4 - Sting

Sweat covered Sariel's body as the harsh sun beat down on her. The Calim Desert was nothing if not inhospitable - endless expanses of sand and salt flats, blasted by violent sandstorms. The heat and lack of water weren't the only threat, though: monsters and raiding clans prowled the desert, looking for their next target. Sariel had, with the help of a guide, managed to avoid any encounters and find her way to a ruin deep in the desert. The guide refused to enter, leaving the half-elf alone.

The canyon leading to the ruins offered no shade, no respite from the sun. Only the occasional cool breeze flowing through the walls gave Sariel any sort of relief. Her waterskin was running dangerously dry. She hoped there would be some water at the ruins.

As Sariel took another step forward, her ear twitched. There was something nearby. As she began to summon her bow, she saw it. Sand shifted, and a huge, black object rushed at her. Surprised, she fell backwards. Ironically, in falling over, she narrowly avoided a crushing swipe from the pincers of the giant scorpion now looming over her.

Before she could stand up, the scorpion was on her. She drew her dagger, but a second pincer swipe held her in a crushing vice around her hips. She cried out in pain, stabbing at the pincers with her dagger. But it was too late.

Sariel felt something hit her in her stomach. A moment later, the grip of the pincers loosened, but she didn't fall down. Instead, she had the distinct feeling of moving up. She looked down, only to see the huge stinger of the scorpion impaled deep inside her abdomen.

So this was why the guide didn't want to come along.

The only sign of where she went was a trail of blood along the hot sands leading to the scorpion's lair.