Elias speculated that the reason why Shadow Stalkers were not gregarious was because they tended to use others as bait. In a way, they did not trust their kin. They also tended to use their kin's blood as a measurement of danger.
If they sensed that their kin was injured, it would imply that the enemy was dangerous. In that way, they were good at surviving.
I knelt beside the fallen Shadow Stalker and retrieved a small vial from my pouch. Carefully, I collected some of its blood, the dark liquid shimmering faintly in the moonlight. This would be my safeguard, a way to create a space where I could rest without being disturbed by other creatures.
I moved to the edge of the clearing and poured the blood into a small circle around me. The pungent scent would keep other monsters at bay, giving me a much-needed reprieve.
