The forest thickened as we moved deeper into the hunting grounds. Tall trunks rose around us like silent pillars, their branches weaving together high above to form a dim green canopy. Sunlight filtered through in scattered patches, leaving most of the ground covered in cool shadow.
We moved carefully, spreading out slightly as we searched for signs of low level beasts. Leaves crunched faintly beneath our boots, and the occasional bird call echoed somewhere far above.
For a while, Sham and I walked side by side without speaking. There was no tension between us, yet neither of us seemed eager to start a conversation. The quiet of the forest wrapped around us as we focused on the hunt.
Vaela suddenly raised her hand.
We stopped at once.
The signal was clear. She lowered her posture slightly and pointed forward with two fingers before slipping quietly behind the trunk of a nearby tree. We immediately followed her lead, moving into position behind the surrounding trees and thick brush.
Carefully, we leaned just enough to see ahead without exposing ourselves.
A small clearing opened between the trees.
Two beasts stood there, grazing among the scattered leaves.
They were low level mutated creatures. At first glance they resembled deer, but the resemblance ended quickly. Their legs were slender like a deer's, yet their paws were shaped more like a fox's, ending in sharp claws that scratched lightly at the ground. Their heads were elongated, with narrow snouts filled with rows of small jagged teeth that occasionally showed when they sniffed the air.
Their fur looked uneven and rough, a dull mixture of brown and grey that blended poorly with the surrounding forest. Patches of it appeared thinner than the rest, revealing hardened skin beneath.
The creatures continued to move about the clearing, lowering their heads to sniff and scrape at the ground as they searched for food. Their ears twitched occasionally, and their noses lifted now and then to test the air, but they remained unaware of our presence hidden among the trees.
We waited patiently.
Vaela reached over her shoulder and slowly drew an arrow from her quiver. Every movement she made was careful and controlled, practiced through countless hunts. She placed the arrow against the string and raised her bow with smooth precision. The string stretched back as she drew it, the tension steady as she aligned her aim toward the nearer beast.
Beside me, Charlie lifted his hand slightly. A small flame sparked to life in his palm, glowing softly against his skin. The fire did not flare wildly. Instead, it burned with quiet control, gathering strength as he prepared to release it. The faint orange light reflected in his focused eyes as he fixed his attention on the second creature.
Vaela released first.
The bowstring snapped forward with a sharp twang, and the arrow sliced through the air with a brief, piercing whistle. It struck the first beast cleanly in the stomach. The creature let out a harsh, startled cry as the force of the impact drove it backward. Its legs stumbled awkwardly as it struggled to understand what had happened.
At nearly the same instant, Charlie moved.
He flicked his wrist, and the flame in his palm surged forward like a streak of burning light. The fire shot across the clearing and slammed into the second beast just as it began to turn and flee. Flames burst against its side, scorching its fur and forcing it to stumble violently.
Both creatures shrieked in alarm.
Despite the injuries, instinct drove them to run. Their bodies twisted desperately as they tried to bolt toward the deeper parts of the forest, their movements frantic and uncoordinated.
I raised my hand and focused.
The now-familiar sensation tightened within me as the connection between the black dot on my forehead and the book beneath my shirt responded. Refined energy flowed outward as I shaped it with intent. Two translucent shields formed quickly, curving around the beasts' legs just as they tried to sprint away.
The barriers appeared at the perfect moment.
Their hooves struck the shields mid-step. The sudden obstruction tangled their movements instantly. Both creatures lost their balance, their injured bodies pitching forward as they stumbled violently and crashed against the forest floor.
They barely had time to react.
Sham moved the moment they fell.
His feet lifted slightly from the ground as he surged forward, hovering just above the forest floor. The movement was smooth and controlled, carrying him over the fallen leaves in a swift glide.
His sword flashed once.
Then again.
Two clean arcs cut through the air with precise timing. The strikes were quick and efficient, leaving no chance for the beasts to recover.
Both creatures went still.
The entire exchange had lasted only a few moments.
One instant the beasts had been grazing quietly in the clearing, and the next they lay motionless on the forest floor.
We approached them cautiously out of habit, scanning the surroundings to ensure no other creatures had been drawn by the brief disturbance. The forest remained calm. The two beasts showed no sign of movement.
They were already dead.
"That was quick," Charlie murmured, his voice low but satisfied.
Sham bent slightly and wiped his blade clean against a patch of grass, removing the blood before sliding the sword back into its sheath. His movements were calm and practiced, as though the fight had required little effort from him.
Together we moved to drag the bodies away from the clearing. The beasts were not particularly heavy, but their limbs were awkward to carry. We pulled them toward a nearby tree where thick bushes and fallen leaves provided natural cover.
Working quickly, we concealed the corpses beneath the brush, layering branches and leaves over them until they were no longer visible.
The plan was the same as every hunt.
We would continue searching for more beasts and return to collect them all once the hunt was complete.
With four of us hunting today, we needed at least four beasts.
Two had already been secured.
Without lingering, we moved deeper into the forest. The ground beneath our feet became rougher as the terrain shifted. Thick roots pushed through the soil, and clusters of thorny undergrowth forced us to weave carefully between the trees. The deeper we went, the quieter the forest seemed, as if the wildlife sensed our presence and chose to remain hidden.
After some time, Vaela slowed slightly and raised a hand again.
Ahead, between the trees, three shapes moved cautiously through the brush.
Low level beasts.
These ones resembled wolves, though their appearance was far from natural. Their fur was pale, almost white, standing out sharply against the darker forest floor. Their bodies were lean and tense, muscles shifting beneath their skin as they circled a fallen log.
Their eyes glowed faintly with a dull, unnatural light as they sniffed the ground and paced restlessly, their sharp claws scratching softly against the bark of the fallen tree.
The plan remained the same.
Vaela slowly lifted her bow, her movements quiet and deliberate as she positioned herself between two tree trunks. She drew an arrow from her quiver and set it against the string without making a sound. Beside her, Charlie raised his hand, a controlled flame gathering in his palm as he prepared another fire shot.
I stood slightly behind them, focusing on the moment when both attacks would land. Timing mattered. If the beasts scattered too early, we would have to chase them through the forest.
Vaela released first.
The arrow shot forward and struck one of the wolves near its shoulder. The beast let out a sharp cry as it staggered sideways from the impact.
Charlie's attack followed almost instantly. The fire streaked across the clearing and burst against another wolf's flank, scorching its pale fur and forcing it to recoil in pain.
The remaining wolf reacted immediately.
Before they could escape, I raised my hand and shaped the energy outward. Translucent shields formed around their legs and along their sides, appearing in quick succession as I blocked their paths. The barriers interfered with their movement, causing their paws to strike against solid resistance where none should have been.
The wolves stumbled violently. One crashed against a shield and rolled across the ground, while another tripped over its own legs as the barrier disrupted its stride.
Sham did not hesitate.
He lifted from the ground again, hovering just enough to glide over the uneven terrain. His sword flashed as he descended among the struggling beasts.
His movements were swift and controlled, each swing precise enough to end the fight before the creatures could regain their footing. Within seconds, the clearing fell silent again.
Three white wolves lay motionless on the forest floor.