Hunting Rogues: Ch 1

***Time for a new serial! Starting today, this is the next adventure from the world of the Nidings. This is all new, standalone adventure so doesn't require reading of the previous material. All new characters and settings, and a slightly simpler set up... Enjoy!***

Fraki’s heart fluttered as she climbed the stone steps to Star Peak, eager with a week’s anticipation to finally see Sudien alone. A half-mile north of town, beyond a thick trail of tall trees and jagged rocks, the peak was the perfect meeting place. The rocky outcrop rose twenty feet higher than the trees to a stubby plateau, overlooking a stream, the fields to the east and the great craggy mess of mountainous borderlands to the west. With a steep climb to get there and sheer drops on three sides, it was a daring place to take in the view. It was also where the townsfolk made sacrificial offerings to Rote. No one came up outside that horrible ritual.

No one would expect Fraki, the daughter of the town leader, to be here.

It was the perfect place to meet the love of her life, the man her parents forbid her to see.

Fraki left the trees to climb the last few steps to the top platform, moving into the moonlight, puffing to catch her breath, and found new energy on seeing Sudien’s slim silhouette against the night sky. He was looking out towards the stars, and for a moment she enjoyed watching him, wondering where his deep thoughts were going. Her mother and father didn’t get that about him: he might’ve been a stable-hand, with few prospects beyond good, honest work, but he liked to read. He liked to think. He was intelligent, and funny, and lovely.

She crept up behind him, careful not to tread on the dry grass and broken twigs that littered the peak, and readied herself to pounce. Just as she was about to leap forward, hands ready to squeeze over his eyes, Sudien turned and smiled, without a hint of surprise.

Fraki gawked, startled herself, and demanded, “How did you know?”

“Lucky guess.” He shrugged. He must’ve heard her or seen a shadow. But Fraki’s annoyance at how he predicted her coming faded at his smile, that smooth-skinned face and his lush curtains of sweeping blond hair. She straightened up and smiled back.

“How long were you waiting?”

“Since sundown,” he said. “As soon as I could get away from work. How could I bear staying in town, knowing I’d see you here?”

Fraki read his face for a lie, or a joke, but he kept it expertly blank. She curled her nose and pushed his arm. “Liar.”

Sudien cracked with a laugh. “Course not. I was about two metres ahead of you on the road, I only just beat you!”

Fraki shoved him again and he laughed louder, pushing back, and their arms tangled in a mock wrestle – until their faces came close together and Sudien held her there, strong arms around her back, lips just above her own. Sinking in each other’s eyes, they drifted together for a kiss.

When they parted, hungry, breathless, Sudien slid an arm around Fraki’s shoulders and directed her towards the stars, holding her close. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“It is,” Fraki said.

“Not just the sky,” Sudien added. “This. Us. Did you talk to your father again?”

“I tried. He laughed, pretending I was joking. Easier than daring to disagree with Mother. She’s actually arranged for Lord Ahane’s son to visit next month. Now that the trouble across the Clear Valley’s calming they think we can unite with Ahaneton.”

“Calming,” Sudien scoffed. “What’s it matter how calm the Clear Valley is, out here? If trouble came, your mother would wish for my horses instead of wealthy neighbours.”

“Do we have to talk about them?” Fraki sighed. “Aren’t we here to avoid town business?”

“Yes,” Sudien agreed, facing her again, smile returning. “Of course, leave Lewvon problems to Lewvon. Tonight is for us.” He took her hands. “But I swear I’ll figure something out. We’ll run away together if we have to. I love you, Fraki. I’ll do anything to be with you.”

Fraki’s eyes went so big she thought they might fall out. It was the first time he had said those words, and while not totally unexpected she still found herself unready. He stared at her with rare sincerity, all playfulness put aside.

“I –” Fraki began, not aware exactly what response she would give.

She didn’t get to find out.

A loud thud echoed down the stream, between the mountain walls and the rocky edges of Star Peak. The couple turned towards the sound as another came, closer. Fraki’s hand found Sudien’s and squeezed. The third step shook the ground under them, and a great shadow swept out from the cliffs upstream. Their first few seconds of stillness were not confusion but disbelief: they knew exactly what was coming, but it shouldn’t have been here.

“Go!” Sudien said, pulling Fraki away from the edge, towards the steps. He ran across the plateau almost dragging her behind him, his legs that much longer and faster. As they reached the first step, the peak shuddered more violently, the giant footsteps almost upon them. Sudien skidded aside to let Fraki past him, gave her an encouraging push.

“We’ll be hidden in the trees!” he insisted, plainly trying to keep cool. Ease her nerves with his calm. But they both knew there was no safety out here from her.

Fraki hesitated, two steps down, needing a better plan than that. Or an explanation, at the least; the monster had come just a week ago. She had no business being here, breaking the pact. But as Fraki dwelt on how it couldn’t or shouldn’t be true, she appeared over the tip of Star Peak, a vast shape blocking out the sky beyond Sudien’s shoulder. Unable to stop herself, Fraki screamed. It made Sudien turn back, and he swore with quiet fear.

The giantess was known to everyone in Lewvon, but few saw her up close. She called herself Rote, and had first appeared almost a year ago. She had devoured over a dozen townsfolk since – including, most recently, a young miner who had been staked here after being caught stealing from the tavern’s coffers. He’d been a strong, healthy tribute, better than some that had been offered – why wasn’t it enough?

Fraki wanted to scream at the giant, to demand an answer – how dare she interrupt her one chance to be alone with her love! – but fear rooted her to the spot. It was impossible not to be afraid, staring up at the visage of a savage woman of huge proportions. They said Rote stood sixty feet tall, higher than Star Peak and far higher than any building in Lewvon. Far bigger than any creature had a right to be. The giantess’s head was as wide as a wagon and twice as tall. Each searching eye was big as Fraki’s torso, and they shone like moons above as she bent towards the rocky platform. It only took a moment for her to spot the young couple; they hadn’t even reached the treeline.

Fraki and Sudien breathed heavily, motionless as if she might decide they weren’t worth her time. Sudien had an arm up though, protectively in front of Fraki to form a barrier before this monster.

One of the giantess’s immense hands crept over the far side of the peak and log-sized fingers settled on the ground. The rocks groaned under her weight, the steps shaking again under Fraki’s feet, as Rote leant a little closer to inspect them. Her skin was blue-black in the moonlight, her shoulder-length hair even darker, falling down either side of her face in thick strands. Her face, though grotesquely big, would’ve been considered slender, even beautiful, on a normal woman, well-proportioned and unblemished. Her shoulders and arms, the bits visible around the rocky peak, were curved with muscle, bare except for chunky leather straps that supported a patchwork panelled top.

As Rote observed them, her massive lips twitched with unpleasant interest.

Sudien gave Fraki another push and shouted, “Run!”

She tripped down the next few steps, moving fast from the momentum. She skidded around the first turn, glancing up to see the great shadow of the giantess’s hand reaching overhead like an enormous flying creature falling towards them. Sudien shouted in panic, right behind Fraki, and bowled into her as she slowed, throwing her into a stumble. She tripped into the rock wall, catching hold to avoid falling, as Sudien suddenly rose over her, yelling. His legs flew up past her head and it took a second for her to realise he wasn’t jumping, but being carried.

Fraki sprang out from the wall, trying to catch Sudien’s peddling legs, but they slipped out of reach, as one of his leather shoes kicked off and fell into the darkness. She darted back up the steps, still uselessly reaching up and shouting, “Sudien! No!”

The giantess’s thick fingers were wrapped tightly around his waist and he was punching at them with all his strength, trying to shift free. Rote lifted him unhurriedly, easily, up into the night sky, and back above the plateau. Fraki ran out into the open, crying, “Put him down!”

Her voice drew Sudien from his struggles as Rote stepped back from Star Peak, studying the catch in her hand as a cat might regard an unexpected mouse. He shouted, “Get away, Fraki! Save yourself!”

She skidded to a stop as the giantess’s big eyes went from him down to her, and her head rolled slightly to one side. Her lips stretched tighter, smiling. Fraki gasped, chilled by the fresh danger, and started stepping back. As she did, Rote turned her attention back to Sudien, and opened her terrible mouth.

“No,” Fraki pleaded, quietly. Hopelessly.

Sudien began squirming again, grunting as he tried to lever his hands under the top finger and pry it loose. Rote carried him towards her gaping maw, a black hole in the night, and he paused in terror as he looked into it. Fraki’s beloved, her strong, smart man, gave an ear-piercing shriek as his head and shoulders entered Rote’s mouth. The cry echoed back out, before the monster clamped her teeth shut with a wet crunch. Sudien jerked in her grip and Fraki screamed. He wasn’t dead, as his legs began kicking harder than ever, but Rote sped up, hungrily chewing as she pushed more of him into her bulging cheeks. His legs flung about all the way, even as she tilted her head back and swallowed.

Fraki gaped with mute, disbelieving horror as Sudien’s flapping feet disappeared between the giant woman’s lips. As the bulge shifted from Rote’s cheeks to her throat, a moist, heavy gulp cut off Sudien’s cries.

He was gone.

And Rote turned, again, to eye Fraki. There was something calculating in her evil expression, and Fraki stood shakily still. So be it. She could not run. Did not want to go on with this memory, without Sudien. She closed her eyes and waited for the giantess to take her.

But there only came a puff of amused breath, then the loud thump of Rote’s footstep, quaking the ground. Fraki opened her eyes again to see the giantess’s mostly bare back moving away, upstream again. The booming footsteps receded, until she rounded the cliffs ahead, out of sight. Fraki dropped to her knees, overwhelmed in equal parts by relief and trauma.

Sudien was dead. Or. Still dying, even now? Trapped in that monstrous woman’s stomach. Why? The town had an agreement. They had a deal! Fraki felt hot tears roll down her cheeks. Damn the treacherous giantess.

She could not get away with this.