I trotted along beside the frog man as he led me back through the woods. I held the bone in my mouth and occasionally looked up at him to get used to his strange features.

  His chin was very wide, and he didn’t really have a neck. His limbs were long, while his body was rounder than a human's. He certainly was strange, but I felt like I could trust him.

  I felt quite proud of the bone as I carried it in my mouth, even if it did not come from one of my own hunts. It was a very good bone, and I couldn’t help my tail from wagging. I salivated, thinking about lying down with it later and really getting to work. If I were not traveling, I would find somewhere safe to hide it.

  Genzo occasionally lifted his pipe to his lips and blew out a puff of smoke. His long strides somehow made no sound at all on the forest floor. I watched his feet touch the ground, thinking there was skill even in the way he walked. I understood this, as I was very conscious of my own sounds when hunting, but I was small and four-legged; he was much larger but managed to avoid snapping any twigs or rustling any plants.

  He looked down through the corner of one milky eye, and I looked back up at him. “You watch closely. Ribbit. That is good. To survive, you must be a student of everything around you. Ribbit.”

  My tail gave a soft wag at the praise. Student? It was a strange way to think of myself, but I understood his meaning. My time in the cursed vale constantly taught me new things. It was so even before being separated from my pack. I would have much rather have continued being taught by Mom while Dad protected us, though.

  The trees became less thick as we moved. Looking up, I saw larger patches of red sky between their twisted grey branches. I realized I may be able to estimate my position in the vale based on the thickness of the trees. They seemed to become denser further in.

  Suddenly, Genzo stopped moving, his webbed hand tapping the hilt of his sword. “Little pup. Use your Pulse Sense. Ribbit.”

  I slowed, then stopped by his feet, ears pricking. I set the bone carefully at my paws and used {Pulse Sense}. The ripples moved through the dark. Dozens of tiny heartbeats high above in the canopy… a few faint scuttlers in the undergrowth… and then—

  My lips pulled back, and a low growl slipped out.

  “There,” I thought, fixing my gaze in the direction of a heavy heartbeat.

  Genzo’s wide mouth twitched at the corners. He nodded once, puffing his pipe. “Mm. As I suspected. Ribbit. It may be a Black Prowler.”

  My hackles rose. That name I remembered from the encyclopedia. It was the horned cat that hunted me as prey and chased me into a tree. Ironically, if the red masks hadn’t shown up, I likely would have been killed by it. I couldn’t have slept propped high into the hollow of the tree, and the second I fell, I would have been cat food. Not only that, the extra levels I got from killing the crazy woman certainly made the difference in my ability to hunt until now.

  Genzo slid the pipe from his mouth, letting the smoke trail into the still air, and in one smooth motion drew his blade. The steel sang and caught the glow of a nearby mushroom patch.

  “Stay near, little pup. Ribbit. Behind my blade you are safe, for nothing in this vale would make it past.”

  I trusted him. I picked my bone back up and then came closer to his heels, following as he began moving forward steadily but quietly.

  I felt tense, the memory of the horned shadow that once hunted me fresh in my mind. We moved closer and closer towards its heartbeat, pulsing evenly up ahead. Then, I heard the sound of wet chewing and tearing of flesh. I hunkered down instinctively and looked towards the undergrowth.

  “Come forward. Ribbit. I want to teach you.”

  My ears folded back as I looked up at the frog man.

  “Do not be afraid. Ribbit.”

  With that, he began moving forward again, and I reluctantly followed closer behind. He led me to a spot of undergrowth where I could hide, and a little further I saw it.

  The horned cat had its face down in the belly of a Felsnare Grazer, ripping off chunks of meat. When its head lifted, I saw its black muzzle dripping with blood.

  Genzo whispered quietly. “Watch from here. And observe.”

  The next instant, he disappeared. Now alone, I ducked into hiding, just barely looking through the vines. Where did he go? Was he setting me up after all? But I’m sure he wouldn’t have needed to trick me like this if he wanted to hurt me!

  No, he seemed too kind. It couldn’t have all been a trick, and it would make no sense for him to do that. But where was he?

  I cautiously peeked up to see the Black Prowler's head had lifted. It was sniffing the air.

  Oh no! Is it starting to track me? Genzo! Where are you!?

  Then, I noticed the slightest bit of movement in the trees. I looked up and saw him there, crouched on one of the branches, above the Black Prowler. His long-fingered hand was still clasped around his sword, and his focus was on the over-sized kitty beneath him.

  I looked back to the Black Prowler. It was looking right in my direction! Then, a focus came into its gaze; it crouched lower and started moving towards me.

  I knew what that was… It had Pulse Sense too! Since I used it so often myself, it was easy to recognize it. If it was simply smelling me, it wouldn’t be locked right onto my location—or rather, where my heartbeat was. That explained how the last one I encountered found me when I was trying to sneak away.

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  I looked up at Genzo. He hadn’t moved at all; he was still as a statue as he perched atop his branch.

  Below, the Black Prowler kept moving closer and closer to me.

  Genzo! Hurry up and do something!

  Then, his other hand that was free of the sword made a gesture—he threw something.

  I watched as the small black thing sailed downward and then landed heavily in some leaves. The Black Prowler instantly whirled around at the sound and leapt at the leaves. It was clear in the opposite direction of me.

  With its attention distracted, Genzo finally made his move, leaping down from the branch, sword raised at his side, and heading right for the Black Prowler.

  His sword sung with slicing wind as he landed, cutting a deep gash across the back of the creature with a spray of blood.

  It whirled around again with a vicious snarl. Its wound was deep, but not enough to instantly kill it. It lunged at Genzo, fangs bared, ready to rip him apart, and Genzo—Genzo didn’t move!

  Move! I wanted to scream when it was mere inches from getting him. He was acting like he didn’t even see it! And if Genzo were killed, I knew I would be next!

  Then, at the very last moment, he calmly shifted to the side, his blade lifted, and the Black Prowler passed him in two halves, its body falling limp mid-lunge and its head flying off before landing nearby with a wet plop.

  My puppy mouth fell open in astonishment.

  Just how powerful was Genzo!? What level was he? It took three of those red masks to kill the last one I encountered, but he just killed this one as easily as I’d kill a rabbit! Then a message popped up in front of my eyes.

  [Evolution Hint Unlocked!]

  You have witnessed death delivered not by strength, but by stillness, and understood that silence may be sharper than fangs.

  My tail wagged with excitement. I flicked the message away and quickly went back to the evolution tag. I found that the hint was meant for Wisperfang Juvenile.

  Epic - Whisperfang Juvenile

  Path hinted, further details currently unknown.

  Hint 1: You have looked into the eyes of one who knew death was coming and saw the lines blur between predator and prey.

  Hint 2: You have witnessed death delivered not by strength, but by stillness, and understood that silence may be sharper than fangs.

  Hint 3: Locked

  Requirements

  Stage 5 development

  Attribute Requirements: Unknown

  Required Achievements: Unknown

  I unlocked the second hint for Whisperfang Juvenile! Stage 5 still seemed so far away, but it was that much closer to my reach now! I wondered if the rest of the details would become known once I unlocked whatever that third hint might be?

  I bounded out of the undergrowth and came to Genzo’s side and set the bone down as my tail wagged happily. I wanted to thank him, but I didn’t know how.

  One hand calmly raised his pipe to his back mouth, while the other slashed the sword through empty air in a quick flick that caused the blood to fly free from the blade. Then he skillfully spun it in his grip and returned it to its sheath before blowing out a puff of smoke.

  “I see you’ve received the hint. That is good. Ribbit.”

  I let out a sharp, high-pitched bark, which was my best attempt at a thanks. I felt so much excitement. Where before I felt defeating the red masks would be impossible, I just witnessed what kind of power is possible. If I could learn to fight like Genzo, then every red mask I came across would become my prey!

  He took another slow drag of his pipe, his milky eyes settling on me. “You carry hatred, little pup. I see it in your gaze. But if you temper that fire with the patience of a hunter, it will become a blade no beast—or man—will escape. Ribbit.”

  At his words my ears folded back and my wagging tail slowed.

  The carcass of the Black Prowler still twitched faintly nearby, its blood soaking into the soil. I glanced at it, then back at Genzo.

  “Come,” he croaked, shouldering his bag. “The vale will not remain still for long. Ribbit.”

  I picked up my bone and fell in step behind him, tail beginning to sway back and forth once again.

  Overhead, the red sky was turning darker. I wondered if he would have anything else to show me before the day was done. I also had not yet had a chance to test out my current Path, Veinseer Nightstalker, so I was excited for the sun to finish dropping so I could see how much of a difference it would make in my hunting.

  Then, I remembered how many levels I gained from killing that human after she had been wounded by a Black Prowler, and a thought occurred to me. I looked up at Genzo. If he could help me hunt such large beasts with me taking the finishing blow, how quickly could I gain levels?

  I thought about it, trying to think of how to communicate this plan to him. Frankly, I was surprised he didn’t think of it first, being that he seemed so wise. I pondered over messages I might be able to paw into the dirt, thinking that might be a way to communicate the idea.

  As the forest became darker as night set in, I was already seeing the benefits of my new Night Vision skill. It was like a film of gray light clung to everything, making the otherwise dark silhouettes more distinguishable.

  Suddenly, Genzo stopped. Was it time for another hunt?

  He raised the pipe to his lips, took a puff, and then calmly lowered it. I stared up at him, my tail wagging happily as I anticipated his next words.

  However, what he said next instantly sapped all the joy from me.

  “It is time we part ways. Ribbit.”

  What? No! He can’t mean that!

  I dropped the bone, not setting it down carefully as I had before. I let out a loud yip, telling him, “NO!”

  Genzo didn’t flinch at my cry. He only looked down with those clouded eyes, smoke curling from the side of his wide mouth. “Do not mistake this, little pup. I do not wish to abandon you. But your journey is your own, and not for me to forge. Ribbit.”

  I whimpered and pawed at the ground. “Why? Why now!? I don’t want to be alone again!”

  He shifted his pipe to the corner of his lips and rested one webbed hand on the sword hilt. “If you rely on me, you will learn nothing but dependence. You must sharpen your own fangs, not hide behind my blade. Ribbit.”

  My tail tucked tight between my legs. I wanted to snarl, to bark, to tell him he was wrong—that I could learn if he stayed with me. I could learn even faster, in fact, because he could show me how!

  I yipped at him again. “No! Don’t go!”

  Genzo leaned down slightly, the brim of his straw hat shadowing his eyes. “We will meet again one day. Ribbit. And when we do, I hope to find not a frightened pup, but a hunter who walks the night on her own paws. Ribbit.” He reached his hand forward and sat it calmly atop my head. My ears folded back. “This area of the vale is more appropriate for your level. You should be safe. When you are confident enough, do not head for the lake but back through the mountains. There are other lands where there is far more you can learn. One day, when your strength has grown immensely, you can claim this entire vale as your own, if you so wish. Ribbit.”

  I whimpered softly. Part of me understood why he was doing this, but I still didn’t want him to go. Ever since I was separated from my pack, I have been so afraid, and I didn’t want to be alone again.

  He removed his hand from my head and stood. Then he pointed his pipe forward. “The mountains are a short walk that way. You will easily reach them tomorrow, if you choose to hunt through the night. Now, I must go. Ribbit.”

  There was a finality in his tone. He gave me a last look, then turned away.

  “Wait!” I barked once more, but he didn’t look back. His red tunic melted into the darkness until only the faint ember of his pipe glowed. Once… twice… and then he was gone.

  I stood there for a long moment, still tempted to run after him. But I didn’t. I took a deep breath and then looked down at my bone before scooping it up.

  I still had to get back to my den, and now I was closer than ever. Maybe then I would know what to do, but in the meantime I could keep getting stronger. Then, the next time I met Genzo, I would not be a trembling pup begging him to stay. I would instead be a hunter worthy of fighting by his side.

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