Deep in the Forest

Deep in the Forest

                Deep sat silently on her mount amidst a group of knights. They were awaiting the return of those sent ahead to scout the forest. Many of the knights avoided looking at her directly. Beauty like hers was uncommon, and they feared insulting her with their stares. Deep's face was nearly perfectly symmetrical, with thoughtful, pale blue eyes and cute nose sitting above pleasant, slightly smiling lips and smoothly curving jawline; all framed by curved shoulder-length black hair.

                Her body attracted their gazes as well. Her bosom was small but well-formed, as were her hips - the combination gave her a perfect hourglass figure. Her dress ended at her knees (for mobility, she said), which bared her slim calves and the simple slippers she wore.

                Despite being of ordinary height and slight build, she radiated self-confidence and power with a noble - or dare they think it, even royal - bearing. Any who saw the knights and the river siren would know instantly that she was their leader (as was correct - she was, afterall, a Countess).

                The group had come to the forest to hunt down and slay a terrifying beast. Eye witness accounts claimed that it was at least eight feet tall, and was almost completely made of a copper-coloured metal (though it was far too hard to be copper). The body of the creature was dominated by a six-foot maw that could swallow a man whole, full of incredibly sharp teeth. It had four legs, although the back legs (and the entire back half of its body) were significantly smaller than the front. The accounts had also indicated that the creature was capable of shooting metal spines with great force over a short distance.

                After setting forth from the Duchy's capital they had made their way to a village called Ireton where the beast had last been seen. From there, they followed its trail north towards the mountains. A little way up the mountain the tracks led to a forest began, and it before this forest they waited. The tracks that led into the forest had been recent enough for trackers to suggest that they move ahead alone, to check if the beast was close.

                "What's taking them so long?" grumbled one of the knights; a woman, Dame Tayla. She too had avoided staring at the river siren, though out of respect instead of embarrassment. It was respect tinged by a fair amount of envy - Tayla had studied sign magic for several years, but could barely inscribe the weakest sigils. Her abilities were completely insignificant compared to those of the Deep (despite each knowing as much about sigils as the other).

                Like most of the knights, she was about a hundred and seventy centimetres tall and very fit - the result of training every day when not actively carrying out the Duke's orders. The armour they all wore was polished until it shined; and despite days of travel and dust it still remained so. They were the shield and sword of the Duchy: its protectors against any threats that could be fought. The strongest, bravest, and most loyal knights in the Duchy.

                Deep had been sent with them to lend her magic to their fight against the beast - she was the most powerful mage in the service of the Duchy, and magic could easily change the tide of battle completely. Deep enjoyed being sent out to assist groups of knights - it was when she felt most strongly that she was fulfilling her duty to the Duchy (and it was a good change from dealing with paperwork all day).

                "I do not know, but it has been nearly two hours," replied another knight. His name was Sir Eadric. He was older than all the other knights, and remarkably healthy for his age. Unlike most he kept his helmet off when not in combat (regardless of the likelihood of combat occurring), exposing his bald head to the air.

                "With how close we are behind the beast, they'd have surely found it by now," added a knight. His name was Sir Newell and he was a young knight, undergoing training to be a tracker. He had stayed behind to avoid alerting the creature to the presence of the scouts, as he was not yet very good at hiding his presence.

                Eyes slowly turned to Deep, awaiting a decision from her. "Follow the tracks," she said. "If they are returning, then the beast is too far to hear us. Otherwise... They will not be returning."

                A few of the knights responded with nods, and the group made their way into the forest.

                The trail was obvious to any - the beast's weight ensure its clawed feet dug deep into the grassy earth, leaving pits and torn up earth in its wake. Furthermore, the creature would often walk through bushes, branches and even small trees. The trail of destruction had caused Deep to question the scouts when they requested to move ahead alone, but they had made it clear that they hoped to find a way to guide the rest of the party (who were vastly less stealthy) to the beast without the beast noticing.

                A considerable amount of noise was made as they rode their mounts despite all remaining silent. They rode as close to the beast's path as possible, going around bushes and other terrain the beast had found insignificant. Tension slowly built in the air as they went further - the tracks became more and more recent as they continued.

                "What's that ahead?" shouted one of the leading knights, suddenly. Sir Ben the Hawk, he was called, for his strong eyesight.

                "Quiet!" hissed another in reply - Dame Renee, who was mostly known for her use of a rapier instead of an ordinary sword.

                "I see something too, between those trees up ahead," added Eadric softly. "We should move ahead cautiously."

                The beast was not lying in wait for them up ahead. In the midst of a recently trashed clearing were the dead bodies of the three scouting knights - two mutilated almost beyond recognition, and all missing parts.

                "This is... Grotesque," said Tayla. She and several of the other knights had dismounted to take a closer look at the bodies.

                "But definitely the work of our target," said Ben, indicating a couple of spines. "Looks like the beast missed them with its last few spines. Not that it helped. I don't think they've been dead long, either."

                "It can't be far. Ready your weapons and let's head on - we'll come back for the dead later," said Deep. The knights followed her order, mounting their horses and heading onwards. The scouts' mounts - as well as several spare mounts, packhorses, and other gear - had been left with the squires a ways outside the forest.

                A few minutes later they came to a small river. "Probably a part of the network of tributaries that flow into the eastern river," said Renee, gazing at the water. She pointed at the tracks - they reached the water’s edge before stopping completely. "Looks like our beastie went in and wandered off along it to avoid detection."

                Saying nothing, Deep hopped down from her horse and waded into the river. It was a little river, barely four metres across with water that scarcely reached her knees. She closed her eyes and focused, feeling the river, letting it talk to her...

                The beast had entered the river right where they stood, and its metal - and gore from the slain scouts - had polluted it. She could not find the creature within the river, and the pollution from its entry had flowed downstream, which indicated that it had left the water some time ago. Deep thought, Judging from the dispersal and location of contaminants, the creature left the river...

                Her eyes flared wide-open from a sudden realisation. "The creature left the river behind us!" she yelled, glancing frantically around the rearmost knights.

                She spotted the creature at the same moment it let loose a terrifying roar that sounded like metal being torn. The knights wheeled their mounts around to face the creature as it leapt towards the very rearmost knight - Dame Olga.

                The beast slammed into Olga, knocking her from her mount and onto the ground. It landed on top of her, crushing her beneath. She let out a scream of pain that was quickly silenced by the creature's maw.

                The remaining knights charged at the creature, steel-tipped lances at the ready. It looked up to face them, bloodied pieces of Olga dangling from its countless razor sharp teeth. It was just as it had been described - a metallic horror with a six-foot maw, four-legged with wolf-like legs ending in foot-long claws. Small pieces of foliage had become caught on the creature, mostly where small gaps separated the plates of its metallic body. Fear scratched the hearts of the knights, but they remained stalwart, some mustering the courage to yell "For Riverjoin!" as they charged.

                In response the creature braced itself, facing the knights. It seemed to expect them to continue straight at the beast, but the knights did not. As they neared it they split into two lines headed for each side of the creature, giving their mounts room to manoeuvre once the lances had struck. The beast reached out with its paws, slashing at the knights on both sides - and missing both. Lances dug into and through its metallic skin, which caused the beast to shriek in pain.

                Focusing only on one of the lines, the beast turned and leapt. It slammed into Sir Ben's mount, carving deep gashes into the horse's flesh. Ben fell off the horse and slammed into the ground heavily. He looked up fearfully at the creature as it began to clamber over his horse - just as the lances of the remaining knights tore into the creature's side.

                It screamed in pain as Ben scrambled to his feet, stepping backwards and into line with knights who had already lanced the creature and dismounted to engage it further. The rest of the knights dismounted as well, forming a loose circle around the creature as it screeched and tore out the lances. The monster was wounded; but none could tell how severely.

                Behind the circle of knights Deep stood, focusing her magic through the sigils on her armlets. She began to channel heat into the armour of the creature, hoping to weaken its armour. The knights saw evidence of her efforts just as the beast re-engaged them - the leaves and branches that had become caught on the creature burst into flames.

                Careful attack after careful attack was made by the knights; dodging the creatures claws and striking when its attention was elsewhere. Yet that was not enough - Sir Eadric was kicked by the creature's back legs and sent flying into a tree, after which he did not get up. Sir Ben's leg was slashed, causing blood to begin pouring forth and forcing him to back up to tend it. Dame Tayla was similarly kicked aside, but was caught by the beasts claws when it did so. Blood quickly began pooling around her.

                They were the lucky ones. Dame Karen was caught by one of the beast's paws, and before she could wriggle free was stabbed through by the other. She lay unmoving after she was tossed aside like a ragdoll. Sir Nigel received a quicker death - one of the monster's claws decapitated him instantly. Sir Harold was knocked by the beast into its maw, his scream quickly silenced as it clamped its mouth shut. His legs fell loose from its lips, severed.

                But the beast was greatly harmed in return. Countless wounds covered its body; the softened armour easily cut by the knights' swords. Its movements slowed, and soon it was barely able to move. As the knights finished it off and spilt the strange, plastic innards of the creature on the ground, Deep relaxed her concentration.

                Only to have it completely broken when someone yelled out, "River siren!"

                It was Dame Tayla. Deep leapt from her mount and rushed over, medical gear in hand. She immediately began preparing to bind Tayla's wounds, but the woman grabbed her arm. "There's no bloody point in doing that," she said, indicating her injuries.

                Tayla was right. Even Deep (who had little medical training) could tell immediately. "I'm sorry," she said sadly.

                "Why are - You can help me," said Tayla painedly. She coughed and added, "Just hurry up and do it!"

                "Do what?" replied Deep, hopelessly.

                "What? Kiss me!" exclaimed Tayla.

                "Kiss... No! I'm not - I can't - I'm not ready!" stammered Deep.

                "I'm about to die, and I want you to do it! Argh! Dead kings judge you!" cursed Tayla.

                "But I -" began Deep.

                "Do it!" yelled Tayla.

                Deep looked at the dying woman, her heart racing in an echo of the chaos in her mind. It was compassion that won out, moments later, pushing aside her unsurety. She lifted up Tayla's head with one arm and leant in to kiss her. Tayla mouthed "Thank you" just as their lips met.

                Tayla's lips were soft, almost limp. She wasn't far from death. Deep felt the knight's soul begin to flow into her through the kiss, she felt it move through her body and into her womb where it stayed.

                The body Deep held went limp as the last of Tayla's soul was drawn out. Deep looked down at it sadly, horribly unsure about the course she'd taken. She wiped her eyes and set the body down. She heard footsteps coming from behind her, so she turned and stood.

                "You kissed her?" asked Sir Newell. He had avoided injury in the fight, but still bore the signs of the fight - scrapes, dirt, blood, and the fell liquid some of the creature's internals had sprayed.

                "Y-yes," replied Deep. "It was - she wanted me too, and it was the only way."

                "I guess," said Newell. He kneeled beside the body and added, "She wanted it anyway, you know. The power you have, and I think the beauty too."

                "She did?" asked Deep.

                Newell smiled. "She did. She didn't want to ask you, though. She felt it'd seem too... Forward?" he answered.

                "I've been asked before, but... I didn't feel ready. I'm not ready now," said Deep. She placed a hand on her stomach.

                "Well, you'll need to be in a few years. Unless you want to fail your daughter," said Newell. His smile came through in his voice.

                Deep smiled back and held her hand over where Tayla's soul had just found a new home. Deep would be pregnant for three years, and then give birth to a baby river siren. In mind and soul it would be Tayla reborn. Maybe I'm more ready than I think, Deep thought.

                "Do you have a name in mind? Or are you just going to call her Tayla?" asked Newell as he prepared the body for travel.

                Deep hmmed and looked at the sky. With a light smile, she said, "She'll be Rain-Cloud-That-Shades-The-River."