Amora bit in and chewed.

She made a face as the taste filled her mouth and the rubbery texture clung to her teeth. But it was food. And her stomach, which evidently- didn’t have taste buds, thanked her.

She took another bite and swallowed, trying her best to ignore the strong gamey smell that enveloped her. She looked over. 4 skewers left. Amora felt like she had to eat all of it. She stared at the skewers she’d set up, hanging just above yellow flames, and watched the flower at her feet.

Its color had begun to fade. The once scarlet red had now turned almost pinkish and its petals sank inward, folding on itself like before.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?”

Amora took another bite and stepped forward, hand outstretched as she watched blood drip from her palm.

“And you’re here. Alone. Like me.”

She smiled softly as pink darkened and the flower opened once more.

Perhaps she could move it. Replant it next to the other one out on the grass field. Maybe it didn't have to be alone after all.

She smiled to herself again.

That would be nice.

Amora slid off the log, flicking her finished skewer onto the ground beside her. She bent down, careful not to put her weight onto her injured leg as she reached for another.

3 skewers left-

“Alone? Huh. Well… That's not quite true now is it?”

Amora flinched, dropping her hand as she whipped her head toward the wall of trees to her right.

“I don't mean to alarm you but I do hope you’re aware that’s a flower you’re talking to.”

Amora stepped back, wincing as pain flared from her ankle. She couldn’t quite see where the voice had come from. She hesitated. And then opened her mouth.

“…yes.”

Amora's voice came out faint. And in a faltering tone, as her eyes flicked to the spear leaning against the log.

Just out of reach.

“Hmm. Well. I’m not sure if that’s better or worse.”

A young man stepped out. Brown cloak, peeling away from the cover of a tree. He walked confidently, a smile playing on his lips as he watched Amora. His cloak hung loosely over a white shirt, which was stained with dirt and what looked alarmingly like dried blood.

Amora returned a strained smile, not- so subtly shuffling toward her spear.

He saw that-of course, but it only made him smile wider.

“I mean you no harm young miss…”

He paused. And his smile dropped as sunlight illuminated a gray face.

“Human.”

He said it so softly, so quickly. Amora only heard it as a barely intelligible whisper. But the significance was there. The contemptment. The hatred. That alone sent chills down her neck.

“Well. That’s a lie, I guess. I’ll accept all your coin now.”

He walked over to her, eyes dripping with spite as he pulled a pair of blue gloves from his cloak.

She nodded. Wait what.

Amora dove, instantly springing from both feet. She grabbed the spear mid-landing, gritting her teeth as her ankle buckled. Her body begged her to stop, but she threw herself forward once more, thrusting her spear outward as the man fiddled with his gloves.

He blinked down at the sudden spear pointed to his belly. Second glove half on.

And frowned.

“Err. You’re holding that backwards.”

She cursed quietly, flipping the stick over so that the sharp end was actually pointing the right way. The man looked up at Amora's face. At her expression- tight and panicked. Almost animalistic. His eyes flicked down at her stained clothes. At her red and inflamed arm. And sighed as spite curled back and his expression softened.

“Though up-close you look… rough. Perhaps your need for coin is more pressing than mine.”

Was that an insult? Amora frowned, but kept her spear steady. She hadn’t given much thought to what she looked like until now. Afterall, she hadn't needed to.

She thought she was alone.

Amora suddenly realized the state of her clothes, smeared with blood and mud. She had to look like a crazy person. And if memory served her, she had never taken a bath. Ever. But then again who could rely on memory.

Though- it still felt like an insult.

Amora narrowed her eyes and jerked her spear forward. The man yelped, jumping backward with a smirk.

“Sharp-”

“Who are you!?”

Amora poked the tip of the spear into his shirt. The man looked down dumbly, and put his hands up in surrender.

“Answer me now or I’ll poke you.”

“Poke me?”

He eyed her for a second and coughed, putting his hands down and slipping off his glove.

“Okay okay alright. How about we make a trade? I’ll give you a bit of copper for the misunderstanding, and for a bit of your score. And you put your stick away.”

“It’s not really a misunderstanding when you announce you’re robbing me.”

He shrugged.

“Think what you want.”

Amora flinched as he reached into his cloak. But he tossed 4 small round copper coins at her before she could react. Landing in a perfect stack on the log beside them.

“How’d yo- what?!”

He winked, smiling as she stared down at the coins.

“Neat trick huh?”

He pushed the spear to the side casually and took a long step back.

“Ooh that's better. Now. I’m starving. Haven’t eaten all day. Can I have a piece?”

He gestured with his gloved hand, pointing at the snake skewers by the fire. And flashed a quick smile again, as he shoved his second glove back into his cloak.

Amora blinked at his insouciance. This sudden 180, before narrowing her eyes.

“Not gonna just steal my food?”

He shook his head indignantly, almost shocked by her question.

“What do you take me for? Some kind of brute?! I couldn’t very well steal a starving lady’s meal, now could I?”

He walked closer, stopping at the opposite end of the log, still in the heat of the fire.

“Even if you’re a human.”

“But you were fine with taking my money?”

He shrugged, wiping away moss from the log with his ungloved hand.

“Morals are weird like that aren’t they?”

He swung his cloak back smoothly as he took a seat, grimacing slightly as he sat partly on wet moss. Slowly, he looked up and put on another strained smile as he pointed at the skewers.

“And you seem like you’re an interesting person.”

Amora looked at him, spear still in hand. Something was definitely off. What he was saying didn't match at all and he clearly wasn't taking her seriously. And not just that but also how he was acting. It all just felt- disingenuous.

He sighed as he saw her staring, skepticism plain to see.

“Look. I'm sorry, okay. Just let me just eat something and then I promise I'll be on my way.”

She stared down at his clothes. Eyes lingering on the red stains on his cloak. There was no way she could trust him. He looked up and fluttered his eyes innocently.

Yep, there was definitely no way she could trust him.

Amora stood there for a moment and sighed. This was getting nowhere. She walked over, spear still in hand, and cautiously handed him a skewer. He accepted it with two hands, bowing graciously before biting deep.

He didn’t seem to mind the taste. In fact, he practically inhaled the meat off the stick. Not a minute after, he’d finished his skewer, setting the stick neatly beside him. Amora got up and handed him another, which he accepted again, nibbling at it slowly this time.

“I’m surprised you killed one of these snakes. A Bruised Viper. They’re venomous you know? One bite and you’re done for.”

She nodded, and looked down. It was probably a compliment but she instantly felt sad.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Bruised Viper? That's horrible. What a horrible name.”

He smirked.

“Funny right? Because it’s purple and red. Though it looks like yours was a bit more red.”

He looked to the head behind her and the pool of blood around it. And Amora just bit her lip, managing a sad smile.

The man's eyes narrowed as he watched her expression change but he decided not to comment. Instead, he changed the subject.

“You know it’s not often you see people around here. Let alone a human. I don’t suppose you’ve visited the city?”

He looked up, rolling his finished stick off the log and onto the ground.

“Yeah. I met the locals. They don’t like me very much.”

He nodded understandably.

“Where are you from? How did you end up here?”

“I… I’m not sure I can't remember.”

Amora bit her lip again, and fidgeted with her hair, rolling a brown lock between two fingers.

“You can't remember where you're from or how you ended up here?”

“Both. Yeah, um. I have no memory of anything before a few days ago. I just remember being thrown into a cell.”

He paused, mid-bite and leaned forward on the log.

“Huh. So you don't know anything. Do you even know where here is?”

Amora thought for a second and shook her head sullenly.

He studied her for a moment, and then burst out laughing. Really laughing. He sat back and guffawed loudly, slapping his leg and swinging his skewer wildly.

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's just too strange. Your situation. It's hilarious.”

Amora grumbled, taking a bite of her own skewer angrily.

“It’s not hilarious to me.”

He wiped his eyes and smiled back at her.

“Yeah sorry about that.”

There was a pause in the conversation as they both continued eating. Until he tried to fill the silence.

“What is your name? Unless you’ve forgotten that too?”

Amora bit her lip.

“No, I-I remember. It’s Amora. It's the only thing I remember.”

“Amora? Hmm well it’s a pleasure to meet you miss Amora. My name’s Lokt.”

He bowed his head, flicking his gloved hand upwards.

She didn't know exactly what kind of gesture that was, so she just returned a smile.

“Nice to meet you too Lokt.”

Lokt edged forward, his expression turning serious.

“So, now that we are acquainted. Tell me, what type of Bounties have you got? Something to help you fend off snakes I’m sure?”

Bounties?

“Erm, I don't think I have any.”

Lokt closed his eyes and chuckled softly.

“I'm afraid that’s quite impossible. Everyone has them.”

Amora shrugged.

“Well, that's what… um what was his name again? Aiken? Yeah. That's what Aiken said.”

Amora saw Lokt twitch at the name.

“Do you know him? He sort of looks like you.”

“We’ve-crossed paths before. And if he said so…Hmm no Bounties, that is quite intriguing. I haven't heard of anyone without Bounties before.”

Are Bounties something important?

Amora looked at Lokt, as he fiddled with the gold rim of his glove. They looked clean. And expensive. Really the only clean thing he was wearing. He held it gently and with care, even as he pulled it up absentmindedly. The blue fabric stretching halfway up his forearm.

“You must be hard pressed surviving in a place like this with no Bounties to help.”

Amora threw her finished skewer behind her, ignoring the moss as she sat further back.

“Well, I did almost die twice- no three times actually.”

He looked skeptical and took another bite of the snake.

“What are Bounties anyway?”

He frowned at the question. Searching her eyes for something and grunted.

“I find it hard to believe that is something that you just forget.”

Amora shrugged again.

“Can you explain it to me? Are they important?”

He thought for a moment and then smiled devilishly.

“Alright. I'll explain it to you. If you’ll forgive me for my past transgression.”

Amora perked up, nodding as she leaned forward curiously.

“Okay then. Alright. Hmm, where to start, where to start. Ahh yes.”

He coughed dramatically, and spoke in a deep voice.

“Bounties are a part of you. Like an extension of yourself. They form your identity.”

Lokt paused.

“Or become your identity?”

“Or add onto it?”

He frowned at himself and shrugged, continuing.

“Probably all three. They can help you do great things. Achieve things you wouldn't normally be able to. Like speak to animals.”

“So it's like magic?”

Lokt raised his finger, interrupting her as he continued.

“You get your first one as a child, usually it's quite a boring one. Most of the time it’s useless. Nothing much to be too thrilled about.”

He waved it away and then sat forward, grinning from ear to ear.

“But the second one. Ooo those can be incredible. I saw a man once fly. He shot right up into the sky like a bird. And this girl- she claimed she could talk to water! Turned out she was lying but there was a moment there. A moment where I-”

He caught himself and looked back at Amora, as she stared at him, head in her hands and wide- eyed.

“Bounties can be extraordinary. Unique. And you can find true excitement discovering the things people can do with them. It's… True magic.”

Amora held her breath.

Magic.

“Where does it come from? The Bounties?”

Lokt frowned, his expression clearly stating Amora was focusing on the wrong thing.

“I haven't really thought much about it myself. Some believe its destiny. Or fate. Others believe it’s the mana or energy that you subconsciously shape to ease your burdens or help achieve your goals.”

“What do you believe?”

“Hmph neither. Destiny and Fate only exist for heroes. Not everyone can lead a life like that. And mana granting your wishes?”

He stuck his tongue out and pretended to barf.

“Personally I don't see why people bother thinking too much into it. I mean, it’s just a fact of the world. It just- is.”

He made a motion with his hands, gesturing to the world around him.

Amore gulped. It just is.

That couldn't be the explanation. It had to be more than that. It just didn't make sense.

Amora eyed Lokt as he nodded to himself, his self-satisfied smug plain to see. As if that simply explained everything perfectly. She coughed awkwardly.

One thing was certain. Lokt was a terrible explainer.

“You’re gonna have to give me more than that. I mean I don't even know what mana is.”

He shrugged, throwing the last skewer onto the ground.

“Mana is energy. If you need more than that- well, I'm not some egghead mage or some expert in the ways of the world. Nor do I claim to be. I'm a simple man and the origins of Bounties do not interest me in the slightest. But the unique ones? Those special few and how they choose to use them? Now that’s interesting.”

Amora frowned. Well, that's not very helpful.

“Does everyone get one?”

“Mhmm, when you're a child, once your natural mana reaches a certain level, you receive your first Bounty.”

“So why don’t I have one?”

Amora kicked the ground, battering away a foaming bitterness. Just another thing she didn’t have.

Another thing she might have lost.

He looked at her morose expression and smoothed back black hair.

“Well there is always the chance Aiken was wrong. I wouldn’t put it past him to make a mistake like that. Maybe you do and you just forgot about it with your memory loss”

Amora perked up.

“Really? How would I tell?”

He thought for a second.

“You should be able to. It’s a part of you. Just something that's there. If you just think hard.”

He looked up into the canopy above as sunlight began to dim. And his expression began to darken.

“Anyways I best be off, as I promised.”

Amora bit her lip. She wanted to know more.

“My work beckons.”

“Gonna try and rob someone else?”

He grinned, hopping off the log.

“No, that's more of a hobby.”

He stood straight, pulling his hood over his head as he spoke.

“I think I’m- Yes, I’m an archer for hire.”

He chuckled to himself and bowed gracefully, sweeping his cloak behind him as Amora frowned.

“Archer? Where's your bow?”

He blushed, straightening his cloak and turned around.

“I lost it.”

---

Bounties. What a strange word. Like a bounty. Or is it because it's so bountiful? A gift to people.

A gift of what exactly? Lokt hadn't explained it very well. It sounded like it was random. Some kind of magic you learn? Or just have?

So strange.

She’d have to get him to explain it better next time.

If there was a next time.

Amora left sometime after the fire died out. She walked back toward the stream, still smiling, spear and rock in hand. It was nice to meet someone. To talk. She hoped they’d meet again.

“Just think. Really hard- like he said.”

She closed her eyes, furrowing her brow as she concentrated.

Nothing.

“Gahh!”

Frustration bubbling physically, she stabbed her spear into the dirt. Still nothing? She’d been trying for at least an hour now.

“Maybe I just don’t have any Bounties after all?”

She looked forward, and wondered what it would be if she had one.

With luck it’d be something to help her fish.

Amora stared back out to the rushing water, and the silver bodies that zipped around. Slowly, she bent over the stream, dipping a hand carefully in the water. Immediately, a flurry of silver fish swarmed toward her. Bubbling near the surface. Their jaws wide. She pulled her hand back instantly as they drew close.

“Stupid little fish.”

She sat crossed legged on the riverbank, head resting against her good hand.

Now how should she do this? She wanted to use the water but it was impossible if the fish raced to her every time.

She sat there with her brows furrowed, submerged in thought.

Let’s break it down. Why are the fish swarming? What do they want?

Maybe they’re friendly?

“Not with those teeth.”

No, they were hungry. She looked back to the bodies floating near the surface, staring at her.

They were definitely hungry for her.

Wait.

She got up, brushing dirt off her pants.

She had an idea - though she didn’t relish in the thought of it.

Amora left the stream, leaving her stick and stone, walking back the way she came.

She emerged back, disgust smeared across her face and she held something in both hands. Amora gagged, holding them with her arms outstretched as far as she could. As far from her body as she could.

She stepped over the stream, holding both the head and tail of the snake. She held them over the surface of the water and watched as the fish swarmed.

It was cold and it was nearing night. But she had the power of fire now. Even still, Amora decided against getting her clothes wet. It would probably take too long to dry. And she didn’t relish the thought of wandering around naked like some kind of streaker.

Amora experimented first, throwing the tail into the far end of the stream. She watched from the safety of the riverbank as all the silver bodies gathered onto that side. They bit into the dead flesh and red puffs of blood plumed under water as they ate.

“Wonder how much time that bought me?”

Amora tested with her foot. As she hesitantly dipped it into the water. She tried not to squirm as cold shot up her leg. Eyes darting warily to the cloud of red. Slowly, she let out a sigh of relief as nothing swam toward her.

“Okay nothing biting me. That’s a good sign.”

Amora set her clothes aside and tossed the snake head next, landing with a huge splash of red near the tail. The fish welcomed the new piece, thrashing about it wildly. She nodded at the morbid scene and slid into the stream.

Freezing cold strangely refreshing.

Amora kept her eyes on the fish as she sat on the riverbed, teeth chattering. She leant backwards, fighting against the pressure of rushing water. The water was deep enough to reach her neck and a well-placed foothold stopped her from floating away- into the swarm of fish.

That wouldn't be a pretty sight.

Amora submerged her head and looked around the basin. She could see clearly underwater and it seemed calmer. A kind of peaceful slowness. She turned, and watched as silver scales reflected the light in a red tinge. She resurfaced and splashed more water onto her face. Amora felt better now. Lighter. She rose out of the stream, combing her wet hair with her fingertips. It was still grimy but it was definitely cleaner than before.

She collected her clothes, shivering and looked up at the waning sun. The faint warmth of orange, a warning to her.

“Sleep time.”

Amora remembered what happened last time and decided she was unequivocally against sleeping in trees. She looked past those giant plants of deception and she used her shirt to dry off. It felt counterintuitive to dry herself with dirty clothes but it was all she could use.

Grimacing, she pulled on the now damp clothes and trudged onward.

She had a plan for the night.

Amora walked back to the fire tree, bundle of sticks in hand. It had taken her a few trips back and forth to find all the dry wood. And an extra one to bring back Sharp Stone and Big Stick (which is what she was calling them now), both of which were propped against the white oak.

She wasn’t going to be sleeping cold tonight.

It took Amora a while to get the fire going. Mainly because she realized, she’d have to build a stone parameter to keep the fire controlled.

“Although wet dirt and patchy grass isn’t very flammable.”

Amora blinked at herself.

That was the thing about her memory. It seemed so selective. Or rather, was that even memory? What was the difference between memory and knowledge? How could she remember certain things like the color of fruit or how fire worked. Simple things. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she still couldn’t remember anything past two nights ago. It was like nothing existed before that night. Like she didn’t exist before then.

She shivered and sat closer to the fire, warmth of the white oak behind her.

“I hope nothing eats me in my sleep.”

She regretted it the moment she said it. But-

“Voicing your fears is probably healthy right?”

Left with that pleasant thought, she closed her eyes.

And dreamt of flowers.

.

.

.

Under blackened sky, some distance away from the white oak.

A tree fell, slamming onto the snow ground below. A thundering shout- unnoticed in the dead of night.

It opened. Split in half, each segment rolling onto its side.

Small tendrils of brown shot out from one half the fallen trunk, curling over around the sides as it slammed onto white ground.

A spider.

It unfurled itself carefully, hoisting its giant swollen body up out of the hollow trunk. It turned and shook its head, jaw swinging as it hung vertically under the front of a hairy carapace. The spider's legs stretched out impossibly far as it began to creep forward, each motion deliberate and painfully slow as it looked up. Eight black eyes reflecting the light of the moon and stars.

It opened its large maw, forcing its pincer-like fangs together with a snapping sound.

They creaked, buckling in resistance as it bent unnaturally-

Into a smile.

Just in time.