Corruption: Chapter 2

Being here with the others wasn't too bad, Bren noted, as he sat near one of the many campfires that dotted the landscape, one hand buried in Leathe's pelt while he leaned back into Reothan's side, who was lying down behind him. It had been a rather eventful night, now that they'd caught the strange, new-yet-contaminated runner stryx. Off in the distance, he could see the antlered figure of Cersul as she flew through the night, attending to her duties. Word of their discovery had been sent to Sol—which was thankfully far enough away from the camp for Bren's tastes, for the guthane disliked cities immensely—and Maja and Rhett would be arriving soon to collect the blue-grey tabby. Which suited Bren just fine. The beast was over on the other side of the camp, but Bren could sense its corruption as if it were sitting beside him, and its departure would bring blessed relief.

 

Leathe kicked one of her back feet as Bren scratched at a particularly itchy spot while Reothan yawned. Everyone here seemed to be unusually cheerful despite recent events. Certainly they could find it in themselves to laugh, tell stories or sing songs. Not the guthane, though. Bren was content, but not enough to relax. He hadn't had very much reason to relax, not with the job that came with his role. This was just the latest find of a corrupted creature, and it was all Bren could do to not request that the tabby be put down as the tribe leaders had ordered. Maja would probably want to examine it, and that would be hard to do if the thing was dead. Bren sighed, as Reothan gave the back of his head a swipe with his tongue, causing the guthane to run his hand over his hair to put it back into place.

 

Your hair is the least of your worries, guthane, isn't it?

 

"Yes," Bren said, causing his companions at the campfire to stare perplexedly at him. None of them had heard Cersul's voice, for she spoke to him through the spirit channels. He gave them a look, and the others went back to their conversation, which would no doubt now involve him and his ability to hear voices others couldn't.

 

"Yes," he said again, as Bren continued to receive sideways glances now and then. "I do not think that this is the first and the last we'll find. "We did not come all this way into Solstian territory for just one bird. More is out there. I am certain of it."

 

He was really getting stared at now, and Bren wondered if these people didn't have guthanan of their own. They certainly were not like the people he usually saw in the north. Fixedly staring back as he frowned, Bren got up from where he sat, with his tokotas quickly doing the same. The guthane's companions got the message: he was leaving and taking his seemingly one-way conversation elsewhere. If they continued to gossip about him he wouldn't be there to hear it. And with that, the guthane slowly went his way between the various campfires and tents and their occupants, searching for a more private place to speak with the spirit-shepherd, Cersul, his tokotas following close behind.

 

Of course there will be more, Cersul pointed out as he walked. You did not expect that this would be the last of them. The corruption spreads ever on.

 

"And that is why I came out here. To put a stop to it. Because it must be." He paused, then stopped walking, and Leathe bumped into him, causing her master to stumble. "I just... I just... I just do not know if it can be stopped." Bren wiped his face with his gloved hands, feeling the sensation of fur and leather upon his skin. He hadn't meant to say that last part, but the words came out before he could stop himself.

 

Bren..., Cersul's voice was gentle and patient.

 

"My brothers and sisters work through day and through night, and we are no closer to bringing this to an end than we were when we first found out about the corruption. And I... And I... I am... Tired."

 

Cold air blew about the guthane and his tokotas. Cersul was in front of him now, standing over his head in an instant.

 

Bren...

 

"I am trying!" Bren shouted, his voice wavering with emotion. "We are all trying!"

 

Yes you are. And that is why you accepted the cloak and became guthane. Because you are someone who has the ability to try and halp put right things that go wrong. If not you, then who?

 

"Sometimes I just... I... Sometimes I wonder..."

 

There are plenty of hunters and warriors and chiefs in the north. But not enough guthanan. Not nearly enough. And they need you. We all need you.

 

Bren's eyes stung as Leathe licked at his gloved hand, whining quietly. Bringing them along had been a good idea after all.

 

Are you feeling better, guthane?

 

"As well as I can be," he said with a sigh. "But better than bef—"

 

He stopped speaking, and both man and bird stood there in the snow, tense.

 

Trouble. There was more trouble. And it was headed towards the others.

 

We must get back, and quickly.

 

"Agreed," Bren said, setting off at a run back towards the camp to give him his warning of approaching danger, Cersul flying overhead...

 

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Word count [total]: 910

 

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AP count:

 

Word count [598]: +12

Wisp companion: +1

Rider: +5

Other ARPG: +3

Event: +4

Personal work: +3

 

Total: 28 AP

 

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Tickets

 

Base ticket [800 words]: +1

Extra words [100 extra words]: +1

Rider: +1

ARPG: +2

 

Total: 4 tickets