Vivienne surged through the dense forest, her revenant form a flickering shadow weaving between the trunks and underbrush. The sharp tang of aether still clung to her senses, an unwelcome reminder of her assailant’s presence. She pushed herself faster, but the oppressive weight of that strange energy gnawed at her resolve. Whoever they were, they hadn’t stopped hunting her.
Behind her, the faintest sound—leaves crunching underfoot, branches snapping—echoed through the darkness. They were close, too close. Vivienne’s form blurred and wavered as she darted to the side, slipping behind a towering oak to momentarily break their line of sight.
Her breathing was steady, but her focus was fraying. That aether... it was clinging to her like a predator’s mark, and she couldn’t shake it.
Vivienne hissed under her breath. “Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep up.”
She launched herself forward again, weaving erratically to throw off her pursuer. Her smoky form slipped between trees like mist, but the energy clinging to her refused to fade. Each flicker of movement in the periphery set her nerves alight.
Ahead, the forest thickened, the canopy casting the terrain into even deeper shadows. A fleeting thought of Rava crossed her mind, but she shoved it aside. She had no time to worry about whether the wolf-like warrior had made it out; she could only hope she had.
The distinct hum of aether magic snapped her focus back to the chase. Her pursuer wasn’t just tracking her—they were herding her, forcing her toward some unseen trap. The realisation sent a spark of anger coursing through her.
Vivienne slowed her pace just enough to glance back, her glowing eyes scanning the darkness. For a fleeting moment, she saw them—a masked figure, red eyes burning like embers, their leather coat shifting with unnatural grace as they pursued her. Their twin blades glinted faintly in the moonlight, and their presence sent a ripple of unease through her form.
“Persistent,” she muttered, her claw flexing.
Suddenly, the forest ahead broke open into a small clearing. Moonlight spilled down onto the soft grass, illuminating a narrow stream cutting through the centre. Vivienne cursed under her breath. Open ground. No cover.
She darted across the clearing, her clawed feet skimming the ground, but the aether mark burned hotter against her essence. The hunter was closing in.
Before she could fully cross, a searing blade of light slashed through the air behind her. Vivienne twisted, her single claw catching the edge of the magic-infused strike. The force sent her skidding across the ground, her revenant form momentarily flickering under the assault.
“You’re really starting to irritate me,” she snarled, straightening.
The masked figure stepped into the clearing, their coat rippling in the breeze. They didn’t speak, but the crackling energy around them spoke volumes.
Vivienne’s grin sharpened, even as her form shimmered faintly from exertion. “Fine. Let’s play.”
The figure lunged, their twin blades flashing like silver lightning. Vivienne countered, her claw swinging in a wide arc, the force of the collision sending sparks flying. For a moment, the two were locked in a deadly dance, their movements blurring under the moonlight.
But Vivienne’s earlier wounds slowed her, and the strange aether clinging to her essence was taking its toll. The masked figure pressed their advantage, forcing her back with calculated strikes.
Her smoky form flickered dangerously, and she cursed under her breath. This wasn’t a fight she could win—not here, not now.
Vivienne feinted to the left, drawing the figure’s attention before surging upward into the shadows of the trees. Her form dissolved partially, blending into the darkness as she retreated.
The masked figure didn’t pursue immediately, their glowing eyes scanning the treetops. Vivienne used the momentary reprieve to push herself farther away, weaving back into the forest’s dense embrace.
The taste of their aether still lingered, but the immediate danger was fading. She pressed on, her focus now on putting as much distance as possible between herself and the relentless hunter.
As she slipped deeper into the forest, her thoughts turned briefly to Rava. “You better be alive, wolf,” she muttered to herself, her voice a faint rasp. “Because I don’t have the patience to explain this mess alone.”
Vivienne’s mind raced as she fled deeper into the woods. She could hear the hunter’s pursuit growing louder—closer. The sound of their steps was deliberate, sharp, calculated, echoing the weight of their determination. She had to outpace them, outsmart them—whatever it took.
She darted between the trees, her revenant form fluid and eerily silent, weaving through the underbrush with unsettling speed. Her body was not what it had been, weaker than in her other forms, but the heightened senses of the revenant still served her well. She could feel the pulsating aether growing behind her, the flicker of the hunter's energy like a pulse in the air. They were relentless, but Vivienne had learned a thing or two about evasion.
With a sharp turn, she slid into the shadows of the forest, her body dissolving into the darkness for just a split second. She stilled, holding her breath, letting the presence of the hunter pass her by.
The hunter’s steps slowed, cautious. They couldn’t see her, not yet. They were still too close. Vivienne knew that if they caught her, it would be over. But she had one more trick left.
As they circled, moving carefully through the trees, Vivienne stepped back from the edge of the thicket, careful not to make a sound. Her body shimmered, a barely perceptible distortion in the shadows of the forest as she extended her influence over the surrounding darkness. The trees, the ground, even the air itself—she reached out and absorbed the surrounding aether into her form, deepening the dark fabric she had woven around herself. The forest was full of hidden paths, secrets in the shadows, and for a brief moment, Vivienne became one with the darkness.
The hunter paused. Vivienne could feel their eyes scanning, their senses stretching, trying to pinpoint her exact location. But they would never find her now. She had become the night itself.
Her grin returned, sharp and predatory. For just a moment, she savoured the silence, the tension. The hunter couldn’t see her. Couldn't track her.
Vivienne pressed herself deeper into the shadows, moving again—quicker this time, with the fluidity of a wraith—taking advantage of her camouflage to slip past the hunter undetected.
When she was far enough away, she let the cloak of darkness fade, releasing the aether she had absorbed. The forest opened up before her once more, and though the hunter was still out there, they would find nothing but empty trees and forgotten whispers in the wind.
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The shadow shifted again, this time closer. Rava’s sharp eyes caught the faint gleam of moonlight reflecting off something metallic—armour? A weapon? She couldn’t tell, but whatever it was, it moved with a purpose that sent a shiver up her spine.
“Vivienne?” she called again, a little louder this time, her voice steady despite the tightness in her chest.
No response.
She pressed her back against the tree, claws digging into the bark for stability. Her mind raced. If it wasn’t Vivienne, it could be one of the hunters from the tower—or worse. She hadn’t seen much of Vivienne’s pursuers, but their discipline and organisation had been clear even from a distance. Rava doubted they’d give up the chase so easily.
The shadow broke free of the underbrush, and Rava tensed, ready to spring. What emerged, however, was not what she expected.
A small figure stumbled into the clearing—a child, no older than eight, their face pale and streaked with dirt. They wore a simple tunic, torn and bloodstained, and their eyes were wide with fear.
“Help... please...” the child whispered, collapsing to their knees.
Rava hesitated. This didn’t feel right. The scent of blood was too strong, too fresh, and the way the child’s aether felt—wrong, as though it didn’t belong.
Her muscles coiled, every instinct screaming at her to keep her distance. But she couldn’t just ignore them, could she?
“Who are you? What happened?” Rava asked, her voice low but firm, as she slowly approached.
The child looked up, tears glistening in their eyes. “They’re coming... Please, don’t let them find me...”
Rava’s ears twitched, catching a faint sound in the distance—a rhythmic pounding, like footsteps.
The child’s head snapped toward the noise, their expression twisting into something far too knowing for someone so young. “They’re almost here. You have to help me!”
Rava’s claws flexed against her palms. This was a trap. It had to be. But the footsteps were real, and they were getting louder.
“Get behind me,” she growled, positioning herself between the child and the approaching threat.
The child clutched at her leg, their trembling fingers cold as death.
The forest erupted. Figures emerged from the shadows, clad in dark leathers and wielding strange, crackling weapons. They moved with the precision of hunters, spreading out to encircle the clearing. Rava’s sharp eyes counted four, maybe five of them, each one radiating the same unnatural energy she’d felt earlier.
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“Hand over the bait, and we’ll let you walk away,” one of the hunters said, their voice calm, almost bored.
“Bait?” Rava snarled, her stance lowering into a defensive crouch.
The hunter gestured toward the child, whose grip on Rava’s leg tightened. “You’re smarter than you look. That thing at your feet isn’t what it seems.”
Rava didn’t have time to process their words. One of the hunters lunged, a crackling blade slicing through the air toward her. She twisted away, kicking out with her leg and sending the attacker sprawling.
The child screamed, but the sound was hollow, too perfect—a performance.
Damn it.
“Whatever you are, get out of here!” Rava barked, shoving the child away as another hunter closed in.
The fight erupted into chaos. Rava darted between her attackers, her claws flashing in the moonlight. She was fast—faster than them—but they had the advantage of numbers and those strange weapons that crackled with energy.
One of the hunters swung wide, their blade grazing her arm. Pain seared through her as the weapon's energy bit into her skin, but she didn’t falter. She dropped low, sweeping their legs out from under them before driving her claws into their exposed side.
The child watched from the edge of the clearing, their expression unreadable.
“Vivienne,” Rava muttered under her breath, slashing through another attacker. “Where the hell are you?”
The fight dragged on, and exhaustion began to creep into Rava’s limbs. The hunters weren’t giving up, and for every one she knocked down, another seemed to take their place.
Her gaze darted to the child. They were still standing there, untouched, their eyes gleaming with something cold and unnatural.
“Run!” she shouted at them again, but they didn’t move.
In that moment of distraction, a blade caught her across the shoulder. She stumbled, pain flaring white-hot, but managed to twist away before the follow-up strike could land.
The hunters pressed closer, their circle tightening. Rava’s breaths came fast and shallow. She couldn’t keep this up.
And then, from the darkness beyond the clearing, a low, guttural growl echoed.
Rava’s ears perked, her heart leaping with both hope and dread.
Vivienne.
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The acrid taste of aether lingered in Vivienne’s senses, leading her through the dense forest. It clung to the air like smoke, thick and unnatural—a sign of the hunters. Despite her exhaustion, she forced herself onward, her revenant form slipping soundlessly between the trees.
Where are you, Rava?
Her focus narrowed on the trail: disturbed underbrush, claw marks in the bark of a tree, and faint traces of blood that shone like starlight under her enhanced vision. Every step was a reminder of how fragile her current form was. Her single hand twitched, aching for the power she’d had as a colossus.
She paused, tilting her head at the faint sound of metal striking metal, followed by a guttural growl. Voices carried through the trees—sharp commands, the clash of combat, and beneath it all, the desperate rhythm of Rava’s breaths.
Vivienne’s lip curled, a dangerous grin forming as her pace quickened. “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?” she muttered, weaving through the forest like smoke.
The sight that greeted her as she reached the edge of the clearing was a scene of chaos. Rava was a blur of motion, darting between shadowy figures, her claws slashing at anything that came close. Sparks flew as crackling weapons clashed against her, their strange energy biting into the air with a sharp hum.
Vivienne’s many eyes shifted focus, catching sight of the supposed child lingering at the clearing’s edge. The gleam in their eyes and the unnatural way they stood set Vivienne’s teeth on edge.
Oh, delightful. A trap. I love traps.
A hunter lunged at Rava, their blade arcing toward her exposed back. Vivienne didn’t hesitate. She surged forward, her body elongating unnaturally as she moved, her single hand lashing out to snatch the attacker mid-strike.
The hunter barely had time to register what was happening before Vivienne’s claws pierced through their chest. She leaned in close, her teeth bared in a wicked smile. “My turn.”
The hunter’s body convulsed as she syphoned their aether, their form withering before collapsing to the ground.
Rava spun, eyes wide as she caught sight of Vivienne. “About time!” she snarled, her breath ragged.
“Miss me?” Vivienne cooed, stepping into the fray. She flexed her fingers, revelling in the surge of stolen energy. “You’re not looking your best, darling.”
“Shut up and help!”
Vivienne’s grin widened, her amusement darkening into something feral. “Gladly.”
Her form shuddered violently, shifting and expanding as though the flesh beneath her skin couldn’t wait to be free. Her spine elongated, her shoulders bulging grotesquely as two additional necks, then four, stretched from her frame, their growth accompanied by the sickening crunch of bones rearranging. Her legs bent and thickened, her hands retracting into powerful claws. Scales rippled across her body in a tide of black and deep crimson, and her six heads twisted skyward to release a guttural, overlapping roar that echoed through the clearing.
The hunters froze, their faces betraying shock and fear. Whatever confidence they had evaporated at the sight of the hydra now standing before them.
One of the hunters took a cautious step back, whispering, “What is that thing?”
“Your worst mistake,” one of Vivienne’s heads hissed, its voice low and predatory.
Before the hunters could regroup, Vivienne lunged. Her massive bulk moved with terrifying speed, and her claws tore through the earth as she closed the distance. One of her heads snapped forward, grabbing a hunter by the arm and flinging them into the air. They hit a tree with a sickening thud before crumpling to the ground, motionless.
Another hunter swung their crackling weapon at her, but Vivienne’s second head intercepted, biting down on the blade. The energy surged through her jaws, but instead of recoiling, she seemed to absorb it, her eyes glowing faintly with stolen power. She crushed the weapon in her jaws and spat the fragments to the ground.
The third hunter aimed a strange, cylindrical device, a faint hum building as it charged. Vivienne’s central head snarled, twisting to shield Rava with her body as the device unleashed a blinding pulse of energy. The blast struck her flank, scorching scales and flesh, but instead of faltering, Vivienne turned her burning eyes toward the hunter and roared, a sound so deafening it forced them to their knees.
Rava, bleeding and exhausted, watched Vivienne’s rampage with a mix of awe and horror. “You couldn’t have done this earlier?” she shouted, her voice strained.
Vivienne’s central head turned toward her briefly, one brow ridge raising in mock amusement. “And deny you the fun?”
“Shut up and finish them!”
Vivienne grinned—or at least, the hydra equivalent of a grin—and turned her attention back to the remaining hunters. With a powerful swipe of her claws, she sent two of them flying. The last one froze, their weapon trembling in their hands.
Vivienne’s heads tilted in unison, regarding the hunter with eerie synchronicity. “Run,” she growled, her voices layered and echoing with menace.
The hunter didn’t hesitate, dropping their weapon and sprinting into the forest.
The clearing fell silent except for the laboured breaths of Rava and the faint rustle of leaves.
Vivienne shrank back to her smaller form, her hydra features retracting into her humanoid body with an unsettling smoothness. She wiped the blood from her chin with her forearm, flashing Rava a sharp smile. “Well, that was exhilarating.”
Rava leaned heavily against a tree, glaring at her. “I hate you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Before either could speak further, the child stepped forward from the shadows, their small frame eerily calm amid the carnage. Vivienne’s grin faded instantly, her predatory instincts flaring.
“What’s that?” she asked, her tone low and cautious.
Rava straightened, her claws flexing. “Not a child. Stay on guard.”
Vivienne rolled dozens of her eyes. “Clearly.”
The child smiled, their gaze unnervingly serene. “Such dramatic displays. You’re more entertaining than I expected.”
Vivienne’s eyes narrowed, her unease deepening. “Great. Another problem. You planning to explain yourself, or are we skipping straight to the part where I tear you apart?”
The air in the clearing grew heavy, the child’s presence suddenly oppressive. They tilted their head, the motion slow and deliberate. “You’ll understand soon enough,” they said, their voice layered with an otherworldly resonance.
Vivienne’s claws flexed, her stance lowering. “Bad answer.”
The oppressive silence hung in the air like a thick fog, and Vivienne’s instincts screamed danger. Her hydra form still ached from the transformation, muscles taut and ready to spring. Yet the child didn’t move, their expression a mask of calm that only deepened her unease.
“Rava,” Vivienne said slowly, her gaze fixed on the figure before them, “get back. Now.”
Rava hesitated, her claws flexing as though unwilling to retreat. “You think I’m leaving you alone with that thing?”
Vivienne’s lips curled into a snarl. “It’s not a suggestion.”
The child—or whatever they were—chuckled, a sound far too deep and resonant for their tiny frame. “How sweet, the beast cares for its companion. I wonder…” They raised a hand, small and unassuming, yet charged with a crackling pulse of aether. “Which of you will break first?”
The ground beneath Vivienne’s feet quivered, and she lunged without waiting for an answer. Her claws slashed through the air, aimed straight for the child’s chest. But as they struck, the figure dissolved like smoke, the attack passing harmlessly through.
“Typical,” Vivienne growled, spinning on her heels. “Illusions. Predictable.”
The child reappeared a few paces away, their form flickering at the edges like static. “You misunderstand,” they said, their voice reverberating. “I am no illusion. I am merely... evaluating.”
Rava growled low in her throat. “Evaluating what? Who sent you?”
The child’s eyes gleamed, and for a moment, their youthful façade cracked, revealing something ancient and malicious beneath. “Someone.” They hummed. “To see what you could become.”
Vivienne didn’t wait for further cryptic nonsense. She leapt again, this time splitting her form mid-air as her hydra heads erupted from her shoulders. Her six sets of jaws snapped at once, aiming high, low, and the another straight for the child’s throat.
But as before, the child simply stepped back—no, drifted back, as if untouched by the laws of physics.
The smirk they wore grew wider. “Impressive. Yet incomplete.”
“Stay still and I’ll show you complete!” Vivienne snarled, her claws raking the dirt as she landed.
Rava, keeping her distance but ready to spring, growled, “What does it even want? Why hasn’t it attacked yet?”
“Because it doesn’t need to,” Vivienne snapped, circling the child like a predator. “It’s playing with us.”
The child tilted their head again, their gaze falling on Rava. “And you, warrior. You’ve seen enough battles to know when you’re outmatched. Yet you stay. Why?”
Rava didn’t falter. “Because I don’t abandon my allies.”
The child’s smile faltered, and for a fleeting moment, there was something almost human in their expression. “Interesting,” they murmured, as if to themselves.
Then the oppressive air lifted, the weight of their presence withdrawing. The child stepped back into the shadows, their form fading into the darkness. “We’ll meet again soon enough,” they said, their voice echoing unnaturally. “And when we do, I expect you to be… more.”
As the last traces of their presence dissipated, Vivienne’s hackles finally lowered. She let out a sharp breath, her form rippling as the hydra heads shrank back into her humanoid body.
“What the hell was that?” Rava demanded, stepping closer, her claws still drawn.
Vivienne shook her head, scanning the clearing for any lingering aether. “Something worse than those hunters, that’s for sure.”
“Thanks for narrowing it down,” Rava muttered, her tone sharp. “Think it’s coming back?”
“Oh, definitely,” Vivienne said, her tone flat. “Things like that don’t just vanish for good.”
Rava wiped blood from her arm, her eyes narrowing as she looked to Vivienne. “Then we’d better be ready next time.”
Vivienne smirked, but there was no humour in it. “Indeed”