The forest air was crisp with the last lingering chill of morning, but the rising sun slowly pushed back the cold, bathing the trees in streaks of gold. The thick canopy overhead created a dappling effect on the forest floor, patches of light flickering across the dirt and fallen leaves. Birds chirped in the distance, their melodies blending into the soft rustling of the trees as a faint breeze stirred the branches.
Darnell stood at the center, casually unfolding a slightly worn map he had pulled from his belt, his sharp eyes scanning it before glancing at the kids.
"Alright, listen up," he began, shaking the creases from the map. "Today's mission is simple: we're gathering medicinal herbs. There's a patch of them not far from the forest's outer skirts, maybe a two-hour walk from here, assuming we don't run into any problems."
The kids murmured in understanding, but Alistair tilted his head slightly, his sharp green eyes studying the map before he asked, "What exactly do these herbs look like? If we don't know what to look for, we might walk right past them."
Darnell gave a satisfied nod, as if pleased with the question. "Good thinking," he said, reaching into his pack. "I've got a book here that—"
At that exact moment, another book snapped open beside him.
The movement was so perfectly synchronized that everyone paused.
Darnell froze mid-sentence.
Sparks, standing beside him, was now holding up an identical book, flipping to the exact same section he had just opened.
A long silence stretched over the group.
Darnell slowly turned his head toward Sparks.
Sparks slowly turned her head toward Darnell.
They stared at each other.
"...Really?" Darnell muttered, his voice deadpan.
Sparks raised an eyebrow. "What? I like being prepared."
Ox choked back laughter. Zara's golden eyes gleamed with amusement. Cross bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smirking. Even Alistair, who had been the one to ask, looked mildly entertained by the situation.
Darnell sighed. He rubbed his temple, as if trying to physically push away the exasperation.
"You're telling me," he began slowly, dragging out the words, "that out of all the books in that dusty old library—you—picked up this one?"
Sparks flipped a page, completely unfazed. "Look, if I'm gonna be in the forest, I'd rather know what's edible and what isn't. Seems kinda stupid not to."
Darnell opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Then just stared at her.
Then, with dramatic slowness, he snapped his own book shut.
"Well," he muttered, stuffing it back into his pack, "I guess I'll just put mine away, then."
Ox laughed. "Darnell just got out-prepared!"
Zara smirked. "By Sparks, no less."
Alistair let out a quiet chuckle. "Guess she had the same idea as you, Darnell."
Darnell grumbled something under his breath, but there was a subtle shift in his expression—something that wasn't quite annoyance, nor defeat. If anything, there was a flicker of something that looked suspiciously like pride.
Sparks, completely oblivious to the inner turmoil she had just caused, closed her book with a sharp clap. "Right. Let's talk herbs."
Darnell just shook his head. "Don't push it, kid."
After the teasing and banter settled down, Darnell cleared his throat, motioning for everyone to focus. "Alright, alright, fun's over," he said. "Now, since we've got the luxury of someone already knowing what we're looking for—" he shot a look at Sparks, who smirked triumphantly, "—let's go over this properly."
Sparks held up her book, flipping to a marked page. "The main herbs we're after are Duskridge Sage, Veilpetal, and Emberweed. Duskridge Sage is deep green with silver veins on the leaves, found in shaded areas. Veilpetal has dark purple flowers, kind of like a wilting lily. Emberweed glows slightly when the sun sets, so it'll be easier to find later in the evening if we don't grab it now."
Zara leaned in slightly. "Which one is the most valuable?"
Darnell crossed his arms. "Depends on the season, but Veilpetal usually sells for the most since it's used in a lot of high-tier potions."
Ox huffed. "So we grab as much of that as possible?"
"Within reason," Darnell corrected. "We don't want to overharvest. Always leave some behind, or it won't grow back properly."
The kids nodded, taking mental notes as Darnell folded his arms, his expression turning serious. "Now, about formations. We need to stay alert while moving. This area should be safe, but there's no point in being careless."
He gestured toward Cross and Nyx. "Cross, you're on scouting duty. You and Nyx will move ahead of us, keep your eyes open for anything out of place—tracks, broken branches, the usual. You've already got sharp senses, and after what I saw last night—" he smirked slightly, "—I trust you'll spot trouble before I do."
Cross straightened slightly, his amber eyes sharpening. He felt a flicker of pride at being trusted with something so important. "Got it," he said firmly. Nyx, beside him, let out a quiet rumble, as if he, too, accepted the role.
Darnell turned to the rest of the group. "Ox, Alistair—you two cover the rear. Keep watch behind us. If anything tries to creep up, you make sure we know before it does."
Ox grinned, flexing his arms. "On it."
Alistair gave a firm nod, adjusting the strap of his buckler.
"Sparks, Zara—you're in the middle," Darnell continued. "You'll be near me. If we need to make quick decisions, I want you both close."
Zara glanced at Luna, who chirped softly from her shoulder. "That works for me."
Sparks snapped her book shut with a satisfied nod. "Fine by me, Captain."
Darnell gave her a flat look. "I'm not a captain."
Sparks smirked. "I dunno, sure sounds like you're leading us into battle."
Darnell groaned, but his grin betrayed his amusement. "Let's just get moving before I regret bringing you along."
With everyone assigned their roles, the group started their march into the denser part of the forest, the trees growing taller and the shadows stretching as the sun climbed higher.
Cross and Nyx moved ahead, scanning their surroundings carefully. The forest floor was littered with old tracks, faint impressions of boar hooves, deer prints, and small clawed animals. Nothing fresh—which was both a relief and a little disappointing.
"Tracks here," Cross called back after a while, crouching to inspect them. "But nothing recent."
Darnell nodded from the back. "Good. That means we shouldn't have trouble on the way there. Keep leading us forward, scout."
Cross smirked slightly at the title. It felt good to have a job, to be trusted with something. Nyx padded beside him, eyes gleaming in the dappled light as the two continued leading the way toward their destination.
The dense canopy overhead muted the golden glow of the mid-morning sun, leaving the forest floor cool and shaded. The leaves rustled in a soft breeze, but something in the air had shifted. A quiet tension settled over the group as they moved in formation, each keeping to their designated role.
Cross and Nyx led at the front, scanning ahead for any disturbances in the underbrush. The rest of the group followed closely behind, alert but not yet tense. Darnell kept a steady pace in the center, his gaze flicking occasionally to the shadows that stretched between the thick trees. Ox and Alistair took the rear, trying their best to remain vigilant, though Ox's casual humming and Alistair's occasional glances at his buckler betrayed their inexperience.
The first sign of trouble came in the form of a scent—sharp, musky, with an underlying note of wet fur. Nyx suddenly tensed, his wings bristling as his golden eyes narrowed. Cross caught the change immediately and stopped walking, holding up a fist to signal the others.
Darnell noticed the shift right away. "What is it?" he asked in a low voice.
Cross didn't answer immediately, his sharp elven senses stretching out as he scanned the area. Then he caught it—a faint rustling in the underbrush, barely audible, but unmistakably deliberate.
"Something's watching us," he murmured, shifting his stance. "It's moving… circling."
Darnell's expression darkened. "How many?"
Cross closed his eyes for a second, tuning out everything else, focusing on the sound, the spacing, the movement. Nyx let out a low, warning growl, his keen perception helping Cross piece together what was out there.
"At least five," Cross whispered. "Maybe six."
Zara's fingers instinctively brushed over Luna, who was still resting on her shoulder, her gills pulsing softly. Sparks tightened her grip on her dagger, her body tensed. Ox cracked his knuckles, his new gauntlets flexing around his fingers. Alistair drew his short sword, adjusting his buckler.
Then the first wolf stepped into the clearing.
It was massive, larger than any of them expected, its dark grey fur thick and matted. Yellow eyes gleamed hungrily as it prowled forward, ears twitching at the sound of weapons being drawn.
A second wolf slunk into view on the right, followed by a third from the left. The rest remained hidden, but their glowing eyes in the shadows betrayed their presence.
Darnell's voice was calm but firm. "Alright, kids. We're surrounded, but we're not outnumbered." He took a careful step forward, shield raised. "Cross, take to the trees. Get a vantage point. Sparks, Zara—stick close to me. Ox, Alistair, be ready to intercept anything that charges in."
The group scrambled into position—though not smoothly. Ox moved too quickly, almost stumbling over a tree root, barely catching himself in time. Sparks took a step toward the wrong direction before correcting herself and jogging back behind Darnell. Cross, trying to climb into a tree, grabbed a weak branch that snapped under his weight, making him drop to the ground with a muffled curse. He quickly recovered and chose a sturdier branch, but Darnell had already noticed.
"Faster next time," Darnell muttered under his breath.
Then, the wolves attacked.
The largest, clearly Matured compared to its juvanile, let out a guttural snarl before lunging straight at Ox.
Ox tried to brace himself but panicked at the last second, hesitating instead of stepping into his defensive stance. The Mature Wolf crashed into him, sending him stumbling back. He barely managed to raise his arms in time, and the wolf's weight almost sent him to the ground. Earthshaker Charge! He stomped down, trying to launch forward, but he had already lost his balance. His charge turned into an awkward stumble as he swung blindly, his gauntlet slamming into the wolf's side more by luck than skill. It yelped, recoiling, but Ox grunted, realizing he had nearly lost control of his own movement.
Two more wolves darted in from the flanks.
Alistair, positioned to intercept, raised his buckler—but hesitated. The wolf was faster than he expected, and he misjudged the angle, leaving his left side open. The wolf's claws raked across his ribs, drawing blood before he shoved it back. Battle Bond! The skill flared to life, and his resilience kicked in, dulling the pain, but his mistake had cost him. He clenched his jaw, adjusting his stance.
Sparks, seeing this, slashed her dagger—but it missed. The weapon spun wide, embedding itself into a tree instead of hitting her target. "Damn it!" she hissed, her face burning in frustration. She scrambled for another weapon, but the wolf had already recovered, snarling as it leapt at her.
Zara panicked, her hands glowing as she instinctively tried to cast Rippling Shield to push the wolf back. The barrier formed, but too weakly—she had hesitated, second-guessing herself. The wolf pushed through, breaking the shield apart like brittle glass. She stumbled backward, gasping.
Darnell intercepted just in time, slamming his shield between Sparks and the wolf. "Stay focused!" he barked. "This isn't training!"
Cross, now perched properly in a tree, aimed his bow. "Nyx, attack!"
Nyx dived in swiftly. Talon Strike! His claws dug into the hide of a smaller wolf, but he overcommitted, landing too close to the ground. The wolf managed to snap at him, clipping his shoulder, sending a few feathers fluttering to the dirt. Nyx let out a surprised cry, leaping back, learning quickly from his mistake.
Cross loosed an arrow at the wolf attacking Nyx—but missed. The projectile barely grazed the wolf's ear. He cursed under his breath, trying to steady his aim. He wasn't used to shooting in the middle of this much movement, his heart hammering harder than it ever had before.
Darnell growled under his breath, his sharp eyes flicking between them. "Sloppy," he muttered. "But they're learning."
The battle continued, but as mistakes were made, adjustments followed.
Ox planted his feet more firmly this time, properly bracing for impact as the Matured Wolf lunged again. When he swung, his gauntlet connected solidly, sending the wolf stumbling back for real this time.
Alistair, breathing through the pain in his ribs, repositioned his shield correctly, blocking a wolf's next attack while countering with a precise slash. He focused, his footwork tightening as he moved.
Sparks, frustrated with her previous mistake, raised her hand again. Lightning Conduit! This time, the electricity lashed out properly, stunning a wolf mid-attack. Zara followed up immediately with Vital Surge, reinforcing Sparks' energy while also stabilizing Alistair's wound.
Cross exhaled, forcing himself to slow down. He refocused his aim, waiting for the right moment—then fired. This time, his arrow struck true, embedding deep into a wolf's flank. Nyx seized the opportunity, darting in and landing a proper, precise strike.
Darnell, watching, finally smirked. "Now that's more like it."
The alpha, realizing the fight was turning against them, snarled before turning tail and vanishing into the trees. The rest of the wolves, seeing their leader flee, quickly followed.
Silence.
The group stood still, panting, their adrenaline still high. Then, one by one, they straightened, realizing—they had won. Despite their inexperience. Despite their mistakes.
Ox wiped sweat from his brow, letting out a shaky laugh. "Okay, maybe that wasn't as easy as I thought."
Sparks groaned. "I can't believe I missed my attack."
"You weren't the only one making mistakes," Alistair muttered, rubbing at his sore ribs.
Zara sighed in relief, checking on Luna. "We still won, though. Barely."
Darnell smirked. "That," he said, "was a disaster. But you didn't freeze, you adapted. And that's what matters."
Cross exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "We need more training."
Darnell chuckled. "That, we do. But for now—let's patch up and get moving."
And just like that, they learned—battles weren't as easy as they had imagined.
As the tension of the battle faded, the group slowly gathered in the center of the clearing, each of them still catching their breath. The adrenaline had yet to fully leave their bodies, and their hands trembled slightly—not out of fear, but from the sheer intensity of their first real fight.
Alistair rubbed his ribs, grimacing. "Well, that could've gone better."
Sparks snorted, crossing her arms. "No kidding. I completely botched my first attack. And I hesitated right before casting. That wolf should've been stunned before it even touched me."
Cross crouched down beside Nyx, running his fingers through the beast's sleek fur. "I missed my first two shots," he admitted. "And when I did hit, I barely slowed anything down."
Ox huffed, flexing his fingers in his gauntlets. "I didn't plant my feet properly at the start. Almost got knocked over like a fool."
Zara listened quietly, her fingers absentmindedly stroking Luna's soft fur as she sat perched on her shoulder. She bit her lip, then spoke softly. "I hesitated. When I cast my shield, I second-guessed myself, and it broke way too easily."
Darnell, having heard them all while checking over the fallen wolves, finally turned back toward them. "Good," he said simply.
The kids blinked, confused.
Ox frowned. "Good? We just listed all the ways we screwed up."
Darnell smirked, crossing his arms. "Exactly. You know what you did wrong, which means you won't make the same mistake next time. The worst thing you can do after a fight is walk away thinking you did everything right."
Sparks groaned, kicking a loose rock. "Still stings, though. I feel like we should've been better."
Darnell walked up, placing a hand on her head before she could protest. "And you will be. This was your first real fight. No training exercise, no controlled environment. You had to react. And yeah, it was messy. But that's the point. You adapt, and you improve."
Cross looked down, still processing. "We need better coordination."
Alistair nodded. "And better communication. It felt like we were all reacting separately instead of moving together."
Zara hesitated before speaking. "I need to be faster with my decisions. I can't hesitate when someone's depending on me."
Darnell knelt, using his dagger to prod at one of the wolf corpses. "You'll all get there. But here's some advice, based on what I saw." He pointed at Ox first. "You're strong, but your power means nothing if you don't anchor yourself. Keep your stance tight, lower your center of gravity when bracing, and stop swinging wild just because you panic."
Ox nodded, looking determined.
Next, Darnell looked at Alistair. "You hesitated too, but it wasn't fear—it was overthinking. You had the right instincts but didn't trust them. Your shield was positioned wrong because you were debating your next move. Stop doubting yourself."
Alistair pressed his lips together and gave a firm nod.
Darnell turned to Sparks. "You've got speed, but if you're not confident in your first move, you lose your advantage. That dagger attack wasn't just bad aim—it was unnecessary you are a mage the dagger sjould be your last resort. Next time, act with conviction. If you miss, adjust later. But don't second-guess yourself before you even cast."
Sparks exhaled sharply. "Got it."
For Zara, he softened his tone slightly. "Support roles are tricky. You have to see the fight from a different angle. Your hesitation wasn't because you lacked skill—it was because you were thinking too much about the outcome before you even cast. Trust your instincts. When someone needs you, act first. Let the results come second."
Zara nodded, her fingers tightening slightly on Luna.
Lastly, Darnell turned to Cross. "You were the first to sense the wolves, and your beast made the biggest impact in the fight. But you rushed. You were too focused on landing a hit instead of waiting for the right shot. Good archers don't shoot as soon as they see a target—they wait until the target is in the perfect position. Take an extra second. Breathe."
Cross looked down, digesting the words, then nodded. "Understood."
Darnell stood up, glancing toward the wolves one last time before sighing. "Unfortunately, these guys didn't leave any beast cores behind. Sometimes that happens. Not every beast forms a core strong enough to be left behind after death. Guess we'll have to keep an eye out for another opportunity."
Ox frowned. "So no power-ups this time?"
Darnell ruffled the boy's hair. "Not all rewards are immediate, big guy. You all learned something today. You survived your first real encounter. That's worth more than a core."
Sparks smirked. "Barely survived."
"Doesn't matter," Darnell shot back. "Survived is survived. And next time, you'll do better."
Zara took a deep breath and smiled faintly. "Next time, we'll work together better."
As the kids continued to reflect on their fight, Darnell observed them with a thoughtful expression. He crossed his arms and let them finish voicing their mistakes before speaking up again. "Alright, listen up," he said, his tone serious but not harsh. "You all made mistakes, yeah, but that's normal. You're young, inexperienced, and this was your first fight outside of training. But you also did something right—you adapted. You didn't freeze, you kept moving, and you backed each other up. That's what matters."
The kids nodded, still taking in everything he had told them about their performances. But Darnell wasn't done.
"There's one big thing I noticed," he continued, his sharp eyes sweeping over them. "You all have telepathy. That's something no one else here has, and you didn't use it. You were shouting orders, calling out to each other the slow way, when you could have been passing information instantly, mind-to-mind."
The realization hit the group like a stone dropped into a still pond. Sparks visibly perked up, her coppery eyes widening. "Ohhh! We could've been relaying plans without the wolves even knowing!"
Alistair's green eyes flashed with understanding. "That would have made reacting way easier. I wouldn't have had to guess where everyone was."
Zara frowned slightly. "But we've only really used it casually. Would it even work in a fight?"
"Why wouldn't it?" Darnell shrugged. "You're talking to each other either way. This is just faster. Your enemies can't hear it, and you don't have to waste breath shouting or worrying about someone missing a call-out. Plus, if someone needs help, they can ask without breaking concentration."
Cross, who had been silent as he processed the idea, finally nodded. "That makes sense. I hesitated a few times because I wasn't sure if I should shoot or reposition. If someone had told me instantly where they needed me, I wouldn't have second-guessed it."
Ox grinned, cracking his knuckles. "And if I knew where everyone was at all times, I wouldn't have thrown myself at the wrong wolf."
Sparks smirked. "You still would've thrown yourself at something, though."
Ox shot her a playful glare. "That's the point."
Darnell chuckled at their banter before getting serious again. "From now on, I want you all to practice using telepathy when we're moving and when we're fighting. Doesn't mean you stop talking completely, but your first instinct should be to use your minds, not your mouths. Got it?"
"Got it!" the kids responded in near-unison.
Zara, her voice softer but no less determined, added, "It'll take some practice, but I think we can make it work."
Darnell gave her an approving nod. "That's the spirit. And don't just use it for orders—use it for awareness. If someone sees something first, they can alert everyone immediately. No delays."
Alistair tilted his head slightly. "Like… if Cross spots tracks, he can tell us instantly instead of calling out?"
"Exactly," Darnell said. "Speed and coordination. That's how you turn a scattered fight into a controlled battle."
Cross nodded, glancing at Nyx. "I'll make sure to focus on that next time."
Sparks grinned. "Well, if this means I get to read all of your thoughts all the time, then this is going to be fun."
Alistair gave her a dry look. "It's telepathy, not mind reading."
"Sure, sure," Sparks waved a hand dismissively. "But you'll never know for sure, will you?"
Ox rolled his eyes, and Zara giggled quietly.
Darnell smirked, shaking his head. "Alright, jokers, let's wrap this up. We've got no cores to collect, so we move on." He glanced toward the direction they had originally been heading. "We still have a herb-gathering quest to complete. Let's get going."
The kids nodded, falling into formation again. This time, however, they all exchanged a quick, silent message through their telepathic bond.
"Formation set. Moving out."
Darnell, hearing nothing but seeing their focus, grinned. "Now we're getting somewhere."