GAH! Arad gasped, waking up with a sweaty face. Wanting round, he was asleep on a mattress in a wood lodge.

“You are awake?” The candy voice of a girl reached his ear. She stood beside the fireside, heating a blanket.

Arad sat, her lengthy golden hair and pure white pores and skin. “Who’re you?”

“That is my query to ask, my husband, discovered you in a griffon’s nest.” She mentioned together with her eyes glowing inexperienced.

“Your husband?” Arad seemed round, seeing nobody. “My title is Arad Orion, an adventurer.”

The girl stared at him, anxious, “You have been looking griffons alone?”

“No, the factor attacked us whereas we have been touring. Snatched me after getting poisoned by one in all my mates.”

The girl smiled, “Griffons have weak short-term poison resistance, however they get well shortly. It may need taken you for a snack.”

CREEEEE! The door slowly opened, and a beefy man walked in, bending his head and shifting sideways to suit by. His bear reached his jacked chest, and his bushy arms have been greater than Arad’s head.

“Honey, he appears to have woke up.” The girl mentioned with a cheerful face.

The person stared at Arad, “Child, what obtained you in a griffon’s nest?”

“I defined to her. The beast snatched me from the street.” After re-explaining what occurred to the person, Arad stood. “I want to go away as quickly as attainable.”

The person glared at Arad, “Will not do you any good to hurry. Include me to the yard.” He waved his hand.

“My title is Hank bearborn, a lumberjack residing in these woods,” Hank mentioned with a deep voice, exhibiting Arad what he was cooking within the yard.

“That factor is large,” Arad gasped, seeing the cow-sized carcass roasting slowly over flames.

Hank smiled, shaking his beard. “Griffon meat is difficult however tasty. I guess you will discover it nice.” He rolled a tree trunk beside the fireplace and requested Arad to sit down.

“You appear to be having fun with yourselves,” The girl approached them with a smile, carrying a tray filled with small chunks of meat and greens.

“She is Boris Orkrun. My lovely spouse.” Hank smiled, making a spot for her beside him.

Arad seemed round, smiling. “How did you are taking the griffon down?” He requested whereas Hank.

Hank laughed, standing up and strolling towards a small tree within the again the place his axe rested. “I am a lumberjack, Arad. It solely took one chop to finish all of it.” Hank swung the axe on the tree, slicing it in a single strike with a loud crack.

“I noticed him wrestle bears. My man is robust.” Boris smiled, “Hank, that tree will likely be firewood, drag it to the nook.”

“I do know. I have been working like this for years.” Hank smiled.

Arad rested beside the flames, ready for the griffon to prepare dinner and considering of how one can act. “Have you learnt the way in which to Oakedge?”

Boris checked out him, “The village? It is only a stroll down on the mountain foot.”

Hank checked out him, “Do you’ve gotten any enterprise there?”

“I am an adventurer. I am right here on a quest to research the unusual incidents.” Arad replied, maintaining a tally of Hank.

“You imply the folks disappearing? That was the griffons, kidnapping individuals who wandered into the forest.” Hank mentioned. He pointed towards the mountain, “Go examine the beast’s nest. It is filled with bones.”

“Why did not you kill it earlier?” Arad checked out him.

“I am not going to debate an ethical dilemma.” Hank stared at Arad, “Griffons are clever and highly effective. Even I’d get killed.” He then stared at his spouse, “The beast may fly away and are available right here to eat my spouse. They’ve the mind to do it.”

​ Hank smiled, “I got here to stay within the woods for a quiet life, not for me to start out risking my life with monsters. I may have turn into an adventurer if I needed that.”

“Then why did you save me?” Arad stared at him.

Hank checked out his spouse, “She mentioned it is a disgrace to let a child lose his life.” He smiled, “The griffon had turn into a ache as effectively, making his demise an inevitable consequence.”

“I see,” Arad stared on the flame, “The griffon was behind all of the disappearances?” He scratched his head, “I nonetheless want to research the village, make an in depth report, and regroup with my mates.” He seemed up, ^There was nonetheless the matter of the werewolf^

Hank approached the griffon and used a knife to pluck a bit of the meat, biting it. “Eat up. It is prepared.”

As they ate, Arad requested, “By the way in which, have you ever heard of a werewolf close by?”

The 2 stopped consuming, watching him. “Werewolf?” Hank stared at Arad, “Why do you search such a beast? Hate life?”

“I obtained cursed with Lycanthropy, and I have to kill him earlier than I begin reworking,” Arad replied.

Boris checked out him, “I do not know a lot about it. However I heard the church may heal you.”

“They tried and failed. I want to seek out the progenitor and end him off.” Arad growled.

Hank stared at him, “I heard of a werewolf round right here. However that was years prior to now. I doubt the beast nonetheless roams the place.”

Boris checked out Arad, “Preventing a werewolf is harmful, greater than the griffon. Do you’ve gotten any peaceable plan to resolve it?”

“We expect the werewolf may be capable to free me from the curse willingly. That could possibly be an choice.” Arad replied, “However we do not intend to let a harmful monster roam the village. We expect he’s behind the disappearances, not the griffon.”

Hank shook his head, “You is perhaps proper. However I do not suppose killing him is the one choice. I say it would even be unhealthy.”

“Yeah, what’s going to occur to the opposite bothered?” Boris stared at Arad, “When you killed him, individuals who get contaminated from his spawn later would not be capable to discover a treatment.”

Arad did not take into consideration that time. Wouldn’t it finish like that? “I’ve to ask the church about that.”

“I counsel in opposition to that as effectively. The church individuals are hard-headed and solely need the beasts lifeless. These robes do not take into consideration the widespread people, and I guess you are only a instrument they wish to use to kill the beast for affordable.” Hank stared at Arad.

“I do not suppose that is the case.”

“It’s the case. In any other case, the church will not ship such a weak child to research the disappearance of tens of individuals.”

Arad stopped for a second, “What ought to I do,” He sighed, “First, I’ll regroup with my mates and resolve later.”

“Do not do something rash. Simply bear in mind when the griffon kidnapped you,” Boris checked out Arad, “You’d find yourself lifeless going through the werewolf if he have been even right here.”

Later that day, Aella and the remainder arrived at Oakedge village, exhausted. “Let’s ask round,” Aella did not care, leaping immediately, trying to find Arad.

“I’ll head again then. Please watch out round right here.” The motive force mentioned, turning his carriage and leaving.

Jack waved his hand, “Take care, and be cautious of the griffon.” He smiled, wanting again at Lydia, “The place is Aella?”

“She rushed to the tavern.” Lydia pointed together with her thumb. “She will be able to’t take a break. Let’s comply with her.”

CRACK! Aella pushed the tavern’s door open, obvious straight inside, in search of the proprietor.

All of the farmers and folks ingesting there stared again at her, “Lengthy ears? What’s she doing right here?”

“Weren’t we in a conflict with them?”

“Depart her be. She is going to depart quickly sufficient.” One other man sighed.

“Hey, woman. Why are you obvious so sharply?” A bunch of younger males surrounded her. “You are not in search of troubles, are you?”

The villages on the again stood, “These idiots, are they in search of hassle.”

“Hey, children. Get again to your seats and depart her alone.” The bartender growled at them. “One other struggle and I’ll grasp you bare on the village tree for everybody to see.”

“She’s is the one in search of troubles, watching us like that.” One of many younger males mentioned, obvious at Aella.

“A younger man with black hair and crimson eyes. Have you ever seen him round right here? Have you learnt the place the griffon’s nest is?” Aella requested, watching them.

“Now we have lots of people with black hair round right here. Like your’s really right here.” The younger man smiled, “However we by no means heard of crimson eyes.”

One other one smiled, “The griffon nest is on the prime of the mountain. You may go there within the morning. In the meanwhile, you may spend the night time in my home.”

“Thanks, I am going now.” Aella circled to go away.

“Maintain up, woman. Leaving like that.” One of many younger me grabbed her by the arm, “You are not going wherever until morning.”

SWOSH! CLANG! The bartender grabbed a soot-filled outdated pan and threw it, smacking the younger man within the head, “You fucking bastard, do you want to die?”

“What was that for?” One among them cried as his pal fell to the bottom.