"Do you see the tower up there Sizrit? It feels like we've been walking for hours." Quinn said, exasperated, and out of breath from the trek through the old forest. The floor of the forest was uneven and littered with wet leaves and fallen branches that made the simple task of walking a challenge for the little Halfling.
"I see it!" Squawked Sizrit from above the thick leaves of the canopy. “It’s just a little farther now."
"I wish it was a little closer." the Halfling grumbled." Can't you teleport us the rest of the way?"
"If I could I would have teleported us back to Waterdeep. I used the last teleporting spell I had following you here." explained Sizrit. Quinn grumbled on under his breath and looked dejectedly up at the steep incline standing in his path. He regretfully began his clumsy ascent root by branch as he grabbed for the closest hand hold. The ground was soft from fresh rain so the climb was slow and tedious as Quinn searched for solid places to put his feet. He reached the top, which seemed like miles to him, and as he crested the top he found he was face to face with a strange creature with a dirty face, blood red dreaded hair, and razor teeth smiling maliciously at him. Quinn let out a yelp and released the root that was holding him and began tumbling back down the rise.
"Ow!" Quinn said when he hit the bottom. He looked up to see the creature leaning over the edge, staring at him hungrily. In an instant the creature leapt from the ledge at him. The creature was maybe two feet shorter than Quinn but he didn't want to see what kind of damage those teeth could do. He rolled to the left as the creature came down on him and the beast hit the ground where Quinn was lying moments before. Quinn scrambled to his feet and reached for the dagger in his shoe. The creature's head snapped up in a feral snarl and it leapt with hands outstretched for Quinn’s neck. Quinn put his hands up to shield himself from the blow.
"Caw! Caw! Back off!" Sizrit appeared from the canopy, streaking down for the creature with talons bared. His sharp claws sliced into the face of the rushing creature and it let out a howl of pain. Quinn jumped back and raised his dagger into a defensive stance as he watched Sizrit flap wildly at the face of the small creature. The creature batted at the bird with clawed hands that were filthy and caked with crusted blood. It seemed that same blood was used to dread its hair. Quinn reached for his crossbow while the creature was still distracted and loaded a bolt.
"Sizrit watch out!" He called as he leveled the bow at the little creatures face. He cranked it back and let it fly as Sizrit flew quickly up. The creature looked up as Sizrit flew and then looked towards Quinn again. A moment of shock washed over the face of the beast and it snarled at the incoming missile before it struck him square between the eyes. The creature fell, twitched once, and then lay still on the forest floor.
"What, in Mystra's name, was that?" Quinn asked aloud standing over the dead creature and looking down at its maliciously frozen face.
"That was a Redcap. Malevolent faeries that hunt for blood and raw flesh. I think this one thought you an easy target." Sizrit explained.
"Well he thought very wrong this day." Triumphed Quinn. "First lake hags and now redcaps! I just want to go home to the streets, nice warm beds, and mugs of Barnaby's finest ale." Quinn slumped down defeated.
"Come now. Don't give up. The tower isn't far now. You'll see. It's just over the rise there." Quinn looked up at the hill he had just fallen down and sighed.
"These Witches better know what they're doing. This forest wasn't built for a little Halfling like me. Give me a good old grimy sewer any day. This nature stuff's for the birds." Quinn said as he reached for the first root to begin his second ascent.
"I resemble that remark!" Sizrit crowed and took off past him to set on a tree at the top. He waited patiently for Quinn to make the climb. Gloating over the fact that he had wings and Quinn had not, the whole way up.
To be continued.......
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