Notes on Monster Hunting Read online

  We all stood around catching our breath as Ralet, Kully, and Groose finally arrived and asked what happened.

  “You missed it.” Cremn wiped the sweat from his forehead. “We go in pairs. We can’t be caught off guard again. Palon and Kully. Ralet and Groose. Beatrice, you’re with me. The one I fought collapsed after I broke the mask. Aim for that and improvise if it doesn’t work.”

  I nodded, happy to be with him.

  Clouds have covered the sun, making the mountain chilly. We found a cave, a place where we could go into the mountain, but we haven’t gone in. Cremn has been silent since we left, asking me to do the same. He wants to hear if they come for us. I’m sitting on a small ledge above the slope that leads to the cave entrance.

  “Do you think the mason is in there?” I tried to focus my eyes, but it was too dark to see inside.

  Cremn gestured for me to wait. His ears flared as he listened to something. I continued looking into the cave, wondering about the rest of the squad.

  “There.” Cremn drew his sword and stepped onto the slope. I stood and stepped beside him with my weapon drawn. The ground began crawling towards us, Cremn grabbed my sleeve and pulled me backwards. Hundreds of small clay masks with spider-like legs covered the slope.

  “Do you think they could hurt us?”

  Cremn had his eyes locked on the ledge, waiting for them to crawl over. “I don’t want to find out.”

  Cremn led me over the top, above the cave. The air is freezing and it might be impossible for the rest of the squad to find us now. Clouds are low and thick, like a heavy fog. A mound of clay with legs ran up to us, but Cremn kicked it off a ledge. It disappeared in the clouds. We’re taking a break to rest and put on an extra layer of clothes.

  It took us an hour to find a spot to climb down. It started steep and slowly turned into a spot we could carefully walk down. We escaped the shroud of clouds and stopped to look around below us. It felt like we had been climbing for some time, but Cremn said it had only been about half an hour. There is a hole down in the rocks by the ground, possibly another entrance to the cave, or even a different cave. Clay automatons are pacing around, some humanoid in shape, while others were a mix of limbs attached to logs, rocks, and anything else the Mason could find. We are watching from above, not wanting to draw their attention. Two human looking creatures might be holding real swords, but we can’t tell from this far away. Cremn seems nervous. I’ve seen him sweating, despite the mountain air’s chill.

  “Let’s go around and try the ravine on the other side.” He spoke quietly.

  “Not the cave?”

  He shook his head and didn’t explain why. I’m still certain the Mason is in the cave.

  An explosion shook the stone beneath us and illuminated the ravine.

  Groose?

  All the clay creatures we could see ran in that direction. Hopefully we’re not too late.

  When we arrived, Ralet’s blood was pouring down his arm. Something had taken a large piece of skin off his shoulder. His sword arm was weakened, unusable. Groose had his bag on the ground and tellick bombs in each hand. Blood and grime covered his entire body.

  They were fighting creatures that don’t bleed, so was this all his?

  Wood and clay were shredded and scattered all over in front of them, but more creatures were pooling into the area. A whole group of creatures stood between us, closing in on Groose and Ralet.

  Cremn shouted to let them know we were there to help.

  Groose shouted something, dropped the bombs, and drew his sword. Ralet held a club in his left hand, but he was visibly struggling to stand. Cremn and I flanked the group, breaking the masks without much resistance at first. Soon the others noticed us and the group began to split.

  They swarmed me. I stabbed and smashed my blade against them, aiming for the masks. My sword chipped against the thick limb of a creature with four arms as a taller figure with a log for a torso stepped in front of me. It held a sharp blade, maybe made of clay, but it could’ve been metal. Others swiped at me, but seemed to be blindly attacking. Their fists beat against my shoulders, but I kept my attention focused on the sword. I swung and stabbed, and he blocked each time. He reacted faster than I could. I was already thrown off, trying to push the creatures away. My arms were weakening from the strikes, that blade would kill me.

  I realized I was slowly being pushed backwards, separating me from Cremn. I threw my elbow back and cracked it against a mask. The creature dropped and my right arm went numb. The sword swung, I blocked, slid it past me, and countered. The metal of my blade struck its neck, snapped, and fell out of my hand. I threw my right hand forward and caught its mask, breaking it, letting the log fall before me. I pushed the others back, trying to get some room to maneuver. I wanted that sword. I needed a weapon. These things were everywhere. Something beside me slid into my skin, beneath my ribs. Heat poured down my hip, sticking to my trousers. A gasp of pain, air stuck in my lungs, escaped. It pulled away, and I looked at the creature. A full clay figure, no wood or rock, and sharp stakes where hands should be. Built for nothing other than killing. I strained my whole body against the rippling pain of the skin and nerves stretching around the hole in my side. I fell to my knees and reached for the sword, still in the grip of the dead creature when the whole swarm shifted. A clawed, clay foot stepped, landed on, and snapped my forearm. I pulled back and drew my arm beneath me. There were so many of them, I could only curl up and try to protect myself. An explosion ripped through the air, deafening me, burning my lungs, and shook my whole body.

  I was being helped to my feet before I realized the creatures were gone. Cremn and Groose worked together to carry me to Ralet, who was sitting with his back against the ravine wall. They set me beside him, almost dropped me, and sat down themselves. We all looked rough. Worse than rough. Cremn immediately pulled some fabric out of his bag and wrapped my side. It was tight, uncomfortable, but it would slow the bleeding down.

  Ralet was shirtless, using his clothing as a bandage around his shoulder. It didn’t look like it was stopping the bleeding. His head lolled back and his eyes were closed. Was he unconscious?

  Groose had tiny holes from shrapnel all over the front of his body. “I’m fine, I promise.” He could tell I was trying to check how he was doing.

  Cremn had some major gashes that he was already working on treating. I don’t think Ralet and I will be able to help with the rest of the hunt, but Groose and Cremn looked strong and angry, ready to finish the fight.

  “With this many creatures around, the Mason has to be close,” said Cremn.

  Groose nodded. “We were lost when we first came in here. It seemed like a safe place to wait and catch our breath, but a swarm of small clay creatures started crawling at us. They had spikes and teeth and they were fast.”

  “So, you bombed them?” My own voice sounded weak. I wonder how bad I look.

  Groose shrugged. “It worked. But I used one of the big ones, which knocked us both over.”

  “We heard it,” I said.

  “And saw it. It’s why we ran here,” said Cremn.

  “Well, some of them got too close and chewed up Ralet’s shoulder. I got them off, but they really got to the muscle.”

  “Do you think Palon and Kully would come here if they heard the explosion?” I wanted Kully. He would be able to quickly stitch us up.

  “Maybe, but they might not know where it came from.” Cremn came beside me and touched my hand. He lifted his eyebrows and slightly shrugged. I nodded, knowing he wanted to check my arm. His hand slid beneath it, and the pain pierced through me. I cried out and tensed my body. He hadn’t even lifted the arm.

  Ignoring my pain, Cremn leaned in close and slightly rotated my hand. I accidentally pulled my arm away, which hurt worse than him touching it.

  “Good thing you use your left.”

  We rested and stopped Ralet’s bleeding. I dozed off for a while and it was getting dark. Cremn seemed agitated and paced for a bit.<
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  “Corporal.” He never mentions rank, so I locked eyes with him. “Groose and I will scout ahead. You and Ralet will stay here and wait for us or someone else. First squad might be near and Palon and Kully are bound to come this way eventually.” I nodded. There were no questions and I wasn’t in a condition to argue.

  There was a fire nearby when I woke. I never meant to sleep. It couldn’t have been safe for both of us to sleep without anyone watching.

  Ralet smiled when our eyes met. Darkness circled his eyes. He didn’t look well. My arm was splinted and incredibly sore. Does Ralet know how to set a bone? I lifted my shirt and saw rough stitching at my side.

  Kully and Palon walked over together, surprising me. They had scraps of wood in their arms, most likely from the remains of the creatures.

  “When did you get here?” My throat was dry and made my voice hoarse.

  Kully sat beside me and handed me a water skin. “About an hour ago. We went through the cave nearby and destroyed all the creatures.”

  I surveyed what I could see of both of them in the dim light. “You both look fine.”

  Palon knocked on his armor. “Leather isn’t good enough.”

  “It was mostly small creatures down there. Ralet told us about the small army you fought off.”

  “I thought the Mason was going to be an easy hunt.”

  “I’ve never heard of one making soldiers or weapons,” said Kully. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.” He grabbed a bowl full of some brown mush and handed it to me. It was warm from sitting near the fire, but it smelled like old feet. I ate and felt the warmth inside my stomach.

  “Have you heard from the sergeant?”

  Kully shook his head. “We stopped as soon as we found you two. You were both in terrible shape, so we didn’t even hear about Cremn and Groose until Ralet came around.” He stretched his hands over the fire. “We shouldn’t go until morning. The darkness could get us killed and you both need the rest.”

  Palon rummaged through my pack, then his pack, and put our sleeping rolls on top of each other. “Use this. It’ll be softer than just the one.” He smiled and did the same with Ralet’s and Kully’s. “We’ll stay up and keep watch.”

  Kully helped me over and settled me in.

  “We need to go as soon as we can.” I was eager, worried. If we were getting closer, the creatures could be even more numerous.

  “First light.”

  I nodded and closed my eyes.

  Day 120

  A breeze slid into the ravine, extinguishing the last of the embers. Palon and Kully were up and getting things together far before I was awake. They had a bowl of food beside both Ralet and myself by the time they woke us up. Ralet’s arm hung beside him as he moved around. The sun hadn’t yet slipped over the horizon, but distant rays partially illuminated our ravine.

  There was pain deep inside my abdomen. Worse than where the stake pierced my side. Hopefully Kully’s treatment will be enough until Teke can do any surgery I might need..

  “What’s our plan?”

  The question surprised me. It was Ralet who asked, like he was ready to fight. I waited, expecting an answer from Palon or Kully, but they both stared at me. I was in command with Cremn gone. Shit.

  “Pack up everything. Travel together. We can’t assume we’ll pass back through here.” I stuck my arm up. Kully took the hint and gently helped me to my feet. “Palon will be point, a good distance ahead.” I slowed down. I didn’t want to be fatigued before we left. “Kully will support Ralet, if he needs it, and I’ll walk with you. If we get attacked, Kully leaves Ralet with me and helps Palon hold them off.” They all nodded. Kully left me wobbling on my own and helped Palon gather the bags.

  “Did you two sleep?” Palon was still in his armor, which he normally would’ve taken off.

  “Enough.” He smiled, slung two bags over his shoulder, and picked up his shield.

  “I can take mine.” It wasn’t an order. I knew he would refuse either way. Palon ignored me and set off in the lead. Kully helped Ralet to his feet and the three of us left, following our shield.

  It looked like a sculptor’s nightmare.

  Infinitely worse than the ravine. The mountain stretched into a small platform, a plateau of some kind. Shattered logs, broken rocks, and clay. Clay everywhere.

  But no flesh.

  “We never heard any explosions.”

  “What else could’ve happened?”

  None of us could figure it out, but they wouldn’t have gone forward if they were injured. Cremn wanted to finish this. And I wanted to find them, but we needed to rest. The sun was high, but the night’s chill still ran in every breeze. I was sweating, but I felt cold. I wore my cloak, which only stalled the wind.

  “Ralet, how long do you need?”

  His breathing was labored, sweat ran down his forehead, and his eyelids were drooped.

  “Just need to relieve myself. Then we’ll be ready to move.”

  “Ten minutes. Everyone eat something,” I said.

  We sat in the center with our backs together, supporting each other. Palon passed Jerky around to everyone. It was from his personal stash, probably some he made. More oats would’ve killed me.

  “Perfect. I knew you would find us.” We stumbled onto Cremn and Groose lying down on a ledge. Another cluster of clay creatures roamed in the area below.

  “What happened back there?”

  “Later.” Cremn looked like he was past exhaustion, past death. Groose looked as awful as normal. The sun was midway through the sky, hidden behind clouds.

  “Yes, sir. What’s the plan?”

  Kully set Ralet down and unwound the bandage over his shoulder. I couldn’t tell what was beneath. It was pink and red, puffy, I had to look away.

  “We’re getting close. Really close. We found some areas that were clay deposits, back before the Mason used them up.” We were all sitting, listening closely to Cremn, who kept his eyes on the creatures below. “It looks like he’s been traveling until he finds clay. Then he builds until it’s empty and moves on.” He sat up and looked at us. His movements were slow, careful.

  “That’s why the creatures are so spread out,” I said.

  Cremn nodded. “And why this Mason has made so many creatures. This one builds fast. He’s probably burrowed into clay right now.”

  “Beatrice.”

  “Yes?”

  “Can you fight?”

  I nodded. Cremn grinned. He knew how rough the last fight was. I didn’t even have a weapon, but I wasn’t going to be left behind.

  “Ralet?”

  The man smiled at Cremn and attempted a nod, but his flimsy body betrayed him.

  “Nope. You’re staying. Kully, we need you as the medic.” Cremn elbowed Groose. The two seemed to communicate something silently between them. Ralet handed me the club he had found earlier and a dagger.

  “I could fight better than Beatrice right now.” Kully looked at me and flinched. “I’m just saying it.”

  “And if you get hurt, nobody can take care of you. Plus, Beatrice would kill Ralet if she tried patching him up. Those are the orders, just keep a close eye on us and be ready.”

  “Ready for what?”

  Cremn shrugged. “Leave the bags. We might need to move quick.”

  I hope my strength holds.

  I don’t get many chances to see Palon truly do his job. Even less to see him and Cremn together. They were like bears in a river with fish as enemies. Groose stuck directly at my side, protecting the flank and my bad arm.

  Palon pushed into their disorderly ranks and smashed. Cremn mirrored him, one step behind, covering Palon’s left. With his shield on his right, we were reminded why he’s considered a heavy infantry. His sword broke right away, but his armored fist struck mask after mask. Cremn had found a crude club sometime during the night and took down creature after creature. The automatons swarmed at them, seeming to sense the danger of the two, but were pushed back and slaugh
tered. Palon batted them away with his shield, clearing more room and fought on like he had infinite energy.

  Everything shattered until it was only the four of us standing over broken pottery. Both Cremn and Palon had scrapes on their faces, but were otherwise uninjured. Blood leaked from my stitched side.

  A cheer came from above, but a glare from Cremn shut Kully up. I leaned against Groose while I surveyed the area. Cremn already had a plan, he always does.

  We followed a small path around some tall rocks, winding and turning around the base of each stone. We emerged near a gentle slope leading to a muddied knoll. Sophisticated creatures walked around the hill, always staying near the entrance to a small burrow. There were only three of the clay figures, two had two arms and two swords, the other had four arms with stakes, like the one that stabbed me before. They were all slightly bigger than the rest we had seen.

  “Those must be new.” He took a deep breath and stretched out his arms. “Same thing as before. Get those swords down right away, disarm them.”

  Palon is mumbling to himself and quietly stomping his feet, preparing for the fight. My side is swollen and bleeding a bit. Time to finish this.

  Day 121

  Camp is set up, back at the base of the mountain. We’re even using the same firepit.

  Teke touched up Kully’s work on my side. He used some potion and stitched it up again.

  He said I’ll live.

  Skrale wants me to record everything from yesterday, now that we’re settled for the night.

  Palon ran with his shield in front of him and crashed into the spike-armed creature, tossing it backwards onto the ground. Cremn, who followed right behind Palon, stepped around and smashed his club into the side of one of the sword wielders. Groose ditched my side and slithered around Palon, who had engaged the other sword creature. Groose jumped on top of the fallen creature and hammered down, trying to smash the mask.

  “It has three masks,” he shouted. He kept hitting it, unable to break even one mask. It stabbed at him with all four arms, but he dodged and moved away. Cremn kicked at one, trying to knock it over. It only stumbled back and leaned into a charge.