The Sanctuary's glow cast long shadows across the barrier's edge, where Karl, Thorn, and Ember took their first watch. The air was heavy, thick with the iron tang of blood and the musky stench of fresh meat—an open invitation to every prowler in the Wilderness.
From the tree line came the sounds of movement: low growls, snapping twigs, the brush of fur against leaves. Yellow eyes winked in and out of the dark, testing, circling. The beasts were drawn close, yet hesitant. The barrier shimmered faintly in the moonlight, a quiet warning they did not fully understand.
Karl's grip tightened on his spear, its bone tip glistening with Mira's poison. His stance was steady, shoulders squared, his breath even but deliberate. Each inhale drew the cold night air into his lungs; each exhale carried the weight of readiness.
Above, Ember perched atop a tall tree, her feathers faintly ruffled in the night wind. Her eyes gleamed, sharp and unblinking. Storm Sense pulsed through her wings, reading the air's currents, mapping the faint hum of vitalities prowling just beyond sight. She gave a low chirr every so often—warnings, confirmations, signals only Karl had come to understand.
Over the first watch hour, eight beasts came probing through the trees—three mink-like creatures, their sleek bodies darting low to the ground (Bronze I); two lynx-like stalkers with glowing eyes and silent paws (Bronze I); a heavier panther-shaped predator with rippling muscle (Bronze II); and finally, two rogue wolves that padded carefully at the edge of sight, scouts for the larger pack.
Karl's group worked in measured rhythm. Ember struck first, her Storm Sense guiding each attack. A sharp cry from above, then her Wind Slash cleaved the air, driving the minks into Renn's snares where Thorn's vines coiled tight. The lynx came next, weaving fast between trees, but a sudden lash of vines swept them from their feet. Karl's spear met them in a single thrust, the poison already claiming their breath before they hit the dirt.
The panther-beast fought harder, muscles straining against Thorn's bindings. Its growls vibrated in Karl's chest as he closed in, every movement deliberate. Ember's slicing winds staggered it just long enough for Karl's poisoned spear to sink deep, its struggles ending in a shudder.
The wolves, however, refused to be baited. Their eyes gleamed red from the tree line, their howls rolling like laughter through the dark. They darted back before Thorn's vines could reach, vanishing into the underbrush with mocking cries that echoed long after. Scouts—they had only come to watch.
When the fight was done, the ground bore the marks of their defense. Six beasts lay dead, their bodies cooling in the night air. Karl knelt by each one, steady hands prying loose the spoils: five Bronze I Essence Crystals, one Bronze II, and fresh slabs of meat that would see them through another stretch of hard days.
Fatigue tugged at his muscles as the first hour passed. Sweat cooled against his skin, his wounded arm stiff beneath its wrap. With a low breath, he reached up, brushing Ember's feathers as she perched wearily at his side. Her head leaned into his hand, eyes closing.
"Rest now," Karl murmured, his voice softer than the wind. "You've both done well."
Ember gave a faint trill in reply, before folding her wings, nestling close.
When it was time to change shifts, The watch changed quietly, the forest still murmuring with distant rustles and the occasional mocking howl from the wolves. Karl moved carefully through the dim Sanctuary, rousing each of the others one by one.
"Eight beasts tried to sneak around the barrier during our watch," he said in a low voice, making sure his words carried the weight of warning without stirring those still asleep. "We stopped six of them. But the wolves… they slipped away. They're still out there. That means the whole pack is watching us. You have to be careful while hunting."
The four of them gathered close, the faint glow of the barrier casting pale light across their faces. Grok gave a short grunt, his expression hard, as though the thought of wolves only sharpened his resolve. Renn, wiping the last traces of sleep from his eyes, tightened his grip on the short blade at his hip. Lysa inclined her head solemnly, calm but alert, while Mira fidgeted, her brow creased with worry she didn't try to hide.
Karl's gaze lingered on her. "Stay inside the barrier," he said firmly, his tone dropping into command. "No matter what happens, don't step out. And if the wolves attack—wake me immediately."
One by one, they nodded. The unease in Mira's eyes did not fade, but she straightened her shoulders all the same. Grok placed a heavy hand on her arm in silent reassurance, and she gave him the faintest nod of thanks.
Satisfied, Karl released a long breath. His body was heavy with exhaustion, each muscle aching from the fight and the tense vigil. Thorn had already withdrawn, curling his vines into the small shelter by the Sanctuary wall, the faint glow of his essence crystal pulsing like a heartbeat in the dark.
Ember fluttered once before settling on the balcony rail of the treehouse, her feathers puffing as she gave a soft, fading chirr. Karl reached out, brushing her head gently, and she nestled into the touch before closing her eyes.
The forest remained restless—eyes still blinked in the shadows, faint growls drifting on the wind—but the barrier hummed steady, holding them safe for now.
With one last glance toward the patrol taking their places, Karl climbed into the treehouse. The wooden boards creaked faintly under his weight as he lay down, the smells of smoke, blood, and resin lingering in the air. His eyes closed slowly, his breaths deepening, until at last, sleep pulled him under as time passed.
Morning sunlight filtered gently through the trees, the soft gold catching on damp leaves and dew-streaked branches. The Sanctuary's barrier shimmered faintly, its glow thinner than before, yet steady—still standing, still holding.
Karl stirred in the treehouse, eyes opening to the pale light. His body ached with the stiffness of battle and restless sleep, but the steady hum of Thorn's essence nearby grounded him. The vine-beast stretched with a faint rustle, curling and uncurling his tendrils, while Ember fluttered from the balcony rail, scattering droplets of dew as she shook out her feathers.
Descending to the ground, Karl gathered the others around Mira's fire, where the last coals glowed red beneath thin curls of smoke. His voice was calm, though edged with quiet concern.
"Tell me," He said, looking from one face to another, "what happened after I went to sleep? Is everyone safe?"
Grok spoke first, his deep voice carrying a weary weight. "Ten beasts came. We only managed to kill three. The rest… they pressed too hard." He shifted slightly, wincing as his hand brushed a bandage wrapped clumsily around his side. "I was hurt a little, but it's not deep."
Renn followed, his tone quieter, almost ashamed. "My traps caught some, but too many slipped past us. Three lynx, three hyenas, and one wolf escaped back into the trees. They were fast, cautious. Harder to corner than I thought." He glanced at Karl briefly, then lowered his eyes, fingers fidgeting with a snapped bit of rope.
Lysa bowed her head, her voice softer still. "I tried to guide them with the whistle, to break their coordination. It worked at first… but the wolf ignored me. I couldn't turn it. I'm sorry."
Karl let his gaze settle on each of them in turn—Grok's heavy shoulders slumped with strain, Renn's furrowed brow, Lysa's quiet guilt, Mira hovering nearby with worry etched into her face. Their bodies bore scratches and bruises, their eyes the tired glaze of another night survived.
He nodded slowly. "You did well." His voice cut through their unease with steady firmness.
"You're alive, and the barrier still holds. That is what truly matters."
For a moment, silence stretched. Then Karl drew in a slow breath, exhaling with resolve. "don't forget—we still gained much tonight. Even in hardship, we are growing stronger, with these crystals, Thorn can advance to Bronze II. And with the meat and crystal we've gathered, we can summon more allies. That will greatly increase our chances of survival."
Karl let the words linger for a moment, letting the tension in their shoulders ease just slightly.