Just then, Nile’s voice broke through the hum of the fire and the rustling trees. “Good job, boy! You did it!” he exclaimed, stepping into the firelight with his trademark grin.
Dom’s head snapped up, relief mingling with the remnants of her lingering tension. Peanut barked in excitement, bounding toward Nile with enough enthusiasm to nearly knock him over.
“Wait, how did you-? Oh, never mind,” Dom said realizing her mistake. Shaking her head -a wave of relief at not being discovered washed over her. “So, just what is it he did exactly, besides scare the hell out of me, that is?”
“He found you,” Nile replied simply, his gaze locking onto hers with a knowing smile.
“Oh.” Dom’s voice softened as her lips curved into a matching smile. She looked down, still battling Peanut’s relentless affection.
Seeing Nile, Peanut switched targets, leaping off Dom and launching himself at Nile just as he made to sit. The impact knocked Nile off balance, sending him sprawling to the ground beside Dom. “Peanut!” Nile groaned, laughing as the dog climbed onto his chest. “You’re going to break my ribs, you lunatic!”
Dom laughed, her amusement bubbling over as Peanut tried to split his attentions equally, jumping back and forth between them. The chaotic energy was a welcome distraction, and Dom used the moment to quickly wipe the ichor from her blade and slip it back into her boot. Her movements were smooth and deliberate, born from years of practice - and necessity.
System Notification: Evidence Concealed
Reward: +5 Subtlety.
Dom’s quick thinking has prevented awkward questions… for now.
She looked up, her eyes alight as she looked at him. “It’s about time, slowpoke!” she teased, grinning as Peanut jumped up on him. “What took you so long?”
Nile shrugged, his grin widening. “Oh, you know. Traffic, weather, and your dog trying to redecorate my van. The usual.”
“Peanut?” Dom laughed, scratching the little dog behind the ears. “He’s practically an angel. You’re the one who needs supervision.”
“Yeah, well, remind me to thank your angel when I’m fixing the claw marks in my door.”
Dom smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Sounds like a you problem, buddy.”
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As Peanut settled happily at Dom’s feet, Nile felt the tension in his shoulders ease. He wasn’t sure what the rest of the night would bring, but for now, he was exactly where he needed to be.
Dom chuckled, her lips curving into a genuine smile for the first time since the encounter. But despite Peanut’s antics and Nile’s easy banter, her gaze kept drifting toward the edge of the firelight. The shadows there felt heavier, darker, as though they carried the weight of the creature’s presence.
Persistent Threat Detected
Status: Creature has fled but remains within the vicinity.
Recommendation: Remain vigilant.
Dom exhaled slowly, her mind racing as the system message flickered in her peripheral vision. She tightened her fists. Peanut headbutted her and her fingers unclenched to dig into his fur and give him scratches. The pets on his deceptively soft fur grounded her against the lingering unease.
It’s still out there, she thought. Watching. What if it attacks again when Nile is here? If anything happened to him…
Quest Updated: Eyes on the Nightmare (Active)
Objective: Continue to evade or eliminate the shadow’s agents.
Sub-Objective: Resist the Abyssal Hunger.
Progress: +20% toward mastery over the darkness.
Dom glanced at the glowing notification, her lips pressing into a thin line. Resist the Abyssal Hunger. The words echoed in her mind, stirring memories of her nightmare and the figure who had placed this dark burden upon her. She shook her head sharply, banishing the thought.
For now, the system’s warnings could wait. Whatever shadows loomed in the forest, she would face them later. Right now, she had survived. And that, for the moment, was enough.
Nile’s voice brought her back. “Dom?”
She blinked, realizing she’d been staring into the forest too long. “Yeah?” She turned her attention to Nile, and saw that he was looking at the space where the notification had been, a curious expression on his face. But he made no mention of it.
“You okay?” he asked, his tone casual but laced with concern.
Dom plastered on a smile, one she hoped was convincing. “Yeah. Just... thought I heard something earlier. Probably nothing.”
Peanut growled softly, his ears perking up again as if to contradict her. Dom placed a calming hand on his back, her tone reassuring. “Relax, boy. It’s fine.”
Nile raised an eyebrow, glancing between her and the forest. “Uh-huh. Well, if it’s nothing, maybe don’t zone out like you’re expecting the Blair Witch to show up.”
Dom snorted, the humor breaking through her tension. “The Blair Witch? Really?”
“Hey, it’s a classic,” Nile said with a grin. “Besides, you’re the one staring off into the spooky woods like you’re auditioning for a horror movie.”
“Yeah, well, at least I’m not the guy who got taken down by a ten-pound dog,” Dom shot back, nudging him playfully.
“Excuse me -he’s at least fifteen pounds,” Nile said with mock indignation, scratching Peanut behind the ears. “And clearly, he’s all muscle. Right, buddy?”
Peanut barked in agreement, his tail thumping against the ground. Dom laughed again, the warmth of the moment easing some of the tension that had coiled around her since the encounter.
But as the fire crackled and the night pressed in around them, Dom’s smile faded slightly. She couldn’t shake the lingering weight of the system’s warnings -or the dark promise that had flared within her during the fight.