In the dream I was back in Tangle. This time, at the height of its brilliance. Its people -the elves- were tall, dark and beautiful. They laughed, played, trained and tended to the abundant nature all around their blessed village. It was a sacred partnership: The tree nurtured Tangle, so they nurtured the tree.

  In the dream, I was standing in the center of town. As a silent observer -at least at first. Then one of the elves approached me, he held the spear called Tanglewood. His skin was a lustrous dark, like obsidian. His hair was platinum white and his eyes were a shining amber. On his toned slender body he wore a loose fitting brown tunic and a green gold-trimmed cloak.

  He looked down at me and smiled softly. A sad smile. We knew this Tangle was gone, forever. We were people out of time. He gently held my hands, careful to avoid my claws. He placed Tanglewood atop them. The same spear I’d found yesterday.

  He stroked my cheek, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I was completely entranced. Then he pointed to the sky. The light started to fade. Then I woke up.

  I was falling! Then I wasn’t. My tail gripped the sleeping branch at the last second. Leaving me hanging upside down while the rest of my things fell below the tree with a thud.

  I flipped to my feet. I wanted to test the spear -Tanglewood- right away! The tall dark elf wanted me to use it. The tall, strong, handsome dark elf. With his big hands, and deep eyes. His skin was so smooth; flawless. And he looked so powerful. He could pick me up easily.

  Wait. This wasn’t a romantic thing. He was entrusting me with a relic. A relic that was important enough to bear the name of their village! Plus I’d never been with a man. I’m not into that. Sure, you just want to be with someone strong, gender has nothing to do with it! I gave myself a couple good slaps. Vylet, rein it in, that was a sacred vision not a wet dream.

  Newly focused, I picked up Tanglewood. Immediately, it felt different from the first time. Lighter, and easy to hold despite my lack of thumbs, it was like the spear wanted to be in my hand. I could easily use it with one hand now! I gave a solid thrust. *Phiwp* there was a LOT of power behind it, so much that I was dragged forward from the force! Very potent energy was flowing through this thing, it started in the roots twisting around the shaft, and it culminated in the silver tip. Dammit, after that dream everything sounded sexual!

  Essentially, we’re perfectly attuned. And I know there's more to Tanglewood, some ability, but I don’t understand it yet. I’ll ask Telar when I rescue him, maybe he’s the dark elf! So with the newly attuned Tanglewood I started my hike towards the river. My tail swished happily behind myself as I walked.

  Here’s my plan: I’ll hunt prey large enough to entice the octomonster to the surface. Then I’ll put the delicious looking carcass on the bridge (after getting a snack for myself). When it comes up for a quick bite I’ll attack. A quick stabby-stab in its head with Tanglewood, then I’ll swim down and rescue Telar. If I need them I have both my Arcane Breath and Action Surge. Should be easy. It’s a dumb nautiloid, I’m a wild lizard girl with weapons on each of her limbs. But first, I have to get the bait.

  The bait: A big badger. 3 feet tall, huge claws the length of my forearms. A painfully cute black and white furry face. I’m sorry big guy, it’s eat or be eaten in the Weald.

  I was hunched down in the underbrush, watching my prey as it munched some mushrooms. Brown mushrooms with white splotches are good to eat. I’ll remember that.

  I leapt from my hiding spot, spear in hand, and charged the badger. I rapidly picked up speed, the spear dragged me forward almost faster than I could run. Too fast. I was out of control! I scored a glancing blow on the badger then tumbled onto the ground, somersaulting three times before I skidded to a stop.This would take some practice.

  I hopped to my feet. Just in time to see the badger digging into the ground, excavating vast clumps of dirt with its claws. In a few moments it was completely beneath the earth.

  I was too confident. It got away. Then I felt the ground rumbling beneath me.

  “Oh shi-”

  The badger exploded out the ground beneath me. It bashed my legs, chipped one of my talons, and sent me flying upwards in a wild spin. A giant monster had sent me spinning, again.

  But I’ve learned. This time I was able to whip my tail up to stabilize my spin. My claws, my talons, my tail, my horns, and even Tanglewood were moving in perfect coordination. In midair, I looked down at my lithe violet-scale covered body, then I looked at the tip of Tanglewood. Below me was the badger, surrounded by flying dirt, his mouth and claws grasping up towards me. The air up here felt great, I smiled, revealing my wicked fangs. I was having a blast!

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

  I felt Tanglewood pulling me downwards. As if it had decided my next attack before I did. So I embraced the dive and steadied the spear as we descended. My body became vertical as I accelerated, before I finally pierced the badger right between the eyes. Then both of us slammed into the ground, kicking up a huge plume of dust. When it cleared, the badger was impaled to the ground. I laid next to it largely unharmed. Overwhelming victory!

  I shoddily butchered the badger, reserving a few meals for myself. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday. Raw meat no longer made me squeamish at all. In fact, I preferred it over fruit. I savored every bite! After eating I evaluated my injuries. My chest and legs were covered in blood and muck. While the scales on my thigh sported several deep cracks. One of my left talons was broken off, leaving a dull stump. How long would I have to wait for that to grow back...and would I molt soon? My scales weren’t in the best shape, I needed to lay low for awhile after rescuing Telar.

  I dragged the bait to the jagged edge of the bridge, close enough for blood to drip into the river. Meanwhile I laid on my belly nearby, with my spear beside me. Waiting patiently for the octomonster to show itself.

  I didn’t have to wait long. A huge dark tentacle uncoiled itself from the water, and slowly reached towards the easy meal. Awful suction cups ringed with pulsing fangs hooked into the hide of the badger. I took a deep breath, steeled myself and jumped to my feet.

  With every stride my talons dug into the stone bridge, leaving deep scratches. I utilized everything I had for even a little more speed. Tanglewood was at my side. Its silver tip was pointed straight towards the tentacle. It pulled me forward. It wanted this fight just as much as I did.

  The tentacle was already descending back into the water. I jumped off the end of the bridge. Mid jump the tip of my spear sliced the rubbery skin of the tentacle. Black blood gushed out the wound and I heard a screech from below me. Momentum carried me clear across the gap to the other side of the bridge, where I skidded to a stop.

  I pissed it off. Already two more tentacles were almost close enough to grab me. I turned and activated my Arcane Breath. Bright purple energy spilled out around the two tentacles. It dissolved awful wounds in each and they tried to retreat back into the water. Now was my chance.

  I activated Action Surge for a burst of speed, easily dodging the half dissolved twisting tentacles. I leapt off the bridge and onto a fresh tentacle, clinging on with my claws and talons like a cat. I looked down, watching as even more tentacles danced around me in slow motion. And below them the whirling maw of the octomonster. Row after row of razor sharp teeth ready to slice and dice me into little bits if I slipped.

  “I’m sorry Tanglewood. I know you can survive this.”

  I threw the spear with all my strength straight downwards. Its magic multiplied my force and it was launched as if from a railgun. A huge gust of wind rushed away from the spear as it rocketed into the octomonster maw.

  I watched in awe as a huge splash of water and blood erupted upwards. Kinda beautiful. Then my Action Surge was over. All at once I was drenched and falling towards the water as my perch went limp. The maw was still gnashing beneath me, and I could hear the creature screeching. It was in its death throes. And somewhere, deep inside of it, Tanglewood was continuing to rip and tear. I almost felt bad for the octomonster. Almost. I jumped off the falling tentacle, utilizing my tail for some extra push. One of the new lizard body tricks I’d learned.

  I landed on the Tangle side of the bridge. Then collapsed on my back, panting heavily. I really did it. I didn’t fuck it up. Now I had to grab Telar, and retrieve Tanglewood. Before the sun goes down. Should take twenty minutes.

  2 hours later, I was going down for my 20th dive. So it turns out getting your spear from inside a giant octopus corpse resting on the bottom of a river is really difficult. I would dive down, make a few cuts with my claws. Come up for air. Go back down, a few cuts. Repeat.

  Finally, I reached into the gooey innards (ew) and felt the tip of Tanglewood. After that it was easy to bring to the surface. Which meant I couldn’t ignore my second problem. I hadn’t seen a hint of Telar. I thought it’d be easy. That -I don’t know- that I would feel his presence. No such luck. The sun was setting and staying out after dark would be a horrible idea. I had time for one last dive.

  I propelled myself down with my legs and tail, diving deeper until I felt my claws hit the silt of the riverfloor. I scratched around the depths, kicking up clouds of dust. Hoping to see or feel Telar’s crystal. Nothing. Just when I was ready to give up, I saw something. A small glint of green light. I swam over to investigate. I dug around and felt something hard. The crystal! I gripped it with both hands and swam to the surface.

  “Telar! I’m sorry I took so long! I’m sorry I lost you in the first place,” I cried. Tears rolled down my face as I hugged the crystal tight.

  “You know I had to kill a giant octopus to save you! Oh and I found Tangle. I can take you back there again!” I said

  “Telar, are you still there?”

  The grey crystal was still silent. Not a hint of light, or the sound of his voice. But I had to go. It was already dark.

  I used Tanglewood to jump to the Northern side of the bridge and started walking home.

  I still hadn’t heard Telar. Was I too late? Was he gone? No. No, no no. In the morning he’d be back. I would tell him about Tangle. There’s no way I’m alone again. I can’t be alone.

  Nothing bothered me on the trip home. The hatch and my underground room was just as I left it. It just felt a little colder than usual.

  Meanwhile, on the eastern side of the Emel Weald. A caravan of exhausted elves, half-elves, halflings, goblins, harengon and tabaxi trek deeper into the forest. They’re in search of a place to build a new home. Haunted by the memories of the now annihilated Nameless Empire, they vow to build a home out of reach of all who would rob them of their autonomy. They would be Vylet’s neighbors.