Crickets.
.
.
.
"So…" Zein started.
"On god, imma whoop his ass and may the lord be my witness as I do it." Jejj declared, stomping the ground.
"Ooh, maybe I can record!"
"Skull Kidd B and C. What's going on?" Clark glared at the two boys.
"I uh… I don't know?" Biim refused to make eye contact. "Maybe he just had an emergency?"
"An emergency! Maybe…" Buum parroted unsure.
"Wh-what do we do now?" Torell held his staff close to his chest.
What do they do now?
"Alrighty. I will be back." Zein tapped his robe. "But before that, Kaland Skada, could you guys draw up a plan please?"
"What!" Skada exclaimed. "You're gonna leave us too!?" she raised her voice.
"I won't be doing that." Zein chuckled, waving their hands. "I just need to drop by the blacksmith and pick up some arrows."
"Sounds good sounds good! Don't be too late now sweetheart." Clark mimicked a southern drawl.
"Yeah yeah." Zein rolled his eyes. "I'll be back in a bit."
Zein took off as the rest of the party stood in a circle.
Clark drew his blade and used the tip of his sword to draw the rest of the mountain's map on the ground. Skada shot at areas she thought would be dangerous, sometimes aiming them dangerously close to Biim's feet. "Oops, misfire." she'd jest
With discussions complete, Zein returned stretching his arms and tail. Bow in hand. "Hello." he raised his hand like a priest.
"Welcome back. How your trip go?" Jejj greeted.
"It was decent! I have a cool 30 arrows now. Some fitted with mole claws." Zein boasted. "Shall we head out?"
"Whaaat! You don't wanna hear my super intricate plan!?"
"Our super intricate plan!"
"Our super intricate plan!"
…
"Sorry." Buum apologised.
"I do see the plan on the ground." Zein drew a circle with his foot around the map. "I hope you guys weren't fighting." he played with the bullet shells.
"No, we would never!" she laughed half-heartedly.
"Sure." Biim agreed.
"Is…that right?" Zein said, skeptical. "Shall we head out then?" he brushed it off.
"Let's getit." Jejj cracked their neck.
The party made their way to the entrance. Waiting for them was an older man with a pickaxe and a bandana around his head, blocking the sweat from streaming down his face.
"Adventurers! Over here." the man beckoned to them. "The name is Mag. I live right there in the village as a miner." Mag pointed to one of the huts where a woman waved with happiness. "Would you mind hearing me out?"
"Anytime for you boss!" Clark chimed. "What can we do for ya?"
"Well, you see, I'd like to go to the mountain peak. There's some real valuable iron there I'd like to take for myself. But due to the vultures, it has been tough."
"We can take you there!" Skada offered.
"That's the spirit! I'll be sure to share all the gains with you." Mag said giddy with excitement.
"Perfectiones."
Clark looked to Jejj. A disapproving nod. Mag readjusted his bloated travel bag and shuffled to the centre of the group.
"Don't know what that meant, but let's go! We have work to do!" Mag jumped, pumping his fists in the air.
"Yippee!" Skada jumped, pumping her fists in the air.
"Oogie!" Wu jumped, pumping his fists in the air.
Clark and Jejj took the front, Skada and Zein covered the back with Wu, Torell and Biim placed themselves in between both duos, and Buum protected Mag beside the mages.
Their trek to the top began in earnest. Within the minute, their first encounter. A singular Blue Vulture. A level 19 monster the size of Torell. Wings unfurled, its eyes were glued to the seven of them. A standoff. Skada's hands itched to draw, but Torell shot first.
"F-fireball."
The vulture watched the fireball fly by. Skada didn't let the opportunity go, crushing the distracted vulture's windpipe with a bullet. With a squeal, the vulture rushed in, aiming for Mag.
"Fireball."
Flames engulfed the winged being, burning to ashes, gems, and feathers. As Torell and Wu began to collect their winnings, Biim kneeled. "You don't have to overthink it. You just need to relax and take your time."
"Oh-um-understood. Thank you." Torell bowed.
"Oogie!" Wu patted the orc's tusk. Torell leaned in, appreciating the monkey for his kindness. Storing it his inventory, Torell used his staff to pick himself up. Wu hung off his tusk with his tail, swinging himself onto his shoulder.
Further down the trail, 2 vultures.
"I'll take one. You take the other."
"Okay."
Together.
"Fireball."
With a gentle grip, swish, fire formed, shaping itself, containing itself, letting go of itself upon impact. The birds screech in agony before charging in.
"You wanna see who hits the bird first?" Skada challenged, looking to Zein.
Thwip. An arrow pierced a vulture in the eye; it embraced the ranges' abyss. Gems and vulture meat dropped by Zein's feet.
"I guess I won this round." Zein shrugged.
"That was not cute at all!" Skada fumed, eyes locked on Zein as she shot, finding the vulture's heart.
"Hey, I'm sorry I am not JJ." Zein's tail fluttered.
"Don't go draggin' me into this." Jejj intervened.
"He's right though!" Skada exclaimed.
"I-h-hm-yeah. Maybe." Jejj retreated.
Conversations came to a halt when the team spotted 3 vultures encircling them. Clark stared, relaxed as a smirk grew on his face.
"Jejj. They can't be hogging all the fun." Clark loosened his arm, cracking his shoulder blades. "You wanna try something?"
"Whatchu got in mind?"
Clark kneeled, hands overlaying.
"Oh, you nuts like him, huh." Jejj couldn't contain their smile.
Jejj took multiple steps back. Hopping. They took a runner's stance, palms on the ground, legs stretched.
"Light 'em up, boys!" Clark called.
Fireballs rang true as Jejj launched themself. Using all their weight, they stepped on Clark's hands and leapt into the air as he pushed. Surrounded by flames and bullets, "Smash." Jejj threw their leg like a whip, puncturing the top of a vulture's skull. Jejj, twisting into a roundhouse kick, "Strike." they connected with a second enflamed vulture's throat. With a final hurrah, they smashed the bottom of the last vulture's beak as they fell.
"I gotcha! I gotcha." Skada held their hands out, shuffling. She shuffled, she shuffled, she shuffled, and she tripped over a sight-seeing Buum. Skada crashed on Buum. Jejj crashed on the both of them. Gems, feathers, and meat crashed on all three of them.
"Buum!"
"Whahuh?"
"Jesus Christ."
They scrambled to their feet, allowing Torell and Wu to collect their winnings.
"So whatcha think!? Wanna go again?" Clark asked, eyes sparkling.
"Don't think I trust my catcher too much for that."
"That wasn't my fault!"
"I'm always ready to sub in, coach. I got a proven track record after all."
"You back off right now buddy!"
"Can we get going? Before we run into more vultures."
"Always with the rushing! Come on man, relax!"
"He isn't wrong though, I do spot vultures on the horizon. Let's cover as much ground before they find us."
Returning to position, they made headway, covering as much ground before running into a kettle of 5 vultures.
"Alright, let's show them what we got." Zein drew an arrow.
"Fireball."
"Fireball. Magic Missile."
"Mark." Zein and Skada called.
Fire, bullets, missiles, and arrows set loose like fireworks. Biim swung his wand, ensuring he hit two targets. Reloads and cooldowns began. The vultures, eyeing their opportunity, swooped in.
"Dodge!"
The party dashed out of the way as Buum dragged Mag to the ground. Jejj punched and Clark parried, using his momentum to slash the burning predator.
Time was up. A second round of spells and metal flew from the ground. Screech after screech after screech the birds fell. Ding. Wu levelled.
Collection into motion, the seven of them continued their hike. Mag, waddling behind Buum, made conversation with his guardian. They talked about the village food. They talked about the weather. They talked about adventurers who drop by and say hello. It was a change of pace for the daydreaming rogue.
"8 of 'em coming our way." Jejj squinted, hand against their forehead in a salute.
"What's the plan for 8 of 'em!?" Clark asked Zein from the front.
"Why are you asking me!?" Zein replied. "I left that to you and Skada?"
"I can't hear anymore!" Skada plugged her ears. La la la la la.
"How are you a guild leader!" Zein exclaimed.
"Ahhh we'll be fine, Zeizei. Just you see." Clark raised his blade.
"..."
The vultures dove in, claws at the ready. Clark parried and slashed, Jejj followed with a strike to the head. 1 down.
"7 coming your way!"
Torell and Biim provided cover fire.
"Just focus on 2 of them with fireball and missile." Biim advised.
"R-right." Torell accepted.
They chanted. They shot. 3 down.
Buum, standing dead centre, shifted himself in front of Mag as a vulture charged in. Blade readied.
"Be careful now, adventurer." Mag held Buum's arm.
"I got this." Buum stepped forward. "I think?" he raised his eyebrows.
The knife vibrated. Faster and faster as it got closer. Kachinggg. Buum parried, directing the vulture up. He pounced, hand grabbing its neck. Using it like a kip bar, he swung himself onto the bird's back. Buum stabbed and slashed as it cried in agony.
Before the bird returned to Aria, Buum leapt to his next target. He flung his knife at the vulture, impaling the nape of its neck. Centimetres from landing, BAM, a bullet turned it to dust.
Falling.
"Skada! Cover! Dash" Zein aimed his bow.
"I gotcha big guy." Skada confirmed.
Zein shot his arrow, striking a vulture in the wing, and tossed his bow aside. He dashed to the edge of the cliff and grabbed Buum's hand. Wu, noticing, buffed the cat.
Behind them, Skada finished what Zein had started. 6 down. Her eyes darted between a second vulture and her bullet chamber. "reload, reload, reload."
Clang. A collision with a pistol. Skada jammed her pistol into the bird's mouth while keeping it at bay with her foot. She spun the chamber back into place, cocked the hammer, and pulled the trigger. The vulture staggered, choking. Skada smelt blood in the water. Dexterous hands lead to a second shot. Gems and feathers rained. 7 down.
Flying in circles, undecided while watching the rest of their family fall in battle, the vulture decided to charge the laid-down gunslinger.
"You want a piece of me too!?" Skada huffed. "I know I ain't that cute."
Skada aimed her gun at the agape vulture, steadying her arm from the ground. With a trigger moments from being pulled-
"Smash!"
Jejj threw their fist at the bird's head, forcing it to swerve off course and crash into the cliffside. Dazed and unmoving, a throwing knife crushed the vulture's heart. Buum, panting by Zein's side, pumped his fist. Ding. Wu levelled.
"You good?" Jejj asked, elven ears bouncing.
"Oooh my hero!" Skada held her hands against her face.
"Deja vu." Jejj reached for Skada, bringing her to her feet. With an arm around them, the party set out once more with Zein moving to the front, spear replacing the bow.
"The party had their eyes peeled. Vultures watched. Vultures ignored. Vultures flew. What was the move? What was in store?
"I see 12 of them!" Zein scouted. "Get ready."
"Zeizei. I don't think we can take 12 of them with our setup." Clark pointed to the back.
Zein turned around. A tired sharpshooter and two mages with half their mana bar remaining, recovering slowly.
"Cave then?" Zein suggested. "We can get some metal out of it."
"Yeah! Yeah! Iron time!" Clark skipped.
"Alright, let's get going." Zein loosened his grip on his spear. "Guys! We're heading to the cave over there! Make sure you keep up!" Zein made himself louder.
"Otherwise you'll be picked up like the worm!" Clark commented, happy with himself.
Clark nodded with pride. The party changed direction with swiftness, heading for the cave. One by one they entered. One by one darkness greeted them.
"Oh! I got just the thing for this! Don't you all go worrying." Mag sifted through his bag, extracting a torch and lighting the way. Mag scanned the area, gears spinning.
"There!"
Mag hopped towards a metal stalagmite. He placed the torch on the wall and drew his pickaxe. "I'll be getting to work on this now! I'll be sure to share some with you all as well."
Dink! Dink! Dink! Mag toiled at the ore. The ground shook with every hit. The soil began to rise to the rhythm.
"Here they come!" Clark announced.
They tightened their formation as claws shot from the ground. Buum moved to the back, playing defence for the miner.
The Mud Moles made their return. Their usual purple hue replaced with a darker silver. The pack of 8 stood perturbed by the sudden noise. They knew their mission.
"Level 21! What they been eating down here!?" Jejj said in disbelief.
"Bigger level, bigger rewards! Time to play protect the president." Zein laughed.
"Protectiones le presidente." Clark said with a Spanish accent.
"... Dawg."
"No way you just said that!" Skada cackled.
"Torell. Don't use fireball, let's just save for now." Biim tapped the Torell with his wand.
"Understood." Torell gulped.
"Oogie! Oogie!" Wu imitated a boxer on Torell's shoulder.
Weapons at the ready, the battle commenced.