To Catch a Weasel Asleep

The murky waters clutch at my knees and calves with each step, attempting to impede my progress. The weight of the group hangs heavy on the few. Blake does her best to guide us through the swamp, navigating around dangerous sections or calling out deadly flora, but there is only one of her. No one else amongst us is born from these swamps, so we all try our best to not fuck up. It doesn't always go as planned, though.

Clumsy, just as his name says, is bit by a venomous snake while one of the Bado is stung by a violet wasp. Each of them requires immediate aid from Heath and Earl. They barely survive, but now their unconscious forms are carried on makeshift beds of cloth. According to Earl, it'll take at least a week before either up is up and moving.

Another event that gets a worrisome laugh is when Bonfire eats a frog, and if not for him boiling the poisonous meat before it entered his body as Blake screamed at him, he likely would have died. Events like this happen to almost everyone, barring four, the expected ones.

Johnny, Virgil, Silas, and Blake never once get poisoned, sick, or infested with anything as we move, not even during our fights with Sigiled creatures. The Angel's reason is evident, his body robust from his ascension and years of experience, but Virgil is a surprise, though not really. He always covers himself in a thick cloth to save his skin from the burning by the sun. That thick cloth might look burly, but it has often guarded his life against weapons, poison, and the sun's radiance.

Silas and Blake are the two most expected to be okay, the undead virtually immune to poison, while Blake has not only built a tolerance but also has a rich knowledge of these areas with a keen sense of danger. She might not know everything here but knows when something can hurt us.

As for me, my foot is purple and ripe, a recent spider bite leaving it swollen. I'm holding off asking for help as I can feel the venom stay in my foot, unwilling to go further as Rapturous slowly clears it out. The skill is much more potent on Ether than physical ailments but works nonetheless. Another few hours and I should be better.

And beside me stumbles the young Stoneclad Lennox. Apparently, he is immune to poison, plague, and venom, but not acid. Bits of his rocky exterior crack off from the splash he got by a Kohonta before it was killed by Johnny. It'll take days for his stoneskin to regrow. That is unless he gets hit again.

The creatures that resemble humans, only composed of dirt, root, and grime, are perilous, and Johnny has told everyone to run should they see one except for Bonfire and Silas. The one that attacked Lennox was only a 4th Sigil, but Blake says they have been known to grow to even the 6th. A powerful monster, but still not quite an apex predator like the Letiche or Rougarou that can rarely reach the 7th.

The marsh is hard to traverse, and as we move toward Vallens, it only gets more complicated with the passing days.

Around us, the twisted and gnarled vegetation conceals lurking beasts, their growls reverberating through the dense air. Shadows dance among the ancient trees, sprouting from unknown water depths. Occasionally, a sinister presence looms nearby, a demon taunting us from the fringes of our vision. The scouts of whatever nearby mighty demon harry us here or there, but we kill any that show themselves outright, unwilling to waste precious time chasing runaways.

Yet, amidst the perils that beset us, I catch fleeting glimpses of two figures beyond the veil of foliage. They move with inhuman grace, swift and silent, their purpose clear as the silhouettes are much too large to be human. They are guardians, unseen sentinels who preemptively neutralize threats before they reach us. Their presence is a reminder about how not all that is inhuman is treacherous.

Ka and Rou are out there. Maybe they don't feel comfortable staying too close, but I've seen Johnny walk out previous nights while the rest sleep. He always leaves with food but comes back with nothing. Tenous allies, chiefly because of our language barrier. At least, that's what I like to think.

Their forms flicker in and out of view, their movements harmonizing with the rhythm of the swamp. Their vigilance serves as a shield, warding off the malevolence that seeks to consume us. Though true faces remain obscured, their mere presence instills a sense of trust and reassurance within the others for how few times we are attacked.

Most don't know that Rougarou are helping us as we aid them, but instead, they think it is Johnny doing the heavy lifting. And I guess, in a way, they are right.

********************

Days pass in the swamp as we struggle our way through the mud deep, the waters cold, and the beasts sharp. But after five days and four nights of travel, we reach the edge, a valley in sight beyond the copse of trees.

I hear praise from Bonfire as he notices it, the man being one of the forefront travelers with Blake and me at the moment.

"Oh! Finally, we get out of this damn swamp! Fucking hate this place! Everything is wet, muddy, or fucking both! Eh! Wyatt, you up for a game of Monsters and Men when we reach Bent?"

I laugh and agree. Always up for a game. But stipulations must come.

"For sure, but only if we have time. Who knows how dangerous it is."

Blake then pipes us, her machete, formed from demon souls cutting through flora to see better.

"It is likely to be quite busy, you two. Don't get your hopes up. Bent isn't the only fortress to never fall for a reason. And we better head back to let Johhny know we are almost out. Hopefully, there is a nearby settlement or something from which we can find wagons, though most are probably long destroyed. But broken wagons would be a great aid."

I agree with her, turning around to head back, but as I do so, I hear a growl. My head twists to find the noise, and I find a ten-foot-tall Rougarou, the giant wolf's head staring at me from behind the brush. Its limbs hardly stick out from underneath the deep mud it rises from, as another half dozen growls and a few roars ring out.

A warning reaches me from Blake as she screams at the top of her lungs.

"Ambush! Rougarou were waiting for us! Go hot, Bonfire!"

I shuffle through the high water and circle back to Blake and Bonfire as I see almost a dozen giant creatures ranging from six to ten feet tall encircling us. None of them are as significant as Rou, but I can't help but think the beast is the reason this is happening. Did Rou and Ka plan this somehow?

Why would they? Weren't they trading with Johnny for food?

I don't have an answer, but I'm not given one either as Bonfire combusts, the level of this threat forcing the man to Combust and burn it all down. Just over the past few days, he has practiced more and more with the skill after he learned how dangerous it is. Luckily for him, his burned flesh seems even more resistant to his flames.

And boy, are they hot.

An inferno washes from Bonfire as the water surrounding him instantly starts to boil, and the mud hardens enough for him to stand upon it without sloshing. But the instant he does so, the near dozen Rougarou charge, roars loading the air with intent to kill and Ether distorting the ambiance with its density.

Blake and I move back to back, our Ether firing in plumes as we prepare to fight. All my skills howl to life as I kneel and take in a gasp, trying not to affect Bonfire's flames. And I don't. The effect is focused in front of me as the four Rougarou facing me stumble.

And when they misstep, a cone of fire covers them, a plume of flame that refuses to die even as the largest Rougarou, an eleven-footer with dark blue chains, rushes at Bonfire. Blake darts to the side as I join her, avoiding the deadly beasts surging for us as we try to meet up with Bonfire, the man lost to the joy of his conflagration.

But before we can even get close, the giant Rougarou slams into Bonfire from the side, the man too focused on keeping the considerable group in his flames.

I hear bones crack as Bonfire soars, yet before he can fly far at all, the Rougarou that hit him reaches out to grab his arm. And it does. Sharp claws sink into his scarred arm as he is yanked backward.

Arbalest juts me forward, and I reach out to save him, an Explosion primed to slay this thing, but before I do, a massive shadow covers us all.

Glancing up, I see the familiarly scarred form of Rou as he snarls, a paw swinging heavily for the Rougarou holding Bonfire. The other one snaps back as all the Rougarou pause momentarily, the two giants in a stiff collision of presence. I keep my Explosion at bay as the beast quickly drops Bonfire, choosing to concentrate on Rou.

I move to Bonfire, checking the man to see if he's still alive, and as I do so, he laughs at me.

"Haha! Didn't see that guy at all! Did you?"

I can only shake my head as I quickly bandage his arm, the blood flowing out constantly as my senses vigilantly watch Rou and the other beast next to him. Blake kneels beside me, whispering softly.

"We need to go. I think this is a Feud. Rougarou are closed-knit tribes that fight whenever they meet each other. And that big one there... is, well, the biggest fucking one I've ever seen or heard of. He's either an Elder, a Champion, or something else just as important."

Nodding, I remember she wasn't looped in on the whole deal with Rou, but as I do so, the Rougarou speaks a garbled word at us.

"Go."

The single syllable tells me all I need to as I lift Bonfire and back up, the smaller Rougarou moving out of the way from Blake and me. The two of us creep away as the growls continue from the Rou and the other giant beast, but the second we leave the encirclement, the horde pounces on Rou.

Eleven creatures, weighing hundreds of pounds each and the weakest with a 3rd Sigil, hound the massive Rougarou. I pause to watch how he retaliates against the eleven-footer striking at him with a lash of acid that extends from its claws, and the beast does so with the utmost brutality.

With an earth-shaking roar, Rou lunges forward, his movements swift and calculated. His massive jaws clamp down on the nearest adversary, tearing through sinew and bone with ease. Blood mingles with the murky waters, a testament to the brutal nature of their struggle. Rou swings his maw sideways, ripping off flesh as he lets the acid burn into him. The ten-footer retreats with a yowl as the others pounce.

The gore fixates my eyes on the chaotic clash unfolding before me. Rou looms over the battleground, his hulking form exuding an aura of raw power and dominance. He snarls, baring his razor-sharp fangs, ready to face his adversaries. The pack of smaller Rougarous, nearly a dozen in number, surrounds Rou on all sides. Their fierce snaps and swiping claws resonate through the air, forming an unsettling chorus of aggression. They circle their mighty kin, their bloodlust evident in their gleaming eyes and bared claws.

I glance at Blake, and she motions me to retreat, but I shake my head, offloading Bonfire to her. Focusing intensely, I move the Ether from Strugglers Gasp into my hand for a moment, letting me speak temporarily.

"Go get Johnny. This Rougarou, the big one, is a friend."

She only questions me with raised eyebrows before slinking away with the injured man in her arms. Bonfire isn't wholly out of fighting shape, but in Sinscreak, every wound has the potential to fester. Best if he gets treatment sooner than later.

I return my eyes to Rou, my lungs brimming with the Ether of Strugglers Gasp as the Ether returns with a snap. Carefully, I swirl Ether through my body for Stealth as I try to circle the group of fighters ignoring my presence.

Rou moves with unmatched brutality, his every strike infused with fury. His massive jaws clamp down on one foe while his powerful limbs lash out at others, sending them sprawling in disarray. His movements are fluid and precise, honed through what can only be countless fights or flawless instincts. He has no external manifestations of Ether like his opponents, but he tears through them like it is nothing.

Though despite his awe-inspiring strength and unwavering resolve, Rou is vastly outnumbered. The sheer weight of numbers begins to take its toll as his adversaries coordinate their attacks with calculated aggression. They seize every opportunity to exploit his momentary vulnerabilities.

The smaller Rougarous launch a relentless onslaught, their attacks coming from all directions. Fangs gnash, claws rake through flesh, and the swamp reverberates with the thunderous impact of their clashes. Growls simmer non-stop from the giant Rougarou, and I can't just watch him die.

I'm unsure why he jumped in to save us, but he did. And for that, I will rescue him. I only need to wait for the right moment. The other 6th Sigil seems to be commanding the rest, at least partially. If I can kill him, things should get easier.

But with each passing moment, fatigue wears down Rou's formidable defenses. His movements become slightly slower, his strikes less precise. Blood stains his fur, evidence of the savage wounds he has endured. Yet, he refuses to yield, his growls and warnings only heightening in volume as his savagery does the same.

The pack, sensing Rou's momentary weakness, intensifies their assault. They coordinate their attacks, seeking to overwhelm their mighty adversary. But as two dart in to claw at him, Rou does something new. He lets them, and the moment they dig their natural weapons into him, he strikes, crushing their skulls with his paws as he holds them still. The two struggle for life, and I see the 6th Sigil move to help.

Perfect. It is my time to strike.

My heart races as I witness this desperate struggle between a lone titan and a relentless pack. The outcome hangs in the balance, teetering on a knife's edge. And I will be the one to flip the table. Why did they ignore me like so? Is there hate for each other that great? Or are they too dumb to realize any other threats? Who knows.

Doesn't matter, though.

Ether surges in my foot like that of a bow and arrow as I bolt forward with Arbalest, my Explosion begging to be released from the minute of holding onto my gasp of Ether. But one Arbalest isn't enough to reach the 6th Sigiled attack Rou, so I use it again instantly, the shift in momentum making me queasy. Yet the boost moves me with unprecedented swiftness, leaving me behind the giant beast as it swings for Rou. I deny the beast its satisfaction. Even as my foot tingles in pain from the Ether usage, I rally my hand and slam it against the creature, my mind commanding the Ether simmering on the edge of the Bloody Palm.

An eruption of Ether follows, one that blows me backward and everything else nearby away, stumbling. I force myself to quickly stand to see the result, and struggling to stand is the Rougarou I hit, the wound wide enough for me to fit through its body, not enough to kill it.

"Fucking hell."

Eight growls return my words as the remaining horde turns to me, Rou falling on all fours from his wounds. Rou only managed to kill two, but he wounded most of the others in at least some significant way.

Cracking my knuckles, I step forward with another gasp, drawing Reckless from its sheathe. And as the Ether fills me, I dart for the giant Rougarou, hoping to kill it before it recovers, but Rou beats me to it, sinking his jaws into its throat.

With a shake of my head, I rush the remaining Rougarou with my blade, swinging it wildly at them. But after the death of their leader, they step back, unsure if they should continue. I move to kill them regardless but fail as they all run away, Rou rising behind me on two legs with a head in his hands.

"Win."

I nod at him, a short chuckle as I see his flesh repair quickly. Too quickly, almost as fast as the Bloody Palm when I first got it. The healing back then wasn't enough to ignore wounds, but it wasn't that distant from it.

"How are you healing so fast?"

I ask him what comes to mind as he stands covered in the blood and gore of his kin. Rou replies shortly, though it takes a while to get all the words out as his grumbling terms struggle to escape his inhuman throat.

"Rou.. ga... rou... meat... heal... best..."

Okay? I don't have much to say to that besides that it's weird. Do they heal best from eating each other? Is that a Sigil thing? Has to be. Probably an Abbot-Freak mix that makes them how they are. Wait... that makes perfect sense.

I stand with Rou for a few more minutes before shouts and a familiar growl reach us.

Johnny bursts through the thick marsh alongside Blake, Virgil, and Ka, the young Rougarou with them for some reason. The Iron Consul sprints toward Rou with a question.

"Did you get him?"

Rou nods, a rumble emanating from his chest as Ka slams into him like a daughter into a father.

"Dead."

Johnny sighs in relief as he moves and pats me on the shoulder, tossing Rou a bag.

"Great. Thanks for your help, Wyatt. I didn't know they would attack you guys, but I should have expected it."

I twist my neck, unsure of what he means but worried by the meaning of his words.

"What? You knew about this? And who did he kill?"

Johnny bobs his head as he shuffles through the mud toward the dead Rougarou.

"Yeah, I've spent the past few days talking to Rou here and there, trying to gauge the area. He only trusts me, even now, so I didn't tell any of you. But the Rougarou in the area are having a civil war for leadership because of the invasions."

Johnny kneels down and rips up a necklace of bones from the dead giant.

"This is a Ga, a holy symbol for the Rougarou, one that only the three strongest warriors can hold. Factions are fighting currently, and Rou wants one to escape with Ka. Or at least I believe that's what he wants. Most of it is guesswork and charades, besides the part about the war. That is obvious."

The gunslinger tosses it to Rou, and the beast, with his arms half healed, already catches the object and puts it on his neck reverently. Blake, confused but trying to understand the situation speaks.

"Why does he need a Ga? And why did that one have it? He doesn't seem that big compared to Rou."

Johnny shrugs as he waves Virgil to head back to the wagons.

"Dunno. Rou is mighty strong. I reckon he's got an Absolution or something of the like. It could be a recent advancement. Regardless, he's helpful to us, so we will be kind to him. I reckon it is some symbolic thing, though. Having a Ga probably makes him off limits to attack or something without a challenge."

Rou replies with a growl as he holds onto Ka.

"Safe."

Unsure he's talking to Ka or us, Johnny raises his arms and moves past him, looking out into the plains that gradually form beyond the thick brush nearby.

"Great. We're almost there. Rou, if you want to join us, now is the time. I appreciate the help so far, but you have your own life. I doubt you want to harry yourself with our problems."

Rou raises his snout and looks to Johnny, a resonant howl leaving his throat. Then, he pulls Ka and clambers back into the depths of the Sinscreak. Ka tries to yank him back, but the older beast refuses, taking her with him. We watch them leave, the three of us pushing onward into the plains to ensure no more traps lie. But as the new friendly creatures leave, they seem to hug the edge of the swamp, not for certain staying or leaving its confines.

What odd creatures.