The forest remained unnervingly quiet as the night deepened. Sigrid stood by the edge of the camp, her sharp eyes scanning the tree line. Nessa sat near the fire, her hands absently tracing patterns in the dirt, though her gaze was distant, fixed on the ominous shadows surrounding them. Kaelen was crouched a few paces from the campfire, sharpening his blade with slow, deliberate strokes. The sound of steel against stone echoed faintly in the stillness, a steady reminder that they were prepared for whatever was out there.

Kaelen broke the silence. "Who wants to bet whatever's watching us is just trying to figure out if we taste good?"

Sigrid glanced at him but said nothing. Nessa sighed, shaking her head. "Even in tense moments, you can’t help yourself, can you?"

He smirked without looking up. "Keeps the fear at bay. You should try it sometime."

Nessa didn’t respond, but the corner of her mouth twitched, almost imperceptibly. Sigrid, however, was less amused. "Fear keeps you sharp," she said curtly, her tone clipped. "You’d do well to embrace it, not joke it away."

Kaelen stopped sharpening his blade and turned to her, his expression shifting to something more serious. "Fear also gets you killed if you let it control you. I’ve seen plenty of people freeze up because they were too scared to think straight. That’s when you die. Not me. I laugh at it. Keeps me moving."

Sigrid held his gaze for a moment before turning away. "Not everyone laughs their way through life, Kaelen."

The tension in her voice was subtle, but it didn’t escape him. He studied her for a moment, but he let it drop. He knew better than to pry when it came to Sigrid. She’d share when she was ready—if she ever was.

Suddenly, Nessa stiffened, her hand darting toward her spell pouch. "Something's moving," she whispered.

Kaelen and Sigrid were on their feet in an instant, their weapons drawn. Kaelen’s grip on his blade was firm, his senses sharpening as he scanned the dark forest. Sigrid held her dual daggers in a low, ready stance, her body coiled like a spring. Nessa muttered an incantation under her breath, and a faint, shimmering barrier formed around her. The air grew heavier, charged with anticipation.

The first sound was a rustle, faint but deliberate. Then came the crack of a branch, followed by the unmistakable sound of something large breathing. The shadows at the edge of the clearing shifted, and two glowing eyes appeared, reflecting the faint light of the campfire.

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Kaelen’s voice was calm but firm. "Stay sharp. It’s testing us."

The creature stepped into the light, and its grotesque form became clear. It stood on four legs, its body covered in matted fur that reeked of decay. Its elongated face bore rows of jagged teeth, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent intelligence. Its movements were deliberate, almost predatory, as it circled the edge of the clearing.

Sigrid’s eyes narrowed. "What is that thing?"

Kaelen tilted his head slightly, his expression grim. "That’s a Fenwraith. They don’t just wander around for fun. It’s here for something—or someone."

Nessa’s barrier shimmered faintly as she adjusted its strength. "If it’s a Fenwraith, it won’t go down easily. They’re resistant to most weapons."

Kaelen grinned, his usual cockiness creeping back. "Good thing I don’t use 'most weapons.'"

The Fenwraith let out a low growl, a guttural sound that sent a shiver down their spines. It lunged suddenly, its speed defying its size. Kaelen moved first, intercepting its charge with a powerful swing of his blade. The strike connected, and the creature recoiled, black ichor dripping from the wound. But it wasn’t enough to slow it.

Sigrid darted in from the side, her daggers flashing as she aimed for the creature’s flank. Her strikes were precise, but the Fenwraith’s thick hide absorbed most of the damage. It swung its massive claw at her, forcing her to leap back.

"Not as easy as it looks, huh?" Kaelen quipped, parrying another attack.

Sigrid shot him a glare. "Less talking, more killing."

Nessa, meanwhile, had positioned herself a safe distance away, her hands glowing with magical energy. She murmured another incantation, and a bolt of pale blue energy shot toward the creature, striking it in the chest. The Fenwraith howled in pain, its movements faltering for a moment.

Kaelen took advantage of the opening, driving his blade deep into the creature’s side. But instead of collapsing, the Fenwraith roared and lashed out with its claws, catching him across the shoulder. The impact sent him sprawling, his weapon clattering to the ground.

"Kaelen!" Sigrid called out, her voice sharp with urgency. She moved to cover him, her daggers spinning in a blur as she faced the creature head-on.

Kaelen pushed himself to his feet, blood dripping from the gash in his shoulder. His eyes narrowed, and his demeanor shifted. He muttered something under his breath, and a faint glow began to emanate from his hands.

Nessa noticed the change immediately. "What are you doing?"

Kaelen didn’t answer. Instead, he raised his hand, and the glow intensified. His injured shoulder began to heal before their eyes, the torn flesh knitting itself back together. The glow then moved to his blade as he retrieved it, the weapon now pulsing with the same energy.

Sigrid and Nessa stared in disbelief as Kaelen stepped forward, his movements more deliberate, more confident. The Fenwraith hesitated, its predatory instincts sensing the shift in power.

Kaelen’s voice was low but steady as he addressed the creature. "You should’ve stayed in the shadows."

With a single, decisive strike, Kaelen’s blade cleaved through the Fenwraith’s neck. The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, its lifeless body twitching as black ichor pooled beneath it.

The clearing fell silent once more, the oppressive tension lifting. Kaelen exhaled slowly, the glow around him fading. He turned to face the others, his expression unreadable.

Nessa was the first to speak. "That... wasn’t normal. What was that?"

Kaelen sheathed his blade, avoiding her gaze. "Just something I picked up along the way."

Sigrid crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Care to elaborate?"

Kaelen smirked, though it lacked his usual humor. "Not really."

Sigrid huffed, but she didn’t press further. Nessa, however, looked less satisfied. But for now, she let it go.

"Let’s move," Kaelen said, his tone brooking no argument. "This place isn’t safe anymore."

As they packed up camp and prepared to leave, an unspoken tension lingered between them. Secrets had been revealed, but trust was still a fragile thing—and in their world, fragility could be fatal.