The bandits entered the clearing fast, angry, and uncoordinated.
They saw the wolves.
The wolves saw movement.
The first wolf lunged immediately.
It slammed into a bandit and tore him down before the others reacted properly.
Teeth sank into his throat.
The scream ended abruptly in a wet choking sound.
BANDIT LEADER: Jeffery, no. You fucking monsters.
Another bandit swung wildly.
His blade caught fur but not deep enough.
The wolf twisted and tore into his thigh, dragging him off balance.
The second wolf leapt onto a different man entirely.
It knocked him backward, shredding his forearm before ripping into his neck.
Chaos swallowed the clearing.
There was no teamwork.
No structure.
Men shouted over each other.
BANDIT: Hold it.
BANDIT: Move.
They were Level 5 bandits trying to contain two Level 8 predators in close quarters.
Steel hit bone.
Claws tore flesh.
The first wolf finally died under repeated stabs.
But not before taking two men with it.
The second wolf lunged for the leader.
He stepped into the attack.
His greatsword drove deep into the beast's ribcage.
But claws raked across his wounded side, tearing open flesh that had already been bleeding.
He killed it.
The last wolf had just finished off the only other ally he had on the field.
When the dust settled, the clearing went quiet.
Only labored breathing remained.
Bodies were everywhere.
Bandits.
Wolves.
Blood soaked the dirt.
Stripe stayed frozen in the tree.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
He had not contributed.
He had survived.
The leader wiped blood from his mouth and slowly lifted his head.
His eyes scanned the trees.
They found Stripe.
BANDIT LEADER: I know you're up there.
Stripe did not move.
The leader took a step forward and nearly collapsed, catching himself on his sword.
BANDIT LEADER: You think hiding makes you strong.
STRIPE: Whispering. He can't see me if I don't move. It's like a dinosaur.
CROWN: Incorrect.
His voice shook.
But not from fear.
BANDIT LEADER: Jeffery was leaving this life.
He coughed.
Blood spattered the dirt.
BANDIT LEADER: He had a place lined up. An orphanage. He wanted to help kids. I dragged him back to keep us from becoming evil. Now he's dead.
Stripe shifted slightly on the branch.
Adjusting his footing.
The bark cracked beneath his boot.
Above him something shifted.
A coconut wedged between branches rolled loose.
Stripe noticed it at the exact moment it tipped forward.
Too late to stop.
It dropped past his shoulder.
BANDIT LEADER: Because of you his wife and kids won
The bandit leader looked up.
Too late.
CRACK.
The coconut struck him square on the head.
The leader stiffened.
His grip loosened.
His eyes unfocused mid-breath.
Then he collapsed face first into the dirt without finishing his threat.
Stripe stared down in silence.
CROWN: Damage estimated at one point. Threat deceased.
Experience awarded.
Partial credit. Wolf engagement.
Environmental contribution credited.
Stripe blinked.
CROWN: Multiple level ups detected.
A pause.
CROWN: Additional experience applied. Level 5 achieved.
Stripe stayed in the tree longer than necessary.
His legs did not feel reliable yet.
CROWN: No immediate threats detected.
Stripe exhaled slowly.
STRIPE: That's reassuring in a way that somehow isn't reassuring.
He climbed down carefully.
Boots slipping slightly against bark.
He landed in the clearing and nearly slid in blood.
He caught himself against the tree.
Bodies surrounded him.
Bandits tangled with wolves.
Armor torn open.
Fur matted with blood.
The metallic smell hung thick in the air.
Stripe walked toward the bandit leader first.
Up close the man looked different.
Less terrifying.
Just older.
Scarred.
Human.
Stripe nudged him with his boot.
Nothing.
STRIPE: Damn that's brutal. Worse than how I went out.
He looked around the clearing again.
STRIPE: Of all the ways. A coconut.
CROWN: Blunt force trauma to compromised cranial structure sufficient for termination.
Stripe sighed.
STRIPE: You could just say yeah that'll do.
He crouched and opened the leader's belt pouch.
Inside were several small metal discs.
Dull silver gray.
Heavy.
Stripe rolled one between his fingers.
STRIPE: What is this.
CROWN: Currency.
Stripe pocketed them anyway.
Then he took the leader's dagger.
Balanced.
Simple.
Honest steel.
He tried lifting the greatsword.
It wobbled badly in his grip.
Stripe immediately put it back.
STRIPE: Yeah no.
He stepped away.
STRIPE: That's a two hands and a life insurance policy situation.
CROWN: Strength insufficient for optimal wielding.
Stripe snorted.
STRIPE: You're just waiting to say that aren't you.
CROWN: Negative. I do not wait.
Stripe moved to the other bodies.
Coin pouches.
A ring.
A strip of dried meat wrapped in cloth.
He avoided looking at Jeffery for too long.
The dried vomit streaked across the man's armor made something twist in his chest.
STRIPE: I didn't know about the orphanage.
CROWN: Information unavailable at time of action.
Stripe stood slowly.
The clearing had gone quiet again.
Wind moved through the leaves.
Somewhere far away a bird resumed calling.
Stripe turned slowly.
Through the trees he saw something distant.
Stone.
Tall.
White and gray rising above the forest.
Towers.
Spikes.
A central keep higher than the rest.
Stripe squinted.
STRIPE: That's not a cabin.
CROWN: City detected.
Stripe stared.
STRIPE: That's a castle.
CROWN: Probable.
Stripe threw on the bandit armor and took what he could carry with him.
Then he started walking.
STRIPE: Alright. Lets go that way.
He looked toward the distant towers.
STATUS
└──────────────────────────────────┘
Name: Stripe
Level: 5
Class: Unassigned
Title: Toxic Fisherman
Stamina: 118 / 118
Mana: 0 / 0
Strength 8
Agility 9
Endurance 8
Intelligence 6
Hand-to-Hand Combat Basic Retention
Improvised Weapon Handling Beginner
Survival Novice
Minor Poison Secretion Passive
Crown of Reflection
Alcohol Intoxication Immunity
Experience Calculation
Iron Dagger
Leather Chest Piece (Bandit Armor)
Wolf Pelt (Crude Clothing)
Bandit Ring
Strip of Dried Meat
Silver Coins 14
Copper Coins 6
