We've been walking for a good few hours. After taking a detour to grab our stashed packs we finally made it out of the barbed pine forest and back amongst the Emperor trees. Which I am taking quite a bit of comfort from. I think I've seen enough of those pines inside and out to last for a life time.
The rain started a few minutes ago but thanks to the wide and dense canopy from the emperor trees we barely feel a drop. Instead it seems the canopy itself funnels all the rain water down to the trunks of the trees. Causing the rain water to wash down the trunks and into the soil beneath their roots.
The water clings to the trunk of the tree as it cascades down, giving it an almost glasslike coating of rain.
Thorpe had us refill our water skins from them by just tilting and pressing the opening against the trunk. The water parting like a waterfall while some funneled into the water skin.
The water that came from this was slightly sweet. Flavored by the sap that secretes from the upper branches. It made me want to cry. It's the first hint of actual flavor I've had for a couple days now.
The trek has been exhausting and we were already ragged to begin with. And it's getting dark. But atleast we should be getting close to camp now.
I grit my teeth and sigh as I feel that subtle prickling sensation on the back of my neck. But this time I don't turn around.
This has been happening again and again for the entire journey back. But nothings ever there. It has gotten to the point where either I think it's triggering at the slightest hostile intention from even the smallest insect…or it's broken somehow.
Which shouldn't be possible but I'm literally a living breathing example of broken.
So I've just been trying to ignore it. Especially since Thorpe gets really sour faced anytime I react to it. And it makes me feel like my heart is dropping into stomach.
We've talked a bit here and there but the further we went the quieter and less responsive Old Guard got. And despite me really wanting to ask what he knows about Tarfyr's class, I really feel like now is a bad time with the mood he's in.
But now that we are getting close to camp the old man slows to a stop and turns to face me. His brows furrowed and his mouth bent into a slight frown. "You okay Liore?"
I consider the question for a moment, searching my mentors expression but not coming away with much. "I guess I'm fine. Just really sore."
His eyes narrow a bit. "I see…well you were acting real twitchy for awhile there but I guess that stopped?"
I frown, rubbing my forearm awkwardly. "Y…yeah. It was nothing I guess. Felt like my danger sense thing was going off but nothing was ever there. So I think we were just stepping past small animals that got defensive and might have tripped it."
He nods slowly but doesn't at all look convinced. "The description said it was a radius based on your Perception stat?"
"Yeah…which I don't really know how wide it's supposed to be at Stat 1 but I guess it'd be double that for me" I confirm, the concern I felt from his sour expressions earlier crawling back. "But I also don't know what exactly would cause it to trigger…atleast so far it warns me when something is about to attack me or attack near me."
But my face scrunches up in thought. Is that really how it works tho? Cause now I'm starting to question it. "Well…wait…there was 3 times now where it flared up that were different."
Thorpe nodded more fully now. "When the Kite threw the tree at us it was pretty far away…but your threat detection still flared. And as far as I know a tree doesn't want to attack you but the thing that threw it certainly does. I am guessing because it was registering it as you being targeted by an attack instead of just being attacked entirely." His hand squeezes on the shaft of his spear. "What were the other 2 times?"
This line of questioning is starting to make me feel very uncomfortable. "Uh…when the Kite was sweeping with its sound attack. It flared up only when the attack was directed towards me and Tarfyr."
Thorpe gives a low hum. "So it's not the monsters vicinity to you that's doing it. It's when you are designated a target by an attack." He scoffs. "Threat detection is very literal then."
I nod but continue. "But it also flared up when a chunk of wood nearly impaled Dreyfus, the mage guy. It wasn't even going to hit me but it still activated so I can deflect it."
The old man raises his brow and hums again. "So it might also detect threats against friendlies in your radius as well. That is real nifty." He taps his fingers on his spear. Lost in thought for a moment.
But it doesn't take a genius to see what he is getting at. Even if it sends a shiver up my spine. "You think…something's been targeting me…for hours?" My stomach feels like it's somersaulting. "But why is there no attack?"
Old Guard props his left hand up on his hip casually. "Because it isn't an attack persay that's targeting us. But it is a threat…" He clarifies. "It's a skill. I am guessing [Hunter's Mark]…it's a [Ranger] skill. And it drops off after a little while depending on the [Ranger]'s level and needs to be reapplied."
My eyes widen, thinking back to right before we left the battle area for the Kite. "The archer…"
Old Guard smiles, nodding slowly as he reaches over to pat my head. Which confuses me. Why is he suddenly acting so casual?
The old man rests his spear over his shoulder and turns to start walking again. "Come on!" He calls back to me as he gets moving.
I stammer, almost yelling at him but I just suck it in. Why work me up with all of that just to walk away??
I begrudgingly follow up to him. "Hey! You can't just end that off there. Why would they want to hurt us if they saved us from the Kite?"
Thorpe sighs. "Oh that's easy. It's because they wanted to live." He answers plainly. "Monsters of that size need to eat ALOT. So if it ate us then it'd definitely go for them next. And more numbers is better against something like that."
I guess that would make sense. They didn't want to be next on the menu and we were convenient extra bodies to get rid of the Kite.
But still. That shouldn't mean they just want to hurt us afterwards right? I didn't feel any hostility from them. Other than the archer I guess...
My face scrunches up into a grimace. "I still don't get it. They still helped us…and they were even trying to give the kill to me too even though one of their friends died…"
Old Guard glances over to me with an understanding expression. "I have a theory about that…but I'm hoping it's not true."
I waited for him to elaborate further on that but he just keeps quiet.
"Then what do we do? You think that ranger is following us right?" I ask worriedly, still unsure of the situation. But the thought of that archer watching us right now makes my skin crawl.
Old Guard kept a casual pace, adjusting his hold on his spear. "How long ago did you feel it flare up last and how often were you feeling it before?"
I purse my lips, thinking back. Not sure of an exact time frame but I can atleast make a best guess. "It was maybe about 8-10 minutes ago. And it's been happening…I don't know…maybe every 15-20 minutes? It's hard to tell."
The old man grunts, eyes narrowing. "Level 7…maybe 8. Stealth specialist obviously. Most definitely knows what level I am. Which I am guessing is why they didn't just attack us immediately after the Kite. "He says with a light sigh. "Also likely because that [Druid] tired himself out."
The corners of my mouth dip down at the mention of the burly man. It would be really bad if he attacked us. Not just because I think he was cool. But because he was really strong and I'm not sure how Thorpe would fight him. But I keep focus on the immediate danger. "Then doesn't that mean he's seen my class too?"
The old man widens his eyes before chuckling. "I wonder what he thinks about that…must be confused as hell." he shakes his head and glances down to me at his side. "If he's still following us he should be reupping [Hunter's Mark] any minute now. And when he does let me know. It'll take him about 10 seconds to apply it…"
I nod, looking ahead into the dark. The sun already had trouble getting through the tops of the Emperor trees before but now nothing but moonlight touches them. So it is almost pitch black.
We would be traveling blind if not for the flash torches Thorpe brought along. Just densely packed rods of different chemicals that when struck against a rough surface will break the cap and light it. Usually lasting for about 10 or so minutes.
Thorpe has me carrying one to light our path forward. And we are getting pretty close to the campsite.
My face scrunches up as a I feel it. That feint prickly sensation on the back of my neck. "He's doing it…"
Thorpe takes a deep breath. My head swims a bit as the air around Old Guards head and right arm seems to warp a bit. The old man grunting out. "[Sure Shot]"
In one smooth motion Thorpe drops his spear , cocks his arm back as if he's about to throw it, and spins around swiftly. His spear vanishes before it hits the ground and reappears in his hand just as his arm follows through with its throw.
Wind batters against me from the force of throw, snuffing out the flash torch. All I can see is a gold flowing trail lined through the trees. And then a blood curdling scream from a man in the distance.
"AGGGHHHHH!!!!"
THUD
Small birds take off out of the trees from the sound and Thorpe rushes past me to sprint in that direction. "Come on Liore!"
But my brain is a little slow to register what just happened. Because if I'm not mistaken Thorpe just beamed a man out of a tree in pitch darkness at only god knows how far.
I guess with all the Kite nonsense I had forgotten the Old Man is actually really strong.
But I have a sinking feeling I am not going to like where this goes. As the pain filled wails of the archer echo from the direction Thorpe just ran to.
But despite my apprehension, I swallow my worries down and sprint into the dark after him.