KnightShade
Their morning sparing had become a daily event, one that KnightShade enjoyed. That’s why he was so annoyed to be interrupted. They had only been fighting for a short time, when the sound of wheels creaking caused them to turn. DreamCatCher86 responded first breaking off her attack to bring an arrow to her bowstring then draw it aimed at the sound.of wheels. KnightShade turned, crouched, ready to leap in any direction. He wasn’t sure what he would see but it wasn’t a cart.
The cart was wooden, with four wheels, being pushed by a bored looking giant gorilla. A light green goblin sat in the bed of the cart, when the cart was fully in the clearing the goblin made a motion with his hand and the cart came to a stop.Without the sound of the creaking wheels silence that settled over the clearing only broken by the rushing of the waterfall.
“Wow,” it was the goblin who finally broke the silence, “this is a super cute nook you kids have found. I have seen a bunch of these little hideouts, this one might be my favorite.”
KnightShade was finding the gregarious nature of the goblin off-putting and a little annoying. Focusing on the goblin was even more off putting as it provided no information. This surprised him to the point of blurting out, “who are you?”
The goblin stood up and shrugged, “Me? I’m nothing. I guess you could say I’m a salesman.”
“What are you selling?” DreamCatCher86 gasped out from behind KnightShade.
“Oh. just this drink, you might have heard of it, I call it Tonic.” he looked at them expectantly, this turned to confusion. “Don’t tell you’ve never heard of it.”
KnightShade started to shake his head no, when DreamCatCher86 spoke from behind him, “I’ve tried it.”
“So you know how beautiful it makes everything, go ahead tell him.” the goblin pointed at KnightShade.
KnightShade held a hand up to stop her from speaking. “No I would like you to tell me.” He said to the goblin, “go on, sell me.”
The goblin started slowly, “okay, well it’s a drink that we manufacture and distribute. It’s an intoxicant, with similar effects of uppers and halucignicis. Most of the principles I have spoken with say what they really like is how it seems to give them access parts of their brain they normally can’t. Was that your experience?” The last question was directed at DreamCatCher86.
KnightShade watched as her shoulders rose and fell as she thought. After a moment she shrugged, “Yeah I guess, close enough.”
“Great!” the goblin responded with a big grin. “So now the important question. Did you enjoy it?”
DreamCatCher86 thought for a moment then nodded, “Yeah I guess.” she shrugged again
“Wonderful! Perfect!” the goblin responded with a grin so wide it was a little off putting. “Look I’ve taken enough of your time, I’ll cut to the chase.” He continued, “I can see you’re still skeptical,” he pointed at KnightShade.
“Well, I’m sure it’s great fun and everything,”
“But?” the goblin interrupted.
“But,” KnightShade continued, “we haven’t talked price, or any details.”
“Ahhh, those are all very important. But how ‘bout, for time sake, this time I’ll hook you up with a barrel gratis, nice right.”
“Gratis, you mean free?” KnightShade asked.
“Yep that’s what I mean. Try it out, see how you like it, I’ll come back in a month and we can go over the details.”
“Does accepting this barrel obligate us in any way?” KnightShade saw DreamCatCher86 nodding at this.
“Not even a little bit. I believe in my product and I’m willing to bet that after you’ve had an opportunity to try it, you will be willing to pay for more. I can have my assistant unload the barrel if you want?”
KnightShade was still thinking about it when DreamCatCher86 spoke up, “We’ll take it, can you have him put it in the cave waterfall?”
The goblin gave her a grateful smile, he then walked to the giant ape sitting with his back to the cart and gave him a mighty kick in the side. “Tiftwo! You heard her, get your finger out of your nose and get that barrel in the cave!”
The ape ignored the kick and slowly got to his feet, took a barrel and walked it into the cave. He came out shortly after, without the barrel. He exited the cave through the waterfall so while he walked back to the cart he shook the water droplets from his fur . KnightShade noticed that DreamCatCher86 was not watching the ape, instead her aim and her focus were on the forest behind the cart. He tried to see what she was looking at, but he couldn’t see anything, maybe a shadow?
In the meantime the goblin had climbed into the bed of the cart, once he was seated he motioned for the ape to start pushing. As the rolled across the clearing call out to KnightShade and DreamCatCher86, “Thank you both, I’ll see you in a month.” The apes back faded into the dark of the forest, then they were gone. KnightShade shook his head then started to turn back to the cave. In doing so he saw that DreamCatCher86 had not relaxed. If anything she was more tense than she had been. Her bow was still drawn, the string drawn back to her check, she sighted along the shaft of an arrow.
KnightShade tried to follow her intent stair to see what it was she saw. At first all she saw was the forest. He remained still, as soon more and more details came into focus. Slowly that detail revealed a shadow, a human shaped shadow moving towards the clearing. In that heart beat after he noticed it, the shadow pushed into the clearing. KnightShade immediately focussed on the black clad women who was invading his sanctuary.
1¢op
Level 4
Wallet-5Au
1¢op carefully stepped into the clearing she kept a careful eye on DreamCatCher86 looking around, rolling her shoulders and stretching her neck. “Wow,” she said after a few moments, “You guys have found a beautiful little clearing. What a romantic hideaway.”
At the word ‘romantic’ KnightShade couldn’t help glance at DreamCatCher86, so the tips of her ear turning red was not missed.
“Who are you? And what are you doing here?” Snapped DreamCatCher86, her arrow unwaveringly aimed at the newcomer.
“Hey, Hey,” 1¢op held her hands up in a gesture of peace. “I promise I’m not a threat. I’m investigating the makers of this Tonic. I was tailing the ape pushing the cart. When they left the barrel I felt I needed to stop and warn you.”
“Warn us?!” DreamCatCher86 blurted sounding both sceptical and surprised.
“Look, I don’t yet know who is behind this Tonic, but I do know they’re bad. Be careful with that drink, it will kill you. I mean kill you dead, total mind death. I’ve seen it on both sides, here in AntruA, and with my other eyes.”
“Total mind death? Are you sure?” DreamCatCher86 asked.
1¢op nodded, “Unfortunately. Yeah, I am. You guys can do whatever you want, I just wanted to make sure you had all the information you need to make an informed choice. Look I gotta run so I don’t loss that ape. It was nice meeting you, and I’m serious, you kids go easy on that Tonic.” With that she turned and ran into the woods in the direction the cart had disappeared.
KnightShade started for the cave, shouting over his shoulder. “I’m going to get a drink, do you want one?”
