It’s raining.

The earthy, metallic smell of the Abyss’ rain is, for once, a welcome reprieve, slowly washing away the pungency of the hawk’s corpse that hung like a curse over Haven for the past few days.

Nate’s funeral was yesterday. Almost the whole village took part in it, so for the first time, I saw nearly every face of Haven in one place. The kitchen staff, the farmers, the two dozen or so children from the schoolhouse. As best I could count, a bit over 50 people were present.

I never really got the chance to know Nate. I saw him when I first arrived, but after that, our paths rarely crossed. He always seemed to be on the other side of town, or the other side of the tavern, or the other side of the street.

If anything, he kinda came off as an asshole.

But people cried. Han cried. He was inconsolable; to Han, Nate was the older brother he never had.

Nate’s remains were cremated on a pyre in the shadow of the Crystalfall, and his ashes washed downstream, past the bathing pools and disappearing down into the labyrinthine caves of the Cellars. Although the rain is erasing the carrion hawk’s stench, it only darkens the cloud of despondency that has come to lay upon Haven since Nate’s passing.

But what can I, the odd one out, do to lift people’s spirits? A couple people thanked me for slaying the hawk and avenging Nate, but some seem even less trusting of me, which… I can’t blame them for; I nearly decapitated a giant bird with nothing but a spear and my wings. I probably looked terrifying. Maybe as monstrous as that bird.

There’s nothing I can do besides sitting here, watching the fireplace crackle in the Chief’s library, waiting for orders. Or a request. Or, anything really, given the Chief has been standing by the window, staring out of it for the past hour.

“Uh, Chie-”

“What?” She cuts me off before I can even get a word out. Eep.

“Is… everything alright? Normally you’d have a task for me-”

“I do, but someone isn’t here yet.” She cuts me off again.

The silence hangs for a moment, before she sighs, leaning against the wall.

“Morale was already low before you got here, and it’s been declining day by day. The hawk attack and Nathaniel’s death has brought morale down to a critical level. Something has to be done about it… Ah.” The Chief perks up, spotting someone through the window, and then storming downstairs, grumbling out loud.

… Should I follow her down? She just left without saying anything directly to me- Ah. She’s coming back up. With Rann? Wait…

“Rann!”

“Hawk-slayer.” Rann responds.

“Ah, you were told..?”

Rann walks over, taking a seat across from me and resting his large, flat-tipped greatsword against the side of his chair, while the Chief sits in her lounge chair, crossing her arms and legs and side-eyeing Rann.

“You certainly took your time.” She grumbles.

“Yes. I had to take a side route to get back safely.” Rann answers, scratching his chin. “A Bloodbeast has staked his territory not too far out from Haven. A young one too. Fit, and in his prime.”

The Chief turns to look at Rann, a mix of shock and annoyment on her face.

“You can’t be serious.” She starts; “Surely, I don’t have to remind you how dangerous the top predator of the Abyss is, especially a young one on freshly claimed territory in its prime.”

Rann leans forward in his chair.

“I’ll tell you what I didn’t tell the gate guards. It’s barely half a day’s walk from Haven. Sooner or later, it’s going to wander too close to town, pick up the scent, and we’ll have a much larger problem on our hands.” Rann says.

The Chief slumps back into her chair, rubbing her temples and groaning.

“Tell me you have some good news, Rann…” She sighs, staring up at the ceiling.

“It’s got a limp. Tells me that this one clearly lost a fight elsewhere, and had to claim an area unfit for its appetite. It’s wounded and currently, reclusive. If we want to get the most out of it, we strike sooner, not later.” Rann turns to look at me.

“It’ll be a hunt. Me and the expedition team. And you’re coming along, Marina.” He says.

“I… I am?”

“I was told you flew through the air and struck with such force you nearly decapitated a carrion hawk. All while screaming.” Rann raises an eyebrow slightly.

“It was more of an assisted jump than flying, and I definitely was not screaming…”

“You screamed a bit, Marina. It’s probably necessary when doing something as dangerously stupid as that.” The Chief shoots me a look.

“Okay, but… is this where I ask what exactly is a bloodbeast? I’ve heard it mentioned a few times, but I don’t know what to expect other than… a very bloody beast?”

Rann chuckles; that dry, rocks-tumbling-around-in-a-metal-tray chuckle.

“You know what a bear is, yes?” The Chief asks.

“Big, fuzzy, huge paws, look cute from a distance but they’ll rip you in half if you get close..”

“I’ve… never found them cute, but, a bloodbeast is like a bear, only twice as big at least, covered in blood-red fur, and strong enough to knock a house over.” She answers.

“I think they’re cute.” Rann grins. The Chief glares at him.

“... Alright, next question; what or who actually is the… expedition team?”

“The people that found you, Marina. Eight members of Haven that venture beyond the palisade under my leadership to hunt and gather resources not found inside Haven. You stumbled into our camp as we were making our way back after an unsuccessful hunt.”

“Is it… a punishment to be on the expedition team?”

“Most see it as an honour. Many would jump at the opportunity to join a Bloodbeast hunt. Permanent members are established by unanimous votes from the council. Temporary members, like you, only need the Chief and I’s approval.” Rann chuckles to himself.

“Approval I have yet to give, Rann…” The Chief says, a slight growl in her voice as she crosses her arms.

“Have the people of Haven ever hunted a Bloodbeast before?”

“Three times in its history. All three occasions suffered numerous losses of life and left many lifelong injuries.” She answers, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “But this occasion… may be necessary. There are no books on hunting a bloodbeast, however, and the previous ventures—the last of which was several decades ago—left no notes on the matter.”

“You said it yourself, Chief. It’s a bear. I’ve hunted bears before. Last time I did an inventory of the armoury, we have two bear spears we can use.” Rann says.

“Two what spears? I know of no such things in the armoury’s inventory.” The Chief interjects.

Rann raises an eyebrow slightly.

“Surely, our illustrious and highly educated noble Chief, you recognised the long, heavy wooden shafts topped with large, leaf-shaped iron tips as bear spears; spears made for the sole task of stopping a bear in its tracks?” He questions, with a sincere tone but a slight, self-satisfied grin.

“Forgive this sheltered, pampered noble child for not knowing what makes an otherwise ordinary spear a “bear spear”. If you have a plan, Rann, now is the time to share it.” The Chief sighs.

For someone with such a gruff, serious look and a gravelly voice, Rann seems to enjoy teasing the other council members when no one else is around.

The Chief, meanwhile, has made clear that she doesn’t like this situation, but it seems we have little choice but to act before things get worse.

“I lead the expedition team, along with Marina, out on a hunt. We track it down, find it, corner it. Lure it into the open. I get its attention; I’ll have the first bear spear. We’ll have nets and bows. Once we’ve got it held in place, preferably with my spear down its throat, Marina strikes from above, jumping on its back and driving a spear through the back of its head. Two spears through the brain will kill anything fast enough.” Rann lays out his plan, leaning back in his chair.

I- I’ll be what? I’ll be what? I’ll be striking from above? Landing on a giant killer bear? The thought of it is making me shake. Even my wings have crept out from their cloak and are shaking by my sides.

“Hmm… so you’re keeping everyone but yourself at a safe distance until the Bloodbeast’s held down, then you and Marina will finish it off in one fell swoop?” The Chief ponders this for a moment. “Sounds simple. Too simple.”

“What’s this about me jumping on and killing a bear…?” I mumble to myself.

“It’ll be carried out over several days, setting everything up. I followed it back to its lair and watched it for two days; it didn’t leave, and it likely still hasn’t left. I’d be putting myself in the most danger; I wouldn’t ask anyone to do what I wouldn’t.” Rann crosses his arms.

“I know you’re not underestimating the amount of danger you’re putting yourself in, Rann, but your plan hinges on a fluke. If one rope tears, if one spear doesn’t find its mark, it may be the end for all of you. If it’ll inevitably wander towards Haven, it’d be safer to plan a defence with the expedition team, the town guard, and myself. Walking into its own lair is too great a risk to too many lives.” The Chief shoots back.

“Isn’t the fluke me managing to jump on and kill the bear..?” I mutter, which apparently no-one hears.

“If we let it wander near town, it’ll destroy everything in its path, leaving the route to Haven open, to anything, and anyone.” Rann narrows his gaze. “That isn’t an option.”

“When you asked if you could “borrow” Marina for expeditions, I was expecting her first venture beyond the walls to be a trek to the sweet-tree grove, or hunting Jackhorns, not taking on the largest beast in the Abyss! Yes, she helped kill the carrion hawk, but there’s a massive jump from fighting a pinned-down carrion hawk to taking on a bloodbeast!” The Chief gestures towards me while looking at Rann.

“I uh, don’t have a lot of confidence in managing a jump like that so soon…”

Rann looks at me, gesturing to my wings.

“Your wings seem plenty confident.” He points out.

Wait, I thought my wings were shaking because of how nerve wracking the idea of jumping on the back of a giant killer bear is, not… are you jittering with excitement?! No- don’t flap like you’re nodding your head! What, have you figured out the secret of flight already?!

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As I tussle with my overly excitable wings, Rann chuckles to himself, looking back at the Chief.

“She’s proven herself capable enough with a spear. I’m not dragging her into open combat; all she’ll be doing is striking the finishing blow. I’m not about to put your prized errand girl in harm’s way.” He lets out another chuckle.

The Chief allows herself one more quiet sigh, before relenting.

“I’ll allow you to carry out this hunt if you answer one more question. Once you kill the bloodbeast, as you say you will, how exactly are you hauling it back to Haven?” She asks.

“We’ll have a sled, and eight fit bodies to pull it.” Rann answers.

The Chief glances across at me.

“Looks like you’re going hunting, Marina.” She smiles, but I wouldn’t call it a comforting smile. Her smile quickly fades as she turns back to Rann.

“Actually, I have one condition. Bring Han along.” The Chief says, taking a more serious tone. “Hiding in the dorm house staring at Nathaniel’s empty bed all day isn’t doing him any good.”

Rann leans back, pondering.

“Hmm… I’ll try. He’s a good eye with a bow, from what Vann’s told me. For now, I’ll go prepare the sled and equipment we need. Marina, go check on Han for me. He might be more open to listening to the girl who avenged Nate’s death.” Rann stands up, grabbing his sword and hefting it over his back, heading towards the stairs.

“Wait, what am I supposed to say to Han? Do I just tell him he’s coming with us?”

“You can.” Rann shrugs, heading down the stairs and leaving the Chief’s library.

The Chief gets up, looking across at me.

“Just see how he’s going. Don’t push him too hard, but he needs a change of pace to get out of the slump he’s in.” She says.

I turn to head out to do the task assigned to me, only for the Chief to clear her throat to get my attention. I stop, turning back to look at her as we both listen to Rann leave.

“He’s lying.” She sighs to herself, rubbing her forehead.

“About what?”

“About how close this bloodbeast is. It’s likely much further away than a half day’s march, and certainly not close enough to pose a serious threat to Haven.”

“But…” Right. The Chief is a soulseer. She can read someone’s emotions and intentions, she can see when someone is lying. Rann, obviously, must know this as well. “But why would he lie to you when we both know you can see right through that?”

“He was spinning the story to tell the rest of Haven.” She answers. “You heard me before. Morale is dangerously low. A horrific beast assaulted Haven itself, killed one of us, and continues to assault us with its lingering stench which refuses to dissipate. People need to feel safe to be happy, to be productive. This isn’t a state of affairs I can afford to tolerate as Haven’s Chief. Something has to be done.”

“And what Rann found might just be that something?”

“It’s certainly… something. It’s dangerous, almost foolhardy, but he wouldn’t suggest it if he wasn’t confident it could be done.”

“Are you… confident I can do my part in it?”

“No.” She curtly answers. “Which is why I’ll need to see some evidence of your ability. As much as I miss the taste of meat, I’m not approving of this mission until I’m more certain it will succeed.”

“Do you have any idea what a “bloodbeast” even tastes like…?”

“No, I don’t, but that’s beside the point. It’s not so much the meat, tallow, fur, or bones that we stand to gain, but the act of the hunt itself. The bloodbeast is the top of the food chain in the Abyss. People don’t need to know that it’s young, or that it’s already wounded. It’s a predatory monster, and proving we can kill one will assuage people’s fear for our safety.”

“So why did he tell you and me the lie if you knew what he really meant?”

“He was testing the story. The only issue I found was the plan itself. Once that’s proven to me, I have no further issue with it. I do mean to get Han out of here for a bit to hopefully clear his head, but bringing someone who isn’t a usual part of the expedition team will help spread the story. That a beast is threatening Haven, but we’ll set out and defeat it before it gets any closer.”

“Then you… also trust me with keeping the story straight?”

She gives me a sideways glance. “You’re capable of keeping secrets. I can trust you that far.”

“An enchanted cloak certainly helps hide things…”

“I wasn’t talking about your wings.” She clarifies, looking directly at me. The constant, slight shifts of her gold-and-silver eyes are something I’ve noticed she does whenever she looks straight at someone. As a soulseer, she must see more than just their face. I don’t know how deep into my thoughts and feelings she can perceive, but…

There’s definitely something she’s noticed in me that she’s left unmentioned. Something that… I apparently can’t hide from her, no matter how hard I try.

“Don’t worry, Marina.” She sighs softly, relaxing her shoulders and looking across at the fireplace. “We all have things we keep to ourselves. I won’t pry.”

“It must be bothersome, being able to see those things people keep to themselves.”

“It’s nothing specific.” She waves off my concern. “Just the pointer that there is something they want to keep hidden. Besides, I believe you were asked to go check on Han.”

I nod, turning to head down the stairs once again.

…

Alright.

Just talk to him, see how he’s going, ask if he wants to come hunt a giant murder bear.

On paper it’s easy, but here I am, having spent the last five minutes awkwardly standing outside the two-story dorm house, psyching myself up to go talk to the guy who just watched his mentor die right in front of him. Right.

“You have faced many challenges, but one such as this is where you falter?” A familiar voice says, breaking my focus.

“I don’t know how to comfort someone in situations like this, okay? Nor asking them if they want to risk their life doing the same thing that got their friend killed…”

“You showed great courage, child. Courage is inspiring to others.”

“It was more a heat of the moment decision, but if you say so…”

I turn to stare directly at the hooded old man, sitting on the bench and smiling up at me.

“I was wondering when you’d turn up, after you disappeared last time.”

“You were lost, child. I simply showed you a way forward.”

“The way forward to Haven, it seems. I don’t suppose you live here, too?”

“You are much more at home here than I ever could be.” His smile fades, looking wistfully down the street, towards the Crystalfall.

“Any presents this time, or are you simply offering your counsel?”

The old man smiles knowingly.

“You have all you need, child. There is nothing I could give you that you do not already have.”

Yeah, the evasive answer I was expecting. Actually, now that I’m meeting him inside town, can anyone else see him here? I look up and down the street - empty - and as I turn to look back at the old man,

“Yep. He’s gone.” I sigh.

If he didn’t give me this physical, tangible cloak that others have touched, I’d be convinced he was a figment of my imagination.

Oh well. I’ll go in, get this done with.

I enter the dorm house; internally it’s one large room with a few tables and chairs, but otherwise it’s wall to wall with beds.

One bed, right in the corner, has someone curled up on it, facing the wall. If there’s only one person in here, then that’s probably Han.

I quietly make my way over, sitting down on the bed across from Hans. He doesn’t respond, or even notice my presence. Gods, how do I start this…

My left wing slips out from under the cloak, slowly reaching over to try and touch- hey don’t you do that!

As I swat my wing for trying to touch or… maybe tickle Han’s back, he stirs, rolling over enough to look at me with one eye.

“Marina…?” He mumbles, before sitting up and looking straight at me.

“Ah, hi, Han… how’re you… holding up?”

“Well… I’m alive, Nate’s dead… Just like he told me, one day, he’d die down here… I never thought it’d be this soon.” He shrugs despondently.

“I’m… sorry for your loss.”

“I sobbed like a child… you saw, everyone saw.” Han chuckles, in an obvious self-deprecating tone.

“That’s a pretty normal response to losing someone important to you. No one would look down on you for it.”

“Hah..” Han scoffs. “My father would have beaten me severely for that public outburst of emotion-”

“But your father’s not here, is he?”

Han blinks as I cut him off.

“N… no…?” He stammers out.

“So screw what he thinks. You’re dead. I’m dead. Who cares what the living think?”

Han stares at me like I’ve said something nonsensical.

“You sure take the fact that we’re in hell in stride, huh…” He says, staring at me quizzically.

“Honestly, the fact that we’re in hell is the least of my concerns”

Yes, wings, you’re one of my bigger concerns. Stop trying to touch everything in reach before you knock something over.

“I assume you wanted something with me, then.” Han asks.

“Am I not allowed to come and check on you out of concern and my own goodwill?”

“Yeah, I don’t buy that for a second.” Han stares back at me.

Shit, he saw straight through it. Guess I’ll just go straight to the truth…

“Rann found a young and wounded bloodbeast half a day’s walk from Haven. He wants both you and I to join the expedition team, hunt the bloodbeast, and bring it back to Haven.”

“The captain of the expedition team wants me to join him for a hunt?” Han repeats.

“Yes?”

“Really?” He follows.

“He said something about you being a good archer, and that we’ll need those?”

Han goes quiet, looking down at his hands in his lap.

Yeah, I didn’t think he’d just take that.

“I’ll do it.” He says, looking up at me excitedly.

“You will?”

“Are you kidding me? You’re asking me to join a hunt! Everybody who’s not already on the expedition team dreams of going on a hunt! Seeing the world beyond the walls of Haven! Even if it’s only a half day’s walk, any chance to get out of town is one you take the moment you see it!” Han’s so excited he almost jumps out of bed at me.

“But, didn’t we all start outside Haven’s walls…?”

“I was five. I don’t remember any of that. Besides, we’re going out to do something, not aimlessly wander and get lost.” Han scoffs a little.

Five? Five. Fuck, how did he survive out there?

“When do we leave? I can gather my things right now. I’ll grab my bow from the armoury, and help pack supplies, and-” Han starts prattling off everything he’ll bring and everything he’ll do.

“Uhh, tomorrow, I think. I’ll go find Rann and ask when he plans on leaving, you just… err…”

“I’ll come with you. He’s probably in the armoury checking things himself, and you likely haven’t been told where the armoury is.” Han gets up out of bed, fixing his ruffled shirt.

“I slept in a room behind the armoury.”

“Ah-” Han stops in his tracks, his confidence shattered by my bullet of truth.

When he’s so earnest like this, he reminds me of my little brother, in a way. Oh well, if he really wants to come…

“I’m not going to stop you from coming if you want to. I want to see how big this bear spear I’m supposed to wield is…”

“You’ll be bringing a bear spear?” He asks.

“Yes. Apparently, I’m supposed to jump on the bloodbeast’s back once you, Rann and the others pin it so I can deliver the killing blow.”

“... It was nice knowing you, Marina.” Han nods solemnly.

This little- one moment he’s mourning someone’s death, then the next he’s joking about mine?

“If you want to come then hurry up, or I’ll leave you here to wallow in your misery.” I call back over my shoulder, heading towards the door.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming! And-” I hear Han clamber out of bed, running to catch up to me.

“And?” I turn back to look at him.

“Thanks, Marina.” He smiles.

Since when are teenage boys this earnest? They’re supposed to be older than me, yet I feel like the older sibling here.

“You can thank me once we make it back to Haven alive, Han. Even with Rann’s assurances, this still feels like a suicide mission.”

“For you, maybe. I’ll be at a safe distance with bow in hand.” Han shrugs.

“Can you show even a little concern for me? I’ve been more-or-less forced into this role.”

“You flew through the air and nearly cut off that hawk’s head in one blow. You’re doing the same with the Bloodbeast. Your job’s the easy part.” Han raises an eyebrow, like me being concerned over this makes me weird.

Well… my job is to spear the back of the bear’s neck when it’s pinned and distracted by everybody else, and it’ll already have a spear in its mouth and all its attention focused on Rann. Jumping on top of it and driving a spear through its neck isn’t too hard, I guess. I’m attacking it from an angle where it doesn’t have teeth or claws. I hope.

Besides, if the spear alone isn’t enough, you’ll help finish the job, won’t you, wings?

My wings give a shiver, clinking their metallic blade-feathers together in affirmation. You can just rub my neck or something to say yes, wings. Don’t do… that. That sounds weird. Anyway.

Let’s just hope things go as planned.