Kairo.
I walked forward.
Slow.
Every step felt like a bad decision.
Don't stop.
If you stop, you're dead.
I stopped.
"…right," I whispered. "Good. Great. Perfect execution."
Show all the fear on your face.
Kael's voice. In my head. Unhelpfully.
I swallowed.
"I've done this before," I muttered. "Talking. Acting. Not dying. Same thing."
A beat.
"…what's the worst that could happen?"
I looked up.
At the Direwolves.
All of them.
My face didn't need acting.
My legs were already shaking. My hands weren't steady. My chest felt tight.
Good.
Great.
Authentic.
I nodded once.
"…okay."
My voice cracked immediately.
"—okay—hi—hello—"
That was not a good start.
I tried again.
"I'm sorry."
Too fast. Too desperate.
"I'm really sorry."
My eyes stung.
"…we didn't know this was your territory."
My breath hitched.
"We're not here to fight—"
I wiped my face.
Didn't help.
"I don't want to die here."
That slipped out.
I didn't take it back.
"I really don't want to die here."
A pause.
I forced myself to stand straighter. Just a little.
"But I'm responsible for them."
A quick glance back.
Then forward.
"So if there's something we need to do—"
My voice broke again.
"—just tell us."
Silence.
Nothing moved.
No attack.
No sound.
Then—
The Direwolves gave way.
A path opened.
Low howls spread through the pack.
AWOOOO—
Kael.
The ground began to shake.
thum… thum…
Jane frowned. "What is this shaking?"
I glanced ahead. "…this is how bosses are introduced in every story."
THUM.
"I'm starting to think this is a bad idea."
Jane didn't look at me. "Of course it is. It's your plan."
"Are you saying all my plans are bad?"
Rael didn't hesitate. "She's saying your plans always involve someone almost getting killed—"
A beat.
"—or you getting killed."
I threw a hand out. "OH COME ON— every plan in a fantasy world involves someone getting killed! That's like— half the genre!"
The shaking stopped.
Silence.
The howling cut off.
Then—
A single howl from the deep forest.
AWOOOOOOOO—
The ground shook again. Heavier. Closer.
THUM… THUM…
It stepped out.
Jane went pale. "That thing didn't let us go. It was waiting for this."
Her voice dropped.
"That's an Alpha Wolf."
Kairo stopped breathing. Completely.
Jane pointed. "No wonder the goblins ran— LOOK AT IT— WHY IS IT THAT BIG—"
I leaned slightly. "…okay. From the way they're acting—"
A beat.
"—this has become a catastrophically bad idea."
The Alpha approached.
Kairo's legs gave out.
He dropped to his knees.
The Alpha lowered its head. Right to his face.
GRRRRR—
Kairo's voice came out weak. "I don't want to die…"
I raised both hands immediately. "PLEASE— we come in peace! We are very peaceful people! Extremely non-threatening! Look at him— he's already on the ground!"
The Alpha looked at me.
Silence.
Then—
It turned.
Walked away.
…
Silence.
Kairo blinked. "…it worked?"
He looked back. "It worked??"
Jane stared. "…that worked."
Branik exhaled. "I don't understand anything anymore."
I lowered my hands slowly. "…see? Strategy."
Liora stirred.
Still on my back. Half asleep. She slid down. Landed softly. Still smiling. Took her staff. Started walking.
I frowned. "Liora… where are you going."
No answer.
She kept walking.
Kairo blinked. "…why is she walking."
Liora walked straight up to a Direwolf.
Raised her staff—
THWACK.
…
Everyone froze.
THWACK.
Still smiling. Half asleep.
"…shoo," she murmured softly.
Jane inhaled sharply. "WHAT IS SHE DOING—"
The Alpha stopped.
Turned its head.
Slowly.
Kairo and I turned at the same time. Very slowly. Toward it. Mouths slightly open.
The Alpha looked at us.
…
I snapped.
"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES—"
Kairo grabbed Liora. "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT—"
Liora blinked. Half awake now. Looking around at the running and the wolves and the general situation.
"…oh," she said. "My manners."
They ran.
THUD—THUD—THUD—
Behind them—
AWOOOOOOOO—
The Alpha howled.
The pack answered.
Then—
The Alpha roared.
ROOOOOOOOAR—
Rael.
A wave burst out.
Invisible— but crushing.
WHOOOOM—
It hit.
Jane stumbled. Branik dropped to a knee. Kairo nearly fell.
I lost my footing.
"—what did it just do—?!"
My body felt wrong. Heavy. Like fear had weight.
Jane gritted her teeth. "That's— Menace—!"
"An Alpha skill— used to capture prey—!"
Another pulse.
WHOOOOM—
My legs shook. Movement slowed. Locked.
"It paralyzes you with fear!" Jane shouted. "Only those with enough Vein depth can resist— depending on how strong it is—!"
I pushed forward.
Barely.
I clenched my jaw. "Depth…?"
Then it hit me.
My eyes widened.
"—KAEL!"
I stopped.
Turned.
He wasn't there.
My breath caught.
"No—"
A memory—
Kael's voice—
"I think I'm losing something every time I come back…"
"…maybe my memories."
My chest tightened.
"Kael—"
I turned.
Ran.
Forcing my body forward. Through the pressure. Through the fear.
"KAEL!"
My voice broke.
"Don't die—"
A step.
Another.
"Please—"
My grip tightened on the axe.
"…don't die."
Kael.
I couldn't move.
Not my legs. Not my arms.
What is this—
I dropped.
thud.
Cold dirt against my hands.
Grey shapes. Moving closer.
The Direwolves surrounded me.
"…no—"
I dragged my hand forward. An inch. Maybe.
My body felt heavy from the inside. Like something was sitting on everything at once.
They were too close now.
Breath hot against my face. Eyes on me.
"…this is bad," I muttered.
I died falling off a balcony. I died in a spice market. I died putting out a lightning fire in front of sixty people.
Not like this.
I tried again.
Half an inch.
And for the first time—
it hit.
If I die like this—