The aftermath of the battle still lingered in the air, but the tension had slowly given way to exhaustion. The kids sat in a loose circle, catching their breath, inspecting minor scrapes, and rubbing sore muscles. The fallen skitterfangs lay motionless in the grass, their chitinous bodies reflecting the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.
Darnell crouched by one of the carcasses, inspecting it with a practiced eye. "No cores," he muttered, shaking his head. "Damn unlucky. But at least we made it out in one piece."
His gaze drifted toward Ox, who was leaning against a tree, looking like he'd just walked out of a fight with a bear and somehow enjoyed it. Despite the deep wound he had taken earlier, he wore a grin that bordered on smugness, his thick arms crossed lazily over his chest.
But the real focus of the group's attention wasn't just Ox—it was his beast.
The newborn Uluthorn stood beside him, exuding a raw, primal energy that made it clear he was no ordinary beast. Despite being freshly hatched, he carried himself with a presence that demanded attention. His stance was a blend of bipedal and quadrupedal movement, standing upright when at rest but easily capable of dropping to all fours for rapid bursts of speed. His elongated limbs, muscular yet lean, ended in dexterous hands and feet, making it clear that he was not just a brute but something calculated, something watchful.
His fur was dark and rugged, thick enough to withstand damage, streaked with deep crimson markings that pulsed faintly as he breathed. His face was an intense combination of a howler monkey's broad expression and a buffalo's raw power, his pronounced snout and sharp teeth framed by massive, curved horns that extended back before curling slightly at the tips. His throat was perhaps his most distinct feature, a gibbon-like expansion of muscle, designed to amplify the deep, reverberating growl that occasionally rumbled from his chest.
His eyes were molten orange, burning with intelligence and unshaken confidence. Even in stillness, he seemed to be reading everything around him, absorbing the world with an understanding beyond his young age.
The Uluthorn turned his gaze toward Nyx and Luna, his nostrils flaring slightly as he took in their scents. Nyx, standing beside Cross, flicked his tail, his golden eyes meeting the Uluthornes without hesitation. There was no hostility—just silent acknowledgement. A new member of their strange, growing pack. Nyx stretched his wings slightly before settling again, his body language saying, We'll see what you can do.
Luna, perched on Zara's shoulder, let out a soft hum. Her frilly gills pulsed gently, and for a moment, the air between her and the Uluthorn felt charged, as if an unspoken conversation passed between them. She hopped down, landing lightly near the Uluthrons feet. He didn't move, simply watching her with curiosity. She tilted her head, chirping softly before climbing onto his arm, her tiny feet gripping his thick fur.
Ox grinned. "Looks like Luna's checking you out, buddy."
The Uluthorn let out a deep, throaty rumble, his throat expanding slightly before deflating again. He didn't seem bothered by Luna's presence—if anything, he looked mildly intrigued by the tiny creature climbing on him without fear.
Sparks smirked. "She's fearless. Or maybe she's just too tiny to see him as a threat."
Zara smiled, rubbing a finger gently over Luna's head. "She's curious. She always wants to understand before she reacts."
Darnell, watching the silent exchanges, finally chuckled. "Looks like they're already working out their own hierarchy. That's good. It means less trouble later."
Cross, who had been observing the interactions, finally turned his attention back to Ox. "So… are we gonna talk about how stupid that was?"
Ox blinked. "What?"
Alistair, arms crossed, gave him a sharp look. "Throwing yourself into a lethal attack, Ox. That. What the hell were you thinking?"
Ox rubbed the back of his head, looking more amused than guilty. "I was thinking you were about to get sliced in half, Alistair."
Sparks groaned. "You didn't have to take the hit! We could've found another way!"
Zara sighed. "We all have roles, Ox. Yours isn't to be the damage sponge just because you can."
Cross narrowed his eyes. "If you went down, we'd be short one of our strongest fighters. Do you get that? That's not just 'Oh, Ox got hurt.' That's we could all be dead because we lost you mid-fight."
Ox exhaled through his nose, shifting slightly. "I hear you," he said, rubbing at his shoulder where the wound had mostly closed thanks to Zara's healing. "I get it. But I knew I could take it. If Alistair got hit instead of me, we'd be talking about how to carry him back to the village, not how dumb I was."
Alistair's lips pressed into a thin line. He looked like he wanted to argue, but part of him knew Ox was right. Still, he wasn't ready to let it go completely.
"I just… don't do it again unless you absolutely have to," he muttered. "Got it?"
Ox grinned, clapping a hand on Alistair's shoulder. "Got it, Mom."
Sparks rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright, let's move on before Alistair actually tries to murder him." She clapped her hands together. "We need to name the big guy."
Rhonar let out a deep, approving rumble, as if he knew this was an important moment.
Sparks crossed her arms. "I'm thinking… Horn Breaker."
Cross tilted his head. "Too violent."
Zara smirked. "What about Big Moo?"
Ox gawked. "Absolutely not."
Alistair pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can we aim for something majestic, please?"
Sparks tapped her chin. "Thundersnout."
Zara raised an eyebrow. "Gravelhorn."
Cross hummed. "What about Ironback?"
Ox rubbed his chin, looking at Rhonar thoughtfully. The beast stared back at him, his glowing orange eyes unwavering. There was something in them—strength, loyalty, unbreakable will.
Ox nodded slowly. "Rhonar."
The group fell silent for a second.
Sparks clicked her tongue. "Yeah. Yeah, that actually sounds badass."
Cross nodded. "It fits."
Alistair smirked. "A strong name for a strong beast."
Zara shrugged. "Fine. As long as we never call him Big Moo."
Ox grinned, patting Rhonar's side. "Welcome to the team, big guy."
Nyx, from his spot beside Cross, flicked his tail and gave Rhonar a measured look. Rhonar returned the gaze, then let out a deep, acknowledging snort.
Luna, still perched on Rhonar's arm, let out a small, approving hum.
Darnell, watching all of this, let out a slow exhale and crossed his arms. "Well, at least now we've got a full damn zoo."
Sparks grinned. "And it's only gonna get bigger."
Darnell groaned. "Gods help me."
The group chuckled, the heaviness of the earlier battle lifting just a bit as their newly strengthened bonds settled into place.
The area had settled into an eerie calm in the aftermath of their battle, the rustling leaves and distant bird calls providing a stark contrast to the chaos from earlier. The group had unconsciously wandered a fair distance during their retreat, and now, as they caught their breath and assessed their situation, they found themselves in unfamiliar territory.
Cross crouched, pressing a palm to the dirt. "We ran farther than I thought," he muttered, scanning their surroundings. "We should check what we gathered and make sure we actually have what we need."
Sparks stretched, rolling her shoulders with a groan. "Good idea. Last thing I want is to get back and realize we forgot something."
Zara opened the herb satchel she had slung over her shoulder, while Alistair and Ox did the same with theirs. Darnell walked up beside them, rubbing his chin as he glanced between the collected plants. "Alright, let's see… Duskridge Sage, Veilpetal, Emberweed…" He counted mentally, nodding in approval. "Yeah, looks like we got everything we needed."
Sparks huffed. "Good. Because I am not running into another nest of those things just for a couple more leaves."
Ox grinned. "You say that, but I saw how excited you got zapping those bugs."
Sparks smirked. "Yeah, because they deserved it."
Darnell cut in before the teasing could escalate. "Now, we should take a different route back. No sense walking into the same path those skitterfangs might be tracking us from."
Alistair, ever the strategist, nodded. "That's smart. But we don't know this part of the forest well. Any idea which way is safest?"
Darnell exhaled, scanning the tree lines. "Not safest, but least likely to get us caught up in another fight. We'll go east for a bit before circling back north. It should take us back toward the outskirts without doubling back into their hunting territory."
With that decided, they set off.
The path was peaceful, the air fresh with the lingering scent of damp earth and foliage. As they moved, they spotted additional plants and herbs scattered through the forest—ones not part of their original quest but still useful.
Alistair crouched near a cluster of tall, thin stalks with pale blue flowers. "Blue Ivyroot. Good for treating burns." He plucked a few, storing them carefully.
Zara pointed toward a collection of broad-leafed plants growing near a fallen log. "That's Moonshade Moss. It can dull pain if used in a poultice."
Darnell observed with quiet approval. "Not bad, kids. You've got sharp eyes."
Nyx flew above, his sharp golden gaze sweeping the area. Luna, in contrast, had abandoned Zara's shoulder and was now perched atop Rhonar's broad back, looking entirely comfortable as she rode along. Rhonar didn't seem to mind; his slow, steady steps carried her with ease.
Then, without warning, Luna let out a strange, low chime and lightly tapped Rhonar's thick fur with her tiny paw.
The Uluthorn stopped in his tracks.
The group came to a halt, watching as Rhonar slowly turned his head, nostrils flaring. Then, as if making a decision on his own, he began walking in a different direction—completely off their intended path.
"Uh… Rhonar?" Ox called out, watching as his beast strode away with purpose. "Where are you going, big guy?"
Rhonar didn't respond. He simply kept walking.
"Okay, is it just me, or is he choosing to ignore you?" Sparks said, raising an eyebrow.
Zara frowned, reaching out through the bond to Luna. "Luna told him to do that," she realized, startled.
Cross's grip tightened on his bow. "Nyx?"
Nyx had already taken off, flying higher as if drawn toward the same direction. The moment he reached a certain height, something changed. A wave of emotion crashed through the link between him and Cross—powerful, yet completely indescribable.
Cross stiffened. "What the…?"
At the same time, Ox and Zara both inhaled sharply, their beasts sending them a similar flood of wordless, overwhelming sensation.
Sparks looked between them, now visibly concerned. "Alright, what was that?"
Alistair narrowed his eyes. "It came from your beasts, didn't it?"
Cross exhaled sharply. "Yeah. Nyx saw something, but I don't even know what he saw. Just—he felt something. And it wasn't just him. Rhonar and Luna too."
Darnell had been watching the exchange quietly, but now his expression turned wary. "That's never a good sign," he muttered. "If all three of them are reacting, we need to be careful."
Still, despite the wariness, they followed.
For several minutes, the group weaved through the trees, led solely by the instinctual pull of their beasts. The tension thickened with each step, their surroundings growing denser, the air heavier.
Then, at last, they reached it.
A cave mouth.
It loomed before them, jagged and ancient, partially hidden behind a curtain of vines. The darkness within was absolute, swallowing all light past a few feet. The entrance itself wasn't massive—wide enough for two people to walk side by side, but something about it felt… unnatural.
The moment Darnell saw it, his body tensed.
The easy confidence he usually carried was gone, replaced by something else—shock, surprise, and a sliver of dread.
For several seconds, he just stared.
Cross frowned. "Darnell? What is it?"
Darnell didn't answer.
He swallowed once, his sharp eyes locked onto the cave like it was something that shouldn't exist.
Zara, her voice hesitant, asked, "Do you… know what this is?"
Finally, after a long pause, Darnell spoke.
And his voice was unnervingly quiet.
"I really wish I didn't."