I was debating the wisdom of hunting at twilight when Dekka flushed a rabbit. The gloom was thicker under the canopy of trees. The rabbit came at me and I heard it more than saw it. The gleam of moonlight off its teeth was the only hint I got for its trajectory as it bore down on me.

  I used [Targeted Hit] and easily connected with the furry body mid air. Dekka was nearly impossible to see in the shadows and startled me when she grabbed the rabbit as if catching a ball.

  Crunch.

  0.25XP!

  “Hey, I could use the XP you know. It does us good.” I said, trying to find my dog in the dark. “No poking more holes in it we need its blood.”

  I found Dekka hovering over the body in her small terrier form. Picking up the rabbit by its ears, I followed the glow to get back to the clearing. It was awkward getting the rabbit held up and out over the pillar. I was missing both the extra height and strength. My arm shook as I fumbled with my knife.

  Blood, even when not being pressurized by a beating heart, is a messy substance. It splattered everywhere. On my face and chest, all over my hands, but a good amount dripped down onto the top of the pillar. The blood moved as soon as it hit the surface. Inching as if it was alive towards the centre depression. It reminded me of the damn snails.

  I held the body of the rabbit with both hands as blood dripped. The glow started and then expanded. Light shot sideways from the blood pillar along the electric strands until the entire circle was connected. The blood pillar beat like a heart, and the glow pulsed around like blood circulating around a body. I let the body of the rabbit drop.

  The figure in the middle that I had been ignoring solidified in rhythm to the coursing lights. In less than twenty beats, the figure of the elf was fully corporeal in the centre. In twenty more she, for this elf was a she, was waking up. As she gracefully stood, the ring of lights chasing each other around gathered when they hit the bloodstone and then arced to her.

  She looked unbelievably ethereal, back arched in a stretch, her crystal like wings beating slowly. Languidly, she looked around and took me in. Her eyes glowed with the same intensity as the pillars and then dimmed.

  She stretched out a slim, pale hand to invite me to join her.

  I hesitated. The fey were almost always trouble. Without waiting for my brain to give them signal, my feet began to walk me into the circle. I had never been attracted to a woman before, but she was so very beautiful. My heart fluttered.

  Dekka stayed behind this time as well, but this time she looked slightly more concerned. She sat at the edge of the stone circle and watched intently.

  “Hello fair Traveller,” her voice was like silk, and it did things to me. I blushed. “Thank you for saving me from the curse. I am sure I would have gotten free of the enchantment, eventually.” Her laughter was like chimes in the wind. Unlike the male elf, she showed me more personal interest. “But I am very glad it was you.”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  She walked up and stroked my bicep. “And you did save me a few score of years of slumber.” She looked up at me through gossamer eyelashes. “I suppose you deserve a boon.” Her finger trailed down my arm and my brain shut off. It felt like I had drank an entire bottle of wine and just wanted to lose myself in her. My tongue felt inadequate. I couldn’t speak in her presence.

  She laughed at me again and I didn’t mind. She could laugh at me all she liked. “Normally, I would give you some small trinket of my appreciation. Great for a mortal I suppose.” Circling me, the elf assessed me, running her hands down my arms, my hips. “I could give you a greater boon,” Her voice dropped to a whisper, causing my whole body to quiver. “Would you like that, mortal?”

  Yes I wanted that very much! This was an elf in a way Ayerelia could only dream of.

  “I could take you back to my court. I would allow you to serve me for eternity. Would you like that?”

  Her head tilted, causing her silver moonlit hair to cascade over her shoulders. “I understand, pet. Just nod.” She smiled, and I saw that her canines came to wicked points. I wanted to nod, but something made me hesitate. What about -

  Dekka charged into the circle. Tiny and furious, she faced the fae. Her fur stood out all spikey from the electricity in the air and her hackles being up.

  The elf actually took a step back. Dekka advanced, snarling.

  I blinked. The glamour broken.

  “I am sorry, fair companion. I didn’t know the mortal belonged to someone already.” The fae nodded at the small dog who stopped snarling but kept her teeth exposed.

  “I am sorry, delicious mortal. You shall have to be satisfied with a trinket after all.”

  CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE QUEST OF THE SLEEPING ELF - You have saved Elenfyere from the curse her sister, her main rival for the Throne of the Bright Court, had placed upon her.

  You have gained +4 to wisdom and +1 to charisma.

  You have received a Rare Item - Cloak of the Fair Folk. When wearing it you get a +5 to all charisma checks and a +1 to speed.

  You have received one gold coin.

  Elenfyere reached out her arm to touch me again, but Dekka’s sharp snarl caused her to stop short. Her hand closed into a fist and fell to her side. “Goodbye, mortal.” She looked up at me, the glow gone from her eyes. I could see the rings of her irises and the wrinkles of the edges of her eyes. She seemed more solid — more real. “Beware the watchers.” She faded from view.

  The moment she was gone, I fell to my knees as if I was a puppet who’d had its strings cut. Pressing my head into the cool soil as the clearing went dark. I had almost lost myself to the fae. What would have that meant? I wouldn’t be dead so …. Would I have spent the rest of my time in this game in some fae realm?

  “Thank you,” I whispered to my dog and shook. All my muscles trembled. I just knew I had just escaped a terrible fate.

  A small tongue found my ear. I twisted my head to avoid getting a slimed here and played right into her paws. That same tongue now found my exposed face and, with her whole body wiggling in delight, she tried to lick as much of it as possible. I was too weak to do much other than try to turn away. Dekka made her trademark move when trying to annoy or show love and tried to stick her tongue up my nose.

  I giggled, flopped down on the soft grass and covered my face with my hands. Dekka bounced around triumphantly. The spell was broken and the only light in the clearing was from the coals of the fire I had used to cook our dinner.

  Beware the watchers? Who were they? The game dev? Someone else? Was it even a real warning or some scripted bit?

  I remembered the look in her eyes and shivered.