Chapter 201: A slimy threat
Deep within Faehorn Forest, a stray deer poked its brown head out eyeing a patch of healthy green grass sprouting near the uplifted roots of a large BonBon tree, its thick leaves sprouting out like umbrellas shading the ground surrounding it. The woods echoed with whistling, chirping, and chirping from the still active wildlife. When the deer turned its head to look around with its large cautious black pupils, it seemed at ease before being accompanied by another. A proud buck pranced along behind it, its head poised up displaying its curved antlers followed by a fawn sticking closely behind the doe.
The buck paced around the patch of grass, seemingly satisfied with its investigation before looking at the doe. The herd stepped in as the fawn was the first to bow its head, munching softly on its meal. The buck kept watch, its ears raised in awareness, turning its head around seemingly out of paranoia. The doe would brush its head against the cream-colored fur of its mate out of reassurance, standing around while the fawn wiggled its head in delight.
A trickle of fluids poured out from beneath the roots drawing near the fawn. It ate blissfully unaware, taking another bite before being joined by its mother and father. The buck cocked its head, eyeing the puddle with suspicion as it trickled closer and closer toward its offspring. Once the fawn had taken notice, it mistook it as a natural source before dragging its tongue along the surface for a drink. The fawn recoiled and spat the disgusting taste, its sudden whining alarming its mother and father.
That was when the puddle sprang forth, wrapping gooey green tendrils around the defenseless fawn trapping it in place. The buck stomped its hooves on the creature, splashing the sludge around. Persistent, the slime whipped the buck aside knocking it away and frightening the fawn from intervening. The doe thrashed and whined, buckling until it fell to its knees as the liquid being pooled around its brown fur, coating it under glistening residue. It needed to subdue its next meal, allow it to struggle as hard as it needed until it was rendered exhausted. As the small doe was pulled against the floor, the buck returned and resumed stomping its hooves over the puddle.
The slime was persistent, refusing to lose hold of its food before reaching out and sticking its body around the buck's hooves to restrain them. They clung onto it like glue, rendering the buck immobile as the fawn cried out helplessly. Feeling greedy, the slime tried reaching out for her as well with its widening pool forming an extra appendage when an arrow on fire lodged into its center. It set the slime ablaze, releasing its grasp around the fawn as the herd scurried off into the woods frightened for their lives.
Out from the dense bushes appeared a trio of Rangers draped in light brown leather armor seemingly crafted from a woven mix of bark and fur. The leader of the pack had his long brown hair slicked back with a headband, displaying a sharp widows peak while he drew back another fire arrow and released. It struck its target, drenching the slime as heavy flames flicked and popped. One of the Rangers pinched her nose in disgust, looking away from the foul odor stemming from the creature's scorched form.
The third Ranger tucked his bow away, adjusting the straps around his sleeves while his blonde ponytail hung along his shoulder. "That makes three."
"Spi'Reto warned us that they were coming closer," The female ranger noted, blowing out the flame from her arrowhead. "Hiding under the roots is new."
"They're learning." The third one added, looking to their leader. "It used to be hard to find two of them in one evening."
"Yea, last year mayhaps." She noted with a scoff as locks of her brown hair fell forward, prompting her to slick her hair back. "Still no imitation, that's good."
"For now." The leader glanced down and made a face of disgust, kicking dirt onto the black puddle of ash.
The trio stepped back in surprise when something squirted out from the tree roots, squirming and sliding away.
"Gods, two of them!?" She squirmed, readying her bow.
The one in charge wasted no time, rushing after the lowly monster. The glistening ball of slime tumbled and rolled down the slope, gaining momentum before forming tiny appendages resembling bony spider legs to scurry forwards. The three Rangers sprinted after it, panting and jumping over shrubs and roots with the slime barely in sight. They chased it along a few turns before coming across a hidden entrance protruding from the mountain side with its wooden borders resembling an abandoned mine. Logs of wood and chunks of rock were scattered across the front, as the debris that once prevented entry had been removed recently.
The elves stood around catching their breathes, with the middle one looking worried.
"We're heading past the borders here, I advise we retreat!"
The woman gave him a look. "What, we have it right here!"
"Nay, he's right." Argued the one in charge, scanning around the mine entrance. "Spi'Reto mentioned a mine like this. This must be their nesting grounds. It'll be sundown soon, best we head home and report to Alma."
The woman shot up her bow and arrow, pushing the younger Ranger aside. When he looked to where she was aiming, he was taken aback before drawing his bow alongside her. Standing a few meters away was a man drenched in rusted armor, wrapped with a surcoat baring a familiar insignia on his chest. It resembled a sunflower from afar, the same image as the banner Perdilius' men wore. But he was seemingly without weapon, standing awkwardly still with both hands along his sides.
"Hells." The leader gasped, keeping a firm grasp around his ranged weapon. A soft crunch drew their attention behind them as the silhouette of two other men revealed themselves from behind. The elves stepped around uneasily, both of them aiming their bows while the first one squinted his eyes, struggling to make out any facial distinction.
"Orders, sir?" The youngest one's voice quivered as he looked around, aiming through shaking hands.
"Something's wrong." He whispered.
"Fuck!" The woman shot her arrow out, knocking the man's helmet back. They expected to see a shocked look, maybe his eyes wide open raising his hands pleading for his life. But there was no face, no cry for mercy. Only a faceless head glistening with a familiar sickening green texture, staring lifelessly.
"Oh gods!" The woman gasped as her friend shot another arrow. This one lodged into its green head, sizzling under the surface before its acidic body melted the arrowhead, dropping the sheathe down. The trio shot forth several more arrows, bouncing off its armor while the remaining imitations drew closer around them. As the leader looked around, he caught notice of a curious fawn staring at them in silence. It didn't waver even when he aimed an arrow for it. His heart sank as he realized this was another one of them, overseeing its work.
"We need to go, NOW!"
But as they turned around, one of the men's gloves slipped off as its hand dripped down in a cascading pool of sludge. It raised its arm and lashed out with its elongated tendril, striking one of the Rangers on the chest. She was knocked back, shrieking as its slimy juices stained her leather armor and steamed heavily as it ate through the outside layer. Their leader ignited his arrow using flint and steel before firing back in retaliation, only for it to fling its tendril around whipping the projectile away.
The fake deer lingered on, tilting its head while observing the Rangers fending away the slime imitations. Their knives left them ill-prepared for the ranged abilities these imitations had, and the layers of armor shielded them from their vulnerability to fire. All three imitations had dropped their gloves and gauntlets, using the same whip-like appendages to snap their bows apart. One of the elves pulled out his knife, panting frantically before a slimy green tentacle coiled around his neck, dragging him into the mine entrance.
"Hey! Hey!" He kicked around, slicing the arm only for his wrist to be restrained by the same creature. He looked to his friends to save him, pleading and digging his fingers into the dirt.
"HAAAAA!!! HAAAA-AAAAAAAGGHHHHHH!!!! AAAAA-"
crunch
The other two watched in horror as he screamed out in horror before disappearing into the dark, his cries echoing through the mines before being abruptly silenced.
"Back-to-back!" The older elf commanded, pressing himself against his wounded ally with their daggers in hand. They held off as long as they could, parrying a few whips while keeping an eye on the mine entrance. The deer leaned forward, observing the way they would fend off the slimes whilst cornered like a bird in a cage. They held off their own for a few seconds until the nearest imitation dropped its armor and pooled forth, spreading out across the ground and catching their feet to subdue them. It made it all too easy for the remaining imitations to drag the pair into the mines despite their struggles.
Birds scattered off from forest as their cries faded away when a familiar herd of deer turned in their direction. The buck nudged the doe along with a frightened fawn clinging closely, protecting its family as they traveled further away from the noise.