As Bambo kept watch, the three of us rested inside the tent. It felt weird lying between Kayle and Bretta. Bretta for her part was already fast asleep. That left Kayle and me alone. Needless to say I couldn’t fall asleep.

“You know-” Kayle started. “How much do you know about the village anyway?” It was rare for him to start a conversation with me. From yesterday all he did was just tease me and rebuke me.

“How much? What do you mean?”

“I mean- Ah!“ He grumbled and scratched his head as he sat down. “About how our population stays the same and how sometimes people disappear.” He didn’t want to talk about it. But he still said it.

If I said I didn’t know I’d be lying. My own mother disappeared seven years ago. We thought she was dead, and that was it. But deep down I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t accept it. “This is between you and me but I think people get sick of the village and leave.”

Kayle smiled. “If only it was that simple.” This was the first time I saw him smile in general. There was no taunt, there was no sneer. He stood up and went to the entrance of the tent. “If only it was that simple.” I heard him whisper.

Kayle left the tent shouting, “Fatty, you’re up.” But he wasn’t nice, that much was for sure.

A moment later Bambo came inside and fell asleep almost immediately.

Honestly, I envied people who could sleep so soundly and so soon.

But. Yeah, my eyes kind of glued together too.

***

“Wake up-” A hushed voice. “Wake up!” I jerked awoke. Bretta was shaking me by the shoulder. “It’s time.”

I didn’t even have time for a yawn as they dragged me out of the tent. The tent and our traces were gone in a flash. They really worked fast.

I shouldn’t have fallen asleep. I was even more tired than ever.

I feel so groggy.

“Deal with it.” Kayle brushed past me. He didn’t seem tired at all. Actually none of them did. Maybe I was the odd one?

I couldn’t complain and followed their example.

It was quiet and apart from the insects all I heard was the pyre in my hand. Occasionally wolves would howl. But we were far enough to cross them off of our enemy list. Most nocturnal monsters were afraid of fire, so we were safe, somewhat.

They guys themselves were quiet. “Are monsters in the night different?”

“Shh!” Bretta gave me a stern look. “Keep your voice low from now. Nocturnal monsters are worse.” She whispered in a hushed tone. “Most will just run away from the fire. But if we ran into a vampire….” Bretta didn’t finish and just stared at my eyes. I got the point and nodded.

Worse?

My face felt chilly, as though the blood from my skin drained. I’d heard about vampires before. Twelve years ago three vampires had devastated the village and killed hundreds. My grandfather was among the dead. So I knew how terrifying those critters were.

Eventually we made it to the shore. Grandfather. What a liar you were! But I didn’t fault him for lying. If I didn’t believe him for telling that the sea was a hundred times bigger than our pond than I wouldn’t have believed him if he said it was infinite either. I couldn’t even see the edge. And since it was a moonlit night I could see almost as good as the day, but still I couldn’t get enough.

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The water glistened; the far edges shrouded in mist-

It’s amazing.

“What’s on the other side?” I whispered.

“You don’t want to know,” Bambo whispered back.

“Look sharp.” Kayle readied his sword. “There they are.”

There were three long streamlined fish close to the shore basking in the moonlight. They had no care in the world. Dolphinos.

Streamlined, fat fish- the size of half a man-

Utterly delicious and pricy.

“Don’t they know they’d get targeted?” I whispered.

“They do but they’re not defenseless. Look-“ Bretta pointed at the sea. There were countless red dots in the water.

“Those are?”

“Flesh eating fish. Dolphinos are delicious to monsters. So when monsters come for their flesh the fish eat them. That’s why they don’t attack the Dolphinos.”

Then how-

Kayle gave a big grin before running straight to the spot. “Well we just have to avoid them then.”

Bretta sighed. “He’s always like that.”

Bambo grinned as well and went behind him. “I’ll join you.”

Bretta sighed again. “I’ll cover you, I guess.” She wasn’t very enthusiastic.

“Um… What should I-“

“Stay put. Those two have it covered.” Bretta’s focus was solely on the red dots. She didn’t even glance once at me.

I watched from the shore, keeping an eye out for monsters. But nothing was around. Nothing.

The two waited for the clouds to cover the moon- and then jumped in-

It was kind of strange. Weren’t nocturnal monsters supposed to be worse? I wasn’t missing the monsters in the least. But I wasn’t expecting it to be this easy either. But I was glad if nothing else.

Bretta manipulated time and it was easy for Kayle and Bambo to strike the Dolphinos.

They both caught two and were about to come out.

“Look out!” The words escaped my mouth before I even realized.

Something was behind them. Something I couldn’t see-

Kayle dodged and Bambo blocked the impact with his shield. But the shield broke down and his left arm fell far from him. “ARGHHHH!” He screamed with all his might but a second later got silenced. His head was now missing. As his lifeless body fell on the shore, the ground and water become colored in crimson.

I stood there, a little dazed.

Someone just died.

Just like that?

Tears rolled down Bretta’s face as she held her hand tight. “Kayle do it!”

Kayle grit his teeth and a murderous aura hung in the air. His movements were at least twice as fast as before. He struck the thing and back stepped.

“A healer who can wield time? interesting. You’ll be a wonderful feast.” The thing spoke human words. I never heard of a monster speaking with humans. This was incomprehensible. But the thing did look humanoid: it was covered in scales and probably came out of the water.

The thing dashed towards us at lightning speed. Kayle’s speed paled in comparison.

Time felt slowed. My mind snapped back to reality as Bretta started to push me away from her. She’s saving me…. But I held my ground. I only had one good spell. Fire! I focused every last ounce of my strength to my fingertips and a ball of fire burned. The monster was very close and I hit it with everything I had. After launching the spell I took out my knife and stood between it and Bretta. If I ran away and they die, I’ll never become a hunter…. I won’t be able to face my sisters!

“Impressive but not good enough.” The monster stood in front of me. The clouds finally moved and moonlight shined once more. I saw it; two golden eyes, two horns, one mouth with countless needles, and fins. A half fish, half man.

“Why?”

The thing grinned and showed its needle like teeth. Its hands had sharp claws. It probably used them to cut through Bambo’s shield. If that hits me, I’m dead. But I had to hold my ground. I just had to.

Yet, my feet shook-

My hand shook-

My whole did too.

Breath going all over-

Almost as though my lungs had forgotten how to breathe-

“Argh!” Kayle screamed from behind it and tried to cut the monster. But it evaded. It gave kayle a tap on his back and he fell on the ground.

“I always save the dessert for last.” The monster sliced me. I didn’t see it coming. I couldn’t dodge, I couldn’t move. Blood rushed out and I fell on the floor.

“Sorry-”I managed.

Bretta looked at me with teary eyes. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’ll join him soon enough.” The monster didn’t waste time and bit Bretta’s neck. It sucked the blood out of her. But she, instead of struggling, held her wand my way, and smiled.

My conscience sipped away as the burst of white warm light embraced me.