Hua Gongzhu resented her aging body as she resisted against the weight of the spear digging into her hands. Fresh blood seeped between the cracks of her fingers, lubricating her weapon and worsening her grip until it slipped free. In that breath, the wall of fur she was barely keeping at bay shifted enough that the polished ebony splintered before exploding in front of her.

In the three years since the accident with her grandson her abilities have declined faster than the decade before. Age and old injuries taking many things from her, but not her instinct. This time, it was telling her not to breathe. With only a shattered weapon, her life depended on her ability to freeze completely, to become the most life-like statue carved from worn jade.

The creature rose back on its hind legs and stared blankly at the small group of elites. For a moment Gongzhu thought about how the way the giant rodent tucked its arms closely to its chest was cute. Or it would have been if their opponent wasn’t nearly twice their size. Its face twitched as it lazily sniffed around, the pointed nose following an invisible path before settling on a new target and the creature darted away towards the forest.

Elder Hua stopped a younger warrior who had recently joined the squad from making the mistake of going after it. Victory wasn’t worth the risk to chase an enemy into those woods. The beast had found an easier meal within a more advantages terrain where it had the freedom to move three dimensionally unlike them. As far as she was concerned their battle was over.

A grizzled voice interrupted the rhythm of the groups huffs. “I hate rodents the most. They’re too cowardly and nimble for their kind.”

“I know what you mean, if only the ancestors could bless us with a fat and lazy enemy. Then the whole village would be eating good at least.” A gluttonous warrior chimed in.

The tension finally leaving their bodies as they began scavenging the field for broken and abandoned weapons.

“Regardless… It’s still…” she sputtered, “Important to make sure… they don’t… get too close to the village.”

Her squad could clearly tell that her age seemed to be catching up to the elder. Normally she would be able handle an opponent of this level on her own with the rest of the hunting party there to learn. At this rate, if she couldn’t advance soon then she never would and her next fight would be with an enemy unique to humans, mortality.

Her second in command, Zhang Zhao, stepped up and continued her warning. “Master is right, even if that Shou isn’t as violent as some others, it could still cause an untold number of deaths in the village. Whether it’s by getting into the food stores and starving us out, or carrying who knows what kind of diseases. It is for the best that we remain vigilant until we return.”

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He tightly bowed to Elder Hua as if to ask, ‘was that good enough?’

Hua Gongzhu smiled and waved him off, signaling for him to do checks of the equipment without the others knowing.

“If it did eat all of our food I bet I could find a way to make it taste good.” The gluttonous warrior mumbled.

The elder brushed her locks from her face before flatly responding, “That’s because despite your girlish figure you truly live up to your name, Chanzui.”

Several of the men laughed as they jostled around the small woman.

“You can’t make it that easy.” Teased the grizzled warrior.

“Come on, you know Master is clever. But you can’t just give it to her.”

Zhao nodded to her from the back. Their master let out an almost imperceptible breath before returning her own dejected nod.

“Gather up slackers! We took no losses today and only minor damage and broken weapons! For that you’ll be rewarded with an extra catty of meat in tonight’s meal. Now, double time it back to the barracks.”

The warriors began racing each other to the village, more than one of them almost losing the gear they had collected.

“And stay in formation or you will spend the rest of the evening in an iron chair!” He called out.

“You should join them.” The elder smiled.

“I’d rather wait here with you Master, I don’t doubt your abilities. But, it’s not wise even for the most seasoned warrior to remain out here alone too long. On top of that, you carried more than your fair share during the hunt.” His guilt welled up as he looked at her blood stained hands.

“It is a mother’s joy to care for her children until they can care for themselves. Don’t worry about me, worry about which one of them will have to sit on the air during dinner.” She thumbed back towards the village.

“As you wish, Master.” Zhao gathered his pack and started off after the others. “But don’t take too long or we’ll have to come right back to carry you. It may be your pleasure to worry about us, but it is a child's joy to repay their parent’s love.” He waved off as his back disappeared into the tall grass.

Hua Gongzhu stared off into the east and focused on her breathing until she could no longer sense her squad nearby. She deeply inhaled through her nose, clutching her side as she did. And then doubled over the boulder as she exhaled.

Blood filled vomit painted the side of the rock.

She quickly rummaged through her satchel for the last bottle of her medicine until next month's caravan. Her blurred vision of no use and her fingers ignoring her every command. Until finally the lid popped off and its contents scattered inside.

One. Two. Three… Ten more to last me. She thought to herself. As long as it keeps working.

The old warrior settled her weight onto her side and scooped both hands into her satchel until she felt one of the pills in her palms. She looked like a beggar, eagerly shoveling whatever food she was given into her mouth. The usually bitter taste she had gotten used to had an added salty flavor today.