The fourth day of their journey had begun, and hunger was gnawing at their stomachs. For days, they had subsisted on nothing but berries, fruits, and roots. The three of them had tried to hunt wild rabbits several times, but it ended with their heads stuck in the burrows.

  With scarce food, limited water from small streams, and little rest, exhaustion was inevitable. Their steps grew heavier with each passing hour, but they pressed on, determined to find a human settlement.

  Grahn groaned as he plucked another handful of bitter-tasting berries. “If I have to eat one more of these, I’ll burn the entire forest.”

  Hira scoffed, “Didn’t know the princess required a five-course meal.”

  Grahn glared but lacked the energy to argue, letting Hira have his fun.

  The air grew thick with humidity, making each breath heavier. Sweat trickled down their backs, and before long, they found themselves panting like dogs.

  "Huff… Looks like we’re near the sea again!" Mokash panted, wiping sweat from his forehead.

  “How? Didn't we go deeper into the forest? Weren't we heading east all this while?” Grahn asked, almost annoyed.

  Hira also aggressively nodded, even he needed answers.

  “Relax… We didn't backtrack.” Mokash explained the situation. “We can’t travel east in a straight line. You saw many obstacles, and we had to take detours. And the terrain is uneven, so it is normal for the sea to be close. This doesn't mean we lost all our hard work.”

  The trio continued their journey when a sudden rustling in the bushes stopped them.

  They knew they should keep moving, but the three collectively decided that it might be fun to investigate the sound. As the three stepped toward the bush, they heard a low and aggressive snort. This snort was usually a piece of bad news, but their faces lit up. This snort meant that they might get to eat meat after a long time.

  They all excitedly peeked through the bush, and their excitement numbed a little. What stood before them was a lone Tusked Bison. It was smaller than a normal bison but bigger than a boar. It had long curved horns and long, jagged tusks that sparkled in the sunlight. They usually travel in small herds, but this one must’ve been left behind accidentally. Whatever the case was, the three thanked the Gods for the good food.

  “I’ll take the biggest piece!” Hira announced as he charged toward the tusked bison.

  “No fair!” Mokash and Grahn also ran behind him.

  The tusked bison, startled by the sight of three ragged, half-starved lunatics sprinting toward it, let out a panicked snort and charged, its hooves kicking up dirt. The trio split up, barely dodging its attack, the tusked bison’s tusks ended up hitting the thick tree behind them, instantly stabbing it.

  “Not good!” Mokash exclaimed, “It's small in size, but its tusks are a real problem.”

  The tusked bison turned around and locked eyes with Hira. Hira understood that he was the target of the next charge. The tusked bison kicked the ground three times and charged toward Hira.

  Hira unsheathed his talwar, ready to slash it, but at the end moment, the animal changed its direction and charged toward Mokash.

  Mokash was shocked at the creature’s agility, but he still managed to grab its tusks, stopping it from puncturing him.

  “Awawawawawawawaa…” Grahn came swinging by a vine, landing a solid kick on the bison’s back. The beast roared in pain but remained standing, glaring at Grahn with its red eyes.

  “I… I’m sorry! I didn't know you were strong enough to keep standing after that blow.” Grahn got on his knees and instantly apologized to the bison.

  Using this opportunity, Mokash called out Hira’s name and sweep-kicked the bison. The bison lost its balance, and its barely defended abdomen got exposed. Hira seized this opportunity; he dashed forward and drove his talwar into the bison. With the final blow, the creature fell.

  The trio stood over their fallen prey. “We’re finally eating good!” Hira grinned.

  …

  The aroma of the cooked meat filled the air. The three sat around the fire, drooling while looking at the skewered meat cooking. It had been four days since they had eaten something heartily. Before, they had to share what little they scoured, but now, they could eat to their heart's content.

  The meat sizzled over the fire, its dark, seared crust glistening with juices. Thin wisps of smoke curled up into the air, carrying the scent of rich, roasted flesh, deep and primal, mingling with the faint char of the crisped fat.

  The meat was finally done, Mokash took the meat off the fire, and Grahn and Hira followed his lead. Its surface crackled slightly, the outer layer crisp but yielding to a firm dense texture beneath. Steam rose in twisting tendrils, revealing the deeper, red-brown layers beneath the char, glistening where the juices pooled in shallow crevices.

  The three bit into the meat together, and the taste was… underwhelming.

  Grahn swallowed a bite and scowled, “This is so bland. Where are the spices? The flavor?!”

  Hira nodded in agreement. “This is an insult to my taste buds.”

  Mokash remained composed, but even his face was contorting while chewing the meat. “You know... Some people eat food like this all the time.”

  “Who? Why?” Grahn demanded.

  “Do they not have spices? Are they poor?” Hira asked.

  “They do have spices, and they are not poor. They just chose not to eat spice, they can't handle the spice.” Mokash explained.

  “Oh… Poor them.” Grahn said in a pitiful tone.

  “Let’s eat fast so we can continue our journey.” Mokash said.

  Even though it wasn't an appetizing meal, it was the filling meal they had in a long time. The three chowed down on the meat.

  They were supposed to resume their journey after eating, but they ended up falling asleep.

  The twisting and turning while sleeping somehow resulted in Mokash’s face being under Grahn’s feet. Mokash jolted up because of the intense stench coming from Grahn’s feet.

  It was already evening, realizing Mokash hurriedly woke up the other two.

  They decided to continue on their journey and cover as much distance as possible before the dark.

  As they continued, their surroundings gradually changed; trees grew thinner, and the scent of salt faintly lingered in the air. It was a sign that they were approaching something new.

  At one point, Mokash spotted something and hurriedly called others.

  “Look!” He pointed at the black ashes covering the ground. “Somebody had lit a fire here, we must be getting close to our destination.”

  Grahn and Hira were equally excited at this discovery.

  But their moment of celebration was cut short by another discovery— the air around them had changed. The usual buzz of insects had faded. No rustling leaves, no distant bird calls. It was all too silent.

  They were now suddenly aware of their breathing. The faintest crunch of twigs under their feet now seemed deafening.

  A creepy sensation crawled up their spines.

  “Are we being watched?” Grahn asked as he looked around.

  “Stay alert.” Mokash frowned.

  A sudden movement above them caught their eyes. From the shadows of the trees, a creature leaped down. It was like a wolf, but smaller. Its paws were covered with hair that allowed it to cling to tree trunks and branches. It was a Spider Wolf. Its gray fur was perfect for blending with the night. Its burning orange eyes locked onto them, baring sharp fangs as it let out a guttural snarl.

  They were shocked at its sudden appearance, and before they could react, it lunged at them. The trio scattered as the Spider Wolf darted between them with incredible speed. It was hard to track, moving like a blur, its agility unmatched, and it had the advantage of low sun.

  Mokash was the first to react, he threw a stick he found at the animal with extreme precision. But his throw’s speed couldn't surpass the Spider Wolf’s. It jumped and stuck its paws on a low-hanging branch above Grahn.

  Grahn seized the moment. With the creature within reach, he swung a punch at it. The Spider Wolf hissed, leaping away just before Grahn’s punch could connect. It landed lightly beside Hira, just off his left, its fangs bared.

  The creature was within Hira’s reach, yet he hesitated. The Spider Wolf seized the opportunity, lunging at Mokash.

  Mokash was caught by surprise because he, like others, was expecting Hira to attack the creature.

  The animal latched onto Mokash’s arm and sank its fangs into his flesh.

  Mokash gasped as the pain shot through his veins. Hira finally reacted and slashed toward the beast. It was a shallow cut, but it was enough to scare away the Spider Wolf.

  “Mokash!” Grahn screamed as he ran toward his brother.

  “I… I’m fine—” Mokash stumbled before he could even finish his sentence. His wound darkened rapidly—poison. The damage was done.

  “No, no, no! Mokash!” Grahn dropped to his knees beside his brother, his hands trembling as he clutched his arm. His breath hitched in short, uneven gasps.

  His wide, frantic eyes shot up to Hira. “Why didn't you do anything, Hira?!” His voice cracked, raw with fear and fury.

  Hira stiffened, not saying anything. The weight of guilt pressed him down.

  But there was no time for a blame game. Grahn’s anger flickered, then faded as he caught Mokash’s unsteady form. His breathing was growing heavier, his body was burning. Blood had stopped flowing from the wound, but a jelly-like coating had formed over it. The color grew darker and darker.

  Grahn was about to pick up Mokash.

  “Wait!” Hira called out, moving toward Mokash, pushing past the gnawing guilt. He placed his talwar on the ground and tied his waistband around Mokash’s arm tightly.

  “This will stop the poison from spreading.” He said.

  Grahn only nodded.

  Hira hoisted Mokash on his back, and they both began running. Their surroundings became more open, the dense forest giving way to thinner trees and patches of open land.

  As they finally made it out of the forest, their eyes widened at the sight ahead— a small, lone wooden house, sitting atop a mound. The structure looked like it was hastily built, its wooden walls uneven, some planks slightly bent or misaligned.

  It stood there, isolated, surrounded by nothing but patches of dry grass and scattered stones. A single, broken fence post stuck out from the ground nearby, remnants of an attempt at some long-forgotten barrier.

  Despite its frail appearance, this house was their lifeline—their only hope.

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