The duo left their inn room, reaching the lobby in a few quick steps. Chatter filled the open space, with Mercenaries sprawled on the tables. They groaned with frustrated voices, venting about the fighting that had kept them up last night.

  “Which one of youse got caught cheating last night?” A scarred man drawled, though his eyes held no joking nature as he glared around him, searching for the culprit.

  “Wusn’t me, boss!” A thin man nearby defended, shaking his hands hurriedly. “My wife’s in Orebury. She’s expectin’ any day now.”

  “You don’t have a wife!” Another man smirked nearby, patting the thin man’s back with a firm hand. “Not with your ugly mug.”

  Enyah kept her expression neutral, she moved past the conversing mercenaries, directing herself straight towards the bar where Kathy was working. No sense dealing with the folk who think they’re lords.

  Beside her, Rinne was red in embarrassment, but he remained silent, hiding his discomfort within the cloak. None of the patrons knew they were the culprits of last night’s commotion. None even took notice of the passing pair, as if they were just a passing breeze. Enyah let out a mental sigh in relief.

  No more trouble here.

  Hopefully.

  Without trouble, they arrived, ordering a quick bag of food for the road, exchanging only brief words with the matron. She wished them a fond farewell with a bright smile, but only after forcing Enyah to pay extra for repairs. As Kathy passed by, skillfully balancing a tray full of food, she gave Enyah a longing, forlorn smile.

  Enyah felt her chest tighten, her emotions weighing heavy, but she didn’t give in. She didn’t waver.

  She gave Kathy one final, wordless pat on her head before she turned and walked away, leaving the building. She felt Kathy’s eyes staring at her back as she went.

  The stables were just as quiet as the inn. The morning sun swayed peacefully as horses grazed lazily on the nearby fields, not a cloud in sight. Enyah could even see Zarts relaxing in the grass, basking in the sun’s warmth. She saw the peaceful rise and fall of his stomach as he slept, letting out a few snorts every so often. Though she loathed interrupting his slumber, the earlier they left, the better.

  Randall was out there, tending to the horses. He looked up at the noise, greeting Enyah with a slovenly wave. He was stumbling around, hungover from his drinking. Yet his hold on Zarts was firm, handing him over roughly and saying with a snicker, “Have a good one, Miss Enyuh.”

  “Take care.” Enyah replied bluntly, turning and leaving the infuriating man behind. The two were mounted and off to the jungles long before midday, making decent time.

  Trees turned into blurs as Zarts sped up, pounding on the ground rhythmically, his claws scraping deep into the dirt path. Enyah's hair, usually tucked within her hood, now roamed free, the intense breeze leaving only a trail of red following behind her.

  The wind whipped around them, drowning out the noises of the jungle. Rinne’s barrage of curious questions became lost in the air, leaving only a constant, hollow whistle in Enyah’s ears.

  It felt like she was in her own world, trapped in a whirlpool of her own thoughts. Anxious worries clashed with self-confident bloodthirst while revenge idled in the corners of her mind. Her emotions battled for supremacy in her mind, only to be broken by Rinne's small hand poking at her back.

  She glanced over her shoulder at him, eyebrow raised. His eyes were wide with panic while he flailed his arms around in fear. His mouth moved with unspoken words, their meaning vanished in the wind.

  She frowned and shook her head, indicating that she couldn't hear.

  Rinne furrowed his brows in frustration, realization dawning upon him. He started jabbing a finger towards the jungle.

  Following his direction, Enyah spotted a shadow darting between the trees, matching their speed. It seemed to have no inclination to attack, simply following their movements.

  She saw the long claws, the muscled limbs, the narrowed red eyes.

  Just a prowler. Enyah's worry faded, shifting into confidence. Those cats were stealthy, choosing to ambush their prey. If they ran beside them like this, it wasn't to hunt. She thumbed her holstered pistol. If need be, she'd kill it quickly.

  A dead prowler wouldn't get in their way.

  Enyah turned back to Rinne and snorted, her disdain towards the panther showing on her face. “It's just a Prowler. I told you about them earlier.” She raised her voice, calling out over the buffeting noise.

  “Oh!” Rinne visibly relaxed, losing most of his built up tension. His face shifted to curiosity, though Enyah could still see his arms trembling slightly. “Why is it following us like that?”

  “Because it's smart.” Enyah responded, her dull eyes darting back to the beast. It didn’t look any different from other prowlers, yet it gained intelligence, acting against its nature.

  Could it be.. The incoming stampede’s mutating the beasts already?

  “Smart?” Rinne asked curiously, attracting her attention. She saw his stare turn into a wary fascination. “How smart is it?”

  “It found the… remains… of our last battle.” She explained. She would’ve been amused by its catlike behavior if it weren’t for the circumstances. “Thinks it'll find more easy prey this way.”

  Sensing the beast nearby, Zarts turned his head with a competitive glare. His feathered frill rose around him and he reared back, letting out a deep growl that reached the prowler. With a hiss in response, it slowed down, staring at them while they darted away.

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  “Ooh. Good boy!” Rinne sang, glaring at the beast's figure that began to retreat. It slowed its sprint, soon fading into a blot in the distance. Rinne gave Zarts a pat on his scaly hide “I didn't know monsters were that smart.”

  “Aye, they’re crafty, those monsters.” Enyah drawled, unconsciously mimicking Gurlin’s voice. “Give ‘em a finger and they'll take your whole family, they say.”

  “I don't get it.” Rinne blinked at her in confusion.

  “Means you show a little bit of weakness and you'll end up dead.” She said over her shoulder, staring at the road. She tightened her grip on Zarts reins. The boy didn’t need to know about the port’s problems. That’s for her to handle.

  Rinne gave a slight shiver in fear. He gave no response, simply looking down at his small hands with focused eyes.

  “You don't have to worry about them though.” Enyah continued, her voice swiftly switching to a lighter tone after seeing his state. “I've dealt with all the monsters here before. You're safe with me.”

  “I…” Rinne paused, his face tinged with frustration. He observed his fingers, skinny and weak, hoping to find something different. He grinded his teeth, letting out a loud “I'm sorry!”

  “What's wrong?” She frowned, glancing towards Rinne.

  “We only just left for this trip, but…” Rinne hesitated to speak, his voice crawling to a whisper that was swallowed by the wind.

  Yet, as if there was a lull in the whistling, Enyah seemed to hear his words clearly.

  “Am I a burden?”

  A burden?

  Enyah frowned, her thoughts changing rapidly in less than a blink. “You’re not a burden. Why would you think that?”

  “I-I mean, all I’ve done yesterday was hide.” Rinne bursted out, his face red with shame.

  “There’s nothing wrong with that, Rinne.” Enyah stated firmly, “You’re the client, and I’m the bodyguard. You aren’t expected to fight.”

  “But..But!” Rinne complained, his voice cracked and lathed in frustration. “What can I do? I don't want to sit and hide while you fight for me!”

  “And I’m afraid! I’m so afraid!” He continued, clenching his fists. His anger cut down the wind, making his voice louder than before. “Of the Jungle! Of the people coming to kill me!”

  Enyah didn't respond. She watched him calmly, letting him vent his feelings.

  “And…and…” His breath caught. He gave himself a moment, but tears still came, starting with a drizzle and pouring out. “I want to go home!”

  His voice trembled, “I want to go to my room! And my library! And I want to see my sister and Lime! I want to eat sweet tarts and read books!”

  He fell onto Zarts in a crumpled heap, laying his face on the cool, scaly skin and using Enyah’s cloak to cover him like a shield.

  “Kid.” Enyah exhaled, though her brow was furrowed, trying to find the right words to say. “The world ain’t perfect. It ain't even close. And the people living in it? Worse. When this world, these people, force us into these circumstances, what can we do?”

  Rinne's head shuffled under the cloak, moving his reddened eyes up to look at Enyah.

  “We put on our boots and keep moving.” She continued. Yeah, there are things you can’t do. And yeah, you’re scared. Everyone’s scared. Nobody goes through their life without fear. We're all just trying to live our lives.”

  She hesitated, shaking her head at her own words. “But life… Our lives are an experience. Whatever hardships you experience today will just be another memory tomorrow. And the day after. And so on.”

  “What I'm trying to say is…” Enyah sighed, ruffling her hair in frustration, her face flushed from her words. “You’re scared. You’re helpless. You miss home. That’s fine. You can cry out to the world, or even to the Gods, if you’d like. But at the end of the day, it’s up to you. You control your experiences. You control your life.”

  “You're a good kid, lad. You want peace and your home and your family. If the world had more people who think like you, I'd be out of a job.” Enyah laughed out loud, then leaned back and ruffled his hair.

  “Be brave. Face those fears and control them. Wrap those reins and tighten them! When you think about hiding, running from a fight, remember last night. Think about how that was the last time that'll happen. It won't be easy. It never is. But even trying? Braver than most.”

  “Can't change the past, but we can change ourselves.” Enyah finished, pulling away with a small smile on her face. “And I'll be watching every step you take. With pride.”

  …

  Their journey became silent. Rinne sat quietly, absorbing Enyah’s words, while she rested ahead of him, lost in thought.

  “What did I just say?” Enyah groaned internally, holding her forehead in regret. “Tsk. This is why I hate these sorts of talks.”

  Kathy was always a lively child, never needing these sorts of talks. All Enyah ever had to do was teach her to fight, not how to be an adult.

  “What would Gurlin have said?”

  No. She shook her head, pausing her thoughts.

  “I'm not Gurlin.”

  “Miss Enyah?” Rinne's voice called from behind her.

  “Yeah, kid?” Pushing her thoughts away, Enyah responded as neutrally as she could, shoving away any trace of her embarrassment.

  “How can I be strong?” Rinne asked, his voice certain, yet laced with worry. “How can I be brave?”

  Enyah frowned at the question.

  Bravery… How could she answer that? She was still searching for that answer herself. She thought for a moment, considering how to explain it. She gazed around her, coming up with an idea.

  “Look to the jungle.” She commanded, hardening her voice.

  Rinne listened intently, but hesitated when hearing her order. He frowned for a few moments before rising off Zarts, lighting up with determination. He let out a strong “Okay!” and turned towards the jungle.

  “Is it scary?” Enyah asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

  “...” Rinne's response was quiet, lost to the wind, but Enyah could tell his words. His determined gait couldn’t hide every indication. The small shiver he gave when turning, his widened eyes darting around the undergrowth.

  “You're facing your fears. You're being brave.” Enyah told him, turning back to Zarts, patrolling the path. “Being brave isn't just fighting in the face of death. It's about doing what you loathe to do, what you can't do, because you're capable of rising beyond it. Ugh.”

  “That story. About the mansion. It wasn't about fearing the jungles.” She said, feeling remorse. She… It wasn't right to scare him like that. “It's a lesson about unrestrained curiosity and greed. You can surpass this fear. When you face the jungle, and monsters, and people out to get you, I'll be there with you. I'll protect you.”

  Enyah frowned, feeling Rinne shift behind her. She gave him a moment to speak, but he kept silent. His silence made her tense,

  She coughed, clearing her throat and turning her attention to Zarts, giving him a few rubs on his scales. “Anyways…” she said, trying to speak with a lighter tone. “We still have a few more hours until Operite. So let’s change the mood with some food, yeah?”

  “Yeah… Yeah, sure!” Rinne agreed, distracted from his thoughts.

  At a soft tap with Enyah’s leg, Zarts slowed down to a relaxed trot. The wind became a gentle breeze, wrapping around their figures in its comforting embrace.

  Enyah reached for the bag from the inn, unclipping it carefully from the saddle. Behind her, Rinne, relieved to be able to hear again, tested his voice by releasing various soft “Ah” sounds.

  Zarts chirped joyfully, enjoying his trot while turning his head back to look at Enyah with wide, expecting eyes.

  “Yeah, yeah. You too.” Enyah grumbled, rummaging through the bag. With a whine, Zarts nudged her arm, making her pause and give him a flat stare. “I’m working on it.”

  She turned back to Rinne, who’s face looked at peace. He seemed to have come to a conclusion earlier and was now gently raising a hand to the tranquil wind, a gentle smile on his face.

  “Sorry, kid.” Enyah said, pulling out a bundle of carrots. “Greedy lizard wants to eat first.”

  “That’s alright!” He turned back to her and nodded. “He’s been carrying us all this way. He deserves it!”

  Zarts seemed eager to chirp in agreement, his gaze locked onto the carrots. Zarts would eat anything, really, though the giant insects near the coast were his one true favorite. Carrots were his second favorite, though Enyah never understood why.

  He seemed more like a rabbit than a lizard, if anything. The way he begged, making whimpering chirps while tracking the carrots that moved in her hand. Definitely not a killer lizard. Just Zarts.

  “All right, here you go.” Enyah rolled her eyes, throwing a carrot. With a flash, the neck snapped forward like a whip. The carrot vanished without a trace into the blackness of Zarts’ gullet.

  Three more throws and the four carrots she bought were all gone, leaving nothing but a very satisfied Zarts.

  “Now for us we have…” Enyah kept quiet, dragging out the silence for suspense. “Bread! Dry bread!”

  “Oooh!” Rinne clapped, playing along with her enthusiasm, or he at least pretended to do so. He already saw what she ordered, after all.

  Maybe Gurlin's love of dramatics rubbed off on her. Perhaps when she retired, she could be a storyteller. Assuming she lived that long.

  Shaking off the thought, she handed Rinne a piece of the dry bread, making sure he held firm onto the bread before the wind snatched it from them.

  Taking her own bread, she took a deep bite, indulging in the flavorless, dry taste. Still, it was better than nothing. Meat wouldn't stay fresh on the road, and Enyah wasn't about to risk their lives by eating meat so close to the checkpoint.

  Still, there were many times where she had to eat this bread, it was almost nostalgic. Her reminiscing hadn't hindered her wariness, however, so when she saw movement rushing towards them, hurtling out of the undergrowth, she upholstered her gun and shot in one swift motion, holding the bread with her teeth.

  Without even a cry the lixsis dropped, falling into a blood-stained lump on the dirt.

  Enyah gave the body a quick glance while they passed, narrowing her eyes. It looked no different from a normal lixsis. A small, furred beast with oversized ears, sharp, thin teeth, and a long, furred tail that usually hung from the vines. First the prowler, now the lixsis. The jungle’s acting up. Nothing good’ll come from that. She’d have to send a warning to Gurlin once they reach Operite.

  “Hmm…” Enyah muttered, thinking aloud, “Usually when there’s one lixsis, there's always…”

  She paused, hurriedly looking up to the treetops. Hundreds of little, beady red eyes looked back, making their way down the vines with slow, pressuring steps. A swarm of creatures crawled towards them, their hissing echoing in the jungle.

  Widening her eyes, Enyah quickly flexed her legs without hesitation. Zarts understood instantly, speeding up, kicking up the ground beneath them as he lunged forward.

  Enyah spat out her bread, letting it fly into the jungle while a surprised Rinne held his meal with both hands, letting out a quick “Wooaaah??” as he hung tightly onto the saddle.

  “Get ready to fight, kid!” Enyah grinned, already reloading her flintlock. Nothing like a hunt to relieve her exhausted mind.