Lance stepped into the portal as he stepped he found himself pulling himself upward into a treetop. The horizontal to vertical movement was seamless, as if walking into a climb was normal. He pushed himself up looking around at the other three who were all in the tree looking down at the forest floor. As he stood up what surprised him was that of everyone present Bam was addressing everyone with a finger on his lips for silence.

  “ Canine Cowl” he whispered. His head reared back and morphed into the auburn colored canine they had all seen previously. Lance inspected him a bit further, he noticed Bam’s ear had moved in shape with his head turning into a pair of black pointed dog ears, the fur line on his snout giving a burglar's mask line like that of a raccoon. The hairs from his lips wisped out like a fox in a thin black line, Lance assumed it to be his mustache. He also noticed now that Bam was just about the same height as him but when he looked around in this form he seemed taller, with the movement of his neck. Bam sniffed the air moving his ears in many directions.

  “ We are deep in the forest already, I don't remember this area. It doesn't smell familiar, is this a checkpoint? Bam asked in a quiet voice looking at Reilly.

  She nodded no “ We didn't go out the cave on foot, we went up and out”

  Bam had already begun to look around but held an ear to Reilly, “Hmm well I don't smell anything, not even a territory mark. This area’s probably good, let's go” After that Bam began to climb down. He stopped at the lowest branch and jumped fifteen feet to the floor.

  Everyone was surprised, Lance pulled out the rope from his bag. He tied off a loop and lowered Reilly and Courage down. He then climbed down using the rope and loop as a pulley over a limb, he was happy its length allowed for him to do so.

  The forest around them was a varying shade of green and brown. Shrubs and bushes were everywhere on the floor down here only small paths stamped out by feet of the wildlife dignified any routes through the dense vegetation. The trees themselves were fragrant, and showed different stages of summer into fall. Most of the trees here were covered in leaves, with flat circular but sharp edges. They crunched under the feet of everyone as they began to walk towards an opening that could be seen through the tree line. The gentle breeze rustled leaves and whipped up the piney sandalwood like fragrance from them. The walk here was very pleasant. The group walked to the edge of the treeline looking out into a clearing that had a small stick hut with smoke rising from a chimney. The small door on the front and low windows made all of them immediately think a goblin lived there. Everyone stopped.

  “ I've never seen this place, I don't think I'm going to be much help in this area.” Bam said his head now back to its original state.

  “ We should wait, there is smoke rising, I'm not sure anyone leaves home with a fire lit.” Courage said “Plus look” he pointed, next to the window was a pie. It was small but steam could be seen rising from it.

  After noticing it Bam began to salivate. Lance grew curious. Reilly smiled.

  “ Hey, this is perfect. I learned a new spell. Let me go see what's over there. Parallel!” Reilly stabbed out her staff pointing towards the small hut, light bent back from its tip and covered her quickly, a second later with a blink she was gone. The group looked out only to see her reappear but on the roof of the hut. She turned around flailing her arms. She mouthed ‘Fuck’.

  Courage signaled to her to be quiet. Everyone began to creep towards the hut. Only just a moment later Reilly fell through the roof and a loud crash followed by a scream was heard. They all broke into a sprint.

  Reilly screamed extremely high pitched, there was another high pitch scream accompanying her. The trio appeared at the doorway breaking in the door seconds later with weapons drawn. Reilly was on the ground with her hands over her eyes, and another scream was heard as a short man who was butt naked turned around looking at the guys. He quickly hopped up on his counter and grabbed a pan pointing it at them.

  The short hairy man yelled out. “ House stealers?? HEH? Find another one, not here!” Reilly stood up and rushed over to the guys, turning her back blushing.

  Lance put down his axe, “ Sorry *cough* Sir.. It was a mistake”

  “ Ehhh?? Not my miss, didn't take, Your wife stealers??”

  “ No No no.. This is our friend. Sorry can you put something on, Look we will fix this.”

  “ HUH? My house. No clothes in here. Mushrooms in forest, House in forest. Mushroom house. Scared of my shroom? HAH. Yes You fix this!” The small man got down from the counter and put the pan down. “ Gaberty Gonk, Whos you?” he said two hands pointing at himself then back to Lance.

  “Lance. This is Courage, Bam, And Reilly. Look she cast a spell and it messed up. We can fix the roof.” Lance said pointing to Reilly who was hiding behind Bam under her hat.

  Gonk moved over to the window and grabbed his pie and moved over to a chair by his fireplace. The room was quite neat, the square room was divided into his bed on one side, a small table with chairs in front of a fireplace and a little kitchen with windows on the other side. He had a closet and a frame with butterflies pinned to a board on the wall by his bed. The roof was damaged but it was mainly reed thatch and wouldn't take much to fix. Gaberty pulled a small blanket over himself and set the pie on the table.

  “ Well. Come. Its dinner, close th’door” Gaberty said rubbing his hands together. “Fix it later, eat. Made pie.” Everyone got closer and sat on the floor around the small table.

  “ Mr.Gonk sir, where are we?” Bam asked. A kettle by the fireplace began to whistle, one that had gone unnoticed in the commotion until now.

  Gonk stood up and went into the kitchen, blanket and mushroom hitting the floor. The men in the room felt like boys again. Reilly hadn't looked up once. “ Tea?” Gonk asked, bringing back cups and grabbing the kettle. He began to pour before any replies. “ This Skipgrass forest. But far in, Far for humans. S’why Gonk here. Happy here.” He took a stick off the table and began to cut into the pie making slices. He pulled up a slice, the thick crust held in it a dark grey gravy of mushrooms. He bit into it pulling it with his teeth slurping what seemed to be worms out like thick noodles. Courage hacked a deep gag. Bam raised his eyebrows, and Lance showed no emotion. “Eat.”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  Lance grabbed the Tea and gave it a sip. He coughed. “ Good stuff ”

  Bam cut into the pie for a slice, eating it. Smiling at Gonk. Courage believing Lance grabbed the Tea and took a drink. He opened his mouth and let it fall down his chin back into the cup, eyes rolling back into his head. Reilly giggled.

  “ So Gonk, what are you? Don't mean to be mean, just never seen your kind before?” Lance asked.

  “ Oh. Me. Hah. I see you first. Gonks a Cap. Redcap by what humans say…. HA… HA” Gonk was explaining a second later Bam fell over Smiling ear to ear giggling to himself. Courage fell back muttering to himself hallucinating. Lance looked over at both of them confused. Then at Reilly who finally looked up at the room. Her eyes pure white, mouth black like she'd swallowed ink, grinning sinisterly. “Get him, Did’n work” Gonk pointed a finger at Reilly who leaped at Lance pinning him under her staff.

  “ The fuck!” Lance arched his back, throwing Reilly over his shoulders behind him. She crawled away to the door slamming it. Gonk leapt over the table taking the stick down onto Lance's back, piercing him under the shoulder blade. Lance rolled over looking for Gonk, the pitter patter of feet sounding to his left only for nothing to be there. Reilly rose from the ground silently. Lance twirled around to her.

  Reilly's body glided across the ground to the front of Lance. She swung her staff down hard at his head. He reached up and caught it, but the strength behind it was surprising, she pulled into him getting closer, their faces meeting across the staff. It creaked under strain, Reilly giggling leaned in and licked his face black ink streaking across the burlap. From the side the sound of quick feet slapping the floor was heard and then Lance felt his knife be yanked from his hip, and pressed into his thigh. “Errgh DAMNIT” Lance broke the staff, leaning forward he shouldered Reilly to the floor. He came down on her and smacked her across the head a couple times until she was unconscious. He stood up, pulling the dagger from his thigh.

  “Come here you little fucker. Where are you!” He looked around the room. The slight creak of the closet door closing was heard. “ Can't hide now. Come here!” Lance rushed the door and yanked it open. Adventurer’s clothes lined the rack inside, Lance separated the clothes looking into the closet, nothing there. He heard a giggle behind him, and spun on the spot, after turning around Gonk was below him twirling the other part of Reillys staff in one hand, he punched out hitting Lance in his groin. Lance folded over coughing.

  “ Goberty goo~” Gonk ceased twirling his club with a smash to Lance's face. Lance roared in anger and pain.

  Lance quickly grabbed Gonk by the throat, lifting him off the ground. “ HA, Think you’re funny you little SHIT” he spat and squeezed. Gonk smiled behind the grip bearing a black and toothy grin with short giggles under his breath. He reached out his arms toward Lance scratching at his arms tearing into his flesh.

  “They… *cough* Die… If I …Die ha… haha” Gonk said. Lance began to loosen his grip. A second later Reilly began to sit up and look around the room. Lance held tight again. Reilly reached for the side of her head, still dizzy.

  “Release them or die, Live or die rat!” Lance yelled. Gonk whimpered under the waning strength he had left.

  “No fair, No fair, No Fair! OKAY! Let go!” Gonk yelled out through his gritted teeth. Lance looked around the room at his friends who all slowly began to stir, groaning and rolling over. “Why not work for you!” Gonk yelled still under Lance's hold.

  “You don't pull a fast one on a chef, when you invite them to Dinner Time!” Lance’s Dinner bell rang above him, The red wispy glow covered everyone, Lances red beady eyes glowed brighter as he stared into Gonks, he squeezed harder, Gonk squirmed under his grip, as Lance leaned in and bit at his shoulder biting a chunk from him. Gonk grabbed at his sack head pulling and clawing at the threads. Lance bit in harder, biting and crunching Gonks small arm off at the shoulder, it fell to the floor. Lance slammed him down onto the floor. Gonk squealed, gasping for air. Lance stood over him.

  Gonk stared up at Lance, pointing up at him. Black spores like blood pooled on the ground as it leaked from his shoulder. Gonks eyes began to pale, with his breath escaping capture, a few quick inhales and one final breath he exhaled. “Crow”

  Lance spat out a spray of tiny chewed bits of Gonk with distaste. He moved over to Reilly who had been having trouble sitting up for a few moments. He grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. She leaned back looking up at him, pale. “Relax, I got you, you're gonna be okay. He’s dead.” Reilly leaned into Lance, tears in her eyes, she closed them falling asleep. Lance looked around the room, Bam and Courage had begun to sit up, although both of them began to puke violently. Lance stood up with Reilly in his arms and opened the door. He took her outside and laid her amongst the tall weeds. He went back in and picked up the guys one by one and helped them hobble back outside. Lance went in again, and searched the place.

  What he found was that this hut had once belonged to a goblin, after inspecting the bed, rather than lifting it, the bones of a goblin lie just underneath a light cloth. The closet had a handful of useless clothing but would better serve being used for rags or extra layers if needed so Lance took them. Lance was happy to see that he did get two small pans, big enough to fry small eggs in, and a pot that could hold no more than a liter. He got a small pie pan and a few more pieces of silverware. His favorite piece was the kettle. None of these things were more than simply what they seemed to be, his Appraise skill gave nothing. It intrigued him but he would investigate later. There was one thing however, Lance had noticed it when sitting at the table. A glimmer in the fireplace. A glint of something hiding below the ash and coals. He took his sword and scraped away the burning wood revealing a metal stick, it shined like silver. Lance pulled it out and appraised it.

  “Red-Cap Wand”

  Praise++ tier

  Description: A wand crafted with stolen coin, high heat, and death, melted coin poured into the hollowed bone of its victim.

  +5 Mana

  +3 Intelligence

  Value: 5 Dusk Exp Gems

  Lance moved over to the Redcap, he cut into him to remove his experience gem. Only what he found surprised him. The insides of the Redcap were like a mushroom, he dug through it looking for a heart but could not find one. Eventually he found a mass of black ooze and in its center was a Soul Prism. Lance gasped. “Hmm…. Fuck this guy” He squeezed it hard until it burst. The ghastly wail of Gonk echoed through the hut.

  [Spore] ability gained.

  Spore Lv1

  Racial Ability: Redcap

  Cooldown: 1 hour

  Activation: 1 mana

  Description: Plant mushroom spores with a touch, requires a source of nutrition. Type of mushroom is dependent on the food source.

  Lance stepped outside with a handful of clothes and a full backpack of kitchen utensils. A moment later the house began to burn. The rest of the group were all sitting together in the weeds here, they looked like shit.

  “What the hell guys?” Lance asked.