《Walenciusz The Cat》 Chapter 1: The Great Tophat Heist
The sun hung low over the sleepy town of Cresthaven, casting golden streaks across the cobblestone streets. In a cramped little house on the edge of town, Walenciusz the Cat lounged on a threadbare rug, his amber eyes narrowed to slits. His fur, a patchwork of midnight black and storm-cloud gray, bristled with indignation. His owner, old man Percival, was droning on again¡ªsomething about ¡°proper feline manners¡± and ¡°no scratching the furniture.¡± Walenciusz flicked his tail. Enough was enough. Percival adjusted his prized tophat, a gaudy thing with a feather that bobbed like a taunting finger. ¡°You¡¯ll behave yourself today, won¡¯t you, Wally?¡± he muttered, oblivious to the storm brewing in his feline companion. Walenciusz¡¯s whiskers twitched. Wally? The insult was the final straw. With a yowl that could wake a dragon, he launched himself at Percival. Claws flashed, teeth glinted, and in the ensuing chaos, the old man flailed like a windmill in a hurricane. ¡°Gah! You blasted The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. beast!¡± Percival yelped, tumbling backward over a stool. The tophat spun through the air like a toppled crown, landing with a soft thud at Walenciusz¡¯s paws. Victory. Walenciusz swiped the hat with a triumphant paw, placing it jauntily atop his head. The feather drooped over one eye, giving him the rakish air of a rogue. Percival, sprawled on the floor, clutched his scratched arm and sputtered, ¡°You¡¯ll regret this, you mangy¡ª!¡± But Walenciusz was already gone, streaking through the open window with the grace of a thief escaping a heist. The streets of Cresthaven greeted him like a playground. The tophat wobbled as he bounded over a crate of apples, sending a fruit peddler into a shouting fit. ¡°Oi! Whose cat is that?!¡± Walenciusz didn¡¯t care. The wind ruffled his fur, the feather danced, and for the first time in ages, he felt alive. No more stale biscuits or Percival¡¯s lectures. This was freedom¡ªtophat and all. He skidded to a stop at the town square, where a crowd buzzed around a makeshift stage. A bard strummed a lute, singing of grand adventures¡ªslaying goblins, raiding dungeons, the usual fare. Walenciusz tilted his head, the tophat casting a shadow over his smirk. Adventures, huh? He could do that. Better than some lute-plucking fool, anyway. A shadow loomed behind him. ¡°Well, well,¡± came a gruff voice. ¡°A cat in a hat? You lost, little fella?¡± Walenciusz turned to see a burly man in a patched cloak, a sword slung over his shoulder. The man grinned, showing a gap where a tooth should¡¯ve been. ¡°Name¡¯s Gorrick. I reckon you¡¯re no ordinary moggy.¡± Walenciusz puffed out his chest, the tophat tilting defiantly. Ordinary? Him? Never again. With a flick of his tail, he leapt onto a barrel, then to a rooftop, leaving Gorrick blinking below. The town sprawled before him¡ªshops, alleys, secrets waiting to be clawed open. ¡°New adventures, huh?¡± he thought, whiskers quivering with glee. ¡°Let¡¯s see what this place has got!¡± And with that, Walenciusz the Cat¡ªthief of tophats and breaker of rules¡ªset off into the dusk, ready to carve his name into Cresthaven¡¯s chaos. One scratch at a time. Chapter 2: The Stone and the Scoundrel
The rooftops of Cresthaven gleamed under the moon¡¯s pale glow as Walenciusz perched atop a
chimney, his stolen tophat tilted at a daring angle. The feather swayed in the breeze, a banner of
his newfound liberty. Below, the town thrummed with life¡ªdrunkards stumbled from taverns, and
a stray dog howled at shadows. Walenciusz¡¯s ears twitched as heavy boots clomped up the alley. Gorrick again. ¡°Oi, cat!¡± the burly man called, squinting up at the rooftop. ¡°You gonna sit there preening all night, or you got somethin¡¯ to prove?¡± His gap-toothed grin flashed in the moonlight, and Walenciusz couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of... what? Respect? Annoyance? Whatever it was, it tugged at him like a burr in his fur. With a dramatic leap, Walenciusz landed on a crate beside Gorrick, the tophat wobbling but staying put. Gorrick chuckled, scratching his scruffy beard. ¡°Got spirit, I¡¯ll give ya that. Ever hear Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. of the Philosopher¡¯s Stone?¡± Walenciusz tilted his head, eyes gleaming with curiosity. Gorrick leaned closer, voice dropping to a conspiratorial rumble. ¡°Legend says it¡¯s hidden ¡®round these parts. A gem what brings world peace¡ªor blows it all to bits, dependin¡¯ who¡¯s holdin¡¯ it. Fancy a hunt?¡± World peace? Walenciusz didn¡¯t care much for that¡ªhe¡¯d rather claw his way to a good nap spot¡ªbut the glint in Gorrick¡¯s eye promised chaos, treasure, and maybe a decent fight. Good enough. He flicked his tail in agreement, and Gorrick clapped a hand on his knee. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Partners, then. You sniff out trouble, I¡¯ll bash it.¡± Meanwhile, back in the cramped house on the town¡¯s edge, old man Percival sat in darkness. The fierce battle with Walenciusz had left him blind, his eyes scratched and useless. He clutched a splintered chair, his hands trembling as he muttered to the empty room. ¡°That blasted cat... took my hat, my sight, my dignity!¡± His voice cracked, bitter as stale ale. ¡°Thinks he¡¯s off to be some grand adventurer, does he? Ungrateful wretch. If I could see, I¡¯d drag him back by the tail and lock him in the cellar ¡®til he begged forgiveness!¡± Percival¡¯s sightless gaze drifted to the window Walenciusz had escaped through. He didn¡¯t know about the Philosopher¡¯s Stone, but he felt a gnawing dread¡ªlike the world was tilting out of his grasp, and that cursed cat was at the center of it. ¡°Mark my words,¡± he hissed, ¡°he¡¯ll bring ruin to us all.¡± Back in the alley, Walenciusz and Gorrick were already on the move. Gorrick pulled a crumpled map from his cloak, pointing at a scribbled mark near the old mill. ¡°Stone¡¯s s¡¯posed to be there. Guarded by somethin¡¯ nasty, no doubt¡ªgoblins, maybe, or a troll with a bad temper.¡± Walenciusz¡¯s claws flexed, eager for a scrap. The tophat bobbed as he strutted beside Gorrick, a rogue and his unlikely partner stalking through the night. The Philosopher¡¯s Stone glittered in Walenciusz¡¯s mind¡ªnot for peace, but for power, for freedom, for a tale worth yowling about. Cresthaven wouldn¡¯t know what hit it. Chapter 3: The Shop of Wonders and the Brawl of Fates
The streets of Cresthaven twisted like a labyrinth as Walenciusz and Gorrick made their way to the old mill district, the crumpled map fluttering in Gorrick¡¯s meaty fist. The air grew thick with the scent of damp wood and moss as they approached a crooked building wedged between two sagging warehouses. A sign creaked above the door: Myrtha¡¯s Emporium of Oddities. Jars of glowing liquid lined the windows, and a stuffed raven perched on the sill, its glass eyes glinting ominously. ¡°Best shop in town for weird stuff,¡± Gorrick said with a grunt, pushing the door open. A bell jingled, and Walenciusz strutted in behind him, the tophat still perched jauntily on his head. Inside, the shop was a treasure trove of chaos¡ªshelves groaned under the weight of dusty tomes, rusted swords, and vials of bubbling potions. A wizened woman with a tangle of silver hair¡ªMyrtha, presumably¡ªpeered at them from behind a counter cluttered with bones and crystals. ¡°Well, ain¡¯t this a sight,¡± she croaked, eyeing Walenciusz. ¡°A cat in a hat and a brute with a blade. What¡¯s yer poison?¡±
Gorrick grinned his gap-toothed grin. ¡°We¡¯re huntin¡¯ the Philosopher¡¯s Stone. Need gear¡ªgood stuff. And somethin¡¯ for my partner here.¡± He jerked a thumb at Walenciusz, who flicked his tail expectantly. Myrtha cackled, hobbling to a shelf. ¡°Got just the thing.¡± She plucked a vial of emerald- green liquid labeled Herb of Tongues and handed it to Walenciusz. ¡°Drink up, puss. Makes ya talk like us lot¡ªand might stretch ya out a bit, too.¡± Walenciusz lapped it down, the taste sharp and earthy. A tingle raced through his paws, and then¡ªpop!¡ªhis bones creaked, his fur rippled, and he shot up to the size of a gangly teenager, standing on two legs. His voice, when it came, was a raspy drawl. ¡°Well, ain¡¯t that a kick in the whiskers?¡± Gorrick roared with laughter as Myrtha tossed Walenciusz a patched cloak, a pair of trousers, and a leather vest. ¡°Can¡¯t have ya struttin¡¯ ¡®round half-naked,¡± she said. The Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. tophat stayed, of course¡ªit was non-negotiable. Next, they stocked up: a dagger with a wicked curve for Walenciusz, a tome of basic spells (Fire Spark and Wind Gust caught his eye), and a sack of potions¡ªhealth, speed, and something Myrtha called Glow Juice that she swore would come in handy. Gorrick hefted a crossbow and a bandolier of bolts, muttering about ¡°bloody trolls.¡± Then Gorrick unsheathed his own weapon¡ªa longsword that shimmered with an otherworldly light. ¡°This here¡¯s Excalibur,¡± he said, holding it aloft. ¡°Forged in a lake of starlight by a lady what knew her craft. Pulled it from a stone meself, back when I was a fool with dreams bigger¡¯n my head. Cuts through darkness like butter¡ªliteral darkness, mind ya. Shadows flee from it, and evil quakes.¡± Walenciusz¡¯s eyes widened. Gorrick¡¯s swordmaster swagger wasn¡¯t just talk¡ªthis blade was the real deal. They paid Myrtha with a pouch of coins Gorrick had ¡°liberated¡± from a bandit a week back, and stepped into the night, Walenciusz adjusting his new clothes and marveling at his humanish paws. Meanwhile, across town, Percival¡¯s world was a blur of rage and shadow. Blindness had sharpened his ears, and he stumbled through Cresthaven¡¯s alleys, cane tapping furiously. ¡°That cat¡¯ll pay,¡± he snarled to no one. His hunt had begun the moment he¡¯d dragged himself off the floor, but now he needed direction. Fate¡ªor spite¡ªled him to a shack draped in ivy, where an oracle witch named Veyra dwelled. Her voice was a rasp, like wind through dead leaves, as she greeted him. ¡°Lost yer sight, old man? And yer pride, too, I reckon.¡± ¡°I want that cat,¡± Percival spat. ¡°Walenciusz. Took my hat, my eyes¡ªeverything.¡± Veyra¡¯s laugh was a dry cackle. She stirred a cauldron, the steam curling into shapes¡ªa stone, a glow, a feline silhouette. ¡°The Philosopher¡¯s Stone,¡± she whispered. ¡°That¡¯s what ya need. It¡¯ll heal yer eyes, give ya power over that beast. Lies near the old mill, guarded fierce. Find it, and he¡¯s yours.¡± Percival¡¯s lips twisted into a grim smile. With the stone, he¡¯d see again¡ªand Walenciusz would grovel. He thanked the witch with a muttered oath and set off, cane clicking with purpose. Back with Walenciusz and Gorrick, the duo decided to celebrate their haul. They swaggered into The Rusty Tankard, a rowdy inn where the ale flowed like a river and the air stank of sweat and smoke. Walenciusz, still getting used to his new voice, ordered a pint with a cocky, ¡°Make it quick, human!¡± The barmaid blinked but complied. Gorrick matched him mug for mug, regaling the room with tales of Excalibur¡¯s triumphs¡ª slashing shadow-beasts in the Black Mire, felling a wraith-king in the Frostveins. Walenciusz, buzzed and bold, tried casting Fire Spark from his spellbook, singeing a table and earning a cheer.
But the night soured fast. A hulking man with a scar across his nose¡ªBran, a local thug¡ªslammed his tankard down, glaring at a slight girl in a corner. ¡°Alice owes me coin!¡± he bellowed. ¡°Her da¡¯s debts don¡¯t vanish ¡®cause he¡¯s dead!¡± Alice, a wiry lass with tangled blonde hair, clutched a broom like a spear. ¡°I told ya, I ain¡¯t got it! Leave me be!¡± Walenciusz, three pints deep, bristled. ¡°Oi, ugly,¡± he called, voice slurring. ¡°Pick on someone yer own size¡ªlike me.¡± Gorrick groaned but stood, Excalibur gleaming faintly. Bran sneered, cracking his knuckles. ¡°A cat and a braggart? I¡¯ll squash ya both.¡± The bar erupted. Fists flew, chairs splintered, and Walenciusz hurled a sloppy Wind Gust that sent Bran¡¯s goons crashing into the bar. Gorrick danced with Excalibur, its blade a blur of light, parrying knives and fists with masterful grace. Alice darted through the chaos, swinging her broom like a warhammer. Tankards shattered, and the innkeeper wailed about damages. Then, a shadow loomed in the doorway. Percival, cane in hand, his blind eyes somehow piercing the din. His voice cut through the brawl like a blade. ¡°Walenciusz!¡± The cat froze, tophat askew, dagger mid-swing. Gorrick cursed, Excalibur raised. Alice gasped, broom trembling. Bran grinned, sensing an advantage. The room teetered on the edge of something bigger¡ªsomething darker¡ªas Percival¡¯s hand tightened on his cane, and a faint, eerie glow pulsed from his pocket. What had the witch given him? Chapter 4: The Road Ahead this
was
Chapter 5: Rampage! A Clash of Claws Golden sunlight spilled over the rolling hills outside Cresthaven, painting the world in hues of amber and green. Walenciusz the Cat strode at the head of the trio, his tophat tilted rakishly, the feather fluttering like a battle standard. His patched cloak swished with each step, and his amber eyes gleamed with the thrill of the chase. Behind him, Gorrick hummed a bawdy tune, Excalibur slung over his shoulder, while Alice twirled her broom experimentally, muttering incantations under her breath. The old mill¡ªand the Philosopher¡¯s Stone¡ªlay a day¡¯s trek ahead, but the road promised trouble, and they were ready to meet it head-on. The morning had barely begun when the first snag hit. A rickety bridge spanned a rushing river, and halfway across, the planks groaned under Gorrick¡¯s weight. ¡°Blasted thing¡¯s older¡¯n me,¡± he grumbled, just as a chorus of jeers erupted from the trees. Bandits¡ªfive of them¡ªspilled onto the path, clad in mismatched armor and wielding rusty swords. Their leader, a wiry man with a patchy beard, sneered, ¡°Toll¡¯s ten gold, or we gut ya where ya stand!¡± Fire SparkVentus Sweep!
to herd the fish closer. The spell backfired, splashing him head to toe, and Alice doubled over laughing. ¡°Stick to claws, cat!¡± she teased, before casting a simple with her broom. Fish leapt into their hands, and soon they were roasting a hearty lunch over a crackling fire, the scent of char and herbs filling the air.
he yowled, splitting a goblin clean in two. Alice¡¯s broom swept a , scattering the rest, and Gorrick reclaimed his sword with a nod. ¡°Not bad, cat. Not bad.¡±
Chapter 6: The Mill of Mayhem The old mill loomed like a decayed titan against the bruised purple of the evening sky, its sagging beams and moss-choked wheel whispering tales of forgotten glory. Walenciusz the Cat strutted ahead, tophat perched defiantly, the feather quivering with every gust of wind that rattled the skeletal structure. Gorrick¡¯s heavy tread stirred the dust, Excalibur slung low and gleaming faintly, while Alice gripped her broom, its runes pulsing with a nervous hum. The Philosopher¡¯s Stone was close¡ªthey could feel it, a thrumming pulse in the earth beneath their feet, calling them to destiny or doom. The trio breached the mill¡¯s threshold, the air thick with mildew and the tang of rust. Shadows danced across splintered walls as Walenciusz lit a , its flickering glow revealing a cavernous interior. Broken machinery sprawled like the bones of some ancient beast, and a rickety staircase spiraled down into darkness. ¡°Down there,¡± Gorrick grunted, nodding toward the stairs. ¡°Stone¡¯s gotta be below. Smells like trouble, though.¡± ¡°Smells like ,¡± Walenciusz countered, claws flexing as he took the lead. The stairs groaned under their weight, but they descended into a sprawling basement, its walls slick with damp and etched with arcane runes that pulsed faintly red. The air grew heavy, oppressive, and then¡ªa low growl rumbled from the shadows.
Wind GustIgnis Burst!
Fire SparksVentus Sweep
. But the Stone gave me more. Now I command the shadows¡ªand these.¡± He snapped his fingers, and the earth shuddered. Trolls¡ªdozens of them¡ªerupted from hidden tunnels, their stone hides glistening, eyes blank with obedience. Gorrick cursed, raising Excalibur, its light flaring against the encroaching dark.
Wind GustFire Spark Wind GustIgnis Burst! Ventus Sweep
.¡± The gem pulsed violently, and a crack split its surface. Light erupted, blinding, and from within emerged a shape¡ªsmall, sleek, feline. A cat, black as pitch, with eyes like molten gold, stepped free, stretching lazily as if waking from a nap. Percival recoiled, hissing, ¡°The Guardian¡­ it lives!¡±
Chapter 7: The finale 鈥?nd a new beginning Excalibur
am
. ¡°Let¡¯s trim those wings, bat-face!¡± Alice uncorked a health potion with trembling hands, the red liquid mending a gash from the troll fight as she hissed, ¡°Ventus Sweep!¡±¡ªa gale ripping toward Percival. He cackled, shattering glass in his laugh, and blinked out of sight.
ExcaliburFire SparkIgnis Burst
Excalibur Excalibur
Excalibur Excalibur
Excalibur
Chapter 8: Lissey鈥檚 Reckoning The streets of Cresthaven buzzed with morning clamor¡ªvendors hawking bread, carts rattling over cobblestones, and the faint tang of ale lingering from the night¡¯s revels. Atop a sagging rooftop, Lissey perched, her sleek tortoiseshell fur catching the sun¡¯s first rays. Her emerald eyes, sharp as cut jade, scanned the town she¡¯d never left¡ªnot like Walenciusz, that scruffy gray tom who¡¯d clawed his way to legend. Her tail flicked, stirring a memory as old as the scars beneath her pelt.
¡¯s hearth, when it started¡ªPercival storming in, blind eyes glowing, that eerie light pulsing from his pocket... She¡¯d seen Walenciusz, upright and raspy, hurl a at Bran¡¯s goons, Gorrick¡¯s blade dance, and Alice¡¯s broom crack skulls. Milk forgotten, she¡¯d bolted to the rafters, tail bristling as Percival vowed revenge. ¡°Same old Walenciusz,¡± she¡¯d muttered, ¡°stirring chaos like a storm.¡±
Chapter 9: The Snare of Shadows Worldfair City shimmered under a dusk sky, its brass spires and airship lanes aglow with lantern light. The streets buzzed with hawkers peddling clockwork gadgets and the hum of steam vents, but exhaustion weighed on Walenciusz the Cat and his crew after days on the road. His tophat drooped as he trudged beside Gorrick, whose Excalibur clinked in its sheath, and Alice, her broom dragging as its runes flickered dimly. They¡¯d come chasing bandit bounties¡ªrumors of a dragon hoard stashed in the undercity¡ªbut the journey had left them ragged.
we lose him for good.¡± She spun on her heel, darting into the shadows, pendant glowing like a lodestar. Gorrick and Alice traded a dumbfounded look¡ªWe?!¡ªanother Walenciusz?¡ªthen bolted after her.
Chapter 10: Dragon鈥檚 Fang Unleashed his
Chapter 11: Into The Abyss Gorrick, Alice, and Lissey stood at the north spire''s edge, the cavern''s maw still smoking below. The air buzzed with panic¡ªdockworkers screamed, airships wobbled, and steam vents hissed like a city unravelling. Lissey''s pendant pulsed against her tortoiseshell fur, a copper heartbeat tugging north. "He''s out there," she snarled, glass dagger glinting. "Bleeding, but alive." "We''re not charging blind," Alice snapped, broom sparking as she clutched her now more or less useless map. "That forest''s a death trap¡ªWalenciusz''ll need more than luck!" Gorrick growled. "And my sword''s with him too...what can we do?" A wiry shopkeeper darted from a gadget stall near the docks, apron smeared with grease, goggles cracked. "Hey, you mad lot!" he screamed, voice shrill over the chaos. "Headin'' for the Woods? Only thing''ll save ya is something called Glow Juice¡ªit lights ya up, keeps the dark off yer back! Forest can''t stand it!" Gorrick''s eyes lit up, slapping his bandolier. "Ha! Got that juice right here¡ªforgot I kept it after that hag''s shop!" He grinned, gap-toothed and fierce. "Knew it''d come in handy!" he said. "Glow Juice, huh? Better work" Alice said, gripping her broom tight. "Protection''s our edge¡ªthanks, grease-rat!" The shopkeeper yelped, bolting as the trio turned north, resolve hardening. The Enchanted Woods loomed¡ªa maze of gnarled oaks and creeping mist that devoured light and sound. Shadows twisted beneath the canopy, magic thrumming like a predator''s pulse. Lissey led, pendant glowing, her husky voice sharp. "Stick close, you lugs! This place''ll swallow ya whole!" Gorrick and Alice trailed, the shopkeeper''s tip echoing in their heads. Trouble pounced fast. A snarl tore through the gloom¡ªtwo demons, sleek as oil with ruby-cracked eyes, burst from the brush, claws sparking embers. "Dinner''s served!" one hissed, lunging for Gorrick. He swung his troll claw, smashing its jaw with a crunch, but the second leapt at Alice. "Ventus Sweep!" she shouted¡ªbroom flared, gale hurling it into a tree, bark splintering. Gorrick yanked the Glow Juice from his bandolier. "Time to light up!" He chugged half, his bulk blazing with golden light¡ªdemons recoiled, hissing as he smashed the first''s skull into ash with his glowing claw-club. Lissey snatched the vial, gulping a share¡ªher fur ignited, pendant syncing with the radiance as she slashed her glass dagger, ichor sizzling. Alice took the last swig, broom pulsing bright. "Forest hates light? Let''s make it squirm!" she grinned. Their glow carved a path¡ªbranches shrank, unseen eyes fled¡ªand the trio plunged deeper, shimmering like torches against the woods'' malice. "Walenciusz owes me a new sword for this," Gorrick muttered, flicking demon dust off his claw. Farther in, Walenciusz tangled with a foe of ancient fury. The dragon prowled a misty hollow, midnight scales melding with shadow, its severed claw oozing black blood that hissed on moss. Crimson eyes glinted, smoke curling from its jaws as it snarled, "I''ll char you, flea-ridden cur, and claim that ugly hat of yours as a prize!" But the woods wove deceit¡ªmist thickened, oaks shifted, scattering its roars and masking Walenciusz''s scent. He crouched amid tangled roots, Excalibur gripped tight, its starlight a faint gleam. "Can''t find me, eh, scale-breath?" he muttered, tophat tilted despite the gash in his flank. The dragon lunged, jaws snapping¡ªhe rolled, earth trembling as fangs sank into a stump, wood pulping. He sprang, slashing¡ªa radiant arc grazed its snout, scales cracking. It roared, dark flame surging¡ªhotter than a forge, black as despair. Walenciusz dove behind a rock, heat singeing his cloak as stone bubbled. "Nice try!" he quipped, darting to stab its leg¡ªExcalibur bit deep, blood hissing, but the dragon''s tail whipped¡ªa storm of bone and rage. It slammed him into an oak, bark cracking as he gasped, ribs aching. The blade slipped, and flame roared¡ªmist swallowed it, scattering the heat. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Tricky woods, huh?" he panted, snatching Excalibur as the dragon thrashed, baffled by shifting shadows. He slashed its wing¡ªmembrane tore, and it shrieked, stumbling¡ªbut its might held, claws raking air near his throat. Night deepened, stars faint above, and Walenciusz knew¡ªhe was too battered to win. "See ya, lizard!" he spat, bolting into the maze. The dragon roared, wings beating, but the woods defied it¡ªmist coiled, roots tangled, false scents looped. Walenciusz wove through, breath ragged, until he found a nook beneath a mossy overhang. "Gotta rest," he growled, piling twigs for a tiny campfire¡ªFire Spark flickered, frail but alive. He flipped his spellbook open. "Mend Flesh¡ªwork, damn it!" A dim glow stitched his wounds¡ªslow, sloppy, easing the pain just enough. Slumping against the stone, tophat shading his eyes, he muttered, "That beast''ll hunt forever¡­ I''m too beat for this." The dragon prowled, nostrils flaring, but the woods'' magic thwarted it¡ªhis scent fractured, his campfire''s glow veiled by mist and shadow. It snarled, lost in the verdant labyrinth, fury simmering as night cloaked its prey. Somewhere else deep into the forest the trio pushed on, Glow Juice dimming as the forest thickened. A lake loomed¡ªblack waters rippling under a shroud of mist, eerie and still. "He''s past this," Lissey said, pendant pulsing. Gorrick squinted. "Smells like trouble." Alice gripped her broom. "We''re wide open¡ª" Water splashed, and out flopped a bizarre sight¡ªa giant carp, glistening silver, with human arms and legs sprouting awkwardly from its sides. Its fins flapped like a cape, and it posed, flexing its scaly bulk. "Behold me, mortals!" it boomed, voice a wet gurgle, puffing out its fishy chest. "I''m the Lake Lord¡ªbeauty incarnate!" Its bulbous eyes locked on Alice, widening with a lusty glint. "And you, hot little b*tch¡ªyer the prettiest catch I''ve seen in ages! Swim with me, eh?" Alice was shocked, her broom sparking. "Hot what? You''re a walking fish stick¡ªback off!" Gorrick roared with laughter, clutching his sides. "This thing''s smitten! What''s next, serenading her with bubbles?" Lissey smirked, glass dagger ready. "Flirt later, fish-face¡ªmove it!" The Lake Lord puffed up, offended. "Rude land-rats! I''m gorgeous¡ªlook at these fins!" It waggled its human hands, lunging at Alice with a sloppy grab. She dodged, shouting, "Ignis Burst!"¡ªflame hit its scales, sizzling but bouncing off with a wet hiss. "Tough scales, huh? Flatter that!" Gorrick swung a troll claw, cracking its arm¡ªit yelped, flopping back. "Oi, pretty-boy, hands off!" The Lake Lord swatted with a leg, sending Gorrick splashing into the shallows. "Unworthy oaf! She''s mine!" Lissey leapt, glass dagger slashing¡ªscales parted, green goo oozing as it howled, "Not my perfect hide!" It seized her tail, tossing her into Alice with a squelchy thud. Glow fading, they scrambled as the Lake Lord strutted, flexing. "Marry me, hot witch! We''ll rule this lake!" Alice snarled, "Ventus Sweep!"¡ªa gale blasted it back, fins flapping as it splashed into the deep. "Dream on, carp-breath!" Gorrick hauled himself up, dripping. "What a catch¡ªliterally!" Ripples stilled¡ªhad it sunk, or was it sulking below? "No time to flirt back!" Lissey panted, pendant dim. "Smoke¡ªWalenciusz is close!" Gorrick dragged Alice up, chuckling. "Move, before loverboy proposes again!" Too late..."Yer fire''s irresistible!" Lake Lord screamed from he deep. His human arms snagged Alice''s waist, broom clattering as it yanked her toward the black depths. "Alice!" Gorrick bellowed, lunging from the shallows¡ªtroll claw swung, but the Lake Lord splashed back, dragging Alice under with a triumphant, "She''s mine, ya jealous clods!" Bubbles burst, then silence¡ªAlice was gone. Lissey scrambled up, pendant dim, eyes wide. "That slimy thing nabbed her!" Gorrick kicked the shore, claw dripping. "Bloody hell¡ªfirst Walenciusz, now her! What next?!" He spun to Lissey, face thunderous. "We''re a duo now..." "Well, we can''t chase both!" Gorrick spat, troll claw gouging earth. "Walenciusz first¡ªhe''s got my sword! Then we fish that witch out!" They stumbled forward, lake fading, woods alive with threats. Far off, Walenciusz''s campfire flickered¡ªa frail shield¡ªand as the dragon''s hunt faltered, a shift stirred the mist. Its crimson eyes caught a faint glimmer, wings beating toward the rogue''s nook, fate teetering on a knife''s edge. Chapter 12: Fog of the Feral Mind The Enchanted Woods pulsed with a sinister rhythm, their gnarled oaks twisting tighter as mist coiled like a living shroud. Gorrick and Lissey stumbled through the undergrowth, the lake''s black waters¡ªand Alice''s abduction¡ªfading into the haze behind them. The Glow Juice''s golden sheen flickered on their forms, dimming with each step, its magic unraveling like a threadbare cloak. Lissey''s copper pendant still pulsed faintly, tugging toward Walenciusz''s distant campfire, but her emerald eyes clouded, focus slipping. "Keep movin'', cat!" Gorrick growled, troll claw dragging as he shoved a branch aside. His voice was gruff, but a tremor undercut it¡ªsomething was off. "We''re after¡­ uh¡­ that gray tom, right? With my sword?" He scratched his scruffy beard, brow furrowing as the Glow Juice''s light faded from his bulk. Lissey''s tail lashed, her husky snarl faltering. "Yeah¡­ Walen¡ªsomethin''. Smelled smoke¡­" She clutched her glass dagger, pendant swinging as she glanced around, whiskers twitching. "Why''re we here again? This place¡ªmy head''s all muddled!" The golden glow snuffed out from her tortoiseshell fur, and with it, the woods'' oppressive hum grew louder, seeping into their minds like damp rot. Gorrick blinked, shaking his head like a wet dog. "Wait¡ªwho''re you? Some sneaky beast?" His grip tightened on the troll claw, eyes narrowing at Lissey. Memories of demons, dragons, and Alice''s fiery quips dissolved into a fog¡ªhe saw only a hybrid cat, claws glinting, a threat in the dark. Lissey bristled, pendant dimming to a dull gleam. "Me? You''re the hulking thug stinkin'' up my woods!" Her voice sharpened, but confusion laced it¡ªWalenciusz, Alice, their quest¡ªall gone, replaced by instinct and a growing snarl. "Back off, or I''ll shred ya!" The last of the Glow Juice''s light winked out, and with it, their purpose vanished, leaving only feral suspicion. The woods seemed to grin, mist curling tighter as if feeding on their unraveling minds. Gorrick scratched his arm, frowning at faint claw marks¡ªdemon scars? He couldn''t recall. "You lookin'' to fight, furball? I don''t trust ya!" Lissey''s ears flattened, her stance dropping low. "Trust? I don''t even know ya, you big ox¡ªstay outta my turf!" Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Words gave way to violence like a spark to dry tinder. Lissey pounced, glass dagger slashing¡ªGorrick roared, swinging the troll claw¡ªit cracked against her blade, sparks flying as she twisted midair, claws raking his shoulder. Blood bloomed, red against his patched cloak, and he bellowed, "You''ll pay for that, beast!" He lunged, claw stabbing for her flank¡ªshe dodged, but the jagged tip grazed her thigh, green blood oozing as she yowled. "Filthy brute!" Lissey spat, pendant swinging wildly as she leapt again, claws slashing his chest¡ªfabric tore, skin split, and Gorrick stumbled back, fury blazing. "Sneaky rat!" he roared, hurling the troll claw¡ªit missed, embedding in an oak with a thunk, but he charged, fists swinging. One caught her jaw, snapping her head back¡ªshe retaliated, glass dagger slicing his forearm, a crimson arc splattering the moss. They clashed in a whirlwind of blood and spite¡ªLissey''s claws tore at Gorrick''s legs, shredding his trousers as he grunted, snatching a fallen branch to jab at her ribs. She hissed, rolling away, but not before his boot stomped her tail¡ªcrunch!¡ªand she screeched, dagger slashing blindly, nicking his thigh. Gorrick seized her by the scruff, hurling her into a tree¡ªshe hit with a thud, bouncing back with a feral snarl, claws slashing his face, a shallow cut across his cheek. Panting, bleeding, they circled¡ªGorrick''s fists dripped red, Lissey''s fur matted with green and crimson, her glass dagger chipped but deadly. "I''ll gut ya!" he roared, lunging¡ªshe ducked, raking his back, claws sinking deep as he howled, spinning to grab her arm. He twisted it¡ªcrack!¡ªshe yelped, dropping the dagger, but her free claws slashed his neck, a shallow gash spurting blood. High above, perched on a twisted oak''s gnarled branch, a cloaked figure watched, violet flames crackling along her staff. Her lips curled, eyes glinting with dark amusement¡ªthe same sorceress who''d stirred in the vale after Percival''s fall at the mill. "It sure gets interesting now," she murmured, voice a silken rasp as she leaned forward, staff pulsing with arcane light. Gorrick and Lissey staggered, breaths ragged, no longer allies, no longer anything but foes in a fog of lost minds. The pendant hung limp, its glow snuffed out¡ªWalenciusz, Alice, the dragon¡ªall erased. Only the fight remained. Chapter 13: Blood in the Hollow
Mist hung heavy over the Enchanted Woods, curling around gnarled oaks like a thief''s cloak, twisting their branches into jagged claws against a bruised sky. Beneath a mossy overhang, Walenciusz the Cat crouched, his tophat tilted over one amber eye, Excalibur''s starlight blade gripped tight in a clawed paw. Blood matted his gray-black fur, a shallow gash from the bandits'' dagger still seeping at his flank¡ªa bitter memento from their chloroform-soaked ambush in Worldfair City''s underbelly. His ribs throbbed from the dragon''s earlier swipe, but his smirk stayed sharp, a rogue''s defiance etched in every whisker. "Eight lives left, scale-breath," he muttered, ears twitching as a roar ripped through the canopy above. The dragon loomed near¡ªits midnight scales glinted through the fog, crimson eyes blazing like twin fires in a storm. "Walenciusz!" it bellowed, voice a guttural quake that sent leaves spiraling down. "I''ll roast you to cinders and wear that foolish hat as a trophy!" Wings battered the air, splintering branches into kindling, but the woods wove their own mischief¡ªmist thickened, oaks shifted like Cresthaven''s sly alleyways, scattering its roars into a maze of echoes. Walenciusz''s whiskers twitched, a grin curling his muzzle. "Lost your way already, lizard? Let''s give you a chase worth yowling about." He darted from his nook, Excalibur flaring as he slashed a low branch¡ªit crashed with a satisfying thud, baiting the dragon''s dive. Jaws snapped, missing by a hair, crunching bark instead. "Slower than a drunk troll!" Walenciusz yowled, rolling as a talon gouged the earth, dirt exploding in a plume. Dark flame surged, hotter than a blacksmith''s forge¡ªhe dove behind a rock, heat singeing his cloak as stone bubbled and hissed. "Too toasty for a catnap!" he quipped, springing up to nick its snout¡ªscales cracked, black blood sizzling on the moss. The dragon roared, a wing slashing through the air¡ªhe ducked, but its tail whipped like a storm of bone, slamming him into an oak with a rib-rattling crack. Breath fled, pain flared, but he clutched Excalibur, grinning through gritted teeth. "Lousy aim, scale-breath! Percival''s cane swung better!" The dragon charged, jaws gaping¡ªWalenciusz bolted, weaving through shifting roots like a shadow on the prowl. The woods turned accomplice¡ªmist cloaked his scent, false trails looped like riddles from the Keeper''s cryptic purrs. He skidded into a hollow, amber eyes catching a jagged overhang above. "Jackpot," he rasped, scaling an oak with feline grace. Excalibur blazed as he leapt¡ªblade arced, slicing clean through the dragon''s wing membrane. It shrieked, a sound to wake Cresthaven''s dead, crashing into the overhang¡ªrock shattered, pinning its bulk under a cascade of dust and stone. "Sleep tight, you overgrown gecko!" Walenciusz panted, landing in a crouch, tophat askew but triumphant. The beast thrashed, pinned but snarling, crimson eyes promising a reckoning. He flexed his claws, catching his breath¡ªthen froze. A faint violet shimmer pulsed through the mist, sharp and unnatural, not born of dragon or woods. His nose twitched, catching a whiff of sulfur and old magic¡ªechoes of the bandits'' horn from that damp cavern. "What now?" he muttered, ears flattening as the air grew heavy, a storm brewing in the shadows. The blood on his flank itched, a nagging whisper of those scar-faced fools. "Cat blood, huh? Hope it was worth it, you mangy curs," he growled, sensing a deeper claw at play. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. _____________________________________________________________________ Water churned black and cold beneath the lake''s surface, pressing down like a wet shroud as Alice thrashed in the Lake Lord''s slimy grip, his scaly arms locked around her waist like a suitor too stubborn to take a hint. Bubbles streamed from her nose, her broom bobbing beside her, runes flickering faintly in the gloom. The carp-beast''s bulbous eyes gleamed with delusional pride, fins flaring like a soggy banner stolen from Cresthaven''s town square. "Yer mine, hot witch!" he gurgled, voice a wet burble echoing through the murk. "Yer gonna lay me a clutch o'' eggs¡ªprime beauties I''ll bless with my lordly spark later! We''ll raise a dynasty of fish-wizards to rule these waters!" His human hands waggled, flexing his glistening bulk as if posing for a throne carved from mud. Alice''s blue eyes widened in disbelief, then narrowed to fiery slits. "Eggs?! You slimy half-wit¡ªI''m not a hen!" She kicked his gooey chest, fury bubbling hotter than her drowned lungs. The Lake Lord blinked, fins drooping, then puffed up, scales rattling like a tantrum in The Rusty Tankard. "What?! No eggs?! Yer a sorceress¡ªmagic gals lay eggs all the time! I saw it in a scroll once¡ª''Spawns of the Deep''!" His voice rose to a petulant wail, hands flailing as he waved an imaginary parchment. "Yer ruinin'' my grand plan, ya eggless fraud! How''m I s''posed to sire my legacy now?!" "Scrolls, huh? Bet you held it upside down, you carp-brained oaf!" Alice snapped, fingers brushing her broom¡ªrunes pulsed violet, sparking a wild grin through her panic. "Here''s your dynasty¡ªIgnis Burst!" Flame erupted underwater¡ªreason be damned¡ªboiling a bubble around them in a glorious, impossible roar. The Lake Lord screeched, scales sizzling like meat on a Cresthaven spit. "My gorgeous fins! Ya scorched ''em, ya barren tease!" He flopped back, grip slipping as he clutched his singed tail, sulking like a drunk who''d spilled his last ale. Alice twisted free, broom blazing in her grip. "Ventus Sweep!"¡ªa gale rocketed her upward, bursting through the surface with a gasp that could wake a troll. She hauled herself onto the muddy shore, dripping and fuming, broom clutched tight. "Egg-laying?! That carp''s got mud for brains and delusions for fins!" she spat, shaking water from her tangled blonde hair. The lake rippled behind her¡ªsomething deeper stirred, a faint violet glow pulsing below, not the Lake Lord''s folly. "What''s this now?" she muttered, runes humming with a strength she hadn''t felt before. Her magic was stirring¡ªwild, untamed, like the Keeper''s golden gaze. She staggered to her feet, broom sparking¡ªthen froze. A shadow loomed over the lake, a cloaked figure hovering midair, violet flames crackling along a staff. A woman''s voice, silken and sharp, sliced through the mist. "Well done, little witch. Your spark''s brighter than I hoped¡ªperfect for my next ritual." Alice''s eyes widened, broom flaring¡ªbut before she could retort, the figure vanished, leaving only a ripple and a whisper: "Blood and runes, my dear. You''ll do nicely." Alice clutched her broom tighter, heart pounding. "Blood and runes? What?!" The violet glow pulsed stronger, a heartbeat in the deep. She wasn''t alone¡ªand whatever wanted her had claws sharper than a cat''s.
Chapter 14: Cat-astrophe and the Decisive Slash Shadows stretched long and jagged across the woods, mist coiling around the oaks like a noose tightening on a thief''s neck. Deep in their twisted core, Gorrick and Lissey circled each other, blood dripping from troll claw and glass dagger, their minds fogged by the forest''s curse. The Glow Juice had flickered out, its golden shield snuffed, leaving only feral snarls and mistrust. "Sneaky furball!" Gorrick roared, his meaty fist swinging¡ªLissey ducked, claws raking his thigh, crimson blooming through his torn trousers. "Clumsy ox!" she hissed, her copper pendant swinging dark as she lunged¡ªglass blade nicked his arm, shallow but sharp, a red line against his scruffy bulk. He seized her tail, slamming her into the moss with a thud that rattled the undergrowth¡ªshe yowled, bouncing back with a snarl, claws slashing his chest. Fabric tore, skin split, and Gorrick stumbled, fury blazing in his gap-toothed scowl. "You''ll pay for that, beast!" he bellowed, hurling his troll claw¡ªit missed, embedding in an oak with a thunk, but he charged, fists swinging like hammers. One caught her jaw, snapping her head back¡ªshe retaliated, glass dagger slashing his forearm, a crimson arc splattering the moss. "Filthy brute!" she spat, pendant swinging wildly as she leapt again, claws tearing at his legs. They clashed in a whirlwind of blood and spite¡ªthen froze. Lissey''s pendant flared, copper light slashing through the fog like a beacon from Cresthaven''s rooftops. Memories surged¡ªWalenciusz''s tophat, Alice''s quips, the dragon''s roar. "Gorrick?!" she rasped, emerald eyes wide. He dropped his fists, blinking hard. "Lissey? What in the blazes¡ª?!" The woods'' hum faltered, mist recoiling as the pendant''s glow anchored them. A faint campfire flickered through the trees¡ªWalenciusz''s. "He''s there!" Lissey barked, snatching her dagger as Gorrick grabbed his claw. They bolted, crashing through brush¡ªuntil violet flames crackled overhead. A cloaked figure descended from an oak, staff pulsing with arcane light¡ªVeyrith, her smile sharp as a blade from Myrtha''s Emporium. "Well, well, the cat''s little pack," she said, voice dripping with the venom of Percival''s old spite. "You''ve danced my tune like rats in a trap." She twirled her staff, and the dragon''s horn gleamed in her grip, runes blazing red."Oh, don''t gawk so," she cooed, eyes glinting with dark glee. "Those bandits? My puppets. I whispered in their grubby ears¡ª''cat blood''s the spark, boys, spill it for power!''¡ªand they obeyed, waking my dragon with that rogue''s crimson. A ritual older than Worldfair''s stones¡ªblood of a chaos-bringer to call chaos itself." Gorrick bristled, claw raised. "You witch¡ªthose rats were yours?!" Lissey''s pendant thrummed, tail lashing. "Trouble¡ªshe reeks of schemes!" Veyrith laughed, a sound like glass shattering in The Rusty Tankard. "Schemes? Hahaha! The dragon''s my opening chord¡ªWalenciusz''s blood woke it, and now I''ll play the world to ruin." ______________________________________________________________________ If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. In the hollow, the ground trembled as the dragon freed itself, rock exploding in a shower of shards, wings beating a gale that bent the oaks. Walenciusz spun, Excalibur gleaming¡ªthen froze as Veyrith hovered above, horn raised, violet flames coiling. "Game''s over, kitty," she said. The dragon roared, lunging¡ªGorrick and Lissey burst through the trees, claw and dagger flashing. "Whiskers!" Gorrick bellowed, hurling a rock¡ªit cracked the dragon''s snout, buying a breath. Alice staggered in next, broom blazing, runes violet-bright. "Miss me? No eggs here, carp-face!" she shouted, "Ignis Burst!"¡ªflame scorched the dragon''s flank, scales sizzling. Then¡ªLissey leapt from the brush, tortoiseshell fur gleaming under torchlight, glass dagger glinting in her clawed hand. Walenciusz''s amber eyes widened, jaw dropping as his tophat nearly slid off. "What in the...¡ªanother cat?!" he yowled, tail puffing like he''d seen a ghost. Lissey smirked, landing with a flourish, pendant glowing at her throat. "Surprised, gray tom? You''re not the only one with claws and a grudge now¡ªtook you long enough to notice!" She twirled her dagger, voice a husky snarl. "Thought you''d hog all the glory? Move over¡ªthis cat''s got justice to scratch out!" Walenciusz blinked, then grinned, tipping his tophat back. "Well, shred me sideways¡ªtwo cats are twice the chaos! Let''s claw this lizard to bits, missy!" Lissey snorted, slashing the dragon''s leg¡ªgreen blood hissed as it shrieked. "Missy? I was scrapping while you were napping on Percival''s rug¡ªkeep up, tophat!" Veyrith''s smirk faltered at the banter, but she raised the horn¡ªred light flared, and the dragon surged, claws raking Gorrick''s chest¡ªhe grunted, blood spraying as he stumbled. "Enough of this!" Walenciusz roared, tossing Excalibur to Gorrick mid-air. "Finish it, big lug!" Gorrick caught the blade, its starlight flaring in his grip¡ªhe charged with a bellow, swinging the sword like a battering ram. The dragon lunged, jaws wide¡ªGorrick sidestepped, Excalibur slicing clean through its neck in a radiant arc. Black blood sprayed, the beast''s roar choked off as its head thudded to the moss, body collapsing in a heap of scales and ruin. Alice''s Ventus Sweep blasted the dust away, revealing the trio¡ªWalenciusz, Gorrick, and Alice¡ªstanding triumphant. Lissey darted in, glass dagger raised, joining them with a smirk. "Not bad, ox," she quipped at Gorrick, who finally held his sword again, smiling."Welcome to the crew, rookie¡ªtwo cats, one dragon down!" Alice twirled her broom, runes steady. "Egg-lord''s next¡ªthen that witch." Veyrith hissed, "This isn''t over yet!" Violet flames flared¡ªshe snatched the broken horn and vanished, her taunt echoing: "Blood''s just the start, kitty¡ªjust a start!" The woods stilled, mist thinning as dawn crept through the oaks, golden light bathing the fallen dragon. Walenciusz panted, tophat skewed, crew bruised but standing. "Bloody witch," he rasped, smirking at Lissey. "Another cat, eh? World''s in for a clawing." Lissey flicked her tail, grinning. "Better watch your back¡ªI''m stealing your thunder, chaos king." Gorrick chuckled through the pain, clutching his chest. "Owe ya all¡ªWhiskers, Claws, and Broom." The dragon''s crimson eyes dimmed, its threat snuffed out, but Veyrith''s words lingered like a shadow. Walenciusz tipped his tophat, claws flexing. "Round two''s coming¡ªlet''s shred her tune apart." The crew¡ªnow four¡ªstood together, bloody, battered, and grinning, ready for whatever chaos clawed its way next.