I edged closer to the entrance, keeping my ears sharp.

Kissen shot me a warning glare and reached towards me, but I deftly ducked around her hand and passed near where the dim light from the overcast night filtered in through the gaps in the stone. While the lighting was dim, it would not be impossible for careful eyes to see. I kept near the wall, and mouthed “Illusion,” allowing the shadows to grow around me.

If I played the Illusion correctly, then it would seem like an almost natural extension of blackness against the already dark wall. I hoped to avoid revealing any of my tricks, but the risk in this case was worth it, for I had to know.

“Kitt—” a whisper cut off as Larissen clamped his palm over Kissen’s muzzle.

I peered out from the entrance, finally catching sight of the humans. I could now hear distinct words.

Mind: 69 (+1)

“Did you hear that?” Sir Kate asked. She was near the front of the humans, with her sword ready in her hand. Her eyes peered into the shadowed cavern, glossing over where I hid. My exposure would have been minimal, even without the Illusion.

“What’s the hold up?” Ken Guardson asked briskly from behind her, his attention on the surrounding cliffs and rocks where an enemy might hide. “I don’t like standing exposed like this, and we’ve got weary civies to think of.”

“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure I heard something,” Kate said, still cautiously watching the cavern.

If you cannot trust the shelter, then move on! I thought. That would have solved many problems. Instead, they continued with their plans, stubborn as mules.

“Ken’s right,” Muleater said. “If there’s something in there, we can handle it. We have to.”

“Ugh, fine.” Kate groaned, but her voice quickly grew firm. “If we’re to do this, then we’ll do it right. Ken, keep two to my left and one behind.”

Ken scoffed, but complied, getting closer to position.

“Aunt Jan, you’ll watch our rear?” Kate asked.

“Yeah, hurry it up though, will ya?” Lieutenant Janet Muleater said. “We don’t know if the damned wyrkwik are out there.”

She acted so blase. It made no sense. They had just been through a series of traumatic events. They had been traveling since the ambush. Their numbers had been drastically reduced. Why was she acting like none of this mattered, like Kate’s observations were empty, like no threat could possibly await within the cavern that they sought shelter in?

And then it struck me: they were numb.

They had not been following us. As incredible as it was to believe, they had found the same cavern as we by happenstance. They likely fled a similar direction as we did, and were funneled by the same gorge.

Stolen story; please report.

Still, as incredible as it was to believe, it had to have been happenstance, because if the humans had been following us, had been tracking us, then they would not be acting so half-heartedly in entering the cavern.

But as it was, this left us with an opportunity.

They were exhausted.

They were ill prepared for an ambush.

And it seemed that the Kaivan twins had a similar thought at the same time.

Kissen and Larissen flanked either side of the entrance, their claws seemingly longer and sharper in the dim light. At a later time, I would have wondered if the Kaivan had some ability to control their claws. But even then, even with the humans as exhausted as they were, they had swords, they had Marks, and seemed far more deadly than two naked cats with naught but their claws and teeth.

The only merit to our–no, their–plan, was the element of surprise, and that of our desperation.

But even with those two advantages… I had seen Kate spar. Her abilities with the sword were supernatural.

Other than an immediate claw across her throat, I doubted our chances.

Wait.

Mind: 70 (+1)

We had another element on our side–my Illusions. I could blind Kate. And then Ken. And then Muleater… with each of them presumably more skilled and more practiced at combat than the last.

Just how far could we take the element of surprise?

And did we want a conflict at this point? While the humans had imprisoned me, they had also healed me. And they might have been our ticket through Southbridge.

There was also another challenge. Among the civies was one Alchemist Charson, and the chemical weapon he had unleashed back at camp was still fresh in my memory.

Kate was almost upon us.

The Kaivan siblings readied their ambush.

Kissen glanced my way. I could almost imagine her shining eyes questioning me, why I had yet to join them in preparations for an ambush.

But did this need to result in a fight?

Could we win the fight? Or were the siblings desperate to go down swinging. Another look her way, at her round eyes, showed a slew of emotions, from determination, to resignation, and even a loathing hate.

They were not thinking rationally, which meant the burden of rationality fell to me.

The tip of Kate’s sword passed the threshold.

The siblings prepared to pounce.

The moment stretched out into the infinite silence between heartbeats.

My decision was made.

“Wait!” I shouted.

Blessings: Rank (1/9)

* Body: 59

* Mind: 70 (+2)

* Spirit: 46

Talents:

* Athleticism (3/9):

* Climbing I (1/9)

* Featherlight (1/9)

* Stealth (8/9)

* Trackless Tracks (5/9)

* Eschiver (1/9)

* Evasion (3/9)

Spells:

* Illusion I (2/9)

* Touch (5/9)

* Closed

* Closed

Gifts:

* Obsession (3/9)

* Closed (0/9)

* Closed (0/9)