With a dry chuckle passing through Mheris’ lips, time seemed to slow for Tennebris; not that this moment was particularly big for her. But it put on display that while she may have planned this adventure, she couldn’t always plan for every variable or possibility. It brought a level of understanding that this, this was why people traveled in groups. Sure, there was strength in numbers, but in this case, what truly was strength? They’d managed to slay the Apex Predator quickly with careful planning. Now they were stumped. Perhaps it was time to add more people? Or perhaps instead, they just needed to think a little harder before blindly venturing forward.

  “You know Shadow, that was mostly meant as a joke.” Mheris said, attempting to break the sudden silence. “I uhh, didn’t think you’d take it straight to the heart like that.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just. After some thought, I’m realizing that I can’t foresee every scenario. I need to do better to include you in planning going forward.”

  “Hmph. I’m not all that big on the whole ‘big picture thing’. I like to follow my gut on most things.”

  “So.. you’re saying you trust me?” Tennebris suggested, with a wry smile.

  Mheris let out a bemused laugh “I didn’t say that, Shadow.”

  “Well, I don’t have any rope in my pack. What do you have?”

  “I have a couple feet of twine, but it’s not gonna be strong enough for the big guy here.” Mheris responded, patting one of the bears paws, while slinking her pack from her shoulders. She began going through her pack, looking for the twine, she mentioned having, when a grim expression grew on her face.“Problem?” Tennebris called out, almost in an accusatory tone after seeing the look on her face.

  Mheris, with her face falling blank, wordlessly lifted the twine out of her pack.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “’Fraid not.”

  Pushing the play on words out of the spotlight, Tennebris gave an appraising look to the twine.

  It had indeed become frayed from lack of use, maintenance and care. However, it did look like there were at least some usable feet.

  “Okay, so here’s what I’m thinking.” Tennebris began “What if we sever its head, then hang it from our pack?”

  Mheris, for all her previous willingness to be involved in planning, began to laugh harder than Tennebris had heard from her.

  “Do you have a better plan?” Tennebris asked, accusatorily.

  “Now now, don’t get your extra small panties in a bunch.” Mheris laughed back, a smile and clear amusement still spread across her face.

  Tennebris failed to find humor in the situation. It was like there was an inside joke between Mheris and herself only, that Tennebris simply wasn’t allowed in on.

  “I stand by my question. If nothing else, we should take its head, but it would be ideal to bring in its paws as well. Otherwise, I don’t see anyone believing us.”

  Mheris wiped a tear from her jovial eyes “Alright, alright, I’ll let it go Queen Guillotine. I do think that’s a solid plan. We can bring anyone else back here if they want more proof. Just make sure our pockets are lined, and our bellies are full.”

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Now that they had figured out how they were going to convince the guards, the pair got to work.

  When Tennebris joined the criminal organization that dwelled in Havenreach’s underbelly- which only came after many failed attempts, and even more hungry nights- she was given a dagger.

  It was nothing special, as Tennebris had heard of magical and fantastical weapons that could be used to achieve the impossible. “Oh cool! A magical dagger!” she proclaimed when it was handed to her.

  It was indeed magical, but not in the ways that people told stories or sang songs about. No, it was more that she had this superstition: as long as she had it, she would be okay. . That she would make it out of whatever situation she managed to find herself in.

  She recalled the laugh and the "sure thing lady" that filled her ears after her proclamation.

  All of that felt so far behind her now as she found the sinew and tendons snapping under that same blade. She had cut completely through the first paw before she checked in with Mheris, only to find a bewildered expression on her face.

  “What?” Tennebris accused.

  “Oh I uh. Just assumed you’d done this before. That’s all.” Mheris chuckled

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “Only a little. Not that it matters too much, we’re not planning on taking this thing in for taxidermy.” Mheris responded with an affirming nod.

  With that Tennebris went back to work, beginning to saw on the other paw.

  “… But if we were-“

  “Okay! I get it! I’m not a master carver. Can we just get on with it?” Tennebris snapped back.

  “Temper, temper Guillotine. I just like seeing you work, when you’re trying your hand at something you’ve never done.”

  “You’re saying it’s clear I’ve never cut something’s hands off?”

  “Well.” Mheris sighed, “Considering that it’s the same whether it’s something versus someone? Yes.”

  Mheris’ silent declaration hung in the air, the pair quietly worked on securing their little trophy. Their slices the only thing making any sound as they continued their visceral task. Even now that the creature had been slain, Tennebris expected the forest would start to come back to life.

  She viewed it as a living creature rather than a delicate ecosystem. Its breath was the foliage, dancing in the wind. Prey animals acted as its senses. While the predators were the claws. With the Apex Predator gone, she was curious which aspect of the Forest would come to life first.

  Now that they had finished cutting the important parts of the creature, it was time to start heading back to the city. Mheris had the head of the beast firmly secured to her pack, while the giant paws were secured to Tennebris’. “Ready Mheris?” Tennebris asked, rising to her feet.

  “Lead the way.”

  Walking back to the city felt wrong to Tennebris somehow. She felt like she was leaving a scene of a crime. As if she had dealt the forest a grievous blow.

  You did the right thing. Just look at the place. This was its home! Tennebris admonished herself. Stopping to look back the state of the area, she started to realize some things that she hadn’t considered prior to fighting the beast.

  If this creature really was that old, then why do all the fallen trees look new?

  Doubling back to the trampled trees, clearly slashed and felled by the creature’s claws, she gave them an appraising look.

  These slashes are all new. Did something wake this thing up? What would send it into such a frenzies rage? Why would its first choice after sleeping for so long, be to tear into a group of migrating insects?

  Suddenly, nothing was adding up to Tennebris. There had to be a reason it would go on such a rampage.

  “Whats up Tennebris?”

  “Nothing. Just a hunch.”

  “Care to share?”

  Turning once again to leave this place, Tennebris whispered back “Not yet.”

  The sun hadn’t begun setting, but it was certainly after high noon. It led to the surroundings being painted in a light that Tennebris wasn’t familiar with. She observed her travelling companion for signs of stress, unease, worry, anything that might alert her to something she may not be noticing.

  “You can relax you know.” Mheris said, almost psychically in tune with Tennebris’ anxieties. “With this bear thing tied to our packs, the forest is going to be steering far away from us.”

  “What do you mean?” Tennebris inquired, “I’ve always viewed the forest as if it was alive, but are you saying that’s true?”

  Mheris paused her stride, to take a drink from her waterskin.

  “Sort of.” Mheris said breathlessly as she finished her waterskin. “It’s like this. Everything that is alive puts off a sort of ‘pressure’. This pressure varies depending on how strong you are. It’s not something you can really control, but its nature’s way of balancing things.”

  “What do you mean by balancing things? Wouldn’t a hungry pack of wolves attack you regardless of whether or not they’d win?”

  “You would think so, wouldn’t you? Monsters, animals, and creatures in general can all sense this pressure that people give off. It’s what helps them gauge if a fight is even worth fighting. It’s why the Apex Predator came after us so straightforwardly.

  “Soo, what? You’re saying we were completely outmatched?”

  “It certainly seemed to think so, didn’t it? It’s not always a true measure of threat, but this pressure we give is how the world keeps things balanced. You can thank Tempusirius for that.” Mheris said to Tennebris as she stowed her now empty waterskin.

  “Who uh, who’s Tempusirius?”

  With a dry chuckle, Mheris began walking as she called back to Tennebris “You’ve got a lot to learn Little Shadow.”