Traveling for a few days was simple enough. Follow the cart path and set up camp on the edge of it. I haven't run into any beasts yet, which I'm thankful for. I should be half a days travel from the city now too.
As I'm walking I hear something moving in the bushes. I look towards it in confusion and jump a bit when an elf child stumbles out. He has fiery red hair and emerald green eyes. The boy stumbles and falls.
As I go to help him up he pushes me back and tries to stumble away. "M-monster! Run!" As he tries to do so something lunges out of the bushes at the boy. I kick out, planting my foot on the side of its head with as much strength as I can.
This does little more than distract it from the boy. It turns to me as it slinks the rest of the way out. It's head seems to be covered by a skull on the outside but the rest of its body looks like a lizard, though its color is a dark purple. There are large spines protruding from its back like a porcupine too. Other than the spines and the skull it looks like an over sized Komodo dragon.
I stumble back a bit after kicking it. That hurt more than I thought it would. Got its attention though. I carefully remove my pack and set it down before slowly moving to the side as it stares me down, snake like tongue flickering out on occasion.
"Hey. Run to the town and get help. I'll keep this thing distracted." I keep my attention on the beast as the boy runs off. It lets out a low growl and moves back into the brush. Soon enough I can't see it.
I stare at where it last was for what feels like an eternity. Hearing a shift behind I start to spin on my heels. Unfortunately the creature struck out with its claws. As I was spinning around four claws catch the back of my left shoulder and go around my side towards the front.
I stumble back as I cry out in pain. It doesn't give me a chance to even process as it springs at me again, forcing me to roll. I cry out again from pain as I stop on my knees, panting and holding my side to try and stop the bleeding.
This thing is fast and moves quietly. With its size that makes no sense. Lifting my head to look around and it's gone again. I grumble in pain and slowly stagger to my feet, looking in a slow circle.
Seeing some of the shrubs move again I try to roll out of the way again. This time I reach a hand out though and grab a smaller spine on its leg, causing it to snap off.
I rise to my feet with a groan, right hand attempting to cover my wound while the spine is in my left hand. It starts to back into the shrubs but I force myself forward, raising the spine and bringing down as hard as I can.
I am rewarded by getting smacked away by its tail. Another cry of pain escapes me and I can no longer get up. It hurts too much and I'm tired. It's also getting colder. Is winter approaching already?
The pain intensifies and everything goes dark.
****
A group of elves walking down the path is chatting. One is in heavily armor with a shield and long sword, another has two daggers, two have staffs with a core on top and the last one is dressed similarly to a priest. All are men.
They stop chatting as they see a young boy running and crying. The man in full armor crouches. "Hey kid what's wrong? Why are you all the way out here?"
"M-misters! There is a monster attacking a man! I-it was chasing me and he took its attention so I could get help! You have to help him! Please!"
The armored man frowns. "Which way?" The boy points down the path and the party takes off in that direction.
As the party vanishes down the path a shadow dwarfs the boy.
The party hustles as much they can, readying to fight. When they finally find where the man is they see a boy with light green hair unconscious and the beast approaching him slowly. there is a pool of blood forming under him from the injury on his side.
"Why is there a stalker this close to the city?" The man with daggers asks as he draws them. The man in full armor shrugs as he readies his shield and draws his sword.
The man with the shield rushes in first, getting close just as a fire ball hits the Stalker in the side and gets its attention. The armored man slams his shield into the head of the creature to stagger it.
While the man with the shield has its full attention the one with daggers approaches its blind side, noting the quill jammed in its eye. He waits for the Stalker to try and claw the armored man to drive a dagger into its neck and twist, ripping it back out.
The man with the shield uses this chance to bring his own sword down on its neck, cutting the head off. "This thing was rather sluggish." He comments.
The one with the daggers points to the head with a quill still stuck in its eye. "That boy likely did that and may be why." He turns back to see the man in priest robes healing the green haired young man.
While waiting he digs a core out of its chest. It's a dark purple crystal that's slightly bigger than golf ball.
When the healer is done the man in armor picks up the boy and the one with daggers grabs the pack. They head back down the path to where the boy should be waiting but don't see him.
The man with daggers goes to search for him but doesn't find him. Instead he finds a small field full of monsters that seem to have been ripped apart. There are signs on the ground of walls having been placed around the scene though are gone now. With a frown he goes to tell the others and starts back to the city.