“I see a road ahead,” said Rava, her voice steady but laced with a hint of caution.

“Ooh, is that a good thing?” Vivienne asked, arching one of her many heads, the flicker of curiosity in her eyes unmistakable under the darkening sky.

Rava shrugged, her expression unreadable. “Depends. If you’re out in the steppes, yes. If you’re in enemy territory, wanted for the attempted assassination of a high priest, less so.”

Vivienne blinked, leaning in slightly. “You were sent to murk some priest?”

Rava’s expression hardened. “I was sent to kill a high-profile target. Someone with a personal hand in enslaving three prominent families across two clans, and in the razing of four villages and a town. So, yes.”

Vivienne paused, her several heads tilting in thought. “Well, that's a lot of collateral damage for one person. Makes it sound like you were dealing with a proper piece of work.”

“We are at war. The Sovereignty of Aegis is still expanding into clan territory. They have already taken a fifth of our territory!” Rava hissed, her anger flaring. “He brought armies to our doorstep and has a personal hand in killing so many of my fellow clansmen!

Vivienne raised her tendrils in a gesture of calm, though a faint smirk tugged at the corners of her shadowy mouths. “Alright, no need to snap at me. I get it. Bad guy, bad situation. You were doing what you had to do.”

Rava’s fur bristled slightly, her golden eyes narrowing before she exhaled and relaxed her shoulders. “Sorry. It’s... hard to talk about. Kaelan wasn’t just some priest waving around scripture. He was a tactician, a slaver, and a zealot. He orchestrated the capture of three prominent families, then razed villages to root out resistance. Killing him wasn’t just a mission—it was personal.”

“Sounds like quite the charmer,” Vivienne said, her tone wry. “What went wrong?”

Rava hesitated, her gaze hardening as she stared ahead. “Everything. He knew we were coming. My team walked right into an ambush. I was captured, fitted with that abominable curse collar, and dragged into one of their dungeons. They forced me into my beast form and locked me away. I spent weeks like that, starving and... losing myself. Once they had enough fun with my torment they ‘decided’ to take me on their expedition into the fallen ruin you found me in.”

Vivienne fell silent, her many heads dipping slightly in thought. Rava’s story was a lot to take in, and it stirred something uncomfortably familiar within her. She’d been meaning to ask more about Rava’s circumstances for a while now, but the timing never felt right—or maybe she just didn’t want to admit her curiosity. Vivienne had learned to tread lightly when it came to people’s pasts; asking questions often invited them to ask in return, and she wasn’t keen on revisiting her own.

Still, she couldn’t ignore the weight behind Rava’s words, nor the scars—physical and otherwise—that she carried. Vivienne’s glowing eyes flitted toward her companion, watching the rigid set of her shoulders, the way her tail swayed slowly, betraying a restless energy. It was clear Rava had lived through more than her fair share of torment, yet here she was, surviving.

“I don’t know how you did it,” Vivienne said at last, her tone soft. “Getting out of all that. I’ve seen people crushed by far less.”

Rava’s ears twitched, but she didn’t look over. “You survive, or you don’t. And if you don’t, someone else writes your story.”

Vivienne smirked faintly. “Well that’s poetic.” She paused, debating whether to say more, then added, “Most people wouldn’t have made it out.”

Rava glanced at her, a faint glimmer of surprise in her golden eyes. “Was that a compliment?”

“Don’t get used to it,” Vivienne teased, her tone easing into a lighter, almost playful cadence. “I have a reputation to maintain, you know.”

Rava huffed, though the faint twitch at the corner of her mouth betrayed a flicker of amusement. “You keep bringing up this reputation of yours. As far as I can tell, it consists of being a monstrous warrior, earning the begrudging respect of a Titan of Loam, and terrifying about twenty villagers.”

“Twenty-four, actually,” Vivienne corrected with a smug grin, her many heads bobbing in mock self-importance.

Rava shot her a deadpan look. “My point stands.”

The pair fell into a companionable silence, the rhythm of their footsteps blending with the sounds of the forest around them. The tension from their earlier conversation had lifted, leaving an almost peaceful air between them. It was an unspoken truce—a mutual agreement to let their burdens rest for now.

Vivienne’s ears twitched, picking up the faint murmurs of voices carried by the wind. She tilted one of her heads, her glowing eyes narrowing as she peered into the dense greenery ahead. “Hear that?”

Rava’s own ears swivelled forward, her sharp hearing focusing on the faint sound. “Sounds like people. Maybe a camp. Could be hunters.”

Vivienne’s lips curled into a grin, a dangerous gleam flickering in her gaze. “Could be food.”

Rava shot her a sideways glance, her golden eyes narrowing in a mix of caution and exasperation. “Could be. Though I was thinking more along the lines of supplies. I haven’t eaten in weeks, you know.”

Vivienne blinked, her curiosity shifting. “Weeks? How are you even standing?”

Rava gave a small shrug, her tone casual but tinged with weariness. “I can sustain myself on aether for a while. But I’ll need food eventually.”

“That’s... honestly impressive,” Vivienne admitted, genuine curiosity creeping into her voice. “Can anyone do that?”

“No,” Rava replied simply, her tone carrying a weight of resignation. Her ears drooped slightly, the golden hue of her eyes dimming. “It requires an extremely powerful affinity for aether and years of training just to attempt it. And it’s not without cost.”

Vivienne’s many heads tilted in unison, her glowing eyes narrowing as she considered the words. “Cost?” she repeated, the curiosity in her voice unmistakable. “What kind of cost?”

Rava paused for a long moment, her eyes dropping to the ground as if trying to find the words that could explain it. “I feel weaker,” she admitted finally, her voice a quiet confession. “My arms… they’re not as thick as they used to be. My strength doesn’t come as easily, and my connection to the aether feels… thinner.”

“Well… is that going to affect the inevitable trouble about to happen?” Vivienne asked, her tone light but her eyes sharp with anticipation.

Rava sighed, the sound carrying a weight of both weariness and resignation. “We don’t know if it’s trouble yet.”

Vivienne smirked, her many heads turning in the direction of the approaching sounds, her voice taking on a playful edge. “Well, I hope it’s trouble. I’m getting peckish.”

Rava raised an eyebrow, her ears flicking back slightly. “So am I. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

Vivienne's grin widened, revealing a glimpse of sharp teeth. "Oh, I never get ahead of myself. I just prefer to get right into the middle of things."

Rava shook her head with a soft chuckle, her golden eyes scanning the treeline. "Fine, let's investigate. But let's keep our heads. We don't know who we're dealing with yet."

"Agreed. But if it turns out to be boring trouble..." Vivienne trailed off, her voice carrying the suggestion of something much darker. "Well, then we’ll have to make our own excitement, won’t we?"

Rava gave her a sidelong glance, her lips twitching in the faintest of smiles. "Always the optimist."

"Someone has to be," Vivienne said with a shrug, her posture relaxed but her senses sharp, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. "After all, we both need something to feast on."

With that, they moved forward, quiet as shadows, closer to the source of the sound. As they crept through the underbrush, the noise grew clearer—voices now, murmuring just beyond their reach. The tension between them was palpable, the anticipation of whatever lay ahead spurring them forward.

Then, a break in the trees revealed the source of the disturbance: a small encampment, no more than a dozen people, camped around a fire. They didn’t look particularly armed or dangerous, just travellers, though their posture suggested they were aware of their surroundings—vigilant, perhaps used to dealing with threats.

Vivienne's many heads tilted in unison, a silent laugh in the air as she regarded Rava. “Afraid I’ll scare them off before you get a chance to ask them the tough questions?”

Rava’s lips quirked slightly, the smallest hint of a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. “Something like that. You do have a tendency to make people nervous.”

Vivienne snorted, the sound low and amused. “I’m charming. Really, it’s their fault for being so jumpy.”

Rava gave her a dry look. “Right. You’re charming.” She shook her head, her golden eyes flashing with something that could’ve been a smirk if she weren’t trying to keep her face impassive. “I’ll take the lead. Stay hidden for now.”

Vivienne waved a hand lazily. “Fine, fine. Don’t get yourself killed, though. I’m not that bored yet.”

Rava crouched low, moving silently through the underbrush with practised precision, her golden eyes never leaving the camp. She was nearly invisible, her form blending in with the shadows, her every movement deliberate and controlled.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Vivienne watched her go, her glowing eyes scanning the camp again. The travellers around the fire were still talking in hushed tones, the flickering light casting strange, shifting shadows across their faces. Something about the group felt off—there was an edge to them that wasn’t entirely human.

She let her gaze drift, just for a moment, to the trees behind the camp. In the distance, the faintest rustle of leaves echoed in the stillness, too deliberate to be the wind. A flicker of motion.

Vivienne’s eyes narrowed, but she remained still. She trusted Rava to handle things, but her instincts were still alert, every part of her sensing that this might not be as simple as it first appeared.

Rava had almost reached the edge of the camp when one of the travellers—the one with the aether-forged cloak—looked up suddenly, their eyes narrowing as though they’d sensed something.

“Company,” the cloaked figure said, their voice soft but sharp. The others immediately stiffened, their gazes sweeping the surrounding trees. It was clear they weren’t just wary of normal threats—they were prepared for something else.

With a swift, graceful motion, Rava rose from the shadows, stepping into the firelight. She didn’t smile, but her posture was relaxed, like she was just another traveller in the woods.

"Greetings," she said evenly, her voice calm and unthreatening. "I couldn’t help but notice your camp. May I join you for a moment?"

The cloaked figure studied her for a long moment, their eyes scanning her frame, but they said nothing. A few of the others began to stir, hands reaching for weapons, but none made a move yet. Rava kept her hands in plain view, fingers flexing just enough to show she was unarmed.

Vivienne stayed hidden in the shadows, watching with the kind of detachment that came from knowing Rava was more than capable of handling herself. But her eyes, sharp and observant, were focused on the travellers.

The air between them thickened, charged with a subtle tension as Rava stood motionless, waiting for the cloaked figure to make a decision. There was something about the way they moved—too fluid, too practised, as if they were all used to dealing with threats like her.

The figure’s gaze finally flicked to the others in the camp, their hands hovering over their weapons. A slight shake of the cloaked figure's head stopped them from drawing their blades.

“I’m not here to cause trouble,” Rava said, her voice steady. “I’ve been travelling for a long while. Perhaps you could share your fire?” Her words were polite, but there was a quiet undercurrent of command in them, a subtle power that seemed to make the tension dissipate, just a little.

The figure tilted their head, evaluating her, before finally nodding once. Slowly, they stepped aside, giving Rava space to approach.

“You’ll have to forgive us,” the cloaked figure spoke, their voice low and smooth, though there was a sharpness underneath. “We’re cautious in these parts. It’s dangerous to trust strangers in the wilderness.”

Rava nodded, stepping forward with careful grace. “I understand. Trust isn’t easily earned, nor freely given.” She kept her tone neutral, not wanting to push too hard, but leaving an open door for conversation if it was welcomed.

Vivienne remained out of sight, though she could still feel the simmering energy of the camp in her bones. Something was off about this group—they weren’t ordinary travellers. There was a calm, calculating edge to them, a practised wariness that hinted at a far darker purpose.

She flexed her hands, a quiet, almost inaudible hum of aether swirling around her fingertips. She wouldn’t intervene unless things went sideways, but she was ready. Her eyes flicked back to the trees. The rustle earlier hadn’t been forgotten.

One of the figures in the camp, a woman with pale skin and eyes too bright, tilted her head in Rava’s direction. “So, what brings you this far from the roads?” she asked, her tone sweet, but there was something too sharp beneath the words. “Not many pass through this part of the woods without good reason.”

Rava’s golden eyes didn’t waver. “We are simply passing through,” she replied smoothly. “I’m looking for a place to rest, perhaps find some food. My companion and I haven’t had a proper meal in days.”

The woman’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Your companion?” she asked, as if testing the word.

Rava glanced over her shoulder, the faintest flicker of acknowledgment crossing her features. “She’s... a bit further back. Can be rather intimidating, though. More of a courtesy to you folk.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed, a calculating look passing over her face. “I see,” she said, her voice cool. “A protector, perhaps? Or a threat?”

Rava didn’t flinch. “Neither. But my companion can handle herself.”

The woman didn’t respond immediately, but Rava saw the subtle shift in her posture. The others were beginning to relax just a fraction, though their hands remained close to their weapons.

“Understood,” the woman said, her voice colder now. “Well, I suppose there’s no harm in allowing you to rest. We’re not so unreasonable—provided you keep your distance from us.”

Rava nodded, but her expression remained unreadable. She knew what the woman was trying to do—testing her, poking at weaknesses. Rava wasn’t new to that game.

“You may stay for now,” the woman continued, her tone still wary. “But no more than a single night.”

Rava inclined her head. “Fair enough. We are not here to stay for long. Just need to rest, eat, and move on.”

“Our food is limited. We have little to share,” the woman stated evenly, her eyes never leaving Rava’s face.

Rava raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “If it helps, I can offer some coin in compensation.”

The woman hesitated, her gaze flicking briefly to her companions. There was a moment of silent deliberation before she nodded slowly. “That would be acceptable. Eight silver for a bowl of stew.”

Rava’s brow furrowed slightly. “That’s steep,” she muttered, but her voice was careful. The coins she took had been easily gained, and though she wouldn’t admit it to Vivienne, she was no longer in the position to haggle for a meal. She was past merely starving.

With a resigned sigh, she reached into her pouch and pulled out several silver coins, offering them to the woman. “But sure,” Rava said, the words coming with an edge of reluctant acquiescence.

The woman accepted the coins without hesitation, her expression unreadable. “Very well,” she said, turning to one of the others in the group, a tall man with dark hair who had been watching the exchange. “Prepare the stew for our guest.”

As the man moved to start gathering their meagre supplies, Rava took a seat near the fire, her posture relaxed but her senses keen. The air was thick with tension, and though the woman had agreed to her presence for now, Rava didn’t trust them completely. There was something off about the group—a quiet danger that hovered just beneath the surface of their casual conversation.

“Will your friend be joining us?” the woman asked, her voice edged with a subtle tension.

Rava hesitated, the weight of the question pressing on her. She glanced over her shoulder, knowing Vivienne’s keen eyes were already watching, hidden in the shadows. Her mind raced for a moment, but she knew there was no easy answer.

“It might be best if she keeps her distance,” Rava replied, her voice calm but firm. Her gaze never left the woman. “I did say earlier that her appearance can be quite intimidating.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile remained polite, if not entirely warm. “We would be more reassured if she were in sight,” she said, her tone leaving little room for argument.

Rava’s hand instinctively flexed her fists, though it was only a subtle gesture, a reminder to herself that she was still in control of the situation. “I understand your concern,” she said slowly, “but I can assure you, she means no harm. But if you insist… Just, don’t attack her on sight. She is more of an annoyance than a threat.”

The woman studied Rava for a long moment, her sharp eyes weighing the situation. The air was thick with tension as the campfire crackled between them. The other figures in the camp remained eerily still, their gazes flicking between Rava and the woman as though waiting for a cue.

After what felt like an eternity, the woman finally nodded, her lips tightening into a thin line. "Very well," she said, the words heavy with a grudging acceptance. "We’ll trust your word—for now."

Rava didn’t let her guard drop completely, but she nodded in return. "I appreciate that." Her voice was calm, almost too calm. She could feel the weight of the situation settling in, and though she didn’t like the idea of Vivienne being anywhere near these people, there was little choice.

She turned her head slightly to the shadows where Vivienne was waiting, her form barely visible against the dark. With a quick flick of her ear and a barely perceptible gesture of her hand, Rava silently called her companion forward.

From the shadows, Vivienne emerged, her presence immediately commanding attention, as if the darkness itself had gathered around her like a shroud. The flicker of dim light from the campfire caught her many eyes, giving them a sickly gleam as she slid forward, her form roiling like a pot of water boiling in slow motion. There was no effort to hide the unnerving quality of her appearance as she moved into the clearing and into the light.

Rava’s muscles tensed slightly at the way the others in the camp stiffened, their gazes now fixed on Vivienne. Some of them looked wary, others outright fearful. The woman who had spoken earlier, however, maintained her composure, though her eyes darted to Vivienne with suspicion.

Vivienne’s many heads turned toward the group, a subtle smile creeping across her face. "Ah," she purred, her voice unusually smooth for someone so unsettling. "I see we’re all gathered here for a delightful evening, yes?"

Rava stood still, waiting for the tension to either break or escalate. She could almost feel the unease ripple through the camp like a wave. The woman looked as though she were about to speak, but Vivienne beat her to it.

"Now, now," Vivienne continued, her tone light, almost playful. "I promise not to bite." She made a show of glancing over her shoulder at Rava. "Much."

Rava's jaw stiffened, but she refrained from making any further comment. The woman’s expression tightened, but she remained silent, as if choosing to hold her tongue for the time being. For a few moments, no one spoke, the air charged with unspoken questions and tension.

Vivienne suddenly jolted to a halt, her towering form colliding with an invisible barrier. The impact sent her staggering back a step, her many heads blinking in unison with comical surprise. "Oh," she said, tilting one head as if studying the unseen force. "Well, that’s inconvenient."

Rava’s ears twitched, and she stepped forward, her gaze flickering toward the group at the fire. “A barrier?”

The cloaked woman straightened, her lips pressing into a thin line. “A precaution. You understand.”

Vivienne’s smile returned, sly and sharp. “Precaution? Charming. You know, it’s usually polite to mention these things before someone walks into them. I could’ve chipped a fang.”

The travellers shifted uneasily, their discomfort palpable as Vivienne’s many eyes gleamed with amusement. The woman, however, stood her ground, her posture rigid. “The wards are for our safety. We weren’t expecting… whatever you are.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Vivienne’s voice dropped to a low, silky purr. “I’m entirely unexpected, even on my best days.”

Rava sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You’re not helping.”

Vivienne chuckled, taking a step back to give the group some space, though her smile didn’t falter. “Fine, fine. Consider me appropriately warded out.” She gestured grandly to the shimmering edge of the barrier. “Very effective. I’ll just stay here, shall I?”

“Please do,” The woman replied curtly, her grip tightening on her weapon.

Rava glanced at the group, then back at Vivienne. “Are you actually stuck, or are you just playing along?”

Vivienne’s smile widened, revealing sharp teeth. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Before Rava could retort, a low, distant growl echoed through the forest, drawing all attention back to the darkened treeline. The tension thickened, and Vivienne’s expression shifted, the humour fading as her heads turned in unison toward the sound.

“Well,” she murmured, her voice dropping into something far more predatory. “At least I won’t be lonely out here.”

Vivienne, sensing the moment had passed, looked back at the woman with a set of mockingly pleasant smiles. "Well, I trust that we’ve reached an understanding?" Her voice was sweet, but the undercurrent of danger was unmistakable.

The woman cleared her throat, collecting herself. "Yes. I believe we have. As long as your companion is... well-behaved, you may stay for the night. But only for the night."

Rava shot Vivienne a glance, her eyes narrowing just slightly, before she returned her attention to the woman. "We’ll be gone by morning," she replied, her voice steady.

With a final glance to the campfire and a short, almost imperceptible nod to Vivienne, Rava sat down again, her posture still tense, but relaxing ever so slightly now that the immediate threat had subsided. She wasn’t sure how long it would last, but she knew they had to take what they could get.

Vivienne, for her part, looked entirely unbothered by the encounter. She slowly lowered herself onto the ground near Rava on the other side of the barrier.. "I do hope your stew is as good as it’s priced," she said, her eyes glinting with amusement.

The woman, still clearly on edge but unwilling to show weakness, nodded curtly. "It’s better than nothing."

As the group settled into an uneasy silence, the crackling fire between them the only sound, Rava couldn’t help but wonder just what this night would bring—and whether their tenuous truce would hold.