An Uninvited Guest Arrives

Emmaline crouched beside Becky, holding the younger girl as she cried. “We will figure it out, Becky. We will get her out.”

Liv started walking around their makeshift camp, collecting the gear they had left before their ill-fated **** on the Gnoll Den.

Becky looked up, wiping at her eyes and managed to croak out a “What are you doing?”

Liv seemed detached, but she never put down her rifle even as she started to pile equipment. “Packing up. We can’t stay here.”

Becky shakily stood, half-supported by Emmaline. “What about Fuu?”

Liv turned to Becky and, this time, Becky could see how tense she was. Liv had to take a breath before answering. “We can’t do it by ourselves Becky.”

Becky could feel her strength returning as she approached. “What? So we are just leaving her there?”

Liv nodded. “For now, yes.”

“We can’t do that!”

Liv snarled. “We don’t have a choice Becky. We don’t have the resources.”

“We have plenty of resources!” Becky approached with her anger bubbling up. Liv was being a coward. They could make it if they tried.”I can do recon and we can find exactly where to go.”

Emmaline's voice cuts through the tension. “That’s not what she means, Becky.” When Becky broke her staring contest with Liv, Emmaline continued. “We don’t have a front-liner. I can’t go wild in the caves with the girls still in there.”

Liv’s voice softened slightly as she added. “And I have limited range in the caves. If they surround us, we’re fucked.”

Becky took a long moment to process the information, allowing her mind to see things analytically again. The others were right. She shouldn’t have lost control of herself. She was the leader now and she needed to find a way to save Fuu. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She wiped her face and took a calming breath. “Let’s head back to town and-“

Just as she was going to make a plan, things changed. From the forest around them, but not from the direction of the Gnoll Den came a sound. The noise was consistent indicating only a single thing moving forward. A thing that was dragging something heavy behind it.

The voice that came from the forest was gravelly, speaking words not designed for its mouth. “You made a real mess.” Out of the forest came an unfamiliar Gnoll. A Gnoll with pale white fur.