Lissa had awoken from her fitful sleep and checked where the man’s fist pierced her chest. There was absolutely no evidence of someone’s fist going into her chest. Looking into the mirror in front of her, she seemed as always herself. But a lingering doubt crept its way into her thoughts, “What is happening to me?”

Lissa didn’t need or expect anything to answer. After a few more seconds of self-introspection, she started getting dressed. Making her way to the inn’s bar slash dining area, she noticed a few soot-covered faces. Each looked downtrodden. One was even crying, their black tears falling onto the table.

“What happened?” Lissa asked, sitting down next to Garza and Almios. Garza stared at the mug in front of him. One hand held a fork that he used to push around the food on his plate. “From what I heard, a fire started in a house near the river. It killed the entire family and spread to another five buildings near it. Besides the family in the initial home, thankfully, no one else died,” Almios replied after taking a long drink from his glass.

“The mother was the lady you saved from cracking her skull on the floor: two kids, a boy, and a girl along with the father,” Almios put his glass down. “It is never good when kids die.” Lissa put her elbows on the table, knitted her hands together, and rested her chin on her fingers. Over the next few minutes, everyone else made their way to the table.

Almios told the story again each time someone asked. Soon enough, everyone sat in silence, only speaking when asked what they would like to eat or drink. “Do you think we should leave now?” Mela asked, looking at everyone with bloodshot eyes. Both her and Mera had taken the news that children had died the hardest.

“I don’t think we should dawdle. At least we are closer to completing our task. And it would get our minds off, well this,” Micah said, gesturing to the table of sorrow. Lissa finished the last bit of fish on her plate and stood. She gathered the finished meals of everyone else. “Let’s pay for our stay and food first. And then we can leave as soon as Saida apologizes to that stable master.”

Lissa shot a look at Saida, who was taken aback, “No, I won’t. When I found out he was making us pay twice as much as usual, I was well within my rights to negotiate.” Garza looked at her, “You put a hole through one of the stable doors. That is something you would have to apologize for.” Lissa didn’t back down from the staredown she held with Saida.

“Fine, I will apologize and pay for the door. Happy?” Saida finally relented after a few seconds of quiet staring. Lissa smirked and headed for the bar, “For the moment.” Reaching the bar, she gently placed the pile of plates onto the bartop. Lissa waved at the woman handling the bar. “How much do we owe?” She asked as the bartender walked over. Their eyes scanned the assorted plates, mugs, and then the table that held everyone else.

“You only stayed one night with us, right?” The woman asked. Lissa could see the mental math quickly being done in her expression. “Yes, one night only and eight rooms,” Lissa answered while grabbing her coin pouch. “Ten silver total,” the barwoman replied after a moment. “Only ten, really?” Lissa replied she had thought it was going to be more. “Yeah, consider it a personal discount for making sure Veena didn’t crack open her skull yesterday,” the barwoman said while her eyes grew distant for a moment.

“Roger is going to be beside himself when he gets back,” She softly added after returning her gaze to Lissa. “Roger? Is he her father?” Lissa asked while putting the coins on the bar. “Roger, ha, no brother-in-law after he got disowned by the rest of the Blackwoods Dorian and Veena were the only ones to keep in touch.”

Lissa felt a few different things fall into place in her mind. The skittishness of Veena yesterday and why she ate quickly and left. Veena had known about them or even recognized them if she was with Roger. “Do you know where Roger is?” Lissa needed to know the answer. Someone may be trying to cover their tracks now. “She had left with Roger, Harrick, and Tyran a bit ago. They came back alone, saying they would be back later. Why?”

“Just wondering, we were about to leave, and if he was in the direction we were headed, we could try and bring the news to him,” Lissa said while thinking quickly. Raising the bar woman's suspicions right now would not be good. Mainly because she didn’t know how deep this particular rabbit hole went. “Oh, that is kind of you. But he was in the direction you came from, at least I think, so unless he slipped through town heading West in the dead of night, you wouldn’t find him.” The barwoman smiled at Lissa.

“Well, sorry we couldn’t be of any help but thank you for indulging my questions,” Lissa set down two gold coins. “If you wouldn’t mind using that to help the people affected by the fire. I would greatly appreciate it.” The barwoman was utterly taken aback, “Holy... Are you sure?” Lissa nodded, “Yes, every little bit counts.”

The barwoman swiped the coins and put them in a mug behind the counter. “Thank you very much. I will make sure this gets to the right people.” Lissa turned, already tuning the woman out. She had a lead and wanted to share it with everyone else. The conversation at the table died as Lissa walked over. “Lis? What’s wrong?” Micah asked while the hair on the back of his neck rose.

Lissa was staring at him so intensely it unnerved him. “I found out that the woman, Veena, I helped yesterday while we ate was part of the group that attacked us.” Everyone glanced at each other quickly before leaning into the table. “Are you sure about this, Lis? How did you find out?” Mela and Mera asked while their eyes darted to everyone in the bar.“I found out from the Barwoman that Veena died in that fire. And that she was related to the man I talked to, Roger. She was his Sister-in-law.”

Lissa’s thoughts raced. The only reason for Veena to have died is because someone was now tying up loose ends. “I know that look,” Darvick said, staring right into Lissa’s eyes. “The sooner we get out of this town, the better,” Lissa opened her. mouth to respond before cutting her off. “Right now, if we dig into this mess, more people will die. Whoever paid those idiots to attack us clearly doesn’t want to be found.” Darvick looked at everyone at the table.

“Saida had the same look when we first met, and that fire in her belly got her and me into a lot of trouble,” Darvick looked pointedly at Saida now. “Trouble we didn’t need then. And this is the trouble we don’t need now. However, I would like nothing more than to wrap my hands around the neck of the idiot who put that contract on Micah. We can’t afford to chase after someone who doesn’t want to be found while we are on a mission. For all, we know people could be dying while we sit here discussing this!”

Darvick’s hand hit the table so suddenly. It startled everyone. Lissa looked at him and felt her racing heart calming. He did make sense, and it’s not like the trail will grow much colder while they went away. With them gone, the person or people responsible for this may get careless. “At least we need to send another message to get someone to head out here while we are gone,” Lissa leaned into the center of the table and spoke low.

“I agree, and that is what I had thought of bringing up before we left. There is a messenger bird station in town I can use.” Micah looked to Lissa. “The message will be written in code, of course.” Almios nodded in agreement while Garza merely yawned. “Now, if you don’t mind, I am going to sleep for a bit longer. Since I was up all night watching out for someone to get Micah.” Lissa watched as he stood and walked back to the rooms. “Just so you know, I think Darvick’s right.” He waved his hand back at them while he walked. “Well, that is a first,” Mera said while looking at her sister. “Yeah, it is. We will go with Saida to the stables to get the horses ready.”

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Ts’og sniffed the air. The blood was fresh, and she followed its scent. Weaving through the trees on the cliffside, she approached her prey. She saw on the cliff face overlooking the river. Two shining prey standing huddled over a third. The third’s leg was bent at its knee, blood pouring from the skin broken by bone shards.

They spoke, but Ts’og did not understand. One held a shining stick over the bent and broken leg of the injured one. It glowed with an eerie red light to Ts’og. “You! Where are they!?” She roared, charging at them. Three long strides brought her within arm’s reach of the closest one, who held a long sharp shining thing in his hands.

It swung at her, and she batted the blow away with the back of her clawed hand. This left her attacker open, and with her other hand, she grabbed the creature. It screeched loudly and obnoxiously as it squirmed in her grip. Ts’og brought her face close to it and once again asked, “Where are they!?” It was a futile gesture she knew. These things spoke with words she didn’t understand. But maybe she would find one that understood her.

Ts’og saw its lips move and the sound that was words come out. Another useless creature whom she couldn’t understand. She threw it off the cliff and watched as its body broke along the other cliff face. The two remaining shining animals screamed. The one holding the rod turned to her. Tears streamed down its ugly face. It was saying something to her, but she did not know what—another failure.

Ts’og raked her claws at the creature fielding their shining skin buckle and rend. Crimson blood and viscera streamed from their rent stomach and chest. They collapsed backward over the cliff, screaming with what breath remained in them. The last one lay broken underneath her.

Ts’og drew her face close to theirs, “Where are they!?” She roared once more, her claws biting into the rocky dirt next to them. Not even a whimper escaped its lips as it stared defiantly into her eyes. Ts’og looked into their blue-green eyes, searching for any hints of recognition. She found none, “Useless!”

Ts’og rent her hand through their body, still not even a scream of pain. “You died well, creature. I shall not let your spirit go to waste,” Ts’og said while watching the life leave this shining creature’s eyes. Once the spark of life left them, she set about devouring it. She peeled the brilliant carapace off and threw it into the river. It shined all the way down until the water took it into its cold embrace.

A few moments later, her bloody feast was at its end. She scooped up the remains and dumped them into the river. Ts’og had learned that killing all of the shining ones and hiding the bodies was the best option. She now hunted them instead of her being the one that was pursued. Ts’og took a few deep breaths hoping to catch more scents. She smelled the running river beneath her. The game in the forest fleeing from her, their fear thick in the air.

Another deep breath. Ts’og smelled the just ripened berries she had passed on her hunt. She basked in all the scents around her, but the one she was searching for was still far away. Ts’og didn’t know how this particular prey’s scent carried for such a long way. Nor did she understand why it never seemed to fade.

The thought of that particular animal stoked the fire within her. She screamed in sadness, anger, and frustration. Ts’og attacked the ground, bushes, and trees around her. Rocks and dirt flew into the air around her, bushes were uprooted, and trees shattered beneath her claws. Ts’og felt tears stream from her eyes and down her snout. She could still see them in her thoughts, her children’s broken and mangled bodies: the red-skinned and silver-eyed monster standing over them.

Ts’og could see their exposed teeth, the ochre blood of her children streaming from their mouth. They had escaped, and she chased them down the mountains, no matter how fast she ran or how tireless the pursuit they always were ahead of her. Their scent was burned into her nostrils forever.

Soon enough, the fire returned to its smoldering, and she collapsed onto the dirt. Her children hadn’t even passed their first winter, nor even had their naming ceremony. Ts’og felt doubt again creep into her. Maybe she should go back. Maybe her kin would welcome her back with open arms. Perhaps she could forget.

Ts’og closed her fist. She could never forget, nor could she ever forgive that monster. Her ears perked up. She could hear fumbling through the forest towards her—more than likely, shining creatures following the screams of their fellows. Ts’og stood to her full towering height. She stalked into the woods, taking deep breaths every few strides. The murderer’s scent called to her, down the river.

==============================================================

Lissa watched the road winding ahead of them. A cold autumn breeze blew down from the mountains. Rustling the leaves of the trees that were just now starting to change color. They had left Ribow two days ago now. They traveled slowly, wary of ambushes that may lurk in the now deepening forests around them. The land steadily grew higher as the mountains loomed on the horizon. More ominous with the winter clouds dancing around their peaks.

Lissa drew her cloak closer to her as the wind touched her skin. “Stop,” Garza commanded from the front. His outstretched arm held his weapon. Lissa strained her ears, listening. She could now faintly make out conversation and sobbing. Lissa nodded to Mera and Mela. They quickly fell in behind her as she advanced forward. Everyone was tense.

“I will go ahead with Mera and Mela to see what is going on,” Lissa said while passing Garza. He nodded, “Be careful. We will come if you shout.” Lissa smiled, “It won’t be us shouting.” Lissa, Mera, and Mela slowly walked up the road, their mounts breathing quickening. They were just as tense as their riders.

“...ate him, Marik! The thing fucking ate him! Nara was nearly cut in half, and Dalton was dead on the other side. We have to go back!” A young voice said, cracking at the end. Lissa saw the small party of three Silver Shields sitting by the side of the road. A young man sat with his back against a tree. A halfling and violet-skinned blooded stood over him. Eight horses were tied to trees nearby.

“Are you alright?” Lissa said, calling out to them while keeping a reasonable distance from the group. Lissa looked to Mera and Mela, quickly seeing they stopped as well. Their faces were set in confusion, though their eyes warily scanned the surrounding trees. Lissa’s words startled the small group. The young man flinched and opened his bloodshot eyes to stare at her. She saw he was just barely of age to be in the Silver Shields.

Lissa saw the halfling and blooded spin on their heels hands immediately went to their weapons. The halfling was older, his greying hair cut short to his skull, with a nasty scar running along his jaw. The violet-skinned, blooded, appeared to be Lissa’s age. His eyes were an off gold color, and he had short black hair. She saw stumps on his skull and the jagged marks. It looked like someone had snapped his horns off.

“Who are you?” The blooded man asked, his eyes taking in the trio he faced. “I am Lissa. This is Mera and her sister Mela,” Lissa replied, pointing to herself and then the twins. “Nice to meet you. I am Marik, the short fellow is Balkim, and the kid is James,” Marik pointed to himself and the two others. “Now, do you mind me asking what you are doing here? You are awfully well-armed and armored. And you definitely not with the Silver Shields.” Lissa smiled, “No, we aren’t. My friends and I are Emissaries. Do you mind if I have the rest of them come over?”

“You act like I can stop you,” Marik replied, relaxing finally. He turned to Balkim and said something too quiet for Lissa to hear. Balkim nodded and walked to one of the horses taking supplies off it. James still sat his back against the tree, looking at Lissa, then Mera and Mela. “Can you help us kill a monster?” He asked soberly with only a slight hiccup in his voice as he composed himself.

Marik sighed, “You can’t just ask anyone to help us, kid. I bet they have something vital to do. And that doesn’t leave them enough time to help us.” He walked over and started helping Balkim unload the horses, who seemed to be doing their best to ignore the two men’s fumbling hands. Lissa put her fingers to her lips and let out a sharp whistle. Signaling the others to come up.

“Actually, we might be here to kill that monster,” Mera said while dismounting and walking over to James. Lissa dismounted as well, heading to Marik and Balkim. “Are you going to make camp for the night here?” She asked him while untying a large rolled-up tent. “Yeah,” Marik sighed, “This is the kids’ first assignment, and he probably never expected the death. No one does, honestly.” Marik hefted a rather large barrel off one of the horses’ back.

“You know it would have been nice for the Silver Shield’s office to let us know they had sent another group out to hunt this thing,” Lissa replied. No one had told them more people had been sent out to be slaughtered. “We weren’t,” Marik said while staring at Lissa pointedly. “We were sent out to track down a merchant’s son who ran off with a girl. They wanted to elope, and neither family wanted that.” Marik shook his head. “We found their bodies two days ago. Eviscerated.”

“So I am guessing you decided to try and hunt down whatever killed them,” Lissa turned to face Marik. Everyone else just arrived and was dismounting. “Yeah, we thought it was some crazed bear or even just a dire boar.” Marik bit his lip, “That wasn’t the case. Whatever you are trying to do, I hope it is to kill this thing.” Lissa touched Marik’s shoulder and simply said, “We will.”