‘Hyo, the Biter horde is about ten miles north of your position. The winds in their face so they shouldn’t get any scent of you. That is, assuming these things still have noses.

The northlands were barren, even before the Break. But not long after the northern barony established themselves, they were able to create trade with the south as well as their neighbors further to the north.

Now, where there was previously empty plainslands, there were trees. Massive things that grew from hard earth before stretching and twisting their branches into the sky. The few outsiders who saw it thought it was a marvel of genetic engineering. Somehow, in the chaos after the break, the northern barony had developed vegetation that could survive in the harsh and dry climates of the north.

But the northern barons were a secretive lot and few invitations allowed outsiders into their lands. Even without the extremities of the cold wintering winds, the mountains surrounding the small kingdom were nearly impassable. So there were no samples of the vegetation taken back for study down south. No one looked closely enough at the trees to see what they were.

Henry had explored enough of the facilities to know better. The trees hadn’t been developed from other hardy stock or perhaps by splicing different genomes together. They hadn’t been developed at all. They were transplants.

How’s the ex-wife? he taunted.

Seunghyo ignored the question. It was hard to remember not working with Henry. And for that he hated the man. He longed for the day that he would never see the Frenchman again. He was tired of the incessant talking. Henry wasn’t just a sociopathic murderer, he was a talkative one.

Henry, is there anything else out here with us?

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

In response the shadow walker narrowed his eyes. His perception skills weren’t as effective during the day, but he could still spot enemies at a distance better than most.

There was a small group of Biters here somewhere, but… Henry’s ‘voice’ trailed off.

Instinctively, Seunghyo’s eyes scanned the horizon looking for any sign of movement. His perception skills were movement based, so anything that was motionless out there wouldn’t be highlighted in his vision.

Sorry, kid. I lost track of them.

He cursed the Frenchman under his breath. He glanced back at his traveling companions. They’d been silent since leaving the structure. On the one hand, there was certainly some tension between Hana and her brother. But it was more likely they were talking over clan chat. And there wasn’t any reason to use clan chat unless they were keeping information from someone outside the clan. Namely, him.

‘Hyo, I need to move up and prepare the welcome party. The horde’s moving east away from your position. I don’t see anything out here, but I caught something on the wind a few hours ago.

Seunghyo snorted derisively. Henry, we’ve been up here for days. IF there was something else out here, we’d have seen it by now, don’t you think?

Henry smiled to himself. The boy was an optimist. But Henry knew better.

Seunghyo, listen up. You know as well as I do that these scientists left the door open too damned long for something not to have come through. Watch your back.

After a moment’s silence, Seunghyo saw the hint of a shadow move in the horizon. Just thinking back to the door they’d found sent shivers down his spine. He’d been briefed on what the barony had been up to before he was sent in, but seeing the reality was worse than he could’ve imagined.

Seunghyo had arrived in a team of five close to Pyong-gang. After making a horrific discovery in the depths of the capital, they’d made a hasty retreat. It took them a day and a half of travel before they stopped at the gate-lock chambers. They were so certain they’d lost the wraith that had been hunting them.

And now, he was heading back to the source of it all with Hana in tow.

Goddamn it, he thought to himself. Forgive me, Hana.