The forest clearing was peaceful, a stark contrast to the tension of their last encounter. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the ground in shifting patches of gold. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the crisp scent of earth and plant life. It was the perfect spot for gathering herbs—calm, secluded, and teeming with the greenery they had been searching for.
Darnell rolled his shoulders, glancing around before nodding to himself. "Alright, kids. This is our gathering site. We need to collect Duskridge Sage, Veilpetal, and Emberweed. Keep your eyes open, stay within sight of each other, and remember to use the link if you need help."
A chorus of mental affirmations echoed through the telepathic bond as the group spread out to begin their search. The shift from combat-ready warriors to eager herb-gatherers was almost comical, but none of them were about to slack off. After all, this was still a mission.
Sparks was the first to find something. She crouched down near a thicket of tall grass, her coppery eyes scanning the underbrush. "Veilpetal here," she called mentally, reaching out to pluck the dark purple flowers from their stems.
Zara with Luna, who had wandered toward a shaded spot near the roots of an ancient tree, let out a quiet hum. "I see Duskridge Sage here. The silver veins on the leaves make it stand out."
Alistair, always methodical, took a moment to flip open the book Sparks had borrowed from the orphanage library, cross-referencing their finds. "Perfect match," he confirmed as he ran his fingers over the Duskridge Sage. "We should collect enough to fill at least two satchels."
Ox, meanwhile, was standing over a patch of fiery orange plants, his brow furrowed. "Uh… this stuff is kinda warm." He poked one of the Emberweed leaves cautiously, half-expecting it to react in some way.
Darnell chuckled as he walked over. "That's normal. Emberweed absorbs heat from the sun and slowly releases it at night. It's a good ingredient for salves that help with frostbite or muscle aches."
Ox nodded thoughtfully before carefully gathering a handful. "Neat."
Cross and Nyx had wandered toward the edge of the clearing, scanning the area for any additional finds. Though Cross had a keen eye for detail, he found himself more focused on the general atmosphere of the forest than the task at hand. There was something… still about it. Not ominous, but not quite normal either.
Still, the moment remained light. The kids worked in sync, moving through the area as they collected herbs, occasionally tossing playful remarks through the link.
Sparks, ever the instigator, nudged Alistair's arm as he concentrated on carefully storing the Duskridge Sage. "Hey, bookworm. You memorizing that plant for later?"
Alistair rolled his eyes, completely unfazed. "Unlike you, I actually like being thorough."
Zara smirked from her spot near a moss-covered rock. "You mean you like being right."
Alistair gave her a dry look. "Same thing."
Ox, overhearing the exchange, let out a deep laugh. "Bet you ten silvers Alistair could already have this entire book memorized."
Darnell, who had been overseeing their progress with an amused glint in his eyes, finally decided to interject. "Alright, chatterboxes. Keep working. We don't want to be here all day."
The group fell back into a comfortable rhythm, their previous battle with the wolves already feeling like a distant memory.
For the first time in a long while, they weren't just a group of children training to survive—they were simply kids on an errand, learning something new in the wild.
Now that the group had settled into their task, the sound of rustling leaves and the occasional quiet murmur of telepathic exchanges filled the air. It was a rare moment of peace, but even so, Darnell remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings as he idly twirled a blade of grass between his fingers.
Cross, still at the edge of the clearing, kept his senses stretched out while Nyx prowled nearby, occasionally pausing to sniff at patches of foliage. The forest was still. Too still.
Then, as Cross moved a little farther ahead, he spotted something.
"Tracks," he called mentally, his voice sharp with focus. "Faint, not fresh, but worth noting."
Darnell was already on his feet before Cross finished his sentence, striding over to inspect the markings. The others paused in their gathering, waiting for confirmation.
Cross crouched, tracing the edge of one of the impressions with his fingers. The prints were large, padded—clearly belonging to a predator, but nothing as big as the shadow panther they had fought before. His mind worked quickly, piecing together the subtle signs around the tracks.
"Looks like a wolf pack passed through here," he noted. "At least… a few hours ago, maybe more. They're not fresh, but still recent enough that they might still be in the area."
Darnell nodded, scanning the surroundings once more. "Wolves move in packs, and if they were here recently, it means they either hunted nearby or are still patrolling their territory."
Alistair, now standing a few paces away with his hand resting on the buckler at his side, spoke up. "Could they come back?"
Darnell considered it for a moment before shaking his head. "Doubt it. If they already made a kill, they're probably somewhere resting or moving toward their den. Unless we do something to attract them, they won't have a reason to come back here."
Sparks let out a quiet breath. "Good. We just fought off a pack earlier. I'd rather not do it again if we don't have to."
"Still," Darnell added, "we keep our guard up. Let's speed this up a little so we're not here longer than we need to be."
The group resumed their work, but Cross found his eyes drifting toward the tree line now and then, his instincts whispering that something still felt… off. He couldn't quite place it.
Nyx, too, remained unusually still, his golden eyes locked on a distant point beyond the clearing. His tail flicked once, ears twitching as if catching the faintest of sounds.
Something was watching them.
Cross didn't react right away, keeping his posture relaxed, but he sent a quick message through the link. "I think we're being watched."
Darnell's expression didn't change, but his fingers subtly curled around the hilt of his sword. "How sure are you?"
Cross hesitated, trying to sharpen his awareness. "It's just a feeling… but Nyx senses it too."
The others exchanged glances, their movements slowing.
Zara's hands briefly tightened around the Duskridge Sage she was collecting, and Luna let out a quiet hum of warning from her shoulder. Sparks exhaled slowly, her earlier relaxation slipping away. Alistair and Ox shifted their weight, subtly readying themselves.
Darnell sent a quick, silent command. "Keep gathering, but be ready. If anything happens, we move as a group."
The group obeyed, their hands working as if nothing had changed, but their senses stretched, their minds now tuned to their surroundings.
Cross remained at the edge of the clearing, his fingers hovering near his bowstring as Nyx positioned himself slightly ahead, his wings tucked in, muscles tense. The Noctarae wasn't growling, wasn't moving aggressively—but he was watching.
And then, just on the farthest edge of his vision, Cross caught it.
A flicker of movement.
Something in the trees.
The stillness broke.
The stillness of the forest was unnerving now. It wasn't the kind of quiet that came with peace—it was the kind that pressed against the senses, heavy and unnatural. Cross kept his breathing steady, his sharp eyes locked on the tree line. Whatever was out there wasn't showing itself yet, but he could feel it. Nyx was locked in place, his golden eyes narrowed, his muscles taut.
Then, just as Cross was about to relay a warning, something darted between the trees.
Fast. Too fast.
His breath hitched, his bow already half-raised, but the figure was gone before he could fully register it.
Something was circling them.
A ripple of unease passed through the telepathic link. Alistair's fingers tightened on his buckler, Sparks subtly shifted her stance, Ox turned toward the noise, and Zara stilled, her fingers brushing against Luna's soft fur.
Darnell, however, didn't react immediately. His gaze remained calm, though his hand casually rested on his sword. "Everyone stay in formation," he instructed mentally, his voice even. "No sudden movements."
Another flicker of movement—this time on the opposite side.
Cross's heart pounded as his mind tried to analyze what he was seeing. It wasn't wolves. Whatever was out there was moving in short, rapid bursts—watching, measuring, waiting.
Then, a new sound reached his ears.
Click. Click-click.
A skittering noise, like the tapping of claws against bark.
Cross's stomach dropped. "Not wolves," he relayed quickly. "Something else."
Nyx's hackles rose as a soft growl rumbled in his throat.
Then, the first one stepped into view.
It emerged from the underbrush with an eerie smoothness, its many legs clicking against the forest floor as it moved. Dark, chitinous plates covered its elongated body, its segmented limbs twitching unnaturally as it turned its head toward them. Its mandibles clicked, and for a brief moment, Cross swore he saw something resembling intelligence behind its multi-faceted eyes.
A skitterfang.
A creature somewhere between an insect and a predatory beast, known for its speed and razor-sharp legs.
And it wasn't alone.
More emerged from the foliage—first two, then four, then six. Their exoskeletons shimmered slightly in the shifting light, their bodies adapted for ambush tactics and brutal efficiency.
Darnell cursed under his breath. "Damn. Skitterfangs."
Alistair's grip tightened on his short sword. "What are they doing here? I thought they stayed closer to the dungeon areas!"
"They do," Darnell replied, his voice grim. "Which means something drove them out."
Sparks let out a slow breath. "I'm guessing that something isn't friendly."
"Focus on what's in front of us first," Darnell commanded. "These things are fast, but they're not as sturdy as they look. Aim for the joints where the plates connect—break their movement."
The skitterfangs didn't wait for a signal. They never did.
The first one lunged.
It moved like lightning—one second crouched, the next leaping through the air, its bladed legs slicing toward Sparks.
Sparks barely had time to react, diving to the side as the creature's legs carved through the space where she had just been. She hit the ground and rolled, her fingers already crackling with energy. Lightning Conduit! The charge built up, and she lashed out, sending a bolt straight into the skitterfang's side.
The creature screeched as the electricity arced across its exoskeleton, momentarily stunning it.
Ox was already moving. He stomped forward, bringing his fist down in a heavy Earthshaker Charge. The impact cracked the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked one of the approaching skitterfangs off balance. It screeched, its legs flailing as it struggled to right itself.
"Ox, behind you!" Alistair warned through the link.
Another skitterfang darted in from the side, its bladed leg slicing toward Ox's ribs.
Alistair was faster.
Battle Bond. The moment the skill activated, Alistair moved like a blur, his short sword intercepting the attack just in time. The impact jolted up his arm, but he gritted his teeth, shoving the creature back.
Cross positioned himself at the edge of the fight, arrows already notched. He exhaled slowly, waiting for the right moment. "Nyx, flank them."
Nyx leapt into action. His wings snapped open as he surged forward, his body a blur of motion. Talon Strike! His claws tore into the side of a skitterfang, slashing deep between its chitinous plates.
Zara, who had been supporting from a distance, saw an opening. Luna, sensing her intent, let out a soft chime as Zara extended her hands. Rippling Shield! A wave of energy pulsed outward, forcing one of the skitterfangs back just as it lunged toward Cross.
Darnell, ever the veteran, fought with precise efficiency. His sword cut through another skitterfang's legs, severing a joint and sending it crashing to the ground. He barely looked winded. "You're holding up, but you're still too reactive," he critiqued through the link. "Stay ahead of them. Predict their movement!"
The battle raged, and though the group held their own, their lack of refined teamwork showed. Sparks nearly got hit again, Cross misjudged his spacing and had to roll away from a counterattack, and Ox, despite his strength, almost overextended.
But they adapted.
Each mistake led to a quick correction, and soon, they started moving as one.
Sparks coordinated her attacks with Alistair's blocks.
Cross and Nyx kept the skitterfangs pinned from a distance.
Ox controlled the battlefield with raw force.
Zara focused on protection and reinforcement.
Then, just as the fight began to turn in their favor, the last skitterfang let out a high-pitched, unnatural screech.
A call.
The air went still for half a second.
Then, in the distance, more clicks and rustling filled the trees.
Darnell cursed. "More are coming. We don't have time to finish this properly."
Ox slammed his fist into the ground, panting. "Then what do we do?!"
Darnell's sharp gaze flicked toward the herbs they had gathered. "We got what we came for. Time to go."
Cross turned toward the treeline. "We need an exit."
Sparks wiped sweat from her brow. "I think we just fight our way through."
Darnell shook his head. "Not unless you want to run out of stamina before we get back to safety."
Alistair's eyes flicked between the trees. "Then what's the plan?"
Darnell smirked. "We don't fight our way out."
The kids blinked.
"We outmaneuver them."
Darnell quickly outlined a path through the forest, pointing toward the slope just past the clearing. "That incline will give us a speed advantage if we move fast. These things are fast in bursts but don't have long-term stamina. If we pace ourselves, we can outrun them."
Sparks groaned. "So we're running? I hate running."
"Would you rather stay?" Zara shot back, her golden eyes sharp.
Sparks huffed. "Fine. Running it is."
Darnell glanced at Cross. "Scout. Lead the way."
Cross's instincts kicked in immediately. "On it." He grabbed onto the telepathic link. "Everyone, move on my signal. Stick close, don't split."
The remaining skitterfangs shifted, their legs clicking as the reinforcements closed in.
Cross's eyes flicked to the treeline.
"Move!"
With that, the group broke into a full sprint, the forest blurring around them as they made their escape.
The air was thick with tension as the distant clicking of approaching skitterfangs echoed through the trees. The group moved quickly, but the creatures were closing in. Their legs skittered against the forest floor, an eerie, relentless sound that sent shivers up the kids' spines.
"We need to move faster!" Cross relayed through the link, leading the way up the incline Darnell had pointed out.
Nyx darted alongside him, his sleek form barely making a sound as he leapt from shadow to shadow. Zara and Sparks followed close behind, their expressions tense. Alistair and Ox covered the rear, their weapons ready. Darnell, keeping pace with ease, kept an eye on their formation.
The skitterfangs were adapting.
Instead of mindlessly chasing, some were flanking, cutting off their path. The incline, which had been meant to slow them down, was no longer an advantage.
Then one of them lunged.
It came from the side—fast, calculated, and with deadly precision.
Alistair saw it too late.
The skitterfang's bladed leg shot toward his side, its intent clear—one clean strike would cut straight through.
The moment stretched.
Alistair's breath hitched, his fingers tightening around his buckler, but he knew—he wasn't going to block in time.
A blur of movement.
A heavy impact.
And suddenly, Ox was there.
His massive form slammed into Alistair, pushing him out of the way just as the skitterfang's attack connected—with him instead.
The sound was sickening.
A wet crunch, followed by the tearing of fabric and flesh.
Ox grunted, his massive frame absorbing the force, his feet digging into the ground as he kept himself from toppling. The skitterfang's blade-like leg had carved deep into his shoulder and upper chest, but the orcish resilience in his blood kept him standing.
Alistair hit the ground hard, gasping as the realization set in.
Ox had taken the hit for him.
The skitterfang screeched, trying to pull its limb free, but Ox, through the pain, grinned.
"That all you got?" he growled, his amber eyes blazing.
Blood dripped from the wound, but Ox refused to fall.
Alistair scrambled to his feet, his breathing uneven. "Ox, you—!"
Ox chuckled, wincing slightly but still standing tall. "C'mon, Al. You really think a scratch like this is gonna take me out?" He flexed his arms despite the injury. "I'm built different, remember?"
Alistair clenched his fists. He wanted to be angry, but instead, all he felt was gratitude. "Idiot," he muttered, shaking his head. "A reckless, stubborn idiot."
"You love me for it," Ox shot back, his smirk widening despite the pain.
Another screech—more skitterfangs were closing in.
Darnell had seen enough.
"Zara! Get ready!" he barked.
Zara, already moving, extended her hands. Vital Surge! A warm glow surrounded Ox, his wound beginning to close as the magic pulsed through him.
But that wasn't the only thing happening.
A sudden pulse of energy erupted from Ox's pack.
A sharp crack.
Then, light.
The egg strapped to Ox's pack shattered.
For a brief second, everything seemed to still.
A form emerged from the fragments, glowing with raw, unrestrained energy. The light faded, revealing a massive, armored form standing proudly behind Ox.
Its body was thick and muscular, covered in deep, earthen plating that pulsed with a faint inner glow. Its powerful hooves dug into the dirt, its curved tusks gleaming like polished stone. Its eyes—fierce, burning with an undeniable presence—locked onto the battlefield.
Ox turned, his breath catching.
"Well, would you look at that," he murmured, a slow, awe-filled grin spreading across his face. "Looks like it's my turn."
The beast—Uluthorn—let out a thunderous bellow.
The skitterfangs hesitated.
For the first time, they were uncertain.
Darnell, seeing the shift, acted immediately. "NOW! PRESS FORWARD!"
Sparks, still buzzing with energy, lifted her hand. Lightning Conduit! A crackling arc of electricity shot out, striking the nearest skitterfang and stunning it.
Cross didn't hesitate. "Nyx, attack!"
Nyx took to the air, diving down in a blur of motion. Talon Strike! His claws tore into another skitterfang's exposed joints, the creature screeching as it
Ox, grinning like a madman, raised his fist. "Alright, big guy," he muttered to his newly hatched beast, his heart pounding. "Let's do this together."
Uluthorn charged.
Earthshaker Charge!
The ground shook as the beast barreled forward, its hooves smashing into the dirt, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. The impact knocked two skitterfangs off their feet, their legs thrashing as they struggled to recover.
Darnell moved in, cutting down the final standing enemy with brutal efficiency. One clean slice—one dead skitterfang.
The rest, seeing their pack falling apart, let out high-pitched screeches and fled into the forest.
The fight was over.
Silence settled.
The only sound was the heavy breathing of the group, the crackling of residual energy in the air.
Ox, still standing despite his earlier wound, let out a breathless laugh. "Holy crap," he muttered, looking down at his own hands before glancing at Uluthorn. "That was… incredible."
Alistair walked up beside him, shaking his head. "Next time, don't take a hit like that."
Ox chuckled. "Next time, don't almost take a hit like that."
Alistair exhaled sharply, but there was a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Tch. Stubborn idiot."
Ox patted him on the back, wincing slightly. "And proud of it."
Darnell, watching the whole interaction, smirked. "Good teamwork, but don't get cocky. You got lucky this time."
Ox turned toward Uluthorn, who stood beside him like a guardian, unwavering. His grin widened. "Nah," he said. "We got stronger."
Zara let out a relieved sigh, Luna chirping softly on her shoulder. Sparks, still crackling with energy, exhaled and grinned. "Okay," she admitted. "That was pretty cool."
Cross, resting a hand on Nyx, nodded. "Yeah. It really was."
Darnell stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, before you all get too sentimental—let's check the bodies for cores and get the hell out of here."
Ox, still beaming, patted Uluthorn's side. "You hear that, big guy? Time to see if our first battle gave us some loot."
The Uluthorn let out a deep, steady huff.
And with that, the group moved forward—together, stronger than before.