Since hunting had resumed following Allain’s death, most of the seasoned hunters were out patrolling the bog. So the rescue party that had formed in the village consisted of individuals who processed the hides and managed the books. While less physically fit, they made up for it with their eagerness to punish Lexi’s assailant.

After catching up to Donaldson and an unconscious Lexi, some turned back to escort them to the village. Those more martial-focused continued onward to confront the monster. They may not fight boglings regularly, but they were no less brave. They would deal out vengeance against those who had hurt one of their own.

Renalia ran, leading the hunters to Papa and the lizard monster. Her body screamed at her with each step, telling her to stop and rest. While trying to save Lexi, she had pushed through her human limits with card-augmented power. But now, with her magic exhausted and her body broken, the ground seemed to pass so slowly.

She was just a powerless little girl, a small part of her mind said. She would not matter in a battle between warriors, for that was surely what was happening.

No, it does matter! If she had been just a few seconds earlier, the lizard’s spit wouldn’t have hurt Lexi. Lexi… Her heart clenched, remembering her mentor’s scream of pain.

Renalia blinked away the tears that had formed and sought reassurance from Boogie. For his safety, she had commanded that he stay next to her and not run ahead. Her glance did not comfort her though, as she noticed the lump on his head.

She knew Papa had wanted her and Boogie safe and back in the village. But while Donaldson had pointed these hunters toward Papa, they would not know the most direct path.

And every second mattered.

If she had been just a few seconds slower in reaching Lexi… If the force dome had disintegrated while fully coated… She suppressed those thoughts as her pace faltered. Granny had educated her about the importance of regulating emotions, but she didn’t have the time for it now.

She pushed to maintain the tempo, guiding the hunters onward as quickly as she could.

As she approached the battle site, she saw two monstrous forms opposing each other: stone versus scales. But there were no new pools of corrosion. And the number of javelins jutting the ground remained unchanged. As she puzzled over this, slowing her steps, the other hunters rushed past her.

Papa shrunk down to his natural human physique while the reptile’s silvery scales blurred, like a painter creating a sfumato.

“Wait,” Papa said, raising a palm at the hunters charging into battle. At the same time, color suffused through the silvery form by his side. Blues, greys, greens, browns, and splotches of other shades. Renalia gasped at the beauty of colors in motion as the rain seemed to wash away the lizard, blending it into the background.

A twang sounded out as a hunter shot an arrow at it. But the lizard disappeared and the arrow flew by without finding its target.

“Where did it go?” one hunter asked while another shouted, “Spread out!”

“Listen to me,” Papa said, as the hunters reached him and fanned out to search for their prey.

With [Bogling Sight], Renalia spotted a faint outline of a figure, as if someone had cut a lizard shape out of a painting and glued it back on the canvas.

Papa shouted, “Stop! It’s too powerful.”

Renalia bit back her words as Papa continued, pointing to the chartreuse pool. “Lexi could barely protect herself. Could any of you?”

The hunters acknowledged this piece of wisdom, some more reluctantly than others. Some of them gathered around Papa instead, peppering him with questions.

“Why is it here?” Brock, one of the older hunters, asked.

“And what did it want with you, Jabal?” asked another.

“He is–was–a soldier,” Papa said. “He came to punish me for deserting.”

“Ha, I knew Jabal was a soldier,” someone said.

“Of course he was a soldier, you dimwit. Petravians don’t come to Mireland for any other reason.”

As Renalia approached Papa, he picked her up and placed her on his back. Renalia slumped, relieved that Papa was safe and that she didn’t have to run back to the village by herself.

“Enough!” Brock shouted. “The questions can wait till we’re back at the village. Chief Cian will want to be part of it.”

Turning to one of the hunters, he said, “Geordie, you’re one of the better trackers here. See if you can pick up that reptile’s trail. Do not engage, though, just keep track of where it’s going. And form a team to relay messages.”

Geordie nodded and squatted, putting his nose to the ground where the lizard had stood.

Brock pointed to one of the younger hunters. “Grab Lexi and Donaldson’s gear. The rest of you spread out and make contact with other hunters on the way back to the village. Let’s go.”

Papa’s sudden absence of swaying woke Renalia up from her exhaustion-induced nap. They had arrived back at the village and a crowd had gathered at the church as word spread of the monster attack. It reminded her of the last time a crowd had gathered, after she accidentally broke Shim’s arm. That the crowd focused on Papa did not make it easier to bear, as loud whispers of his malicious involvement in Lexi’s injury reached both their ears.

Mama hugged her fiercely after Papa lifted her off his back and didn’t let go. But the Chief wanted to hold a meeting with the adults. Renalia probably could have insisted on inclusion as a full Hunter and based on her participation in the events.

But she wanted to check on Lexi.

The walk to Lexi and Donaldson’s house tested her resolve, as the nap had made her even more sore than before. But she bore it with a smile, hiding the discomfort as well as she had hid her hunger in the past. Lexi had more important things to worry about than her aching muscles.

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Donaldson welcomed her silently, guiding her to Lexi’s bedroom. Renalia gazed at the unconscious form of Lexi, who breathed deeply and evenly as she slept. In a whisper, Donaldson explained that, luckily, Rensto had not yet left the village after treating Brodir. So, the healer had seen to Lexi immediately.

It was a rare piece of good news, but they both remained sad, staring at a spot toward the end of the bed. There, the blanket gradually draped down onto the surface of the bed instead of forming a peak like the one next to it.

Renalia and Donaldson offered each other silent comfort by their presence, neither knowing what else to do. After some time, Brock came by, telling Donaldson that Chief Cian had some follow-up questions about the monster encounter.

Renalia left and walked to the Ongocks by herself. The rain dissipated, and the sun reappeared low in the sky. It shined directly into her eyes, annoying her. As she averted her eyes, annoyance turned to anger as it reminded her of how different the day had turned out. Usually, on the trek from the bog to the Ongocks after a hunt, the sun shone at her back.

The day had started so hopeful, with Malchim on the mend and the possibility of looting more bogling cards. But it had turned sideways, making her both angry and sad. Not even sloshing through the wet mud brought her joy, as it had when she was a child.

Absorbed with her thoughts, she almost ran into Malchim.

“Ah, Renalia, I’m heading to the church. Are you…” They regarded each other, neither certain how to start a conversation, given how the prior one had ended.

“Listen, on days like this, it’s important to be around family. Get Shim to walk you back home.”

She watched him shuffle stiffly toward the church, as if moving as a sober man needed exact control. She supposed she walked the same way now, forcing aching muscles to move.

She sighed. More walking, and with Shim, of all people.

Renalia changed out of her clothing with Marcy’s assistance. Blood, in different states of drying, covered her neck, chest, arms, and legs. Everywhere, really. Tears streamed down Marcy's face as she helped to wipe it off, despite Renalia’s assurance that most of it belonged to Brodir or the lizard.

“I’m sorry I ruined another set of clothing,” Renalia said, noticing the various holes and cuts that the lizard had made. Plus the scruffs and rips she had created by running too fast.

As if her apology broke a dam, Marcy bawled. Renalia tried to comfort the girl as best she could, wondering what happened to the brave little girl that who stood up to her drunk dad.

She helped the Ongock kids prepare dinner and checked in on Boogie before taking off with Shim.

“Are you okay?” Shim asked.

“Yes, I’m fine, just a little sore.”

“Ah, well, do you want this?” He dug into his pocket, retrieving a packet of numbingweed powder. “My arm doesn’t hurt anymore. It mostly itches now.”

Renalia snatched the medication and dumped the contents into her mouth.

“You’re supposed to take that with water.”

Renalia glared at him.

“Ah, well, I suppose you already knew that, as the herb girl.”

Renala coughed, some of the powder sticking to her throat. “Herb girl? And what am I now? Hunter girl?”

“Of course not. There is more than one girl hunter, after all. Now you’re the girl who broke a boy’s arm even though he maybe deserved it.”

Renalia chuckled despite herself. “I’m sorry, today has been… But I’m glad you’re here to walk me home.”

And she was. She was glad that Shim carried a lantern in the dusk. Her arms ached even more than her legs, unused to the bogling-style running that involved her clawed hands.

They walked in silence, Renalia busy dissolving the numbingweed powder with saliva. Maybe she should have waited until she had a glass of water. But she wasn’t about to let Shim know that.

Shim carried the lantern between them with his one good arm, mouth closed, unlike his usual talkative self. With a start, Renalia realized that Shim was purposely not bothering her with endless questions. Perhaps we’re both growing up.

“I was thinking we should form a hunting team, like Lexi suggested.”

“Are you sure?” Shim asked. “I haven’t earned my spear yet.”

Renalia shrugged. “I think it’s more important that we can support each other within a team. Being able to hunt by yourself isn’t as important. Besides, we would start off working together with L–” She gasped and stopped in her tracks. Lexi… Lexi wouldn’t be able to hunt anymore.

Shim stopped and turned to face her. “How is Lexi?”

“Her foot…” Renalia blinked back her tears.

“Lexi’s strong. She’ll be okay, you’ll see.” Shim reached over, but with his hand full, patted her back with his elbow.

It was awkward, but Renalia appreciated the gesture. And, however inelegant his attempt was, Renalia was glad he did not try to console her with his phantom hand instead.

She took a moment to collect herself before they continued.

Renalia stopped once they reached the worn path leading to her home. “Thanks for walking with me.”

“Sure,” Shim said, but he stood there instead of turning back to his house.

Before she could ask what he was doing, he leaned forward and bumped his nose into hers. Renalia blinked in surprise as their lips touched. Argh! Stupid boys!

Shim drew himself back, as if just as shocked as she was. “Ah, th-thanks, for helping with Dad last night.”

“I didn’t do anything. That was Marcy.”

“Marcy couldn’t have done it without you there.”

“Um, thanks.” Argh! What am I doing, thanking him?!

“Right, I’ll see you.”

Renalia watched Shim’s hasty retreat, the glow from the lantern swinging erratically before finally disappearing in the dark. Stupid boys and their stupid timing.

Renalia was about to turn toward the hut as a practice activation of [Bogling Hearing] caught her parents’ conversation from within. As she focused on it, the voices became louder, drowning out other sounds.

Mama said, “You’ve doomed us all.” Renalia froze, Mama’s tone sending a shiver down her spine.

“I sent him away, so he can’t hurt anybody,” Papa said.

“No, you gave them another way to find us.”

There was a brief pause, letting Renalia untangle the implications of Mama’s statement.

“I’ll leave now, I’ll go–”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mama interrupted. “I go where you go. We all go.”

There was a rustling noise, but Papa did not respond.

Renalia opened the door to find her parents embraced, their meager possessions already packed.

Mama beckoned, and Renalia joined their hug. “Are-are we leaving?”

Mama explained, “Chief Cian will leave final judgment to the Baron, but many folks don’t feel safe with our presence here. We may have to leave the village.”

Renalia, secure in the encirclement of her parents, felt emboldened to share a secret she long held. “Sometimes, I have nightmares of being chased. And-and shadows jumping out to grab me.”

She sensed her parents shift to share a glance, confirming what she had long suspected of their life before the village.

“Oh honey,” Mama said, hugging her tighter. “I’m so sorry. We tried so hard to give you a normal, stable childhood.”

“It’s okay, Mama,” Renalia said. “As long as we’re together.”