The first light of dawn spilled softly over Haven's walls. The settlement was still waking when the recovery team assembled at the Main Gate, a dozen of Haven's fittest hunters and warriors. With them are two carts and four men dedicated only to recovering the beast's remains. The rest will secure the wounded and the perimeter.
As Thalen offered his final words of advice, Dara emerged from the shadows, her determination palpable. She limped forward, her bandaged leg a testament to her recent ordeal, the linen stained with a hint of blood. Yet, her eyes burned with an unyielding resolve.
She moved with the silence of a shadow, unnoticed until her voice cut through the murmur like a knife. Even with her condition, the peculiarity as an experienced tracker-hunter showed. She blended into the background unseen until she wanted to be seen. Her jaw was set, her eyes flashing with determination, daring anyone to challenge her.
"I'm going with you," she declared, her voice firm, her knuckles white as she clenched her bow. A quiver full of arrows was slung on her back, a long knife, and a machete hung at her waist. Her gear was a patchwork of worn leather and weathered metal, a reflection of her practicality and resourcefulness. The weight of the weapons seemed to anchor her, as if gearing up for battle, which, in truth, she was.
Barik turned, his expression flickering from surprise to concern. "Dara…"
"I'm fine," she insisted, shifting her weight to hide the wince of pain.
"I'm coming with you, Barik," Dara argued, trying to sound like a command rather than a request.
Barik looked at her injury and shook his head instantly. "Absolutely not. You can barely put weight on that leg. We'd be moving fast, and you're not fit to travel; the arduous task will reopen your wound."
Dara's jaw clenched, her voice tight with frustration. "I have to, I've sworn..." She bit back the words, her expression hardening with resolve. "Eris and Kaylah are out there, and I can help bring them back. I can still use my bow... I'm a tracker... I'm used to this!" Her words were laced with determination, her eyes burning with a quiet intensity.
Her eyes betrayed her worry, revealing a deeper concern for the two missing members than for the departing team. Before Barik could reply, Elder Faren approached, his expression grim.
"You're staying," he motioned Dara to stop, his voice sharp but laced with concern. "You'll slow them down, Dara. Your wounds aren't healed, and we need you here, whole and ready."
Dara's face darkened, her eyes flashing with defiance, but the elder's expression was unyielding. She wanted to argue, to insist, but she couldn't defy the elder's word; her failure to rest would only make her useless later. She bit out, turning away in angry frustration.
Barik gave Dara a small, apologetic nod, acknowledging her frustration. Thalen, standing beside him, watched her retreat with a slow tilt of his head, his brow furrowing just slightly. "She's sworn allegiance through action more times than most," he murmured, almost to himself, his fingers tapping absently against the hilt of his knife. "But I've never heard her voice an oath of personal loyalty before."
Thalen's eyes narrowed, his gaze lingering on Dara as he turned the enigma over in his mind. He maintained a neutral facade, acting as if he had missed her outburst entirely. Beside him, Elder Faren was equally still, his expression thoughtful and unnervingly unreadable, suggesting he had caught every word.
Elder Faren stepped forward, his voice ringing out in the quiet passage. "Bring them home, Barik. Come back safe."
Barik's response was resolute. "I will."
Barik scanned the area, his expression turned deeply introspective. His gaze sweeping over the hurried preparations and the faces of his team, "Where is he?" he asked himself, his voice barely a breath. His eyes searched desperately through the crowd of well-wishers, straining for a glimpse of Elder Ruvio.
He desperately needed to see The Seer(1) before he left to ask about the inexplicable silver light, the disturbing events of yesterday, and most importantly, to seek the Great Elder's(1) counsel. The questions pressing on him were too large, too strange, for anyone else in Haven to answer. He needed Elder Ruvio's perspective to navigate this new, terrifying reality.
The morning sun hung pale and weak in the sky, its light diffused by a thin haze that clung to the ruins of Haven like a shroud. The air was still, heavy with unspoken fear. No birds sang. No wind stirred the banners hanging limp above the gate. The tribe had gathered once more, but this time, there were no hollers, no proud chants, no raised fists. Only silence.
Men, women, and children lined the narrow passage leading to the Outer Gate, their faces drawn, their eyes shadowed. The hunters moved through their ranks, their steps heavy, their voices muted. There were no jokes, no boasts, no clinking of weapons in anticipation. The carts creaked ominously, the oxen's breath misting in the cool air as they plodded forward. The only sound was the dull thud of boots on packed earth, the occasional shift of a spear in a nervous grip.
A child clutched at her mother's skirt; her wide eyes fixed on the departing hunters. The mother pulled her close, her own gaze never leaving Barik's back. Elder Mishal leaned heavily on his staff, his lips moving in a silent prayer. A young woman, her hands trembling, pressed a small charm into her brother's palm as he passed a wolf's tooth, for protection.
No one spoke.
The silence was thicker than any cheer, heavier than any chant. It was the silence of those who had already lost too much, who knew the cost of hope. They had seen their hunters march out before; proud, laughing, full of fire. They had watched them return, bloodied and broken. This time, they only prayed for a quick journey back. A bloodless one.
Barik reached the gate and paused, just for a moment. He didn't turn around. He didn't need to. He could feel the weight of their gaze, the unspoken pleas hanging in the air like a curse. Then, with a sharp nod to his team, he stepped through the Main Gate, the hunters falling into step behind him.
***
A somber procession followed Barik's team. Dara, Lisei, Myrah, and Luna walked alongside the immediate families and the grave-faced elders toward the Outer Gate. The tribesmen were visibly subdued, the memory of yesterday's bloodied arrival still too fresh. They all pressed forward, needing to witness the departure, their silent wish clear: that the sight of these warriors leaving would not be the final image they held of them.
Barik stood tall, his freshly replaced cloak billowing behind him, as he scanned the crowd one last time. The rising sun cast a heroic glow on his face, and for a moment, he embodied the very essence of a leader: strong, sure, and unwavering. His eyes locked onto Dara and the siblings, and a wry smile spread across his face.
Dara crossed her arms, her shoulders tense, while Lisei nodded solemnly, her eyes wide with worry. With a final, lingering glance, Barik nodded gravely to Dara, his eyes locking onto hers in a silent understanding. She met his gaze, her expression a mixture of anxiety and a wordless plea for reconsideration.
The cool morning breeze whispered through her hair as she halted a few paces before him, her voice laced with reproach and pride. "You could've asked for me," she said, her tone tinged with a hint of ruefulness.
Barik's response was a gentle, knowing smile. "You know why I didn't," he said softly, his eyes never leaving hers. He paused, his expression resolute, before adding, "Don't worry, I assure you they'll come back with me… safe and sound."
Luna approached the group, her footsteps silent as a whisper, her presence a quiet balm to the tension in the air. She stopped before Barik and the hunters, her voice neither loud nor soft, but carrying the weight of something older than the ruins around them.
"The spirits guide your path," she said, her words weaving through the morning stillness like a thread of silver. "May the silver's light guard your steps and bring them all back home."
For a moment, no one moved. Then Barik bowed his head, just slightly, in acknowledgment. The hunters murmured their thanks, some touching their chests or their weapons in silent respect. Even Dara, still bristling with frustration, paused to meet Luna's gaze with a nod.
Then…
"Uncle(2) Barik!"
A small voice cut through the gloom like a blade. Myrah came barreling through the crowd, her braids bouncing, her tiny boots kicking up dust. She latched onto Barik's cloak with both hands, yanking with all her might. Her face was set in a scowl of sheer determination, her dark eyes wide and unblinking as she gazed up at him.
"Don't forget my meat!" she commanded, her forefinger jabbing the air between them like a tiny, furious sword. "And no grass that Eris and my sister usually bring home! It makes me run to the toilet every time I eat. Eww!" She made a face, scrunching up her nose in distaste.
"And…" Myrah added, her voice suddenly softer, as if she'd just remembered something far more important, "make sure you bring Kaylah and Eris back with you!" She said it so casually, as if it were an afterthought, as if she weren't asking for the moon itself.
Then, her eyes lit up with a sudden spark of excitement. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, though not so quiet that anyone missed it. "And… and my pet!"
Myrah was certain Barik had promised her a pet last night. Or at least, she thought she remembered it that way. In her mind, it was as good as done, as if Barik could simply pluck a creature from the wilds and tuck it into his pack like a trinket.
In reality, Barik had only whispered the idea to her the night before, a foolish, desperate promise made in the dim glow of the hearth.
Luna, ever watchful, had seen the way Lisei's fear had clung to her like a shadow when Barik came to them last night. So as soon as Lisei's sharp eyes caught the blood on Barik's clothes, Luna had stepped in, her voice a soft murmur of comfort. She had pressed her palm to Myrah's forehead, her fingers tracing a gentle pattern as she whispered an old lullaby. Myrah's eyelids had grown heavy almost instantly, her thoughts melting away into dreams, where Barik's promise was already fulfilled, where Kaylah and Eris were safe, and where a small, loyal creature waited just for her.
Now, standing in the cold morning light, Myrah was convinced it had all been real. And she expected Barik to deliver. Because in her world, promises were never broken. Not the important ones.
A beat of stunned silence. Then…
Laughter.
It started with the hunters, rough and surprised, breaking through the morning's chill like sunlight through storm clouds. The tribe followed, their tension unraveling in waves of relieved amusement. Even the elders chuckled, shaking their heads.
Barik knelt fully in the dirt, his calloused hand resting on Myrah's shoulder. His voice was rough with emotion when he spoke. "I will bring them back," he promised, his thumb brushing over the frayed edge of his cloak where her small fingers still clung. "All of them. And yes..." he mock-growled, "...even the best cut of meat. Though I can't promise Eris won't try to sneak a bite."
Then, as if the words were being dragged out of him, he scratched the back of his head and sighed, resigning himself to the inevitable. "And... the pet." The last part came out like a surrender, but there was a warmth in his eyes, because how could he refuse that face? How could anyone?
Satisfied, Myrah beamed, her face radiating joy; she released his cloak and stepped back, her grin so wide it looked ready to split her face. "Good," she declared, as if she'd just negotiated a treaty.
Then, with all the dignity of a queen dismissing her court, she turned and marched back to her sister's side. Lisei pulled her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "You terrifying little diplomat," she murmured, but her voice shook just a little.
Barik rose, brushing the dust from his knees. The hunters were smiling now, their shoulders a little lighter, their grips on their spears less white-knuckled. The tribe's silence had broken. For a moment, the weight of fear had lifted.
"Bring them home," Elder Mishal's voice rang out, his words a gentle echo of the tribe's collective prayer. "All of them." The worry that had etched his face just yesterday had given way to a quiet confidence, thanks to the news Elder Faren had shared from Elder Ruvio about Renzo's condition.
The hunters checked their bows and spears one last time. With a final, echoing groan of stone on stone, the gate to Haven Below opened, and Barik led his men out into the quiet morning. The air hummed not with fear, but with the fragile, unspoken belief that this time, things would be different.
"By blood and silver, we stand as one!" Barik called out, raising his fist.
"For Haven's light, the battle's won!" the hunters responded in unison, their voices strong and determined.
Their usual chant before leaving Haven echoed against the walls and into the mist beyond. When it faded, the gates creaked open, and Barik gave the signal. The carts rolled forward, the hunters followed, and the pale morning fog soon swallowed their silhouettes.
"Move out," Barik said, his voice steady.
His men followed, their boots kicking up dust as they passed through the gate, the fragile barrier that stood between them and the unforgiving wilderness, the thin line that separated them from the beast that lurked, waiting.
Barik led his team out, their figures silhouetted against the bright morning, leaving the siblings, Dara, and the entire hopeful tribe watching until the last cart and the last hunter slowly vanished into the sunlit mouth of the gorge.
Myrah waved furiously, her small hand the last thing the hunters saw before the path swallowed them whole.
Barik didn't look back.
But he carried the sound of her laughter with him into the wilds
Thalen and the elders stood tall, their gazes fixed on the departing team, their eyes filled with a mix of hope and trepidation: Would this journey be the one that brought their loved ones home?
The crowd lingered, waving and murmuring as Barik's team vanished beyond the gate, their figures shrinking into the distance. The first light of dawn crept over the ruins, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape; a fragile promise of the day to come, and the possibilities it held.
As the sun rose higher, casting long shadows across the ruins, somewhere out there, Barik's team was already on the move, and the people of Haven could only wait and hope that this time, there would be no problems. That this time, their loved ones would return safely.
Dara exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. She wasn't with them. But she could still stand guard here for the siblings, for the home Kaylah and Eris would return to.
The girls lingered a while longer, their eyes fixed on the fading trail where the hunters had disappeared into the wilds. Hope and fear wove together in their hearts like threads of silver and shadow, tangled but unbroken.
The storm had passed, leaving the air crisp and clean, the scent of damp earth and pine sharp and bright. No rain fell. No clouds darkened the horizon. It was as if the world itself had paused, holding its breath in anticipation.
"Look!" Luna said suddenly, her voice bright as she pointed upward. The sky was a vast, cloudless blue, the sun rising unobstructed, its warmth already chasing away the chill. "No rain, no storms. A good omen," she murmured, her voice carrying the weight of a prayer. "The gods are watching over them today."
Dara nodded, her gaze still locked on the horizon, as if she could will them all back by sheer force of will. Then she turned to Lisei and Myrah, her voice steady, grounding them. "Come on. Let's go inside. We'll prepare for their return."
Lisei exhaled, her breath shaky, her hand finding Luna's. "They'll be back," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
Luna squeezed her hand, her grip firm and reassuring. "Before the sun sets," she agreed, her voice leaving no room for doubt.
Myrah looked up at the bright, clear sky one last time, her small face alight with absolute trust. She was oblivious to the solemn tension of the adults around her. With a determined flourish, she flipped her braid over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I will have the juiciest mammoth steaks, and I'll ride in on my pet's back, just watch!" she declared, grinning.
She paused, her expression turning thoughtful, a mischievous giggle bubbling up inside her. "Wait... maybe Uncle Barik promised berries, too? That'd be amazing! If he brings both, hehe, he'd totally owe me one then!" She bounced slightly, her excitement radiating like a palpable force. Her imagination ran wild, painting a ridiculous, triumphant scene of her siblings returning, heralded by a feast, and carried not on mundane carts, but on the back of some friendly, enormous beast.
Lisei laughed softly, pulling her sister close and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "With your meat," she promised, her fingers absently twisting the hem of her sleeve.
And then, as they turned toward home, she wondered silently, What in the world are we going to say about the pet? But for now, she let the question hang in the air, unanswered. Some worries could wait. For today, there was only hope.
***