System Break

Swirling blues were contained within the oval shape and it shimmered. A small burst and it spat out a light pink body which was unceremoniously dumped onto the plains. The portal winked out of existence as soon as its package was delivered.

The pinkish humanoid got to its hands and knees. It was hairless and almost white. Like a newborn babe except covered in green goo and the size of a grown man.

It coughed but no air come out, just green goo. Its body convulsed as it vomited more onto the tufts of brown grass in front of it.

It took in a racking breath and said, "Fuck."

The man shook his head and looked up at the sky. There were three colourful, large moons and an orange sun. "Shit," he said.

He slowly got to his feet and wobbled. He rubbed his forehead and shielded his eyes from the bright sun. He looked down at his legs; he was naked and hairless. "Now this is what I call hardcore."

He looked around and began walking towards a hill, the highest point he could see. When he arrived at the top, he turned and gazed at his surroundings. There was just grass, bushes, rocks and rolling hills for as far as he could see.

He looked up and there was a large bird overhead. It flew away and then circled back. He peered at it then he sighed and sat down. He looked at the grass near his feet and inspected the dirt.

When he checked his biceps and wrists, he frowned. Time passed and the sky moved across the sky, sinking towards the western horizon.

"Boy are you ugly," I said and scared the shit out of him.

He rolled and turned to face me. His hands searching for a rock.

I laughed. I must have looked a sight. I was seven feet tall with a wooden antler mask. Timber brown skin with a bare chest. My leathers were skin-tight and covered me from the waist to my ankles.

"I thought you were a crafter, not a fighter?" I asked.

He peered at me. "Who are you?"

"I'm Benzhi, friend of Ailen and Sakaala."

He visibly relaxed and dropped the rock. "I wasn't expecting you to look like a monster."

My fist went to my heart. "That hurts." Gisael and Reyas arrived by my side and I watched and laughed as his eyes popped out of his head. The pair would have that effect on any red-blooded man. Even a pink ugly one.

"Where's Ailen?" he asked.

I held out my hand to pull him up. "He's slow. I ran to meet you as soon as my bird spied you."

"Your bird?" he said and looked up. The demon bird was flying north. It wanted to eat more lizard gizzards and then nap. "Impressive."

"This is Gisael and Reyas," I said and stared at him.

He met my gaze and then said, "Oh. Yeah, Redmond. When will they get here?"

I shrugged. "Shortly. Hungry?"

Redmond looked thoughtful and chuckled. "No, actually."

I leaned close to him. "Do you want to hear something scary?"

He took a step back and looked at me.

"I looked like you once. But I was much taller and not as wide."

"Oh," he said. "Yeah. I'm not that tall in …"

I held up a hand. "Careful. It is real here, very real, you'll soon see."

He nodded slowly and peered at Reyas and Gisael.

"No, they're not from our world."

"I see," he said.

"Ailen can explain everything when you're alone," I said. "Has he filled you in on our plans?"

Redmond nodded. "Yeah. We're going to travel south and find the dwarven hold."

I nodded. "It's a bit more complicated than turning up. But we'll work something out."

Ailen and Sakaala arrived. They were carrying packs and Ailen dropped his. He pulled out some clothes the weaver made for Redmond. "Here."

"Thanks … Ailen."

I laughed. They obviously knew each other with different names. "This is Redmond," I said.

Sakaala laughed.

"What?"

She smirked. "I guess it's better than Blacky the blacksmith."

Redmond blushed slightly and I laughed. He had a crush on her. I turned to Sakaala. "I think we got you those leathers too soon."

She looked at me quizzically.

"Redmond would love to see you in your natural form."

She smiled demurely. "Oh, I know." Then she peered at him. "Don't get any ideas."

Gisael put a hand on my arm. "We travel south?"

I nodded.

"With no bird to scout?"

"He needs to rest; he'll join us later."

She squeezed my arm. "It is good. We need to plan. There will be dangers and the land is unknown."

I knelt in front of them. "Single file, Gisael and archers at the rear. Reyas will lead, Redmond in the centre and I'll scout ahead. I'll report in a few times a day." I looked around the group and met their stares. "Good?"

"Good," Gisael said.

I patted Redmond on the arm. "You'll be slow. Don't worry about it. The harder you work the faster you'll improve."

He nodded.

I put my hand on Reyas' cheek. "I'll look for some water. Just keep heading due south, I'll find you." She nodded and I squeezed her buttocks. I wanted to kiss her, but it was impossible with the mask.

Redmond watched me run off. "Whoa. He's quick." He inspected the linen trousers and tunic. "These are well crafted. The Svartalfar weaver made them?"

Ailen nodded. "They're amazing. You'll fit right in."

He chuckled. "But I'll be a dwarf."

"Dokkalfar," Ailen corrected. "Don't expect them to be the same as the stories."

"Stories?"

"Lore. You know. What you've read and heard about them."

"Ah, I see. Like the Svartalfar are nothing like elves. A little like wood elves, but then… different."

"I'm a Svartalfar," Ailen said and peered at his friend. "Careful with your words lumpy."

Sakaala laughed. "You two." She pushed Ailen playfully. "Reyas wants to go. Move."

As I looked for water, I looked for monsters as well. Gisael was right it would be much easier with demon bird, but he had to rest at some time.

I saw some hellhound tracks. They were fresh, so I followed them. When I checked the next dirt patch, there were four of them. I wondered if I could take four myself.

I shook my head, better to be safe than sorry. I headed back towards Reyas and it wasn't long before I heard the growls.

I didn't look and kept running. When I could hear their drool hitting the turf, I turned on the speed. Reyas' qi-speed was almost doubling my top speed and I burned across the plains.

I slowed and turned. The hellhounds had slowed but were still chasing me with their loping gate. I laughed and did the same.

When I finally found her, they arrayed in front of me. The fact I was running alerted them immediately.

The hellhounds paused when they saw the group. They growled and crept towards us. I stood next to Reyas and waited for the archers to do their thing.

As soon as the first was shot the others charged. I was amazed these monsters never thought of retreat, they only knew attack.

"You take the left," I said to Reyas and she nodded.

We waited for the archers to take down another before we moved to meet them. Qi-arrow was powerful, but hellhounds were no pushover either. It took quite a few accurate shots to take one down.

Predictably the hellhound leaped. I dropped to the ground allowing it to pass over me while I stuck my spear into its soft underbelly, slicing it open like a sachet of ketchup.

By the time I got up Reyas had hacked off the head of the remaining hound.

While I skinned, Gisael collected the qi cores and put them into Ailen's pack.

"Do we bring the skins?" Sakaala asked.

I shook my head. "No, I'm just practising. I'd rather fill the packs with qi cores. Ailen, cut some meat for Redmond and Reyas."

He nodded and retrieved the choicest cuts.

I ran my hand down Gisael's cheek and onto her leathers. I pulled the breast covering and pretended to peer down her top. Okay, I peered down her top.

She peered at me. "You don't want me to wear this?"

I chuckled. "No, I do. I just miss them."

"You can see them tonight. Go. Find water and a camp site."

I sighed. "Okay." And I ran off.

Redmond whispered to Ailen, "Which one is his girlfriend? I'm confused."

Ailen laughed. "Both. You're out of luck."

"Am I?" Redmond said he glanced at Sakaala. "She's not my sister."

Ailen continued to laugh. "Sure. Good luck with that. You've only been trying for a decade."

Redmond sighed and the deep frustration of a decade of unrequited love could be heard in his small sigh.

Ailen put his arm around his friend. "But you never know. This time could be different."