One. Two. Three. Four. Test. One. Two. Three. Four. Test.

  Lioren's whetstone glided on her blade. Quietly, she listened for the catch of the blade. She tested the edge. Sharp. Lethal. Perfect. The sun glinted off her sword, its last rays kissing her cheeks as they flickered behind the horizon. The leaves were changing and more fell everyday. She huffed as a memory of her and Mira collecting a bundle to dump on Tomas while he slept. She swore, he was finding leaves in his armor for days after that. Lioren glanced up to see Mira corking the last of the water skins. She gave them a good shake and tossed one to Kale. Then to Tomas.

  "Rory said to drink this before we set off." She opened her waterskin and gave it a sniff. Her nose wrinkled and a slight shudder rolled through her shoulders.

  "After that face, I'm not drinking shit." Tomas tossed his back to Mira where it landed with a plop. Lioren smiled and packed her stone and blade. She strode over to Mira and retrieved the waterskin.

  "Really, Tomas, a bitter potion is what scares you?" Lioren snorted and popped the top off. The smell was earthy. Like Mira has just grabbed a handful of dirt and grass and mixed it with water. Steeling herself, she tipped her head back and drank the contents in one very difficult mouthful. Lioren let out a breath to disguise the bitter aftertaste and grabbed another waterskin. Tomas rolled his eyes and she moved to hand it to him.

  "Well I can't very well say 'no' now." He popped off the top and gave it a tentative sniff before recoiling. Grunting, he brought the waterskin to his lips and tried and failed to drink it in one gulp. Lioren turned away laughing as he choked and sputtered the harsh liquid. Kale, in all his stoic nature, was finishing off his portion with only a concerned look at the waterskin.

  "Don't waste it!" Mira shouted from where she sat by the fire, struggling to finish off her own. "Rory only gave me enough for one serving."

  "Fine. Wouldnt want to waste the finest brew, this side of the mud pile." Tomas quipped back and made a show of his discomfort. Mira rolled her eyes and slowly polished off hers as well. Lioren turned back to where the forest deepened. This hunt will take care of us for a month! If it was successful, she would personally thank Rory for his mystery potion. The sky faded to a dark purple as Lioren took the lead. Rory said the beast headed west from the farmstead. So, they should be close to the trail. Lioren wandered further into the trees, looking for traces of this creature that slaughtered 15 cattle. Butchered and mauled, but not eaten. Too fast to be a bear, too big to be a wolf. So what is this mystery creature. Tomas called after her as she bent down to see large canine prints in the earth.

  Lioren traced the prints and called back to Tomas that she found the trail. The moon was rising and its full glory casted the forest in shades of silver.

  "At least we won't need torches." Mira remarked as they caught up.

  "You hear that, Lioren? The moon is doing your job for you." Tomas smirked at her and despite her best leveled glare, she could not help but make a face back at him. She loved it when Tomas looked at her. His green eyes were so carefree. Even annoying at times, but just the right amount. Lioren just shook her head with a soft exhale, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. She turned back to the trail and began the hunt.

  After numerous trail checks, and countless shushes at Tomas, Lioren found herself at the edge of a clearing. At the center, in a pool of crimson lay a mutilated deer. The acrid tang of blood hung heavy in the air.

  "Oh Gods." Mira gasped from behind her. Kale retrieved his hammer and moved to take the lead. Tomas drew his sword and moved protectively in front of Lioren. The forest was almost too quiet. Nothing stirred except the light caress of a breeze. The silence was so pronounced, Lioren almost expected the silver shafts of moonlight to shatter when Kale and Tomas made their way into the clearing. Her eyes scanned every shadow. Something felt wrong. What animal kills for fun?

  Kale and Tomas closed the distance on the deer, Kale taking watch of the surrounding trees and Tomas kneeing to inspect it further.

  "Whatever did this, I’d like to formally request it stays far away from me." He joked half-heartedly. Lioren rolled her eyes and knelt beside him to try and gleam something from the carnage. Its eyes, black and frozen in horror. Its innards spilling from its body like an overstuffed pillow. A wet, slimy, fleshy pillow. Lioren had to swallow back the bile rising from her stomach. Whatever did this was vicious. It went straight for the kill based on the missing throat and proceeded then to rip the animal apart. Lioren touched her fingers to the blood soaked grass. Cold and congealed.

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  "It's been dead for about half an hour." She announced quietly and stood up to look for more tracks.

  "Guess we just missed the party." Tomas muttered and Kale snapped at him.

  "Shut it. This is not the time for your smart mouth. Lioren, can you tell where it went?" Kale turned to her but she was already tracking bloody prints. The tracks exited the clearing to the far side. Mira had left the safety of the tree line to take refuge next to Kale who was chiding Tomas for his lack of seriousness. Mira’s bow was strung with an arrow, ready to let it fly at a moment's notice. Lioren's quick steps brought her to the edge of the clearing when the blood had faded but the deep imprints remained. Lioren followed them until they were swallowed by shadows. Or, one very big shadow.

  The scream died before it could form. Two golden eyes pinned her from the tree line, sharp and unblinking. For a moment, the eyes tilted to the side, as if intrigued by her presence. The shadow rose, slow and deliberate, towering as it stood on two legs. Its size seemed to be endless and it rose higher until Lioren swore it would hit its head on a tree branch. Her lips moved silently. Run, run-

  "RUN!" She screamed as the monster lunged from the shadows, blackthorn claws leading the way.

  The once silent clearing erupted in ear splitting screams and roars. Lioren rolled away from the monster's massive, clawed hands. Quick from her training, Lioren withdrew a dagger mid roll. Stabbing into the creature's side as it passed. Its thick hide almost bounced the blade off, had she not sharpened her weapons that evening. It snarled in pain as vibrant blood splattered across the moon-kissed grass. The monster swung at Lioren, but she ducked under the swing and ran to distance herself.

  There was a loud battle cry as Kale charged into the creature, only to bounce off like he hit a wall. The monster, unfazed, threw him back like he was a doll. The strum of a bow, led to an arrow lodging into the monster chest. It roared in fury and made a move toward Mira. Tomas intercepted its attention with a quick combo of slices. Each one glancing harmlessly off the creature.

  The monster swung down, Tomas dodged. The monster swung up in a back hand, catching Tomas in the chest and flinging him half across the clearing to land with a heavy thud. Lioren took advantage of the distraction to lunge, short sword leading to stab into the back of the monster. The hide resisted before giving way with a painful cry from the monster. Lioren pulled her blade back and dove as the monster swung around to hit air. Her heart slammed in her chest as the swing barely cleared her head, breath ragged, blade slick with blood. Kale saw the opening and stuck a heavy blow to its leg. A dull crack reverberated through the clearing and the monster collapsed to one knee. It howled and tried to swipe at Kale. The claws screeched as they scored his shield and Kale swung again, catching the monster in the face.

  Lioren smiled at the mortal blow, only for her smile to falter as the monster snapped its head back from the blow. Its teeth met Kale's arm, his armor crunching under the force of its bite. Kale cried out as the monster lifted him up and using its hand, caught Kale's chest to slam him into the ground. The earth shuddered under the impact and Kale wheezed as the air was driven from his lungs. Mira screamed and fired another shot.

  The arrow, meant for the kill, glanced harmlessly off the monster’s head. Tomas struggled to catch his breath as he pushed himself up. He blinked, disoriented and reached for his sword. Lioren raced back into melee. She struck the bend in the creature's leg, aiming for the tendon. The blade cut, but not deep enough. Deep breath. Her sword arced high, spinning in her hand to bring it down hard into the creature's back. It bucked violently with another howl of pain. Lioren tried to pull her sword free but it felt stuck. She had to let it go. Another arrow flew, granting her precious seconds to withdraw before the creature turned its boiling fury to her.

  Kale lay stunned at the monster's feet. Another desperate arrow sinking into the creature's back. But it didn't matter. Lioren was the target now. Her eyes widened as she turned and ran. With a howl, the monster pursued. Lioren didn't get far before five, pointed daggers slammed into her side, launching her across the clearing like a fish. Blistering pain blinded Lioren as she rolled on impact. She came to a stop, breath gone, ears ringing. A distant roar drew her back and she pulled another dagger from its sheath. Tomas cried out but couldn't get his feet under him before the monster pounced.

  Everything seemed to slow down. The bright golden eyes loomed over Lioren as she raised her arm to intercept saliva drench teeth. Its teeth crushed down, and her bone snapped with a sickening crack. A visceral scream erupted from Lioren as she plunged her dagger into the monster's neck and into its skull.

  The monster recoiled, its mouth stretched wide in a silent howl of pain. It fumbled for the dagger lodged to the hilt in its neck until it collapsed backward. Its body shuddered and convulsed as blood splattered from its mouth with each forced breath. After beats that lasted hours, it stilled, a stream of crimson flowing from its mouth. Tomas staggered to Lioren's side as panicked sobs wracked her body.

  "It's ok. You're ok." He soothed but his eyes betrayed his terror. Mira slid to her knees beside them, her hands moving lightning fast to reveal Lioren's wounds. Mira's face blanched looking at Lioren's mangled arm.

  "Deep breaths." Mira whispered, the words shaking like her hands.. Kale stirred and rolled to his stomach. His movements were slow as he shook off the stun. His eyes widened as he took in the aftermath of the fight. Tomas continued to try and calm Lioren, his hand brushing across her face and patting down her sweat slicked hair. Mira mumbled to herself as she dressed Lioren's arm and moved to reveal the injury to her torso.

  "Broken arm. One, two.. two broken ribs. Five punctures, ugly but shallow. She'll be okay." She told Tomas and his shoulders sagged with relief.

  "You'll be ok, Lio." Mira met Lioren's gaze and held her good hand firmly with a weak, but reassuring smile. Lioren smiled back in between sobs.

  "Thank you… Mira." She wheezed out as the adrenaline began to fade and darkness enveloped her mind.