CHPT 426: Follow the Trail

Days at sea were interesting. To be confined to the small wooden confines of the boat created a feeling of being cramped-- especially for the group of recently made nomads. But at the same time, they were steadily covering endless miles every day. It was a weird bit of contrast to experience in person when combined with the bizarre marvel that was the sea itself. As they rode through the day, waves sloshed their boat, Tangents opened-- spitting out Silver Cursed and Lizardmen, and the sun rolled across the sky steadily. A new chaos. A new norm.

Speaking of norms. Ronin was never far from Claude. Not in mind-- rarely in body. Him and his Detectives were a virus he just couldn't shake from his system. Whether it was in person-- an interrogation, stalking twin Detectives with white hair, or buffed up City security measures. Earlier in the day, he came in the form of a letter. That was new.

Rollan's letter. Delivered by their magical carrier..... Umbral Raven. Blackbeak. Claude thought over it's contents as he practiced the basic components of Wood-Weaving on the ships deck.

"Morning, Monsieur-- Well, maybe not so much when this letter reaches you, hm? Oui, the days go by fast when in travel. We are all safe, by the groves we remain as such, yes? When we aren't fighting through Gnoll dens and Lizardmen lurking the through the sands, we eat and train. We do it because I know you are doing the same now, Beast of Beasts... I won't let you outdo your teacher just yet, goatboy. And it seems, your packmates won't let you get much further ahead. Piet and Canis have been lit ablaze in your absence. They fight like there's gold in these creatures' guts. Canis has a gained a new interest beyond the feral company of wolves. Last night I awoke to him training with my blade. He'll be more powerful than his brother if he keeps on like this. Loba is comfortable around me, just as the Elves find connection in their Vengeance Seekers. All is well. We reach the Vada Disctrict by nightfall...." This portion of the letter was nice, warming.

He found himself even missing the company of Canis and Piet.... missing how Ursula was able to hulk out with someone in Isaac's stead. How Frosty was able to find child-like joy in Canis' company the way he once did with Claude. He missed Loba's bass heavy purrs and perceptive mature eyes. The one that followed him.

Such a nice letter. It went downhill fast. Deadly fast, at the mention of a deadly man.

".....I'm hearing word of a certain someone inside the Vada District that's kept the place under storms for days. Word of your explosive battle with the Demons has spread beyond New Gloria's borders, Monsieur. There's a forest in the middle of a canyon now. They say the storms over that forest are so intense the sand around it has been burnt into a field of glass due to the barrage of lightning. They say the forest glows like it's filled with flaming green diamonds. I've also heard of a man... in the sky..... watching.... studying. Trying to learn what happened. Be safe, Monsieur. It seems as you grow, this Ronin only grows angrier."

Arne couldn't help but comment on the similarity between the forest made from Claude channeling the energy of the Ancient Seed to Romulus and his end... his forest that housed the strongest stock of creatures drawn to his Wild Magic.

The only difference was, Claude had drawn a storm. A storm for the ages....

He set the new information to the back of his mind, especially since they'd pass Ronin and his madness without him knowing in the next two days. He had other things to deal with on shorter notice. Training and preparation for their highest Ranked Tangent yet.

A Goblin Horde.

Claude stopped moving for the first time in two hours. His dual spears had begun to feel heavy in his hands. Like two lead pipes... if lead pipes had silver and bronze framed blades and skull and cross bone wolf skull designs burned into the metal along the shaft. A oddly fitting design. Tangents were mysterious like that though.

"God damn! You were starting to give me a headache." Cassidy yelled from the back of the boat as he manned the steering wheel and sails.

"You were moving like flies festering over a corpse..... everywhere at once." Ma said in between beautifully grim song.

Claude didn't get much time to consider her words as Ursula stepped down to the deck, axes in hand and arms furry. She was finished watching.

No words were spoken. He could practically feel her blood pumping. Despite her aversion to her father-- despite her Elemental affinity, many aspects of her were fiery.

Ursula raised an eyebrow in confusion as the two circled each other, "Why are you thinking about my father?"

"No reason." Claude replied. He really had to get a hang of the mind stuff.

"Bullshit." Ursula growled as she lunged at him, swinging her axes as if Claude was a tree with branches in need of frenzied chopping.

He bobbed and weaved it all, his muscles and joints warmed to the point that he could move with all the fluidity he needed.

By the end of it, he was behind her. Ursula didn't care. Without a moments hesitation, she lunged backward, using her ears and their mental connection where her eyes failed her to accurately smash her back into his chest.

Claude welcomed the charge and lunged in to catch her in a bear hug.

BOOM!

The boat rocked as if a bomb went off at it's center. Frosty jumped out of his nap. Claude stood with Ursula in his grip. Unfazed by the heavy charge.

Something about that wasn't right.

Sure, he'd grown but....

"Claude....." Ursula mumbled.

"Yea....." His skin felt dry.... and his eyes were itchy.

"You're a shark again." Ursula said with a huff.

Claude let her down slowly and found that she was correct. Dark grey skin-- thick like flesh armor, covered him. His claws had simply become sharpened fingers, webbed and malleable. But his legs retained the shape of his Lupine form.... only no fur, just shark skin. That was his fastest shift yet. And right after he'd used his Nature Magic so differently inside the last Tangent. Weird...

"WOah! Heads up..." Cassidy suddenly said, aiming his Autobow out at the water.

Claude and Ursula followed where he aimed, finding themselves looking out at sea.

Shark fins swam around them. Not a swarm exactly, but a group in the distance. Not hostile, just following along at the edge of their depth level. The repellant was keeping them at bay.

"Cassidy lower your weapon." Claude said. "They aren't here to hurt us."

Suddenly the urge to enter the water was once again firm in his mind. To discover the world below.... an untapped world, with creatures and beings the world knew so little of. His father didn't speak of the ocean often, but when he did, he compared it to a Tangent. He had trouble fathoming it all. Claude felt himself having the same troubles as he peered into the reflective dark waters. So horrifying, so mysterious, yet so inviting--

A hand grabbed his own.

"Hey. Cut that out." Ursula said as she pulled his face away from the water. She looked different in those moments. Her freckled face as hard as iron. Reality set in, reminding him that risks met poorly weren't just his own.

Same message went for what was coming....

***

Speaking of.

Night was coming. Claude could see the moon rising beyond the sea's surface. The waters were growing agitated. Correction, the beings inside the water. They were waking up, their hunger leading them to the surface, to the light of the Tangents. At the same time, Claude was awakening. Readying himself for the battle to come. A Goblin Horde. Crazy numbers, easily overwhelming, and the possibility of Shamans that had the ability to grow their might far beyond their base level. It was like Ursula reminded him earlier. No risks, because they wouldn't be his own to take.

"[Relax, Claude.]" Arne's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade through soft meat.

"I'm relaxed."

"[Yea, and cow shit smells lovely.]" Arne shot back sarcastically, "[I understand Cassidy saying you were the groups trump card.... and your discoveries with today, have you in a certain mental state. But you must relax. Stay loose and limber in mind. Keep working as you are, continue to learn how to lead. I'm watching the world through your eyes, mate..... but I'm also watching you through your mind, your actions.... and your thoughts. You're on the cusp of something. I know you feel it. Stay on that path. Follow the trail.]"

Claude sighed, feeling Ursula's weight shift as she slept beside him with her head against his armored shoulder. She could be comfortable sitting on a bed of spikes.

"Thanks Arne."

"[Hey.... it's just my divine purpose.]"

"I think that's to be sarcastic for no reason at all hours of the day."

"[Bug off, goatboy.]"

Claude smiled faintly, "Sure. I've got work to do anyway."

And with that he woke up Ursula. As if Cassidy was already connected to their Pack Bond, he spoke.

"You folks ready? I've got eyes on the Tangent."

"Let's move." Claude replied as he shrugged on his Druidic Cloak and sheathed his spears. His adrenaline pumped. Fueled by the reserves of everyone connected to his mind as a Lupine Alpha. He fed and fueled them all. He felt like he could run forever as they closed in on the Tangent. Good. He'd need that energy for the number of greedborn pests they'd run into. And his pack would need that backbone of resolve.

It was like Arne said. Follow the trail. This trail only led to one place, and it looked like a rift between dimensions.

This time they didn't need announcement. Cassidy moved, flipping off the stairs and landing onto the deck. He took off, blowing past Claude, Frosty and Ursula in a near blur of armored longcoat and automatic weaponry. Ma followed, flying past them like a ghost on the hunt.

Ursula and Frosty went next, two beasts of muscle, bone and battle lust.

Claude was all that remained. Him and the Tendread Sea of mystery.

He gave it a single look before taking off. The Tangent entrance now twelve feet away from the front of the boat. He could feel the creatures below waiting for his arrival. They wouldn't catch him. If they did, they'd wish they didn't. He wasn't on the menu afterall.

With that in mind, he jumped for the Tangent, the wind felt refreshing on his skin and ruffled his cloak as he spun, reaching out for the boat with his Malevolence Tether.

Once it was caught, all he needed to do was give it a yank with his boosted strength.

As he did, he found himself looking out at the sea once more. This time it wasn't a weird sense of awe and longing. It was shock, as so many deep-sea predators rushed past him. So many that a tidal wave ran over the Tangent entrance just as he entered.

His brief connection to them told him one thing. The same thing he felt the last time there was a deep-sea stampede.

Fear...