She overcomes an ambush

Yes/No (Even): Can Lux defeat the ambushers? [5,2] Yes

A sudden movement in the corner of Lux’s eye is the only warning. With a sudden crash and snap, shapes burst through the undergrowth, all around. Small, blue shapes – bigger ones, with many legs – all closing in fast…

Lux’s reflexes are fast enough for a spell. At her invocation, a mass of sticky spiderweb strands fans out, catching one group of ambushers. Lux makes out squat, blue, big-headed creatures – mites? – whose enthusiasm now turns to panic, and some oversized beetles, their limbs flailing helplessly. But the ones her web caught aren’t alone –

With a roar, the remaining mites close in. Their eyes bulge out horribly from their already ugly faces as they let out some kind of collective chant – a curse? Lux freezes for a moment, unsure of herself, and that’s enough to lose the upper hand.

Leaving the rest of their kin trapped in the web – and their insect allies along with them – the remaining mites swarm her. In a mass of grabbing, groping hands, they’re suddenly all over Lux. Jolted back to her senses, she gets hold of one – uses her greater weight to throw him off. A jolt of electricity channelled through her fingertips sends another flying. But there’s so many – half a dozen, more – blue and dirty and deceptively strong. And disgustingly naked. The putrid unwashed stench of them, their excited gibbering, are everywhere.

They grab wherever they can. With one leg trapped, she trips and falls. Now they scramble over her chest, pull at her hair. One or two are underneath her; she can feel hands, and hard cocks, pressing into her ass cheeks. At the front, those with the good luck to be close enough go for her breasts – their oversized mouths opening wide to try and engulf as much as possible, teeth pulling at her top…

If they were making a joint effort – to pin her or trap her arms – she might be in more trouble. But most, now that they have hold of her, seem too fixated for that. Grubby, greasy hands slide everywhere – delving down her top, grabbing her ass – while the ones at the front keep licking and sucking. All except – wait, where did that bigger one go – ?

The gleam catches her eye. A dagger – or is it? – with a clean, sharp blade, jabbing down at her. Quick as she can, she grabs the wrist of the arm holding it, the tip a hair’s breadth from cutting into her skin. Her eyes meet those of the armed mite – larger and more scarred than the rest, his hideous face full of hate.

As she pushes the weapon aside, one of the other flailing mites is grazed. No more than a scratch, but he topples off her to land heavily on the forest floor. Snoring loudly – alive – but asleep…

She twists the scarred mite’s arm, strikes her other palm into his elbow. There’s a satisfying crunch as the joint gives way. With an anguished squeal, the mite loses his grip, and Lux deftly catches the dagger. She’s the one with a weapon now.

The mite whose arm she broke sees what’s coming and springs away, scampering into the woods as fast as his stubby legs can carry him. Lux pays him little mind – she has other problems. A swipe here, a jab there, and two more mites fall from her. The dagger leaves barely a mark, drawing no blood. Good to know.

Whether the remaining mites fail to notice what’s happening, or whether they don’t care as long as they get to keep on groping, is impossible to say. Lux quickly deals with those on top of her and pushes herself back to her feet, heart still racing. Her clothes have acquired a few rips – and, she shudders to realise, a few wet, sticky stains – but otherwise, she’s unscathed. Physically speaking.

The remaining mites and the handful of giant insects struggle against the web, determined now to escape rather than to attack. Lux glares daggers at them, but it’s not worth the risk or effort to bother with them further. They don’t seem to be going anywhere until the spell ends, by which time she means to be long gone.

With her surroundings seemingly secure, she takes a closer look at the weapon she seized from the scarred mite. As she first thought, the design isn’t exactly that of a dagger – more like a lance, if that lance were designed for someone much smaller to wield. The balance of it is odd, but it still feels quick and nimble in her hand. If only a scratch of it is needed to send someone to sleep, then…she shudders at the thought of how close she came to being helpless in those little monsters’ grasp.

Seeking to put such ideas firmly out of her mind, she looks around to find Minn, who is hovering nearby and trying to hide a look of disappointment.

“Been having fun up there?” Lux asks, acidly.

“Not as much as I was hoping,” Minn admits. “Think you could try and take more time to enjoy it next time?”

Next time. Lux shudders, anger and disgust warring inside her. “Let’s go,” she says. “We’re done here.”

“Aww.” Minn shrugs, and darts off ahead, leaving Lux to reluctantly follow along.