I sheepishly moved to start walking beside him. "So it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day." I said trying to break the silence.
"That it is," he replied. A grin spread across his face that could only be described as mischievous.
"So, have you had many dealings with humans in your travels?" I asked trying to keep the conversation going.
"I cross paths with them from time to time. Most of the ones I meet end up wearing their own blood. Bandits will attack anyone. You are just lucky I found you before a group of them did." He seemed proud of himself.
"Yeah, I guess I didn't realize what I was getting myself into when I left the village to make my way to the Kingdom of the Six Cities." I felt like such an ignorant pup. I truly hadn't thought about the dangers. I really was lucky that Fuzzy found me.
"Hmm, I seem to remember something about having to wear clothes in the human cities. You should probably find something to wear before you make it there. Humans are very modest. Even fur isn't enough covering for them. I don't mind seeing you in just your fur suit, but men get all uncomfortable and awkward." Fuzzy grinned. I was starting to think that he knew more about men than he was letting on.
"That seems so odd to me. I can understand humans covering their furless, bald shame, but wanting us covered too?" Then I remembered my father would sometimes put on a robe when he was going to deal with humans. I had thought before I was ceremonial. It appears to have been more.
"Thankfully for me, my armor covers that which men fear to see. They seem to fear anything that brings true pleasure." he mused. We both went silent and I pondered that. I got lost in thought as we walked. The sun was getting heavy and drooping down on the horizon. The day was moving to a close.
Suddenly there was a foul scent in the air. Rotten flesh. "Oh no!" I said. "More zombies!"
"Worse," Fuzzy responded pulling his bow off of his shoulder. "Necromancers."
"What's a necromancer?" I asked
"Mages who deal in death magic. They study the forbidden arts. They are the ones who raise zombies and animate skeletons to do their bidding. They also have an arsenal of nasty spells that can do everything from draining one's life force to out right slaying with a word. You may need to be ready to defend yourself." He handed me a dagger.
"I will do my best, but I only have very basic fighting knowledge. A pup could probably beat me in a fight." I laughed nervously.
"You had better hope your instincts take over then." He didn't appear to be joking. Then a small village came into sight just as the sun set. The pale moon hovered ominously over the large building at the edge of the square. "Ready yourself Dusk." Fuzzy knocked an arrow and we walked slowly down the road toward the village. It was quiet and there was a stench of decay.
The stinking breeze attacked my olfactory senses causing my eyes to water. I started choking on the heavy air. Then something came over me. I said something that even I didn't understand and thrust my arm forward. The air cleared and it became easier to breathe. "You're a mage?" Fuzzy puzzled.
"Not that I was aware of." I was even more shocked than he was at what had just happened.
"Well you just cast a spell. When things get heavy, let yourself go. You seem to have some innate ability there. That will help when you need to fight." Fuzzy trusted me more than I trusted myself.
