As we made our way down the mountain we found Bernd again. He was pacing next to the nervous-looking guards.
"You are alive!" Bernd shouted.
"Uh, yes. Why would we not be?" Helena asked.
"That monster! That must have been the Devourer! Do you know how many adventurers it has killed?" He asked.
"No. I guess a few?" I replied.
"A few? A FEW? Try hundreds! Thousands! That thing is old. It usually stays up higher, that it came this close to the border is a problem! We need to warn the count!" Bernd looked really stressed.
"It did not look that evil. It even left us one of the corpses." Skadi said, while pointing at the corpse Hatsumi carried.
Bernd paled. "You stole its food?"
"No, it clearly allowed us to take it." Cassie explained.
"Nyx talked to it. While I don't think that creature is our friend, it certainly had no intention of hunting us. At least as long as we did not steal its food." I added.
"Talked to it? You girls are mad! There have never been any reports of that thing talking! Who are you?" He asked. The poor man seemed really overwhelmed.
"We are the Dread Claws of Nyx!" Helena announced, proudly.
"Nyx talks in meow. So did the creature." I helpfully explained to the confused and distressed dwarf. It did not help.
"It's probably best if we call it a day. I think we could use some rest." Skadi said.
"Yes, yes. That is the first sensible thing you girls have said! Let us hurry out of here!" Bernd said.
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"I think we could visit the nearby hot springs, after we store our gear and that ibex corpse. We deserve some relaxation." Helena suggested.
"Yes! Hot water! I am in!" Cassie cheered.
"That is a great idea." Skadi agreed.
"Sure, sounds nice." I replied, while looking at Nyx. I was mentally distracted with our encounter. That creature looked like a panther. And Nyx looked a bit like a panther skeleton.
"Do you think Nyx is related to the Devourer? Not personally, I just mean the same species." I wondered.
"You know, I have never seen a creature like that. Despite growing up here." Helena mused. "I heard about the Devourer. Bernd is right, usually stories about it are from deeper in the mountains. Supposedly it's a dangerous and fearsome creature. I expected something a lot more monstrous."
"Maybe that species lives deeper in the mountains? Someone got a skeleton of one and managed to sell it at the adventurers guild. Maybe they are even extinct and someone just found a buried skeleton." Skadi said.
"Possible. I wonder if the Devourer is a draugr? Looking at its fur and comparing it with Yoru it is possible." I mused.
"It could be a lich!" Cassie suggested.
I scratched my head. "I know very little about liches. Sadly that is not a topic we had in class yet. I simply know they are powerful."
"That thing certainly looked powerful." Helena said.
"Nyx, do you want to add to his discussion?" I said, looking at the feline.
"Meow." Nyx replied.
I sighed. "I am not sure what I expected…"
"If it is an ancient undead it might have a lot of wisdom! Maybe we should try to find a way to communicate with it." Hatsumi suggested.
"I am not sure if bothering that creature is a good idea…" I replied.
"We just need to get stronger first." Hatsumi replied.
I suppose in a few years I might be more confident looking into those ancient eyes. Or maybe I just had to learn how to meow. I giggled.
"What's so funny?" Helena asked.
"I just imagined myself talking with the Devourer. Talking through meowing." I replied.
"Clearly we all need to meow. It could be our secret language!" Cassie suggested.
Nyx nodded.
"Or Nyx could learn how to talk and translate for us." Helena suggested.
"She would abuse that power to get treats." I said, looking at Nyx. She made no move to contradict me.
While Bernd and the guards were still anxious our group was in a pretty good mood. Our fight against the ibex went well. We were certainly growing more powerful and coordinated. And we even met an interesting creature.
Back at the fort we deposited our stuff and changed into fresh clothing. Then we prepared for a visit to the hot springs. The small town was only an hour away by horseback. Helena organised transportation for the ibex corpse back to her home. She assured me they could preserve it somewhat.
Bernd reported the sighting of the Devourer and we briefly confirmed what happened. It caused some delay as the local captain wanted a more detailed description of the encounter. Personally I did not feel like there was an immediate threat to the kingdom. But going into the mountains might be dangerous right now. My suggestion that adventurers should carry treats was not taken seriously. Their loss.
Soon we were on our way to the hot springs. After today's events we had certainly earned a bit of relaxation.
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