The Gorehound's roars still echoed in Ryn's ears as he sat slumped against the ravine wall, the cold stone pressing into his back. His chest heaved with every breath, his muscles trembling with exhaustion. The Spirit Fox lay beside him, its glowing tail draped over its small body, its light flickering weakly.
The fight had drained them both.
Ryn's fingers tightened around the hilt of his knife, its edge chipped and coated in the remnants of the Gorehound's blackened essence. He stared at the blade, his mind racing. That thing had been more than just a corrupted beast—it had been a predator, relentless and unnaturally focused.
And it wasn't alone.
He glanced at the Spirit Fox, reaching out to ruffle its fur. The bond between them pulsed faintly, weaker than before but still present.
"You okay?" Ryn asked softly.
The fox chirped weakly, lifting its head just enough to nuzzle his hand before collapsing again.
"Yeah, me too," Ryn muttered, leaning his head back against the wall. "That was... too close."
The ravine around them was eerily quiet, the oppressive mist hanging in the air like a heavy blanket. The Gorehound's body had dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind only a faint scorch mark on the ground where it had fallen.
Ryn pushed himself to his feet with a groan, wincing as his sore muscles protested. "We can't stay here," he said, adjusting the straps of his pack. "If something else shows up, we're done for."
The Spirit Fox stood shakily, its glowing eyes meeting his. Despite its exhaustion, there was a determination in its gaze that mirrored his own.
"Alright," Ryn said, offering the fox a small smile. "Let's find somewhere safe to rest. Just a little further."
Climbing out of the ravine was harder than Ryn expected. The steep walls were slick with moss, and his fingers slipped more than once as he scrambled for a foothold. The Spirit Fox made the climb look effortless, using Radiant Step to blink from ledge to ledge.
"Show off," Ryn muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth as he pulled himself over the edge.
The forest stretched out before them, its dense trees swaying gently in the breeze. The air here was fresher, free of the metallic tang that had clung to the mist in the ravine.
Ryn scanned the area, his eyes narrowing as he spotted something in the distance: a faint plume of smoke rising above the treetops.
"Smoke," he said aloud, his heart skipping a beat. "That means people."
The Spirit Fox tilted its head, its glowing tail swishing uncertainly.
Ryn hesitated, chewing his lip as he weighed his options. Whoever was out there could be dangerous—or they could be a lifeline. After everything they'd been through, the promise of shelter and supplies was too tempting to ignore.
"Let's check it out," Ryn said, his voice steady. "But we'll be careful. If it looks bad, we leave."
The fox chirped in agreement, its fur glowing faintly as it followed him toward the smoke.
The trek through the forest was slow and cautious. Ryn moved silently, his knife in hand, his eyes scanning every shadow for signs of movement. The Spirit Fox stayed close, its glowing eyes sharp and alert.
As they neared the source of the smoke, the trees thinned, giving way to a small clearing. At its center stood a crude campsite, little more than a firepit surrounded by scattered belongings.
The fire had burned low, its embers glowing faintly in the dusk.
Ryn crouched at the edge of the clearing, his heart pounding. The campsite was abandoned, but it hadn't been for long. The fire was still warm, and the ground around it was littered with fresh footprints.
"Whoever was here left in a hurry," Ryn muttered, his brow furrowing.
The Spirit Fox sniffed at the air, its tail swishing uneasily.
Ryn stepped into the clearing, his knife at the ready. He moved carefully, inspecting the belongings left behind: a torn bedroll, a cracked cooking pot, and a satchel that had been hastily emptied.
"They didn't take much," Ryn said, glancing at the satchel. "Looks like they grabbed what they could and ran."
The fox growled softly, its glowing eyes fixed on something near the edge of the clearing.
"What is it?" Ryn asked, stepping closer.
The Spirit Fox nudged a patch of disturbed earth with its nose, letting out a low chirp.
Ryn knelt to inspect the spot, his stomach twisting as he brushed away the loose dirt. Beneath it, he found a shard of metal—a broken blade, jagged and rusted, with faint traces of blackened blood along its edge.
"Another fight," Ryn muttered, his jaw tightening.
The Spirit Fox growled again, its ears flattening.
Ryn stood, his mind racing. The abandoned campsite, the broken blade, the fleeing tamers—it all pointed to the same conclusion.
"The corruption's spreading faster than we thought," he said, his voice grim. "And it's driving people out of the Wildlands."
The Spirit Fox chirped softly, pressing against his leg.
Ryn clenched his fists, his knuckles white. The fight with the Gorehound had shaken him, but this was worse. The corruption wasn't just a threat to beasts—it was tearing apart the world around him, leaving destruction in its wake.
"We need to get stronger," Ryn said, his voice firm. "If this keeps up, it's not just the Wildlands that'll suffer. It'll be everywhere."
The bond pulsed faintly, and Ryn felt the Spirit Fox's resolve echoing through him.
"Let's keep moving," he said, adjusting his pack. "We'll follow the trail and see where it leads. If there's a way to stop this, we'll find it."
The Spirit Fox chirped in agreement, its glowing tail flicking as they left the clearing behind.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in shadows, Ryn and the Spirit Fox pressed on. The trail was faint but steady, marked by broken branches and disturbed earth.
Ryn's thoughts were a whirlwind of questions and doubts. The Codex, the corruption, the visions—it all felt too big, too overwhelming. But he couldn't afford to stop now.
The Spirit Fox trotted beside him, its presence a steady reminder that he wasn't alone.
"We'll figure this out," Ryn said quietly, his voice filled with determination. "Whatever it takes."
The fox chirped softly, its glowing eyes fixed on the path ahead.
Together, they disappeared into the night, the bond between them burning brighter than ever.