Blood & Chlorophyll Ch. 21

Searing pain assaulted every fiber of Alicia's body. She was trying to put on a brave face for Kat, who she wanted dearly to not worry, but it was hard to hide just how hurt she was. The pain was slightly easier to manage while adrenaline coursed through her veins, and although the fight was over, there was still a stranger standing several feet away from the group.

Tabitha was panting heavily as she aimed her swords at the girl, who had called herself Roxy. Her hands were up, and she looked between everyone present with a warm smile as she started speaking.

"Easy there, I don't want to hurt anyone. Like I said, my name's Roxy. Roxy Kithkin. I'm a Rogue, and I'm completely unaffiliated, no guilds or anything. I guess you could say I'm a rogue Rogue!" she laughed quietly to herself, her face blushing as she did. "I know it's pretty suspicious that I'm here, but I promise I just want to help. Now, we could keep talking in the middle of the Dungeon, but personally I'd rather get somewhere safe first. We're almost out!"

"She's right, Tab. We need to get back to Elias as soon as possible," Kat said, her arms cradling Alicia.

After a quiet grumble, Tabitha seemed to relent. "Alright, fine, but you're leading the way. Arms where I can see them, and if you so much as flinch, I'm ending you."

"Deal!" Roxy said, keeping her hands above her head. She started walking towards the exit with a lighthearted bounce in her step before briefly turning her head back. "Someone should grab all that loot, though. There's a good chance the key to the next level will be in there."

Alicia planted her hands on the ground behind her. "I can get it, I'm already feeling--" she winced as she tried to sit up, which caused Kat to hold her even tighter.

"You're in terrible shape, Alicia. Just relax a minute and I'll grab all the loot. Tab, you stay focused on our guest." After gently placing Alicia's head back on the ground, Kat searched through the thick foliage to look for all the loot. "Looks like Roxy was right, for what it's worth. There's a wooden totem here that seems to match the door we found earlier."

"That makes this more suspicious, I hope you realize," Tab said, her swords still pointed directly at Roxy's back.

When Kat returned to Alicia's side, she leaned down to prepare to pick her up. "Kat, I can walk home, that's really not necessary," Alicia muttered.

"Out of the question. You're hurt, I'm not. End of discussion."

Alicia grumbled, but as the Vampire picked up her and hoisted her onto her back, her head started throbbing again. She wrapped her arms tight around Kat, letting herself smile now that no one could see her.

Might as well enjoy the ride. God, she's amazing.

The group moved quickly. Kat was hovering just above the ground, which Alicia was tempted to scold her for, but she knew that constant shaking would be a nightmare in her current state. Since they were flying, Kat was even able to angle forward quite heavily, meaning Alicia didn't have to exert herself trying to hold on. Her body protested the lack of connection with the ground, but she forced that discontent down to focus on the upsides.

Within minutes, they had left the Dungeon. It was a stroke of luck they didn't encounter more monsters, and once they passed through the decrepit basement, Kat briefly set Alicia down so she could rebuild the blockade on the staircase. Once they knew they were safe, they kept traveling until they'd made it home.

"Elias!" Kat shouted, landing on the edge of the small pond.

With a small splash, Elias quickly popped out of the water. "You're back! How did everything--Alicia! Gods, you look terrible. Kat, quick, get her in the water."

The water felt incredible on Alicia's skin, and she sighed as Elias's soft hands began guiding her to the proper spot. She sank deeper and deeper until the water reached her chest, then she turned around to rest her arms on the edge. Most of her body seemed to be resting on a strange protrusion of packed earth that she didn't remember being here before. She was about to ask if Elias had made changes to the structure when the water around her lit up. The warm glow was unusually sharp, as if she were being stung by a million tiny, bioluminescent jellyfish, but she trusted Elias.

"Okay, this is going to be a little uncomfortable, healing magic always is," Elias said, his hands softly tracing her injuries.

"Is it?" Alicia asked, roots creeping out from her arms as she connected with the earth around her. "Kat's Inspiration never feels strange. If I didn't know she was a Bard, I'd suspect there was nothing happening at all."

"She's giving you low-level Regeneration, whereas I'm actively healing you. General rule of thumb for magic? The faster it can heal you, the more it's going to hurt. Just stay still and keep breathing." Water began rushing around Alicia, swirling tighter around her injuries, and Elias looked up briefly as he started working. "Um, who's that? You make a new friend in the Dungeon?"

"That's what we're about to figure out," Tab said. Pointing at the ground with her swords, she gestured for Roxy to sit. "Alright, talk."

Roxy sighed before sitting on a nearby pile of rubble. "Okay, well, for starters, I understand your suspicions. You're completely right not to trust me, I would do the same. All I ask is that you hear me out, you listen to everything before you jump to conclusions. You're... probably not going to like how my story starts."

"I already don't like you," Tab hissed, causing Roxy to slink back slightly.

"Right, well, let's just rip the bandage off, shall we? I used to run withAshes To Ashes." In a flash, Tabitha closed the distance and shoved Roxy to the ground. Her swords crossed in front of Roxy's neck, who quickly shouted "I'm not with them anymore! I promise!"

"Tab, come on, give her some space. She did warn us," Kat said, stepping forward to try and pull Tab back.

"One move. ONE wrong move, and it's over, Roxy." Tab huffed in frustration as she let Kat pull her away.

Roxy winced as she rubbed her neck, which now had two faint lines across it, almost like paper cuts. "It was a long time ago, back when everything was still crazy. They were one of the biggest Guilds around, and I wanted the security of running with an established group. I stayed Human during the Change, which meant it took a lot longer for me to see how they treated all other Races. Then, one day, a Beastkin Paladin tried to join up with them. They sparred with him a bit, then took him into the Dungeon for a test delve. Things were going well, it was a pretty normal run, and then they... they turned on him. They ganged up, took all his stuff, and threw him at a pack of nearby monsters. By that point, I'd heard rumors they were... uncharitable towards Races, but I'd never seen anything like this before. I broke off from the group, ran to his side, and tried to fight off the monsters, but there were too many. I tried so hard to get him out, but he... he didn't..."

She was crying now, her shoulders twitching as she shut her eyes and held the sides of her head. "I still see him, sometimes. In my sleep, when I close my eyes, I hear his screams as the monsters overwhelm him."

The story also had Alicia crying, and Kat reached over to brush away her tears. As she did, she looked over at Roxy and asked, "So what happened next?"

"I knew I had to get out, but I needed money. When you join up withAshes To Ashes, they do everything they can to keep you reliant on them. Their members don't always get very generous cuts of the loot, but there are a ton of benefits to staying with the Guild. They pay for equipment, repairs, they'll even pay for Enchanters and Alchemists and all sorts of high-end stuff. The thing is, everything they sink their money into is theirs. If you want to leave, you have to give back all your equipment, and they'll also bully you into paying a hefty fine. It's basically like living in a company town."

Tab spit on the ground. "Dirtbags."

"I couldn't agree more," Roxy said, forcing a smile as she wiped away her tears. "So, with all that in mind, I tried to pull a fast one. I figured, okay, I'm a Rogue, maybe I can break away from them while taking a piece of the pie. I spent weeks putting together a plan, and when the day finally arrived, I almost pulled it off. Sadly, they'd just switched the guard rotations and conveniently hadn't told me. Someone must have caught on at some point. They caught me leaving with a pocket full of gold and silver, and that was that. They cast me out of the guild, took all my stuff back, everything I expected. Except, that wasn't enough for them, they wanted to salt the earth behind me, too. They started spreading rumors that I'd been responsible for that Beastkin's death, and I'm pretty sure they had a collection of other lies as well. Suddenly, no matter where I went, I couldn't get any work. Everyone that trustsAshes To Ashes believes that I'm a no-good, thieving murderer. Everyone else, the people that don't trust those idiots, refuse to believe that I'm not still a member. I'm trapped."

Everyone went quiet, the only sound the faint hum of Elias's magic. Alicia was still tense as the magic nipped at her, but she also felt the effects it was having. Her body was slowly knitting itself back together, though she was still too nervous to pull up her status.

"There are still a lot of holes in that story, Roxy," Kat said. "How did you find us here? Why didn't I see you on the Delver Registration list?"

"Ah, well, the Registration is their fault. When you crossAshes To Ashes, they do everything in their power to make you regret it. I'm not entirely sure how, but they pulled some strings and had me removed from the official list. I'm technically still a delver, I've got my card and everything, but it's like I'm a ghost. As for how I'm here, well... look, I'm not proud of this. I kinda followed you two home after you left the Dungeon Camp."

Alicia shivered, partially from Elias tracing over a particularly nasty bruise, but also from the thought of someone following her home. Kat seemed to be upset as well; her hands were clenched into fists, and she was making a face Alicia had never seen before.

"I feel like, the more you talk, the less reason we have to trust you," Kat continued.

"Look, I get that, okay? I know I seem like a huge threat, but I didn't know what else to do! Ever since I left that godforsaken Guild, my life has been awful. No one trusts me, I can barely keep myself fed, it's terrible. Then, I see these two newcomers march into camp saying that, not only have they found the Key Dungeon, but they're going to tackle it without contracting a Guild. Truth be told, I thought it was really suspicious. I mean, no offense, but you don't look like seasoned delvers."

"So, what, you thought it was a trap?" Alicia asked.

"Not exactly, but it certainly seemed too good to be true. I mean, you have an entire Key Dungeon to yourself, and you're not with a Guild! I figured that, if you two were the real deal, I might finally have a shot at rebuilding my life! So yeah, I decided to tail you both and see if you were legit. Then ArcticFoxxx here--sorry, I mean Tabitha--joined your group, and that was huge." Roxy turned to Tabitha before continuing. "I mean, I've seen how hard all the Guilds try to recruit you. There's no way you would join these two if they didn't have decent heads on their shoulders."

"Spare me the flattery, it's not going to help your case," Tabitha said.

"All I'm trying to say is that you seem like really nice people. I know what it's like to live in fear of the Guilds, and I understand why you want to keep them away from this. You've got a lot to lose, and I want to help. I got a little turned around in the Dungeon when I followed you in, but thankfully I found you before anything really bad happened. I'm willing to jump through whatever hoops you want to prove I'm legit. Plus, not to sound full of myself, but you seem to need the help."

"She's not wrong, Tabitha," Alicia said. "If she hadn't rescued us, we'd all be Dungeon fodder by now."

Kat went quiet, thinking to herself while idly stroking Alicia's hair. "You predicted that last monster would have a Key to the next floor. How did you know that?"

"I've seen similar layouts in Key Dungeons, back when I was still withAshes To Ashes. Each floor is essentially a hunt; it's structured so that you need to track down a specific monster to get the key. Sometimes the fight is the tough part, but sometimes the hunt is. I saw the door and figured the bear seemed like the best guess."

Tabitha spoke up next, and while she still seemed tense, Alicia couldn't help but notice that she'd set her swords down. "And what do you want from us? You're obviously not doing this out of the kindness of your heart."

"I just want my fair share of the loot. Although, cards on the table, I'd be interested in sticking around long term if you all decide you want to make a Guild. I've got a bunch of knowledge about Dungeons and stuff, and I'm more than happy to share what I know. Actually, I don't know if you've thought about this, but did you know that Key Dungeons normally stick around for a bit after they're completed? The Guilds only care about getting the keys to the main Dungeon, but the Key Dungeons are consistently great places for smaller groups to train, gather loot, stuff like that."

Alicia looked up at Kat, whose eyes had just gone wide with excitement. Although neither said anything, Alicia knew her girlfriend was thrilled about the possibility of being a full-time delver.

"How long? Do the Key Dungeons stick around, I mean," Kat asked.

"It's kinda random. Some close up pretty quickly, others stay around for a really long time. The only thing I know for sure is that it's pretty obvious when one is getting ready to close. Monsters start showing up less frequently, chambers deeper in start shrinking, stuff like that."

Elias tapped Alicia's shoulder, asking her to reposition so he could access more of her injuries. She twisted around slightly, keeping her eyes on Roxy and the group, while she thought about everything that had been said.

"What can you do?" Alicia asked. "Like, you said you're a Rogue, but what does that mean?"

"I mean, everything you'd expect. I'm really good at sneaking around, sticking to shadows, things like that. For fighting, I've got two daggers, and I work best when I'm making quick, precise strikes on sensitive areas while monsters are distracted by other party members. Honestly, this Key Dungeon is a great fit for me, there are a ton of places to hide from monsters."

Tabitha looked back at the group, and when no one else spoke up, she took the opportunity. "Roxy, go take a walk. Come back in thirty, and we'll have an answer for you."

With a deep breath, Roxy slowly nodded before jumping to her feet and walking off. She briefly paused, turning back to the group as if she wanted to say something, but then bit her tongue and turned away again. Once she was far enough away, Tabitha sighed in frustration and turned to the group.

"Alright, thoughts?" she asked.

"I... don't know," Kat said. She was holding Alicia's hand, nervously wringing both of their hands as she talked. "The timing is really suspicious, but everything she's saying makes sense, more or less."

"What happened down there?" Elias asked.

"We got into three fights total," Alicia said. "The first two went alright, I even leveled up and got a new ability, but the third fight was against a massive, undead bear. It completely overwhelmed us, and was about to rip my neck out, when Roxy jumped on its back and finished it off. She saved my life, and it sounds like she had a great reason for being suspicious of us in the first place, as gross as it is to think about someone following me home."

"I don't like this," Tab said, kicking a rock into Elias's pond. "There's just something off about her, but I can't put my finger on it. Are you seriously saying you believe her sob story?"

"Look, Tab, ever since this started, you two have stressed time and time again how horribleAshes To Ashes can be. Based on what I know, everything Roxy says makes perfect sense! Ditching that prospective member, blacklisting her and ruining her delving prospects, that sounds just like them."

"What about Burl?" Kat asked. As she spoke, she pulled her hand away from Alicia and started up her healing Inspiration again. "He was one of the registered delvers I talked to. He said he went a little nuts on his first delve, and now none of the Guilds will so much as look at him, but he's still on the official list. Do we really thinkAshes To Ashes has enough pull to manipulate official city records?"

"I believe it," Tab said bitterly. "The scars of the Change are still fresh, and everyone in charge is terrified of the Dungeon overwhelming the city again. As much as we hateAshes To Ashes, there's no denying that they dominate the delving schedule, and without their numbers we'd struggle to hold back all the monsters. It's easy to pretend that the city being overrun was just a result of being caught off guard, but the Dungeon still spawns monsters at incredible rates. That givesAshes a lot of sway when it comes to bullying elected officials. I'm not saying I believe Roxy's story, mind you. I'm just saying it's possible."

"Okay, I feel a little stupid asking this, but I want to clarify something." Alicia turned again at Elias's request, then continued. "The worst-case scenario is that we die, right? If she's not actually on our side, we're scared she might just kill us when we're weak down in the Dungeon?"

The other girls nodded in agreement, but it was Tab that spoke up. "Exactly. And remember, even if she's not withAshes or any of the other Guilds, she could still just be in this for herself. Maybe a mercenary, or just an awful person looking for an easy score by taking us out and selling the Key Shard for the main Dungeon. We're completely alone down there, and if we die, no one will blink an eye. Hundreds of people die in Dungeons every day."

"But if she wanted us dead, then why save us?" Alicia said. "She could have let that bear kill us!"

"The bear didn't have the Key Shard. I'm assuming the real treasure is another floor or two down. If that's all she's after, she'll need our help to get there, but once she gets the Key Shard, we become disposable. Plus, if we're already weak from a boss fight, we'll be easy to pick off."

"Except we need her too." Alicia winced as she raised her voice, her bruised body protesting the extra effort. "If there's anything to learn from our first delve, it's that we're not ready for this."

"We don't know that for sure, Cherry Blossom," Tabitha said, kneeling next to Alicia. "We still have almost two weeks. We could keep training, grind out some experience on the first floor of the Dungeon, buy some better gear with our loot. I think we could do it without her."

Kat switched to a new song, one that seemed to match the heightened energy of the conversation. "If Roxy is telling the truth, the extra help would be invaluable, but she'll also understand us if we exercise caution around her. I vote we let her help, but just assume that she's planning on betraying us. Either way, time will reveal her intentions, and we get extra help for the Dungeon."

"I'm with Kat," Alicia said. "She saved my life, and I think we need all the help we can get."

Tabitha sighed, then looked over at Elias. "You wanna gang up against me too?"

"I just want to see you safe, and I'm not even delving with you guys," Elias said, his hands still channeling around Alicia's injuries. "But, if you actually want my input... I think a known threat is better than an unknown threat. That way you can least prepare for it."

"Ugh, I'm not going to argue when it's three to one. Fine, we'll let her help." Tabitha stood up again, stretching her arms over her head. Her back popped in several places, and once she was done stretching, she picked up her swords and sheathed them again. She turned to walk away, presumably to find Roxy, but stopped herself. "Look, I'm not trying to be a contrarian. You all make good points, and... I guess it's nice that it felt like you were actually listening to me. Whatever she does, just don't let your guard down. Violence is often the least effective way to tear a group of people apart."

Before Alicia could respond, Tabitha crouched down and sprinted away. She appeared to be taking a leisurely pace--she wasn't quite a blur--and Alicia instead turned to Kat. "You really think she's out to get us? I felt the pain in her words when she talked about her time with Ashes."

"It's not that, Alicia. I just think we can't afford to take any risks." Katrina stopped her music and leaned down to kiss Alicia. "When you and I met, there was nothing to be gained on either side. I didn't know about the Key Dungeon yet, and you didn't know how much of a threat it actually was. Tabitha is famous enough that it was obvious she wasn't lying. Even if Roxy is completely innocent, there's no room to give her the benefit of the doubt. I just... I can't lose you, Alicia. I refuse to take any risks unless they're absolutely necessary."

Alicia's face grew warm, and she smiled to herself as Kat resumed her music. There was nothing else Alicia wanted to say in the moment, and she instead closed her eyes to focus on Elias's healing while they waited for Tab and Roxy to return.

When they did, they didn't appear to be in a rush. Roxy was smiling and talking a mile a minute, but Tabitha didn't share her enthusiasm. Once they were close enough, Tabitha coldly gestured for Roxy to sit down again, then turned to face her directly. When she spoke, her words were unusually demanding.

"Alright, Roxy. You want in, there are going to be some conditions," Tabitha said, her arms crossed.

"I'd be suspicious if they weren't any!" Roxy said through a warm smile.

Tabitha held up a finger. "One: unless we're in the Dungeon, all your weapons stay with us. if I find so much as a letter opener on you, at any other time, you're out."

Roxy nodded.

"Two," Tabitha held up another finger. "You tell us your Ten, your abilities, your Level, everything. When you're finished, Kat will scan you to make sure it's accurate. If you lie about anything, anything at all, you're out."

"Not a problem!" Roxy said.

"Three!" Another finger. "From here on out, we log all the loot we find in the Dungeon. None of it gets spent without unanimous approval from everyone here. Outside of critically important purchases, none of us get any loot until we have the Key Shard for the main Dungeon. If we suspect that you're skimming coins or resources off the top, you're out."

"That's... that's fair," Roxy said. "I'll need money to eat and stuff, though."

"We can keep you fed while you're here with us," Alicia said, returning Roxy's smile. Although she saw where Kat and Tab were coming from, she still wanted this newcomer to feel somewhat welcomed.

"Four!" Tab said, interrupting the moment. "No more sneaking around. This isn't just a place with a Dungeon, it's a home. Everyone here deserves privacy, and you've already spat in Alicia's face by following her out of the main Dungeon Camp. If we're not in the Dungeon, we need to know exactly where you are at all times. Based on the timeline, I have a suspicion you've already picked out a place to camp out."

Alicia hadn't thought about it, but Tab was right. She'd been assuming that Roxy was commuting here every day like Tabitha, but it made more sense that she was probably holed up in one of the abandoned houses.

Roxy nodded. "You're right, and again, I'm incredibly sorry for the secrecy. There's a small house a few blocks down, I've been staying there. I'm more than happy to show you where, but I'm also happy to move closer if you want me within earshot. Or, alternatively, if you want to, I dunno, lock me inside a house at night to make sure I'm not sneaking around, I'd be up for that too."

Tabitha turned to look at Kat, seemingly pleased at the idea, but Alicia spoke up again. "There's no need to go that far, Roxy."

"Well, whatever you all think is best, I'm just happy for the opportunity. You seem like wonderful people, and being here feels right. It's so refreshing to see delving from a different lens, one that's not tainted by shady Guild posturing."

"Look, if you want to write a poem about it, you can find the time later," Tab said, rolling her eyes. "But right now, you need to start talking. Level, Ten, everything."

With a deep breath, Roxy launched into a small monologue about her Status. According to her, she was Level Six, had slightly above average stats, and a small suite of Class Features that supported the fighting style she'd described earlier. Her only notable Racial Feature was Deep Feeding, which gave her a deeper well of sustenance for any Demonics that fed on her.

When she finished talking, everyone looked at Katrina while they waited for her to Scan Roxy. The process took a while, as Kat wanted to be thorough, but soon they had their answer.

Roxy seemed to be telling the truth about everything.

Alicia sighed in relief, but she noticed that Tabitha didn't share the sentiment. Still, with nothing suspicious in the Scan results, the group decided it was safe to turn in for the night. Roxy showed everyone the house she was camping in, then promptly went inside and promised she wouldn't leave until morning. Tabitha, ever the skeptic, decided to spend the night at Alicia's place to keep watch in case Roxy tried anything.

"You sure you're okay with me seeing Alouette again?" Kat asked, hugging Alicia tight as Tabitha walked inside.

"I promise, Kat. Besides, I seem to recall that I enjoyed her dancing even more than you did." Alicia laughed quietly between kisses as she savored every last moment she had with Kat. "What about you? Not about Alouette, I mean, but Roxy. You're okay letting her hang around?"

"Tabitha is spending the night, and she won't be going to sleep until I get back. Our competing sleep schedules mean we can have someone on watch 24/7. I hope you're right about Roxy, Alicia, I really do, but she needs to earn that trust from us. What about your Regeneration? Do you still get it if you're inside your Tree?"

"Oh, absolutely," Alicia said, looking up at the canopy of brilliant pink blossoms above them. "Its branches are my own. After all your Inspiration, and Elias's healing, I think I'll be ready for another attempt tomorrow."

They pushed their hands together, interlacing their fingers as they kissed again. "Sleep tight, Alicia. I already miss you."

Alicia giggled as her face flushed with warmth again. "Same to you, Kat. Say hi to Alouette for me, will you? And I'll see you when you wake up tomorrow evening."

With one last kiss, the girls parted ways. Alicia moved through her Heart Tree to find Tabitha and made sure the Foxgirl had everything she needed for her impromptu sleepover. She explained how Tab could simply knock on the tree to wake her if needed, but didn't haven't the energy for much else. Between the multiple fights and the sting of Elias's healing magic, Alicia felt completely drained. She sank into the strong embrace of her Heart Tree and, within moments, had fallen asleep.

---

"I don't like her, Nyx."

So I noticed! At least the group came to decision. More importantly, they were alive to talk about it.

"I'm not saying I'm not thankful she saved Alicia! It's just too suspicious!"

Hey, Dungeons are serious business. Honestly, it's surprising you haven't run into more trouble with strangers trying to muscle in on your game.

"I hate the thought of that. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

Worse than pig's blood?

"Hm... not quite. I don't want to throw up yet. Anyways, let's talk about something more important, yeah? Today's song is by Schubert! I don't think we've heard anything from him before, which is odd considering how big he is in the classical music scene. So, today, we'll be listening to Erlkönig by Franz Schubert. There's a lot of fascinating history behind the song, and the poem it's adapting, but I'll spare you the details. Importantly, make sure you grab a classical guitar arrangement! It's traditionally performed by a piano and a vocalist, who tells the story of a supernatural creature pursuing a small child. The music captures this vibe very well; I can picture a dark and ominous creature racing through the woods in pursuit of its nefarious deeds, perhaps just like another ominous creature that recently showed up."

Is that personal bias I hear you sneaking into your musical education?

"N-no! Shut up! I'm not biased, you're biased."

Well, as long as "I don't like Roxy" is supported by the original poem, I'll allow. Should I look up the original by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and check?

"Now you're just making fun of me. I'm gonna be the bigger girl and walk away!"

Hehehe.

Nyx <3