The trio would have made it to Banburn late at night the day before. However, Doco had commandeered the small group to make camp a handful of miles from the battle with the bear. Kenan and Jorun were somewhat disappointed and annoyed, their excitement and nerves aggravated their minds. To the point the imagery of guards opening large gates to them was the only thing they could coherently think about. The bard stewed in irritation till he went to sleep. Noctis, on the other hand, saw wisdom in his uncle's actions and was ultimately thankful.

In the forefront, Kenan was deadbeat tired. Killing the bear took a chunk of qi and a lot more mana than he bargained for. He needed to take the remaining daylight to build his reserves back up and the night for his body to reset. Thankfully, besides for a few bruises here and there, Noctis was completely fine physically. Hidden in Jorun’s and Kenan's naivety were some of the problems of arriving at night, and some of its implications. First off, some towns didn’t allow strangers to enter the premises after the sun had set. Even if they did, the group wouldn't look too great in terms of suspicion. That coupled with Kenan's appearances and odd aurora made it worse. Lastly, they knew the threat in this area was taken care of. Noctis knew trouble would come from his fellow humans, either be at Banburn, or sometime later. It didn’t matter, but to his guesses, it would be easier to deal with those threats during the day.

Noctis didn’t remember when he went to sleep, or how. Exhaustion grappled and fed on his brain until he slid his eyes into darkness. He started to generate proper thoughts some time later when he felt someone lightly kick his side. “Get up. Stretch, then ready Jefned.” Kenan heard Doco say. “We are leaving as soon as breakfast is inside of us.”

Kenan groaned. He was kicked again. He sat up and shielded his unaccustomed eyes from the sun. He forced Dion in his misery as he shook the dirus awake. Dion growled to the point of showing teeth. Noctis got the sudden instinct to reciprocate.

“You slept like the dead.” Jorun said. He already had Giz proper and was starting to take out his food. Doco laughed at the comment. Noctis gave a hard stare at his uncle. The bard rapidly switched his gaze between the two. “Did I miss something?”

***

A smell sat in the air. It was rotten. Similar to the bear, but different. To Noctis, it was a stagnant scent. Waiting for a strong wind to take it away and disperse it. That wasn’t the only one, blood and death interconnected. The three weaving to form a sense of dread.

“Wait, so you're telling me that you have no heartbeat?” Jorun asked.

“Nevermind that.” Noctis said. Using some force behind his words. Signaling his seriousness. “Uncle, something is off.”

“Not this again.” Jorun put in his words.

“No, not like that. We are dealing with the aftermath. I think.” Kenan looked at Dion. Through the connection the dirus concurred. “We should still be on edge.”

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“Don’t get off your horse this time.” Doco said. Jefned neighed in agreement. “You take the lead.” He pulled back and let Noctis take the front.

Miles passed. The smells became more pungent. Noctis was halfway tempted to wrap his nose shut. The only thing that gave him comfort from the smell was Dion’s reassurances that whatever threat there was, passed. The horses non verbally agreed. Kenan started to suspect them for having foreseeing abilities, or maybe they were omnipotent or saw the strings of the fates. Whatever the cause, they always knew when it was unsafe. Always.

Eventually, the trees broke. Leaving way to an opening, and in that glade, a town. It might have been a prosperous burg. Now, in it’s horrid state, it was anything but. It’s stone walls looked to be functioning, but were very obviously attacked. Shriveled vines tried to climb their way upwards, some even reaching that top. It’s gate was cracked and somewhat open. The weald was scorched with fire, ice, earth, and a plethora of other different magics and elements. Bodies laid strewn everywhere. A multitude of humans, and a lot more creatures and monsters. Each animal had blackened vines laying on top of them and they were mangled beyond recognition. Red and green blood soaked the ground.

“By the gods.” Jorun whispered.

Noctis spurred his horse forward. The steeds had to dance their way between the corpses. He had to forcefully cut off his olfactory system for fear the smell would completely overwhelm him. As the trio got closer, they saw people coming and going from the battlefield. As they got even closer, they saw the people were carrying bodies back and forth. Some alive, most dead.

Noctis’ ear twitched. He swiveled his head, and then jumped off Jefned. “Kenan!” Doco exclaimed. It didn’t matter as Noctis sped to a sprint. He slid on both knees and came to a skidding stop at a large, dead bison. He saw a man laying underneath. Most of his body was covered by the beast’s mass, other than his head and an arm.

“H… H…Hel..” The man tried.

Kenan understood. He gripped the dead beast and lifted. It budged some. Not nearly enough. Slowly he set it back down. Noctis spun while turning his vambrace completely off. Crouching, he leaned on the corpse and pushed upward. It moved slowly. The muscles in his legs started to rip under the pressure. He yelled under the strain. Pain pulsed from his back, but he continued to push on as he sacrificed some qi.

“Oi’! Someone is stuck under that, help him!” Noctis heard. He was too preoccupied to see or comprehend who it was. It didn’t matter. Suddenly the massive strain lessened. The corpse’s center of gravity changed. Kenan and whoever was helping gave one last shove. At last the bison tipped over.

“Shite..” Someone said, The man beneath did not look too good. He had large lacerations all over his body coupled with too many stab wounds to count. His limbs were broken, twisted and mangled. Blood covered the man, some green, much more red.

As swiftly as he could, but carefully. Kenan sat on his knees, lifted the man's head onto his lap. In his hands was his sword. Noctis took it, placed it over the man's chest and crossed his arms over it. “I-I… don… want… die.” He delved into a fit of bloody coughing. He knew, Kenan knew, the helpers knew too.

“What's your mothers name warrior?” Noctis asked. In the belt of the man, was a dagger. Slowly Kenan slipped it out and brought it up. It was going to be slow and awful if he didn’t help.

“Ari… she.” He started to see something past Noctis. “She would make… make… make.. These pies. I would smell them… I would come running.” Kenan angled the dagger and readied himself. “I miss… her.. So much.” With an easy but quick pace Noctis pushed. The man gasped, as he exhaled the life in his eyes left. Kenan shut his eyelids.