That night, the group set up camp in a grassy field near a short cliff. A small cave carved into the rock served as their shelter. Inside, bags and blankets were arranged neatly, while a fire crackled warmly at the entrance. Colette and Regal had already gone to sleep, Regal’s snoring echoing softly from inside the cave. Sheena and Lloyd sat around the fire outside. In her dark form, Milla prowled the forest, her ears twitching at every sound, her glowing eyes scanning for threats.

  After half an hour of silence, Lloyd finally asked, “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m alive, so that’s a plus,” Sheena responded.

  “Seriously, though. I know for me, since leaving Breakwater, I’ve had my share of near-death experiences. When Regal, Cassius, and I planned this journey, we knew it would be dangerous, but I don’t think any of us had the faintest idea of how truly dangerous it is out here.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. I was never really accepted in my town, either. Not the same town Colette and I came from, but the one I was originally from.”

  Sheena glanced at Lloyd, her expression guarded. He considered mentioning his suspicions but held back. She was opening up, and he didn’t want to ruin the moment.

  When Lloyd stayed silent, Sheena continued, her gaze fixed on the flickering fire. “Most nights, Milla and I slept in the woods. The wilderness felt more like home than anywhere with a roof. That’s where I met her in the first place, so it just felt right. The townsfolk feared us anyway. Even with her blue eyes, they couldn’t bring themselves to trust her.”

  “Yeah, I think the difficult times in our lives reveal who we truly are. As dangerous as this adventure has been, and despite the many near-death experiences, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve learned more about myself in these past few months than I ever could have if I’d stayed home. Plus, facing dangerous and uncomfortable situations together with friends helps to strengthen bonds. I hope you don’t mind me calling you and Colette my friends.” Lloyd asked.

  “Not at all,” Sheena replied.

  “I’ve known Regal my whole life, but I feel like we’ve grown more as brothers and friends in these past few weeks than in the last few years,”

  “I feel the same way with Milla,” Sheena said.

  Milla approached the fire almost on cue, or as if summoned. Which very well might have been the case. The fox’s obsidian fur shimmered as she lay down by the fire.

  “Agreed. Friends forged in battle last forever. That’s how Milla and I met,” Sheena said, finally tearing her eyes away from the flames. She looked Lloyd directly in the eyes.

  “‘I was around six when it happened. My memories of life before the forest are fuzzy, but I remember fighting with my mom that day. I stormed out of the house, heading straight for the edge of town. Monsters rarely attacked our town, which was incredibly lucky because our town’s defenses were laughably weak. It was just a set of flimsy wooden walls lined with spikes. Anyway, that night, a few patrollers were on duty, but I managed to slip through the gaps in their sightlines. I always enjoyed playing hide and seek as a kid, I remember that. I ran into the woods, just far enough to keep the town in sight but far enough to feel alone. The fading light cast long, eerie shadows as dusk settled over the trees,” Sheena said, tossing another log onto the fire. Lloyd couldn’t help but wonder if the gesture signaled a long story, or was just a habit.

  “I planted myself against a tree. I pressed my back against the rough bark of a tree, my shoulders trembling. My palms were wet with tears, but the ache in my chest only grew heavier. It felt like the whole forest was closing in, suffocating me. I don’t know how long I stayed like that—long enough for the tears to dry, but not long enough to feel any braver. And then, out of nowhere, came the howling. ”

  Milla moved from the fire to rest her head on Sheena’s lap. The fox began to purr loudly as she closed her eyes, and Sheena continued the story.

  “Three wolves slunk out of the shadows, their glowing red eyes burning like embers in the dim light. I froze, my six-year-old legs trembling—too small to outrun them, too scared to even breathe. Their eyes pinned me in place, forcing me to crane my neck to meet their gaze. They were Altered, no doubt about it. When the first wolf lunged, my scream tore through the air. Instinct took over, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the sharp bite of teeth. But the pain never came.

  “Instead, a snarl ripped through the silence, followed by the sound of a struggle. I opened my eyes to see a blur of orange and white. A fox, small but ferocious, had latched onto the wolf’s neck, its teeth sinking deep. The wolf thrashed, but the fox held on, its tiny body a shield between me and death. The wolf’s glowing red eyes dimmed as the fox bit down harder, and with a final, violent shudder, it collapsed at my feet. The other two wolves hesitated, their snarls growing louder, as if unsure whether to attack or retreat. The fox turned, planting herself firmly between me and the predators, its tail brushing my leg as if to say, ‘Stay behind me.’ She was smaller than me, but the way she stood, defiant and unyielding, made me believe she could face anything. And she did—dispatching the other two wolves with terrifying precision," Sheena said, smiling at Milla as she scratched behind the fox’s ears.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Milla kept her eyes closed as she nuzzled her chin against Sheena’s legs.

  “When Milla turned to me after the fight, her glowing red eyes softened. I braced myself for the worst, my heart pounding as she moved closer, each step slow and deliberate. I flinched when her nose touched my hand, but the fear dissolved the moment her warmth seeped into my skin.

  “Her fur was impossibly soft under my trembling fingers, and as I touched her, a strange sensation rippled through me, like a thread being pulled taut between us. Her glowing red eyes faded to a serene blue, and in that moment, I felt everything she did. Relief. Exhaustion. And something else... trust. It was as though we were no longer separate creatures but two parts of the same whole.

  "The air around us shifted. Colors sharpened, sounds grew crisper, and the scents of the forest seemed to swirl in vivid detail. I could smell the pine, the damp earth, even the faint aroma of dinner wafting from the town. It was overwhelming, but at the same time, it felt right.”

  “Damn,” Lloyd said, shaking his head. “Thank you for sharing. I can’t believe you went through that. How did your mom react when you got home with Milla?”

  At the mention of her name, Milla’s ears twitched, and her head shot up. Her glowing eyes fixed on Lloyd for a moment, sharp and calculating. Then, with a small huff, she settled back down by the fire, curling her tail over her paws like a queen dismissing a subject.

  “When I reached the gates, a bunch of people had already gathered. I imagine my mom must have put everyone on high alert. The guards were all armed, and they had spears pointed in our direction. I felt Milla flinch beside me, and her fear hit me like a punch in the gut. She was exhausted, limping from the fight, but she still stood between me and the sharp ends of those weapons. Always one to defend me. A guard yelled at Milla, calling her Corrupted and dangerous. I tried to argue that she wasn’t, but my six-year-old voice quivered and cracked. I tried to explain that she save me, but they wouldn’t listen. The guards started to advance on us when my mother broke through. She stopped running when she saw the small fox in front of me. Her expression flickered between relief at seeing me alive and fear at seeing Milla.

  “My mother gave me an ultimatum: leave Milla out in the forest, or go with her. Milla could now understand what my mother was saying because of her connection with me. I felt her pain as she thought she might be forced into the forest, alone and injured. I’m not sure if my mother really was giving me an ultimatum, but that was how I took it. Milla and I turned around and limped into the forest. I heard a few guards try to follow initially, but they were too scared once we got into the trees."

  Lloyd’s eyes widened, and he leaned closer. “Wait, you were six? That’s insane. How did you even survive?”

  “Insane or brave?” Sheena replied, her eyes challenging him.

  Lloyd hesitated, then grinned. He defensively raised his hands in the air. “Both. Definitely both.”

  “Yeah, pretty much,” Sheena said, her gaze distant as if lost in the memory. “Milla and I lived in the forest for a good few years. It wasn’t easy, but we made it work. Her night form... it was a lifesaver. She’d keep watch while I slept, her glowing blue eyes scanning the shadows for any threats.”

  She paused, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “There were so many beasts at night, more than I ever imagined. I learned fast that the forest wasn’t just a place to live; it was a battlefield. We built shelters out of fallen branches, scavenged for berries, and hunted small game. Well... she hunted. I just tried to keep up.”

  Milla let out a low growl, almost like a chuckle, and Sheena reached down to scratch her behind the ears. “We grew up together out there,” she added softly. “Every fight, every scar, it brought us closer.”

  Lloyd tilted his head, his curiosity getting the better of him. Now still wasn’t the right time, but he couldn’t let it go any longer. “You’re from Mulbar, aren’t you?”

  Sheena froze, her eyes narrowing as if she’d been caught in a trap. Sheena crossed her arms; the firelight casting shadows across her face. “I know Colette didn’t tell you guys,” she said cautiously. “So, how’d you figure it out?”

  Lloyd smirked, leaning back against the log. “Call it a hunch. You were pretty adamant about skipping that one town. Then, we met Xavier and his group. They mentioned knowing a Beastmaster. Not exactly a common power that I’m aware of." Lloyd shrugged. “Just connected the dots. Once you told your story, it all clicked.” He grinned, watching her expression shift between surprise and annoyance. “Guess I got lucky.”

  Sheena didn't say anything, but her expression softened as she sat back.

  “You said Milla was smaller than you when you met her?” Lloyd asked, glancing down at the fox curled by the fire.

  Sheena nodded, her lips twitching into a small smile. “Yeah. If she were the same size as back then, she’d probably only come up to my knees.”

  “Now that you mention it, she’s even bigger than when Regal and I first met her.”

  Sheena hesitated, her gaze flickering to the fire. “She has definitely grown since you’ve met her... and she keeps growing,” she admitted. “Every time she kills an Altered animal, she gets bigger…and stronger.” Her voice dropped, almost as if she didn’t want to say the next part. “I don’t think it’s just physical. It’s like she absorbs something from them.”

  Lloyd’s mind raced at the possibilities. “And we’re heading west,” he said slowly. “The beasts out there are bigger, stronger...”

  Sheena’s shoulders tensed, but she didn’t look at him. “I know,” she said quietly. “I don’t know what it means or where it’ll lead, but Milla’s tied to this. To me. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.”

  Milla raised her head and looked at Sheena. “Yes, of course,” Sheena said toward her fox. “She will do whatever it takes to protect me as well.”

  Lloyd stretched, yawning as he got to his feet. “Well, I think I’m going to call it for the night. Thanks for sharing, Sheena. Seriously.” He leaned down and gave Milla a scratch behind her ears, earning a soft huff of approval from the fox.

  Sheena watched him for a moment before speaking. “I told you I’d share more when I trusted you,” she said, her voice steady but warm. “You earned it today.”