The Team

"Took you long enough. If you had kept us waiting any longer, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have any flesh left to rot." This comment came from what looked like an abomination of a giant. He had four giant legs and two arms. He carried a club in both hands and overall looked extremely menacing. There were scrapes all over his body and flesh was falling apart. He reeked of death. His smell was so revolting that the entire group had their noises covered or pinched to avoid smelling him.

Kies took a step back from the giant undead while the rest of the group turned their heads away. One of the werewolves started gagging and then ran off towards where they just came from to get some fresh air. "Hmph, weakling," said Ammine. But just as she said that she started coughing herself and her throat made a hurling noise.

"Ha, you say that but- URK!" Bloodmane suddenly sprinted off in the same direction as the previous werewolf, sounding as if he were about to throw up. One by one, the rest of the werewolves followed suit. Kies noticed that the only one that wasn't affected by the stench is Issie. It must be one of the perks of being a spirit.

"What a rude way to introduce yourselves," the giant commented. He took a big step forward and Haro instantly passed out, dropping from Kies's shoulder and hitting the ground stiff like a brick.

"..."

"You can't be serious. You're our so-called 'main fighters,' the ones that are going to deal with that bonehead, and yet none of you except for that spirit who doesn't look like they can even fight can deal with something as insignificant as my smell."

"Please Garutn, they're alive unlike the likes of us. You can't possibly expect them to breathe your odor alike smelling flowers or something as such." The voice came from an undead standing on the very top of a tree on one leg, with his other leg crossed across his thigh. He was wearing a mask and carrying a sword. He looked more like a living being than an undead, and Kies would've mistaken him for one if he himself had not said that he was one.

The giant undead snorted and looked up at the undead on top of the tree. "Once again Lisler... hmph, I doubt that's even your real name at this point; but I cannot understand a single thing you are saying. You said you were something else before you turned into an undead, but I cannot recall which race has such a grotesque way of speaking."

"Do not insult mine tongue. The land of the crying clouds gave way for this wandering soul. My mouth carries its woes."

"Hum, whatever. I can never figure you out." The giant undead turned back to what was remaining of the group of ten and said, "I hope your battle prowess isn't as disappointing." After saying that, the undead walked away, allowing Kies and Ammine to finally let go of their noses and breathe normally.

"Oh god, it's still here," Ammine waved her hand by her nose, trying to fan away the little bit of stench that still lingered. The other undead that were watching them lost interest after the giant left and also went away. The only one that stayed was the masked swordsman, who still stood perfectly still atop the tree.

Kies kneeled down and checked on Haro. "Hey Haro." Kies poked his exposed belly but got no response. He had completely passed out. Issie glided down and then disappeared into Haro's body. Five seconds passed and Haro's eyes suddenly shot wide open.

"How long have I been sleeping for, child? And hoo, I can still smell that stench." Haro looked around and saw that the giant undead was gone. Issie also reappeared from out of his feathers.

"You were out cold for about three minutes," Kies answered.

"I see, and where did those werewolves go?"

"They couldn't handle the smell and ran off," Ammine answered Haro's question this time. "I don't know when they're coming back but it better be before the battle begins." The masked swordsman hopped down from the tree and landed in front of the group, surprising everyone. "What do you want?" Ammine asked him.

"I've been told that it'd be my mission to guide you to old bone," he told Ammine. "Mine name is Lister. Pleased to meet you all."

"Sorry? I don't quite understand what you're saying," Ammine told him. She saw that smelly undead giant really wasn't kidding. This guy was really hard to understand. "Are you trying to say that you're going to lead us to the Bone Whistler?"

"Yes fair maiden." As soon as the masked swordsman said that, a giant white flash blew up in the skies.

Kies looked up at the bright light. It wasn't bright enough to blind, but it was bright enough to shine a light on the clouds that otherwise wouldn't be visible in the skies. "I think that's the signal," Kies told everyone.

"Yep, couldn't be any more obvious than that," Ammine agreed.

"Rise from the grave! Awake from your slumber!" One of the greater undead from before chanted a spell, causing numerous skeletons to crawl out of the ground around them. The other greater undead started leaving to carry out their parts in the battle. Only their group has yet to move, mainly because they were missing more than half their members.

Ammine sighed and searched around for the werewolves. "Where the h*ll are they?"

---

Grammar errors, story errors, other errors, and advice, email flightless05@gmail.com

Thanks!