Hunter's Bond, page 14
“At least we won’t have to fight them here,” Mira said, brushing back the fronds of a small tree as she made a path away from the Molclepts’ home.
Arheis was thankful for that, too. Even just a short distance away, the smell was bearable again, and he was able to breathe without too much trouble. He kept the cloth tucked away and remained on his guard, his shield held at his side while his spear was pointed toward the ground. Stealth wasn’t exactly his forte, and it didn’t seem to be anyone else’s, either. The three of them moved like a herd of elephants through the brush, with branches snagging them and scraping against armor as they went.
As they reached a dense copse of trees, Zindar stopped them suddenly, his ears pivoting toward a sound Arheis soon heard, too. There was a chittering coming from above, like a strange mix between a bird and a monkey. When he looked up, he saw dark shapes occupying the branches above them. Bigger shapes than he’d expected. They were about twice the size of the largest raccoon he’d ever seen, with large, hand-like feet that clung to the branches. Outside of that, he couldn’t make out too many details beyond the fact that there were three of them.
“On your guard,” Mira said, taking a step back as she reached for her crossbow and loaded it. This close, Arheis noticed that the bolt she put into the weapon wasn’t what he would call standard. At the tip there was a sachet filled with a fine powder.
Were they not actively in the middle of a combat situation, he might have asked about it. Instead he readied himself for battle, holding his shield to protect an attack from above. Zindar moved beside him, the device that bound his spirit glowing with a soft yellow light. As he kept his focus on the creatures, the crossbow’s mechanism made a loud thunk, sending the bolt flying into the trees. But decidedly not into any of the Molclept. Instead it stuck into the trunk, the tip of the bolt piercing the sachet and releasing the powder into the air.
Arheis understood the intention soon after when the three Molclept fled from the site of it, screeching as though she’d just set them on fire. Two of them jumped down, and Zindar sprang into action, striking at one of them with his sharp, metallic blades as yellow light crackled into lightning-like energy in and around his bracer. It shot up his arm, seeming to infuse the weapon on his right hand with the spirit’s power, and the smell of burnt fur filled Arheis’ nose as the Pruvari struck a quick blow before dancing back to avoid the attack of another Molclept.
The third creature jumped down from the trees in apparent solidarity with its kin, but it landed right in front of Arheis and focused on him exclusively. Now that it wasn’t obscured by the leaves or cast in shadows by the sun, he was able to get a better look at the creature. The hands were very raccoon-like, but that was where the similarities ended.
It was around the size of a large sloth, with the same kind of body shape. The fur was sleek and almost greasy in appearance—maybe to repel rainwater and allow it to swim with ease. The coloring was primarily brown, but with black rings around its legs, tail, and neck, along with softer white fur on its belly.
The thing might have been called cute, if not for its two most dominant features. The eerily human-like claw-hands he’d already known about. The fingers curled against the ground in front of Arheis, in the same position someone might take to scrape their nails down a chalkboard. Only these nails were not blunted and appropriate for a school situation. They were horrifically long and curled, with a yellow tint to the thick keratin.
Those he’d already imagined thanks to the prints and the amount of damage they’d caused to the larder. What he hadn’t anticipated was the long, anteater-like snout with its mustache made of tendrils just below two oversized nostrils. The creature’s eyes weren’t visible at first, and it was only after a moment that Arheis identified the two beady black orbs set far back in the Molclept’s head, just below two small holes that marked the ears.
He had what seemed like all the time in the world to memorize the creature’s look as it merely stood before him, back hunched, hair on end, tail in the air to make itself look bigger. The Molclept chittered a warning, and Arheis just held his ground, waiting for it to strike.
With no visible teeth or other dangerous appendages, he guessed its claws were its primary method of defense and readied himself for a swipe. When the creature lunged, though, it didn’t take the expected path.
Its long nails dug into the ground, throwing up dirt as it pushed off from the jungle floor. Arheis moved his shield into the beast’s path, throwing out the idea of blocking at the last moment. He could do that when he’d learned the Molclept’s movements better. For now, he felt grateful just to block the attack. But oddly, the system message saying he’d done so didn’t come up, and the Molclept wasn’t buffeted back. If anything, it used Arheis’ shield as a springboard and launched itself into the air, twisting its body to redirect its course, its hands outstretched as it hurtled toward Arheis’ face.
“Fuck!” he yelped, acting on instinct and throwing his arm up to block his face, his spear still held uselessly.
Those long claws dug into his arm while the snout managed to get past that feeble barrier. Despite knowing a creature that subsisted on a Molclept’s diet couldn’t have very sharp teeth, he still prepared himself for a bite. What he got was the charming sound of the beast drawing saliva into the back of its throat and spitting it toward Arheis’ eyes. A thick, starchy paste coated his eyelids, the sticky substance hardening almost immediately and gluing his eyes shut.
Arheis flailed, flinging his arm to try and shake the creature off, stabbing his spear aimlessly. He couldn’t see anything—not the creature in front of him, and definitely not any system messages to confirm whether or not he’d hit the thing. All he had was the briefest hint of resistance accompanied by a wild screech, and then the sudden absence of weight on his arm.
Tucking his spear against his body, Arheis tried to swipe the goop from his eyes, to no avail. It stuck to his fingers like a thick batter, making it impossible for him to free himself from the status ailment.
It wasn’t the first time he’d been blinded in an Apex game, but it was the first time it was genuinely terrifying. The screen going black really couldn’t compare to everything around him just disappearing, even while he could still hear it; still knew it was there.
He hadn’t brought anything to cure status, and wasn’t sure he’d be able to do it even if he had. But Zindar and Mira were still nearby. All he had to do was ask for help. He opened his mouth to call for them, but his own yell was drowned out by an echoing chorus of chittering all around him.
There were more. At least three more, plus the original. They must have come from the jungle, waiting to attack until they had some sad idiot rendered completely useless.
“Arheis!” Zindar yelled, unknowingly filling in the name of said idiot.
“Don’t move,” Mira warned him, her voice rising over the sound of several different Molclept apparently declaring war.
Arheis held his spear and shield out in a vain attempt to protect himself, but he didn’t move.
There was a mechanical sound to his left, and something whistled through the air before hitting him right in the neck. The contact was blunt, yet the impact of it still stung, and the sudden burst of powder around his face was more alarming than the blinding saliva.
In mere moments, though, he felt the cement-like texture of the goo ease into something much wetter. He was able to open his eyes, expecting the need to defend himself immediately. But the Molclept weren’t focusing on him anymore. All four of them—and a few more that were slinking out of the jungle—had aggro’d onto the healer.
Arheis’ heart hammered with the realization that she wasn’t going to be able to load her crossbow in time. Even if she could, one bolt might not disperse them the way it first had. He needed to do something, and he needed to do it fast.
What would a proper tank do in this situation? He’d never played one before, but he’d partied with them every once in a blue moon. The answer was clear, and Arheis made use of his Provoke ability.
He struck his shield with his spear and called loudly after the Molclept. “Hey! Hey, assholes! Over here!”
Two of the Molclept turned toward him… and then promptly returned their attention to Amira.
Arheis tried again, getting closer this time, only to be met with:
> You were unable to Provoke the target enemy due to insufficient skill.
He saw the moment Mira realized he wasn’t going to be able to get them off of her. Her eyes widened and her face paled, her hands fruitlessly fiddling with the loading mechanism. Arheis stood there, his boots feeling as though they were stuck in a deep bog, the events playing out before him in agonizing slow motion.
Lightning cracked, bringing thunder in its wake. An electrical current speared into the ground before him, slicing a fissure through the debris of dirt and leaves on its path toward the Molclept. It exploded from the ground, manifesting in the shape of the Fulcorn, who drove its horns into one of the creatures and lashed out with its back hooves, sending jolts of electricity as it did.
Mira dodged out of the way as the Fulcorn single-handedly fried three of the Molclept, with Zindar coming in like a whirling electric dervish to finish the rest.
All while Arheis just stood there uselessly.
> You have slain Molclept! You have gained 30 XP.
The message repeated itself seven times. When the last Molclept drew its dying breath, the Fulcorn faded out of existence, leading the strong smell of ozone behind. Zindar rushed to check on his friend, but she simply stared at Arheis.
“Your savior can’t even keep the attention of a few Molclept,” she said to the Pruvari, a touch of sadness marking her words. “What makes you think he has any chance against the Nepondus Queen?”
She didn’t wait for an answer. She just shook her head, turned on her heel, and headed back toward Lacerda. Alone.
Chapter 14
Zindar and Arheis cleaned up the site where they’d found the Molclept.
In the end, Arheis’ share of the carved materials was [3x Molclept Saliva], [4x Clump of Fur], [2x Long Claws], and [1x Molclept Gland]. Zindar packed away similar materials, though he also removed the brain of one of the Molclept and passed his bracer device over it in what seemed to be some kind of Pruvari ritual Arheis didn’t ask about.
Regardless of their success, he felt like he’d failed, which in turn made him resent the whole thing—and especially Amira. Guardian might have had the capacity for tanking, but he’d planned to play this game solo. He hadn’t signed up to be anyone’s tank, let alone the savior of an entire town. At least… not in the way the healer meant it. Sure, the Nepondus Queen was probably one of the apex predators, and the plot quests would lead him toward taking it out, but NPCs had never cared how he went about the process before.
Is that really true…? Feeling a little sheepish, Arheis realized he couldn’t begin to recite what any Apex NPC had ever told him. He’d skimmed their dialogue, opting instead to look at the quest text and just carry out whatever it said. He could have been disappointing NPCs left and right, it just never mattered to him.
So why did it matter now?
Maybe it was just the difference between staring at pixels on a screen versus looking into the very disappointed eyes of a person who seemed—at least to his NeuroJaked brain—to be real. The weight of the woman’s disapproval, her complete lack of faith in him felt as heavy as the guilt he’d been subjected to from his own parents.
And it wasn’t just him who felt it, either. The usually chatty Zindar was suspiciously quiet as they carved, making only a few comments here and there on the relative usefulness of the components. He was near silent during the trek back, and didn’t speak more than a few words until they reached the tavernkeep.
“The problem’s taken care of,” Zindar said, pulling the wrapped brain out of his pack and gently exposing the organ to view.
The tavernkeep recoiled, paling instantly. “When I said bring me proof, I meant a claw or something!”
The Pruvari looked confused. “I could’ve brought you a claw from anything. A creature’s brain is unique. You’ll know we’ve slain the Molclept now.”
“Just… Keep it over there,” the man said, warding the organ away as though it were some cursed object. “You.” He indicated Arheis and dropped a pouch onto the counter. “Here’s your reward. Give your friend his half. I’m not touching his hands.”
“You could’ve just had him pick it up off the counter,” Arheis muttered. But he collected the pouch, finding a handful of credits within. The bounty was easily split down the middle, though he hesitated before doing so. “Should we divide this into thirds?”
Zindar chewed at his lip, then shook his head. “She won’t accept the reward anyway.”
It felt wrong to leave her out, but maybe that was Arheis’ guilt talking. Trying his best to defy it, he counted out for hundred credits for Zindar and kept the rest for himself, slipping them into the pouch at his belt.
> You have completed: Intercepting the Bandits!
You have earned 200 XP.
You have earned 400GC.
The game distributed the quest experience as though there were only two people completing it, as well. Again his guilt tugged at him, but he knew he couldn’t let himself dwell on that.
For now, he needed to get something to eat. That hardtack might have suppressed his hunger earlier due to how disgusting and impossible to chew it was, but his stomach was growling again, and a HUD element was flashing in the corner of his vision to warn him he was dangerously low on caloric intake.
“There’s enough here for a meal, right?” Arheis asked, patting his pouch. “My treat.”
Zindar laughed, finally perking up a little. He put away the cloth-wrapped brain, as well as his own share of the credits. “If that meal is a feast, sure. Otherwise it’ll cover a meal for us both, a few nights’ worth of lodging at a nicer inn than this, and some badly-needed armor upgrades,” he said, giving Arheis a sympathetic once-over.
“What are we still doing here, then?” At this point, he wasn’t sure he cared if the tavernkeep heard him. The man paid them well for dealing with his problem, but other than that, he hadn’t exactly been pleasant, and this inn wasn’t anything to write home about.
The Pruvari flashed him a grin and then gestured for him to lead the way. Arheis made it only a few steps out the door and onto the raised porch before he realized he had absolutely no idea where he should be going. Seeing his clueless look, Zindar patted him on the back and hopped off the landing and onto the rickety stairs that led to the ground.
“There’s a vendor in the market that makes fresh meat pies. I’ve been craving one for weeks.”
The idea of flaky, buttery pastry filled with tender stewed meats made his mouth water. He could practically smell the warm spices, taste the perfectly-cooked vegetables paired with a gravy-like sauce and thick chunks of meat. It sounded like absolute heaven right now, and he had to remind himself that the reality was probably going to be a lot worse than the freezer-to-oven pies his mom used to buy.
He followed Zindar and tried to temper his expectations, but as they drew close to the market, he caught the scent of something buttery and meaty and perfect. The pies were displayed on a cart, their golden brown crusts begging to be broken into, and Arheis had to bite his lip to keep from groaning.
“Tell me those are the pies you meant,” he pleaded.
Zindar just grinned, and Arheis felt the elation that should have filled him after downing those Molclept. Who would have thought his favorite part of Apex: Untamed would be the prospect of eating a meat pie?
He handed over fifty credits in exchange for two pies—a hefty fee, probably, but he didn’t care. Once the pie was in his hands, it was everything he could do not to just dive in face first. Zindar didn’t seem to be having the same difficulty, though. He offered some credits to the merchant despite already having a pie, and was handed another which he wrapped up.
“For Mira,” he said, placing it carefully inside his pack.
That was all it took for the bad feelings to come back, and Arheis stared wistfully at his uneaten pie before looking to Zindar. “You should have let me buy it. I’m the one she’s mad at.”
“It’s not you,” the Pruvari said, shaking his head. “Not really.”
He motioned to a crumbled half-wall that stretched around the market, and Arheis joined him atop it. As he looked out over the market, there was a certain predictable chaos to it that made him think of home. Some people wandered from stall to stall, stopping for indeterminable amounts of time to pick up absolutely everything. Others moved deliberately from vendor to vendor, taking only what they needed and checking it off a mental list. Then there were the parents with small children who had to constantly double back to prevent a toddler-inspired catastrophe. The three types of people were the same he’d seen countless times at the grocery store or the local farmer’s market, and for the most part, they all navigated the space without incident. In Arheis’ mind, that gave them a leg up over the people who zoomed down the aisles and rammed their carts into someone else because they weren’t paying attention, but he knew those thoughts were less about finding a connection between worlds, and more about avoiding what was making him feel guilty.
“I’ve been traveling with Mira for a long time,” Zindar explained, tucking into his pie with a wooden utensil. “I registered with the Guild when I was still just a cub, and she healed me when I got in over my head.”
Arheis’ raised a brow in question, but Zindar waved it off. Apparently he wasn’t interested in telling his own story right now, just his friend’s.
“When she went out on hunts, so did I. And when she finally left Lacerda, I followed. We traveled from village to village for a while, lending a hand where we could.”
