The first rays of sunlight spilling over damp leaves and casting long shadows between the trees. The morning air was cool and thick with dew, their breaths misting slightly as they packed up camp.
Nellie adjusted her belt and swung her dagger into its sheath with a practiced spin before looking over at Liora and Tessa. "So," she said casually, "you two don't exactly scream 'ordinary adventurer pair.' Got me curious."
Liora raised an eyebrow. "Curious about what?"
"Well," Nellie said with a grin, "how someone barely nineteen ends up with a teenage daughter following her around calling her 'Mom.'"
Tessa flushed slightly and looked away, fiddling with her pack, but Liora only gave a soft chuckle and slung her sword over her shoulder.
"It wasn't something I planned," she began, falling into step as they started their march. "Over a year ago, I found a little girl alone in the woods during a quest. No name. No family. Just… scared and hungry."
"Aria," Tessa added quietly from behind her.
Liora nodded. "I brought her back to the village, figuring someone would come looking. No one did. So I took care of her. She called me 'Mommy' after I got scratched on a quest and she thought I was hurt badly. It just… stuck."
Nellie looked genuinely moved. "That's… damn. You didn't just save her, you gave her a life."
"I did what felt right," Liora said softly. "Then, not too long after, I met Tessa. She was a new adventurer. No place to go. We took a few quests together, started living under the same roof, and before I knew it…"
"I asked her to adopt me," Tessa finished, eyes fixed on the path. "I wanted to be part of the family. I didn't want to just be 'the girl renting a room.' I wanted to share their name. Share… everything."
Garth, walking a few paces ahead, said nothing, but he gave a slight grunt of understanding, eyes scanning the tree line.
"Can't argue with that," Nellie murmured. "Family isn't always blood. Sometimes it's who chooses to stay."
As they moved deeper into the forest, the atmosphere began to change. The trees here were thicker, the air heavier. Strange tracks marred the underbrush, clawed feet, many of them, heading in conflicting directions.
Garth suddenly raised a hand, stopping the group with a sharp motion.
He crouched, touching the ground. "They've started circling."
Liora's hand moved to her sword. "How many?"
Garth stood slowly. "Hard to say. But more than five. Close."
Tessa's eyes widened. "We're being surrounded?"
"Seems that way," Garth confirmed, his voice calm. "They're testing us. Waiting."
Liora turned slightly to Tessa and dropped her voice, but her words were firm.
"If I say run, you run. Don't argue. Don't wait. Head south, straight to the road, and back to the house. Aria and Mia will be waiting."
Tessa gripped her blade tighter. "But,"
"No buts," Liora said. "You promised Aria you'd come back to her."
Tessa's jaw tightened, but she gave a small nod.
The shadows between the trees thickened. The rustling in the bushes grew louder, closer. Eyes gleamed in the distance. Snarls low and feral echoed through the trees.
Whatever had stirred these monsters… it had made them bold.
Liora drew her sword slowly.
And the hunt began.