I was facing upwind and my scent was concealed as it blew downwind, carried harmlessly behind and away from me. I could smell the rat but it couldn't smell me. The very basics of hunting were being employed today, for I was hunting an intelligent beast.
The rat then turned its face up to the sky as something caught its eye.
I dashed, immediately closing the distance between us as I rammed the spear-tip into the back of the neck of the rat, piercing all the way through its soft flesh and weak muscle and coming out the other end. Lifting it off the ground I twisted the pole arm in my hands and threw the dead rat off, sending its corpse bouncing harmlessly onto the grass with hardly a sound.
They were light creatures, despite how fat they looked.
I turned into the entrance of the cave while waving at Katherine to follow.
The mountain breeze was blowing outwards, coming down from the mountain and through the cracks and on through the cave, and eventually, out the door. It was a different kind of downwind situation. One all the more favorable for me.
The strong gusts of wind also helped clear the lingering smell of urine.
No longer with a mask, this was a pleasant surprise.
Stalking the corridor, I silently crept through the single path that had been opened to us as my eyes darted back and forth. They were unaware of our presence, for now.
Reaching a corner, I slowed my pace as I took a peek around.
On the other side, two Rattanorv were hunched over what looked like, a smaller rat. An actual rat… they were eating it raw, sharing it, even.
Cannibals, no different from reality.
A disturbing sight.
Bringing the halberd to my waist and keeping it parallel with the ground, I took a breathe and steadied myself. I was starting to get angry… no, I had always been angry.
It, was starting to consume me.
Bursting around the corner with only the sound of the dirt and rocks being crushed beneath my feet, I thrust into the closest rodent as it turned its head. Straight through the eye socket, a solid thud was felt as I impacted bone and came to a halt.
The skull had stopped the blow from being fatal.
"Shit," I muttered immediately.
Right on cue, the rat shrieked loudly with its piercing cries cutting through the cave interior. A squeal and squeak followed from the other rat, as I kicked it onto its back. Pulling the halberd free I raised it up and dropped it down with a ferocity that was warranted. The Rattanorv didn't even see it coming.
And as the axe-head clanged from the contact with solid rock, the brown rat fell apart. Two perfect sides to a whole, falling in either direction.
The other [Wild Rattanorv Gamma] had already begun to cast a frost bolt in desperation, but another kick sent it flying into the cold light gray wall. The hard collision with the rock wall stunned it temporarily, as it tried to get back to its feet.
Attempting to stand, as if it were human.
A quick thrust pinned it against the wall as it wiggled and squealed for a second, only to relax and eventually slump over the edge of my bloodied weapon. Retracting my weapon, I watched the body of the rat fall to the floor before me.
Three down, a hundred or more to go.
Nothing else had fallen to the floor, for there was no loot.
These rats didn't have items.
They, were only worth experience.
Noises had filled the air and echoed about in a confusing manner as I continued to press forward. The rats were communicating with each other, unsure of what to do from this point on. In our last battle, they knew who we were… they attacked, retreated, and set up a counter attack.
This time, they were under a surprise attack.
They were the ones lost and confused.
Footsteps could be heard, a soft pitter patter almost like rain drops. Numerous rats were running, slapping their small feet against the cold hard rock as they unknowingly ran to their deaths.
Behind this corner, I would make my stand.
I waited with the axe-side out and held above my head, patiently listening.
The noise grew increasingly louder as the distance between us shrunk, seconds passed as only seconds were left. Then, as the first rat came by, I released my swing with a downward-arcing side swing, as if I were chopping into the base of a tree.
No noise.
Then all noise.
The soft contact with metal on flesh felt as if I were swinging into mud as not one but two rats were caught on the end. Flinging their severed bodies off, I glanced back as the first rat that had ran past exploded in white flame and was sent flying back in the direction from which it came.
Surprised, startled, I looked at Katherine as she chained another spell.
Her white hands glowed as three spherical flames took shape. Having completed her cast, she released the three white balls of holy energy without delay. They cut through the air, and if my eyes weren't betraying me, changed direction as they flew around the corner and out of sight.
Lost for words, I stepped forward to see the corpses of four rats on the floor. Looking past those bodies, I saw a white circle had formed underneath the collective of stupefied rats that were still left alive. The soft white hue beneath their feet had begun to glow, and then with a soft dim pulse outwards, the light reached its maximum extended distance and froze in place.
For an instant, everything stopped.
Then a rapid collapse of the circular light followed, shrinking towards the center as the light flickered and appeared to vanish for a split-second. A blink was all it took as I watched with curiosity and amazement for what would come next.
Fire, would come next.
Directly above the small circle of illuminated ground, a sudden eruption of searing white-fire shot forth and up towards the ceiling. The plume of [Holy Fire] pouring up and out, only to splash back down off the mountain rock above.
The five [Wild Rattanorv Gammas] were caught and entirely engulfed in flame with their cries silenced by the intense flames. They were burning for what seemed like an eternity as all I could do was watch. A second and a half later, the fire diminished and the heat dissipated as swiftly as it had arrived.
In the space where five Rattanorv had been standing no more than two seconds before, five unrecognizable corpses were laid bare in front of our eyes.
Katherine was serious.
And, she was fast.
Nodding my head slightly sideways in a gesture to continue forward, I stepped over the dead bodies of the rats and pressed on. Katherine followed in silence, ready for whatever came our way.
Silence, wasn't only coming from our side though.
No, there was a mutual silence in place now.
The entire cave had gone quiet as we came upon the path that had troubled me the last time. The rocks had split into two distinct pathways, a Y-shaped corridor. Both of which headed downwards into what I liked to call an abyss.
An abyss, because I couldn't see anything.
It was dark, incredibly so.
All I knew the last time, was that the left path smelled slightly worse. This time was much the same. The right side had an old odor that wasn't quite as strong… it wasn't that different, really.
The fresher odor from the left side, gave them away yet again.
Yeah, it was still a pungent odor, and it still hung in the air. Even with the strong breeze blowing through. My nose itched, but a twitch was all I bothered to do for it.
My weapon required both hands.
Not bothering to close my eyes this time, I didn't need to let my senses lead like before. The path we were taking was a familiar one.
We were going to go left again.
The two us headed down the left path until we reached the large, gigantic cavern. Sunlight still shining down through the gaping hole in the ceiling. A curious place, one that forced me to swallow the lump in my throat as I stared out at the boulders that littered my view. I was anxious now, having already experienced this moment.