A client came today to the Roaring Bear, the aptly named inn I’m staying in. Petite but wild, cute, and Dangerous, the Leprechaun introduced themselves as Yoshina. Asked about our last gig in the forest. This surprised me because we agreed with the others to keep quiet. I suppose our last client didn’t have the same opinion. We were asked to dispatch crazy Barbarous worshipping a horrible deity. The client, wanted us to go back to where the incident took place because there could be more artifacts.

Unfortunately, the team was busy doing something else, so it was only me. Since the mission was just about reconnaissance, I figured I could only go by myself, even if she insisted it was dangerous. I don’t see how a pile of stones can be dangerous, but I figured I’d bring her along. Carrying a bow half her size, she also looks like she can use it. And she doesn’t have an ugly mut on top of that. Will have to share the rewards, but since it’s just mushroom picking, I do not mind.

Upon arriving at the forest, I remembered its dense atmosphere, and how ancient it is. How much blood was shed last time? Seeing it now, serene, only disturbed by the animals and the wind, you would never guess it was hosting dark inhabitants. After a few minutes of strolling in the forest, we came to a fallen tree. It was a bit strange because the part that broke looked rotten but the rest of the tree was fairly healthy. I’m not a botanist so I didn’t think much of it and hopped it. Behind it, a few centimeters from my feet was a crude trap. Made from threads and sampling, I doubt it would catch anything bigger than a Tabbit. It was a bad sign, meaning that there was intelligent life up ahead, but I couldn’t help to feel amused. I scoffed and pointed at it to my guide. Not very talkative, she simply nodded, looking grave. This erased the smile at the corner of my mouth. We continued forward, with slow steps, guessing a foe in each bush, each shadow.

A buzzing roar breaks the stillness. Large honey bees are flying around a large hive in a dead trunk. I could smell the golden treat from here, waiting just for me, waking the beast within me. Maybe it was the enchanting smell or my low grasp over my reason, but I went straight for it, ignoring the angry mass of insects. Some minutes later, despite having been transformed into a pincushion, I was happy, biting in large honeycombs.

We continued to walk for a while until the wind started to bring a new smell, a putrid smell that I couldn’t identify. As we go, trees, bushes, and other vegetation trades their greens and luxuriance, for reds and browns. Our regular steps on dead leaves break the silence. I can feel something sick in my guts. The kind of feeling a life of Adventuring tells you to trust. However, I could see nothing out of the ordinary. I turned myself towards Yoshina, visibly tense as well, but she shook her head.

Suddenly I stumble and fall forward. A trap? Before I could hit the ground Yoshina grabbed me and helped me regain my balance. She points to the ground. A dead tree, rotten to the core was laying below the dead leaves. My feet had carved a large hole in it. Strange. We’re still in the sweet season, and this tree looked like it died during rainfall. Thinking nothing more of it, but my unease growing we went forward, the scent of decay growing stronger and stronger.

We progressed until a clearing in which large mounds of earth lay in the center. I could not make sense of it, it looked like a burial mound, but it was too large to contain even a pauper’s grave. At its base, laid an opening, leading to vast darkness. The putrid smell, stronger than ever, was irritating my throat. We probably found where we were coming from, and in my heart, I started to regret coming alone. By the looks and the smells of it, this is what has been rotting the forest away. What foul powers could hide there?

I took a look at my client. She nods at me, frugal with her words, but I ca her ears and tail wagging in anticipation of what’s to come. She draws her weapon as silently as possible and looks around, wearing something fierce on her tiny mutt. It reassures me a little, that I’m not alone.

We get closer to the cave and nothing stops us. We step inside the cave and it’s empty, dirt lays around the opening like it has been excavated recently. Yoshina lit her lantern and gestured for me to do the same. I shrug and let the beast take me. My face, my arms, my hands morph into my alter ego, the brown bear. Yoshina’s eyes narrowed and she froze for a moment. She relaxes when I gesture her to follow me with my big paws.

We explore the cave and signs of activity increase. Tools, footprints, the rest of a meal. The footprints look humanoid, but much larger. Whatever this is, they’re big and do not wear shoes. We finally come to a large room. About 15 meters in diameter, it forms a dome with a beautiful statue of a woman in its center. In its arms, lays a vase from which a sticky black liquid flaws. Looking at the liquid revulse me somehow, but my attention is drawn to Yoshina. She draws her bow and looks across the room. Behind the statue is a human-shaped monster, looking vaguely like a monkey, with large fangs protruding from its mouth. Despite the penumbra, I can distinguish his bluish skin, and his arms, twice the size as mine despite being in my bear form. This is a bolg, and certainly a match to myself. Thankfully, it’s not my first time fighting a foe larger than I, and I hope it will give me an edge.

I eye Yoshina who gets out of her mutism to whisper something in my ear. The statue is a barbarous goddess, much evidently a rival to Furusil. She’s known for toxic rains and a bunch of stupid precepts. I am not a believer. I prefer to put my destiny into my own hands. But if I had to, I would choose something nice, like the god of honey or sexy ladies. NOT the god of toxic sludge and bitchy behavior.

With a last nod to Yoshina, I charge the beast, taking it by surprise. The stench became horrible, and I would feel dizzy if not for my bloodlust. I roar and plunge at the bolg, who avoids it at the last moment. The bolg swings an enormous mass of Stone, that I barely dodge. How did I not notice before? I manage to hit him with a direct in the jaw, which I quickly follow with a kick in the guts. This should leave him panting on the ground. To my dismay, the bolg barely noticed and retaliated, taking me by surprise. I took the stone weapon directly in the ribs and it sent me flying. I touch the ground and roll, not having time to think, not having time to take a breath. But if I lose consciousness, the bear takes over. In a trance, I let it guide me. It makes me stand, despite the pain.

I go back to the Bolg. I hammer him with my paws, bite his flesh with my fangs, and throw him with my arms. Once he’s on the floor, the beast does its thing. By the time I wake up, the Bolg is an inert mass of flesh on the floor. I exhale deeply. Look around. I can see Yoshina behind a rock. She was hiding. She looks at me weary, her hand still pulling an arrow, not sure if I’m friend or foe. I morph back to my usual placid self and wave at her to put her at ease. She shrugs and comes over. Next to her are a bunch of small fries, with arrows stuck in them. It’s morbid but it makes me smile.

We ransack the cave happily, but unfortunately, there is nothing to loot. We throw down the statue and smash it. Despite it being a malevolent entity, I still shudder at the blasphemy. As we’re leaving this rotten place, I can’t help but notice Yoshina taking the cup from the statue. I’m too tired to ask why. I’ll wait to be back, rest, and get paid for this.