Return to Jorgaldur Volume II: the druid archer

An old enmity

The lynx went through a forest that was familiar to her. It had been some time, but it was still the same forest that she had visited some years ago.

"So he's still alive," she told herself.

She was in front of a tree with its bark torn, where there was a smell that she hadn't forgotten. It didn't bring back good memories. Back then, the feline was barely reaching level 50, and she had been close to dying.

Her feelings were overflowing. She believed she had overcome it, but there was still hatred inside her, though not fear. She was no longer the same inexperienced and proud lynx from back then, and wasn't alone either. However, she needed to face it by herself.

She advanced, and arrived at a wide river. The one through which she had escaped. The one which had dragged her away. The one that ended in a waterfall through which she had fallen, and almost died. All because of him. Although she had something to thank him for. If not for him, she might not have found her sisters.

"You aren't bad. I'll mate with you," she heard a roar behind her.

She had already heard the sound of the leaves moving, and felt the smell that the wind had brought her. In fact, she had turned her back to the wind precisely because of that. She knew he was a male lynx. That male lynx.

"You don't even remember me," she roared scornfully. "You've leveled up since then, but you're still the same scum. You even speak the same."

"I don't understand what nonsense you're saying. If you make it difficult, you'll suffer. I have no patience with those who aren't obedient. Not anymore," he roared again.

"Oh?" she looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

He took a step closer, threatening. She didn't move.

"I've been recovering for years. They ambushed me while looking for an overly rebellious stupid female who had fallen down the waterfall. I'm not in the mood for nonsense. So, accept your destiny, or I'll force you to," he roared.

"Wow. That's a nice surprise. They ambushed you thanks to me..." she sneered.

It took the male a few seconds to understand what she was taking for granted. That his suffering had been her fault. Without hesitation, furious, he pounced at her.

The feline sister was ready. She leapt to the side as the fire covered her, and dodged the attack. Before he could react, it was she who leaped towards him.

He didn't have time to move away. So, he half rolled, thus receiving her with his claws and fangs. Both sought to pierce each other's skin, find the opponent's neck, set their own out of reach. They were trying to avoid the claws of the other and hit with theirs.

Years ago, she hadn't had a chance, neither by experience nor by level. Now, it was the opposite. With her sisters, she had experienced multitude of battles in what Goldmi considered the game. Her skills had become more refined, as well as her level was higher.

The male lynx could feel how the claws reinforced with Shred managed to penetrate through his skin. The fire, something exceptional in a lynx, burned him continuously. For his part, he was unable to break through his opponent's defenses, which were reinforced with Steel Skin.

They broke away for an instant. As she had done in the past, he had the possibility to jump into the river and try to escape. However, he was too proud to admit defeat. The male lynx was too furious to let his revenge escape, even if he wasn't the only one who wanted revenge.

While using Multiple Slashes, he jumped on his opponent again, but she simply dodged. It wasn't the first time she had faced that kind of skill. They had been used against her by several of her enemies, and the easiest way was to simply avoid them.

He tried a few more times, so wasting his energy. As soon as he stopped to catch his breath, she attacked, fiercely, by aiming at the points where she had already hurt him. She Shredded the previous wounds and burned the scorched areas.

He tried desperately to defend himself, but the female lynx attacked without mercy or rest. Her claws dug into his flesh. Her fangs drew closer to his neck. She didn't show signs of fatigue, and he was weakening.

The lynx sister didn't win when she managed to close her jaws on the neck of her old enemy, she had already done it before. That was just the end, the conclusion of an old enmity.

With a quick move of her neck, she threw the corpse into the water, so letting the river carry it, and go down the waterfall. Then, she turned around, and headed in the direction of her sister. She was hurt, but not seriously, tired, but not exhausted, and she was hungry.

Although still worried, Maldoa was calmer now. Her friend was safe, at least for the moment, and she could only suppress her urge to go find her.

She was standing on a wetland, inside which her legs had taken root, and were absorbing the energy of the earth accumulated over the years. That was the place which had been assigned to her in the past, but she hadn't been there for a long time.

She had been busy traveling, battling, or with other tasks or hobbies. The half-dryad hadn't felt the urge to get stronger, to absorb the energy accumulated for her. Up to now.

Her friend was getting stronger by the day, at breakneck speed. She didn't want to be left behind. She wanted to be able to stay by her side when the elf returned, and not only for the food.

Maldoa had never felt so close to anyone who weren't from her family. She had never had such a close friend, and her cooking skill was just a plus. Perhaps, it was because, like her, she had elven blood, was akin to nature, and felt somehow misfit to that world.

She glanced at Pikshbxgra, who was watching her curiously. She had taken a liking to that fairy, and this one to the half-dryad, while the two were waiting for the elf to return. They were also very curious to see the white goshawk.

Obviously, the sociable and somewhat nosy dryads had spoken about the winged sister, as it couldn't be otherwise, and Maldoa had listened carefully. She didn't always do it, but, eager for news, she had lately joined the collective bond much more than usual.

Without realizing it, the half-dryad had felt more comfortable in there. Normally, she felt somewhat marginalized, in what was a personal impression. After all, it was only she who cared about her being only half dryad.

Nonetheless, by focusing on the news of her sister and forgetting herself, she had let herself be carried away. Without realizing, she had felt fully united with her sisters, who, smiling to themselves, were more than happy to welcome her.