“...Hey.” I heard a voice ring out. “Heeey—!” It sounded like it could’ve been far away, so I turned over and covered myself with the blanket. “Hoffman, get up!”

  And a swift kick was the response. “Ow, fuck!” I cried out, wincing from the pain. It wasn’t too hard, but it was definitely enough to remind me of where I was. “I’m up, I’m up…! Ow…” My eyes were finally open, and I looked out from the confines of my tent to notice a familiar face.

  Brown hair, a darker complexion, strapped to the brim with bandoliers and side pouches, and a notable duffel bag hanging from her side. Kamba spoke to me again as soon as I recognized her face. “Sometimes I think you’re more responsible than these other amateurs, and then you pull that crap… Honestly.”

  “Not very nice to call ‘em amateurs, is it?” I cracked my neck and stretched. Sleeping in the sack wasn’t good for the back.

  Kamba was quick to respond again. “Yeah, yeah, sorry.” It felt a touch half-hearted, but I wasn’t in the mood to argue.

  Kamba, a Gold Explorer for the Guild. I’d been on Commissions with her before, and she unfortunately always had a habit of calling lower ranked Voyagers ‘amateurs.’ It wasn’t necessarily her trying to demean them, I assumed she was often just joking around, but I still made it a point to call it out.

  Regardless, she’s earned some of that hot air. She’s Gold for a reason, and is the whole reason some Commissions have gone well. An excellent pathfinder, quick when she needs to be, and warns us of dangers, her only real weakness was a lack of combat prowess. Which, all things considered, wasn’t a terrible weakness to have in an environment where you can afford to have a team.

  I stepped out of my tent, the morning sun hitting my gaze from over the horizon. As soon as my eyes adjusted, I could once more see the same sight we’d seen over the past several days.

  Tall, verdant grass. Sparse flowers, scarce trees, and the occasional cliffside, everywhere I looked was always the same.

  The Chayim Meadows.

  Most Commissions find themselves out here. With the vast amount of land it covers, and being so close to nearly every other region, even if a job isn’t taking place here, travelling through is just as common.

  In spite of this, the sights never got old. The way each blade of grass flowed with the wind, petals floating across your face, and the sun peeking over the distant horizon. Even the scent of the fresh land didn’t become a bother. Being Halftide, too, it felt perfect. Comfortable travel was ahead.

  My eyes looked around the camp, and I noticed our other two companions clawing themselves away from sleep. Both were preparing themselves for the day ahead, and Kamba began to perform her own daily rituals.

  For her part, the Explorer held out a variety of equipment and kept her eyes to the sky. I assumed she was trying to get a hold of the forecast for the next few days. It was an enviable skill, and one I wanted to learn if I could find the time. She supposedly learned it from New Apulon, where rumor says it’s less of a nice boon, and more of a necessity.

  Runa was the next I noticed. Pale skin, long, blonde hair, dressed in fairly practical leathers and a notable cap atop his head. A Bronze Survivalist, though not necessarily new to being a Voyager. He’s been with the guild for roughly a year by this point, though has yet to break into Silver. He was preparing some of his spoils from his nightly watch. He seemed to have a penchant for hunting game, and used what downtime he could muster to bring us food and drink if he could afford to. Anything to help cut back from our reserves.

  And finally, Kateri. A quiet sort. She sported brown hair, often keeping it from her face with braids, brown skin, and wore a pair of shorts, a long jacket to protect from the elements, and an undershirt. She had a few straps and holsters, but they were mostly to keep her pack on straight. The only notable possessions she held was a tome and a large, palladium staff. During the mornings, I often found her in meditation while the rest of us got things together for the journey ahead. Considering her light packing, she didn’t need to do as much prep work. She was a Silver Researcher for the Guild. However, she wasn’t very capable in the most common forms. Her areas of expertise were Magecraft and Engineering. Considering her nature, though, I knew little else about her.

  After giving a brief scan of the camp, I decided to begin getting myself prepared, too. I began to secure my armor. Simple leathers with chainmail across the chest. I wanted to make it more robust, but funds were not in my favor, and I wasn’t practiced with much heavier equipment. Doubly so due to the distances to traverse. Then, I strapped on my belts and straps, and secured the scabbards for my blades. Three in total; two on the hip, and one on the back. Finally, I put my cloak over the top in case the weather wasn’t in our favor, and sheathed my blades. After double checking everything was secure, my eyes returned to my current team.

  I began to perform my routine inspections of our gear. I wanted to make it a habit to do it every morning, so as to not hold us up. I told Kamba to sit still, to which she did, and ensured she looked alright. Hard leather armor, maintenance was never hard. Regardless, it was good to be certain. I gave her a nod, and said, “Looks good, still.”

  She responded. “Yeah, I hope so, I’m not the one that’s supposed to be getting hurt.” I knew it was mostly sarcastic. She was experienced to know that even a hard day’s travel could hurt a set of leather armor. Good maintenance required a keen eye.

  I then moved to Runa, seated by the fire with a pot going. I proceeded to repeat my process, and while at first it didn’t seem he knew what I was doing, he eventually sat himself still. He didn’t wear much in the way of armor, just some padding under his clothes. I nodded, not able to spot any holes or rips.

  However, he chose to pull his only weapon from his hip and hand it off to me. “You’ve yet to look at this, aye?”

  A Yugonian pistol, a fair bit more advanced than the ones made in Miriamsburg. Truthfully, I neglected it due to the reality that I didn’t grasp their mechanisms well. It all felt foreign, and I was much more suited to armor and blades.

  After realizing that I couldn’t quite grasp it, I shrugged my shoulders. “I think it’s best you handle that one on your own. Can’t tell left from right with that thing.” I handed it back over to him carefully, not wanting to drop it or set it off.

  “Fair, I suppose using a mock one would be best for a first time through.” He chuckled a touch nervously, and continued with a morbid addition, “Don’t really want it… going off by accident, aye?” I smiled a tad, even in its morbidity.

  Finally, I approached Kateri. She had little to no armor to speak of, but her clothes were in good shape. However, her staff caught my attention. It was well-made, but I noticed a few scratches and scorch marks, likely recoiling from her magic. I was going to theorize more on the causes, but eventually she became defensive.

  “Do you need something?” she said, beginning to pull her belongings further away from me.

  I quickly put my hands in front of me and replied, “Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to provoke.” I quickly turned my gaze to her rather than her belongings. “I know I hadn’t done a check-up, but it’s been about a week and I wanted to be sure your things were in good shape.”

  Kateri sighed, and shook her head. “I can take care of my staff fine.” Her eyes then buried themselves back to one of her other books.

  I couldn’t help but shrug. A brick wall, to say the least. I travelled back to the center of camp, Runa having just begun to serve our portions for breakfast. I expected most of these meals to only be seasoned with a pinch of salt, but I could tell this stew had a bit more going on. A few chopped vegetables he’d brought along, and a bit of stock alongside some extra seasoning was more than pleasing to my stomach, and my mind. Focused as I was on the meal, Kamba found it best to use this time to give a rebriefing to our situation.

  “We’re still not sure of exactly where the caravaneers went, but we shouldn’t search for more than a few days more.” Everyone seemed interested in the details, as a decision like that isn’t made lightly. She dug through her notes briefly, expecting us to inquire further. “Forecast has been pretty consistent, so we should be expecting a pretty hefty downpour in three or four days, two if we’re unlucky.” Obviously no forecast was ever perfect, so it was good to have leeway.

  Runa was the first to respond. “Not just a normal shower, is it?” He sounded concerned, not just for us, but obviously for the people we were sent to find.

  Kamba shook her head in response. “I’m expecting a pretty intense one, thunderstorm and all. If we’re not worrying about the lightning or the wind, our feet are getting caught in mud.”

  The elements were just as much an issue as the creatures that lurked. It’d be difficult if we ran out of supplies far away, and while it was only a few days’ walk, that was with good conditions. Being bogged down by mud and our visibility limited due to rain, not to mention the lightning… Well, it’s not hard to imagine what could go wrong.

  “We want to keep with the prior strategy of just following the route?” I asked, hoping to lay out some sort of plan.

  Runa followed. “Could try and see if any nearby animals are riled up?” It fit his area of expertise well, but I wasn’t sure it’d come in handy.

  Kateri didn’t add anything. She seemed to choose to stay silent, her nose still buried in her tome as she ate.

  Kamba was the last person other than myself. “Animals is one method, or generally looking for tracks. It’s been dry out here, so they should’ve left something behind.” This much was true, the ground wasn’t damp, and it wasn’t very humid. The air was also a little crisper due to the season.

  But that still relied on us keeping our noses to the ground. And unfortunately…

  “If it’s Bandits, though, there’s no doubt they’ve covered their tracks.” I finally brought up my problems with the plans. We didn’t know the cause of the missing caravan, just that it’d disappeared. If it was human intervention, we would have no chance.

  Kamba shook her head and said, “No plan is going to be perfect, so let’s start with tracks along the route and move from there, sound good?” I shrugged, Kateri seemed about as interested as always, but Runa at least looked enthusiastic about the idea. I wasn’t going to be the one tasked with figuring out where the tracks were regardless.

  Cases like these were never simple matters. Finding an animal and dealing with it out in the wild, protecting a traveller, defending an outpost or settlement, those were all simple matters. These were always mysteries.

  These weren’t uncommon, either. Trade between the nations has always relied on a select few groups. The cities themselves don’t regularly do it, and instead people from outside do so to barter for food and assistance. The unfortunate reality is sometimes expecting a caravan that never arrives. Relying on those goods from other settlements or the other cities can be a detriment, and one all of the nations try to avoid.

  But as nothing ever is, it’s never that simple. This case is a prime reflection of that.

  A caravan arrives in Miriamsburg the first week of Halftide, nearly on the dot. It’s said on the Commission brief that this specific one is expected to bring updated records from the Bestiaries in New Apulon. Them not being on time both means their facilities aren’t as updated on new threats that Miriamsburg has found, and Miriamsburg doesn’t have the newest encyclopedias. This is on top of whatever else they often bring as additional bartering chips.

  While not the only ones necessary for this information—other caravans are known to bring additional copies—this one is, more often than not, the first for the Halftide encyclopedias.

  “At least we have a route,” Kamba said, a touch dismissively.

  Indeed, some caravans didn’t map out their routes with the Guild or officials from the cities. The groups that don’t often value their autonomy heavily, and don’t wish for their services to be an expectation. As much as the Guild can assure them it’s for their own safety, some view it differently.

  While I was expecting pushback to that statement, it surprised me to hear Kateri first. “I’d also hate to be reprimanded for not meeting someone else’s expectations.” I couldn’t tell if it struck a nerve, but considering how often she chooses to be silent, she was at least listening.

  Kamba sighed in response, but had enough tact to realize that if Kateri had been upset, it’d be best not to push. “We’ll have to keep a wide berth along the trail to get anything of note.” I nodded along, as did Runa, while Kateri shut her tome and stood up with her staff.

  “I’ll take point,” I said, also standing myself up. “Don’t go too far, though. If we can’t hear each other, well…” I shrugged. Their imaginations would fill in the blanks.

  Kamba followed off of my assertion. “I’ll take rear, Kateri and Runa, you two take flanks and keep your eyes low.” Both of them acknowledged the command, and the four of us headed out right as the sky turned blue.

  Sparse clouds littered my view, and the breeze intensified a touch. Our conditions had yet to change much. My eyes stayed glued on the path ahead, however, as anything could be lurking in the grass ahead.

  The Chayim Meadows weren’t known for being terribly dangerous, thankfully, but it was rarely the first recommendation for a beginner. That was always given to Bisitan, instead. Its lack of aggressive animals made it a perfect spot to give training to new Voyagers. Importantly, too, it was fairly stable with the weather throughout the cycle.

  The Chayim Meadows, on the other hand, were… unpredictable. Not just the weather, either. Considering the vast amount of land it covers, it has varied regions in and of itself, and there’s been a significant push by some to split it into smaller subgroups. I’ve tried to do as much as I can to understand the nuances, but the end result is there’s a variety of aggressive creatures, invasive species that float around from other regions, and the amount of visibility is surprisingly limited due to the foliage.

  And all of this uncertainty leads to more things that can go wrong, even if they don’t. Because of that, every little tuft of grass that moved had me on edge. Everytime someone made a noise from behind me, I was quick to turn. I didn’t want to leave any unknowns if I could afford it.

  Runa was comfortable and in his element. He was used to being out in the wilds, even if he was a rank below me. His eyes were glued to the nearby dirt and grass, trying to search for any trace of the caravan. Every once in a while, he’d call out if he thought something dangerous was in the area, though we rarely saw anything past that.

  Kamba was keeping us on track. Her skills in map reading came in handy, and she had a knack for knowing where we were at any given time. She’d tell us if we strayed too far, or if there was something marked on her map that was dangerous, such as territories of nearby fauna.

  And Kateri, to be expected, wasn’t helping much. Her eyes stayed glued to her tome, only occasionally glancing down to pretend she was assisting. Occasionally, I’d have to call her out to be sure she didn’t miss anything, or tell her to move away from a potentially dangerous space, but she’d always wander back into them regardless. For what it was worth, she didn’t seem annoyed, so much as disinterested.

  In spite of the occasional hiccups, though, things were going smoothly otherwise. Unfortunately, smoothly wasn’t precisely what we were after. No sign of the caravan had yet to crop up. If we didn’t find them today, we’d likely have to turn back due to the conditions, or find a place to hold out.

  By that point, it’d almost assuredly be too late if something dire had occurred. And as much as some of us searched through every nook and cranny, the first thing that caught my attention was Kateri’s voice once again after a few hours of complete silence from her. What sounded like a language I couldn’t begin to comprehend escaped her lips, and her eyes began to briefly glow. She stared down at the dirt beneath the grass, and called out. “Think I found something for you, Runa.”

  We all briefly gave a glance to each other, before our Survivalist began to rush over first. Kamba and I followed closely behind, and we all stood over the spot Kateri seemed intrigued by. It was hard for me to make out what might’ve been there, and Kamba seemed similarly confused, but Runa and Kateri kept their eyes low before inevitably Runa nodded.

  “These are definitely footprints.” He crouched a bit further down to get a better look beneath the grass. “Maybe three or four? Looks like they were heading uhh…” He looked out to the horizon, and pointed in the general direction he figured they were going.

  I quickly called out in response, “Same direction we’re going, West.” I rubbed my chin. “Be odd for them to be heading backwards, wouldn’t it?”

  “Maybe they saw something dangerous?” Runa interjected with his own theory on the situation. “Could’ve been something flying, too, so we wouldn’t see tracks.”

  “At this point, I don’t think it matters.” Kateri was quick to interrupt everyone’s train of thought. “It’s the only lead we’ve seen the past week, and we’re running out of time, let’s chase it and see where it leads.”

  She was unfortunately right. It was the best shot we had, and there was no guarantee we’d find another chance. Even if it turned out to be incorrect, it could point us in the right direction.

  It still felt sloppy, though. Just as much as there was nothing saying this is what we were looking for, there was nothing saying it wasn’t, either. And that uncertainty brewed in my chest for a moment until Kamba also spoke up. “The more time we waste, the more likely we don’t find a damn thing. Let’s get our asses in gear, alright?” She looked over to me. “Hoffman, you take point again, Kateri take rear, I’ll take flank with Runa.” I rubbed the back of my neck.

  Sloppy as it felt, Kamba was also right. We didn’t have the luxury to be picky. Best to do what we can with what we have. I took up point, while the other three stacked behind me. My hand rested on one of my blades. I needed to be ready at a moment’s notice.

  Runa kept his eyes glued to the ground, while Kateri and Kamba helped keep watch alongside me. Notably, Kateri’s gaze was no longer fixed to her tome. She was keeping a watchful eye this time around as the three of us delved off the beaten path.

  Our walk took a few twists and turns occasionally, but we came across a few promising signs. Occasional animal tracks were mixed in, and considering they were noticeable, it was likely the group was fleeing from something nearby. It was tough to make out exactly what it was, but it meant there was a reason for them to go so far off their route.

  It was also noted that the group size stayed consistent. Four people the whole way through. That was also a relief, as it meant it was unlikely they lost anyone attempting to flee.

  We tried to pick up our pace as much as we could, but we still saw no other signs of the caravan. No remnants of nearby camps, no lost goods, just empty plains across the entire horizon, and a trail that led nowhere.

  It was already mid-afternoon, and while Kamba and I were more than ready to keep going, Runa and Kateri were beginning to feel fatigue settle in. We needed a short rest in spite of our dwindling time.

  It would’ve been the ideal decision, had I not heard something from just behind us.

  A slight rustling from the grass. A kicked up cloud of dirt. And notably, footsteps. Whatever was with us was not attempting to keep itself too quiet. I whispered to my companions. “Stay close, get Kamba in between us.” They obliged, Runa and Kateri both preparing themselves. Kamba wasn’t worried, but knew it was best for her to remain protected given the circumstances.

  Whoever, or whatever was out there, began to circle around us and approach. I was concerned on the nature of our potential foe, until I heard a distinct sound

  ‘Shhhhhing.’

  A blade was drawn from its scabbard, and I was quick to follow suit. Two more followed, and from beyond the obscuring foliage before us came three humans, all dressed in crude armor, and holding potent swords in their hands. They looked sharp and well-maintained, these people clearly weren’t just amateurs. And their armor held the same standard, in spite of its crude make.

  Most importantly was each and every one of their faces were concealed underneath scarves, hoods, and other attire.

  On top of all other dangers out in the wilds, from the fauna to the elements, there was another, more uniquely relatable threat.

  Bandits.

  I wasn’t sure of their intent, and I ensured I kept my blade pointed at whoever I was facing at the time. Runa pointed his pistol as assurance, but his hand was shaking. The situation was an oddity, as it wasn’t everyday a group of Voyagers got attacked by a band of roaming thugs. Kateri’s status as a mage at least seemed to keep one of them at bay, but soon it became clear that we were somewhat outnumbered in combat prowess. A fourth came from the bushes, though much like the rest, they didn’t immediately strike.

  They all approached slowly and cautiously, the final one most of all. She seemed to be a touch on the taller end, nearly matching my height, and was dressed in much finer gear than the rest. Her weapons, too, seemed more sophisticated, and she even could afford to have a few extra.

  She cocked her head at us after a brief staredown and broke the silence. “I think you can get the gist without us sayin’ it. Drop what you’ve got, and we’ll leave you alone, aye?” She pointed to each of our packs, our weapons, and our other amenities. “Doesn’t have to become somethin’ more dangerous.” She was calm and composed. She’d clearly been in this scenario before, and had been through the motions.

  However, I wasn’t going to easily back down. “I’m afraid we can’t do that, we wouldn’t be able to make the journey back.” I tried to reason with them. Not all bandits were the same. The ruthless types were rare, and killings even more so. It often wasn’t worth it. “We’re also in a bit of a hurry, miss, so could I ask you let us go?”

  But she was swift to retort. “‘Fraid not, friend, we’ve got to make some scratch somehow.” My eyes locked to her sword. A distinct metallic sheen, single-edged, and well-weighted for chopping. It was a fine piece, to say the least, and dangerous to get struck by.

  What was worse is the other three seemed to have similar looking weapons. One had a nice looking axe, another a similar looking blade to their seeming boss, and finally one carried a fairly comfortable mace. However, by virtue that they weren’t striking first, they were obviously hesitant.

  The other three didn’t seem to have much training. Their gear was up to snuff, but their stances were shoddy at best. More than that, they had to make compromises. While their vitals were well-protected, their legs and arms took some sacrifices, likely due to a lack of materials. No helmet also meant an easy vital target, their rags wouldn’t do much against a nice, clean blow to the dome.

  The situation felt too even. We weren’t necessarily at a disadvantage, but I wasn’t sure how well Runa could use his pistol, and while I knew Kateri was a practiced Mage, I didn’t quite know the extent. And of course, there were two other underlying problems.

  One was Kamba. If she got caught, while I’ve no doubt she could make an escape if need be, I wasn’t sure if she could fight off two or three at once, and if all four jumped on her, they’d have a surefire hostage on their hands. We’d have to capitulate.

  The other issue was lethality. In spite of our situation, we weren’t authorized to kill with reckless abandon. As with all things, there are rules, and we’d yet to cross that line. The same rules that apply to animals, also apply to humans. And while it could be argued that it’s nonetheless in self-defense, we still had to do all in our power to ensure the situation doesn’t escalate too far.

  There was no time for a plan. Runa had his gun trained on the one in front of him. One bullet set to a leg, the arm, or the shoulder, wasn’t likely to be lethal. Kateri clearly had something to defend herself. And I was confident I could take the boss and the nearby mook alone.

  “Let’s cut the crap, aye? Just give us what we want, and we’ll leave, end of story.” She pointed her sword at me, now, with the other three seeming ready to close in. They were getting antsy, and we had no other choice.

  “Runa, take the shot!” I yelled out as loud as I could, as I rushed forward. I shoved my sword under hers to displace it for just a moment while I made my approach. As ready as she was, she didn’t stop me from closing in. I didn’t strike with my blade, and instead rammed into her with my shoulder to make space to lock her lackey. I didn’t want them slipping past, so I needed to be sure both of them were focused on me.

  Kateri immediately began to chant something. She’d been ready since moment one, and just as the bandit began to rush forward, a host of roots crawled from the ground beneath him and locked his feet in place. It bought Kateri enough time, as she began a new chant immediately after.

  And Runa, in spite of his apprehension, took aim and fired into the bandit near him. A loud BANG rang out, and a bullet whizzed into her shoulder. A cry of pain was quick to follow, and even though it wasn’t a particularly lethal shot, the pain was more than enough to get her to drop her weapon. More importantly, though, the threat of a second got her to stand down soon after. I didn’t want to imagine how much pain it took to get someone to instantly drop their weapon and surrender so fast.

  That left three.

  Kateri took a few paces away from her foe, though he struggled to escape the grasp of the roots that’d come up. Slight snapping and pulling, though, gave me the impression they weren’t going to last much longer. I tried to keep my eyes over in her direction as best as I could muster, but my attention was soon drawn back directly forward.

  The lackey that I’d locked into combat with finally took a swing at me. While I wasn’t swift enough for a counterattack, I did notice her axe coming down quickly enough to swat it away. They weren’t quite done, though, as her second blow reached up, and threatened to leave a deep gash in my face. I managed to get my head out of the way in the nick of time, but she still landed a good hit into my armor. I felt it, even if it didn’t draw blood.

  But their onslaught had yet to end. Their boss had recovered from their brief stupor, and regained her footing. Just as I was attempting to reorient myself from the close call, I saw the glint of the boss’ blade swipe toward me. It slammed into my upper arm, and I could easily tell that she hurt far more than her friend. The cut wasn’t as deep as it could’ve been, thankfully, but I still felt the sting of a lash under my skin.

  The boss wasn’t as reckless, though. She pulled back after her blow, and waited to see my choice. My only option was to use them against each other. I quickly strafed to circle to the side of the lackey with me. I wanted to try and keep her interposed between the boss and I. Thankfully, it worked to an extent, creating an awkward enough angle for the boss to strike me that I had time to steal control.

  I wasn’t attempting to kill, so I took the flat of my sword, and slammed it against the lackey’s head. The cloth would soften the blow a tad, but I could tell it hurt all the same. Another one of those, and I didn’t imagine they’d stay up.

  Runa didn’t waste time moving to another target. He immediately pulled out rope from his pack, and tied his bandit’s hands together. They were fortunately compliant, and were unable to come back into the fray.

  Kateri still had to finish her incantation, and her foe was making headway. The roots weren’t going to hold much longer, especially as he began to try and use his sword to cut through them. One by one, their hold was loosening.

  But I kept my attention forward. The boss and her lackey were still up and ready, and this time, the boss was first to strike. I caught the overhead swipe with my sword, but wasn’t ready for her to continue to close the distance. She reached out and grasped my arm, not letting me retreat.

  Stuck in place, the bandit nearby moved in, and with all the force she could muster, slammed her axe into my forearm. “AAARGH!!” I cried. I wore robust gauntlets, so while it’d likely only end up as a bruise in the grand scheme, the pain shot through the rest of my arm, and I was forced to drop my weapon. It clanged to the ground, and I only barely managed to pull away from the grapple after.

  I put myself out of reach from both of them, but the boss wasn’t taking chances. She kicked my now disarmed sword behind her, and continued her onslaught. I wasn’t going to have time to draw without being aggressed upon, or leaving Kamba open. I had to just make do with what I had.

  I planted my feet firmly, and recalled my limited unarmed training. The engagement of all muscles, and closing the distance. The two greatest threats. Thankfully, the lackey made it easy. A one handed axe was already a short weapon, so all I’d need is a good moment to strike.

  The lackey moved in again, trying to make the most of their situation, but I had the conscience to keep myself out of the way. I put my hands in front of my face, and weaved between the next two strikes as best as I could. She was trying to bring me low in place of any defense. Unfortunately, her boss wasn’t going to be able to save her from her blunders. As soon as the second strike grazed my gauntlets, I reached forward, and grasped at her forearm, much like her boss did just a moment ago. And with a powerful yank towards me, I twisted my body, and gave her a strong straight punch directly to her face. Another clean blow, and I could feel her fall unconscious from the strike.

  The boss’ aggression didn’t cease, however. Bringing low her companion was another opening, and one I couldn’t properly defend against yet again. This time, she reached for my upper arms, and while I managed to weave away, I felt her blade nonetheless sink into my side. Another cut, and one that’d have to be treated after this was said and done. However, the pain still wasn’t enough to stop me for good. I was still in good condition.

  Kateri’s end was looking similarly dire for a moment. The bandit finally clawed his way out of the entangling roots, and while the mage made more than enough distance to finish her spell, it unfortunately left Kamba wide open. And this bandit saw opportunity strike.

  He rushed forward and grabbed at Kamba, who didn’t resist, and called out to the rest of us. “You drop what you have, now!” No blade was held to her throat, but the threat was obvious. Even if they didn’t kill her, they could just as easily pull her back with them.

  For a moment, I was about to continue, but Runa already put his hands in the air and dropped his pistol. He wasn’t about to be seen as a threat and put Kamba in danger. And while I was about to, Kateri had yet to cease her spell. The bandit called out again. “This is a warning, don’t do something stupid!”

  But she still didn’t stop.

  “Last chance!” His blade came up, and seemed ready to slice open our companion.

  But just as he seemed prepared to finally make the cut, Kateri pointed her staff forward, and without warning, the bandit’s eyes shut, his blade fell to the floor, and he fell limp. Our mage let out a sigh of relief before pointing her staff towards the boss, and I turned my attention back, too. I placed my hand onto the hilt of the second blade at my hip, but she seemed to understand the situation.

  She let go of her sword where she stood, raised her hands, and spoke simply, “I surrender.” She wasn’t willing to risk injury or death. I picked her sword from the ground, alongside the other weapons strewn about, and packed them into my bag before assisting in tying up the others.

  Bandits in this area were a poor sign. If they had anything to do with our missing caravan, it was likely we were too late. But since we had them, we discussed what to do with them briefly. At first, the obvious answer was to bring them back to Miriamsburg, or to another settlement, so they could deal with them.

  Unfortunately, that would take too much time and effort. One person wouldn’t be able to on their own, and it was a detour we couldn’t afford. So, we decided to come to a compromise.

  After all four had been treated for their wounds, we woke the two that were unconscious, and began to interrogate them. Kamba took the lead in the discussions.

  “We’re not taking you to any prisons if you cooperate with us, can you do that?” She started fairly bluntly with our terms. We couldn’t afford to let them roam free if they weren’t even willing to help on the backfoot.

  But thankfully, the boss spoke for the rest. “Aye, we’re not willin’ to risk ourselves. What d’ya want?” She didn’t seem all that bothered by the situation. Voyagers weren’t known for killing, so she wasn’t in fear for her life.

  Kamba replied, “We’re in search of a missing caravan that takes this route, have you seen any recently?” If anyone was going to know caravan routes, it would obviously be bandits like these.

  The boss nodded. “We’ve seen a couple here and there, but haven’t been raidin’ ‘em recently.” She took a moment to look to her own band, and they nodded to confirm. “Seriously not gonna take us back?” But she seemed to withhold her information.

  I spoke up this time. “We don’t have the time to. The caravan is our priority, not taking you in.” I noted the fact that all four had been disarmed. If we wanted to, it’d be much easier to. “If you know anything, it’d be a major help.”

  But the boss wasn’t convinced. She shook her head. “Problem is, we’ve got our own problems to deal with, aye? What’re you willin’ to give?”

  Kateri finally interjected, frustrated by the proposition. “Are you seriously bartering while tied up?” And when she looked to me listening intently, it only served to further her ire. “And you better not be seriously listening to her.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  I shook my head, and kept my focus locked on the boss. “I can give you a bit of copper, five each. Fair?” The boss first looked at her merry band, to which they all shrugged or nodded. They seemed fairly satisfied with the deal, and the boss turned her attention back towards us.

  “We’d been keeping track of a caravan that comes through about… every other season or so, figured they came somewhere around here.” It already sounded like the one we were looking for. “We were plannin’ to raid it, obviously, but we weren’t the ones to hold it up this time around.”

  Kamba looked to Runa to keep notes on the situation, before turning back. “Do you have any idea where it is right now?”

  “Well, as we were followin’ it, we both noticed each other first.” She looked out into the distance, likely attempting to visualize the situation as it happened. “But just before we could try and give chase, both of us noticed a massive beast stridin’ through the grass.”

  Runa piped up. “Can you describe it?”

  The boss nodded. “All fours, probably about as tall as ‘im,” she pointed to me, “and had dark brown fur with beige stripes.”

  “Were there stripes around its snout?” he asked.

  She replied, “I think so, didn’t get a perfect look at it, but it looked real pissed at us.” The boss shrugged her shoulders following that. “We both took off in opposite directions, and I guess it found the group of five and a couple pack ox more appetizin’ than our little band of four.”

  “Sounds like they got chased off by a Nephighear…” Kamba began to theorize, and that name was unfortunately familiar to all of us except the bandits.

  Nephighears. A Bestial defined by a sleek, flexible body, brown fur with a particular pattern across its entire body, and a tiny snout. Looking at depictions, one wouldn’t think they look dangerous, but they’re incredibly aggressive predators. More importantly, being several feet tall on all fours is enough to make anyone terrified.

  Denoted as a Clawbestial, the often first choice of weapon is their fangs to catch prey. Odd at first, they have a unique physiology. Their forelimbs have a singular, retractable claw in each of them. Biomineralization occurs heavily around them, and it causes them to get a coat of metallic material. Nephighears therefore primarily spend their time around cliffs in order to continue sharpening these massive implements.

  They only use these claws when they feel threatened, or need to catch particularly slippery prey. They’re surprisingly dextrous and tricky, too, and their flexible body shapes means attempting to grasp them, slice them, or bludgeon them doesn’t bode well.

  And finally, as mentioned, they’re excessively aggressive. Much more so than other predators, or even many prey fauna, it’s extremely uncommon for a Nephighear to cut its losses and run. Many Voyagers experienced in Commissions around the Meadows often have stories to tell of their first run-in with a Nephighear. Chasing them down for what felt like hours, never quite knowing when it was ready to stop, to even being forced to fight nearly to the death. That’s to say nothing of the ones who have perished in combat with them.

  “If that really is the case…” I rubbed the back of my neck again. ‘Twas to be a complicated situation, indeed, and one that required haste above all else.

  “Do you know where you were?” Kamba asked hurriedly, and the boss was quick to oblige with the direction. Seemed they were further South. All of us nodded, and began to get ready to head out.

  However, we were true to our word. We untied the bandits from their bindings, and let them roam free. However, I kept their confiscated weapons. We didn’t need them making a second run after we were done dealing with our own situation. For their part, they seemed happy with the five copper they each received, and headed on their way.

  “Long day ahead of us…” said Kateri, having taken what time she could to rest herself. Runa and her seemed to be in better shape than we left off, even after the sudden conflict with the bandits.

  I looked around to be sure the rest of us weren’t hurt. Just as I was about to inquire, however, Runa immediately waltzed to me and held my arm. I tried to avoid wincing, but the bruise had finally begun to settle in. Kamba sighed as she came over, too, immediately beginning to reprimand me. “That was reckless, Hoffman.”

  Runa quickly ascertained my wound after removing my gauntlet, and gave a sigh of relief. “It’s only surface level. Same with your cuts, quick fix.” He pulled out a few bandages and began to clean and patch whatever he could. I was used to the sting of alcohol, so I didn’t flinch much. He did take a look at my arm, however, and wrapped it tightly in a bandage lined with a cool adhesive to be sure it didn’t worsen. “I’d recommend keeping that gauntlet off for now.”

  “I can still use it, right?” If it was anything larger than a bandit, I was going to need a bigger stick. And try as I might, I wasn’t strong enough to use my larger greatsword in one hand.

  To my pleasure, though, and Kamba’s dismay, he nodded. I flexed my fingers back and forth for a moment or two to ensure I could still move them fine, and prepped to head out. It seemed the rest were relatively uninjured, which meant I still did my job.

  After all, a Mercenary is supposed to take the brunt of the blows. It’s what I trained for.

  I took point again as we travelled to where the bandits said they last saw the caravan, but this time, all of our eyes were locked to the horizon. A Nephighear lurking about meant that at any point, the situation could easily turn against us.

  Our movements were cautious, but we couldn’t afford to be tepid, either. We had to hurry. Our feet carried us through the unknown, through each and every blade of grass and each movement nearby. Critters danced at our feet occasionally, and Runa and I often jumped at their arrival. But thankfully, there was no sign of the famed Bestial.

  After what felt like a long trek, however, Runa finally whispered to us.

  “I think… I think I found blood.” He pointed toward the ground, and each of us followed. Crimson stained the verdant fields, and his finger followed it off into the distance. Out toward a nearby cliffside, the blood looked somewhat fresh. A perfect trail. And extra sets of footprints confirmed fairly handily that it was likely the caravan we were after.

  “Let’s hurry.” I put caution to the wind to the chagrin of Kamba, but someone was injured. I wasn’t going to accept being too late. My feet carried me to a cave in the cliff, and inside I noticed a crude fire, and several people huddled against it. More importantly, a couple of massive Oxen, with large horns and bulky upper torsos laid next to them. Some of them were injured, seeming almost in worse shape than the people seeking warmth and shelter.

  At first, they were on guard, but Kamba was quick to place her hands up. “We’re with the Voyagers’ Guild, we were sent to come and find you.” She wasted no time in taking out the Commission, stamped with the Guild’s seal, and handing it over to whoever chose to take it.

  One look, and the older gentleman let out what felt like decades of stress in one, massive sigh. “Thank goodness… We really thought we were goners.”

  Each of the members of the caravan were dressed lightly. Hoods to cover their faces, thick cloths to protect from unpredictable weather, a few of them even seemed to carry weapons and armor, though they didn’t appear of exceptional make. And none of them were specialized in hunting large beasts.

  Runa crouched toward the older gentleman, and asked quickly, “Are you hurt?” He shook his head, though, and pointed to the oxen and others around the makeshift campsite. Some were still bleeding, their wounds only marginally dressed with what they could afford to bring along. They seemed to know the basics, but it wouldn’t last long. Runa immediately got to work, being sure each of them were treated more properly and carefully.

  “Can you tell us what happened? We heard there was a Nephighear outside,” I inquired. Being the ones to often bring records from the Bestiaries, the official terminology should’ve been fine to use.

  One of the others spoke up, a middle aged man. “We did what we could against it, but we couldn’t make headway.” He shook his head, and I looked to his mace. “The thing just didn’t stop, no matter how hard we hit it!”

  It had to have been a terrifying experience. Something that just doesn’t quit coming at you with everything it has. Some of the wounds seemed deep enough to kill, and even if others were shallow, this wasn’t something that’d leave these people anytime soon.

  However, the unfortunate realities kept piling on. Another called to us from across the cave in seeming desperation. “I-if you’re here to help, we’re still missing one.” He was anxious, and a younger sort. “We got separated, and while the rest of us met back up, she’s still out there.”

  “Shit.” I stood myself up from the brief respite, but Kamba shook her head silently. I was puzzled, and Runa shared in my confusion. Kateri didn’t immediately react, herself, but Kamba was the one to finally call us all outside upon reading the room. We weren’t in agreement on how to proceed.

  Runa was quick to give extra bedside manners to the caravan, calling back, “If you need anything, we’ll just be discussing things outside, alright?” He promptly followed behind the rest of us.

  And before I could even open my mouth, our resident Explorer wasn’t having it. “No.” She pointed to Runa and I. “We’re not going out searching for one missing caravaner, we’ve got enough issues as it is.”

  I threw my arms up beside me, her lack of desire to hear us out already making me agitated. “That’s not right, Kamba, you know it—!” I struggled to contain my anger, even to the point that Kamba had to remind me to keep my voice down. I repeated myself quietly, “You know that’s not right, Kamba, this is our job.” We were supposed to bring back the missing caravan to safety.

  Kateri interjected. “And we have nearly the whole gang, no reason to waste our time searching for a dead guy.” She scoffed at our altruism.

  Runa fired back, “There’s nothing guaranteeing he’s dead, look at them in there…!” He pointed to the mouth of the cave. “They’ve got medical supplies, he could’ve figured something out, right?”

  But Kamba shook her head. “There’s a Nephighear roaming around, need I remind you that they’re one of the very few hyper-aggressive predators in the Meadows?” Runa was quick to shrink under that pressure. “All we’re finding is a corpse and jeopardizing the people we can save right now.”

  “There has to be a way, Kamba, come on.” I was practically pleading. “We could probably take the Nephighear and have a relatively safe search—”

  “I do not authorize that action, Hoffman.” I clicked my tongue. Killing the Nephighear was off the table, at least in the eyes of the Guild. Kamba was the only one who had the authority to allow the slaying of fauna only tangentially related to the mission. “Besides, what happens if we try to leave with them in tow and we get attacked? Who’s to say another doesn’t follow because you were out when they needed you near?”

  I clenched my fist. I didn’t know how to retort, and Runa had already been thoroughly disarmed. There was nothing we could say to get her, or Kateri, to change their minds. Without the authority to slay it, and a lack of assistance from two of our four, it was looking dire.

  But I didn’t want to give in there. “There has to be something we can do, Kamba, please.” She was about to write me off, but I continued. “If we find the Nephighear and keep it distracted, you could go out and find whoever’s missing, it’d work fine.”

  Kateri shook her head. “And how do we survive after all of that? Without killing it, of course, since that’s off the table.” While her sarcastic comment upset Kamba, it was clear Kateri was at least vaguely willing to listen.

  That’s when Runa tried to pipe up once again. “We could… we could maybe get it to retreat? With an injury?”

  I nodded along and added, “Even a Nephighear flees if things get too dangerous, we just need to make it think we’re a big enough threat, or we’re not worth the risk.” Repelling it was the best option we had to convince the other two.

  But Kamba needed just a little bit more. “And what kind of magical injury can you inflict to make it do that?”

  It surprised me to see Kateri wave her staff in front of the Explorer, almost mocking the statement. However, it wasn’t Kateri who responded verbally, but Runa. “Its retractable claws!” Things were forming together. “Considering they’re often internal, and the main structure is bone, they must be extremely sensitive.”

  But Kamba still had another retort. “They’re covered in minerals, how’re you going to get past them?” She didn’t seem like she was as disinterested as before. Since we were coming up with a real plan, she finally put her hands to her hips, and asked the questions she knew we’d need to figure out to make it work.

  “We’d need to weaken them,” I responded. “But surely there’s a way…”

  And Kateri spoke again. “If it’s minerals, I can try and crack the exterior with a spell, but I’ll need to be able to see them. And it’s not a short one, either. You sure?” She looked at me, knowing I’d have to take the brunt of the pain once more.

  “If it’s just a few seconds, I’ll do what I can.” I was raring and eager to go.

  “You know those claws only come out when it feels really threatened, right?” She was turning toward the mouth of the cave again, seeming to get ready to explain the situation to them. She was finally on board as much as she could be. I nodded, and she sighed. “Then I’m going to split off once you get its attention. After that, it’s on you three. Hoffman—” She stared daggers into me.

  “—Don’t fuck this up.”

  I was the one that was going to carry the burden for the rest of them. And each and every one of us was needed for the plan to succeed.

  My eyes moved to Runa. “We’re going to need you, too.” His pistol was sure to pierce through its hide, and grasp its ire quickly.

  He was ready to help. Him and I seemed to be on the same page. My eyes then locked on Kateri, who seemed to be reviewing her spells. She was rarely proactive, and I chose to not interrupt her.

  Kamba soon came back out from the cave a few moments later, and nodded, ready to move alongside us. And thus, the four of us began to move once again with two goals in mind: disable the Nephighear, and find the missing woman.

  My hand reached to the blade upon my back, massive and almost cumbersome. I rarely used it in conflict against people. But against a monster like what we were up against, it was the perfect tool for the job. A ‘click’ resounded across the plains as I pulled it from its sheath, and rested it upon my shoulder.

  It was time to track down a Nephighear.

  We traced the blood trail that led us to the cave first. Since they’d been attacked, it would’ve chased them for a period of time before running off, or so Runa theorized. It was the quickest method we had, and the conditions were still right to let us see remnants.

  And sure enough, we found bits and pieces of where the conflict took place. Loose fur, scratch marks, and most notably, a few obvious footprints right in the grass. They weren’t easy to see at a glance, the crimson lining caught our attention first fairly quickly the first time through, but upon closer inspection, it was obvious the famed Bestial chased the group down fairly far.

  They were lucky, as were we. The wounds they had would’ve made most of them bleed out in only a few days, only stifled by the rudimentary medical attention they were already given.

  And the culmination of those thoughts and fears coalesced into a whisper from Kamba, pointing into the distance. “There’s our target.” Our eyes followed, and sure enough, far into the distance, just over the horizon, peeked a distinct muzzle, striped with brown and beige fur.

  Its beady eyes darted back and forth above the grass, before it sank back down to continue travelling in the underbrush. Nephighears were surprisingly crafty, and in spite of their aggression, were also known to be intelligent when it came to hunting prey and defending their territory. It was another piece that made them dangerous. They weren’t simply powerful, they were smart in a fight.

  I looked at the others and said, “Are you all ready?” Runa and Kateri nodded, while Kamba hesitated.

  “Let’s not waste anymore time.” At this point, we were all in, and she clenched her own fist. Her resolve was being tested, as was all of ours. This wasn’t an easy call to make.

  But if we just gave her enough time, we could still give them a chance. And without further delay, I leapt up from the grass and made my presence clear to the beast before us. I took my blade in my hands, and waited for its eyes to rest on me.

  I threw my arms wide to make my presence a threat, and I met its gaze. As soon as we locked eyes, it bore its fangs, its facade faded, and it lowered to the ground. It was prepared for a fight, and I knew it was coming.

  As soon as its hulking body began to rush after me, I heard Kamba rush away from behind me, and Runa and Kateri joined me. Before it even managed to get into reach of me, I heard Runa call out, “Firing!” and let loose a round from his pistol. Considering its stature, it would’ve been near impossible to miss, and as expected, it struck true. The Nephighear now sported a fair sized hole in its torso for its aggression, but its assault wasn’t deterred. If anything, it was only emboldened.

  Kateri was a fair distance behind, even further than Runa, and I could hear her beginning to prepare a spell. We just needed to make it let loose those claws. I rushed to meet the creature head-on, but wasn’t dumb enough to think I could take a charge without preparation. Just as it was ready to pounce onto me, I weaved to the side out of its grip and tried to deliver a shallow cut. As expected, though, it’d take a bit more than that, as I barely even broke the skin.

  Thankfully, its attention immediately transitioned in my direction, away from Runa and Kateri. I’d done a good enough job as it was, but I needed to ensure its aggression was reciprocated. I called to Runa, “Hold your fire!” I couldn’t afford to let it be noticed that I wasn’t dealing the brunt of the punishment. If it leapt for him, now, he could be seriously injured.

  I heard nothing back, but from the fact that I didn’t hear a second shot, I assumed he listened. The Nephighear was eager to keep trying, though, as it leapt directly forward with its fangs. Its speed was surprising, it almost kept up with my trained steps, and its maw threatened to rip me apart. No subtlety, it was targeting my face first and foremost.

  I leapt backward, outreaching its attempt, and immediately placed my hand upon the half of my blade. I aimed my blow for just a moment. I wasn’t going for lethality, but I needed it to see me as a threat, so I thrust at its neck. Unlike my slice from earlier, my attempt to impale it sunk deeper. I saw blood at the top of my sword. But unlike a weaker creature, the Nephighear didn’t flinch.

  I stepped back once more, ensuring I kept it at bay from pinning me quickly. Another rush forward, another attempt with its fangs, and another step back. I kept my blade at the ready, and pierced once more. It was on the opposite side, another clean thrust, but it still had yet to even wince at the pain being inflicted.

  I pulled away, and attempted to backstep, but it chased me down with increased fervor. Its paws raised and swiped at my legs. It almost slid forth to catch me, knocking me off balance, and my back hitting the floor. I rolled to the side trying to avoid it tearing my face from my skull, but just as I did, I heard a loud BANG from behind the Nephighear. Another bullet struck true, and this time, the beast did flinch.

  It gave me enough time to stand up, and recover my footing. We were making good headway, but it was clearly becoming more and more agitated. And with enough anger, some creatures will toss caution to the wind and do what they feel they need to survive.

  After recovering from its pain, it locked eyes with me once more. It still had yet to turn to Runa or Kateri, giving them more than enough time. But it leapt again, this time in a bizarre fury. First it attempted to pin me under its weight, which I chose to strafe to the left. Then it flailed with its paw, trying to knock me off balance again. I had little answer other than to place my blade in its way and use it for balance and support. I blocked it, but it still hurt my stance.

  Its right paw followed. I stepped to the side. Its fangs crunched. I stepped back. It leapt to chase me. I was running out of options, and at this rate, I’d exhaust myself. I had to start fighting back more.

  I performed the same maneuver as I did against the initial charge. A quick hop to its right, and a slash against its side. This time, I put more force into it, properly drawing a touch of blood. I could hear it whimper against the pain, but it still was undeterred from its assault. It’d yet to become desperate.

  As its jaws opened once more, I already knew what it was going for, and took a strong stab at one of its forelimbs. I felt my blade sink deep, and the Nephighear flinched again, but began to push forward against my weight. It wasn’t letting me remove my blade from its body, keeping me locked with it. And worse yet, it was moving to coil around me, using its flexible torso to its advantage.

  I pushed harder to deter it from its movements, but to no avail. It rolled suddenly, and tossed me off of my feet and almost forced me to let go of it, but I resisted. My grip stayed tight, though I could feel my luck running out.

  I had to make a decision, and planted my feet into it for as much leverage as I could muster. For a moment, it turned and threatened to chomp at my leg, but before it could, I pulled my sword from its forelimb and leapt away off of its body. It was risky business, but I saw that the wound I left was deep. It’d heal on its own once it was finally away and able to tend to it, but once it began to growl and snarl harshly, I knew that it was only a matter of time before it truly became desperate.

  I waited for its move, but waiting turned out to be its own error. I was so prepared for its aggression, I’d forgotten how crafty these bastards could be.

  As it leapt at me, seeming ready to take another bite, it stopped its movement and used its hindlimbs to hop away from my counterattack. It circled to my side again, and took the opportunity to try and clamp down on me once more.

  I had to think fast, and the only option I had was to place my blade into its maw, and hope to out-muscle it. I heard it snarling, its saliva was leaking as it went straight for my face, and its paws pushed against the ground as it tried to topple me over.

  But I planted my feet firm. I dug my heels into the dirt, and felt it pack under me. I pushed back with all of my might, and felt my inevitable slide cease. I had enough leverage, and just enough strength to hold it off. But I was stuck in this stalemate, and it could sustain it for far longer than I could.

  “Rrgh!! Runa!!” I called out as my knees began to buckle under the weight. Just as I did, I could hear footsteps circling around, and another gunshot rang out across the plains.

  The bullet hit into its side, but it didn’t cease its advance. But before I could call for help again, it was Kateri’s voice which caught my attention. An incantation was finished, her staff glowed for a brief moment as I saw flame coalesce upon its tip. And with a mere flick, I saw that ember spark and fly as an arrow to its target. As it hit, it burst, and I could feel its force ripple across the Nephighear’s body, and saw the grass around us bend away from its might.

  It was more than enough to set it on the backfoot, and gave me just enough leverage to push it back with all of my might. It was blown back, and I ripped my blade from its weakened crush, before leaving it with a gash upon its muzzle with a sweeping blow.

  It recoiled from the punishment it took, but was still yet standing. Standing so tall, in fact, that I finally saw the true height of a Nephighear. A loud, raging growl escaped its visage, and I could feel it within my chest. It secured itself onto its hind legs, and stood nearly three feet taller than I. Its rage was palpable, its wounds not yet deep to kill, but enough to deepen its ire.

  It felt as though it had to fight for its life. And the moment we’d been searching for was in our grasp.

  From its front paws, the sound of tangled fur being ripped through, and skin separating was palpably audible. It disgusted me, before I inevitably realized what it was doing.

  Two massive blades unsheathed themselves, its front paws resting before its underbelly. A metallic sheen could be seen, pearlescent, not manufactured, but sharp all the same. And even sharper, still, as it took the edges and grinded them against each other.

  Then its gaze rested down at us. Its head tilted back and forth, before finally raising its arms in the air in a show of true aggression. It saw us as nuisances no longer. We were competition.

  “Hoffman, are you alright?!” I heard Runa call from behind me.

  I replied, “I’ll be fine! No time to worry about my share of wounds, anyways, we’ve got bigger problems!” The pain was beginning to settle in. I saw my recently unarmored hand, the bandages beginning to fray from the stress. Its fangs got a few cuts in, scrapes had begun to open due to my constant falling and moving, and I wasn’t sure how long that arm would last. “How long do you need, Kateri?”

  “Need ten seconds max, just keep it busy and in sight.”

  I took a deep breath. The pain was nothing by comparison to potentially dying. There were people counting on us. I grasped my blade again and steeled myself for the next grueling ten seconds of my life.

  A Nephighear on its hind legs was supposed to be a slower threat than on all fours, but the sheer recklessness with which it moved caught me off guard. Before I could even close the distance, it’d already bounced toward me, seeking to impale me on one of its blades. I stepped to the outside of it on its right, and covered my face with my sword. It was the right call, as I could hear the metallic scraping of metal as it went to my side.

  However, I chose to steady my hand, and ready for a continued onslaught. Another strike would leave me open, and sure enough, it weaseled its way around with its other paw, and took another swipe. I placed the base of my blade in its path, but felt it threaten my footwork, and I could feel a twinge of pain shoot up my injured arm. I had yet to properly parry anything till that prior bite, and it’d only become worse.

  It wriggled itself back upright, but I still didn’t take my moment to counterattack. I needed it to continue its onslaught, and not provoke it to become even craftier. It circled me for a brief moment, waddling on its hind legs before attempting to deliver a thrust straight through me with its right claw. I once more brought my blade up as an extra shield as I ducked out of the way. Its opposite claw, however, was quicker than before, and instead of hitting a clean redirect like I’d already done, I was blown back.

  I rolled over my back to ensure I landed upright as best as I could, but it still continued. I tucked and rolled as it leapt into the sky to skewer me from above, but just as I suspected that’d be the end, its legs once more prepared to jump, and I was forced to retreat again, and again, and again, and again. Fighting one of these head-on was always going to be a challenge, but I wasn’t aware of just how much strength people had to not only parry their blows, but push against their overwhelming might.

  Finally, its onslaught calmed. The Nephighear backed away briefly, sizing up the situation once more. Its head tilted, turning between myself, Runa, and Kateri. I began to rush forward in an attempt to keep its attention on me, but its sights became set on easier prey.

  Runa and Kateri looked less imposing than I did, and at this point, it was looking to take out the others that were clearly of assistance. It readied itself for a powerful charge, and one that was sure to put Runa or Kateri in great danger. I couldn’t let that happen, but what could I do to stop it?

  I rushed over to the two, and yelled out, “Back up, both of you!” Runa was closer in the line of fire than Kateri, and it seemed the Nephighear was focused on him. I rushed forward before it could make its leap, bashing Runa out of the way, and turning just as it began.

  I took a deep breath, gripped the hilt of my blade, and rested my other forearm on its flat. I took another wide stance, and felt the dirt beneath my feet. The only way to beat a powerful charge was with a firm stance, and just as much force.

  I pushed forward just before the beast struck with both of its claws, both locking against my weapon. I’d caught it just before it could move more, but I still felt the pain shoot up my left arm. It wasn’t looking good, but I endured as best as I could.

  That was, until it did the opposite of the last time I’d clashed with it. Its jaws were free, and in an attempt to get me to relieve the struggle, it crunched down with its maw and began to rip at my leading shoulder. At first, it was only crushing from its sheer size, bruising my body, but before I knew it, my pauldrons were torn off, and it began to pierce through my skin.

  I saw blood caught within its fangs, and my body began to buckle immediately. I wouldn’t be able to keep this going for long. I went from grunting from the pain to crying in agony, it was nearly unbearable.

  But just as I thought my body was about to give up, I heard Kateri’s voice. An incantation was nearing its end, and I just needed to hold out a little bit longer. I tried to shake its mouth from my shoulder to no avail, only succeeding in scraping my skin further, but I had to endure.

  After just another second, my foot slipped. My limit was close. If I fell, now, I might not survive the oncoming onslaught after. But Runa calling out to me made me dig my heels in once more. “She’s ready, break off, now!”

  “RRRRAAAAGH!!” With all of the remaining strength I could muster, I rend my blade up and out of the stalemate, and struck directly at its neck. The deepest cut I could deliver knocked it back a few feet, rolling on the floor for a brief moment.

  Kateri pointed her staff toward the fanatic warrior, and let her spell loose. First, there were small cracks in the surface of its claws, but before long, tiny crevices were split by sudden blades of water coming from within. Both of its blades lost their metallic coating, their sheen disappearing in an instant, and all that was left was the bone underneath.

  Without hesitation, Runa aimed for hopefully the last time, and took his shot. A bullet found its mark right on its left claw, striking at the tip of its bone, and fracturing off a chunk, even continuing into its torso for added injury. The Nephighear whimpered and whined in sorrow, feeling the intense pain, and being pushed back once more.

  Just as it began to move towards us again, it felt its claws touch the ground beneath it, and it once more whimpered and limped. It sheathed them within its body again, and yet still it cried. The Bestial struggled to continue its aggression, and soon, it turned away, and began to sprint in the other direction far away from us.

  However, none of us eased until it was over the horizon. The instant it was out of sight, I began to collapse. My injuries finally caught up, the adrenaline wearing off in a mere second.

  I used my sword to support myself as best as I could, but Runa came to ensure there was no need. “Woah woah woah, let’s not make things worse by faceplanting, aye?” He placed my arm over his shoulder, and ensured I was comfortable walking. “Took quite a beating in there, didn’t you?”

  I sighed and wearily replied, “It was the best option we had.”

  He shook his head for his part, and began to walk back to the camp. “Aye, well, as long as you’re alive. Should be treatable, but you’re not going on anything new for a week or two.” He particularly looked towards my right shoulder, mangled from the Nephighear’s fangs. I didn’t object to his suggestion, quietly saving my strength to follow him back.

  Kateri went to my other flank, and gave me a brief look, before sighing and nodding. I couldn’t quite tell if that meant gratitude, joy at me being alright, or a third thing that I struggled to identify in my stupor. Regardless, it was best we went back to camp and joined Kamba on the way.

  The trip was entirely silent otherwise. I didn’t have much strength to talk, and Runa and Kateri weren’t much of talkers in the first place. It wasn’t until the sound of footsteps in the grass alerted all of us that we spoke again.

  “Kamba!” called Runa, helping me over towards our compatriot. Kateri followed our lead, but it soon became clear that our Explorer wasn’t in the best mood. She was holding someone in her arms, and as we got closer, their condition became more and more clear.

  One of his forearms had been ripped into so badly that it was possible to see the bone underneath. The rest of his body was littered with lacerations and scrapes, bruises, and his legs looked far worse for wear.

  The worst injuries, however, were on his face. Multiple deep wounds, it was hard to tell he’d even been human. Almost a full hole in his cheek, and many others localized to his eyes.

  And if that wasn’t enough to confirm his condition, one look at Kamba, and it all became clearer. In spite of all of our understanding, she still spoke the words not a single one of us wanted to hear.

  “He was… already gone when I found him.” Her expression softened, her moment of grief palpable yet subdued. “I checked for a pulse, tried to resuscitate, but got nothing. Probably been dead for more than an hour, if not a few.”

  It hurt knowing that in hindsight, we should’ve left with who we had. It would’ve avoided my injuries, and our fatigue. And perhaps most importantly, the heartache of knowing he was already gone.

  “...At least we know for sure, now.” I still managed to eke out those words. We’d done everything within our power, and while it wasn’t enough, we’d be able to walk home with closure.

  It wouldn’t bring him back. It certainly wouldn’t ease the hearts and minds of the other caravaneers who were much closer than we were, but they’d know. They wouldn’t hope for something that’d never come. Life could at least move on.

  Runa walked to Kamba, and covered the corpse in a blanket from his pack. And after, we all began the solemn march to deliver the news.

  Hearing our footsteps, some came to the mouth of the cave, initially with elation, but which swiftly turned to dread not only seeing our condition, but witnessing the blanket-covered remains in Kamba’s arms. One was about to speak, to beg for her friend’s wellbeing, his safety.

  Kamba shook her head in response, and to no one’s shock or judgement, she broke down into tears.

  Kamba moved further into the campsite and set down his remains somewhere, but elected to inform them that it was best to keep him covered up for now. The sight wasn’t a pretty one.

  Many came in mourning, and the ones who didn’t clearly had their moods soured by the revelation. One even looked at Kamba, frustration initially brewing in her visage, before desperation, and finally, pleading.

  “Was there nothing else you could do…?”

  Kamba bit her tongue, before sighing. The truth was all that mattered, now, laid bare. “He was dead before I found him. Had been for at least a few hours…” She shook her head. Even in spite of her desire to leave him behind, no one could deny being shaken by that sight. Not simply of the corpse, but of the grief-stricken. “...I’m sorry.”

  She didn’t say anything more. The heartache of all around him, of even the entire camp, wasn’t settled with that response. But there was nothing more to be said.

  We decided to give some time to the grieving caravaneers. It didn’t sit right to not give them a moment, doubly so since Runa needed to patch my wounds. It was a brief process, and while none of them were exceedingly deep, some did require a few stitches, and Runa was adamant on me taking a break for a week or two to settle myself down.

  After the initial emotional tidal wave settled, however, the camp became distinctly quiet. The breeze from outside occasionally howled as we all awaited the decision to leave. The somber atmosphere didn’t have to be witnessed from anyone’s faces or voices, just from walking in one could feel it.

  But after thirty minutes of stewing in those feelings, what seemed to be the caravan’s de facto leader stood up. It was the older man we’d talked to initially. “Let’s not spend more time than we have to, here. No telling what’s still lurking.”

  The rest of the caravan members began to stand, too, but one walked to the leader, and questioned him. “What are we going to do with… him…?” Her eyes were still filled with sorrow, as her attention turned to the other end.

  The leader thought for a brief moment, but inevitably looked at us. “Will you join us for the rest of the journey? I think it best if you stay with us.”

  I looked between my fellow Voyagers, and it was Kamba who gave a nod, before Runa spoke after. “Would you let Hoffman, here, ride on one of your carts?”

  “Runa, I’m fine, I can—...” But just as I went to walk, I felt the soreness in my legs overtake me. I’d pushed myself too far today, and the caravan leader looked a touch amused. A small moment of joy in the current sea of melancholy.

  He nodded to Runa, who proceeded to help me find a spot I could ride on one of the oxen from. It was a long road home, but once I realized there was no convincing them, I didn’t resist. Best to hurry the process than to delay everyone.

  Once I was comfortable on one of the carts, the trek back began. And to be expected, it wasn’t a particularly talkative one. Many of the caravaneers weren’t all too interested in small talk, and we weren’t specifically in one, either. For most of the journey, the most talk I got was from Runa checking up on me every night. For my part, I spent much of it half-asleep, catching up on the rest that I could.

  Kamba gave directions as she often did to get us back on track, but it otherwise wasn’t important for her to do much, and Kateri, to be expected, spent much of her time reading.

  The rest of the caravan spent a significant amount of their time taking solace in each other’s company. Whenever I was lucid, I noticed them often huddled together, quietly falling asleep. Occasionally, I would catch them stargazing, or facing the far horizon.

  These moments of calm couldn’t fix the reality. Time marched past our emotions. The consequences were permanent, and in spite of many still grieving, we were forced to confront the future. The moments of calm were all some had.

  Eventually, it began to rain. Those brief moments of respite were now overtaken by nature itself. Whether it was in mocking, or solidarity none were sure.

  My eyes always traced back to the one we tried to save. He was wrapped in a blanket and laid across the bed of another cart. For just a moment, I wanted to find something to blame, something to be outraged for, but in the end, I returned to the inevitable conclusion.

  There was no blame to be had. The caravan wasn’t to be blamed for their sorrow, we weren’t to be blamed for our attempt nor our inability to save them, the Nephighear wasn’t to be blamed for the act. Nature itself didn’t decide who lived or died, it was uncaring, unfeeling to our plights.

  In a sense, that was terrifying. That we weren’t immune to those circumstances, and that there was nothing to blame or judge. No one had any right to be enraged.

  We did everything we possibly could have. Perhaps it wasn’t enough, but in the end, nature ran its course, and we were not exempt. Even humans were subject to predator, and prey.

  After a long walk across the meadows, the endless sea of grass began to finally subside. The sparse examples of civilization gave way to those small settlements out in the meadows that we already knew of.

  A familiar sight came into view. One that most had become accustomed to leaving off in the west of Miriamsburg. An old cemetery, having sat there for all of recent history. Crude headstones with simple engravings dotted the landscape.

  No one counted how many there were. There had to have been at least a hundred. And it was often as good of a place as any to hold a funeral.

  The caravan all helped in the process. They removed the body, and kept it tightly wrapped in the blanket. Others dug a new grave next to what was assumed to be a recent addition, and buried him under the soil.

  Myself, my companions, and the caravan, all stood in silence. Some left offerings, others prayed, and still others simply released themselves of their sorrow. A funeral wasn’t simply for the dead, it was just as much for the living.

  The proceedings weren’t long. However, a nearby stone was moved above where he was buried, and one of the caravaneers moved to it with a chisel and hammer, and carved into it.

  ‘Here lies Thiago Costa: Three-O-three to Three-thirty-seven. IE.’

  After all was said and done, the caravan prepared themselves for the rest of the journey. It wasn’t much longer, now.

  In spite of the somber feelings that surrounded the impromptu funeral, a weight was nonetheless lifted off of their shoulders. Perhaps we couldn’t save a life today.

  Something that would weigh on our shoulders for our entire careers. And yet, one could only hope that seeing their companions safe, happy, and hale, would be all they wish from whatever lies beyond. All we can do is hope.

  It isn’t a sin to wish for a brighter tomorrow.

  My eyes stayed locked on the grave that we’d just laid. As we began to leave, and others gave their final goodbyes, the rain finally cleared. And from the clouds above, I swore I saw the sun shine for him, and him alone.

  As soon as we’d returned to Miriamsburg, we thanked the Caravan for its assistance in returning us home, and I felt capable of walking upright again after the rest. However, I could tell Runa wasn’t going to let me exert myself anymore, and immediately knew he was going to send me home.

  Sure enough, he spoke, “Kamba and I will take care of the report, you two can go home and get some rest. We’ll get you the pay in a bit.” Kateri and I nodded, before we headed home through the bustling streets of Miriamsburg once again.

  The familiar sights and sounds, the way the world moved on, without any knowledge of what had occurred. It was relieving to know that in spite of all that happened, it’d endure regardless.

  That if one day, even if I were to fall and never awaken again, everything I loved, and everything I cherished, would remain.

  Perhaps that was enough to accept my place in this world as many had before me.