The morning sun broke in narrow gold shafts through the forest canopy, catching on dew-slick leaves. The smoke from Blackmere's funeral pyres still smudged the horizon behind them, a thin gray reminder of the night before. No one felt like talking much. They had miles to cover and orders to follow.
Less than three hours into the ride, a merchant caravan clattered into view from the opposite direction. The oxen were lathered in sweat, and every man in the party wore the same tight, darting look—people who'd seen something and wished they hadn't.
"Champions!" the lead driver shouted the moment he recognized their cloaks. "Thank the gods! There's something on the northern forest roads—hunting people." His voice hitched. "A beast like nothing we've ever seen."
Tor drew his horse alongside, brow lowering into his soldier's focus. "What kind of beast?"
"Size of a horse," the merchant said. "Moves like shadow in the trees. Traders gone missing. We've been running since we heard it howl."
Jace's mind was already working through the king's standing orders: eliminate any threats they encountered on their return journey. A corrupted predator hunting innocent travelers definitely qualified.
Tor scanned the tree line. "Two teams. Different angles. Box it in."
"Jace and Zara can take the Heartwood," Elliot said from his saddle. "The rest of us come in from the west and push it toward the river."
Zara was already checking her gear. "Heartwood's thick cover, but it's got sight lines if you know where to look."
As they split, Jace caught Dren watching him. No smirk this time, just a measuring stare. The man had been quiet since Blackmere, but something in the look said later. Jace shelved it. Right now, there was a hunt.
******
The Heartwood had a way of making people slow down. The trunks were wide enough to swallow three men in a circle, the canopy dense enough to turn sunlight into scattered coins on the forest floor. Moss muffled their steps and painted every root in glowing green.
"You know," Zara said as she stepped over a fallen log, "I didn't think I'd enjoy tracking duty this much."
"The hunting or the company?" Jace asked.
She smiled without looking up. "Both. You're…different when it's just us."
"Less like I'm trying to prove I belong?"
"Or maybe you're starting to believe it."
They worked in easy rhythm until Zara stopped short, eyes narrowing at a stand of oaks ahead.
"Over there."
Gouges, deep and deliberate, raked the bark. Branches hung in splinters far above head height, and a few black-brown stains sank into the dirt beneath.
"Territorial," Jace said, tracing the claw marks. "It's marking this whole stretch."
"Which means it's close," Zara murmured. "Maybe watching."
The quiet stretched until she spoke again, softer this time. "Can I tell you something?"
"Always."
"I'm terrified. Not of this—of after. If we win. What happens to people like me then?" She didn't look at him. "I'll go back to being an exile with a few good stories."
Jace stopped. "You want a secret? I'm not here to be a hero. I never wanted to save the world or fulfill some grand destiny." He met her eyes directly. "I'm just trying to survive and maybe enjoy whatever this crazy life throws at me. The hero thing is just… what I have to do to keep living."
That pulled a laugh out of her—real and quick. "Refreshing," she said.
The forest answered with a chime from Jace's system.
[DANGER: Large Predator Detected]
[Threat Level: High]
[Recommendation: Prepare for Combat]
The thing moved before thought. A blur of muscle and black hide, big as a draft horse, patterns in its fur writhing if you stared too long. Its eyes were pits—light went in and didn't come back.
Zara's sword was up in time to meet it, but the hit still sent her crashing into a tree. Her weapon spun into the ferns. She clutched her arm, breath hissing through her teeth.
"Zara!" Jace drew his own sword, positioning himself between her and the circling predator. The creature studied him with those terrible eyes, seeming to weigh whether he posed enough threat to warrant immediate attention.
*Time to find out what these remaining points are really worth.*
[Emergency Enhancement Available]
[Remaining Charm Points: 1115]
[Temporary Combat Boost: 500 CP - +3 STR, +3 AGI, +2 CON for 5 minutes]
[Confirm Purchase?]
*Do it.*
Heat surged through his limbs, vision narrowing and sharpening at once. The beast faltered for half a step—enough. Jace drove in, scoring its flank and spilling shadow-stuff that bled into the moss.
The counterblow tore through his armor, but the boost kept him on his feet. For three minutes they matched each other—speed, weight, and will.
Then—
[Temporary Enhancement Expiring]
[30 seconds remaining]
The strength leaked away, his sword dragging heavy in his grip. A claw clipped his ribs, spinning him back.
"Zara, can you move?"
"Broken arm, not broken legs," she said.
"Good enough. Let's go."
He grabbed her good arm and hauled her to her feet, supporting most of her weight as they began a fighting retreat through the forest.
The panther followed, but cautiously—his temporary enhancement had apparently convinced it that he was more dangerous than he actually was.
*Let's hope that reputation lasts long enough to find the others.*
The sound it made carried through the Heartwood like a cold nail.