“Okay keep your hands up,” Kyi bounced back and forth. Their fists were up and short quick breaths were visible in the early morning cold.

“They are up,” Seren shivered. They were keeping their fists up as high as they could. It was cold and they were wearing only a pair of shorts and a tank top.

“No they aren’t,” Kyi said. They stepped forward and quick-punched Seren in the mouth.

“Phh-uck!” Seren spat blood as they recoiled holding their face. “What the hell?!”

“Keep ‘em up and you could block that!” Kyi grinned.

“Did you have to hit me so hard?” Seren examined the blood smeared over their hand.

“I didn’t hit you that hard,” Kyi rolled their eyes, her grin returning instantly.

“Easy for you to say,” Seren huffed and stood up and raised their fists again. Blood was heavy in their mouth but Seren didn’t mind it. Instead they focused on the way Kyi was moving around.

“You sore yet?” Kyi asked while circling around Seren.

“Unbelievably,” Seren smiled, a little trail of blood dripped from their lip.

“We’re only getting started,” Kyi warned. Seren felt their heart drop, but they didn’t show it.

“Aren’t we supposed to stretch before we start?” Seren asked. They jumped forward and threw a punch at Kyi, who slid aside and snatched Seren’s wrist. Kyi twisted it sharply and Seren stumbled along wherever Kyi moved them.

“If I had a knife, I could have killed you three times.” Kyi said as they threw Seren to the side. Seren hit the side of the house, their wrists hurting from the force and the bad landing.

“You’re being a bit aggressive, y’know?” Seren turned around. “Especially to someone who's never made a proper fist before today.”

“No one went easy on me when I learned and I won’t go easy on you either,” Kyi reset their stance.

“That seems a little wrong,” Seren rubbed and rolled their wrists out. “Shouldn’t it be more like… Maybe not inflicting the pain onto others that got inflicted onto you?”

“Some pain in life is inevitable,” Kyi shrugged. “You want to learn don’t you?”

“I mean that’s fair but it still feels a little aggressive,” Seren put their fists up and advanced again.

“And you still haven’t quit,” Kyi smiled. It hadn’t occurred to Seren that quitting was an option.

“This is what you’re passionate about?” Seren asked, then shrugged. “Then I’ll do it with you. I like seeing people passionate about things. I want to enable your happiness.” Kyi lowered their fists, a little surprised. Seren lunged forward and threw a fist. Stopping before their punch connected. Kyi recoiled and moved to block but not feeling the impact had them thrown off balance. Kyi looked up in shock.

“I didn’t want to hit you,” Seren smiled. Kyi’s smile appeared again but this time a lot softer.

“Your stance is wrong though,” Kyi pointed out. They patted Seren’s shoulder. “C’mon let’s get something to eat.” Seren sighed in relief and walked alongside Kyi through the kitchen door. The kitchen was empty. Kyi opened the ice chest and started rifling through it. Seren went for a cup and the sink. Rinsing out their mouth of the lingering taste of blood.

“Someone ate the last of the leftovers. The bastard.” Kyi snarled.

“Want me to make us something?” Seren asked. Then washed their mouth out a second time.

“Could you? That would be awesome! I’m starving.” Kyi closed the ice chest.

“Sure, easy enough. I’ll just throw some stuff together.” Seren put their cup down. Kyi jumped up and sat on the counter as Seren inspected the ice chest.

“You said no one went easy on you when you learned.” Seren said as they shut the ice chest again. “Could you elaborate or is that not something you want to talk about?”

“I got abandoned at an academy,” Kyi said without hesitation.

“Ah. Can you hand me a bowl?” Seren pointed at one of the cupboards behind Kyi.

"Yeah. I mean I guess technically I wasn't like actually abandoned. My parents decided to enroll me in a school where they didn't have to see me for like eighteen years. Not bothering to write or visit or anything," Kyi said as they handed Seren a bowl from the cupboard.

"Yeah, that might be abandonment," Seren said and took the bowl.

“Yeah, felt like the right thing to call it.” Kyi nodded. Seren went to the ice chest again and grabbed a modest handful of vegetables. Travelling to the counter and pulling a knife to slice up a bowl of salad.

“So what happened? Did you quit or?” Seren asked as they pointed to the cupboard for another bowl.

“Oh I finished school,” Kyi said with an intense stare. Grabbing a second identical bowl from the cupboard. “You better believe I graduated, and I got the hell out of there before my parents even had a chance. They didn’t deserve it.” Seren took the bowl and filled both with chopped vegetables.

“Sounds like it, I’m glad you made a better life for yourself here,” Seren said. putting a small amount of dried meat and rice over top of the whole thing.

“Me too,” Kyi agreed and hopped off the counter. Fetching a pair of forks for the both of them.

“Cheers,” Seren offered Kyi the bowl. Kyi dropped the forks into them.

“Cheers.”

--

“Time to get up, noble!” Eoin kicked the bed with too much energy.

“What? Why?” Seren turned over. Prying their eyes open and staring at their window. There was no light outside.

“Today you earn your keep!” Eoin said.

“What the hell have I been doing for the past week?” Seren snapped.

“Chores,” Eoin said. “Today you make your coin. Out of bed!” He kicked the bed again and waited for Seren to groan and roll out onto their feet.

“Good. Now get dressed! We’re going hunting!” Eoin turned with a spin of his fur cloak.

“We’re doing what?” Seren called after him. Eoin closed the door behind him. Seren sighed a handful of curses and grabbed their pants. Dressing and stomping their boots on all the way down the stairs.

“Shhh!” Eoin hissed. “No one’s awake yet.” That made Seren pause.

“What do you mean no one’s awake yet?” They whispered.

“You gotta get up real early to hunt bears,” Eoin whispered.

“I don’t think I heard you right,” Seren said without whispering. “We’re hunting what?”

“Bears.”

Seren felt the color drain from their already pale face. Stories of bears ripping apart unfortunate travelers flashed through their mind.

“Just you and me? What about Kyi? Or Pandora?” Seren asked.

“I told you, today you earn your keep.” Eoin said with a smug air.

“Pandora doesn’t know, does she?” Seren asked. The spark of mischief in Eoin’s eyes shifted.

“Maybe,” He said quietly.

“You’re absolutely doing something she already told you was a bad idea,” Seren continued.

“Absolutely,” Even Eoin wasn’t attempting to whisper. “Now take a cloak and a bow. We want to blend in with the morning night.”

“Light,”

“Whatever.”

Seren sighed but went to the closet and grabbed at a muddy red cloak.

“Nope, not those.” Eoin put his hand on the closet door and closed it. Almost shutting Seren in the door. They planted their hands on their hips.

“What others are there?” Seren asked.

“Follow me,” Eoin grinned. Seren adjusted their large sleeves and followed Eoin out of the house. He led them into the stable and to one of the empty stalls. He looked over his shoulder at Seren, his eyes filled with excitement. He slid the stall door open and motioned Seren inside. They didn’t go immediately, the deranged look in Eoin’s eyes made them uncomfortable. Still haunting their mind was the first encounter they had with Eoin. Seren could almost convince themself they still saw the dagger reflected in his eyes.

“Where are we going?” Seren asked quietly.

“What?” Eoin shrugged. “You don’t trust me?” Seren tightened their jaw. Eoin scoffed.

“Oh come on, I’ve done all the stuff you asked.” Eoin pointed out. “I’m the one that set up your room and I haven’t left my things around the living room anymore.” Seren nodded, but still didn’t enter the stall.

“Fine, suit yourself.” Eoin turned and entered the stall. Seren held their arms under the rolled sleeves. Tapping their foot and looking around the stable. Beside the stall the horse stood up and went to the door waiting for his breakfast. Seren moved over so they could give him some attention while staring at the empty stall. Eoin still hadn’t made an appearance again, or even moved from inside the stall. Seren stopped petting the horse to stare at the stall.

Seren huffed and gave the horse a final pat and headed into the empty stall. Dumb struck as the stall was completely empty. They turned around to the doorway and then back to the empty wall. Wondering if it was possible Eoin had slipped out when they weren’t looking.

“Hey,” Eoin whispered. Seren jumped out of their skin as Eoin’s face peeked out from the solid walls. “We don’t have all morning, hurry up.” He vanished again behind the wall. Seren ran to the wall and started investigating it. They found a false board that led into a secret room. Standing in the center of the hidden room with a torch was Eoin. The single torch lit up a cache of well maintained weapons, armors and fur covered cloaks.

“Oh,” Seren said. Eoin grinned from ear to ear.

“Grab a cloak and whatever weapon you fancy. We have to travel lightly; keep that in mind.” Eoin handed Seren the torch and left the hidden room ducking back in for only a second to say; “And hurry up!” Seren started with the cloaks. Grabbing a chestnut brown bear fur and throwing it over their shoulders. Then they turned to the weapons. Covering three walls and several shelves were weapons. Hundreds of them. Ones Seren recognized and ones they could never have imagined. They decided to keep it safe and grabbed a bow and a quiver pre-loaded with arrows.

Seren left the hidden room. Eoin was giving the horse his breakfast and slipping a sugar cube into the trough.

“Ready?” He slid the stall closed behind him. Seren shouldered the quiver and nodded. Eoin shook his head. “No, if you carry your quiver like that you’ll lose arrows.” Eoin grabbed the strap for the quiver and yanked the bow out of their hands.

"This sounds like a super bad idea." Seren said. He adjusted the bow and quiver on their shoulders.

"Nah, you worry too much. " Eoin insisted. He led Seren out of the stables and into the forest. Not using a path or even a compass.

"Do we just wander until we happen upon a bear?" Seren asked. Keeping their voice down.

"Course not, there's a river up here where the bears come for fish. We wander around there until we find some tracks." Eoin pushed against the trees as he walked by them.

"How do you know the rivers this way?" Seren asked. Yanking their cloak free of the bushes they passed.

"You can hear it," Eoin said. "Plus bugs tend to be more dense around water." Seren listened; they could hear the sound of water flowing somewhere in the distance. Eoin kept his head down like a bloodhound. Rapidly looking back and forth among the dirt. Seren looked down and tried to figure out what it was that he was seeing. They saw dirt and sticks. Moss, some leaves in various colors and decay. Some tree seeds, a few flowers trying to grow. Discarded berries, smashed and rotting.

“What are you looking for?” Seren crept close and whispered. Eoin stopped and knelt down to the ground. Seren knelt beside him.

“See this?” Eoin pointed to a small pile of dirt with a stick poking out of it.

“Dirt?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t get it,” Seren shook their head, at a loss.

“We’re looking for tracks,” Eoin said. Flicking the stick out of the dirt pile.

“And this is a track?” Seren asked

“No,” Eoin said, “This is dirt.”

“Again, I’m completely lost.” Seren sighed. “Why are we looking at dirt?”

“Dirt like this is soft, we’ll leave our own tracks behind us and the bears will too.” Eoin explained. “They’ll leave things like prints in the ground. Also the trees will be a little messed up where they scratch and climb. We keep an eye out for these things.” Seren nodded in realization.

“So I should look for these things?” They asked, getting excited.

“Do you know what bear tracks or marks look like?” Eoin asked. Seren shook their head. “Then no, just keep up and keep quiet. I’ll point it out when there’s something to point out.” Eoin stood up and started moving again. Seren looked at the dirt pile. Putting the stick back into the pile before stepping over it and following Eoin.

They walked through the trees until the river was louder than ever. Eoin slowed and kept closer to the ground as the two of them crept closer to the water. Eoin stopped and motioned Seren to him.

“Keep quiet, there’s a bear somewhere around here.” He pointed to the ground where the dirt had a sudden dip. Seren stared at the ground. Starting to see little ledges in the dirt from where something stepped. Eoin looked up at the trees.

“Something was clawing up here.” He pointed at the scarred bark on the tree's trunk. Seren felt the blood rushing through their ears and their hands went cold. A sweat breaking out under their cloak. Wandering through the forest after a bear was fine, until you actually found a bear.

“Eoin, I don’t think I’m ready for this.” Seren whispered. “Bears are like. Dangerous!”

“That’s the fun part,” He said back. “But you’re right. They can be very dangerous. So you are going to do exactly what I say when I say it, you understand?” Seren felt their eyes watering a little. They nodded, skin breaking out in goosebumps.

“Keep low and follow me,” Eoin said. He pulled out his bow and started creeping. Seren mimicked his movement. Drawing their own bow and wondering if they should draw their weapon or not. Eoin crept through the brush, Seren felt their heart beating in their throat. Under the fur their skin was cold and clammy. Overheating while also freezing. Eoin was listening while keeping his eyes low. His head on a swivel moving toward unseen and unheard things. Seren had no idea what he was hearing or seeing. All they could hear was the blood pounding in their ears. All they could see was Eoin in front of them, everything but the black pelt he was wearing was going dark around him.

Seren breathed quietly from their mouth as the sun started to filter in over the trees. Eoin stopped and held up a hand. Seren stopped. They had no idea why his hand was up, so they looked up. They went completely cold.

“There’s a bear over the water,” Eoin pointed through the trees. “If we line up our- why are you hitting me?” Seren shakily stopped slapping Eoin’s shoulder and pointed up. He looked up and his eyebrows raised.

“Good find,” He whispered. High above them in the trees was a large black bear. Watching the river and not noticing them at all. Eoin reached back and patted Seren’s shoulder. “You’ll make a damned good hunter, yet.” Seren couldn’t take their eyes off the bear but their face tried to distort into a smile. Eoin slipped an arrow out and took aim at the trees.

“His fall will scare away the other one,” Eoin whispered. “If we can get a clean shot.”

“I’ve never shot a bow before,” Seren whispered. Holding the bent wood in their hands so tightly the leather wrap was beginning to creak. Eoin didn’t flinch. Holding the arrow back without so much as a twitch. Perfectly still.

“Shhh,” He breathed. Seren nodded, holding the bow tighter to their chest. Eoin's pupils narrowed and for a second his eyebrow twitched. His lips moved, but he made no sound. He drew back the arrow even further. Then he let go. The arrow shot faster than Seren could follow. Eoin stilled again, waiting for confirmation. The bear in the tree roared and tipped.

“Move,” Eoin shoved Seren hard. They stumbled up and ran. Eoin kept behind them. Grabbing Seren’s arm and turning them around. Seren hit a hole in the ground and their ankle twisted. They smacked their hand over their mouth and bit down on their knuckle. Whimpering into their hand as they fell to their knees. The bear landed on the ground. Eoin held Seren’s arm hard enough to bruise. They watched the bear roll onto its paws. Eoin dropped Seren’s arm and drew another arrow back. Seren dug their ankle free of the hole and felt along it. It wasn’t broken but it still hurt. Eoin shot another arrow and swore. Seren looked up, the bear was limping away.

“After it!” Eoin commanded and took off. Seren stood and tried to run after but as soon as they put weight onto their injury they fell to the ground. They grimaced and grabbed their ankle. It felt swollen. Seren looked up as Eoin was running through the trees.

“Hey! Wait!” Seren yelled. Eoin looked over his shoulder and stopped.

“What happened?” He yelled, looking back at where the bear was quickly disappearing.

“I twisted it, it hurts to stand.” Seren called. Sitting down completely and pulling their leg in front of them. Eoin looked miserably at where the bear had vanished, then ran over to Seren.

“All righty, let’s take a look.” He undid the knot and helped Seren pull off their boot.

“I’m sorry,” Seren said while pulling up their oversized pants.

“Ah it’s fine.” Eoin shrugged. He felt Seren’s ankle and gave it a few gentle squeezes. Dropping them when Seren hissed or flinched.

“Yeah, you hurt it.” He said definitively. “Not broken but super swollen. Probably sprained. We’ll have to go see Doc Bones.”

“Where are they?” Seren asked. Wincing as they slid their boot back on and tied it. Keeping the knot loose.

“In town,” Eoin yanked Seren’s hood up and over their face.

“Didn’t Pandora say-”

“We don’t have a doctor in the house,” Eoin said. Lifting Seren up and ducking under their arm. Holding them up with his shoulders. “Keep your hood down and you should be fine.” Eoin started walking, dragging Seren along with him.