Page 121 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
Rufus
[You have taken 46 points of Damage from Oscar the Griffin. Health 570/616.
You sufferBleed. Continuing Damage may apply.]
Oscar bit my hand, drawing blood. I didn’t stop the griffin. He had landed beside the carriage and stood on his hind legs to reach up and sniff me before biting my offered hand.
He was guarding Bronwynn’s family, and I was her first encounter. I had nefarious intent. I’d lied my way into her life and left out the fact I was a fan who’s been stalking her for months and investigating her entire family for international war crimes.
Of coursethe guard griffin would bite me.
“Oscar! Let go of Rufus this instant!” Bronwynn ordered. The griffin refused, sinking his teeth into my hand further and shaking it violently.
[You have taken 20 points of Damage fromBleed. Health 550/616. Continuing Damage may apply.]
“Hello, Oscar,” I said, debating whether I should activate my [Calming Effect] perk. “If it helps, Minstrel Bronwynn already knows that I’m not a good person.”
The griffin turned to face my bard, and she nodded. “He’s coming today as my guest, but he’ll also be visiting Uncle Derek onbusiness.”
“I promise to cause no harm to your people while visiting, save in self-defense,” I vowed, still being mauled by the griffin. He was indeed very good at biting.
Ricco let out a screech from beside Bronwynn, and Oscar let go, dropping back down to sit on his haunches on the ground beside the wagon. He eyed me with suspicion and licked the blood off his beak.
[You have taken 20 points of Damage fromBleed. Health 530/616. Continuing Damage may apply.]
“And don’t—Actually, never mind,” Bronwynn started to say to the griffin, but changed her mind. “If that’s everything, we’ll head in—”
“BROWNIEEEEEEEEEE.”
Beyond the gate, the wall encircled an entire collection of huge houses divided by patio walkways covered in sloped awnings with one tall three-story building in the middle… and there was a gaggle of children racing down the main path toward us.
They descended upon us with a wave of chaotic energy and excitement that convinced both griffins to wisely fly back up to their posts before getting tackled.
We were not so lucky.
“You’re back!” said a young foxgirl running around to Bronwynn’s side of the wagon. At the same time, a younger puma beastgirl clambered up and over my lap to get to Bronwynn from this side of the wagon, saying, “Auntie Brownie, can I show you this bruise? Dennis tripped and fell on me.”
“Did not,” a boy said, approaching Donna. He was one of two giant youths the size of a teenager, but still obviously under ten.
“Did too!”
Upon closer inspection, the two youths petting Donna werenotthe same age. Dennis was around five, and a giant. The girl beside him was around ten, and a half giantess, and I’d mistaken their ages due to their similar height. The pair laughed as they pet the horse, coating their arms in glitter. Donna put up with the attention, but I could tell she was being magnanimous only due to their family relation with the bard.
Movement behind me revealed a human boy with glasses sitting at the back of the wagon, petting and whispering to Slake.
“Up, up!” a soft voice said down by my feet. I would have missed it without my [Keen Senses]. A tiny troll girl, no more than a toddler, holding a tiny griffin stuffie lifted one hand up at me and repeatedly opened and closed her fist, telling me she wantedup-up.
It was the hand sign formilk, but context mattered.
I reached down and lifted her with both hands, placing her on my lap. She seemed content and just sat there, watching the older children crawl all over Bronwynn.
“Mimi!” a troll boy standing on Bronwynn’s side called over the clamor. “Come here.”
While accosting family was perfectly acceptable, the idea of bothering a guest seemed to embarrass the boy, and he motioned for the little troll girl to join them.
Mimi stuck up her nose and refused, perfectly content to sit on my lap.
Oscar grumbled but didn’t make a move. I was no danger to the children.
