The river cut through the forest like a silver scar — fast, cold, swollen from recent rain.
Kael and Miko reached it just as the sun dipped below the trees.
The water roared — loud enough to mask their footsteps, but also loud enough to hide approaching enemies.
Kael crouched at the bank — shadows spreading across the surface like oil.
Miko stayed behind him — breathing hard, the seal pulsing in time with her heartbeat.
"We cross here," Kael said. "The current's strong. Stay close."
Miko nodded.
They waded in.
The water hit her thighs — icy, pulling at her legs.
She felt the seal stir — excited by the danger.
Halfway across — the attack came.
From the opposite bank — silver threads snapped out like whips — slicing through the air.
Kael shoved Miko down.
Water exploded around them as threads hit the surface — steam rising, current hissing.
Miko surfaced — gasping.
Three figures emerged from the trees — cloaked, masked, silver blades drawn.
One raised a hand — threads forming a net above the river.
Kael's shadows surged — black wall rising from the water, blocking the net.
The threads clashed — sparks flying, steam boiling.
Miko felt the seal flare — hot, eager.
Fight.
She raised her hands.
Crimson shadows erupted — joining Kael's black ones.
They wove together — stronger, faster.
One attacker lunged — blade aimed at Kael's back.
Miko's shadow spear intercepted — punching through his cloak, pinning his arm to a tree.
He screamed — blade dropping into the water.
The other two attacked — threads and blades flashing.
Kael met them — shadows coiling around one's legs, yanking him under.
The man thrashed — silver threads cutting through the dark, slicing Kael's arm.
Blood bloomed in the current — red against black.
Miko felt the seal roar — furious.
She stepped forward — water to her waist.
Crimson shadows exploded outward — a storm of tendrils.
One attacker tried to dodge — too slow.
A shadow wrapped his throat — lifted him off the ground.
He clawed at it — face turning purple.
Miko hesitated.
The seal pulsed — angry.
Finish.
She clenched her fist.
The shadow tightened.
A sickening snap.
The body dropped into the river — limp, carried away by the current.
The last attacker backed off — eyes wide behind the mask.
He turned — ran.
Kael let him go.
The river carried the blood downstream.
Miko stared at her hands — shaking.
Kael stepped closer — blood dripping from his arm.
"You didn't hesitate."
Miko looked at him.
"I… I killed him."
Kael's voice was quiet.
"You had to."
She felt sick.
The seal pulsed — satisfied.
Kael touched her shoulder.
"We keep moving."
They crossed the rest of the river — silent.
On the other side — Kael tore a strip from his cloak, bound his arm.
Miko watched — numb.
The seal was quiet again.
But she could still feel it — warm, content.
Like it had tasted something it liked.
To be continued…