The wind whipped at Enix’s hair as he lay on the cliff’s edge. Around him lay scattered monsters, winged monstrosities as tall as he was, with beaks like fat spearheads and long legs with deadly talons at the end. One had died with Enix’s severed arm still trapped between its legs, but Enix had already regrown the limb.

Enix focused on his breathing. At such a high altitude, it was difficult to breathe. He had an easier time than his two companions in that he could rest more efficiently, and while he wasn’t as dizzy, it caused a physical change. His stamina took longer and longer to recover, and he couldn’t imagine what it was like for the others.

”Enix?” >&@#$%< called out.

”Yeah?”

”Any chance that guy told you it's only halfway up the mountain?”

”No.”

”You sure?”

”…Yeah.”

>&@#$%< cursed, and Enix saw him walking over, reaching out to Enix to help him up.

They had avoided the giants on the way up, but once they reached a certain altitude, they found they were being hunted. First, it had been the worms, large creatures that moved faster than Ingot ever had under the ground, popping out to latch onto the trio and bite chunks out of it. It was then that the birds had begun to track them. &#+$ had made the connection that maybe the birds were pursuing the worms before they decided to take the bigger prey.

Enix blinked, remembering something. >&@#$%< seemed to remember then, too.

“Where’s &#+$?”

”I saw her get lifted but drop around the bend. I’m sure she’s fine.” The boy responded. He felt Vice around his wrist, who had gone oddly still ever since Ingot was killed. It no longer formed a weapon but would still help with stretching out to grab things for Enix.

The tiny thing was hurting. As was the boy.

“Come on. We have to keep moving.” >&@#$%< panted. “Let’s go get her.”

It was a short walk but took longer due to their superficial injuries and lack of air. Enix was the first to round the corner, recovering faster as he walked, but stopped. He was standing at just the right angle to see &#+$, and he put out a hand to stop >&@#$%< from moving further forward, but his friend’s view was still blocked.

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”Enix, what-“

”Don’t. Don’t look.”

“Stop kidding.”

”Please.”

>&@#$%< didn’t listen, instead pushing Enix aside to look. Enix himself looked down, leaning against the rock wall. He didn’t need to see the body stabbed against the rocks. He didn’t need to see her face. The fear on it.

He kept his eye on the sky as >&@#$%< wailed. His companion fell to his knees.

Enix kept track of time as hours passed in silence. He made sure to rest and let his stamina recover. They were quiet for those few hours, Enix watching the skies for any birds.

”…You knew about this, didn’t you?” >&@#$%< asked quietly.

Enix didn’t respond.

”You had to.” He blinked, his thoughts racing behind his eyes as he turned to look at Enix. They suddenly stilled, boring through Enix’s own eyes

“Only reason you were so adamant that she and I stayed. And then your pet died, and something changed with you, didn’t it?”

The silence was deafening to Enix.

”You were holding something back when you laid me out at camp. You were going to say something when we were in that hole, weren’t you? You had that look in your eye before that thing came back.”

“>&@#$%<…”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

Enix said nothing.

”Tell me I'm an idiot for thinking this way. That you didn’t know she was going to die.”

Enix, still, kept quiet.

”Say something.” >&@#$%< got up, picking up his spear, now broken into a shorter shaft. Still Enix stood frozen. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

>&@#$%< saw Enix’s face and already knew.

”Say it.”

Enix tried, but his throat closed on him. Only a pathetic squeak came out.

“Say it damn you!”

“I can’t!”

>&@#$%< flinched as if Enix had physically struck him. He just stared at Enix, his expression cold and fury behind his eyes. He walked to Enix, and the boy expected to be hit, maybe even stabbed through. Instead, >&@#$%< handed Enix his weapon.

”We’re going up this mountain and getting that damn weapon.“ >&@#$%< held onto the weapon as Enix tried to take it.

”Her death is on you, and when this is over, I’m coming for you.”

>&@#$%< shouldered past Enix roughly.

“Killer.”

>&@#$%< walked away without another word. Enix stared at the weapon in his hand and followed.