The forest grew quieter once Herbert's party was gone. Rael felt it with every step — no muttered jokes from Daren, no sharp remarks from Lyra, no steady tap of Herbert's staff. Just the soft rustle of Elara's small footsteps behind him.
She kept close, her hand brushing his cloak now and then, as though afraid he might vanish into the trees.
For a while, Rael said nothing. The silence was heavier than he liked, so he asked, "Are you sure this way leads to your home?"
Elara nodded. "Yes. The river flows past my village. If we follow it north, we'll find it."
Rael gave a quiet hum of approval. But Elara's gaze stayed low. "You don't have to come with me. Others… wouldn't."
He looked down at her, brow furrowed. "Then they're not worth following."
Her lips curved faintly, but it wasn't quite a smile. "Some humans sell us. Like animals. If we're unlucky enough to be caught."
Rael's grip tightened on his sword hilt. "Not while I'm here."
For the first time since the split, Elara's shoulders loosened. She even pointed ahead with a small spark in her eyes. "The river's close. At sunset, the water shines like gold. My father told me that means the spirits are watching."
Rael only nodded. He didn't know about spirits. But he wanted her words to be true.
By evening, they reached the riverbank. Just as Elara promised, the fading sun painted the water in ripples of gold. Rael set his pack down and sank onto a rock, letting his muscles rest.
Elara crouched at the edge, trailing her fingers in the current. "See? Gold. The spirits really are watching."
Rael let out a faint chuckle. "If they are, I hope they stay awake."
That was when the water broke.
Shapes slid out from the dark depths — slick-scaled beasts with fins down their spines and fangs jutting from wide jaws. Fangclaws.
Elara gasped and stumbled back. "Rael!"
His sword was already in his hand. "Stay behind me!"
The first Fangclaw lunged from the water, but Rael's blade split it down before it touched land. Blood clouded the current. More followed, their claws scraping stone as they dragged themselves ashore.
Rael swung again, catching one across the head — but another darted low, claws raking his leg. He hissed, staggering back as pain flared.
Elara's voice cut through the clash. "Rael, your left!"
He twisted just in time, blocking snapping jaws with his bracer. The monster's teeth screeched across steel, pressing close to his throat. Rael shoved back with all his weight, driving his sword into its chest.
The fight didn't stop. Two more beasts surged forward, forcing him toward the river's edge. His boots slipped on wet stone, water splashing around his knees.
"Rael!" Elara's voice was panicked.
One Fangclaw lunged — Rael cut it down — but the other slammed into him, dragging both into the shallows. The current pulled hard, and for a moment Rael's head went under.
Elara screamed his name.
Rael burst back up, soaked and furious, his sword flashing in an arc that split the monster's skull. He staggered ashore, chest heaving, blood dripping from his arm.
The last Fangclaw circled, hissing. Elara grabbed a rock with trembling hands and hurled it. It struck the beast's snout, making it flinch just long enough for Rael to close in. His blade pierced clean through. The body twitched, then stilled.
Silence returned, broken only by the rush of the river.
Rael stood hunched, sword heavy, blood and water dripping from him. He sheathed it slowly, his arms trembling.
Elara ran to him, eyes wide and wet. "You're hurt—your arm—"
Rael forced a grin through ragged breaths. "Better me than you."
She hesitated, then whispered, "You won't leave me… right?"
He crouched to her level, placing a hand lightly on her shoulder. His voice was tired but steady. "Not while I can stand."
Her small hand gripped his wrist, as though to hold him to that promise.
The last light faded from the river, leaving only the sound of water and the hush of the deepening woods. Together, they stepped back onto the path, two shadows moving against the night.