Chapter 8

The Hellhound looked exactly as it did this morning. Its huge form was bigger than any dog I had ever seen. If I had to compare it to something it was probably more like a bear. 

Fenton, who hasn't seen the Hellhound yet, followed my gaze to the lumbering monster. His breath caught in his throat and he squeezed me a little tighter. 

“What do we do?" he whispered. 

“I didn't know what to do this morning, and I don't know what to do now," I replied, “I have the sword you gave me earlier?" 

“Ok, good, then get it out of your inventory." 

“Ah…I can't really lift my arms right now.” 

"What?" he hissed. 

“It feels like my body weighs one hundred pounds more than usual. So I can't really lift my arms very well.” 

"Oh, well, I might still have the bow and arrows?” Fenton quickly flipped through his inventory and pulled out his bow and some arrows.

The Hellhound seemed triggered by this movement and decided it was time to hurry. Its slow movements turned into a frenzied run as it galloped over to us.

Fenton struggled to load his bow and tried to aim and pull back all at once, accidentally losing the arrow. It dropped limply off to the side.

"Uh Fenton?” I stammered.

"I know, I know!” he yelled as he fumbled to grab at the arrow and reload his bow. 

The Hellhound looked over at us and raised a giant paw read to swipe, when suddenly, a person came barreling into it, sending the whole Hellhound sprawling ten feet away. 

The human cannonball turned to look at us. “Hey guys!" 

It was Kendrick!

“What?" Both Fenton and I let our jaws fall open. I couldn't speak for Fenton, but my heart was about to exit my chest. I was so confused, but so thankful to see this giant Labrador of a man. 

The Hellhound was not as pleased. Another victim was all well and good, but this one could throw a punch. 

Kendrick stood, facing the Hellhound, and pulled out his sword. He was staring it down when it pounced. 

The Hellhound was not playing like it was earlier, it was out for blood. Using it's huge front paws it elongated its claws to try and rip Kendrick to shreds. Its claws were only met with his armor though, and had little effect. 

Kendrick didn't waste any time. He took his sword and cleverly danced around the beast, cutting and slashing too many times to count.

When he finished the beast fell in a heap on the ground- its health bar at 0. 

Fenton and I were still sitting there with our mouths open, but then I decided it was time to start clapping and cheering.

“Our Savior! Thank you so much Kendrick! We would have been goners without you!" 

Kendrick blushed and put his hand behind his head, “Oh, it was nothing guys. You're being too nice." 

“No, that was seriously impressive! What was that move called?” Fenton asked.

"Ah, that was ‘dance of a thousand blades’,” he replied. “I've been leveling it up to try and have an attack that would work on something like a dragon,” his face fell, "It really didn't do too much to the dragon earlier though.” 

"Well, it did a lot to that Hellhound!” I said. 

He smiled and made his way over to us after gathering resources from his kill. 

“So, how are you both?" Kendrick asked.

Fenton and I looked at each other. He looked a little beaten up, but bruised was better than bleeding. I on the other hand…"I can't move,” I smiled. 

Kendrick looked me over as he began to explain, “When I woke up all three of us were in this spot. You two were out cold and I couldn't wake you up. I went to look around and then I heard you yelling." 

“Me and Faust were alone when I came to. He was still out cold…and look at his hand!” Fenton’s anxiety was starting to grow. 

Kendrick looked at my hand but didn't touch it, "Is that the gem from the dragon?” he asked. 

"Maybe?” I said tentatively.

"Alright…well, first things first. I think you can't move because you are too fatigued. Let's load you up with some health potions." 

Kendrick scrolled through his inventory and handed a few bottles to Fenton. Propping up my nearly lifeless body, Fenton began feeding me the potions. 

It took four potions for me to feel my toes, and another two until I was completely recovered. 

"Geeze, you must have been knocking on death's door," Fenton said. The gravity of his words seemed to hit him. He pressed his lips together tightly and looked down at the ground. 

“Hey, I'm ok. It's all fine," I moved to pat him on the back and was immediately smacked away. “See, you're already doing better," I joked before changing the subject. “So, about my new fashion accessory...” I held my hand up, “What's up with this?" I asked, pointing to it incredulously. 

Kendrick looked at it, "I honestly have no idea.” He sat down next to us with a loud sigh. “Nothing in any of the texts said anything about it being embedded in your skin." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. The normally happy go lucky knight was not acting his usual self. 

Fenton and I glanced at each other. “Well, it will be ok. We can go ask your brother. Maybe there is something they missed?" I suggested. 

“No!" Kendrick yelled.

We were taken aback by the intensity of that yell. 

"Sorry, but no. In fact, I'm going to leave that guild. Can you send me an invite to yours?” he asked. 

"Oh…sure?” Fenton pulled up his menu and sent an invite over to Kendrick. 

When the invite popped up, Kendrick hesitated for only a second, then pressed accept. 

"Kendrick, not that we aren't thrilled to have you and your help, but what's going on?" I asked. 

I didn't think it was possible, but Kendrick’s face fell even more. The look of hopelessness on his face was hard to watch.

“Kendrick?" Fenton asked. 

He took a big breath and let it out, "When you went to get the gem out of the dragon…my brother…he raised his sword." 

“What?" I didn't understand. Why? Because I was the one getting the gem? 

“You needed to get the gem, but right after you did, he just needed to…kill you…and take it,” Kendrick looked at me sorrowfully, "The books said the artifacts could be transferred if the host died, but I didn't think he would kill someone to get it! I promise, I had no idea.”

Fenton held onto my arm tightly while my eyes drifted to the ground. So, I had a whole guild who wanted me dead now?

"That doesn't explain what happened though,” Fenton interjected. 

Kendrick nodded, "So, when I saw him raise his sword I stepped in the way. I know I knocked into Fenton, and Fenton must have knocked into you, Faust. Then, we woke up here," he finished explaining, gesturing around us. 

“So, the gem must have taken us here? Why here though?” Fenton asked. 

I looked around us, "Well, this is where I was this morning.” That didn't answer the question, it was just a fact.

Kendrick looked at where the Hellhound used to be. "Was that the same Hellhound then? The one you mentioned earlier?" He asked.

“I honestly have no idea. Don't they all look the same?"

Fenton hesitated, “It…was the same one." 

Kendrick and I both looked at Fenton. 

“How do you know for sure?" Kendrick asked. 

"It's pretty rude to ask a question like that,” He replied. Fenton's posture changed to looking like a little kid who was just caught doing something.

"Oh, your ability then? I don't mind sharing those! If we are in a guild together, we should all know each other's abilities anyway! Here, I'll start, my ability is I'm werewolf, actually!” 

We both stared at him waiting for more.

"So, how about you two?”

“No no no, you can't just say you're from Teen Wolf and stop there. Elaborate. Tell us more!" There was a live werewolf in front of me, I needed to know everything.

“Ahh," Kendrick laughed a bit, “So, I can transform.”

"Like on a full moon?” Fenton asked. 

"No, well yes. Anytime. My power doubles when I transform. If I transform at night it is multiplied by three. If it's a full moon it's by four,” Kendrick said sheepishly.

"Wait wait, so do you look like a Wolf man or are we talking romance story werewolf?” Fenton asked seriously. 

We both looked at him. 

“What? I love supernatural stories…and sometimes they involve werewolves…" Fenton trailed off. 

While Kendrick continued to look bashful, my emotions were a little harder to place. I didn't understand why Fenton was so excited about some big dog. My ability was better than that.

“Anyway, what are your abilities then?" Kendrick asked seriously.

“Oh, you can probably guess mine by now," Fenton started,  “I have the gift of language. Any language. Even if it's not human." 

He looked up into the branches of the tree we were under. There was a small green bird perched on one of them. "Hello,” he said. The bird cocked its head to the side and flew down to him. It perched on his hand. 

"I can tell what it's saying, that it's hungry,” he explained as he opened his inventory window and pulled out some seeds. He laid them down in front of him. "I can't eat anything that I hunt in this game. It just feels weird. Farming is nearly impossible without a guild. Food is so expensive. I feel like I'm playing this game wrong…it reminds me of how I felt in the real world." Fenton’s eyes widened and he looked at us again. 

I could tell he hadn't meant to say any of that. He turned his face away and gave a little huff. 

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle, he looked…cute. 

"Hey, it's ok,” I said. I wrapped an arm around him. “Life is hard for everyone. We're all winging it. No one really gets to say who is doing it right or wrong anyway." I gave him a light squeeze.

I expected him to shrug me off, but instead he leaned into the crook of my arm. Why can't he always be cute like this?

"So, what about you Faust?” Kendrick asked. 

Fenton looked up at me. Kendrick was already looking at me expectantly. 

Shoot…what do I say?