Into the Game

We made it to the elephant graveyard without getting attacked.

The graveyard was huge. The skeletons of dozens of elephants littered the bare ground. I walked through rib cages. It made me feel small against the husks of such large creatures.

“How did they die?” I asked. "A raid?”

“It’s always been here.” Michael replied. "I think it’s just something the developers put in the game.”

I touched the bones. They were cold even though it was in the nineties. I looked at the setting sun. "Should we be out here?”

“We can make it to Trumpit before it gets too late.” Michael said

“That’s not what I’m worried about.” I looked around

Michael raised his eyebrow. "What?”

“We’re in a graveyard.” I prompted. "At night?”

“You mean ghosts?”

I nodded.

“Ghosts are a zone four enemy.” Michael glanced around. "This is zone two.”

“So no ghosts?”

“No ghosts.” Michael said

A hyena howled deeper in the graveyard.

“Goblins on the other hand…” Michael’s voice drifted off. He strung an arrow and took off in the direction of the howls.

I ran after him. "Why are we running towards the noise?” I whispered

“Hyenas mean Goblins.”

“I know!” I raised my voice a little. "We should avoid the goblins!”

“Goblins live in the skulls.” Michael held up a finger to quiet me

I followed him to the next mound. We leaned against it and peeked over it.

There were three elephant skulls around a large bonfire. A pig was roasting over the fire. The smell of pork got my stomach to growl. We hadn’t stopped for dinner yet. I had forgotten that I was hungry. I tried not to think about food as I looked over the rest of the camp.

On the other side of the fire was a cloaked figure fighting against the goblins. The figure was slashing at the goblins with a black dagger. A red gem in the hilt glowed every time it ended a life.

I started to move forward, but Michael grabbed my arm.

“What are you doing?” He demanded

“We have to help her.”

“She’s taking on the entire goblin camp!” Michael exclaimed

“That’s why we have to help her!”

I pulled out of his grip and ran over the mound. There were at least a dozen goblins and more hyenas. I hesitated for a moment at the edge of the fire light.

I was about to rush into a dangerous situation to help someone I didn’t know.

An arrow zinged over my shoulder. Michael had just shot a hyena that was running at me.

“Kat!” He yelled. "Move!”

I tightened the grip on my sword and ran towards the cloaked stranger. I hoped this wasn’t a bad idea.