CHAPTER 8 [Call of the Wombat]

CHAPTER 8

[Call of the Wombat]

Brownie

In all the years Brownie had been traveling in the Dark Enchanted Forest, she’d only run into a stoneskin wombat three times.

They were cute, cuddly, and the size of a cart. They were deadly when they attacked with rolling rock-hard butt attacks that could break bones and shatter stones.

The stoneskin wombat was technically classified as a monster race, and defeating one would provide experience points. Any creature that could spawn in a dungeon was called a monster, but only a monster that spawned in a dungeon would be subject to dungeon madness.

This was just a regular, enormous, disgruntled wombat monster with a very hard butt. It’d probably been born the old-fashioned way.

Rufus had tensed beside her a second before they’d rounded a corner and found a caravan being affected by a [Call of the Wombat].

It was an intimidation-based attack that made the wombat everyone’s focused target.

Rufus made to stand up, but Brownie grabbed his furry arm to stop him.

“Stay calm.” The bard reached behind her and pulled out a brown sack from the wagon. She knew from experience that stoneskin wombats didn’t like dogs of any shape or size, and that included beastfolk and beastkin.

The caravan, three wagons pulled by alligator-dogs, looked like a branch of the Dark Horde supply chain. A handful of lizardkin were spreading out to protect their goods while two with spears kept the snarling stoneskin wombat at bay.

“Here, now!” Brownie called, jumping down and slowly walking forward. “What’s happening? ”

The creature didn’t appreciate her approach and bared its teeth, digging its front foot in the dirt as if getting ready to roll forward and smack her with its stone behind.

Brownie reached into her sack and pulled out her secret weapon for trips through the Dark Enchanted Forest.

Enchanted carrots.

A small bunch of lovingly grown, sweet farm-fresh enchanted carrots. They were shiny. They were fragrant. And they were instantly of interest to the wombat.

She shook the bunch, letting the creature take in the smell. Wombats, hippogriffs, unicorns, angry humans, and a surprising number of other creatures could be calmed by their delicious scent. “Sorry for any trouble you’ve had on the Great Road, Mighty Stoneskin Wombat. Obviously, you’re a noble creature who didn’t deserve to be bothered. I hope this is enough to let us all pass?”

The wombat closed its mouth and stuck its nose out toward her, sniffing curiously. Donna looked utterly affronted, but Brownie sent a feeling of reassurance to her horse. She’d kept some back for Donna.

One lizardkin stared at the bard like she was on fire, and the other covered her face to hold back a laugh. Luckily, the stoneskin wombat was focusing solely on the bard and her carrots.

The monster made its decision and waddled over, grabbing the bundle in its mouth and gently headbutting her hand. It was infinitely superior to it butt-butting her, so she gleefully opened her palm. When the stoneskin wombat leaned in, she gave into temptation and gave the giant hairy monster head scratches. It particularly enjoyed it behind the right ear.

She ignored the “Is this really happening?” comment from direction of the Dark Horde. She had more important matters to attend to.

“Thank you for your understanding, Oh Noble Stoneskin.” She lavished adoration on the creature. After being tempted all morning by her travel companion, this was exactly what she’d needed.

There was a moment where everyone waited, watching with bated breath, until the stoneskin wombat decided it had had enough pets. It snorted, rolled away suddenly, and happily waddled into the underbrush with its prize carrots.

Everyone let out a collective breath.

Brownie just smiled. Music and food were both wonderful tools to calm a savage beast, and she armed herself with both while traveling.

The lizardkin stood at attention, and when it was obvious that the stoneskin wombat wasn’t coming back, addressed the pair.

“Commander Rufusss!” the one on the left, with short, spiky blue hair and tinted orange scales greeted. “Minstrel Bronwynn. Thank you for your aid.”

Rufus nodded, his demeanor firm and commanding. “Core Vandith, report. ”

The simple word had both soldiers stand up even straighter. Core Vandith stated, “We’re returning from a sssupply drop off at Kith Bog for the fire damage repairsss. Two more, and the village will be as good as new. We also loaded up a shipment of peat from the bog and dropped one off in Thistlecrick. Thisss here is bound for the Black Fortresss.”

“Good,” Rufus acknowledged. “Then we won’t keep you.”

Brownie regretted the destruction of the village. She’d warned Henrietta and Keith about the assassins, but she couldn’t have imagined that they would light the village on fire.

She waved at the Dark Horde as they got everyone back into formation and continued up the road.

Rufus only relaxed again when the army was out of sight. As his eyes flicked slightly, she assumed he was reading a notification.

“Do you think Thistlecrick is still up the road?” Brownie asked a few minutes later, when Rufus was no longer focused on his character sheet. “I’d like to stop by the hot springs if you aren’t in a hurry?”

“The only guarantee is that it’ll be on the north side of the Great Road.” He shrugged. The forest was notorious for moving around. The only constants were the great roads traveling east to west and north to south, and the castle at the center. “And I’ve no aversion to a stopover. It’ll be good to check in with Derilla now that he’s out of diapause. We barely exchanged words at the wedding.”

The General of the North, Derilla Vane, was an arachne who looked like a pointy-eared, sharp-toothed man above the waist, and a spider below. He came up to Brownie’s nose in height.

Brownie smiled. “Then let’s hope it’s still between us and Kith Bog. I’d love a relaxing soak!”