Their rest was cut short but there was no luxury of relaxation in the forest. Everyone was on high-alert except for one talkative doctor. He had a lot of knowledge but occasionally forgot about common sense.

"So theoretically," Rowan was saying as their horses picked their way through the increasingly dense forest, "if we encounter any Void Beasts, their energy signatures should interact with the resin in our boots, creating a sort of—"

"Doctor," one of the new riders – Song, a woman with a scarred face and impressive array of knives – interrupted. "Perhaps we should focus on not attracting any beasts, void-infused or otherwise?"

"But how can we avoid them if we don't understand their behavioral patterns? For instance, did you know that shadow wolves are actually more active during twilight than true night? It's fascinating really, their circadian rhythms are influenced by—"

A low growl echoed through the trees. Everyone tensed except Rowan, who brightened considerably.

"Oh! That sounds like a juvenile specimen! The pitch indicates—"

Hui Fan's hand shot out, covering Rowan's mouth. In the sudden silence, multiple pairs of glowing eyes became visible between the trees.

"Mmph!" Rowan made an excited noise against Hui Fan's palm. The martial artist released him with a warning look. "Those are Lupovipera venenata—viper wolves!" Rowan whispered, somehow managing to sound both terrified and thrilled. "They're incredibly rare! Their venom contains unique properties that—"

The first beast lunged. It was like a mountain cat with too many eyes and teeth that gleamed with an unnatural light. Song's knives found their mark in two of its eyes, but more were already emerging from between the trees.

The forest erupted into chaos. Liu Shen's arrows sang through the air as Song and the other two riders – twins whose names Rowan hadn't caught yet – formed a defensive circle. Hui Fan moved like a deadly dance, his strikes leaving trails of light in the darkness.

A wolf slipped past their defense, heading straight for Rowan. He fumbled with his medical bag, pulled out a jar, and threw it directly into the beast's many-eyed face. The jar shattered, releasing a cloud of powder that made the creature stumble and wheeze.

"Ha! I knew that powder would work on their respiratory system! Ah—" He yelped as another wolf lunged, only to be intercepted by Hui Fan's fist wreathed in what looked suspiciously like void energy.

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They broke through the pack, horses galloping through the darkening forest. Behind them, the viper wolves' howls took on a frustrated note that Rowan would have loved to study under less life-threatening circumstances. They didn't stop until they reached a clearing well away from the viper wolves' territory. Song was clutching her arm where a wolf’s claws had caught her, and one of the twins had a nasty gash across his forehead.

"Song first," he said, voice clipped and professional. "That claw went deep. Sit." He was already pulling out supplies. He fed her an antidote, carefully cleaned the wound, applied an antivenom salve, and began wrapping it with antiseptic bandages. The twin was next, requiring several careful stitches. Rowan worked in complete silence. It wasn't until both patients were fully treated that his usual demeanor returned.

"Song, keep me updated about your symptoms. I've been developing that salve specifically for viper wolf venom! The molecular structure is fascinating actually – it creates a sort of barrier that—" He caught himself, grinning sheepishly.

"You actually know what you're doing," Song said, sounding impressed as she flexed her arm. “I was slightly convinced you were a wack job by the way you speak— though they aren’t mutually exclusive.”

"Of course! I've been studying void energy's effects on living tissue for years! Though usually with smaller samples. Did you know that viper wolf venom contains trace elements that could potentially cure—"

"Thank you, doctor," Hui Fan cut in smoothly, though there was warmth in his voice that made Rowan's cheeks heat slightly.

"Yes. Thanks, doc!" The injured twin beamed, running a hand through his shock of red hair. His golden eyes crinkled at the corners, a stark contrast to his brother's more serious expression despite their identical features. "Your pain meds work better than any other doc I've been to. First time I've had painless stitches!" He touched the bandage on his forehead. "Oh. And I haven't introduced myself— you can call me Jacky, and my twin is Erwin."

Erwin, the quieter twin, gave a slight nod. While Jacky's hair stuck up in wild spikes, Erwin's was neatly combed back, though both shared the same unusual coloring.

"No problem,” Rowan smiled.

"We should make camp here. Liu Shen, first watch."

As everyone settled in for the night, Rowan couldn't help but notice how the others positioned themselves protectively around him. Even Liu Shen's usual disdain seemed to have softened slightly after watching Rowan work.

"Hey," Rowan whispered to Hui Fan as they set up their bedrolls. "Earlier, when you were fighting those wolves – was that void energy you were using?"

Hui Fan was quiet for a long moment. "Sleep, doctor. We have a long journey ahead."

"But—"

"Sleep."

Rowan sighed dramatically but complied, already planning how to organize his notes on viper wolf venom properties. As he drifted off, he could have sworn he felt Hui Fan's hand brush his hair back from his face, but he was asleep before he could analyze that particular data point.

In the distance, a wolf howled towards the moon. A normal wolf this time, probably. Just probably. Rowan would have to check his books to be sure...