30 Minute Writing Challenge – Hard edition

509Sa30ChallengeHard

The party had not been through the Kace jungle before and they found the dense vegetation, weird fauna and flora more than off putting. This jungle had not been touched by humans from the outside world before, to their knowledge, and the wildlife was evident of this.

The prey animals were not fearful of the people walking through and several striped mammals chewed on some fermenting beans as they past by. Their weird jaws seemed to bisect their heads completely enabling them to scoop great sloughs of rotting bean bods into their mouths before cracking it open with large tusk like molars.

However it quickly became apparent that their employer, the Scholar simply named ‘Moth’ was not cut out for traveling through the jungle. ‘Dearest friends,’ he wheezed, ‘can we have that break now?’ he pleaded. The party had agreed to rest at midday after a few hours of travel and when the sun would be at its hottest. However, Moth was struggling to keep up with a few more hours to go. The nagging and pleading had increased over the last hour and the deeper in the jungle they went the harder it would be to avoid larger predators with the noise that the man made.

Reluctantly they agreed to have a short break, to let the scholar rest up and to give their cartographer enough time to update the map. The break however did not see Moth slow down in his speech or questions. ‘You lot came with high expectations I must let you know. And so far you are exceeding them. “Ruthless, efficient and able to get the job done” that’s what they said you were and look at how far we have come.’ he paused to marvel at the jungle around them. ‘To think I am the first known scholar to set foot inside this forest to study and begin to map it out. Fascinating stuff really. If we keep on this course we will reach the mountains we were able to see from outside the forest looking inwards…’ he continued.

The party were still on high alert despite the constant distraction and a good thing they were. ‘The colours on the plumage were just daz…’ Moth began before a gloved covered hand pressed over his mouth. ‘Trouble’ is all that was said as they all prepared for what was to come.

The fight was quick and brutal with large feline like predators with an extra set of legs had lunged from the brush. Despite being large and powerful it was no match for the party who dispatched it swiftly and cleanly – much to Moth’s delight. As they were assisting the scholar in turning the beast over onto its side they notice that it had a large painted handprint on its shoulder. A marking of a clan no doubt.

‘If there are clans nearby, maybe they can help our next part of the journey.’ Moth offered to the group. However, with a sinking feeling in the party realised that either they had either just killed the tribes lost hunting beast or, they were being hunted with the beast being the first to appear.

The signal to continue received loud and clear the party packed up after this short break and left the dead animal behind. As they moved through the forest after that incident they looked for traces of the clans folk nearby but whether a good or ill omen they were unable to find any sign either way.

Deeper they went, making for the mountains and finally they found a clue of what they were dealing with. Although it was not what they were hoping for. Skeletons of people were tied to trees by their ankles and suspended above the ground. A large spear plunged into the wood beyond which would have effectively pinned the victims to the bark.

For the first time since they left the city of Grenor they had quiet from Moth who looked at the symbolic display with open horror. ‘I think we’ve had quite enough of this forest now. Much more of the research can be done from inside the academy. ‘ He said trough rapid breathes.

Yet, it was too late for them to leave. The party watched as half a dozen warriors and their large cat like beasts all arrived as if on queue. Surrounded the party waited until a smaller man, with a face filled with hurt and rage approached them, speaking in broken common language.

‘You are trespassing on Honuki lands. You must leave now after paying tribute or join the wall of warning where we put the rest of those who defile our land.’ he said as he gestured at the tied and impaled skeletons on the trees.

‘However,’ he added with a renewed look of hurt. ‘You took one of our tribe from us, so we demand you leave one behind. Pick or we will take all.’

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