He gripped his shortsword tighter, sweat beading on his brow as he counted the red markers blooming in his vision.

Seven enemies. Two of them nearly double his and Nyx’s level. Even with their victory against the Broodmother bolstering their confidence, the odds were against them..

Despite the fear coiling in his gut, Finn found himself mirroring her smile. Her bloodlust was infectious, stoking the embers of his own reckless courage.

"Stay close," he said, adjusting his grip. "Back to back if it comes to it." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Nyx slid into a ready stance, dagger reversed in her hand. "After you, then."

Together they advanced, picking their way across the uneven ground. The growls grew louder, echoing off the cavern walls until it seemed they came from every direction at once.

Finn’s eyes darted from shadow to shadow, trying to pinpoint the source.

A flicker of movement caught his eye. He pivoted just as a dark shape lunged from behind a spire of rock.

[Bonefield Hunter - lvl 12]

The creature was a twisted nightmare of fur and exposed bone, its body an unsettling fusion of canine and skeletal remains. Its jaws gaped wide, exposing rows of jagged teeth as it hurled itself at Finn’s throat.

He brought his sword up in a desperate block. The impact jarred his arms, driving him back a step, but he held.

With a snarl of his own, he shoved the beast back and lashed out, scoring a line across its chest. The Bonefield Hunter yelped, black blood welling from the cut.

"A clean cut, Bearer." Nyx’s voice drifted from a few paces away, where she danced between two more of the creatures, dagger flashing in the gloom. "Do try not to make me jealous."

Her dagger flashed in the gloom, leaving streaks of blood in its wake as she danced between her foes.

There was no more time for talk. The pack was upon them, a tide of teeth and claws and bloodlust.

Finn gave himself over to instinct, muscle memory taking over as he hacked and slashed. Blood sprayed, painting his body and the surroundings black.

Yet for every beast they cut down, another seemed to take its place. Claws found gaps in Finn’s guard, leaving burning lines of pain along his flesh.

His HP ticked steadily down.

[HP: 41%]

A snarl from behind. Finn whirled, bringing his sword to bear—

—too slow.

A leaping Bonefield Hunter crashed into him, bearing him to the ground.

Claws scrabbled at his chest as he struggled to bring his blade up. Hot breath washed over his face, the nauseating stench flooding his nostrils.

He twisted, trying to buck the beast off, but it was too strong, too heavy.

’Damn it’ he thought dimly. ’I knew we should’ve turned ba-’’

Then the weight was gone, the Hunter tumbling away with a yelp. Finn scrambled to his feet, blinking in confusion.

Nyx stood over the twitching body of the beast, her dagger dripping. She flashed him a blood-spattered grin.

"Do mind your back, Bearer. I’ve grown rather fond of it."

Finn opened his mouth to retort, but the words died on his tongue as he saw the looming shape rising behind her.

It was another bonefield hunter, sneaking up on her.

[Bonefield Hunter - lvl 14]

"Nyx, behind-"

The hunter lunged, a blur of fur and fury. Its jaws closed around Nyx’s arm. With a savage twist of its head, it flung her aside like a ragdoll.

Right before she struck the cavern wall with a sickening crunch and crumpled to the ground, still.

"NYX!"

Finn charged, a scream of rage tearing from his throat. He brought his sword down in a vicious overhead chop, aiming for the Hunter’s skull.

It shifted at the last instant, his blade glancing off the armored ridge of its shoulder. But Finn pressed the attack, raining blows on the Hunter.

It snarled and snapped, but he refused to give ground, refused to let it past.

With a final, desperate lunge, he drove his blade into the Hunter’s eye. It shrieked, thrashing, but Finn held on grimly, twisting the sword deeper.

Then, with a shudder, the beast went still.

[CRITICAL HIT]

[Bonefield Hunters — lvl 12 x 3, Pack Stalkers — lvl 15 x3 , Shadow Crawlers — lvl 14 x2 Defeated]

[Level Up!]

[Finn Morrow - Level 10]

[Nyx Sanguina - Level 10]

[Loot Acquired: Hunter Bone Necklace]

Finn barely registered the messages flashing before his eyes. He wrenched his sword free and staggered turning quickly towards Nyx in fear.

"Nyx— Nyx, come on—"

She was already on her feet, brushing grit from her sleeve. The torn flesh at her arm hissed softly, steam curling as the wound knit itself closed. She looked up, and her smile sharpened.

"Such alarm. Anyone would think you’d nearly lost something dear."

"You— the way it threw you, I thought—"

"Bone mends. Blood remembers." She tilted her head, studying him with amusement. "Though I’ll grant you, the look on your face just now? That, I shall be keeping."

Finn turned away before she could catch the heat climbing into his cheeks. He’d been worried. For a moment, he’d actually been worried.

Behind him, she was laughing softly to herself.

Finn strode ahead, his cheeks burning. Her amusement only made him quicken his pace. But beneath the embarrassment, a new feeling stirred.

The sick swoop of fear when he’d seen her crumple, the blazing fury that had gripped him as he faced down the Hunter.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt anything so strongly.

It unsettled him. They had only met yesterday and yet...

"Something troubling you, Bearer?" Nyx’s voice at his shoulder startled him.

She’d caught up to him effortlessly, matching his stride.

"It’s nothing. Just...adrenaline wearing off, I guess."

She tilted her head, studying him in that unnerving way of hers, like she could see right through him.

"As you say, Bearer."

They walked on in silence for a time, following the twisting path deeper into Shadow Barrow’s depths.

The air grew colder, damper, and the shadows pressed close, held at bay only by the flickering light of the ghost-lamps set into the walls.

Despite himself, Finn’s gaze kept drifting to her. The way she moved, fluid and graceful, utterly at home in this place of death and darkness. The play of lamplight over her sharp features.

She fascinated him, this strange vampire companion of his. Equal parts alluring and terrifying, a mystery he couldn’t hope to unravel. And yet, the urge to try—

"Eyes front, Bearer. Wouldn’t want you walking into a wall."

Finn flushed and jerked his gaze forward, grateful for the dimness hiding his burning face.