New Beast

Challenger kicked a rock between the trees. It was resting time for him, he observed the area well. He was excited, a new camp and a new opportunity to show his stuff, to let everyone know that he knows what he’s doing. Chell had offered to be on call if he needed a raise. Beastmaster was a tough job to master, but a job he was up for. It was dark tonight in Jugner Forest, darker than normal. “Maybe I should wait until daylight.” He thought aloud to himself, he didn’t want to be ambushed by anything in the blindness of the night. He had given up the beaches of Valkurm Dunes as it was getting crowded tonight. The parties had ran him off, there was no love for a Bst. He put his hands on the Bird Whistle he wore around his neck, it was a good luck charm that is said to help soothe the beasts of the land. “Okay… got to start somewhere.” He said as he searched for a companion. He looked at his choices, a sapling, a rabbit or a fungus. He decided to go with the fungus, he approached it and laid on his charm, to his surprise it was a success. With his pet behind him Chall set off to find himself some prey. He was beginning to like this job, he never needed a party and he worked on his time, he just died a lot when his pets turned on him. A Goblin Leecher walked to the side of the river, he tossed a coin inside and stared at the ripples it caused upon the surface. He was staring at the reflection of the moon inside the water when he saw it, he turned but it was too late. The Funguar rose up on its hind legs and gave the goblin a kick, tumbling, he splashed in the water, his face hitting the bottom and scratching against the rocks laid out at the bottom. He sat there, drenched and angry, he watched as the fungus turned and walked away. His eyes followed where it went, stalking the funguar as it led him to its master. Challenger patted the fungus on the back, he turned and walked away, time to actually get some experience in now that the fun was over. He walked along the road, eyes alert for anything that will attack him. “The beauty of Beastmaster is that if you know what to do, you would never die by aggro.” Tone had told him, he was a high level Bst. “You send your pet to fight it while to run to a safe spot.” He had coached him. “Start small.” He told himself as he sent his pet after a bunny. The funguar kicked it and Chall fought alongside with it, using his scythe to make sure this rabbit faced death. Wheeling the heavy weapon Chall felt powerful, he swung it with pride. The bunny died and Chall rejoiced, his first victory in a new land. It was a cause for celebration.

He walked along with his pet again, this time venturing farther down the road, up near the place where the rivers met, home of the tigers. He looked them over as they stalked back and forth, fangs sharper than the huge claws they had. He gulped at the thought of being on the end of them. He looked at his fungus, he nodded to him, asking if he was ready, it looked at him, a wild look in its eyes. “Come on, don’t be scared.” Chall tried to coach. When the tiger was alone, he sent the fungus after it, he went halfway before returning. Chall stared confused, “Fight.” He ordered it, and fight he did. He kicked Chall in the shins, he doubled over because he was taken by surprise. He had lost control over the monster, and now it was time for the repercussion of the job. He tried to charm it again, but he failed, he backed away as the fungus came closer. He swore to himself, he tried to charm again and the funguar stopped, he took his place at his side once again. He sat against the tree, relieved he was going to live this time, this once. He heard a low growl behind him, he didn’t have to think, and he knew what it was. He had walked too close, desperately trying to get away from the pet that turned on him. He heard another growl, he got up and prepared to run for it. The tiger pounced in front of him, cutting off the direction he was running. It brandished his sharp claws and took a swing at Challs neck. He raised his shield to cover himself, the tiger’s paw latched onto the wooden shield, almost ripping it in half. The tiger yanked his claw loose, flinging Chall’s shield away with it. He sat there, axe in hand, trembling. His mind blanked, and then he thought about what Tone said. “Let the pet die.” He mumbled the words aloud, he looked around for his fungus that was nowhere in sight. “Gay.” He said he ran for it, jumping over tree stumps and his legs splashing through the water. The tiger was clawing at his heels, he saw a cave up ahead, but he would have to get a good jump to reach it. Not thinking twice he sprinted towards the cave and got a good lift from the tree stump, he jumped arms extended and grabbed the edge of the cave entrance. He grabbed a hold of it, lifting himself up onto the ledge. He looked down when his heartbeat returned to normal, he stuck his tongue out at the tiger, and turned to peer inside the cave. The tiger waited, he was hot on Chall’s tail and wouldn’t give up that easy, patiently he laid his head down, waiting on the Beastmaster to return. Moving down the murky cave, he was enticed by a lit fire. Chall moved quietly, seems like something lives here. He looked around and saw nothing, just a fire with some food brewing. The aroma tickled his taste buds, and he looked to get a peek inside the pot. He looked at the flint stones on the ground, that ignite the fire. Something was smart enough to make it, so he figured it was a player that took refuge here, probably after the night of leveling took a break in this safe haven. He noticed some gil sitting beside the boiling pot, he could use some, he was flat broke. He picked up the chefs spoon and began stirring the contents of the pot, he might as well make himself at home. He put the spoon to his lips, not a bad taste he noticed.

He had gotten cozy, he devoured all of the food and was looking to rest up for the rest of the night, whoever had the spare gil laying around sure wouldn’t miss it. He set his alarm, he only wanted to sleep for a couple of hours, and hopefully he would be out before the occupant returned. With a full belly and money in his pocket, he dozed off, thinking about making it to town to buy new weapons with the money he found, it was twenty thousand dollars. He didn’t think of it as stealing, more like liberating it from an owner who would leave it on the ground all alone. Tomorrow was a long day for him, and he had to be ready. The Goblin Leecher walked down the path, the aroma filling his nose just as it did before he left, he went to Jeuno to buy some spices to add to his stew tonight, he wanted to take his mind off being upset earlier. He dropped the bag at the foot of the cave, walked towards his room and immediately swore up a storm. His pot….. empty and turned over, his gil….. gone. His supper was ruined, now he was going to go hungry for a night because the shops were closed and he wasn’t planning on taking another trip anyways, not tonight. He scanned the room, his eyes fixed on the Hume lying in the corner, his head resting against his knapsack. Chunks of his Goblin Stew residue was all over his clothes. His gil was sticking out of his visitors bag. He looked familiar, his eyes grew big as he remembered the impromptu bath he had taken earlier. He took out his staff, he was prepared to bludgeon him to death and then he stopped. He had another idea for the pesky Bst. Chall had woken up a lot earlier than he expected, he felt extremely hot. He tried to move his arms, they were tied, he adjusted his eyes to the dark cave, only light was cast was the light from the fire, his world spun around and around, his backside felt on fire. He fixed his eyes on the Goblin, who was turning the big stick around and around, the more he pulled, the more Chall turned. The goblin stopped, Chall looked at him from atop the fire. His hands and feet were tied to the log, he was the roast of the night. His eyes pleaded with him, then were glassed over with fear. The Goblin poked him with a fork, he then whistled. Chall looked to the side to see the tiger walking towards him. He closed his eyes…………..