Fyga was sitting on a rock.

It’d taken me almost an hour to track her down. I did a diagonal zig-zag pattern as I headed towards the coast. It would have been faster if I’d just headed straight that way, but I hadn’t known that was where she’d be, so I’d made sure to sweep the area so I didn’t have to double back.

The short woman was staring out at the sea. She looked oblivious to what was happening around her, but she spoke as I approached without turning to face me.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

“I guess.” I didn’t understand what was pretty about it. The sky was slightly overcast, so while it was light, there wasn’t a lot getting through. The air was just starting to get cold and the dark waves were choppy at the moment. If anything, it looked like a very unpleasant barrier, but I felt like if I said that, we’d get into another fight.

“We really should keep moving.” I walked up beside her. “I know we can feel the Zombies, but if the Touched come through on their own…”

“They won’t mess with the lumberjacks.” Fyga rocked back and forth before standing up. “If they were going to make a move, they would come after me.” She sighed. “To see if I know the recipe to the Bokor killing solution.”

“You mean the cure?” I knew it would be unpleasant fo the Bokor or Touched if they got hit with it, but I didn’t think it would be a good weapon.

“Anything can be turned into a weapon.” The blue-eyed woman flicked her wrist towards the ocean. “You need water to survive, but all it takes is a few inches and you can drown someone.” She waved her hand up at the sky. “You need air to breathe, but get the wind moving fast enough and you’ll suffocate.” Fyga shook her head. “If someone wants to use it, they’ll find a way to weaponize it.”

I nodded though I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to take something that had been created to try to help people and instead use it to cause pain.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“We really need to head back.” I nodded towards the woods. “I know you don’t think they won’t mess with the Humans, but I’d still like to make sure.”

The short woman sighed as she stood us. “There are only two of them and four of us.” Her eyes narrowed. “Where did the blonde one get that sword of hers? I’ve never seen a Bokor blade that color.”

“The Master gave it to her.” I couldn’t tell her I found it in Gher or that the strange, black-eyed man had given it to me. I hoped that explanation would suffice.

“Huh.” Fyga shrugged. “Anyway, with the way that sword cuts through Zombies, the Touched aren’t going to risk coming at us without a horde of their own.” She yawned as she stretched. “We can wear ourselves out walking through the woods, if that’s how you want to spend your afternoons.” She winked at me. “I’ve been on worse dates.”

“I-I-I um…” I didn’t know what to say to that. “This isn’t a date! Why would you think that!”

“Boy, girl.” She motioned between the two of us. “Alone in the woods together.” She smirked. “Wasn’t that what you were thinking when you asked the angry one to pair up with me?”

“That’s not what I was thinking when I said…” The look in her eyes told me that she’d been fishing for information and I’d just given it to her. “Look, we needed someone in each group who could sense Zombies and we don’t trust you to tell Master Val if a group was coming towards her.”

“You don’t trust me?” Fyga batted her eyes as she rubbed her shoulder up against me. Her eyes looked so big and round as she stared up at me.

“No.” That was an easy question. “You’re a hired killer that ran when Zombies were killing people.” I pushed her away from me. “Why should I trust you with Human lives when you’ve already proven you’ll run?”

“How rude.” Her gasp was delayed from what I would have expected for it to be shock.

“The only reason you’re here now is because you know that being with us is the best chance you have of surviving the Touched.” I glared at her. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they attacked and you ran while we were fighting them.”

“I…”

“That’s exactly what she’ll do.” A deep voice behind me cut her off.

I turned around, pulling my sword out as I did. A dark-haired man with shining blue eyes was leaning against a tree. There was a Bokor sword on his hip, though it had a yellow stone in the hilt instead of a purple one.

The Touched had shown himself.