The heart of the Ironwood Forest was cold and unrelenting. The mismatched squadron of Templars and students had arrived what seemed like months ago, although it was hard to pinpoint. The nights were longer than what they were back home, the dark ink sky peaking through the ceiling of bronze needle leaves, the moon glinting on the glittering white snow. The wind howled as it cut through the trees, a restless being on the hunt, determined to drive out the intruders on its land.

Metal froze Cooper’s feet where she stood by the weak fire, a gleam of flickering orange in the hungry darkness that bathed her. Consumed her. Patrol duty had never been her favourite, far from it, though she trusted Hawkins to do the job far less. To have her life hang in the insufferable woman’s hands was a horrific thought. Almost worse than the necessity to sleep in such small quarters, huddling for heat. She couldn’t wait to be back in Kingshill, even if it only meant never waking up with Hawkins’ thick arm wrapped around her waist, her face smothered by Aiden pressing herself much too close.

She tossed another branch onto the low flame, poking at its corpse with her blade. The action seemed to have summoned another bought of wind, breathing down her neck like a too-large animal. Cold and wet, the sickly smell of death pouring through the woods.

The settlers of Dorren Fortress had alerted them of such a beast - what Cooper assumed was a beast - warning that they were marching to their deaths. That was not the first she’d ever heard of that whatever lived within these cursed woods, the creatures that hungered for more than flesh. Fairytales, the lot of it, and Cooper had no time for it. Even so, the hairs on her neck that stood straight and raised would not be so easily satisfied. Every cracked twig and broken branch, every howl and wail on the wind set her further on edge, teeth grinding and fingers tightening around the grip of her sword.

She wished that she hadn’t stopped to harass the settlers. Their empty words swirled and mingled with rational thought.

She was a Templar, and Templars were never scared.

A low growl rumbled on the wind, low and rhythmic. It echoed, encompassing the campground. The words of the settlers stung now, their warning jumbled. They didn’t even know what the beast was-

Aiden coughed in her sleep, rolling over. The sound ceased. Snoring. Of course, it was snoring. That did little to calm Cooper’s nerves. The cool night air gave way to the fluttering white particles of snow, dancing through the leaves. It would have been beautiful, Cooper supposed, if it wasn’t going to be a damned pain to shift through at daybreak. She glanced up, watching the moon as it peeked through the gaps between the trees, a silver sliver upon the dull mantle.

In the icy night, she found herself missing Raelyn. For as short a time they had travelled, it was strange to be away from her so soon. Comfort in the squadron she had no care for. If it wasn’t for her own secret quest, Cooper may well have asked her to join, selfishly.

Cooper shook her head, clenching her teeth, attempting to banish the thoughts. She pulled her cloak closer, shivering despite the warmth of the fire. The wood had burned dry, leaving only embers glowing in the darkness, and a few smoke trails. Thoughts like those had never helped her, and why would they start now?

As daybreak came, the stillness retreating, Cooper did not feel the least bit relieved. The squadron - barely a squadron, the ragtag jumble of adults - stirred at last. The birds chirping between the bronze leaves did nothing to settle Cooper, whose eyes were heavier than the bags she carried. She stay slumped against her knees, staring blankly at what remained of the campfire. Something in the distance let out a wail, a piercing sound that made Cooper’s hair stand on end once more.

“You are worrying about nothing,” Hawkins said, striding forward from her position behind one of the tents. “Probably just wolves.”

“It’s not just wolves,” Noah replied, stretching languidly beside her. The Other Twin finally his own being as his sister preoccupied herself elsewhere.

His sister, who had once been sleeping curled into Hawkins now nowhere to be found. This was probably fine.

Noah watched the sun rise high above the trees, a mix of excitement and apprehension on his face. As quiet as he had been, the boy had been itching for something - anything - to happen, and Cooper couldn’t help but agree. For weeks they had travelled amongst the trees, the quiet beginning to play on her mind. She’d even take the certain death promised to her by that Dorren guard over the stillness.

Hawkins stepped into the middle of the clearing, giving the squad a commanding look.

“It is wolves, make no mistake, Fowler. Now, if we’re all rested, I suggest that we march. The sooner we find that god forsaken prince, the quicker we can leave this godless place.”

It was quiet enough to hear the creak of leather, the rustle of clothing. The scouts clumped together in one awkward knot, disappearing in the forest. No sign of the beast yet. Cooper was almost disappointed, if it weren’t for the fact that the squad would no doubt be slaughtered in a matter of days. There was no sign of Aiden, either, though Cooper was far less concerned about that.

It was Robin, who up until now had barely made a sound other than the occasional grunt, who brought it up. “We’ve lost the ginger.”

“Oh I’m sure she knows the way,” said Noah, his catlike movements had yet to cease. “We’re from here, actually. Not here here, just within the borders of the forest.” Cooper was unsure why he was telling them this, they barely knew the man. This did not stop him. “My mother’s the witch of these woods, you know. Was originally fighting against my ma alongside my aunt. It’s actually a really good story, if you want I could tell -”

“I think I’d rather choke,” groaned Hawkins. “Everyone knows about the war, everyone here has seen it. Let’s just, maybe, stay quiet for now, yeah?”

Noah fell silent, glancing furtively at Hawkins before turning his attention back to the horizon. The sun rose higher, brightening the forest as the Templars began to trudge through the snow. Cooper had long since given up trying to keep her feet warm, having nothing but her cloak to shield her from the biting chill.

Beneath her helmet, set heavily on her head, her scalp twitched and itched. A stomach-turning itch, as if something was burrowing under her skin. As she reached to remove her helmet, she noticed that she wasn’t the only one. Before her Hawkins fidgeted uneasily, before ripping off the helmet in annoyance, rubbing her gauntlet-covered hand through her hair with enough vigour to draw blood. Red stained her blonde hair in streaks, her once neat and orderly cut now matted and… Cooper could swear it was several inches longer than it had been that morning. The urge to scratch grew stronger, the hair on her arms prickling. She felt sweat prickle on her brow, her body hot, feverish. The sound of distant yelling caught her eye, drawing her gaze across the near-empty woods.

“Did anyone hear that?” she asked, voice low and shakier than she had meant. The squadron stopped in their tracks to look at her. “That scream, it wasn’t just me, was it?”

Hawkins stared at her in confusion through her now far longer fringe.

“Let’s just keep moving.”

Cooper tried to shake the feeling of being watched. It was difficult when they were moving quickly, the trees a blur around her as she struggled to keep up with the rest of the squad. Her hand brushed against the hilt of her sword, the metal cool beneath her palm. It should be reassuring, but her mind continued to wander, to focus on the sensation of someone, or something, watching her.

Everything looked the same to Cooper, but she never had the patience for tracking. There were trees, snow, and more trees. Thick, towering ironwoods that vaguely resembled pines with leaves that hung low like bronze blades. Nothing that set their trail apart from any other path.

“We’ve been here before,” grumbled Robin, rubbing his stubby fingers into a groove Hawkins had cut into the tree, a distinctive ‘X’. He looked over his shoulder at the group, his thick brows furrowed. Noah stepped forward, long elven ears pressed flat against his head, much like an angered cat. He looked over the mark and groaned. “This shouldn’t be happening, we walked in a straight line away from here.”

He rubbed at his chin, once bare not even a few hours ago, now covered in a thick yellow beard.

Hawkins tilted her head, expression covered by the metal flap of her helmet. “Doesn’t matter, we keep moving.”

As much as Cooper wanted to argue with her, they didn’t have much choice. Between freezing to death on the wrong side of Mabristan, or at least trying to move forward, Cooper would choose living above all else despite it being a controversial stance for a follower of the death goddess. Noah looked to Cooper as if silently asking her to confirm. The young lieutenant rolled her eyes under her helmet and nodded. She wasn’t sure why Noah had looked to her for leadership, they had never properly worked together in the Academy’s drills, and he had no reason to trust Cooper outside of the exaggerated tales of her skills. Whoever had spread the rumour that Cooper had vanquished an Elder Demon was lucky that their identity was still unknown.

“You heard the woman,” stated Cooper, “let’s move.”

Hawkins may not have said anything further, but Cooper knew that the older woman was glaring at her through the thin slice of her visor. Sometimes she forgot that it was six years between them. Hawkins was twenty-six and showed no sign of growing up. Cooper often thought of them being closer in age, even going so far as to forget that it was her who was the younger one. Too many years of leading Hawkins had messed with her perception, that and how Hawkins often acted. No better than the younglings Cooper had wrangled into growing Templars.

The squad marched on, the sun high overhead and the trees blocking out any light to the east. Cooper wore her helm, unable to stop her hands from twitching over the hilt of her sword, fingers begging for a reason to finally ready her blade.

Her scalp itched.

Cooper barrelled into Hawkins, sending them both flying into the frozen earth. Metal clanging and limbs flailing.

“What the hell?” snapped Cooper, voice raw with cold. Her armour and weaponry clinked angrily as she tore her body off the ground, scrambling swiftly to her feet with more rattling, and reaching out a hand to help up her friend. She winced at the sound - far too loud for her liking. Hawkins growled and got to her feet clumsily, before dragging Cooper to her own. “Why'd you stop like that?”

“Why the hell aren’t you looking where you’re going?” snapped Hawkins, before winding down with a sigh. “I hate to say you’re ever correct but-”

“Please don’t say that, Hawkins, I hate to be right.”

“I heard it.”

As if to punctuate; an ear-splitting howl cut through the air. Cooper hunched into a defensive position, shield raised and sword at the ready. Another howl. It sounded closer to a scream. Pained, hoarse. Must have been a lumberjack from Dorren Fortress who had wandered out too far. There was no other reason for anyone to be in the forest, not since the folk tales claim the land to be haunted. Not that it was. Ghosts and the undead didn’t exist.

The squad pressed on, Hawkins leading undeterred but on high alert. Snow crunched beneath their feet, deafening in the forest’s stillness. The air somehow felt colder, thicker, and carried a heavy metallic scent reminiscent of old coins the deeper they trekked. Cooper wrecked her brain for ideas on what it could be, but her Templar training hadn’t prepared her for tracking and identifying. She could swing a sword, and as proven so far, not die. It was quiet once more. A total absence of noise. The smell only grew stronger.

Hawkins doubled over, hands grasping at her skull, the metal digging in without a care. Her long hair stuck to her damp face, now coming to rest around her shoulders. When she finally looked up, her eyes were wet. In the split second of Cooper noticing her tears, Hawkins ran like a woman possessed. Deep into the woods with no return.

Cooper huffed, watching her Captain kick up snow as she went. She looked to the remainder of her squadron, then back to Hawkins’ trail. “Stay here,” she commanded, “I’m going after her.”

She raced behind Hawkins the best she could; the others trailing off into mere specs behind her until she lost them to the white and bronze landscape. The forest was alive with the sounds of metal scraping metal, and the thudding of footsteps.

Omera, why did the forest have to look the same wherever they went? The closer she got to what Hawkins seemed to think was the source of the screaming, the more it seemed to surround them, echoing and pulsating through the trees. The sound got louder, enveloping them and becoming more and more inhuman.

A reddish blur flashed through the trees, only a glimpse, and it disappeared.

“There! Heading west!” bellowed their Captain, slowing her speed with her breath coming out in short huffs.

Cooper skidded to a stop, frantically looking around. She swallowed hard to steady her breathing, “what the fuck was that?”

Hawkins hadn’t heard, or maybe she didn’t care, as she took off again as fast as she could. Cooper heaved a deep sigh before taking off after the slightly older woman, her voice becoming more and more hoarse as she yelled at her Captain to slow down.

“Hawkins!” she yelled, voice rough and cracking. She cleared her throat, gathering herself to make her voice steady and commanding, “Mycah! Stop.”

Hawkins finally paused in the middle of a clearing, identical to the forest around, eyes darting wildly as she looked around at the absence of her squadron. Her heterochromatic eyes locked on Cooper, silently demanding an explanation with a glare of green and grey.

Hawkins huffed, nose and eyebrows scrunched in her anguish, and at that moment Cooper remembered Hawkins wasn’t the experienced leader they made her out to be. That the Temple had thrown her Captain into a position that she was barely used to, let alone ready for.

“Listen, Cooper, if you’re going to tell me off, you can leave,” the Captain spat, face tense and veins bulging in her dripping forehead, “try explaining that to the Temple, I’m sure they’d be happy.”

“Says the coward who ran off,” Cooper spat, the air freezing her lungs as she gasped for breath, “Look, I don’t know what’s happening, but you can’t just… run off like that, you’re the Captain now-”

Hawkins scowled and opened her mouth to presumably cut her off, but all that came out was a barely contained gasp. Her voice dropped to a whisper as her eyes locked on something behind her. “Don’t. Move.”

The thing behind her clicked and moaned, creaking its way around. Taunting them. Cooper could feel its hot breath against her back, the air filling with its scent of leather and decay. Her throat felt dry. Hawkins stared up, frozen, her face pale and eyes locked. The wind was forcibly sucked from Cooper’s lungs as whatever in Night’s name inhaled. Everything that Cooper was sucked into its own orifices. The creature let out what might have been a sneeze, a heavy, wet wind that pushed Cooper forward and fled.

Cooper groaned.

“That was foul,” she whinged, touching her hand to the thick glob of yuck that stubbornly stuck to her shoulder, “ugh, why me?”

She flung the glob at Hawkins, which broke her out of her apparent trance.

“We’re going to die out here,” murmured Hawkins. Her hands covered her face as she took a deep, steadying breath. “We’re going to die and it’s my fault.”

“If you die I’m devouring you.”

“Is that a threat?”

“That’s a promise.”

Hawkins glared. The colour had drained from her now deathly pale face, sweat running in thick droplets and landing on her breastplate. Her eyes unfocused, she blinked forcefully, shaking her head as if to remove the memory of whatever it is she had seen. Cooper took a few tentative steps towards her captain, putting a hand lightly on her shoulder in hopes of reassurance. Arms wrapped around Cooper’s neck, but it was not the death sentence that it should have been. Awkward and almost painful, but no end came to the rare action.

A hug.

Hawkins was hugging Cooper. The worst of it was Cooper didn’t pull away. She lent in; helmet against skin, armour pressed against armour. Absolutely abhorrent. She refused to be the first to pull away.

It was Hawkins who stood back first, face steeled with determination.

“Never do that again, Hawkins,” Cooper’s voice wasn’t as steady as she wanted it to be. “If we die out here-”

“You’d take my heart and eat it beating, yes.”

It was never quite so visceral, but Cooper supposed that it was her promise. Her hands were made to rip and destroy, after all.

“Well Hawkins, you’re the captain now,” stated Cooper, “you going to give the order?”

The Captain paused, then nodded. “We need to track whatever the hell that was,” her voice meeker than it should have been, in truth Cooper couldn’t blame her. “Alright, Lieutenant. Let’s get this over with.”

Cooper turned and clasped her arm, giving her a stiff nod. Hawkins patted her hand in return, before setting off in her chosen direction. Cooper couldn’t be sure where they were headed, for once wishing she had a compass although she also wasn’t sure how much use that would be.

Hawkins broke out into a run, Cooper awkwardly sprinting behind the shorter woman, feet sliding under her with each step. The screams and sound of battle got gradually louder. Cooper’s muscles started to seize up, shooting pangs of pain up her legs but nevertheless, she pushed forward. Heavy metal feet pounded and slid their armour and equipment rattling against their bodies as they tried to keep up with the mysterious beast. The sounds of fighting got louder, but the squadron was still nowhere in sight. Cooper panted under her helmet, face hot. She would have pulled it off if she had known what she was up against, but the uncertainty was enough to keep her common sense in check.

The shrieking continued, echoing louder and louder, slicing through Cooper’s ears and filling her throat with anxious bile. She couldn’t afford to overthink, but her mind kept being pulled back to the thought that she was already too late.

Cooper was sure that they should have reached the squadron by now, after all, they couldn’t have run that far. And yet, the two were alone. Freezing and panting in the woods that served as their prison.

The air seemed to heat around them the further they went, snow melting rapidly and sending torrents down from the trees. The ground was covered in a gross sludge, which seeped into the warming earth. Cooper pulled her helmet off with a grunt, scanning the lush green landscape. Fairytales did not exist. The tales of the forest were just that, had to be just that. Magic and curses were all well and good, but the Ironwood Forest was not haunted and Cooper would die on that hill.