The loboan snarled in pain as he thrust his spear into its side. The beast swung its claws at him, but he dodged, the spear breaking in the process.
Faelan pulled himself up just as the loboan charged at him, its teeth nearly clamping down on him. He rolled to the side, wrapping his arms around the creature's leg and forcing it to the ground.
CRACK.
He broke the loboan's leg.
Pulling out a knife, he stabbed into its body repeatedly, blood splashing across the ground and pooling beneath it.
As he rose, the beast's cries began to die out, giving way to a different sound. One that was more human.
He pulled the blade out and stopped just before plunging it into the flesh again.
The beast was gone.
The one lying before him was his father's lifeless body, gouged and torn limb from limb.
Yet he could still hear the terrified screams of people.
At first, they came from a distance. Then they grew closer and closer.
Structures appeared around him. Empty houses. Scratched walls. Dismembered bodies.
***
He woke up gasping, soaked in a familiar sweat.
The morning sun had already risen well into the sky.
The door opened.
"You're awake," Selira remarked. "I thought you'd still be asleep since you were up late last night. I'm already done with breakfast."
Faelan gave a nod.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," she replied, closing the door.
Faelan had his meal, and afterward, they tended to the garden. When they were done around the house, they'd head into the forest.
Selira usually took them along predetermined paths, though sometimes they'd stray a little. She'd collect any new plants or insects she came across. Whenever they encountered something they couldn't handle, running away was the plan.
Faelan still didn't know why she did what she did. Maybe it was just her hobby.
There can't be that many things to do out here.
The thought often crossed his mind. Her actions usually carried an air of seriousness, especially when it came to the small wooden box. She only opened it a few times, and he never really got to see what was inside.
When the sun set, they'd return, checking their traps and the trails for anything edible before having dinner.
This was their routine. Straight and simple.
***
Faelan tossed and turned in his bed before his eyes slowly opened.
Niri lay curled up on the floor, its eyes fixed on him.
"I'm sorry I woke you."
He patted the tacarrox's head before leaving the room.
This, too, had become part of his routine. Waking up in the middle of the night and taking walks around the house beneath the moonlight.
Tonight, the moon was particularly bright.
He looked up at the almost-full moon, feeling the cool wind blow across the plains.
His eyes drifted toward the Elkrce.
He wandered farther than usual, stopping just before the hill where the stone stood.
A circle of bare ground surrounded it, where not even grass grew. There was no moss or algae on its surface, either.
The stone was smooth to the touch, and a faint hum emanated from it.
Its paint had long since washed away, leaving behind a grey-purple structure.
He walked past the Elkrce, following the edge of the hill. The path led toward the forest, and Faelan followed it until he emerged on the other side.
A town lay before him, its structures falling apart, slowly succumbing to the passage of time.
This must be Selira's village, he thought, heading toward it.
As he approached, Faelan noticed lights coming from some of the sturdier houses.
People? She didn't tell me there were still people here.
He reached the edge of the town, distant voices drifting from the houses. There, he noticed a large box with a small rectangular hole carved into it.
He approached. A slight tremor ran through the ground beneath his feet.
"W-who's there?" a girl's voice called from inside.
"Sorry if I startled you," Faelan replied, moving closer.
The inside of the box was pitch-black.
"You're a new face. Were you with us in Galth?" the voice asked.
"No, I wasn't," Faelan replied, puzzled. "Why are you in there?"
"You don't know?" The voice turned skeptical. "You aren't one of us."
"I'm not."
He sat down by the box.
"Why are you here?"
"I couldn't sleep, so I took a walk."
"Out here?"
"Yes," Faelan replied, running his hand over the thick wood.
"There's people this far away?"
"Did you and..." He glanced toward the cluster of buildings, their windows illuminated by the lights within. "...the others get here recently?"
"It's been a few days."
Not long. Maybe Selira doesn't know either.
"Do you normally move around a lot?"
He was met with silence.
"Is something wrong?"
"I don't know if I should be answering you," she replied.
"Why is that?"
Silence lingered for a moment.
"Why couldn't you sleep?"
"I don't know. Just couldn't. What about you? Did I wake you?"
"No, I couldn't sleep either."
"I can understand that."
The wind blew through the plains, the forest trees rustling in response.
"You should go home."
"Home...? I guess it is," he muttered.
"Do you have family here?"
"No, not family," she replied.
Silence stretched between them as neither spoke a word.
"Are you still there?" the voice asked.
There was no reply.
Faelan returned to the house, passing through the forest. He lay in bed, hoping sleep would take him.
---
Faelan got out of bed as the sun rose. He prepared breakfast in Selira's stead. They ate and tended to the garden.
"Selira, how far are we from a town or other people?" Faelan asked as he watered the garden.
"I don't know, but I'd guess very far. It's rare to see even a travelling merchant," Selira replied, adding manure to the soil. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason. But what about the town on the other side of the hill?"
"It's been abandoned for a long time now."
"I went there last night."
"And? What did you see?"
"There were people there."
"They won't stay for long. This happens from time to time. In a few days or so, they'll leave."
"You're not going to meet them?"
"There is no point in it."
She applied more soil to the garden.
"Let's get ready to head into the forest."
"Sure," Faelan replied, dropping the watering can.
---
Night came as it usually did, and so did the cries of the dead.
Faelan found himself following the edge of the hill again, taking the path through the forest to the other side. He came across the same box and sat beside it. A faint tremor ran through the ground.
"O-oh, you're the one from last night," the voice came from inside the box.
"I didn't mean to scare you. I thought you might be asleep this time," Faelan replied.
"Well, I'm awake. I thought you left last night."
"I did."
"Why are you here?"
"I can't sleep."
"Were you able to sleep last night?"
"Not as much."
"Then why even come back here?"
"Why are you the only one outside?" Faelan inquired, diverting her question.
She didn't reply.
"Do you go out during the day?" Faelan asked.
"Yes, sometimes."
"What do you do?"
"What?"
"When you're outside, what do you do?"
"I have a meal."
"Anything else?"
"I... don't want to talk about it," she replied. "I don't think you should be here."
"Is there a problem with me being here?"
"I'm not sure."
"Where are you from?"
She remained silent for a moment before answering.
"Nayvark."
"Nayvark? I don't think I've heard of it."
"It's not what it used to be, so I'm not surprised." She paused, then muttered, "It's been so long, though."
"Is Nayvark far from here?"
"I don't know. I was a lot younger when I left."
"Why did you leave?"
"What's the forest like?" she asked.
"The forest?"
"Isn't that where you're coming from?"
"It is. The forest is... dangerous, I guess."
"Is that all?"
"No. It's filled with trees that could try to eat you, ones that produce sweet, burning fruit, insects that could eat the flesh off your bones, ones that help plants grow, animals that taste surprisingly good, and ones that are too poisonous to touch."
"Doesn't sound like somewhere you should be passing through."
"It really doesn't, does it?"
They could hear laughter coming from the illuminated houses.
Faelan looked towards the houses, then back at the box.
"They seem to like staying up late."
"They're celebrating."
"What's the occasion?"
He was met with silence.
Faelan stood up and headed towards the forest.
"Goodnight," he called out.
She didn't reply.