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"Deep in the Brambles,"Â East Shroud
Jeph could smell the blood before he saw the body. Its acrid scent hung in the air and stung his eyes as he moved carefully around the tree. Leathers creaked with each step, and fingers clenched tight around his spear.
“Kid,†he said, “Watch my back.â€
Weylan despised being called “kid.†He was proud, but perhaps not without cause. Before becoming a Wailer, the boy had led a charge against ixal attacking his village. His actions had rallied the people long enough for help to arrive. However, Jeph wasn’t one to coddle; he treated Weylan the same as every new member of the unit. You were a kid until you proved your worth to the team.
Still, Jeph knew how much it irked the boy, so he decided to give him a trial by fire. The Sixteenth Spear was a long range patrol, it wasn’t uncommon for them to go weeks outside of Gridania while they hunted down criminals, so he took his unit to a new-growth section of the Shroud that poachers had taken to calling home. The trees were still young, but they grew in large numbers, limiting visibility and making it a perfect place for ambushes. It was supposed to be a rough trip, give Weylan a chance to prove himself to the unit, but it wasn’t supposed to be this. Twelve above, it shouldn’t have been this. On the other side of the tree was Markas, Jeph’s second in command, and the fourth body he’d found today.
“Kid,†he said as he knelt in the pool of blood. Markas’ armor and the trees all around were red, his skin pale as the moon. Markas’ mask was clean, but it had been split down the center. Weylan approached, his face nearly as pale as Markas’, but Jeph had to give him credit. Though clearly terrified, his hands didn’t shake and his stance never broke. Jeph reached down to close his friend’s eyes for the final time. “Do you remember the way home?â€
“Yeah,†Weylan said. Jeph turned to look at the boy. Weylan was watching the trees, spear at the ready.
“I want you to go. Get the hells out of here, tell them what happened.â€
“What?†Weylan turned to glower at Jeph. Though the mask hid most of the expression, the clench of his jaw was undeniable. “No chance, we have to kill this thing.â€
“No, we have to warn Gridania.†Jeph picked up half of the mask. “This thing is targeting wailers. Markas was my second best fighter, and he’s gone. Hunting poachers is one thing, but this?â€
“What about you?â€
“Do you always question orders, kid? Listen, I’ll draw its attention, then get away on my own. We’ll go separate ways. It won’t be able to get us both. Now go!â€
Weylan nodded once, and turned to run. Jeph watched him slip into the trees and out of sight. The boy was wholly dedicated to Gridania and preserving the peace with the spirits. Had things gone differently, he’d have been a great addition to the unit. Now?
“Weylan, you’re the last of the Sixteenth, don’t let us down.†Jeph stood and turned, facing deeper into the thicket. He just had to hold its attention long enough. “Alright, you bitch, where are you?â€
Cold laughter echoed through the trees as he moved. Jeph gripped his spear tightly, and followed the sound. It seemed to jump from tree to tree, always just up ahead.
“I know you’re here. I know you want me. So come get me.†He turned to face a pale shape seen out of the corner of his eye, but found only empty space.
“Arden,†A soft voice said.
“Fucking coward!†Jeph turned, looking for the voice.
“I’ve been looking for you, Arden.†The woman’s voice was right behind him. He twirled, spear raised to cut, but there was nothing and the bladed tip whistled uselessly. Jeph took a slow step backwards, scanning the trees.
“How do you know my father?†The trees grew silent, and he heard naught but his own heart, pounding. “Well?â€
“His son,†she said. “Pity. Still, you do have his blood.â€
He felt a sharp pain in his chest, and vision blurred. He staggered, fell to his knees, and propped himself up on his spear.
“How,†he choked out, blood dripping down his lips, bubbling with each breath. A warm hand touched his chin, lifting it, and he saw a woman clad in red. Red gown, red gloves, wreathed in violet light.
As he ran, Weylan heard Jeph’s scream echoing through the trees.
Jeph could smell the blood before he saw the body. Its acrid scent hung in the air and stung his eyes as he moved carefully around the tree. Leathers creaked with each step, and fingers clenched tight around his spear.
“Kid,†he said, “Watch my back.â€
Weylan despised being called “kid.†He was proud, but perhaps not without cause. Before becoming a Wailer, the boy had led a charge against ixal attacking his village. His actions had rallied the people long enough for help to arrive. However, Jeph wasn’t one to coddle; he treated Weylan the same as every new member of the unit. You were a kid until you proved your worth to the team.
Still, Jeph knew how much it irked the boy, so he decided to give him a trial by fire. The Sixteenth Spear was a long range patrol, it wasn’t uncommon for them to go weeks outside of Gridania while they hunted down criminals, so he took his unit to a new-growth section of the Shroud that poachers had taken to calling home. The trees were still young, but they grew in large numbers, limiting visibility and making it a perfect place for ambushes. It was supposed to be a rough trip, give Weylan a chance to prove himself to the unit, but it wasn’t supposed to be this. Twelve above, it shouldn’t have been this. On the other side of the tree was Markas, Jeph’s second in command, and the fourth body he’d found today.
“Kid,†he said as he knelt in the pool of blood. Markas’ armor and the trees all around were red, his skin pale as the moon. Markas’ mask was clean, but it had been split down the center. Weylan approached, his face nearly as pale as Markas’, but Jeph had to give him credit. Though clearly terrified, his hands didn’t shake and his stance never broke. Jeph reached down to close his friend’s eyes for the final time. “Do you remember the way home?â€
“Yeah,†Weylan said. Jeph turned to look at the boy. Weylan was watching the trees, spear at the ready.
“I want you to go. Get the hells out of here, tell them what happened.â€
“What?†Weylan turned to glower at Jeph. Though the mask hid most of the expression, the clench of his jaw was undeniable. “No chance, we have to kill this thing.â€
“No, we have to warn Gridania.†Jeph picked up half of the mask. “This thing is targeting wailers. Markas was my second best fighter, and he’s gone. Hunting poachers is one thing, but this?â€
“What about you?â€
“Do you always question orders, kid? Listen, I’ll draw its attention, then get away on my own. We’ll go separate ways. It won’t be able to get us both. Now go!â€
Weylan nodded once, and turned to run. Jeph watched him slip into the trees and out of sight. The boy was wholly dedicated to Gridania and preserving the peace with the spirits. Had things gone differently, he’d have been a great addition to the unit. Now?
“Weylan, you’re the last of the Sixteenth, don’t let us down.†Jeph stood and turned, facing deeper into the thicket. He just had to hold its attention long enough. “Alright, you bitch, where are you?â€
Cold laughter echoed through the trees as he moved. Jeph gripped his spear tightly, and followed the sound. It seemed to jump from tree to tree, always just up ahead.
“I know you’re here. I know you want me. So come get me.†He turned to face a pale shape seen out of the corner of his eye, but found only empty space.
“Arden,†A soft voice said.
“Fucking coward!†Jeph turned, looking for the voice.
“I’ve been looking for you, Arden.†The woman’s voice was right behind him. He twirled, spear raised to cut, but there was nothing and the bladed tip whistled uselessly. Jeph took a slow step backwards, scanning the trees.
“How do you know my father?†The trees grew silent, and he heard naught but his own heart, pounding. “Well?â€
“His son,†she said. “Pity. Still, you do have his blood.â€
He felt a sharp pain in his chest, and vision blurred. He staggered, fell to his knees, and propped himself up on his spear.
“How,†he choked out, blood dripping down his lips, bubbling with each breath. A warm hand touched his chin, lifting it, and he saw a woman clad in red. Red gown, red gloves, wreathed in violet light.
As he ran, Weylan heard Jeph’s scream echoing through the trees.