flower underfoot, twisting his right foot over it.

Several vines pierced through the feralis’s torso. “Arrghh!” He suffered as the vines tore him apart, splitting the dogoon in half. Guts, flesh and blood burst out, raining down over the shocked spectators.

“Die! The minced bandit’s partner rushed towards her, daggers in hand, and combat art buffed. The katnip had dashed steps away from the dryad when a vine shot straight up, veered left, and struck his body, blasting him violently towards a tree where a branch impaled his brain.

Nature’s eyes fell on the survivors. Her strained mind could no longer contain her rage nor thirst for revenge. A torrent of emotions snowballed in rapid succession, too overwhelming to stop. The sharp ends of her vines jittered in the direction of the survivors.

X took a resolute step forward. “We are not nature’s enemies! We’re not your enemies!”

Her head pivoted and locked eyes with X. Her fiery gaze ensured that no further communication between them was possible. The dryad commanded a vine, blade first, to lunge into his head. The thick vegetation moved too quickly for a shout to escape him. Her action was followed by a shadow, and then a thud echoed through her forest. Khratzika stood before the redheaded elf, a stream of blue blood tracing down from her lower back. Rolled up, she had spun and hurled herself just in time to intercept the attacking vine. The bladed edge of the dryad’s green appendage grazed her exoskeleton, but most of the force was deflected upward.

More vines rose behind her, poised to attack. But before the dryad could command them several large explosions erupted over the hill. Dense black smoke blanketed the skies at its summit, carrying with it a distinct chemical scent that invaded their nostrils. Not only did creatures burn, but also the field of flowers on the valley above was engulfed in flames—not her forest, but her nature. 

A high-pitch roar escaped her lips. Blurring amongst her vines, she vanished towards the condemned ecocidal creatures.

“Fuck! I nearly pissed myself,” Mau admitted, his expression mirroring that of a death row inmate who had just escaped execution—incredulous, yet marked by a triumphant smile.

“I told you to stay back at the farmhouse,” X scolded Khratzika. The previous night she had asked him if she could assist them, only to receive a negative answer. However, the dreg had followed their trail. “But it’s good to see you.” He offered her a smile before redirecting his attention to the crashed carriage. 

“We had luck, just as we deserve. But let’s not press it further. Let’s bail the fuck outta here,” Nila spoke.

“No,” X countered firmly.

“Let it go, Ekk’s. After she’s done with them, she’s coming for us. You’d be dead already if not for Khratzika,” Mau pointed out.

“Not yet. Search for the chests,” the redheaded elf insisted.

“But--”

“Search for them! The more time we waste here, the more we risk!” X interrupted the gnomes’ natural instinct to flee.

Without any further delay, the gnomes rummaged through the scattered remains of the carriage and gathered three chests. 

“Fullua vin dal!” The Seeress’ escorts logged their complaints, but their words fell upon deaf ears. “Incria ser’in trei!”

“Are we dragging the chests?” Mau asked.

“No! We don’t have time for that!” X took a deep breath, steadied himself, and turned to Mau. “We open them. Unless you want to carry clothes through the forest again?”

“Fuck no!” Nila replied.

“Then hurry up,” X urged.

“There’s a problem though. The glowing chest has a magik lock which, well, I simply can’t break. And as for the other two, I didn’t bring my tools-- Hey, don’t look at me like that! I’m not a fucking Seeress like her!” Mau pointed his thick thumb at the elderly dark elf.

“Pass me some dusts... of the nutty ones.” X couldn't be deterred. Mau reached into his left pocket, pulled out a shell, and carefully split it in two. The gnome handed one half to X, who took a generous amount of that dust and inserted it into the two locks. 

“Easy there with the dusts, Ekk’s,” Mau cautioned.

“What are you doing?” Nila asked with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

“Trigger it,” the redheaded elf said to Mau.

Mau and Nila watch, half in amazement and half in shock, at such a simple solution. “Huh,” Mau sighed. He approached the chests and spoke an elven incantiation, blowing up the locks.

“Jurl gan’je sua hirad!” the male dark elf shouted.

“Leave our chests alone! Those are ours!” the female dark elf protested.

The easily excitable gnomes took out their weapons and aimed them at the dark elves, who had behaved quietly and passively enough that Del’vhario’s members had forgotten about them. 

“You were saying?” X walked to the chests and opened them one by one.

The Seeress’ escorts moved their hands to their sheathed daggers, ready to protect their belongings. But the Seeress placed a hand on each of her escort’s arms and shook her head.

“That’s fucking right!” Nila yelled, her arrogant eyes fixed on them.

“Don’t even think about heroics. My Skull Ripper here has your faces engraved,” Mau warned after loading a shell into his weapon.

“How’s our haul looking?” Nila asked.

Silence was the answer.

“Ekk’s?”

“Useless clothes and papers! Nothing!” X’s desperate tone unnerved the gnomes.

“Don’t fuck with us!” Nila shouted.

“Damn it!” Mau’s spirits sank. “Was all of this for nothing!?”

“The glowing chest!” X rushed at it, but a magikal barrier stopped him from even touching the chest. “I cannot... Darn it!”

“I told you, it’s a magikal lock,” Mau said.

“Hey, we gave it a shot, Ekk’s. Just let it go,” Nila’s attention darted between their present predicament and the sounds of genocide echoing from the hills, where dark storm clouds were gathering. 

“She’s right,” Mau chimed in. “Our lives are more valuable than this shit. She’ll be back soon!”

X walked over to Mau.

“What?”

The redheaded elf took Mau’s Skull Ripper from his hands, stepped towards the Seeress, and targeted her head.

“Open the chest!” X ordered the dark elves.

Her escorts, crouched beside her, were about to attack when the Seeress grabbed their wrists, stopping them. Treaty-bound, their hands were tied.

“Aren’t you listening to me?! Open it!” X’s frustration escalated as he repeated his demand.

“Ekk’s! The damned hill has gone silent. I think the dryad’s finished,” Nila remarked while staring at the hill ahead.

“Motherfucker’s near... I can feel her presence. Let’s get out of here!” Mau seconded her female companion.

“These fuckers--! Arggh!” Pain struck X like nails piercing his stomach, rending his insides, as though sharp teeth were gnawing at him from within. Despite the agony, the redheaded elf fought to remain on his feet. “Think I’m joking! Trigger it, Mau!” X’s voice thundered. He trained the male gnome’s weapon right between the Seeress’ eyes, over her veil.

Mau understood. He approached the fiery redheaded elf and began chanting in elven. The engravings on his Skull Ripper emitted a faint yellow glow, with green lightning crackling at its barrel.

“Stop! Stop! I’ll open it!” The male dark elf surrendered, and immediately Mau ceased his incantation.

“Then get to it!” X said with a wide grin on his face.

The dark elf glanced at his two companions before proceeding to unlock the magikally protected chest. “Sudo jeu’diw kasecadic,” he uttered, causing the magikal lock to vanish. X advanced towards the chest, Skull Ripper aimed at the Seeress, while Mau followed closely behind. Together, they sifted through the contents of the chest. 

“Are we fucking rich?” Nila’s question hung in the air, with Khratzika standing by her side.

Meanwhile, Mau and X continued to rummage desperately through an assortment of wooden figurines, dried herbs, religious clothing and documents.

“Ah! Look at this!” Mau exclaimed, holding a large gemstone in his hands. Its size rivaled his head, and it looked crystal clear, polished, and masterfully cut. Like an infection, smiles spread among the member of Del’vhario. 

“Yes, at last!” 

X was nearly done examining the contents when he discovered a parchment, neatly tucked between treated leather. 

“Hey, Mau!” X handed his Skull Ripper back to him.

“What’s that?” the male gnome inquired.

X opened the folder and the piece of paper inside slipped down. He caught it barehanded but felt a searing pain in his fingers. “Ah! Hell--!” He involuntarily dropped it and smoke began to rise up from the patch of grass it touched.

“Damn it, Ekk’s! That’s her grass!” Nila shouted.

Using the leather folder as protection, X picked up the parchment.

“Holy shit, that’s an Acid Storm scroll!” Nila grinned, visibly excited.

“Mother of...” Mau forgot about their perilous situation as lust shone in a corner of his soul. “I’m not sure which one is more expensive, the gemstone or the scroll.”

“Neither of them,” X stared at the Seeress. “But it doesn’t matter. We’ve got what we came for!” He turned towards the gnomes. “Let’s bail! Del’vhario’s tithe has been collected!”

“Thank you, dark elves, for your eager donation,” Mau teased them.

“The gnome race always comes out on top, cocksuckers!” Nila yelled, ecstatic.“To hell with all of you mutant sub-races!”

“Elf! What’s your name?!” the female dark elf shouted. Her voice blasted at him the anger her body could not.

X opened his arms, blood streaming down his shoulder. “Haven’t you been paying attention. I’m X the elf, we are Del’vhahrio, and this is our turf!”

“Mau and Nila!” the female gnome echoed the elf’s introductions. “Two fucking gnome names to remember!”

“Yeah!”

“Del’vhario!” X quelled short their jubilant spirits. “Run!”

The four creatures left everything behind and fled with their loot in hand, delving deeper into her forests. However, their tired bodies couldn’t maintain full speed. Khratzika stepped before them, halting their escape.

“What is it?” X asked.

“On. Get,” the dreg replied.

“Eh?” 

“She’s suggesting we ride on top of her,” Nila explained.

“You sure?” X inquired, gazing at the chit’tan.

Khratzika smiled. “Yes.”

With the dreg’s tendrils on the ground, the Del’vhario crew settled on her back. X took the lead position, holding on to her face tendrils. The gnomes sat behind him. The trio gripped onto Khratzika as she dashed through the forest. Blood splashed from her wound every now and then.

“Are you okay?” X asked the dreg.

“I fine.”

“Where should we go?” Nila inquired.

“The farmhouse?” Mau pondered.

“Hell no. Forget about that haunted place,” X exclaimed. “Khratzika, take us to the Felpein Rive, straight ahead!”

*

Del’vhario’s crew, plus one, found respite in a small clearing inside this new forest that wasn’t hers. They rested after having eaten a small beast Mau and Nila had hunted earlier. X ripped a strip of fabric from his shirt and asked Nila to help him tightly bind it around his shoulder. His gaze shifted to Khratzika. “Are you alright?”

She nodded.

“You sure?”

She nodded again.

They didn’t linger for long and continued deeper into their forced exile.

Having crossed the Felpein River, the quartet continued their exodus into quieter and simpler lands. Their top priority remained the same: escaping the dryad’s wrath as soon as possible.

“Do you think she’ll come for us? Mau asked the elf.

“Beats me...” 

“Maybe those sub-races back there got rid of her crazy ass,” Mau spoke.

“I don’t think we’re that lucky. Nah... she’s different... I’ve never seen a fucking dryad like that,” Nila said. 

“This whole situation is giving me goosebumps. Not a good sign... Let’s hurry up. She could be looking for us,” Mau chimed in.

“So... where’s this place you’ve been selling us as the promised land?” X interrupted the gnomes’ chatter.

“Hell no! I never said that,” Mau quickly shot back. “I said it’s somewhere we could... rest. But I don’t know... I’m having seconds thoughts about it. Let’s choose somewhere else.”

“Have you been there, Nila?” X inquired.

“No. It’s his well-kept secret, like a hidden fornication lair or something equally revolting,” Nila replied, her face contorting with disgust. 

“It’s not that either, it’s just... Alright, if you want to see it, let’s go then,” Mau spoke steadfastly, though a sliver of doubt crept into the back of his mind. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. And I told you, we’re still several days away from there. We need to venture deeper into the territory of the small-brained feralis, and then there are the dregs... fucking creeps, all of them.”

“Hey!” Nila protested.

“Oh well, not all Khratzika, but a lot... I mean, those mindless races....” His female gnome companion shook her head. “What?” Mau asked.

Khratzika gazed at them unperturbed and continued walking.

It was a race against time to get as far away from the dryad as possible. The four of them walked nervously, still mindful not to harm anything in this unfamiliar forest. They couldn't be certain these woods didn’t belong to her, or could become hers. As they ventured further, the woods grew thicker, presenting an increasing array of flora to safely navigate. All the while the unsettling sounds of feral beasts disrupted their focus.

The first night descended upon this forest, and the three members of Del’vhario found no respite. Sleep eluded them each time they closed their eyes. She could be lurking anywhere, her vines ready to strike them from the undergrowth. Every branch looked murderous, stalking them, listing their every offense. 

“Hey, Ekk’s,” Nila called to the elf.

“What is it?”

“You think... this lush greenery is snitching on us?”

“Snitches get stitches... Not you forest... Just saying,” Mau said.

“Fuck, did you hear that!?” Nila jumped at some creeping noises. Something resembling an owl took flight nearby.

“Don’t get jumpy... we gnomes fear nothing,” Mau said to her.

“Yeah... we don’t...” Nila cast glances at every shadowy green corner.

[Boo!]

“Holy...!”

“Everything all right, Ekk’s?” Mau inquired.

“Yes... just a nightmare,” the redheaded elf replied.

[Jumpy? I’d bet my everything that you’re actually enjoying this. It’s uncannily similar, isn’t it? Once more, fleeing from forces that can and will crush you... someday. Out in the wilds, eating anything you can get your hands on, jumping at every sound, every shadow... stress slowly festering inside your being. Adrenalin shot over the flimsiest of excuses. Yeah, I think you’re enjoying this. A tad too much. Creep.]

You finished?

[I never even started.]

But you’re not wrong though...

[Of course I’m not... It’s merely a statement of facts.]

Who cares about that. I’m talking about the demon-gods. I’m not supposed to be here. Alive again. They made a mistake.

[Are you just figuring that out?]

And I’m going to show them just how profoundly horrendous was their mistake.

[I bet you will.]

Half awake and half asleep, X’s thoughts circled around the goodness of the demon-gods and how he would repay their kindness.

Before dawn, after barely sleeping at all, they decided to continue their journey. Deprived of a good night’s rest, the minds of the weary travelers conjured vines in every shadow, menacing weeds, and noises that haunted their every step. But what truly followed them were storm clouds that poured down rain on the four creatures, all searching for a safe place to lay their exhausted minds to rest. Under a sleep-deprived regiment, growing paranoia and with no supplies, after three more days, they finally arrived.