content warning: animal death, violence, blood

Splat! Down goes another dinosaur, seven in total by my axe alone. An assortment of new dinosaur chunks join the litter around us. A dry wind billows through the desert plains and over all the corpses scattered on the ground. I take this moment of reprieve to clean off some of the bloody chunks from my faithful axe.

            “That should be the last of them,” says Raddish, my Tabaxi companion, their ginger fur now stained red by all the spilt blood. I take out a blue and gold handkerchief from my satchel. I swab Raddish’s cheek with the handkerchief—a meagre attempt to dry off this sudden bout of brutal self-defence. Raddish brushes away my feathery arms with their paws.

            “Now now, Quill. As much as I want this blood washed off, we don’t have time. Remember our mission?” I sigh and stash the handkerchief back in my satchel.

            “I know, I know. Find the treasure map. Apprehend the Kobolds that stole it.”

            “Right. Now, shall we get going?” says Raddish, their back already turned on the thirteen dinosaur corpses that scatter the region.

            “Wait. What about the dinosaurs?”

            “What about them?”

            “Don’t you find it strange that so many dinosaurs suddenly ran right into us?” I go over to one of the dinosaurs and examine its teeth and claws. Small, barely larger than a pearl, and without any particularly big sharp edges. In fact, upon closer inspection, none of these dinosaurs appear larger than a horse. The corpses that haven’t been entirely eviscerated by my axe appear covered with a light layer of feathers, and sport long spines on their necks. They seem to be raptors, but not the meat-eating kind. More like the ones used for farm-work, or as mounts.

            “Check this out—this species doesn’t even seem that carnivorous or violent. So why would they all attack us like that? Why were they running in the first place? Who were they running from—”

            “You honestly ask way too many questions Quill. Just follow my lead, and we’ll be golden.” Raddish’s voice is smooth and sweet, like velvet and honey. Their gaze, on the other hand, is cold and harsh like the sharpest of steels. They turn their back again and beckon me onwards with their finger. I sigh again, and follow.

Less than thirty minutes later Raddish stops.

            “Everything okay?” I say. They place their palm at my chest. I blush profusely.

            “Kobold tracks. Right here. They’re near.” Almost as if on command a wagon appears right behind us. It speeds ahead, leaving a trail of dust for us to choke on. Except I don’t choke, I fly.

I unfurl my wings, puffing out my feathers. I reach out my hand to Raddish, who blushes a bit themself before taking my hand. I fling them on my back, and a flap of my wings later, we rocket skywards, the Kobold wagon in our sights.

As we near the wagon, my Aarakocran eyes take a closer look, and I gasp.

            “Check out the front of that wagon Raddish.” Raddish cups their hands over their eyes, like makeshift binoculars. A sly grin appears on their face.

            “Well now, guess we’re gonna have some fun today.”

I smile softly. For too long we’ve been wanting to pay a certain band of Kobold bards back for stealing my flute, Raddish’s guitar, our sheet music, ink and make-up kit. And today seems to be that day. For riding the wagon, at the very front, on top of a bunch of pillows, is Nino, leader of a local band of Kobold bards. I recognise the distinctive bronze scales and spines on their back.  I would most certainly recognise those green locks of hair and insidious toothy grin anywhere. The fact they also have the map just makes our vengeance all the sweeter.

I glide closer in, close enough for Raddish to jump on top of the wagon. Raddish takes out their lute from their bag, and lets loose with a powerful shockwave, sending the wagon wheeling towards a nearby cliff. Nino, having finally noticed us, screams for help. Three more Kobold bards, decked out in a bunch of ragtag rags seemingly scavenged from their various bardic concerts, leap out of the wagon. However, after one look at us, they gasp and flee for their lives. Raddish glances over to me, and I chuckle. Not surprising at all when it comes to us, especially when our enemies are a bunch of cowardly Kobolds.

            “Cowards!” screams Nino. “I should have thrown you out like the dinosaurs!” Nino charges towards us, but Raddish and I are well prepared. I take Raddish into my arms, and flap my wings furiously, nimbly dodging Nino’s thunderbolts. After six thunderbolts Nino screams, and flings their lute as well, which we also dodge. Nino screams again.

            “Come back here! I’m not done with you two yet!” says Nino, before they turn back to the shadow of a cliff looming over them. They barely have enough time to scream before the wagon collides with the cliff. As the dust settles I sail through the air, gliding towards the wreckage. I drop Raddish right next to an unconscious Nino. Raddish searches Nino while I search the wreckage. No map. No precious guitar, or my flute. Just a bunch of ripped up sheet music, spilt ink, and a mangled make-up kit.

            “The other Kobold bards must still have the map,” says Raddish.

            “And your guitar,” I reply, sighing.

            “It’s fine, we’ll find what we’re looking for.” Raddish waves their palm towards the mess in front of us. “And don’t worry about this. All of this messed-up stuff they stole? It’s replaceable. Unlike you Quill.”

            “Oh, Raddish...” I say, knowing full well my cheeks are blushing up a storm.