CHPT 129: She’s Stalking

Claude and the rest of his team traveled down the hill for a while silently passing birds perched on tree branches and rodents and other woodland creatures on the ground below before they found another nest.

It didn't take long for the large Mischief of Ratmen to emerge from the earth and engage in battle with his team.

"Claude! There's two!?" Warren panicked as a Male and Female Dominant Ratman exploded from beneath the dirt and headed for Claude and Frosty.

"I'll be fine! Focus your fire on whoever needs it!" Claude ordered as he spun his blade and used, (Beast Trait).

"Sksksksk!" The two Dominant Ratmen squeaked and squealed deeply in challenge.

Frosty snarled in response as Claude raised his sword and clawed hand.

The Ratmen ran violently with their clawed hands outstretched and reaching for him.

The first one to reach him did something none of the other Ratmen did. A few feet before it truly reached him, it dropped to all fours and lunged at his legs like a dog.

Fwoo!

Claude's instincts and reflexes took ahold of him, causing him to easily leap over the low lunging Ratman. As he was in the air, he noticed the Female Ratman closing in on him.

"Ragh!"

Poof!

Claude snarled as he came down and front kicked it in the chest, knocking the dirt off its fur and sending it tumbling back towards its nest. Before it could hit the ground, he spoke to Frosty through his link saying only one word. "Go."

The PitWolf reached it in a flash, biting into its tail and pulling it out as it tried to flee back into its nest. The Ratman's attempt at running was over once Frosty's powerful jaws clamped over the back of its neck.

[+ 35 EXP]

In this time, Claude spun around and faced the lunging Ratman just as it was leaping at his face. It's hands were right in front of his face when he quickly dropped and shot his free hand up.

Squlch!

His clawed hand sunk into the Ratman's throat with a sickening squishing noise as it went limp on his hand.

[+ 35 EXP]

The feeling of hot blood soaking his hand combined with his adrenaline and anger in combat— borrowed from Frosty, caused him to lose control for a moment and completely ignore his surroundings.

"[Claude....Claude!]" Arne's voice brought him back after he realized he was quietly snarling and snapping his teeth in the middle of the forest with his team silently watching.

"C-Claude?" Warren said from behind him.

He ignored him and listened to Arne's urgent voice in his mind.

"[Claude! Put the goddamn Ratman down! NOW!]"

Claude slowly looked up and realized he was casually holding a Dominant Male Ratman above his head by the throat with one arm.

This wouldn't have been a problem if it was a regular Ratman since they weigh 200lbs at most. But, Dominant Males weigh at least 375lbs.

He quickly dropped the Ratman and turned around hoping none of them considered the creature's weight as he did.

Shlck!

Boom!

"[Dropping it may have been a mistake.]" Arne commented as the Ratman crashed into the ground, bringing up a large cloud of dust and dirt.

Warren looked at him with complete surprise while Maris stood next to him eyeing the Ratman and then looking back to him— deep in thought. Isaac looked impressed and Ursula looked scared which made him deeply uncomfortable.

Before he could say anything, he felt a violent chill ripple it's way down his back, causing him to spin around on full alert.

In a very animalistic manner, his nose was immediately in the air sniffing intensely. He could feel her eyes on him. She'd been stalking him, like a starved mountain lion would to a lonely hiker.

She was on the move, and something told him he didn't have the control to deal with her and her Class made to reveal people like him at the moment.

"W-What wa—"

"We have to move. Now." Ursula was interrupted as Claude turned around and spoke before taking off.

"Hahahaha....."

Warren felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise after he thought he heard a chaotic feminine laugh come from behind them. He soon realized everyone was already running with Claude after a moment and panicked, running as fast as he could to catch up.

While they ran, Ursula found herself unable to look anywhere else but at Claude's hand. Every time it came down at his side, she couldn't help but stare at the blood that leaked down his hand and dropped off his claws. She saw a hand similar to that once before that came crashing into her stomach. The memory association sent a wave of anxiety running through her.

"No. That's not him." She told herself.

***

After Claude felt that he created a safe bit of distance between them and his stalker, he stopped just in time to see another split in their path.

"This is getting ridiculous." Warren said from the back of the group.

"Let's split up." Maris suddenly suggested.

Warren looked at her like she just stabbed him.

"That may be a good idea. If we want to find this Boss, we'll need to over over more ground than what we've been doing." Isaac supported.

Claude began to consider the idea when Warren spoke. "Now hold on! Have none of you read any scary stories?!" Isaac asked frantically.

"What is wrong with you?" Maris asked him.

"Wha— ME?! This never works guys. It's always up to the leader on if the team splits and then his second and third agree which solidifies the plan.....then guess what happens!?" He said— still sounding frantic.

"What happens man?" Isaac asked, deciding to humor him.

"People like me and Maris DIE.....GRUESOMELY! Guys I don't want to die with her.....she doesn't even like me!"

The group looked to Maris, seeing if she would say anything to object his claims. They found her quietly fiddling with her blade, completely disconnected from the conversation.

"What?" She said after realizing they were staring at her.

Ursula could only shake her head as Claude spoke.

"Alright...Ok. We stick together. Plus, I think I've got something to fix our ground covering problem." Claude said after the scent of fear coming from Warren began to reach new heights.

Warren sighed loudly, bending over and placing his hands on his knees like he just ran ten miles. "Oh thank god. Your a good leader, Claude."

Claude froze at the mention of the word. "I'm no leader." He replied as he dropped to one knee and began to focus.

"[You plan to use the Skill, don't you?]" Arne asked.

"Yes. Hopefully it works in our favor." He replied as he started to calm his breathing and listen to all the sounds of the forest.

Birds flying overhead, woodpeckers beating away at nearby trees, squirrels moving along the forest floor with rabbits nearby. Which was the best option?

"Birds have an immense overhead view of everything— while thats good, it doesn't help against creatures found in nests. It's settled." He said as his eyes burst open, looking at a young red squirrel that hopped down the path to the left of them.

He quickly activated, (Eyes of the Wild). Immediately after his eyes turned fully green and his vision went dark.

"[Everything alright?]" Arne asked.

"One second." He replied.

After a few moments passed with his team silently waiting. He felt like he was opening his eyes for a second time. Only this time, he knew he wasn't seeing the world through his eyes, but from the eyes of a squirrel.

It felt odd, to see the ground so close to his face as the squirrel hopped down the hill only stopping to sniff the air before continuing.

"[Amazing.]" Arne commented.

The squirrel hopped and skittered down the hill for a while longer before it stopped and turned to face a sort of cave that was somewhat hidden by the forest. It looked like a gigantic sea of black with moss and vine-like framing from the squirrels point of view.

Before he could look at the cave entrance any longer, the squirrel spun around eyeing two students in the distance. It sniffed the air again and moved like it wanted to throw up after smelling them then ran further off and his skill deactivated.

He was disoriented for a moment as his vision readjusted.

"What was that?" Ursula asked as he stood up.

"A Skill."

"Well, what did it do?" Isaac asked.

"It allowed me to see what was down the path to the left. Which was a cave and the twins heading inside of it."

"Right it is." Warren assumed as Claude and the group headed down the path.

They ran for a few minutes, taking note of the complete lack of Ratmen nests. Soon enough, the hill lost its steepness and they found themselves facing another cave entrance.

"The hell?" Claude questioned.

"What's the matter?" Ursula asked.

"This looks exactly like the cave on the other side."

"You think they're connected?" Isaac asked.

"I hope not." Warren replied before adding, "Can we get some light, Isaac?"

"Sure." He said before lightly tossing a fireball into the dark expanse of the cave.

Fwooooo

The fireball sailed into the darkness, lighting up each area it passed in a fluid flash of images. Images that terrified every member of the group.

Nests lined the floor like an old mine field, circling an incredibly large Rat sleeping on a dirt pedestal of some sort with sharp bones forming a kind of barrier around it. Claude only assumed it was a Rat because all he could see before the flame silently hit the dirt and went out was a large wiry haired back facing them while a pink tail circled around the pedestal like a loaded spring.

"What.....the....fuck?" Warren whispered.

"Grrrr..." Frosty snarled into the darkness quietly.

"That's a big ass Rat." Isaac said, sounding rattled for the first time.

"I think it's safe to say we found the Boss." Ursula commented.

Claude was about to voice his agreement when they all heard a psychotic laugh echo down the forest hill.

"Ok. This time I'm sure I heard it. What the hell is that?!" Warren asked, clutching his bow to his chest.

"That's our cue to go inside." Claude replied before hesitantly leading the group into the cave.