The firelight flickered in the darkening forest as the scarred tamer—Bryn, as he had introduced himself—motioned for Ryn to follow him toward the edge of the camp. The other two tamers, Mira and Jek, stayed near the fire, their gazes lingering on Ryn and the Spirit Fox with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"You sure about this?" Ryn asked as they walked, his tone wary.
Bryn glanced over his shoulder, a smirk tugging at his lips. "What's the matter? Getting cold feet?"
"No," Ryn said quickly. "I just want to know what I'm walking into."
Bryn stopped near a large crate and leaned against it, his scarred face shadowed by the flickering light. "It's simple," he said. "There's a corrupted beast lurking not far from here. It's been getting bolder, sniffing around the camp, and we don't want it getting any closer."
Ryn frowned. "If it's that close, why haven't you dealt with it already?"
Bryn's smirk widened, but there was no humor in it. "We're stretched thin. Supplies are low, and we can't afford to lose anyone. You showed up at just the right time, so consider this your chance to prove you're not dead weight."
Ryn's grip on his knife tightened. "And if I don't come back?"
"Then we'll know you weren't worth the trouble," Bryn said, his tone casual.
The Spirit Fox growled softly, its glowing tail flicking as it stepped closer to Ryn.
Bryn's smirk faltered slightly as he eyed the fox. "Don't look so grim, kid. You've got that little lightshow of yours, don't you? I'm sure you'll manage."
Ryn took a slow breath, forcing himself to stay calm. He glanced down at the Spirit Fox, its glowing eyes filled with quiet resolve.
"Fine," Ryn said. "Where's this beast?"
Bryn nodded toward the forest. "Follow the river south for about a mile. You'll find it near the old bridge. Big thing—corrupted stag. Shouldn't be too hard to spot."
Ryn narrowed his eyes. "And you're sure that's all there is to it?"
Bryn's smirk returned. "Why? You worried I'm sending you into a trap?"
Ryn didn't answer.
"Relax," Bryn said, stepping back toward the fire. "Just take care of the beast and come back in one piece. Then we'll talk."
Ryn watched him go, his jaw tightening.
"This feels off," he muttered, glancing at the Spirit Fox.
The fox chirped softly, its tail swishing as it nuzzled his leg.
"Yeah," Ryn said, sighing. "Let's just get this over with."
The forest was eerily quiet as Ryn and the Spirit Fox followed the river south, their footsteps muffled by the soft earth. The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting faint shadows on the water's surface.
Ryn's mind raced as they walked, his grip on his knife tightening with every step. The tamers' reluctance to deal with the beast themselves nagged at him. If they were strong enough to survive in the Wildlands, why send a stranger to handle their problem?
"Maybe they're testing me," Ryn muttered under his breath. "Or maybe they just don't trust me enough to fight alongside me."
The Spirit Fox chirped softly, its glowing fur dimmed to avoid drawing attention.
They reached the old bridge Bryn had mentioned—a crumbling structure of weathered stone that spanned a narrow section of the river. Vines and moss clung to its surface, and faint claw marks marred the stone near the base.
Ryn knelt to inspect the marks, his stomach twisting. They were deep and jagged, as though whatever had made them was far larger than any stag.
"Something's wrong," Ryn murmured, glancing at the fox. "These don't match the description."
The fox growled softly, its ears flattening as it sniffed the air.
A low, guttural noise rumbled from the shadows, sending a chill down Ryn's spine.
He rose slowly, his knife at the ready. The Spirit Fox crouched beside him, its glowing eyes fixed on the darkness beneath the bridge.
The sound came again, louder this time—a wet, rasping growl that seemed to vibrate through the air.
And then it emerged.
The beast was massive, far larger than Ryn had expected. Its body was twisted and grotesque, its antlers jagged and blackened as though scorched by fire. Green light pulsed faintly from cracks in its flesh, and its eyes burned with a feral, unholy glow.
"That's no stag," Ryn whispered, his voice trembling.
The Spirit Fox growled, its fur bristling as it stepped forward.
The corrupted beast let out a deafening roar, its massive hooves cracking the stone bridge as it charged.
"Move!" Ryn shouted, diving to the side as the beast barreled past him.
The Spirit Fox darted forward, using Radiant Step to blink behind the creature and slash at its hind legs. The beast bellowed in pain, its movements jerky and uncoordinated as it turned to face its attacker.
"Good hit!" Ryn called, scrambling to his feet.
The bond between him and the fox pulsed sharply, filling him with adrenaline as he moved to flank the beast.
The corrupted stag lunged, its antlers aimed directly at the Spirit Fox. The fox vanished in a blur of light, reappearing a few feet away as the beast's charge missed its mark.
Ryn took the opportunity to strike, driving his knife into the beast's side. The blade met resistance, the corrupted flesh oozing black ichor as the beast roared and bucked violently.
"Not enough," Ryn muttered, pulling the knife free.
The Spirit Fox darted in again, its glowing claws raking across the beast's chest. Light flared brightly as the bond pulsed again, the fox's movements faster and more precise with each strike.
The corrupted stag staggered, its glowing eyes flickering as it let out a final, guttural roar. Its massive body collapsed to the ground, the green light in its wounds fading to darkness.
Ryn stood over the beast, his chest heaving as the adrenaline began to fade. The Spirit Fox trotted to his side, its glowing fur dim but steady.
"You did great," Ryn said, ruffling its fur. "Better than me, honestly."
The fox chirped softly, nuzzling his hand.
Ryn knelt beside the beast, his eyes narrowing as he inspected its corrupted form. The green light was gone, but the jagged antlers and twisted flesh remained—a grim reminder of the corruption's power.
"This wasn't just a test," Ryn murmured. "They knew how dangerous this thing was."
The bond pulsed faintly, the Spirit Fox's unease mirroring his own.
"Let's head back," Ryn said, standing. "I've got questions—and they'd better have answers."
The fox chirped in agreement, its tail flicking as they turned back toward the camp.