Riniock stood still, his eyes studying Odrean carefully, trying to gauge his true intentions.

‘I don’t make deals lightly,’ he said, making queries in order to understand this potential ally better. ‘What’s your angle? Earlier today, you and Urael didn’t seem too friendly towards me. Why the change of heart?’

Odrean chuckled nervously, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. ‘Look, Urael’s a – basterd – I won’t deny that. But out here I’m on my own, and so are you. You think I’d bother chasing you through the woods when I can barely take care of myself? I’m not like him, believe me.’

Riniock’s eyes narrowed. ‘You’re not exactly radiating trustworthiness.’

‘Alright, fair. I don’t expect you to trust me completely.’

‘Then there’s nothing to discuss –’

‘– But think about it…’ Odrean interjected, his voice sharp and very convincing. ‘…We only have second-rate wands and little to no experience. A lidthrag would chew up someone like us in seconds.’

Riniock weighed his options.

There were risks as well as rewards. On one hand, survival was more likely, but it also meant Odrean could easily betray him or sabotage his efforts if things got rough.

On the other hand, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was off about how they’d both ended up in the same place after the celseeds encounter.

‘Very well, I accept your proposition,’ Riniock confirmed, extending his palm. His tone was firm. ‘But I’m keeping my eye on you. Anything remotely shady, you’re dead.’

Odrean grinned. ‘Fair enough! You won’t regret it.’

‘Our alliance is temporary. Once we kill the lidthrag, you and I will part ways.’

With reluctance, they shook hands.

The partnership was uneasy, but the glades allowed no room for lone heroes. Odrean slung his satchel over his shoulder and gripped his wand, its tip mounted with a frost focus like Riniock’s.

They both tilted their heads skyward, withstanding the sun’s rays to gauge the time. The sun still hung above the horizon; evening was hours away, leaving them a window to hunt before darkness claimed the land.

Breaking the silence, Riniock took the lead, his tone brisk and assertive. ‘Let’s move. This way gives us the best chance to find one.’

Brows furrowed in confusion, Odrean looked cross-eyed. ‘How can you be so sure?’

He scanned their surroundings. Yet no matter how many times he checked, his sharp eyes found no signs of the elusive feline beast. Had his partner spotted one prior to their encounter?

‘I read. I know things,’ Riniock replied curtly.

‘That’s not much of an answer,’ the other shot back, unsatisfied.

Riniock sighed, gesturing for him to come closer. With a steady hand, he pointed to a distant hill crest. ‘Lidthrags are ambush predators. They often stalk the streams from elevations, preying on xilaks, falufraxies, and even other lidthrags. That hill aligns with the pattern.’

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His scepticism was quickly replaced by a grudging respect as Odrean followed his line of sight.

‘Satisfied?’ Riniock said, already moving.

Odrean raised his shoulders. ‘Very. Lead the way, then.’

Traversing the plains ahead posed little to no challenge for either of the two. They hugged the stream’s edge, a natural barrier that kept them concealed from the wide-open fields where they’d make easy targets for prowling predators. The water trickling masked their loud footsteps, aiding in their efforts to move stealthily.

As they neared the hillcrest Riniock had pinpointed, they veered away from the stream and climbed up. Instead of tackling it head-on, Odrean suggested they scale it from the opposite side, where the incline was smoother and had an abundance of cover.

The climb was slow and awkwardly silent.

Neither spoke, the silence interrupted only by the rustle of grass beneath their boots. There was the occasional snap of a twig and the sloshing of mud. Regardless, the duo remained undetected thus far.

‘Stop!’ Riniock whispered sharply, throwing his arm out in a silent signal of alarm. His eyes were locked ahead, his voice barely audible as he hissed, ‘Lidthrag – right there.’

Odrean froze instantly, his gaze following Riniock’s gesture. He didn’t reply, only giving a curt nod of acknowledgment.

Just a short distance away, a massive feline predator lay crouched low against the earth. Its sleek white fur rippled slightly in the breeze, the bits of red fur blending seamlessly with the terrain. The lidthrag’s amber eyes were fixed intently on a nearby herd of xilaks, every muscle in its frame poised to strike.

For now, the predator’s attention was entirely absorbed in its hunt. It remained oblivious to the two figures watching from behind jutting rocks, their presence masked by the wind and terrain.

‘On my signal,’ he whispered again. Gripping his wand tightly, he began counting to three on his fingers. ‘1 – 2 – 3!’

Odrean reacted swiftly, his wand snapping upward as he focused his intent. Above the lidthrag, a sharp icicle materialized in the air, shimmering with cold magic. With a precise flick of his wrist, the projectile shot downward, crashing into the unsuspecting predator with a resonant thud.

The impact drew a piercing screech from the lidthrag, startling the nearby xilak herd into a panicked stampede.

But the attack was certainly not enough as it only managed to wound the beast, not incapacitate it. The lidthrag twisted its muscular frame, shaking off the blow, and turned its predatory gaze toward the two attackers. Its spiked fur bristled, and it let out a bone-rattling roar that sent a chill up their spines.

In that instant, its blazing yellow eyes locked onto Riniock. Without hesitation, the predator lunged forward, closing the distance between them with terrifying speed.

Riniock remained calm, his wand arm rising in a measured motion. He conjured a slick frost across the ground. The ice spread quickly, covering the terrain in a crystalline sheen. As the lidthrag charged, its powerful paws skidded and slid uncontrollably.

For a moment, the beast lost its balance, but it didn’t falter for long. Its claws extended instinctively, digging into the ice to steady itself.

‘Now’s my chance!’ Odrean shouted. He directed his wand at the lidthrag, unleashing a volley of sharp ice spikes that slammed into its face and shoulders. The predator snarled in pain, momentarily immobilized as it shielded its eyes from the onslaught.

‘Keep up the pressure!’ Riniock barked, readying the next move.

Odrean unleashed another barrage of icy spikes. The beast's frustration peaked, and its fiery gaze shifted towards him with lethal intent.

With a terrifying roar, it lunged, swiping at Odrean with its massive, clawed paws. He scrambled to evade, narrowly dodging the initial strikes. His movements were erratic, propelled more by instinct than skill. Each swipe missed by a hair's breadth until, finally, the lidthrag adapted to his pattern.

As its paw came crashing down, Odrean sidestepped too late. With a ferocious swipe, the beast caught him mid-dodge, sending him sprawling across the ground. He landed hard, coughing as he tried to collect himself.

‘Blast it… RINIOCK! HELP!’ he shouted, desperation thick in his voice.

The lidthrag seized the opening, prowling closer as Odrean struggled to regain his footing. It towered over him on its hind legs, preparing to deliver a death blow with its massive weight and claws.

But Riniock was ready.

With a sharp motion of his wand, he summoned a towering crystalline shard. It erupted from the ground a mere distance in front of Odrean, its jagged peak aimed skyward. The lidthrag’s descent became its undoing – the beast impaled itself on the shard, the razor-sharp edge piercing through its chest and emerging from its back.