New Vessel

Hours pass as the group delves deeper into the forest. 

While Ren and Trevent stay back to set traps, Eska and Valen track signs of deer, their pace casual but their eyes sharp for any clues. 

Valen notices something unusual to the side and veers off to investigate, with Eska close behind.

They stop at a tree with missing bark and vertical bite marks etched into its surface. Valen runs his fingers along the damp marks. "It's fresh. We just need to follow the trail," he says.

Eska grins, lifting her fist in excitement. "Let's go!" she exclaims, pointing in the direction of the tracks. 

They walk on, scanning the ground until they come across a different set of impressions. 

Eska crouches, examining the trail. "It changed direction suddenly—either it spotted something or…" she straightens, scanning the woods. "Something attacked it."

Valen studies the area alongside her. "No signs of a scuffle yet. Could just be startled. Let's keep going; deer are easily spooked."

As they continue, Eska notices fresh scratches on a nearby tree, trailing toward its lower branches. 

"I thought you said the argalia here migrate north?" she asks, pointing to the markings.

Valen pauses, his brow furrowing in thought. "Most do, but stragglers aren't uncommon. Some could still be lingering or preparing to migrate. Either way, stay alert—this could mean predators nearby."

Valen and Eska follow the trail, their boots crunching softly on the forest floor, occasionally breaking through small patches of snow. 

Broken twigs and faint hoof prints lead them further into the dense woods. 

Eska pauses, spotting tufts of fur snagged on a bush. She brushes her fingers lightly over them, their texture confirming they're still on track.

"So... is this what you normally do?" Eska asks, her voice light as she attempts small talk.

"More or less," Valen replies. "There are only three of us paladins who venture outside the city regularly for hunts."

"Ah," Eska nods, mulling that over. "What about the others? The ones who stay in the city?"

"They handle law enforcement and peacekeeping," Valen explains. "We don't see much crime, but having paladins, knights and acolytes around keeps things calm. It's a good deterrent and it helps people feel safe."

"I guess that makes sense," Eska says with a small shrug, glancing at the trees around them. 

Her gaze sharpens as something catches her attention ahead. "Wait," she whispers, narrowing her eyes. "What's that?"

Valen follows her line of sight and they cautiously move closer to inspect the glimmering object. Between two bushes a strange, shimmering web stretches taut. Its threads emit a faint blue glow under the scattered sunlight.

"What is this?" Eska murmurs, her hand hovering near the web without touching it.

Valen kneels, studying the unnatural structure. "This isn't normal," he says gravely. "Whatever made this isn't native to this area."

Eska steps back, her brows furrowed. "We need to warn the others—this could be an unknown threat."

Valen nods, rising to his feet. "Agreed. Let's head back and alert the group." They exchange a glance before turning to retrace their steps, leaving the eerie web behind.

They make their way back, moving carefully as they survey the forest for threats. Unfortunately the further they walk the quieter it gets.

Valen walks a few paces ahead, his posture tense, while Eska trails behind, alert for any signs of movement. They exchange silent glances, each aware of the strange web they'd found earlier, the feeling of being watched lingering in the air.

Suddenly, a sharp rustling from the trees to their right breaks the silence, followed by a fast, low growl. 

Valen spins around, his hand darting to his weapon in a fluid motion. He swings at the lunging arachnid, but his blade glances off its tough carapace, only managing to knock it sideways. 

The impact sends the beast skidding, but it quickly recovers, its glowing, unnatural eyes fixed on him again.

Eska barely has a moment to process the attack before another creature bursts from the shadows. 

Its multiple glowing eyes lock onto her with eerie precision. Acting on instinct, she raises her arms, summoning a thin veil of reinforced blood over her hands. The glowing barrier deflects the beast's sharp claws, giving her just enough time to rush to Valen's side.

Drawing a thin blade from her blood, Eska positions herself defensively, her eyes darting between the creatures. "Their shells are tougher than normal," Valen says, his voice calm. "Be ready for anything."

Hearing Valen's warning, Eska narrows her focus, her blade shifting in her grip. With a quick adjustment, she reduces its length, transforming it into a dagger better suited for close combat.

Eska tightens her grip on the dagger, her eyes locking on the creature rushing for her.

Its multiple glowing eyes glint menacingly as it lunges, claws extended. With a sharp pivot, she sidesteps the attack. 

The creature's long two fangs rake the air where she stood moments ago, its momentum leaving it vulnerable.

Seizing the opening, Eska darts forward, her dagger aimed at the soft joint between its armored segments. The blade pierces through with a satisfying crunch, eliciting a guttural hiss from the beast. 

A green liquid with red specks spill around as it crashes to the ground, its crippled front three legs folding uselessly beneath it. 

The creature tumbles in a chaotic roll, its limbs flailing violently in pain as it struggles to rise, unable to find balance without its front legs.

She pulls her bow and swiftly nocks an arrow to her bowstring, drawing it back in a fluid motion. 

The arrow whistles through the air, striking the thrashing arachnid squarely. However, it ricochets harmlessly off the creature's durable carapace, the armor proving impervious to her shot.

Her eyes widen, then she turns quickly towards Valen.

He grips his massive two-handed blade. As the creature lunges at him with a screech, he steps forward, meeting its charge with a thunderous swing. The blade collides with the creature's carapace, sending a jarring crack through the air. 

Though the strike doesn't cleave it in two, the sheer force sends the beast skidding backward, gouging the earth with its claws as it tries to regain its footing.

"Stay down," Valen mutters, his eyes narrowing. 

He raises his free hand, the air around him shifting. A rush of wind swirls at his command, picking up leaves and debris in a growing tempest. The creature charges again, undeterred, but Valen slams his blade into the ground, using it as an anchor.

The wind intensifies, forming a sharp gale that knocks the beast off balance, its glowing eyes flickering in confusion.

As the creature struggles against the wind, Valen doesn't hesitate. He surges forward, gripping his blade and swinging it in a wide arc. 

This time, the edge finds a weak point beneath the creature's chitinous plating. The sound of cracking armor echoes as the beast lets out a shrill cry, staggering back with a deep wound trailing across its side.

The beast tries one last desperate attack, lunging low to avoid the wind's push. 

Valen counters with a swift movement, using the wind to propel himself sideways, narrowly dodging its razor-sharp claws. 

With the momentum of the movement, he spins and delivers a crushing downward strike to the back of its neck. The blade sinks deep, severing vital connections as the creature collapses with a final twitch.

Valen exhales sharply, the swirling winds around him fading into stillness. His grip tightens on his blade as his eyes dart toward where Eska had been, his pulse quickening. 

Turning swiftly, he braces himself for the worst—only to find Eska standing a few paces away.

Her expression is one of pure amazement as she takes in the aftermath of his display of power.

Eska breaks into a grin, giving him a few quick claps. "Whoa!" she exclaims, her voice filled with excitement. 

Without missing a beat, she points eagerly at the still-thrashing arachnid. "Now do mine!" she says with a playful urgency, her eyes sparkling.

"Eska!" Valen shouts, his tone edged with frustration as he charges toward the creature. 

With a powerful swing of his massive blade, he brings it down in a thunderous arc. The impact sends a gust of wind rippling across the ground, stirring the dirt and leaves around them.

The arachnid jerks violently before going still, its body split in two by the force of the strike. 

Yet, even in its death throes, the creature remains partially intact, its tough carapace stubbornly holding the halves together.

Valen turns sharply toward Eska, his face flushed with anger and frustration. "What were you thinking?" he snaps, his voice cutting through the tense silence. 

"This isn't a game, Eska! These creatures aren't here for fun—they're here to kill. You can't just stand there and clap like it's some performance!"

Eska flinches at the outburst but meets his gaze, her expression conflicted. 

"What was I supposed to do?" she asks, her tone defensive but tinged with uncertainty.

Valen opens his mouth to retort but hesitates, her words catching him off guard. 

Eska presses on. "Back home, if I couldn't kill something in one or two strikes, I ran. 'Don't waste your energy on a fight you can't win' is what mom told me but I couldn't just leave you there, could I?" She says with a slightly angered face.

His expression softens slightly, the edge of his anger dulling as he listens. 

"You didn't think to regroup? To signal me? You can't just freeze or treat it lightly when there are people's lives on the line!" He says, angered.

Eska's eyes narrow and her voice wavers slightly, though she tries to mask it. 

"You really think I'd just stand there and let it hurt you? That I'd walk away? Is that what you thought I'd do?" She glances down, biting the inside of her cheek before adding, quieter, "I handled it. It wasn't going anywhere."

"I!—" He stops short, catching sight of her angry glare, then looks down at the blue argalia at his feet, its earlier thrashing fresh in his mind. He notices the bleeding legs of the creature. Valen exhales deeply, running a hand through his hair.

"You did," Valen admits, his voice softening. "You took care of it, I just—" He hesitates, struggling for words. 

"I don't know why I got so upset. I'm sorry."

Frustrated, Eska crosses her arms. "Yeah…I kinda get it." Her gaze shifts to the side as she speaks, avoiding his eyes.