The trees grew sparser as Dariel led KiAera through the smoldering remnants of the forest. The Ilosphat lay defeated, but KiAera couldn't shake the surreal encounter from her mind. Dariel, a Bilpefur, had fought with an intensity she hadn't expected, his power far beyond the meek facade he'd worn earlier. And now, here they were, heading towards his camp—something she hadn't envisioned when she first saw him.

"Watch your step," Dariel said, glancing back. "The terrain gets tricky around here."

KiAera snorted quietly but obliged, her retractable ears twitching as the sounds of the burning forest slowly faded. Dariel moved ahead confidently, his thick fur and casual manner a stark contrast to her jittery, survival-honed instincts.

Finally, they reached a small clearing, where Dariel's so-called camp stood. It wasn't much—just a few makeshift shelters constructed from salvaged materials and dried foliage, surrounded by a crude stone circle that served as a fire pit. A small flicker of light burned weakly, the scent of charred wood clinging to the air.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Dariel said with a smirk. "It's not much, but it keeps us safe."

KiAera scanned the area, still feeling a little alert. Then she noticed a shape near the fire—a creature with sleek silver fur that almost glowed in the dim light. It looked like a fox, but there was something off, something eerie, like it was balancing light and shadow in its very existence.

The Yitxune.

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

Creature: Yitxune

APeX: [244 Units]

Attributes: [Celestial]

Faction: [Predator]

Variant Grade: [Rare]

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]

꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱

KiAera felt an immediate shift in the atmosphere. In the shadows, the fox's fur rippled with a strange energy. Its two-toned eyes opened slowly, one glowing faintly silver, the other dark as night, fixing on KiAera with thinly veiled displeasure.

"Rina," Dariel said softly, walking toward her with an easy familiarity. The Yitxune—Rina—lifted her head, and her expression softened the moment she saw him.

"You're late," she murmured in a tone that carried a distinct edge. The tone wasn't one of anger but more of an unspoken claim, as though his tardiness was an inconvenience only she should address.

"I ran into some trouble," Dariel replied, gesturing vaguely to KiAera. "This is KiAera. She helped out with the Ilosphat."

Rina's gaze flicked back to KiAera, her glow dimming slightly as her eyes narrowed. The air around them seemed to hum with tension, the Yitxune's energy coiling around her like a protective shield. She rose to her feet in one smooth motion, her fur rippling with each step as she moved closer to Dariel, subtly positioning herself between him and KiAera.

"A Merekit?" Rina’s voice was even, but the disdain was unmistakable. "How quaint."

KiAera raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "A Yitxune, huh? Never seen one of those before. Guess there's a first for everything."

Dariel, sensing the tension, quickly interjected. "KiAera's new here, like me. We're both just trying to figure this place out."

Rina's eyes never left KiAera, though her posture relaxed slightly as she pressed closer to Dariel, as though drawing strength from his presence. "I've been teaching him how to survive in Zelzon," she said, her voice dripping with subtle pride. "He doesn’t need anyone else."

Dariel grimaced yet chuckled, sidestepping Rina.

KiAera smirked, though she felt the weight of Rina’s energy pressing down on her like a lead blanket. "Funny. I'm not here for him. We just crossed paths."

Rina's expression remained unreadable, her energies swirling with quiet intensity—positive and negative forces intertwining in the air. "I see." There was a pause, then she added, "Just don't forget your place, Merekit. This world doesn't care for tagalongs."

KiAera's ears twitched, half-retracting as she suppressed the urge to snap back. She wasn't about to let a fledgling monster fox dictate terms to her. Not after everything she'd survived.

Dariel, oblivious to the silent battle between them, simply sighed. "Let's all just calm down. We're in this strange world together, and the more allies we have, the better, right?"

KiAera gave a small shrug, but Rina remained quiet, her eyes lingering on KiAera a moment longer before she finally stepped back. "For now," she muttered under her breath, settling down near the fire once again.

Dariel, rubbing the back of his neck, smiled awkwardly. "So… anyone hungry?"