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The Wilds Behind the Walls

by Oliver Bright

FA: OliverBright

Sofurry: oliver bright

It was late evening and the sun was already setting out into the west. The air was already beginning to cool as the warm rays of light slowly crept back behind the shadows of trees and soon behind the land itself. But as one source of light diminished, another came to take its place. The very plant life seemed to slowly come alive as flowers opened with glowing petals. The leaves on the trees seemed to shimmer gold. Even the vines that wrapped everything in its choking hold seemed to glow a faint blue. The once dirt brown and soft tree green landscape became a painting of bright colors that glowed into the night with from the magic within. It was as if some great being had painted the land with glowing paint from afar. Lighting up the night with a low colorful glow.

This was lost however on the husky that was deep into the wild forest. In fact, He was underground, in an ancient bunker he had stumbled across while making camp. For years the entrance was hidden away under the protection of the trees and earth and would still be so had not for Oliver, who just so happened to stop right there for camp. While he was clearing away some vines for his site, something had caught his eye. With his experience and a bit of training, The adventurer had learned to be very perceptive to his surroundings and the odd small rock formation he uncovered did not go unnoticed. In fact, pulled out his gear once more and upon further digging and and inspection, He found it was a door of sorts. And thus, after some percussive maintenance and some low grumbling of annoyance, he had open the trap door and made his way in the dark abandoned bunker.

Inside it was dark, cobwebs clung to the walls and the air was stale. The floor was stone covered by a thick layer of dust from years of neglect and the ceiling seemed to be arched with lamps hanging down. The walls were cluttered with old rotted shelves and furniture set broken. Time had ravaged the small room leaving just decay in its wake.

Standing in the entryway was Oliver, The adventurer and husky, Standing and looking around into the darkness. He was dressed in usual adventurer attire for the area, normal soft cloth clothing though that was hidden by a heavy more armor like leather coat and leather pants. He wore tough waterproof boots and sturdy gloves. On his shoulders, the back oh his arms and the front of his shins were metal protective covering. Big enough to blunt a blow but small enough to not slow movement. The gear was designed to be both protective yet still maneuverable for the user. On his back he wore a pack filled with tools, some food and water and camping supplies. He had to pack light as traveling on foot left little room for carrying much. And finally on his head were a pair of goggle that at the moment set on his forehead, out of the way.

He was here a part of his job with the adventurer guild. To go out and explore into the wilds outside the protection of the city walls. For the land outside the cities was a dangerous and unexplored area. Full of creatures of all sizes and uncontrolled magic. Plants that were as beautiful to see as they were dangerous to touch. It was a land of wonder, but for the unprepared, it was a land of death.

Oliver pulls down the goggles on his head over his eyes and the magic effect they have lights up the area around for him to see. There wasn't much to the bunker. It was a small room with some shelf. Most of what was left had long ago rotted away. The leather remnants of books remained with the pages long past gone. Spiders had made webs across the ruined furniture with wide sparkling webs draping over wide spaces. The adventure looked around, searching for anything of value but the bunker had yet to reveal anything.

It wasn't until he looked closer at a back wall that something seemed off. The walls were cracked with age and the stonework left the hard surface covered in dents and lines from the mason work. Despite all this and the dirt that clung to the wall, One thing stood out. Behind one shelf that seemed small then the rest, There was a straight lone in the stone. Faint and hard if not impossible to spot with the naked eye, His goggles made it all the clearer. This was it, this was what he was searching for. Upon further inspection the shelf was barely attacked to the wall and with some pulling it moved clear fairly easily. Oliver then pushed against the wall and after a moment, a light crack was heard and the wall gave way, swinging back. Despite being stone, The make shift door was oddly light and pushed back with ease. Behind was a small room, barely big enough for the husky to fit into and at the far end stood a glass case, seemingly untouched from time. Inside a small chest, looking as if it was just placed there. It showed no sighs of age. No rust, no rot. It even had a shine to it as if polished.

Oliver grinned, This was not something many found and to be still intact. It was a preservation case. These cases were enchanted with magic that made them and anything in them immune to rot and decay. While rare in the wilds, many were used in the cities to preserve everything from food to valuables to anything.

The Husky goes to open it only to find it locked. He sighs, "of course it wasn't that easy" He thought to himself as he looks around. As far as he could see, there was no key and he really didn't fancy digging thru the mess to look for one that probably wasn't there. Instead, He turns his attention to a small coin that was embedded in his armor near his shoulder. While hidden from sight, its effects were very obvious. He focused his thoughts there. As of he was calling a power the coin held. It only took a second but that was all he needed.

The coin itself was mall and round like most coins, maybe an inch across. Its surface was smooth to the touch and a bit warm unlike most coins. It was a strength coin and the only one of its kind Oliver had as they were expensive to get. Specially strength ones. Thankfully, Oliver had been lucky to find one a while back up in the mountains. Simply having the coin in his armor gave him a small on going boost to his strength. Like most coins it had a passive enhancement effect. Nothing super by any means but it gave the user that extra bit, which was handy in the wilds as he was always having to tug, pull or pry something on a daily basis. Though the coin also had an active effect. When he focused on the power of the coin and delved into its power, he felt a sudden surge and he could tell his strength had increased 2 fold. He grabs the case, ripping it from the wall and tosses it at the floor. It crashes and shatters on the floor just as the strength give out and Oliver collapses, though being careful of the glass. He then facepalms, hoping whatever was in the box isn't broken but he really didn't see another good option.

After a small rest, he feels mostly recovered. He gets up and collects the box and stuffs it in his pack. Once he had his pack back onto this back, He looks around the room, hoping for more but all he can see is just junk. Still he was sure reporting the site to the guild would get him a good commission plus work as a guide for those of the academy who were not so adept at going into the wilds. Not to mention, who knew what was in the box. If all went well, it was a object of great value. Maybe another coin or another artifact. In any case he hoped it would be valuable to sell. One of the perks of being part of the adventure guild was he got to keep whatever he found and get paid for any information or findings he turned in. It was a dangerous job, or so he was told, but it came with its rewards.

He as about to head out but then decided that really the best place to stay was in the bunker. He was out of the weather and didn't have to worry about anything invading his camp. He takes a moment to push the broken glass and stone to the side then clears away a small area in the opposite corner. Then, after he pulls off most of his gear and neatly stacking it next to him, he pulls out his sleeping bag and snuggles into the warmth it promised. Soon sleep took him as his eyes closed and he dreamed of all the possibilities of the box.

He didn't know how long he slept when he woke but he knew it had been a while. It was quiet with the only sound he heard being his own soft breathing. It was pitch black in the bunker making him fumble around till he found his goggles and put them on. Now, being able to see, He puts his gear back on and packs up his sleeping bag into his backpack before placing it on his back. He then heads back to the entrance and out the trap door up top. Outside it was still night. Though that was expected as nights lasted around 16 hours or so here with the entire day being nearly 40 hours. Everything around him was glowing with magic as the plants shimmered. He closes the bunker and does his best to pull the brush back and hide the bunker as to not have anyone else find it and try to steal his glory. He marks the location on his map and heads out back to the small city to the north. There he could make his report and head home.

He had barely traveled 20 feet when he heard rustle on the brush. As silently as he could he moves to cover. The sound was close but off to the side. He decides to check it out. Slowly he creeps in to see. There were a few things it could be. In the wilds there were many dangerous creatures of all sizes. Many of who would take delight in a husky as a meal. It could also be a fellow adventurer or traveler but this was not likely. The wilds were so vast and few ever left the protection of the walls without an escort. Plus Oliver was off the normal path so even fewer still would be here. Or maybe it could be something harmless. No matter what was there, he had to be ready to react.

He peers thru the bushes and finds..his mount. It had apparently got loose from where he tied it off and was wondering around the camp area. It was a shrieker. Large heavy lizard mounts known for there ability to climb and travel across rough terrain. While not as fast as some more lean mounts or as strong as the more large broad mound, They made up the difference being able to traverse difficult terrain easily. Perfect for the wilds and the guild always had some on hand to rent from a local stable.

Oliver relaxes and goes to the creature just as he notices it. Glowing eyes in the in the distance in the trees. He didn't know what was there but one thing was for sure. They were the eyes of a hunter and he was very much prey.

Panicked, he jumps onto the shrieker and quickly runs his paw down along the back of the saddle on the mount. Rains formed and he gripped them just as he heard a growl from behind. He kicks the side of the shrieker and turns it away to run. The mount dashes off. It was a low thick creature but despite its size it was quick and strong. It flees thru the forest, dodging, jumping and sometimes just plowing thru obstacles as it ran for its life with Oliver clinging to its back, leaning over low to keep from getting hit from flying limbs and falling off. Behind them, he could hear growls and crashes as the creature pursued them with the hope of a fresh meal. The shrieker was fast but the creature was faster, gaining on them as it nimbly bound thru the trees.

All Oliver could see was a rush of colors as glowing trees and flowers became a blur of light. He held onto the shrieker hearing the growling, the bounding steps of the hunger driven creature. Suddenly the creature lunges at them but the shrieker must have sensed it. At the last moment, the large lizard abruptly turns, Its low build allowing it to grip the ground and swing to the side. Oliver nearly was thrown off but he held firm as he saw what looked like a mix of a bear and a lion fly thru the air and crash into a large tree behind him. A drekker. Large carnivores what hunted at night. Large beasts with a broad bear like body and face but legs and claws like a large cat. Many adventurers died to them as anything was prey to these creatures as long as it could catch it. Oliver took this opportunity and guided his mount. While the drekker was an adapt hunter in forest and flat land, There was a chance to get away. Part of being an adventurer was knowing the landscape and the husky remembered a small canyon he had passed on his way south from the cite. He turns north and heads in the direction of the canyon.

The shrieker ran as fast as it could though it was not well suited for long fast chases and was starting to tire. Still, Oliver pushed the beast as the Drekker was gaining ground once more. Soon the canyon was in sight and Oliver gave another kick to urge out the last bit of strength the beast carrying him had. Reaching the cliff, Oliver quickly focused on the coin once more and clung tightly to the shrieker as it leaped from the cliff and jumped across. It was too far to jump straight across but that was the point. The shrieker turned in air and landed feet first onto the wall with a crash. Its claws dug into the rock and it stopped its fall while rocks and gravel fell below as a reminder of what could have been. Oliver though banged against the creature and barely held on thanks to the power of the coin.

The shrieker climbed up the opposing wall and then to the top where it collapsed in exhaustion. Oliver slid from the side and panted. His heart still beating from the chase. Across the canyon the drekker stopped and growled in fury though it knew better then to attempt a jump. Hungry, it stalks back into the woods in search of more prey.