The pair is startled awake by the sudden sound of crashing and distant screams, the peaceful camp now alive with chaos. Outside the tent, the muffled hums of the Thaxil fill the air.
Eska sits up abruptly, her heart pounding as she exchanges a tense glance with Valen, who is already moving to grab his weapon.
Before they can act, the tent flap is thrown open and a small group of hunters rushes inside. "Don't you guys worry!" one of them says, flashing a confident grin as they spread out around the tent.
Their weapons are drawn, but their relaxed stance exudes the confidence of seasoned veterans. "The folks outside know how to handle this. Just sit tight."
The sounds of fire roaring and thunderous explosions echo through the camp, the tent vibrating faintly with the force of the conflict outside.
Minutes pass, each one feeling like an eternity, until the cacophony suddenly halts, replaced by an unsettling silence. Then, just as Eska's grip on her blanket tightens, a wave of triumphant cheering erupts from the camp.
"See?" the same man says, lowering his weapon and glancing back at them with a reassuring nod.
"Thaxil aren't much of an issue when they come in smaller groups." Despite his easy tone, the flicker of tension in his eyes suggests the hunters aren't taking anything for granted.
Eska and Valen exchange a wary look. Before either can say a word, the tent flap rustles and another figure strides inside.
A woman, cradling a bleeding hand, locks eyes with the man stationed at the entrance.
"Don't you dare say anything, Vik," she snaps, her glare sharp enough to cut.
Vik raises his hands defensively, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"I didn't say anything," he replies innocently, stepping aside as she heads straight for one of the cabinets. Gathering a few supplies, he follows her to a cot where she drops herself unceremoniously.
"I almost had the bastard" she growls, slamming two bloodied fingers down onto the surface of the table next to her. "And then another one pops out of nowhere and slices my damn fingers off!"
She waves her mangled hand in the air as if for emphasis, extending her arm in anticipation. Vik is already there, ready to work on sewing her fingers back together.
"But I still got one of them—solo kill!" She declares triumphantly, punctuating her words with a quick jab of her fist in the air.
Another man steps forward, his hand glowing faintly green as he begins using healing magic to repair the severed digits.
"Maybe you should—" he starts, clearing his throat dramatically before grinning. "Maybe you shouldn't have pushed so hard!"
His words set off a ripple of laughter from everyone in the room, save for Valen and Eska, who glance at each other in confusion, clearly missing the inside joke.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," the woman grumbles, rolling her eyes but smirking faintly. "Just get my fingers back in working order so I can get back out there." Her voice is sharp, but her tone carries the hardened resilience of someone who's been through worse.
She turns toward Valen and Eska, her eyes narrowing slightly as recognition dawns. "Oh, so you're the survivors!" she exclaims, a note of surprise in her voice.
A sly grin spreads across her face as she adds, "I didn't think the church actually sent out competent hunters. Guess miracles do happen!"
She lets out a hearty laugh, clearly amused by her own jab.
Eska doesn't move but her eyes dart towards Valen who is clearly bothered by the remark.
Eska stays still, but her eyes flick toward Valen, noticing the subtle tension in his posture. It's clear the remark has bothered him, though he says nothing.
Her gaze shifts back to the woman, her expression curious as she tilts her head slightly.
"Doesn't that… hurt?" Eska asks, genuinely curious.
The woman lets out a short laugh, leaning back against the cot. "Girlie, if you're aiming to become a top hunter, you can't let something as simple as pain slow you down," she replies with a grin.
"Even a split second of hesitation can mean life or death in a fight. You just learn to deal with it."
Eska nods slowly, her expression thoughtful.
Suddenly, Marina's voice echoes softly in her mind. "A quality hunter, I see. Perhaps not everything is lost." Eska blinks, her gaze lingering on the woman as the words settle in her thoughts.
She grips the edge of the blanket draped over her shoulders, unsure whether Marina's comment was approval or something else entirely.
The woman grins widely, her amusement practically radiating from her.
"You two better be ready. Tomorrow, we're heading straight for the nest—and you're both coming with us!" she announces, her grin growing even larger at the reactions she expects.
"We are?" Valen replies immediately with slight disbelief.
"Boss' orders. Well, both bosses' orders," she clarifies with a shrug. "I don't know why Cole listens to that woman—she's such a pain in the ass."
"Lenna ordered us to go into the nest with you?" Valen asks with evident frustration. "I outrank her. How is she giving that kind of order?"
"She's the church rep for this mission, so I guess that means she outranks you for now," the woman replies with a hearty laugh. "You people and your politics. I don't envy it."
The man working on her hand suddenly chimes in. "Alright, you're all set. But no holding weapons with that hand unless you want to lose your fingers again. You'll need a few more sessions."
"Yeah, yeah," she replies dismissively, waving her freshly bandaged hand in the air with a cocky grin. "I'll see you guys later."
Eska, still sitting on the cot, quickly speaks up before the woman can leave. "Wait—what's your name?"
The woman stops briefly at the tent's exit, turning just enough to glance over her shoulder. "Vanessa, but everyone calls me Nass" she says without waiting, disappearing into the camp before anyone can respond.
Eska looks back at Valen, her lips curving into a slightly nervous smile. "So… I guess we're going into the nest," she says softly.
Valen sighs heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose as he lowers his head. "I guess we are," he replies, resigned of the choices being made outside. After a brief pause, he mutters under his breath, "What is Lenna even thinking?"
The other men in the tent begin walking out of the tent, one of them glancing back at the pair. "We'll be outside if you need anything," he says, gesturing toward the camp. "Plenty of people out there to get our attention—just shout or something if you need help."
With a few casual waves, they file out of the tent, leaving Eska and Valen alone once more, the quiet hum of the camp outside filling the air.
Eska pulls the blanket tighter around her shoulders, glancing over at Valen, who remains seated, his hands resting on his knees and his gaze fixed on the ground.
For a moment, neither of them speaks, the weight of the upcoming mission hanging heavy in the air.
"You should get some rest," Valen finally says, his voice low but firm. "Tomorrow's going to be… difficult."
Eska nods slowly, her earlier nervous smile fading into something more somber. "You too," she replies, lying down on her cot and pulling the blanket up to her chin. She glances at him one last time before closing her eyes, the faint flicker of worry still lingering in her expression.
Valen stays seated for a while longer, his thoughts a restless storm.
Eventually, he exhales deeply and moves to his own cot, lying down with his arms crossed over his chest. Despite the exhaustion tugging at him, sleep doesn't come easily.
The threat of the nest ever-present in his thoughts race through his mind before he finally falls asleep.
The faint light of dawn filters through the tent as Eska stirs awake, blinking groggily at the brightening sky.
She sits up slowly, stretching her arms and wincing slightly at the lingering soreness in her body. Across from her, Valen is already up, fastening the straps of his gear.
"Morning," she mutters, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Morning," Valen replies without looking up, his focus on securing his armor. "You should get ready. Vanessa wasn't kidding—we'll be heading out soon."
Eska nods, tossing the blanket aside and reaching for her belt and pouches by her cot. As she gets ready, the sounds of the camp preparing for the mission echo faintly outside—commands being barked and the low hum of conversations.
Valen finishes first and steps toward the tent's entrance, pausing to glance back at her. Eska, still fumbling with the laces on her boots, looks up and catches the movement.
Her eyes widen slightly and she hastily pulls the boots on the rest of the way, grabbing her gear with hurried motions.
"Wait for me!" she calls after him, scrambling to keep pace.
She slings her quiver over her shoulder, nearly knocking over the cot in her haste and rushes toward Valen.
Just as she reaches him, her rushing feet catch on one of the barely tied laces, sending her tumbling forward. Valen reacts quickly, catching her by the arm before she can hit the ground.
"Sorry," Eska mutters, with a smile as she looks up to him while quickly picking herself up.
Valen doesn't say a word, his grip firm as he helps her regain her balance. Once she's upright, he releases her arm and steps through the tent flap, Eska following close behind.