Dawn settled along the horizon beyond the massive rib cage, the light spreading slowly across the bone and forest below. It was beautiful in a quiet way, but it was also a warning.
It was time to execute the plan.
I pushed myself up with a low grunt, the mental exhaustion from everything we had endured still pressing heavily on me. The fight, the Shadow-Realm, the constant strain of surviving—none of it had really left my body yet. And beneath all of that lingered the memory of the partner I had lost… the one who had taken blows for me and stood between me and death more than once.
My shadow emerged in front of me as if sensing my thoughts.
It crossed its arms and turned its head slightly, almost irritated.
I wiped my face slowly with my palm and muttered, "One of my partners, I mean."
The shadow didn't respond, only stood there watching.
I sighed quietly and turned away, walking toward Trace first. She was still resting where she had settled during the night.
"Wake up," I whispered.
Trace stirred slowly, rubbing her eyes as she pushed herself up. "Is it time?" she asked groggily.
"Yes," I replied. "But first we need a few supplies. After that… we move."
I waited until she was fully on her feet, steady enough to walk, then the two of us made our way over to Sare to discuss the next step of the plan. Behind me, my shadow dissolved and flowed back into my body, the familiar surge of strength spreading through my limbs as it returned. The exhaustion didn't disappear entirely, but the energy it carried steadied me enough to move forward.
Once we were all together, I continued.
"All we need to do now is gather the supplies I mentioned earlier."
Trace spoke first. "I'll get the leaf from the trees."
I turned toward her. "Alright, but be careful. Tree walkers will be there. They're weak, but there are a lot of them."
She nodded.
Sare spoke next. "Then I'll get the branch. You should collect the blood. You can move in and out quickly without being noticed."
I gave a small nod. "I was thinking the same thing."
For a moment I caught myself appreciating the feeling of clear thought again. After everything that had happened in the Shadow-Realm, having my mind steady felt almost unfamiliar.
"Alright," I said. "We meet back here as soon as possible. If one of us isn't back by nightfall… we search for them."
Neither of them argued.
I stepped forward and slipped into the Shadow-Realm.
The pull greeted me immediately, the familiar persuasion brushing against my thoughts. But with my mind clear again—and without anyone else weighing on the connection—it was easy enough to resist. The pressure remained, patient and quiet, but it no longer threatened to swallow my focus.
I moved through the darkness like swimming through deep water, letting the shadows cradle my movement as I traveled quickly toward the next rib.
The place where that creature with the sickle had nearly killed us.
When I reached it, I slowed.
The rib stretched across the distance exactly as it had before, pale and massive beneath the faint morning light filtering through the realm.
But the creature wasn't there.
I surfaced from the Shadow-Realm and stepped onto the rib. The bodies of the Venomclasps were still scattered across the bone where we had left them. I knelt beside one and began cutting into it, trying to collect what blood remained.
Then it hit me.
I froze.
"How can I be so dumb…" I muttered under my breath.
The corpses had been here too long. Their blood had already dried into the bone and chitin.
There was nothing usable left.
For a moment I just stared at the creature, frustrated with myself. My mind drifted briefly back to the academy, imagining Professor Scare watching me make such a simple mistake. I could almost hear the disappointed lecture he would give.
I exhaled sharply and stood.
No time to dwell on it.
I slipped back into the Shadow-Realm and moved quickly toward where Trace had gone. I already knew there would be Hallow creatures around the trees—she wouldn't have gathered the leaves without attracting something.
The shadows carried me across the distance quickly.
When I reached the forest, I slowed and surfaced just enough to see what was happening.
Trace stood near the trees with several large leaves strapped across her back. Around her, shapes moved through the forest—Hallow creatures circling cautiously.
Her sword was already glowing.
The light from it burned bright against the dark forest, the flare building rapidly, its energy rising in sharp pulses.
Too sharp.
Too aggressive.
She was about to wipe them out.
If she burned them all… we'd lose the blood.
I immediately stepped out of the Shadow-Realm.
"Wait!" I shouted. "Trace—don't!"
She turned toward me, her sword still blazing, confusion crossing her face as the flare continued to build in her hand.
I reacted without thinking.
Midnight flashed from its sheath as I stepped forward and struck Trace's blade, knocking the flare away from the creatures and toward one of the nearby trees. The light burst against the trunk and the explosion cracked through the forest. The tree—tall enough to reach the ribcage and thick enough to block all three of us—splintered and came crashing down away from us.
"Why did you do that?" Trace shouted, her voice sharp and confused.
I didn't have time to answer.
The creatures lunged at us immediately, rushing through the undergrowth the moment the light faded. I stepped forward and slashed low, Midnight cutting clean through the ankles of the first one. It collapsed instantly, screeching as it clawed at the ground, unable to move.
Trace didn't hesitate. Her blade lit again and she began cutting down the others as they closed in.
I grabbed the crippled creature before it could drag itself away. It thrashed wildly in my grip, claws raking across my arms and chest as it tried to tear free.
"Trace!" I shouted. "Grab on—and light the way!"
She moved instantly, wrapping one arm around me while keeping the light burning in her other hand.
Together we sank into the Shadow-Realm.
Darkness swallowed the forest as the ground dissolved beneath us. Trace held onto me—and the struggling creature—as we descended into the shadows.
"Why are we taking this thing?" she asked, her voice tight with confusion.
I moved through the realm quickly, the light from her flare carving a path through the darkness as I swam forward.
"We need its blood," I answered.