Senna stared in disgust at the creature slipping off her steel blade. The massive toad-faced monster was truly horrid, its only saving grace being the ingredients one could harvest from its corpse.

The Wolftoad collapsed in a heap at her feet, its green ichor draining into the dewy grass at the river’s edge.

“Keep yer face scrunched like that long enough, an’ you’ll get early wrinkles.” Collin’s voice teased, pulling Senna from her idle thoughts.

“Keep talking and you’ll end up uglier than you already are.” Senna shot back in a clipped and harsh voice. Her words were meant to bite, but the blonde youth beside her just laughed. His perfect white teeth drawing Senna’s ire, not for the first time.

“Fucking nobles.” Senna sharply cursed under her breath, turning away from her traveling companion.

“Excellent jest mi’lord, but I must advise you against allowing a commoner to speak to you in such a way.” Percy’s annoying chirping grated Senna’s nerves as she stomped away, approaching the river to clean her blade.

“Calm down, Percy.” Came Collins curt reply. “There is no nobility in the wilds, only man and beast. Speaking of, harvest this creature so we can move on.”

“Yessir, right away sir.”

Senna could hear the sounds of Percy’s dagger tearing the Wolftoad’s dead flesh as the young serf began dismantling the body for ingredients. A part of Senna was happy for the boy’s company, if only so she didn’t have to do such gruesome labor herself.

Her steps were soft as she neared the river, the grass helping her already trained stealth.

Senna bent down, dunking the blade under and using the frigid waters to scrub the day’s filth from her blade.

Senna couldn’t help running a thumb over a small inscription engraved into the hilt of the sword, “I miss you daddy.”

Senna spoke softly, unwilling to allow her companions the chance to eavesdrop. Her thumb raced over the engraving several more times before she finished her work and pulled the blade from the cool waters.

Senna stood, turning to see her two companions hard at work. One covered in bits of Wolftoad gore as he finished harvesting the last valuable bits of the beast, and the other lounging in the grass, seemingly without a care in the world. No doubt under the falsehood of ‘keeping an eye out’ or something along the line.

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Senna took note that Collin seemed intent on looking in her direction. No doubt ogling my ass, instead of being useful. Senna grumbled internally, her thoughts causing a rising anger to hear her stomach.

It was just like a noble brat too. The feeling of untouchability, like the world existed merely for their pleasure. Even in a place as dangerous as the wilds, he was still taking time to ravage her with his gaze.

“Fucking nobles.” Senna practically spat the words, her grip reflexively tightening on the hilt of her sword. Then, her grip relaxed and she walked back to the pair, ignoring Collin’s warm smile as she did so.

“If you’re done making a mess, we should move. It’s getting late, and I don’t plan on sleeping in the Wilds.” Senna’s tone held its usual bite, making Percy look up to meet her stony gaze.

“A commoner like yourself should have plenty of experience in the ways of sleeping outdoors. No doubt you’ve spend a fair deal of time sleeping on the streets after your father’s ‘incident’.” Percy’s gaze was hard, daring, accentuated by the green blood staining his sharp features.

Senna felt her grip once more tightening on the hilt of the sword at her waist. If her gaze had magic, Percy wouldn’t frozen over and shattered many times over. Unfortunately for Senna, the ice in her stare couldn’t frost flesh, and only seemed to spur Percy on.

“Did your father never teach you manners? Was he too busy whoring and drinking his pitiful life away? I wonder… did he ever take you for his whore?” Percy’s gaze lowered, falling onto Senna’s chest and then lowering to her waist.

Senna’s rage boiled over, her anger guiding her actions before her brain could interfere. Her sword slid loose from its sheath. The sharp steel flashing through the air toward the hateful man’s neck.

The sword was unstoppable, slashing through the skin and flesh of the man before her, but she felt no resistance. And soon, the smiling man faded to mist as a whispered voice next to her ear sent a chill running down Senna’s spine.

“So easy to anger.” Senna felt the cold steel of a blade press against her throat as Percy spoke his next words. “If it were up to me, I’d fuck you and leave you here for the beasts. Lucky for you, it’s not my decision. But be careful, accidents are all too common in the Wilds, girl.”

Percy’s final statement was accentuated by a sharp pain in her neck as his dagger sunk into Senna’s skin. Then, like nothing happened, the man was once more kneeling on the ground in front of her, finishing his bloody extraction of the Wolftoad. “Oh, and one final warning. Speak any of this to the young master, and they won’t be able to recognize your body.”

The man’s final warning seemed to restart time as Senna moved a hand to her throat. The palm came away bloody.

“Senna? Did the Wolftoad get a claw on you?” Collin’s concerned voice came from her side, making her look down at him, stupefied.

Is he just playing dumb, or did he not see?

Dread filled Senna’s frantic heart as her gaze met Percy’s, and a sinister grin stretched his features. A single bloody finger rose to cover his lips.

The meaning, all too clear to Senna.