The horns blew at midday, low and long, shaking the canvas of the camp. Candidates gathered at the riverbank, eyes drawn to the sea. Out past the cliffs, black clouds massed. The tide surged against the rocks, foam spraying high.
The guard captain stood on the shore, his cloak whipped by the wind. "Trial Five," he thundered, "is Tide's Wrath. Each Keeper must face the sea itself. You will cross the storm shallows, reach the beacon stone, and light it with your Arclings' power. Fail, and you'll be washed back. Succeed, and the tide will grant you passage onward."
A murmur swept through the candidates. The sea was no small foe.
Jett's pulse beat in his throat. Sparkpup barked sharp, sparks flashing in the rising wind. Clawfin screeched overhead, wings slicing gusts. At his belt, Flamebeak's seal pulsed warm, as if eager to be freed.
The captain raised his arm. "The tide waits for no one. Enter!"
Into the Waves
The sea was alive with fury. Waves crashed over jagged rocks, spraying salt into Jett's mouth and eyes. The water sucked at his boots, each step a battle.
He gripped his Bond Band, its stones glowing—yellow for Sparkpup, silver for Clawfin, orange-red for Flamebeak. "Alright, team. Time to move."
"Sparkpup—Arc Lantern. Keep our path clear!"
The pup's forehead mark glowed, casting a steady cone of light through spray and mist. The waves shone white, showing where stones hid beneath.
"Clawfin—Wind Shield!"
The bird beat its wings, forming a gust that shoved back the spray, cutting a narrow channel forward.
Jett unclipped Flamebeak's seal. "Flamebeak, come!"
Light burst, and the firebird spread wings of smoldering orange. Its feathers hissed against the rain. It screeched, fire dripping into the waves with sharp pops.
"Use your heat," Jett said. "Keep us warm, keep the water back."
Flamebeak flared, fire lining its feathers, steam rising as rain met flame.
Together, they pressed into the storm.
The Tide Beast
Halfway across the shallows, the sea shuddered. The water swirled in a spiral, then surged upward. A massive shape rose, dark against the storm.
"Krillmaw." Jett's voice cracked.
It was bigger than any Arcling he had seen—part crustacean, part serpent, shell gleaming like wet stone, eyes glowing green. Its claws snapped with the sound of cracking trees.
The candidates near him scattered, some retreating to shore, others clinging to rocks. The guard captain's voice boomed over the storm: "The tide has chosen its guardian! Face it, or turn back!"
Jett's chest tightened. His first true monster.
"Form up!" he shouted. Sparkpup crouched low, Clawfin circled tight, Flamebeak shrieked with fire.
The Krillmaw lunged.
First Clash
"Clawfin—Gale Slice! Sparkpup—Zap Pop! Flamebeak—Ember Snap!"
Wind, lightning, and flame struck the beast's face. It reeled back, hissing, water boiling off its shell. But its claws slammed down, smashing stone to rubble.
Jett staggered. The sea pulled at his legs. "Stay sharp!"
The Krillmaw's tail swept in a wide arc. Clawfin dodged high, wings clipped by spray. Sparkpup leapt, but water slapped it down. Flamebeak shrieked and flared fire, steam exploding.
"Sparkpup—Arc Lantern, blind it!"
The pup's light shot straight into the beast's eyes. It shrieked, thrashing.
"Flamebeak—Blaze Wing, now!"
The firebird dived, wings cutting like molten knives. Heat seared the shell, leaving glowing cracks.
"Clawfin—Wind Hook, pry it open!"
Air swirled, catching in the cracks. The shell split wider, revealing softer flesh.
"Sparkpup—Bolt Bite!"
The pup leapt, teeth sparking, and bit deep. Lightning danced across the beast's body.
The Krillmaw roared, flailing. Water surged, knocking Jett to his knees. His chest ached with the bond strain—he felt each Arcling's fear and fire like his own blood boiling.
"Hold!" he gasped. "Don't let go!"
Desperate Measures
The Krillmaw's claw slammed down, pinning Sparkpup against a rock. The pup yelped, sparks sputtering.
"Sparkpup!" Jett shouted, panic sharp.
"Clawfin, lift it—Wind Burst!"
Air shoved against the claw, not enough. Flamebeak screeched and dove, slamming fire into the joint. The claw jerked back, freeing Sparkpup, who limped but stood.
Jett's vision blurred with salt and fear. Too strong. We can't match it blow for blow.
His hand clenched the band. "Think, Jett. Use the bond."
The storm howled. Lightning forked across the sky. A thought sparked.
"Sparkpup, Clawfin, Flamebeak—together! Combine!"
Sparkpup howled, sparks rising. Clawfin beat wings, drawing the sparks upward. Flamebeak flared, fire threading into the storm.
Lightning struck, caught by wind, fed by flame. It twisted into a single spear of light and heat.
"Now!" Jett roared. "Storm Fang!"
The combined blast crashed into Krillmaw's chest. Thunder split the air. Fire seared. Wind cut. The beast convulsed, screeched, then toppled into the waves, steam boiling as it sank back into the tide.
The sea stilled, waves rolling gentle.
Jett fell to his knees, chest heaving, band glowing red-hot. Sparkpup collapsed at his side, Clawfin fluttered down weakly, Flamebeak smoldered low.
They were alive. They had won.
Lighting the Beacon
The storm eased. Clouds broke, sun streaking through. The beacon stone rose from the shallows, slick and tall.
Jett staggered forward, Sparkpup limping beside him. He touched the stone with his band. "Together."
Flamebeak pressed its beak, sparks of fire glowing. Clawfin brushed it with wing, air humming. Sparkpup set its paw, lightning crackling.
The stone flared, glowing gold. A clear note rang across the cliffs, higher than the storm's roar.
Onshore, the captain raised his arm. "Jett Ember—trial passed!"
Cheers rose from the candidates. Even those who had fled now clapped, eyes wide.
Kael stood apart, Nightfang's eyes glowing in the dim light. His face was unreadable, but his gaze burned.
After the Wrath
By dusk, the campfires glowed warm. Jett sat wrapped in a dry cloak, Sparkpup asleep in his lap, Clawfin perched tired but proud, Flamebeak preening singed feathers.
The band pulsed with three steady beats. His team. His family.
He looked at the sea, calm now, and whispered, "If we can stand against that… we can stand against anything."
The wind carried his words out across the darkening waves.
Tomorrow, Trial Six would come.
But tonight, he let himself rest, listening to the quiet bonds of his partners, stronger than the tide.