Catpurr 7: The Ninth Death

Catpurr 7: The Ninth Death

Crapbaskets.

Adam's eyes widened, after spending time tracking the smoke and heat source, Adam had finally found his target. The only problem was, they weren't Goblinoid's, but rather sapient life, seasoned adventurers by the looks of their armor, wagon, and bodies of Goblinoid's piled up.

This was bad, real bad. Adam only had forty-five minutes on his timer and he was hoping to use the cover of darkness to ambush his targets, killing them swiftly as he'd been taught in his youth.

Yet now he stood, well, crouched in the shadows of green leaves, eyeing the elf and two humans arguing about their spilled stew as they stood amidst their wrecked camp debating on what to do.

From the bow on the woman's back, she seemed to be the designated pathfinder. From the green bloodied spear brandished by the man in purple armor, a warrior. And lastly, the elf, Adam surmised he was a mage of some kind seeing as he held no weapon in his hand yet there were traces of perma-frost coating the treeline with a completely frozen goblin standing off to the side.

Adam didn't particularly have qualms killing people, but he did try to avoid harming innocents whenever possible. Now though, he was presented with a moral dilemma.

Ambush these tired warriors and end his quest, or move on and hopefully find something else to fulfill his quest requirements.

However, considering he'd stumbled upon zero lifeforms getting here, it was extremely doubtful that the latter option would work… meaning that for Adam it was either kill, or be killed for failing his test.

And he didn't want to die, which is why he'd chosen the path of undeath with the ultimate goal of immortality. A perfectly reasonable dream for any sapient brain piloting their meat suit.

Crapbaskets….

He gripped the iron dagger in his hand by the blade, the weapon feeling heavier than when he'd first picked it up as he angled the dagger in his childish grip.

00:41:07

Forty minutes, that's all he had.

Adam narrowed his eyes, it was a no brainer. From the way the spearman was limping it was evident that he was injured but he was confident he could take the man out with one throw. From there, using the confusion he could-

"OINK!"

Adam froze, his eyes turning toward the sound of the ranger opening a door on their rickety carriage and releasing two large pig-like creatures that wore leather harnesses that connected them to the cart.

Oh... How convenient. Adam thought, his eyes shifting targets..

Using the cover of the shadows, Adam moved quickly. It was evident that after the goblinoid raid, the survivors were taking no chances, and were beginning to pack up and move. Meaning that if Adam were to strike, he needed to strike now.

Observing the trio move to board their cart, Adam formulated a plan and waited until the oversized pigs were repositioned in front of the wagon to pull it before making his move.

Sorry.

With deft hands, he threw his dagger, a sense of deja vu transcending on him that reminded him of his childhood as he watched the weapon spin through the air towards his victim.

[9/10]

It impacted, striking the pinkish brown boar in the skull and killing it instantly, however now came the hard part. Steeling himself, Adam picked up his iron spear wrapped in bits of rags and charged, racing out of the bushes at the last remaining pig.

Immediately an arrow entered his throat, making Adam’s eyes widened as he stumbled back, fell to his knees and dropped his spear, just shy of the panicking squealing boar.

“Uhk?! Uuuuuh.” Adam let out, his body shaking as he clutched at the arrow in his throat and gargled on his own blood, watching as his HP rapidly began to deplete.

Crap! Crap!

“OH fennic!” The ranger shrieked, lowering her bow as she dismounted the wagon, racing toward Adam with shock and dismay in her eyes before collapsing beside Adam’s body and bringing the dying boy close.

“Oh god ohgodohgodohgoOH GOD! WHat have I done?! I’m so sorry! I’M SO SORRY!” The ranger cried, clutching Adam as she wailed and panicked.

“A kid?! You SHOT A KID! What the fennic is a kid doing out here?!” The spearman yelled, hands on his head as he joined the crying archer. “Oh fennic, we are screwed! We are so screwed! They’re gonna lock us away forever!”

Suddenly the face of a middle aged elf appeared in Adam’s dimming view, shoving the ranger away and applying pressure around Adam’s throat. “Hey kid! Kid! Stay with me!”

Oh great I’m being choked now.

“OH GOD OH GOD! Locke do something!”

“I’m trying!”

Despite the flurry of panic and crying, and his HP bar draining from the blood loss, Adam kept his eyes focused on the pig, with his hand stretching out.

Immediately the ranger leaned down, taking Adam’s bloody hand in hers. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry I’m sorry!

Ignoring her frantic apologies Adam eyed his spear on the ground, the weapon still angled in the direction of the boar.

Float up 15 centimeters. Then shoot forward. Adam commanded, his last thought before his vision went dark and he died in the elf's arms.

[YOU DIED!]

******************

“Oh god! I d-d-didn’t!” Rochester choked, shaking hands clutching her face in disbelief as the feral boy’s body went limp in Locke’s arms.

“He… he’s dead.” The elf said sadly, taking his hands away from the body of the child and standing up, attempting to put distance between himself and the oddly furry corpse.

“It’s ok. You didn’t know. No one would blame you.” Hyde said, the blonde spearman crouching down to comfort the raving Rochester as she cried. “I mean, who expects there to be kids roaming randomly in the woods?! I thought he was a goblin and was about to throw my spear at him!”

“B-b-but I-I shot him!”

Suddenly a glow began to illuminate their surroundings, making everyone, even the hysteric archer pause as the boy’s body began to abruptly levitate and give off light.

“Oh.. oh he’s going to heaven! He’s ascending!” Hyde said, attempting to assure Rochester it was ok as she choked a sob.

Immediately Locke fell to his knees, the agnostic elf making holy gestures, and joining the duo in awe as they watched the boy’s body ascend into the heavens.

“Look, He’s going to a better place.” Hyde assured, hugging Rochester close, with the woman truly hoping that was true.

The boy began to shine brightly, incredibly so, until suddenly, a loud explosion forced the trio to shut their eyes and look away as a cornucopia of colorful confetti momentarily cast away all the shadows nearby.

The trio opened their eyes, their entire bodies and the surrounding area, now coated in colorful dust that reflected the light of the twin moons and the glare of their wagon’s torches.

Stunned at what had occurred, none of the adventurers moved until finally Hyde looked down, the spearman inspecting the glitter on his arm that was oddly… cat shaped.

“Ok… What the hell just happened?”