Felarya: Prologue - 'Her'

"So wait, we're low on supplies, most of our weapons and resources are gone, and your brilliant plan is to wander into Dridder territory - looking for a woman who you've never seen and who you can't even prove exists?"

"Oh she exists alright... there's too many stories about the old broad for 'er to be a fabrication."

"And she's what, a healer? A poison maker? A witch? What?! Why is she so bloody important that you're risking all our lives?"

"Listen, I've 'eard a lot of tales about this lady, 'aight? They say she 'as the widest variety of potions, 'erbs, fungus, and unusual poisons that can be found this side o' the Jewel River - and if we're going to get anywhere, we're gonna need 'er 'elp."

"And what if she decides not to help us? What if she decides that we're just a bunch of rotten bandits who aren't worth her time and effort?"

"Well, there's four of us and one of 'er. If the dizzy dame don't 'elp us willingly - we'll just give 'er a taste of cold steel and 'elp ourselves. Besides - she'll gladly 'elp us, I 'ear she'll offer 'elp to anyone who asks."

"What about the Dridders then eh? How come they haven't eaten the little woman? I mean - they're not exactly tolerant of people encroaching on their territory, so why have they let one old woman live this long on their borders?"

"Mmm, well that's open for debate. Folks say different things and it's any man's guess which one's the truth, if any. Some reckon she 'elps out wounded Dridder's who've lost limbs, fingers or blood in battle. Others reckon that she's not worth their time - one scrawny old woman and her puny shack would be a waste o' their time. 'Course, most popular opinion is that the Dridders would rather 'unt the people who come to visit her... leavin' her alive draws more prey."

"... and you're leading us straight to this woman? Bloody genius you are."

"Shut up, we're nearly there."

As the quartet of men rounded the last bone-white tree, they came into view of a huge, bare field. High above, the canopy rained down a gradual stream of pale petals, the entire surface of the flat ground was covered in them, and on the other side... a hut. The structure itself was made of white wood, and blended in nicely with the surrounding forest, but was obvious for the small field of fungus and herbs that formed the perimeter.

They paused at the edge of the clearing, inspecting a sign that had been neatly written and nailed to a post.

"Do Not Approach - For Security Reasons, All Dealings are Done at a Distance"

"What do you reckon'?" One of them whispered, "Bow and arrow? Blow-darts?"

"Nah, more likely she's got some spell or such that she'll throw at us... but let's not worry about that till we've had a word with her. I wonder if she knows we're he-"

Before he could complete his sentence, the door to the hut opened, and a figure stepped through the door-way.

In the reflective white light of the clearing, she appeared almost invisible, her white robes and hood only a shade darker than the structure behind her. Though her face was hidden beneath the attire, the men doubted they could have spotted it from this distance anyway...

"Greetings. How may I help you?"

The lady's voice was not at all what they had expected. It was light and melodious, and without the slightest hint of age.

"We are representatives of the Milid clan. We've come to you seeking aid."

"Indeed. What style of aid did you require?"

"We want your poisons. Also as much of your healing stuff as you can give us."

"My healing items are not for sale - they are administered to whomever needs them at the time. As for my poisons, I can provide them to you - for a price."

"Ok... what's your price?"

"How much can you offer?"

The men turned to their leader, who produced a sack from his belt.

Out of the corner of his mouth, the man beside him whispered,

"You sure those fake coins are good enough to fool her? She doesn't look like an idiot..."

"Shut up." He muttered back, holding up the bag.

"I have fourty gold coins. All that we have."

"Fourty? I can give you two vials of Dridder Venom for that."

"Dridder Venom?!" Another man breathed, "How'd she get her hands on that?"

"We accept the price." The leader said, taking a step forward.

"Halt." The lady called sharply, stopping the bandit in his tracks.

"Place the Sack on the stump beside you."

Glancing to his left, the man saw a perfectly flat stump. He leaned over and dropped the sack on the stump. To his surprise, upon landing on the stump, the entire bag vanished in a flash of light.

Casting his gaze back at the lady, he saw the bag in her hand. He held his breath, hoping his coins were convincing enough as she opened the sack and looked inside.

She turned on her heel and walked back into her hut for a moment... and returned with two corked vials between her fingers. With a wave of her hand - the vials vanished, and re-appeared on the stump beside the bandits.

"Our transaction is complete." The lady called out with a tone of finality, and on that note, she returned inside and closed the door.

The leader of the bandits carefully picked up the Dridder Venom, and tucked it into his backpack. He then un-slung it and deposited it beside him on the ground.

"What are you doin' boss?"

"That daft lady was silly enough to fall for the coins - and now she's gone and left 'erself totally exposed for an attack... you 'eard how much she charges - this stuff must be worth a mint. If we raid 'er supplies, we'd 'ave enough money to buy a bloody city."

With a nod, the men unsheathed their weapons and began to creep forwards across the field.

A few steps past the sign, they reached the petals - and the ground texture instantly changed. The leaves and fallen foliage was soft and springy, almost like walking on rubber, and the crunching sound meant they had to move even more slowly...

With an explosion of dead flower petals that sent three of the bandits flying, the ground erupted beneath them. Before they had time to recover their senses, three of the men found themselves coated from head to foot in sticky foliage, their ears ringing with the sound of one of their screaming compatriots - muffled quickly by a resounding 'gulp'.

Scrabbling frantically for the edge of the clearing, his eyes mostly covered by leaves, the leader heard frantic exlamations from his left as another man was dragged across the ground - there was the distinct sound of lips smacking, and a moment later a second audible swallow.

His fingers wrapping around his fallen sword, the bandit rolled onto his back, struggling to rise.

"No! NO! NOOOO!" He gaped in terror as the massive creature hefted the last member of his party off the ground between two slender, grey fingers.

Dropping him between her lips, the Dridder cast a scowl across her face, her gaze falling on the leader, his feet frozen to the spot. She tilted her head back and swallowed - the lump concealing the man slowly rolling down her throat and into her chest.

"You humans are so disgustingly dishonest... good thing too - it certainly keeps me well fed."

Suddenly regaining his adrenalin, the Bandit leader bolted for the edge of the clearing, his legs tripping and stumbling on the soft ground. With an almighty 'thwack', one of the Dridder's forelegs whipped backwards, knocking the man beneath her bulky abdomen and down into the pit beneath the clearing.

He landed on what seemed to him to be decades of discarded clothing, armour - and to his horror, bones.

The light above him was blocked out by the form of the Dridder standing over it - her eight spidery legs draining the heat from his body at the very sight of them.

"I'll be back for you later..." she announced, a squirt of gluey substance striking the bandit dead centre and sticking him to the ground, "Don't go anywhere."

While the man struggled uselessly against his bonds, the Trapdoor Dridder approached the hut and knelt down outside it, resting her elbows on the ground and cupping her chin in her hands, her strikingly red hair cascading over her shoulders.

"All done."

"Thank you Fatyt-Lasud, once again you've performed admirably." The robed lady emerged from her home as she spoke.

Fatyt grinned slightly.

"Anytime. I'm amazed you still deal with Humans... but I'm certainly glad you do - treacherous insects, the lot of them..."

"Most of them, yes. But they are occasionally good enough to be honest."

"Fortunately for my stomach though, most of them are a deceitful waste of space..."

"Yes indeed. I am very glad to have you around Fatyt, you're a credit to your species."

"Ha, hardly... all I do is sleep and eat things."

"True - but because of you, I am able to continue to do my work without fear of consumption."

Fatyt winked.

"Who's to say I won't get bored and decide to eat you one day?"

"You'd never do that my dear... you're a lot of things - but a liar isn't one of them. I know you well enough to be sure of that."

"Hehe, of course... But I am curious - I heard one of them talking about fake coins... Why'd you accept them if you knew they were fake?"

"Fortunately, the underhandedness was actually of benefit to me... the silly men provided me with painted rocks... rocks which, when ground up, act as a strong anesthetic. To me, they are far more valuable than Gold."

"I guess I'd better let you get back to work then?"

"Well you'll have to rebuild your cover as well... perhaps you can beat your record this time?"

"I'll certainly try." Fatyt leaned forward and brushed her nose affectionately against the Lady, feeling the little woman's hands rub it up and down in return.

After a few more moments, they both returned to their work beneath the pale white trees.