Kael sensed the presence a heartbeat before the blade appeared.
Steel flashed near the corpse, precise and controlled.
Weapon Path.
Kael stepped back, hands raised—not in surrender, but acknowledgment.
The other hunter froze.
She was lean, posture coiled, eyes sharp. Her blade hovered inches from the beast's remains.
"That was my contract," she said.
Kael held up the slip. "No name. Same sector."
Her jaw tightened.
Threads vibrated faintly between them—not hostile, but measuring.
After a moment, she exhaled and sheathed her weapon. "Split credit."
"You didn't engage," Kael replied calmly.
Her eyes narrowed. "You think that makes you better?"
"No," Kael said. "It makes me careful."
She studied him longer this time. "Control Path?"
Kael didn't answer.
She smirked. "Hunters don't like mysteries."
She left without another word.
Kael watched her go.
Second rule of hunting:
Other hunters are variables. Treat them as such you never know which are to trust.