Through Storm and Fire

Chapter 3: Through Storm and Fire

The morning broke in shades of gray, with the forest still drenched from the night’s torrential rain. The air hung thick and damp, clinging to the skin, and the branches above dripped with the remnants of the storm. Knickon, Gren, and Kitty—now in her snow leopard form—moved as one through the dark woods, their feet pressing silently into the softened earth.

They ran with the wild grace of predators, slipping between trees, their senses heightened, each aware of the others' movements without needing to glance back. The Hidden Highways and Byways of the forest guided them, unseen paths that only those attuned to the land could sense. Their pace was swift, steady, defying the storm’s aftermath. Kitty padded lightly alongside them, her coat sleek with rain, the scent of wet fur mixing with the rich, earthy smell of the forest.

Around noon, the rain began to ease, the storm breaking into a gentle drizzle, and soon after, it stopped entirely. The forest brightened, and the green of the leaves glistened with droplets, like jewels hanging on every branch. The trio reached the edge of the woods, where the forest melted away into wide, open plains, stretching endlessly under a vast sky.

They paused at the edge of the forest, breathing in the cool, fresh air. Before them lay the grasslands, a sweeping sea of golden green, with tall grass waving in the wind. Far in the distance, the mountains rose like ancient sentinels, their snow-capped peaks piercing the sky. Overhead, massive black storm clouds gathered, filling the sky with an almost apocalyptic gloom. Lightning slashed through the darkness, thunder rumbling ominously, and sheets of rain poured down on the far side of the plains.

Knickon wiped the rain from his brow, gazing at the dark clouds with a mixture of respect and challenge. Gren, his blue eyes fixed on the horizon, pointed eastward. “We travel east,” he said, his voice steady. “We stay clear of the worst of the storm.”

Knickon nodded, eyes narrowing as he scanned the open plains. “The grasslands have predators,” he warned, his tone carrying a hint of excitement.

Kitty, back in her human form, smiled as she fished a piece of dried meat from her satchel, nibbling on it thoughtfully. She met their eyes, a hint of a dare in her own. “Predators,” she said, a playful glint in her gaze, “aren’t we the wildest of them all?”

The three of them laughed, a shared moment of wild camaraderie, before setting off into the grasslands, their bodies bending to the wind as they picked up their pace. They slipped once more into the Hidden Highways, finding paths invisible to ordinary travelers. The high grass whipped around them as they ran, their presence more felt than seen, like the wind itself racing across the plains.

Into the Storm

The storm pursued them with ferocity, its dark clouds boiling overhead, rain beginning to pelt them again by mid-afternoon. But they didn’t slow; instead, they welcomed the challenge, pushing onward with unyielding determination. Wind whipped at their faces, carrying the scent of wet earth and ozone, and lightning flickered across the sky, illuminating the vast landscape in eerie flashes.

They passed through low hills that rose like islands in a sea of grass, mounds of land that offered brief respites from the swaying field. The grass hissed as the wind swept through it, and shadows shifted as the storm clouds darkened, creating a world of muted greens and grays. They moved with vigilance, their senses sharp, eyes scanning the plains for any sign of danger.

The day slipped into dusk, the sky casting deep shades of purple and blue as night encroached. Ahead, a small hill rose from the plains, its rocky outcroppings promising shelter from the worsening storm. They slowed as they approached, feeling the air shift, tinged with a primal energy. Tracks in the mud warned them of large animals, perhaps a predator’s domain. They exchanged silent glances, each of them instinctively drawing their weapons.

Kitty transformed back into her snow leopard form, padding along behind them with a quiet, predatory grace. They climbed the hill cautiously, senses heightened, eyes sharp. At the top, they found an opening in the rocks—a cave, hidden beneath the hill, offering the shelter they needed for the night.

The three of them entered, careful to keep their movements silent, their eyes adjusting to the darkness. The air was thick and musty, the scent of an animal lingering, something big and territorial. Then came a low growl, a rumble that vibrated through the stone and air, sending a shiver up their spines.

And then it attacked—a massive cave bear, twice the size of Knickon, its fur matted and its eyes wild with hunger. It lunged at them, massive claws swiping through the air with deadly intent.

Battle with the Cave Bear

Gren was the first to move, his greatsword flashing as he slashed at the bear’s side. The beast roared in pain, retaliating with a vicious bite that sank deep into Gren’s shoulder. With a powerful twist, the bear threw him across the cave, sending him sprawling against the wall.

Knickon didn’t hesitate, charging forward with his war axe raised. He brought it down with a powerful swing, the blade biting into the bear’s thick hide. But the bear was relentless, swiping a paw the size of a shield at Knickon and sending him crashing into the cave wall.

Kitty, now back in human form, watched as Knickon flew past her. She braced herself, her eyes fierce as she called upon her magic. The bear turned its gaze on her, a low growl rumbling as it prepared to lunge.

With a flash of intense concentration, Kitty raised her hands, muttering an incantation as black lightning crackled from her fingertips. The bolt of energy struck the bear square in the chest, blasting a smoking hole through its massive frame. The bear let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing, its body slamming against the back wall of the cave.

The three of them stood in silence for a moment, the only sound the echo of the bear’s dying growl fading into the darkness. Gren gave a low whistle, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Kitty.

Knickon nodded approvingly, wiping blood from his lip. “Impressive.”

Gren grinned. “Bear’s on the menu tonight.”

Kitty smirked, catching her breath. “A bit gamey, but I can make a decent healing draught from it.”

The Night’s Work

Before anything else, the brothers tended to their wounds, bandaging cuts and bruises from the bear’s powerful claws and teeth. Kitty, with a skilled hand and a steady gaze, stitched the deeper wounds with practiced ease, her touch gentle yet firm.

Once they were patched up, they set to work. Gren and Knickon hefted the bear’s massive body, dragging it to the center of the cave. They took their blades and began skinning the creature, peeling back the thick hide with practiced precision. Kitty retrieved her satchel, fishing out a set of small, wickedly sharp knives and a small brewing kit with a bunson-style burner.

“Move it this way, would you?” Kitty asked, nodding to the bear’s chest. The brothers obliged, and she knelt beside the carcass, working with a surgeon’s precision as she opened the bear’s chest cavity. She carefully pulled out its organs, dropping several into small metal pans.

While Knickon and Gren built a fire from the wood and dead grasses they’d gathered, Kitty began to work her magic. She added herbs, spices, and other ingredients to the organs, boiling them down to extract their essences. The fire crackled, filling the cave with the scent of cooking meat and something earthier, stranger.

The brothers carved choice cuts of bear meat, roasting them over the fire while Kitty brewed a potent healing potion from the bear’s blood, bile, and select organs. As they worked, their movements were fluid, each of them carrying out their tasks with a sense of purpose and skill honed by years of survival.

Kitty poured the potion into three small skins, passing one to each of them. “Drink,” she instructed, her tone leaving no room for protest.

The taste was bitter and metallic, and they all winced as it went down. Kitty shrugged with a mischievous smile. “It’ll heal the wounds by morning.”

Dawn’s Fire

The storm raged through the night, but inside the cave, they were safe and warm. They slept soundly, the healing potion working its magic as they lay in a circle, their forms silhouetted by the dying embers of the fire.

In the early hours, when the darkness began to lighten, they stirred, each feeling the pull of dawn. The storm had passed, leaving the world washed clean, the air crisp and sharp.

Kitty was up first. She packed up her kit, tucking the vials, knives, and pots back into her Satchel of Holding, preparing for the road like a kid packing for summer camp-shoving everything into one stuffed bag.. She met the brothers at the mouth of the cave,

As the sun crested the horizon, its light spread like molten gold over the endless grasslands, casting a warm glow that set the world ablaze. The damp blades of grass caught the light, shimmering with a brilliance that seemed almost otherworldly. The vast plains glistened, each dewdrop reflecting the sun's fiery hues, making the earth look as if it had been reborn in flame.

Kitty stood at the edge of the rocky outcropping, her eyes wide with awe, a glimmer of tears gathering as she took in the scene. “It’s… beautiful,” she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the quiet murmur of the dawn. Her heart swelled, caught between the wildness of the landscape and the raw beauty of the sunrise, so much so that she almost felt she could dissolve into it, become part of the world itself.

Knickon and Gren joined her, each of them feeling the quiet power of the moment in their own way. The wild called to them, echoing through the vast open spaces, whispering promises of freedom and danger in equal measure.

Gren, ever practical, broke the silence, his voice low and steady. “The weather should hold,” he said, casting an experienced eye over the clear skies that stretched far and wide. “But it’ll be colder today.”

Knickon grunted in agreement, his gaze fixed eastward, where the sun was slowly rising above the horizon. “We still have two days before Halsbeth,” he said. “And we’ve got more than enough teeth, claws, and hides to trade when we get there.”

Kitty’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she glanced over her shoulder at Gren. “Care to pack my bag again?” she asked with a wink.

Gren chuckled, nodding in mock exasperation. “Aye, give it here.”

With a laugh, Kitty slipped out of her clothes, standing free and unashamed in the dawn light, her skin bathed in the warmth of the morning sun. She closed her eyes, embracing the familiar pull of her magic as her form began to shift. Her skin rippled, fur emerging in waves as her body reshaped itself, limbs elongating and muscles tightening. In seconds, the woman had disappeared, and in her place stood a magnificent snow leopard, her coat gleaming with shades of white and gray, spotted with black, and her blue eyes filled with a quiet intelligence.

Knickon and Gren laughed, delighted as they always were by the transformation. Gren stooped down to gather Kitty’s clothes, stuffing them carefully into her satchel. He slung the bag over his shoulder, his smile broad as he looked at her, now padding gracefully by their sides.

“All right then,” Knickon said, his voice gruff but filled with warmth. “Let’s see if you can keep up, Kitty.”

With a growl that was more playful than threatening, Kitty crouched, her powerful muscles coiled and ready. The three of them shared a glance, a shared understanding that needed no words, bound by a trust that ran as deep as the wild places they called home.

And then, as if by an unspoken signal, they took off, their feet pounding the earth as they raced down the hill and into the waiting grasslands. The wind caught in their hair and fur, whipping past them as they moved with a speed and grace that few could match. They were shadows in the dawn, figures of myth racing across the plains, unbound and fearless.

The rising sun cast long shadows behind them, stretching over the grass that whispered beneath their steps. They moved in harmony, the two barbarians and the great snow leopard, each attuned to the heartbeat of the land, feeling the rhythm of the wild in their bones.

As they ran, the world opened before them—a canvas of endless possibility painted in the colors of sunrise. The plains rolled out like an ocean, beckoning them onward, and they answered the call with joy and ferocity, bound for the adventures that awaited them under the wide, open sky.

Kitty, the Witch!

Kitty at Sunrise before transforming...