A couple of hours later, Bento slowed his horse and called the group to a stop.\
“Finally,” Kellen huffed, wiping the sweat from his brow. “We’ve been walking for hours. You know, if you wanted us to get there faster, you could’ve gotten us horses too.” Lyra shot him a fierce glare, her patience clearly wearing thin.
“You have only yourself to blame for this. I don’t see the others complaining,” she retorted, crossing her arms. In reality, both Phoenix and Becca were just as exhausted, but they knew from experience that expressing dissatisfaction would not be taken lightly; voicing their feelings would only invite Bento’s wrath.
Becca stepped forward to secure the head of her horse while Bento dismounted, his gaze sweeping over their surroundings. The air was thick with the earthy scent of damp soil and the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.
“This is a common stop along the path in The Grove of Sorrows,” he said, pointing at several intentionally placed stones encircling the camp. “We will be safe here. Those are warding stones; they keep any and all monsters away. However, they do not protect against bandits.”
The group nodded, taking in the surroundings. Becca felt a strange mix of relief and unease settle over her. This place was eerily quiet, and the trees loomed like silent sentinels, their shadows stretching long in the fading light.
Bento directed Becca to get a fire started while Phoenix untacked the horses. Kellen stood nearby, arms crossed, as if overseeing the two without lifting a finger to help. Meanwhile, Lyra had disappeared into the woods surrounding them, only to return half an hour later with two fair-sized creatures that resembled badgers with inky black fur.
NightHide
Essence 25
Lyra prepared the creatures quickly, her movements efficient and practiced. She expertly skinned and cleaned them, while Becca and Phoenix shared glances, both fascinated and a bit repulsed by the process. An hour later, she had a hearty stew brewing over the fire, the aroma wafting through the air and mingling with the scent of damp earth and smoke.
Phoenix and Becca sat away from the fire, eating the small portions afforded to them, while Kellen, still distanced from the warmth, occasionally attempted to interject into Bento’s and Lyra’s conversations, his eagerness met mostly with indifference.
“I wonder what his deal is,” Becca said, finally breaking the silence between the two friends. Phoenix shrugged, the flickering firelight casting shadows on her face.
“I don’t know, and I don’t really care. He’s a jerk and a fool. The only people I’m focused on are you and me.” Becca nodded reluctantly, her expression thoughtful. Just then, Bento stood, his silhouette stark against the glow of the fire.
“Becca and Phoenix, you’re on first shift. You’ll stand guard until the moon has risen just past that ridge,” he commanded, gesturing to the east of the camp, where the first hints of twilight were beginning to fade. “Kellen, you’re on the second shift,” he continued, gesturing to a high point above them. “Lyra and I will take the last shift.” The other three grabbed their sleeping rolls and bedded down for the night, leaving the two friends in silence.
As the camp settled, the soft sound of snores began to drift from their direction, mingling with the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of night creatures.
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“Tell me another story about your life growing up in that other world,” Becca said, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt a strong urge to connect with Phoenix, to share their experiences as they faced the unknown together.
Phoenix leaned back against a tree, the bark rough against her skin. “Not much more to tell, really. But how about you? You never did tell me how you ended up in the Arena. I know you’ve avoided talking about it, and I understand if you don’t want to now.”
Becca took a deep breath, her eyes turning distant as memories flooded back. “No, I think it’s time. I grew up in a small village near the edge of the Shadow Kingdom, but we technically belonged to a neighboring kingdom called Aetheria. It was a hard life, but it was all I knew. My parents were farmers, and I helped them tend to the crops and livestock.”
“What was it like?” Phoenix asked, genuinely curious, as she leaned in closer.
Becca smiled faintly, her expression wistful. “It was a simple life, but we found joy in the little things. I remember the warmth of the sun on my back as I helped plant seeds, the laughter of my friends as we played by the river. We would catch fish and race each other along the banks, our voices echoing in the air. But there was always a shadow hanging over us. We lived in fear of the monsters that roamed too close, and the stories of the Arena were whispered among us like cautionary tales because of how close we were to the Shadow Kingdom.”
“What happened?” Phoenix pressed, sensing the weight of Becca’s words. She leaned closer, her heart racing with anticipation.
“One day, we were harvesting in the fields when a group of bandits attacked. They came out of nowhere, dark shapes moving through the trees like smoke. They weren’t supposed to cross the border, but we were such a small town and didn’t have enough high Essence individuals to protect us. My parents tried to protect me, but…” Becca’s voice faltered, and she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “They didn’t make it. Few in the village survived. Hunter was part of that group who raided us, and he saw my potential, I guess. I, along with a few others, were taken by them and placed in the Arena. From what I know, I’m the last of my village alive.”
Phoenix felt her heart ache for her friend. “Becca, I’m so sorry.”
Becca shook her head, a determined glint in her eye. “I have to keep moving forward. I learned how to survive on my own, how to fend for myself. The Arena taught me the skills I needed to fight. Before you came along, I had no hope, but you’ve given me a spark. I watched you from day one try to fight back. I know in recent months that fight has dimmed, but I hope it never goes out. You and I both have to make it out someday.”
Phoenix knew that her own fight had wavered in the last few months, but the words Becca had just spoken seemed to flip a switch inside her. “You’re stronger than you think, Becca. We both are. We’ll figure this out together.”
As they exchanged quiet reassurances, the moon began to rise, casting an ethereal glow across the Grove of Sorrows. Shadows danced around them, and the air grew thick with anticipation, charged with the energy of the unknown.
A sudden rustling in the underbrush broke the calm of their conversation. Phoenix's heart raced as she turned her gaze toward the source of the noise. “Did you hear that?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Becca nodded, her eyes wide with fear. “What was it?”
Before Phoenix could respond, a figure emerged from the darkness—a tall silhouette with piercing eyes. The creature stepped into the moonlight, revealing itself to be a dark, humanoid figure cloaked in shadows, its features obscured.
“Who goes there?” Phoenix called out, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. She felt a mix of dread and determination wash over her.
The figure paused, tilting its head as if assessing them. “You are trespassing in The Grove of Sorrows,” it said, its voice low and haunting. “You should not be here.”
Phoenix and Becca exchanged worried glances, their previous conversations suddenly feeling trivial in the face of this new threat. “What do we do?” Becca whispered, panic creeping into her voice.
“Stay calm,” Phoenix replied, her mind racing as she tried to figure out their next move. They were outnumbered and outmatched, but they had to stand their ground.
The figure chuckled, a chilling sound that echoed through the grove. “I’d love to see you try.” The darkness seemed to ripple around it, a palpable aura of menace that pressed in on them.
As they braced for confrontation, the tension in the air thickened. Whatever this creature was, it was no ordinary threat; it was a harbinger of danger.
Phoenix felt the weight of the moment settle over them, her heart racing as she prepared to face the unknown. Fuck, fuck, fuck, this is a situation I REALLY don’t want to be in.
The wind picked up, rustling the leaves and sending a chill down her spine. Phoenix glanced at Becca, who was standing tall beside her, determination etched on her face. They would confront whatever was lurking in the darkness together, united in their fight for survival.
“Ready?” Phoenix whispered, her voice steadying. Becca nodded, her eyes fierce with resolve. “Always.”
With that, they stood their ground, ready to face the shadows that threatened to engulf them.