Carnal Hiern

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

Johnny Caldwell

My feet ache, and my muscles burn. My head pounds with delirious thoughts at the effort I've put into moving through the swamps of Sinscreak, but I refuse to slow. I am close. Only another few hours or so. Beasts have become less and less common the past few hours, signs of a town or city amongst this swamp.

That, or a beast that makes the other cower. My speed slows as this thought comes to mind. It didn't occur before because of my focus on running, but now that I think about it, the lack of beasts is an issue. Could it be that Aniwye is nearby? No. Beasts do not run from demons, especially not one that could likely just mind control them with zero effort.

I take slow steps and let Accelerate end to get a short rest in case something is perilous here. My Ether is near my limit, and my muscles are screaming for rest. That does not bode well for a bout.

As I peer into the swamp's murky depths, the water's oppressive stillness strikes me like a hammer. The surface is covered in a thick layer of green algae, giving it an almost otherworldly appearance. The stagnant water stretches out for miles in every direction, disappearing into a light fog that clings to the trees.

As I gaze further around me, I see the twisted roots of cypress trees breaking through the surface of the water like gnarled fingers. The roots seem to tangle and twist around each other in a grotesque dance, creating a labyrinthine network that stretches out beneath the surface.

At any other time, a fish or other small creature would occasionally break the surface, sending ripples cascading outwards in all directions. But not here. Here the swamp was eerily silent, with only the occasional croak of a frog or the buzz of a mosquito to break the stillness.

What is it? A Letiche? A Rougarou? Which? Only one of these two creatures could calm this insuppressible swamp. I need to know which. A Letiche I can just run from easily as they are profoundly territorial and will leave you alone should you escape its grasp. A Rougarou is different. They are intelligent and can and will chase you down. I will have to fight it. Just in case, I load six of my final special round into Downpour. My Beast-killing rounds. They enter the flesh, drill deeper, and then detonate the explosive buried within. The best way to kill giant beasts.

As I do so, I continue to stare into the murky depths; I feel a chill run down my spine. It is as if the swamp itself was alive and watching me with an unblinking eye. The feeling of being watched grows, and I realize with growing horror that something is moving beneath the surface.

I back up and prepare to run, assuming that it is a Letiche, but I am brutally surprised.

Suddenly, a large creature of dark matted fur and a massive maw with rows of teeth emerges from the water with a deafening roar of water and spittle. I stumble backward, tripping over the gnarled roots of a cypress tree, but I flip over and catch myself with Fanfire in my hands. As I push myself backward with my hand, the Rougarou darts at me, a sparkle of intelligence in its eyes and a seeming depth of pain as well.

The Rougarou is a sight to behold. It stands on two legs like a man, but its body is covered in a thick coat of matted fur as dark as midnight. Its eyes glow like embers even in the daylight, and its long snout is filled with teeth that could rival even the sharpest claymore. It is hunched over as if in constant pain, and its clawed hands hang low by its sides.

The Rougarou's breath is heavy and labored, like the sound of bellows in a blacksmith's forge. Something feels off. Why would a Rougarou be hiding? They are not surprise hunters. They are apex predators born with a Sigil in their claws. I retreat further and further as I inspect the beast with my gun prepared to fire.

It smells of wet fur and decay, like a rotting animal left to fester in the swamp. As it moves closer, its joints crack and pop, like the sound of twigs snapping underfoot.

The creature's movements were quick and agile, despite its lumbering appearance. But as it moves, I catch a glimpse of dark red underneath its side. A very dark red. It gets closer to me, only getting larger and more deafening the whole time, but I still do not shoot. I can see drool mixed with blood dripping from its jaws.

It is hurt. Badly. I step back and put my Downpour in the air. There is no point in fighting this creature. I am exhausted, and it is wounded. This will only be negative for both of us as it seems to be an adult. All adult Rougarou are 5th or 6th Sigils. I can't handle this fight right now. Some elders reach the 7th Sigil, but I believe Kai and his predecessor killed all of those. If this was an elder, though, I think I'd already be dead.

I try to speak calmly to the intelligent beast as I stand stock still with my arms raised. I don't use any Ether in my voice, though, to not antagonize it in any way.

"I don't want to hurt you, okay, buddy? Let's just go our separate ways."

The Rougarou sniffs into the air at me but doesn't go away. Its teeth are still bared alongside its labored breathing. I take a step back, but the beast just takes a step forward at me. As it does so, I see blood drip from the beast into the stagnant water in large amounts. It must have been deep for me not to see the red while it was underneath the water.

It might be wanting to eat me to recover. Rougarou are known for that. They heal incredibly fast while consuming flesh. It doesn't have to be human or anything, though. Any flesh works for them. I slowly move my hands to not make it feel as though I'm a threat and reach behind me. It growls at my movements, but I try to calm it with my voice.

"It's fine. I'm just grabbing you some food and some medicine, okay? That way, you don't have to eat me."

Its growl quiets, almost as if it understands me. Which it might. These beasts have been known to live in large communities. Some even think they have their own language. I don't think it's a stretch to say this one might understand me.

So, I take out a Bowfin, a fairly large fish that I had captured on my way here by accident. I just stepped on it and killed it while running. Figured it would make a decent dinner. Didn't expect to utilize it this way. I also take out a vial of bright liquid that Birdie gave me. She gave us five of these vials in total, most of which to help heal Wyatt once he gets the Bloody Palm under control. I have three myself, well, I am about to have two, but that's beside the point. These are liquids made by an Alchemist down there in the Underworld, and apparently, these are called Draughts Of Invigoration. They can be taken by both living and undead alike to recover wounds.

She also gave me another kind secretly, just one of them, though. It's a dark blue vial called Pleading Death. That one is a last resort. Something I figured I might need later on. All of this was not without a price, however. I promised to find her descendants and help them if they need it. At least her name is unique. Birdie Pewnan. I find it hard to believe there will be any other Pewnans besides her family when I send someone looking.

My hands go out, one with this Draught Of Invigoration and the other with the full-on Bowfin in my palm. Then, I place the two on the surface of the water and step back quickly as they both float upon the ripples. The Rougarou darts in and takes the two, shoveling them both into its jaw in one movement. I watch it chew as I circle around it with my hands up. Then, without wasting any more time, I turn and run in the other direction toward Carnal Hiern.

I've skipped any and all other towns on the way there to not get slowed down or spotted, but that might not have been the best choice. I got lucky finding a wounded Rougarou. Perhaps it was Aniwye that did it. Perhaps Kai was just clearing them out recently. Both are bad. I can only hope that it was hurt by another of its kind, even if I know that it is naive. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

I keep the six Beast-killing rounds loaded as I Accelerate back into the swamp. I smile just a tad as I hear a howl from the beast reach me in some kind of thanks. Killing isn't always the answer. Peace can exist, even among different creatures.

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

I slow my pace as the trees become fewer, and I start noticing signs of people. Just the little things, footprints in the mud, cut down trees, and I even spot a floating cigarette in some of the water.

I'm near Carnal Hiern, I have to be. It's been a long time since I was last here, but it looks a bit similar. The trees are few, yet those that remain are the strongest, the ones not worth cutting down for the effort or being saved for later to live in.

With this new slow pace at a normal run, I allow myself to recover both Ether and stamina. I could run normally for probably a week straight, but after a single day of this high speed, I feel like death. My mouth tastes blood from my lungs reaching their limits, and my heart is sore from the effort of energizing me.

Even my head feels like it's about to split open and have my brain crawl out. Ether saturation is no joke. It is only something you can get used to. Few ever surpass it. There is a reason why many pass out from pain before even reaching their limit of Ether. The earlier they can do it, the more it is a testament to their will.

As I navigate my way carefully through the dense swamp, the sound of chirping crickets and distant speech begins to fill my ears. I take cautious steps, carefully avoiding the murky water that stretches out in front of me. After a while, I see the town itself, Carnal Hiern.

There are not many towns or really any cities either in these swamps, but this is the closest to a full city in Sinscreak. I see hundreds of houses, all of which are perched on stilts high above the murky water below, leveraged upon sturdy trees. Each one is unique, with different colors and styles of architecture, but they all share the same elevation. They also seem to be built atop the trees, using the larger ones as a foundation for some of the buildings and houses.

I can see that the townsfolk have adapted to their surroundings. It is quite a wonder how they have all learned to live in this place. Small boats, just big enough to carry a few at a time, line the streets made of stilted-up wood. Their boats are tethered to the trees that hold up their homes, and they move from place to place by navigating the swamp's waterways or the walkways of wood, whichever is faster. The ingenuity and resourcefulness of those from Sinscreak are arguably the highest in all of the Territories. They are given the shittiest place to live, except for maybe Lawless Lake, but they make the most of it.

The air is thick with the scent of swampy earth, and the occasional breeze carries with it the rustling of leaves and the creaking of wooden beams as I get near. It's a peaceful and serene place, despite its dangerous location. That is attributed almost entirely to Kai and those Hunters that work underneath him, but I feel as though this atmosphere will soon be shattered.

By a single demon. Aniwye. The one that I need to help save Wyatt's mind. A man calls out to me as I start climbing up one of the ladders onto the street made of wooden panels, and I wave out to him despite not hearing him clearly.

I'm not here to chitchat. I've got a demon to find. And from what I can see, she's not yet attacked because the atmosphere would be entirely different if an Angel descended to wreak havoc and kill a Pillar.

My feet carry me through the high wooden streets of Carnal Hiern with the lights made of lanterns that hang up top from the even higher trees. I scan the surroundings looking for an old acquaintance. Anton Walter is a surly fellow who helped me on a mission years ago. He specializes in information and the acquiring of said information.

The man is built more like a bear than a man, but that frame keeps him trustworthy to any who might need him, Outlaw or Hunter alike. But what I need from him is a bit more… risky. He uses the orphan children and homeless within Carnal Hiern, which is a massive town, for something inside a swamp to gather his information.

And while I'll feel bad having those people look for Aniwye, not that I'll say that's what I'll be looking for, it has to be done. There is simply no way I can find the demon all on my own before she strikes.

The demon is likely doing last-minute preparations for such an attack on Kai, or she is investigating his strength to find the best time to attack. Either way, I need to be fast about this.

But even when I find her, there is going to be an issue. How do I get her to wait? Is telling her Wyatt needs help enough? Probably not. She is a demon; after all, she likely only is using him for some kind of purpose. I'll need to find a way to get her to not only wait but also help him.

And then what, Johnny? Just have her save the kid and leave? Leave Kai to his likely death? I wish I could have confidence the man would win, but I simply don't. Aniwye made a fucking Crossroads! A Crossroads! Not just that, but she also crystalized Ether! Something only spoke of amongst the most powerful of people. And it was just so that she could fight, kill, and take the artifact of a creature she was interested in.

The demon has at least two Angelic Sigil artifacts, or Arca, I believe, which is another term for them. Across all of the human lands, there are likely less than two dozen of those; however, the older Pillars are more likely to have them, and some of the elder Forerunners that guard the eastern Territories like Qune, Seaside, or Northene have some. Kai, having even one, is a long shot for how young he is. It's well known that he's killed an elder Rougarou that was a 7th Sigil, but that he had to retreat wounded without recovering the body.

I could try to stay and help, but I think I learned my lesson in the Underworld. Unless there are several 6th Sigils with Absolutions, Angels should only fight Angels with no other people joining. Their powers are simply too dangerous. Especially something like Aniwye. She can read minds, alter memories, and even damage minds from thousands of miles of rock and stone. Kai and his spear are a formidable foe as well, and his speed, combined with his Power, could kill Silas, Blake, and me in less than a minute.

Kai can pierce through any obstacle with his Power, regardless if it is physical or made entirely out of Ether. He'd go right through a hail of my bullets like it was nothing, and Silas is too low on gold to even use his Absolution skill. Blake would simply be killed without any effort, even if that's a sad truth.

If Wyatt were awake, he'd likely go down just as quickly. If Kai can skewer and rip dozens of Rougarou in half, he can do the same to the kid without much effort, either.

I think the only thing we can do is watch their battle. And if there is a time when we could make a difference, we join. But other than that, we stay away. And the second the result, whether win or lose for mankind, we haul ass to Starkbluffs to meet up with Sacate. I'm also hoping that Earl got that Coltsmith he was looking for. I could use some more Colts, that's for sure. My weaponry has been quite stale ever since I left the Hunters, and I can no longer borrow better Colts.

As these thoughts fly through my mind, I search the city of Carnal Hiern for Anton and his small hut.

The streets wind their way through the maze of buildings, rising and falling with the undulating terrain of the swamp. I'm forced to go up and down ramps constantly as I look for the sign he keeps up to indicate he's there. A small dagger stabbed into the side of the stilt supporting the building above. The stilts supporting the city are thick and sturdy, so a single knife won't do any damage, but they are hard to spot.

The streets themselves are narrow and winding, with buildings crowded closely on either side, forcing me to peek my head over here and there as I try to inconspicuously find him. The architecture is a mix of styles, reflecting the people who have come to live here. Mostly the children of Outlaws who have run away or of Hunters who drug them here. A big reason why there are so many orphans. Some buildings are made of wood, while others are constructed of brick or stone, but all along the way, I spot small children with beady eyes watching my every movement.

After a random turn that I'm forced to take because of a duo working on the part of the road that is rotted, I spot a shiny glint of steel on the bottom of a building, right on its stilt. I've found him.

I don't run at the building or anything; however, that would only serve to frighten Anton. Instead, I take my time despite the urgent situation and walk through like a normal customer to the sign above the building.

"Martin's Curiosities and Oddities"

Yeah, right.