††† Sally †††

Sally roamed a random path, deeply buried in her thoughts. Relief and anxiousness battled for predominance like a chaotic storm, sweeping through her confused mind. She was free. And with The Healer’s offer, she even had a chance to survive now that Damon was dead. She’d long resigned herself to the fact that she would only escape in death. Her sudden freedom was exhilarating as it was frightening, the future unsure and out of the familiar confines.

A twig snapping behind her startled Sally out of her reverie. The Healer, Ryden, walked towards her with a placating smile. “I’m sorry for Sieg’s behaviour,” the handsome young man apologised. “I’ve had word with him, and while his temper is quick to rise, he isn’t a bad man. He will come around.”

“It’s okay, I understand.” Sally averted her eyes. “Even if spoken in anger, his words were not wrong. I’m sure he has just cause to hate those wearing the red mantle.” She forestalled Ryden’s reply with a raised hand. “I’m not saying I deserve all of it, just that I understand it. I know what I had to do and why… and if your offer is still open, I would gladly accept.”

“So you’ll come with us?” His smile warmed Sally’s heart. “Awesome! Then let’s go back to the others. You still have to meet Haylee, and I’d like to leave this area as soon as possible.”

Sally took a deep breath, steeling herself for the confrontation to come. If she wanted to have a chance at surviving, she’d have to make this work. She would make this work.

A few minutes later, her conviction wavered slightly when there were not one but two pairs of eyes scrutinising her. Siegfried's ominous, odd-coloured gaze alone was heavy enough. Now, there was another glare full of enmity directed at her. And being a feline hybrid, the girl had likely suffered even worse under the Red Brigade.

For a tense moment, everyone just stared at each other. Until Ryden stepped in front, wearing a slightly nervous smile.

"Sally, this is Haylee," he introduced the cat-girl.

"Uhm, nice to meet you," Sally went first, unable to hide the nervousness in her voice.

Haylee closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Hi, Sally. Sieg told me what happened after I was knocked out," she explained calmly. "Thanks for saving our lives."

"You're very welcome," Sally responded, relieved. Although the cat-girl seemed apprehensive, her words felt honest. "I have to admit that I never felt so free in my life. Even if that life might be short now, I don't regret it," Sally spoke her mind honestly in turn.

She fought to keep her posture relaxed when Siegfried walked up to her. The man she was tasked to hunt had a tremendous presence, and it took all her willpower to not take a step back. It was difficult to judge his age, for while his face spoke of youth, his bearing displayed the hardened soul of a warrior forged by even harder times.

"I apologise for my earlier outburst," the warrior said and bowed his head slightly.

For a moment, Sally forgot to breathe. She realised she stood with her mouth agape when Haylee snorted, and even Siegfried had to chuckle lightly.

"Yes, I'm not above admitting my fault," he joked with a small smile staying on his lips. "I've had a lot of pent-up frustrations with the Red Brigade and no outlet. You didn't deserve to be that outlet, and for that, I apologise." He looked at his sword hand, closing it into a fist. “We gave everything but would have lost if it weren’t for your intervention.”

“It was amazing you managed to push Damon that far, forcing him into a situation I could exploit,” Sally answered, her brow knitting together at the memory. “I wouldn’t have been able to help you if he wasn’t fully distracted.”

“Are you not a second-class enforcer like he was?”

“There is no second-class enforcer like him anymore.” As only confusion showed on the faces before her, Sally elaborated. “Damon was a Pride. I don’t know the secret behind their legacy, but all members of the Pride Family have inhuman senses and reflexes, making them far more dangerous with Akali’s gift than any other enforcer. He was the youngest, and his peers are all first-class.”

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She registered shock in Siegfried’s expression, and Haylee and Ryden threw him speculative glances. She didn’t know what to make of it and didn’t dare to ask.

“How many first-class enforcers are there anyway?” Haylee broke the silence. “I’ve never seen a single one in the city.”

“There are no more than ten first-class enforcers at any given time… currently 8 of them are Prides.”

“And one of them is hunting us?” Ryden asked, agitated.

“No. My… former squad leader, Jenna, is among the other two first-class. That doesn’t make her less dangerous to us, though. Her tactical mind and ruthless efficiency allowed her to take a spot at the top. There is a reason she was sent to capture you.” Sally let her eyes roam over everyone, though she quickly skipped over Sieg’s gaze, feeling as if those alien orbs could dissect her very being. “Where are we even heading now?”

"A place where this Jenna can not follow, though you might not be thrilled by it either," Ryden replied with a sheepish look at the enforcer. "Keeping both of our goals in mind, as well as the threat of a first-class enforcer—"

"Oh c'mon, Ryden, just spit it out already," Haylee chided. She straightened her posture and observed Sally with daring eyes. "We're heading for Victor's Bounty."

"Victor's Bounty?" Sally parroted, taking a step backwards. "Ryden, this is one of the few places that no enforcer could ever put a foot in!"

"Let me explain, Sally," Ryden interposed quickly, holding up his palms in a placating gesture. "I've never been inside myself, but I know how they operate. Their method of identification is simpler than you might think. To get access, you just have to prove that you're some species of hybrid or an ability holder."

"Well, that makes sense. Alkali's gift is shielding us from those changes," Sally confirmed. "But the same counts for me. I cannot follow you there.”

"I’ve already thought of that," Ryden retook the word. "My plan is for us to pose as a group of three regenerators and a feline humanoid. I just have to touch you anywhere while you cut yourself, and the wound will heal. Sieg and I can heal ourselves."

Ryden's proposal was still risky, but Sally couldn't come up with a better option either. Not with Jenna hunting them. And if it worked out, they would be safe from the Red Brigade and unspectacular enough to not catch the attention of the stronger denizens of the place.

"Fine, I agree this could be a working short-term solution to keep ourselves alive," Sally intoned. "It also has the added benefit that the way there will lead through the territory assigned to Damon. We'll be through before my squad leader knows if we're fast enough. But what will you do afterwards? You mentioned two goals."

"We can fill you in on the way. As you said, we should be quick now," Ryden concluded, and the party set out for a long hike through the forest.

††††††

In the darkness of her damp hideout, a veiled woman settled down on her comfortable mattress. Neither light nor sound reached into the sealed stone chamber. She needed her body to rest safely and her mind to stay free of distraction. Her name was Auris, and as her master's ears, she had been blessed with a unique ability.

Auris welcomed the seclusion and slowly let all thought drain from her.

Soon there was only the black, soundless void that surrounded her. She closed her eyes and focused on that void with every breath, every part of her mind, until it became her world.

When Auris opened her eyes again, she was still inside a void. But unlike the stone chamber, this void was a vast, all-encompassing one. And unlike the air she had breathed back there, it was her master's essence that filled the space around her.

"Oculus, Manus," she breathed into the void. "Siblings of mine. Heed my call, for we need to act now," her silken voice demanded.

And Auris waited. It could have been minutes, hours or even days. Time was impossible to measure in this space. But she had faith in her siblings.

An all too familiar scratchy, low hiss finally answered, "Auris, dear. As always, it is a pleasure to hear you."

"Oculus, welcome." While the cracking voice of her sister instilled fear in others, Auris took solace from it. "You are first to arrive. How long?" she asked.

"A mere fifteen minutes, sister," Oculus assured her. "It is rare for you to risk contacting us through the master's domain."

"You made haste, good. Manus should follow soon."

"I am already here," a hoarse but strong baritone replied. "What emergency requires us to meet in the void, Auris?" Manus asked harshly.

"Mind your tone, Manus," Oculus snarled.

"Enough, you two," Auris commanded. "I found that the devourer nearly perished today — by the hand of those red pests, no less!" her tone rose just a pitch.

"I've set Jenna on a false trail," Manus justified his actions. "I even sent my student to him early, as requested, and ensured they crossed paths. If the boy can't even take care of one —"

"If the boy dies, it will hinder our master’s work," Auris intermitted with finality. "It was not just any second-class enforcer either, Manus. Your information was lacking," she chided. "One of them was a Pride. It was by pure luck that the other woman decided to desert with your pet student. Now they chose to hide under Victor's eyes."

Oculus cursed silently. "He is not ready. We can't let him develop on his own anymore now," she growled.

"No, we can not," Auris confirmed. "Manus, you will venture into Victor's den and intervene. Force the development forward until he can stand on his own."

"Be careful, Manus," Oculus added. "He still remembers his time in my care. If you overdo it, he will take irreparable damage."

"I'm not as crude as you in my methods, Oculus," Manus snarked. "You stay in the city, and I will teach the devourer now."

When he opened his eyes, Manus was in the world of the living once more. With silent acceptance, he donned his wooden mask and headed for Victor's bounty.