Kon and Helie arrived first, eyes darting around for danger. Lucen glanced at the child's teary face wearily. His tattered clothes were silk and thick cotton, his brown hair was matted with mud, but still looked well cared for.
"What's your name?" Lucen asked first.
"Taragivian, just call me Tara," he said hurriedly, "but forget that. My mom and dad, please—"
"Lucen! The Withmare?" Helie interrupted.
"Dead. My tail had Carama tree sap in it. Its head should be thoroughly destroyed."
Kon found the corpse, lying still against the earth. The Withmare's bone mask smoked and steamed as the bone was eaten by the corrosive sap. The back of its head had been eaten right through and its blood and brains spilled to the earth in a steaming pile.
Lucen released [Tailwhip], the water disappearing immediately, leaving the deadly sap to fall against the plants.
