The night was calm, the quiet crackle of the campfire the only sound breaking the silence of the dark forest. The kids had fallen asleep near the fire, bundled up in their bedrolls, with Luna resting protectively next to Zara. Darnell leaned back against a log, his arms crossed as he scanned the shadows, his sharp eyes alert despite the tranquility of the moment. Cross sat nearby, legs crossed, his shortbow resting on the ground beside him.
The boy had been watching Darnell for a while, studying the man's relaxed but vigilant demeanor. Finally, curiosity got the better of him. "Darnell," Cross whispered, his voice careful not to wake the others. "Can I ask you something?"
Darnell glanced at him, raising a brow. "Something on your mind, kid?"
Cross nodded, sitting up straighter. "Yeah. You've been out here so many times. How dangerous is this forest, really? Like, what's the worst thing we could run into?"
Darnell chuckled softly, his deep voice blending with the fire's crackle. "You're starting off with the big questions, huh? Well, I won't lie to you. The forest can be dangerous, but around the village, it's not so bad. Adventurers come through here all the time, and they clear out most of the beasts and monsters near the outskirts. By the time you get past the first few miles, it's usually quiet."
Cross tilted his head, his amber eyes glinting in the firelight. "Why do so many adventurers come here? Is it just because of the forest?"
"Not just the forest," Darnell replied, leaning forward slightly. "It's what's inside it. The inner forest has two dungeons. And dungeons, kid, are like a beacon to adventurers."
Cross's brows furrowed. "Dungeons? What kind of dungeons?"
"Two of them," Darnell said, holding up two fingers. "One's a bug-themed dungeon. Creepy-crawlies everywhere—spiders, centipedes, beetles. Nasty stuff if you ask me. The other's a goblin-themed dungeon. Lots of traps, tricky monsters. They're different from each other, but both have their own challenges."
Cross shivered at the mention of bugs but pushed through his discomfort. "And people actually go into those? Why?"
Darnell grinned. "Because dungeons mean loot. And loot means coin. Dungeons reset every so often, and the rarer the dungeon difficulty, the better the rewards. Normal, uncommon, rare—those are the three difficulties. Normal's decent for beginners, uncommon's tougher but worth it, and rare… well, let's just say rare dungeons can make or break an adventurer especially when they don't get to choose what one dungeons being measured by rarity is for the reason that it is all probabilty and random."
Cross's eyes widened. "Better loot means better monsters too, right?"
"Exactly," Darnell said, nodding. "Rare dungeons? They've got beasts and monsters that could wipe out a poorly-prepared party in minutes. That's why you won't see any random rookies diving into those."
Cross sat back, processing the information. "Why haven't I heard about this before? No one ever mentioned dungeons back at the orphanage."
Darnell's expression grew serious. "Because you're not supposed to know yet. Dungeons are dangerous, and kids like you—five years old, full of energy—don't always think before they act." His gaze flicked to Sparks and Ox, who were snoring softly beside the fire. "The last thing we need is a bunch of ambitious kids getting themselves killed trying to prove something."
Cross followed Darnell's gaze, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I can see why you'd say that."
Darnell smirked. "Figured you would. But now you know why this village's so busy. Adventurers come here to make a name for themselves. And some never leave."
The weight of those words settled over Cross, but he didn't let it distract him for long. "What about you? How strong are the monsters you've fought? What's the strongest thing you've faced?"
Darnell leaned back, a nostalgic look crossing his face. "Strongest thing, huh? That'd be an Apex Flame Bear. Big, mean, and fire as its main element. But it also had a secondary element—wind. That's the thing about Apex-ranked beasts: they've got two elements. Makes them a nightmare to deal with."
Cross's brows shot up. "Two elements? I thought beasts only had one!"
"Most do," Darnell said, nodding. "Beasts are born with an innate element—fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, the usual. But when they hit Mature rank, sometimes something in them changes. They gain a second element, completely random. That's when they become Apex. And if they live long enough, they might even evolve into something more."
Cross stared into the fire, his mind racing. "So that bear you fought… how did you beat it?"
Darnell grinned, his teeth flashing in the dim light. "With a lot of help. It wasn't just me—I had a whole team backing me up. Took everything we had to bring it down, but we did it. And the reward? Worth every drop of sweat and blood."
"That's incredible," Cross murmured, his admiration clear.
Darnell laughed softly. "Maybe. Or maybe it was stupid. Hard to tell the difference sometimes."
The fire crackled between them, and for a moment, neither spoke. Then Cross leaned forward, his sharp eyes locking onto Darnell. "How do you know if a beast or monster is strong? I mean, before you fight it. Are there signs to look for?"
Darnell's expression grew thoughtful. "Good question. Tracking and scouting are half the battle when dealing with beasts. First, you look at the tracks. Bigger tracks usually mean bigger beasts, but that's not always the case. Apex beasts, for example, sometimes have tracks that look ordinary, but the area around them—scorched earth, broken trees, or unnatural cold—those are the giveaways."
Cross nodded, absorbing every word. "What about monsters? How do you track them?"
"Monsters are trickier," Darnell admitted. "They're smarter, more cunning. Goblins, for example, lay traps and cover their tracks. But you can usually tell where they've been by the mess they leave behind—discarded tools, bits of food, broken branches. The trick is to stay alert. Always look for patterns that don't fit."
Cross's mind raced as he mentally cataloged everything Darnell said. "And if you find signs of something powerful? What then?"
"You make a choice," Darnell said simply. "You either prepare to fight, or you turn back. There's no shame in retreating if it keeps you alive."
Cross sat back, the firelight casting shadows across his face. "Thanks, Darnell. For teaching me all this."
Darnell chuckled, ruffling Cross's hair. "Don't thank me yet, kid. Wait until you're out there tracking something for real. That's when the lessons matter."
Cross grinned, swatting Darnell's hand away. "I'll be ready."
Darnell smirked. "I'm counting on it."
The fire crackled softly as the two lapsed into a comfortable silence, the weight of the conversation hanging between them. Cross's sharp mind replayed Darnell's words, committing every detail to memory as the night stretched on.
The forest was still, the occasional crackle of the campfire punctuating the quiet night. Cross leaned forward, his sharp amber eyes fixed on Darnell, absorbing every word of the hunter's wisdom. His curiosity was endless, and Darnell humored him, his deep voice weaving tales of experience and hard-earned lessons.
"So, if you see claw marks on a tree, how do you know if it's just a regular beast or something dangerous?" Cross asked, tilting his head, his elven ears twitching slightly. His curiosity gave his features a rare brightness, his usual intensity softened by youthful eagerness.
Darnell smirked, leaning back against a log. "The depth of the marks, the spacing, and the height—those tell you the size and strength. A regular beast will claw low and shallow, more for marking territory. But an Apex beast? They'll leave gouges so deep you'll wonder how the tree's still standing."
Cross nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing. "And tracks? How do you know if a beast's near or far?"
"Freshness," Darnell said. "You look for signs of movement—crushed leaves, broken twigs, displaced dirt. And you listen. Sometimes, it's not about what you see, but what you hear."
Cross opened his mouth to ask another question, but his voice caught in his throat. A faint growl, low and guttural, reached his ears. He froze mid-sentence, his entire body going rigid. His elven instincts kicked in, sharpening his senses as his eyes darted toward the darkened trees.
Darnell noticed the change immediately, his easygoing demeanor shifting in an instant. "What is it?" he asked, his voice low but firm.
Cross didn't respond immediately, his ears twitching as he focused. He could hear it—the faint rustling of leaves, the sound of something heavy moving through the underbrush. His heart raced as he tried to pinpoint the source.
A sudden ding echoed in his mind, startling him. His vision briefly blurred as a notification appeared.
---
Skill Unlocked: Danger Sense
Heightened awareness of immediate threats within proximity. Triggered instinctively.
---
The words vanished as quickly as they'd appeared, but the distraction broke his concentration. Cross blinked, shaking his head to clear it. Before he could explain, a soft glow emanated from his tent, catching both his and Darnell's attention.
"What the—?" Darnell began, but Cross was already moving, racing toward the tent. He dropped to his knees, fumbling with the flap before tearing it open.
Inside, his egg—his treasured, mysterious egg—lay cracked and glowing. Thin lines of light pulsed along the shell, growing brighter with each heartbeat. Cross watched in awe as the shell crumbled, piece by piece, until the creature inside finally emerged.
The beast was breathtaking. It had the sleek, muscular body of a mountain lion, its tawny fur shimmering faintly under the moonlight. Feather-like patterns adorned its legs and back, blending seamlessly into its frame. Large, powerful wings extended from its sides, their feathers a blend of bronze and deep amber, catching the firelight as they flexed experimentally. Its head was feline, sharp and regal, framed by an owl-like ruff of feathers that gave it an air of predatory wisdom. But its eyes—its piercing, golden eyes—shimmered with intelligence far beyond that of any ordinary creature.
Cross's breath hitched as he stared at it, his heart pounding in his chest. "You're… mine," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The creature tilted its head, its sharp gaze meeting Cross's. There was a spark of recognition, a bond forming in that moment that felt as natural as breathing.
Behind him, Luna stirred. The Bonolotl padded over, her frilly gills glowing brighter as she chirped softly. She approached the new beast cautiously, her head tilting as if trying to gauge its intent. The winged feline lowered its head slightly, its golden eyes studying her with equal curiosity.
Cross's heart swelled at the sight of the two creatures meeting. But the moment of peace was shattered by a sudden, gut-wrenching instinct—a feeling that made him leap to the side without thinking.
A split second later, a dark shape burst from the shadows, its claws stabbing into the ground where Cross had been standing. The firelight caught the creature's form—a shadow panther, its sleek black body rippling with muscle, its glowing red eyes locked onto Cross. Its snarling maw revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth, and its low growl sent chills down his spine.
"Cross, get back!" Darnell barked, already moving to intercept. He raised his shield just as the panther lunged, the beast's claws scraping against the metal with a deafening screech. The force of the impact pushed Darnell back a step, but he held firm.
Cross scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. He darted toward his bow, which he'd left near the fire. Grabbing it, he notched an arrow with trembling hands, his eyes locked on the panther as it clawed and snarled at Darnell.
The winged feline moved before Cross could react. In a blur of motion, it swooped behind the panther, its talons slashing across the beast's back with deadly precision. The panther roared in pain, staggering forward as blood dripped from the deep gashes.
Darnell blinked, his eyes wide as he caught sight of the creature. From his perspective, it was a blur of tawny fur and bronze feathers, its powerful wings carrying it with unnatural grace. Its talons gleamed in the firelight as it circled back, its piercing gaze never leaving the panther.
"What in the—" Darnell muttered, barely blocking another swipe from the panther's claws. He ducked low, repositioning his shield as the beast roared in fury.
The panther, in a blind rage, spun around to face the new threat. Its movements were erratic, its wounds slowing it down, but it still had the strength to lunge. Darnell took the opening to strike, his sword cutting across the panther's flank. The beast howled, staggering again.
But it wasn't finished. With a burst of speed, it swiped at Darnell, its claws cutting through his guard and slashing across his side. Darnell grunted in pain, stumbling back as blood seeped through his tunic.
"Luna!" Cross shouted, his voice cracking with panic.
The Bonolotl chirped sharply and leapt into action. In a flash, she appeared beside Darnell, her glowing gills pulsating as she cast her healing ability. A soft, golden light enveloped Darnell's wound, the bleeding stopping almost instantly as the flesh began to knit itself back together.
Darnell looked down at her, his expression a mix of awe and gratitude. "Good girl," he muttered, shifting his stance as the panther prepared to lunge again.
Cross steadied his breathing, his amber eyes narrowing as he drew his bowstring back. The winged feline circled the panther, its movements fluid and predatory, creating an opening. Cross seized the moment, releasing the arrow with a sharp twang.
The arrow struck true, embedding itself in the panther's shoulder. The beast roared, its movements slowing as it tried to shake off its attackers. The winged feline dove in again, its talons raking across the panther's side, driving it closer to Darnell.
Darnell seized the opportunity. With a bellow, he charged forward, his shield slamming into the panther with enough force to knock it off balance. He raised his sword, bringing it down in a powerful arc that pierced the beast's chest.
The panther let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to the ground, its body heaving once before going still.
Silence fell over the camp, the only sound the crackling of the fire. Cross lowered his bow, his arms trembling as the adrenaline coursing through his veins began to fade. His beast landed gracefully beside him, its golden eyes fixed on him with quiet approval.
Darnell wiped his sword clean, his breath heavy but steady. He glanced at the winged feline, then at Cross, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "You've got one hell of a partner there, kid."
Cross nodded slowly, his gaze shifting between his beast and the fallen panther. "Yeah," he said softly, his voice filled with wonder. "I do."
As the clearing settled into a tense stillness after the battle, the sound of rustling and hurried footsteps broke through the quiet. The other kids, startled awake by the commotion, stumbled out of their tents, their wide eyes scanning the area for the source of the chaos. Alistair carried his short sword in one hand, his buckler in the other, while Ox followed closely, his fists clenched in readiness. Sparks was clutching her dagger, and Zara trailed behind them, her steps tentative as she looked for Luna, her golden eyes darting anxiously.
"What happened?" Alistair asked, his voice calm despite his small stature and evident confusion. He scanned the area, his gaze locking on the shadowy corpse of the panther, its lifeless body sprawled across the clearing. His green eyes narrowed. "Is that what you were fighting?"
Darnell, still gripping his shield with his arm throbbing faintly, nodded toward the creature. "It's taken care of now, but it caught us off guard." He gestured toward Cross and his beast. "Though we had a bit of unexpected help."
The group's attention shifted to Cross, who was crouched beside the magnificent creature now standing protectively at his side. The beast, a mountain lion with shimmering tawny fur, spread its wide, bronze-amber wings slightly as the others approached, its glowing golden eyes fixed on the newcomers. Its owl-like ruff of feathers bristled slightly, giving it an air of both elegance and intimidation.
Sparks blinked in awe. "Wait. Is that yours, Cross? Did your egg just hatch?"
"It… it did," Cross said, his voice still tinged with disbelief. He glanced at the beast, then back at the others. "This is… well, I guess this is my partner."
Ox stepped closer, his eyes wide with amazement. "That's incredible. Look at those wings! And the claws!" His grin widened. "This thing looks like it could take down anything."
Sparks tilted her head, studying the beast with a mix of awe and curiosity. "It's like a lion… but with owl parts? That's so weird. Weird, but kinda cool."
Zara's gaze flicked between the beast and Luna, who was sitting calmly beside Darnell, her light dimmed as if she were trying to stay unnoticed. Zara froze for a moment, her heart pounding as a rush of thoughts and emotions surged through her. It wasn't her own thoughts—it was Luna's. The little Bonolotl was expressing a strange mixture of protectiveness and tentative curiosity toward Cross's new partner. Zara exhaled slowly, her body relaxing as she placed a hand over her chest. "Luna's fine," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
Meanwhile, Alistair stepped closer to Cross, his sharp green eyes locked on the creature's amber ones. "What's its name?"
Cross blinked, caught off guard. "I… haven't thought of one yet."
That was all it took to spark a lively discussion.
"What about Featherclaw?" Sparks suggested, leaning in for a closer look. "It's got those sharp claws and all those feathers."
Ox snorted. "Featherclaw? That sounds like something you'd name a bird."
"It has wings!" Sparks shot back, gesturing dramatically.
Alistair ignored the bickering and tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe something strong and simple, like Ember, because of how its wings look like glowing coals."
Cross shook his head. "Ember's good, but it doesn't really… feel right."
"What about Thunderwing?" Ox offered, puffing out his chest. "It sounds powerful."
"Not bad," Cross admitted, though he still seemed unconvinced. He looked down at the creature, its glowing eyes meeting his. "Do you have a name in mind?" he asked softly, almost to himself.
The beast blinked, its gaze steady and patient. For a moment, Cross felt a sense of calm, as if an answer were settling in his mind. He exhaled, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Nyx," he said finally, the name rolling off his tongue like it had always been there. "His name is Nyx."
"Nyx?" Sparks repeated, tilting her head. "Short, mysterious… okay, I like it."
Ox grinned. "Sounds cool. Fits him."
"Nyx," Alistair echoed, nodding in approval. "It suits him."
Even Zara managed a small smile, her hand resting on Luna as she murmured, "It's perfect."
Darnell, who had been watching the exchange with an amused smirk, crossed his arms. "Well, Nyx, welcome to the team. You certainly made one hell of an entrance."
Nyx responded with a low, rumbling purr, his wings folding neatly against his sides as he settled beside Cross. Luna chirped softly from her spot beside Darnell, her gills glowing faintly as she glanced between Zara and the new arrival. The two creatures seemed to share a moment of silent understanding before Luna padded back over to Zara, climbing up to her shoulder with a contented chirp.
The group spent the next few minutes winding down, the tension from the earlier fight giving way to lighthearted chatter. Each of the kids spoke to their eggs, their voices quiet but filled with hope and curiosity.
Alistair knelt by his egg, his green eyes thoughtful. "I don't know what you'll be, but I hope you're strong. Strong enough to help me protect everyone."
Sparks sat cross-legged beside hers, her hands resting lightly on the shimmering shell. "You'd better be cool. I don't care what you look like, but you've got to be fast. And smart. No slacking."
Ox grinned down at his egg, his massive hands cradling it gently. "I'm not picky. Just be strong, alright? And maybe loud. Loud would be fun."
Zara sat quietly with Luna perched on her shoulder, her egg already hatched but her thoughts drifting. She stroked Luna's head gently, her gaze soft. "You're already more than I could've hoped for," she murmured. Luna nuzzled against her, her glow pulsing faintly in time with Zara's heartbeat.
The camp fell silent as the kids eventually settled down, the soft hum of the forest filling the night air.
---
In a faraway realm, a group of figures stood around a shimmering seer pond, its surface rippling with images of the children and their companions. Their features were obscured by shadows, their voices low and contemplative.
"They've rebuilt the shrine," one figure said, their tone carrying both awe and approval. "Aelon's influence is spreading again."
Another nodded, their form barely visible against the flickering light. "The children are bonding faster than anticipated. Their connection to the past is strong."
The pond rippled again, showing the moment Luna's light increased and Nyx appeared in battle. The watchers murmured amongst themselves, their voices a mix of curiosity and concern.
"It's rare for bonds to form so quickly," one of them said. "And rarer still for a creature like Nyx to awaken under such circumstances."
A softer voice chimed in, filled with quiet pride. "They are my chosen, after all. Their bonds transcend lifetimes."
The others turned toward the source of the voice, and the shadows parted slightly to reveal Aelon. He stood tall and regal, his feline form now fully visible. His orange fur shimmered like polished carnelian, streaked with glowing moonstone patterns. His amber eyes gleamed with an ancient wisdom, and his presence radiated calm power.
"They will grow," Aelon said, his voice firm yet kind. "They will stumble, and they will rise. But together, they will become the force this world needs."
The watchers exchanged glances, their silence heavy with unspoken thoughts. Finally, one of them spoke. "Let us hope they are ready for what lies ahead."
Aelon's gaze returned to the pond, his amber eyes softening as he watched the children drift into sleep, their companions close by. "They will be. In time."