The tension in the air thickened as we rode deeper into the forest, the trees around us closing in like looming shadows. I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, the sensation gnawing at my nerves. The horses plodded along, their hooves crunching on the fallen leaves, the only sound in the otherwise silent woods. My grip tightened on the reins, my eyes scanning the darkening forest for any sign of movement.

I had a problem. I wanted to let Maya know something was out there, but I didn’t want to make it obvious—just in case we were being watched. Maybe I could use my emotional intelligence to send her an emotion. Caution seemed like the right choice.

I reached out with my ability, trying to project a sense of caution toward her. But she didn’t seem to feel it. Or if she did, she gave no indication. It struck me as odd. I’d never attempted to feel her emotions before. I tried to respect my companions’ privacy, so I had never even tried.

Curiosity got the better of me. I reached out ever so slightly with my ability, trying to sense her emotions. But there was nothing. I couldn’t feel a thing from her. Did she know how to block me? Could someone even do that? It made sense, but still—it was unsettling. I couldn’t feel anything from her. What sorcery is this? I thought sarcastically.

I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I needed to warn her. I whistled lightly in her direction, catching her attention as she rode slightly ahead and to my right. She turned around, her eyes meeting mine, and I mouthed, “Someone’s out there.”

Maya’s reaction was immediate. She mouthed back, “Run or fight?”

There was only one answer that made sense, at least since I had arrived in the system. I mouthed back, “I don’t run.”

Her eyes darted around, her body immediately tensing as she reached for her bow. But before we could do anything else, a bandit exploded from the underbrush, his sword arcing toward me with lethal intent. I barely had time to react, raising my gauntlet sword just in time to deflect the blow. The force of the impact jarred my arm, nearly knocking me from my saddle.

“Maya, look out!” I shouted, but she was already in motion.

With fluid grace, she dismounted and drew a bow I didn’t even know she had. In one smooth motion, she notched an arrow. It must have been hidden somewhere, but I’d always assumed she used a melee weapon. Before I could process it, she let the arrow fly, striking true into the neck of a charging bandit. He dropped instantly, a gurgling choke escaping his lips as he crumpled to the ground. But there was no time to celebrate. More bandits emerged from the shadows, surrounding us, their weapons gleaming in the fading light.

I knew I was at a disadvantage on horseback, untrained in mounted combat and more likely to get myself killed if I stayed in the saddle. I made a split-second decision, spurring my horse into a gallop toward the nearest cluster of bandits. At the last moment, I kicked free of the stirrups and leapt from the horse, hitting the ground hard and rolling to my feet.

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The bandits were momentarily stunned by my unexpected maneuver, giving me a precious second to gather myself. I came up with my gauntlet sword ready, the spikes glinting menacingly as I took a defensive stance. The first bandit to rush me paid dearly for his haste. I swung the blade in a wide arc, forcing him to back off, then stepped forward and swung my axe deep into his chest. The axe crunched through bone, warm blood splattering across my arm as the bandit’s eyes widened in shock before going blank.

Maya, meanwhile, was a blur of motion. She rolled to avoid a wild swing from another bandit, coming up with her bow drawn. Her arrow pierced the eye of her assailant, dropping him where he stood. As more bandits closed in, she seamlessly switched to her short swords, slicing through them with lethal precision.

I yanked my axe free from the fallen bandit, it was slick with blood. Another attacker came at me, and I met him head-on, driving the spikes of my gauntlet into his shoulder. He screamed as I tore the weapon free, the jagged metal shredding muscle and sinew.

But in the chaos, one bandit managed to slip past my guard, his blade slashing across my side. Pain flared up, sharp and immediate, but I gritted my teeth and fought through it. My tattoo’s regenerative powers kicked in, knitting the wound together as I countered with a brutal downward strike, cleaving my attacker’s skull. He fell to the ground, his body twitching in the dirt.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the air, and Maya’s head snapped up. “Archers!” she shouted, her voice urgent.

I barely had time to react before the first volley of arrows came raining down. I dove behind a tree, the arrows thudding into the ground where I’d stood moments before. Maya ducked behind a boulder, firing back with deadly accuracy, taking out two of the archers before they could release another shot.

But more bandits were closing in on the ground, trying to overwhelm us with sheer numbers. I refused to be pinned down. With a battle cry, I charged out from behind the tree, swinging my gauntlet sword and axe in a wide arc. They took turns slicing through flesh and bone as I cut down the bandits in my path. One came at me with a wild swing, but I used my Telekinesis to subtly redirect his attack, then drove my axe deep into his stomach. He gasped, blood bubbling from his mouth as he collapsed.

Maya, always quick on her feet, noticed the archers’ positions in the trees above. She reached into her pack, pulling out a flask of oil. With a swift motion, she hurled it into the branches, drawing her bow and shattering the flask with a well-placed shot. The oil ignited instantly, flames roaring to life as the archers screamed, either burning alive or falling from the branches in a desperate attempt to escape the inferno.

The remaining bandits, shaken by the sudden firestorm and the loss of their comrades, began to flee. I wasn’t about to let them go so easily. With Maya covering me, I pressed the attack, cutting down a few more as they retreated into the forest. Their panicked cries echoed through the trees, fading into the night as the last of them disappeared.

Finally, the forest fell silent, save for the crackling of burning trees and the distant sound of the bandits’ retreat. I took a moment to catch my breath, my heart still pounding from the adrenaline. Maya was already scanning the area, her bow still drawn, ready for any stragglers.