She spit out a mouthful of wet, grainy sand as she pushed herself to her hands and knees. Her sodden clothing threatened to drag her back down into the dirt. As she stared at the droplets splashing into the puddle beneath her head, she wondered just exactly where she was. A high-pitched voice asked if she was alive or undead.

She squinted and looked up, trying to blink her eyes into focus. Of course, she was alive. She was moving, wasn’t she?

Undead? What the blazes is she nattering about, undead? Just what nightmare have I landed in, anyway? And where the hell am I?

A tiny person at the other end of the voice regarded her. The figure wasn’t a child, but was child-sized. This was obviously a mature woman. A bandoleer filled with small knives crisscrossed her heavy brown leather shirt. She had an impish look about her and introduced herself as Hildi Thistletop.

“Talyn? Talyn Wulfgar,” she said, saying the first name that popped into her mind. I think. Sounds good, anyway.

Talyn followed Hildi to a makeshift camp overlooking the beach, a short walk up a narrow trail. The woman offered her a weapon if she would help someone named Callum. Talyn stared down at her, then over at the assortment strewn on a table, eyebrows furrowed. A club, a staff, a couple of long knives, a handful of swords. She picked up a sword and gave it a few swings, deciding it could work.

I seriously doubt I can take anyone on with this thing. Especially with that… whatever it is, blocking the only other path I see off this freaking beach.

Hildi seemed satisfied with her choice and pointed up the trail leading northwest, toward the figure standing in the shadows near the path.

“Go talk to Spark, he’ll tell you where to go.”

Hildi turned and trudged back down to the water’s edge.

Talyn approached the figure, keeping a wary eye.

“Greetings,” a deep, emotionless voice emanated from the form. “I am called Spark. I will be your guide.” said the flat voice. At her questioning look, it continued. “I am a construct.”

“A construct?”

“Affirmative.”

“Lead on, McDuff.”

“I do not know ‘McDuff.’ I am called Spark.”

Spark escorted her to a cave entrance. Inside the grotto, Talyn introduced herself to Callum. She looked down at her wet rags, then up at the shining plate of hammered metal strapped to the man’s chest.

“I’m Callum,” he said, in a deep, sonorous voice. “Hildi sent you?”

She nodded and dug the toe of her boot into the dirt as he gave her a measuring look.

“Can you use that?” he asked, nodding at the sword in her hand.

“Um, yes?” she said, the blade still awkward in her grasp. Maybe, she thought.

“Very well,” his voice held the skepticism infecting her own confidence. “According to the maps, on the other side of this rock and down the corridor is a lever. I cannot reach it. There is, however, a small opening at the top of this wall that I will not fit through. You appear agile enough to perform such a task. Should you injure yourself, I will Heal you.”

“So, you’re a doctor?”

“A priest of Tinát,” he responded. “Her wisdom grants me the Gift of Healing.”

“Okay, then. Where do I go?”

Callum pointed to the rock wall behind her. She followed his finger up, seeing nothing but shadows. Then, soft light illuminated the cavern ceiling, and she spied a small hole. The cleric boosted her into the opening.

Talyn’s climbing skills were sure helpful, even in a dungeon. Her body remembered similar exertions when she scaled the climbing wall at the gym. It was barely wide enough to fit her shoulders.

Yeah, no way Callum’ll fit through here, she thought. Hildi, yeah. But not Callum. And for certain, not Spark.

A wheeze and a cough from the passageway ahead caught her attention as she crawled through the tight space. Now on high alert, she wiggled around, rolled onto her stomach, and let her legs dangle into the dark. She lowered herself and let go of the edge. She hoped the cave floor was at the same level as the previous cavern. And that she didn’t make a racket when she hit the ground.

Her feet met the cave floor with a soft thump. She crouched, listening as her eyes adjusted to the near darkness. Another wheeze echoed down the passage, something big rustling just out of sight. She tiptoed to the far wall, settled back into her crouch, and crept toward the sound. Light flickered ahead, illuminating the corridor with a faint yellow glow. Shadows played along the walls as something big and misshapen passed between her and the light source. She flattened to the ground, peeking around the corner, then pulled back, shaking her head.

What the hell is that? She scuttled back the way she came.

The ugliest creature she had ever seen in her life paced the corridor ahead. She took several deep breaths to steady herself before taking another look at the creature. This was the stuff of nightmares. A fish that walked on two legs!

Breathe, girl, breathe.

Several minutes later, she stole forward again, taking one slow, steady step at a time as she gripped the sword hilt with both hands. It must have sensed her just before she struck, because it spat a curse as it turned to confront her. Somehow, she landed a hit, but thought it lacked the power to do much harm. She swung a couple more times before the thing stayed down.

And I knew what to do how, exactly?

Panting, she pulled the handle the fish-thing was guarding. A few moments later, the others moved up the passageway to meet her.

“You okay?” asked Callum.

“Yeah,” she squeaked.

The group trudged through the cave, arriving at another gate and another lever. Talyn pulled the lever when Callum gave the signal. They rushed into the cavern, the stone door rolling shut behind them.

What the?!

Several more fish-things dropped from a ledge that encircled the cave, attacking as they landed. The battle, while fierce, was short, ending with a victory for the companions. Hildi checked the doors leading out of the cavern.

“Lock’s unpickable,” she said. “We’ll need to find a key.”

While searching the carcasses for valuables and the cavern for escape, Spark tripped. A loud click reverberated through the chamber as the floor slid from beneath Talyn’s feet. She landed with a splash in crystal clear seawater. At the bottom, a glint of metal teased her vision.

“Something’s down there.” Talyn, treading water, looked up at the others. They all looked at her—expectantly.

Hildi mumbled, “can’t swim.” Callum groused something about sinking in armor. Spark said nothing.

Great. Glad I like to swim. At least I’ll be less stinky. That dead fish smell is making my stomach turn!

She inhaled deeply and dove to the bottom of the well. She took the key laying on an altar and swam back to the surface, rubbing the slime and ichor off her skin before getting out of the water. While cleaner, she felt more than a little self-conscious in the few, once again, sodden rags clinging to her slight frame. Rags that were even more tattered after the battle she’d just helped fight.

She tossed the key to Hildi, who unlocked the door opposite the one they had entered. Callum called for a brief rest before the group moved on. They recovered their energy while Hildi scouted the passage ahead.

Hildi came back looking rather smug.

“It’s a good thing yours truly is along,” she bragged. “I just found a trap.”

“Did you fix it?”

“Not yet, thought I’d wait and show the newbie what’s what.” Hildi smirked.

When they reached the barrier, the woman held up a hand, pulling a leather case from her jerkin. She plucked out a slender blade and wire loop. With a flourish, she inserted the loop, then gently worked the blade into the mechanism. She hooked the trap and unlocked the door with one twist of her nimble fingers. The group moved deeper through the caverns.

Another door, another lever, blocked their way. Callum and Spark exchanged a look. Spark nodded, standing by the lever. Callum gave the signal, Spark pulled the handle, and the party charged the fish people in the chamber.

This time, Talyn had no hesitation. Running forward with Hildi, sword leading, she rushed to the nearest adversary, ducking beneath the trident in its hand as it poked at her. She skewered it, grabbing at the shaft of its weapon. It tugged her forward as she pivoted, yanked her blade free of its torso, and danced away as a clawed appendage came at her face. Her next attack severed a gill, causing the beast to gasp, stumble, and flop to the cavern floor.

When the battle was over, Talyn explored the grotto. Freshly dug dirt near far wall drew her attention. She stepped closer to the wall and a breath of clean air hit her nostrils. As she searched the area, her hands felt irregular ridges clawed in the rock. As her fingertips probed the imperfection, a faint click reached her ears, and a door to a hidden passage rolled away to reveal a finished room leading into a basement.

The group left the grotto, stepping into a room of chiseled rock with perfectly dressed stonework. When Talyn left the building, she stepped out into—snow. She shivered and turned back to the door she’d just exited. It was gone.

Odd. The island should be tropical, judging by the vegetation. Then she remembered Spark saying something about a dragon but wasn’t listening.

“Hullo.”

A voice from behind got her attention.

“Ye wanna be heading to the inn,” said a man wearing a simple tunic and trews. He acted like the snow and stiff wind didn’t phase him.

“Where?” she managed through chattering teeth.

“That way,” he pointed.

Talyn trudged in the direction he pointed, shivering in the icy breeze. She looked up at a wooden sign rattling above her head. Resting Waves Inn. She dragged herself up three uneven wooden steps and pushed her weight against a door she expected to weigh more than she did. It didn’t.

It swung open on well-oiled hinges and she stumbled into a brightly lit, very familiar room.

“Took ye long enough, Tal,” said a voice from a darkened corner.

“Jeryn, is that you?”

“Aye, welcome to my world. Wha’cha think?” He stood, rushed over and pulled her into a bear hug, all the while grinning like a fool.

“I think you’re a turd for the memory thing, you asshole.”

“I thought it was a nice touch,” said Kaylen, handing her a drink. “I liked it.”

“Me too,” added Cyrus, leaning on the bar. “Do you think it’ll sell?”

“Might,” replied Talyn, sipping the liquor. “Depends on who your market is.”

“Gamers like us.”

“Then it’ll be a hit.” Talyn grinned. She raised her glass in a toast, knowing that their lives were about to change forever.