With slow, heavy steps, Edrimar’s body grew more and more weighted. His shoulders and chest moved sluggishly. A lowly scrap echoed as his staff dragged along the cavern floor. Heat radiated off his clammy skin. His veins, darkened like black spiderwebs, swelled against his skin.

  Despite Edrimar’s protests, InuShin began supporting the majority of his weight.

  “We’re going to get through this.” InuShin said, his heart pounding as pressure swelled behind his eyes. “Just stay with me until we can get back to camp. I’m sure someone can make a cure.”

  “You fret too much,” he scoffed, weakly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  The celebratory victory grew louder and louder as they reached the opening. Many of the warriors held their weapons high above their heads. Several others returned to their loved ones.

  Holding Edrimar, InuShin scanned the room, looking for his mother and the others. “Please, I need some help.” He breathed out.

  The cheers from the Skifulv smothered his words.

  Edrimar slumped forward, forcing InuShin to step forward, straining as the weight shifted. His weapon tumbled forward and smacked against the ground, echoing.

  “Edrimar!” Maelira’s voice broke through as a gust of wind filled the spacious room, grabbing everyone’s attention.

  Within seconds, she shifted Edrimar’s body onto her shoulders and carefully carried him into the healing chamber.

  Staff in hand, InuShin followed close behind, his body shaking.

  Zarien rushed into the room, quickly grabbing a mortar and pestle. Extracting an herb from his pouch, he began grinding it along with some water and a chant of ancient words. The words rose and fell like the waves of an ocean. Words InuShin hadn’t learned yet.

  Maelira laid him onto the stone bed, his breath raspier, sweat pouring across his skin.

  “Shin, what happened?”

  “We were fighting the Gr?nnage, and one of them broke through the mist, biting him in the shoulder. He continued to fight though.”

  “You idiot,” his mother said, ripping the shoulder portion of his shirt. “Trying to get yourself killed?”

  Black venom oozed from his shoulder as his veins pulsed. The scent of iron-rich blood filled the room.

  Edrimar clenched his hand as he squinted. “Like I told your son, it’s not the first time I’ve been bitten.”

  “You almost died last time.”

  A cold chill brushed next to InuShin, blowing his hair around as Syelira’s voice emerged. “What happened?”

  “Gr?nnage bite,” Maelira said, turning her attention towards her. “I need you to do me a favor.”

  “Anything.”

  “I need you to find an herbalist and ask for some Mír?an Starpetal and Drakkvil.” Quickly snapping her head towards Zarien. “How’s the Solanwyn Bloom coming along?”

  “Just about done.” Threads of silver light twined between his fingers as he grounded the mixture, releasing a warmed honey fragrance into the air.

  Syelira dashed out of the room, her footsteps becoming lighter and lighter.

  “What’s Zarien doing?”

  “Chanting to the Gods, to purify the water,” his mother said, pressing a cloth to Edrimar’s shoulder and soaking up the black liquid.

  “Oh,” he stood across the room, near the entrance, Edrimar’s staff in hand, resting it against his shoulder. His ears angled forward, hyperfocused, picking up on the slight changes in Edrimar’s breaths, the spike of his pain-induced heartbeat.

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  InuShin hated this feeling. Helplessness.

  A loud crackle from Edrimar’s body tore through the room. His back arched; a low groan escaped before he caught it between his teeth.

  “Please, hold still.” Maelira’s eyes softened.

  “I’m trying. This is me being cooperative.”

  “Yeah, sure. Cooperative,” Maelira muttered. “If you could, you’d fight us off this bed and rush after more Gr?nnage.”

  A gust of air bursted into the room. “I got them. The herbalist said to use them quickly.” Syelira crouched beside Zarien, handing them over.

  “Thanks.” He handed the bowl to her. “Get him to drink this, it’ll help put him to sleep and shut him up.”

  “Heard that,” Edrimar said, groaning.

  Despite facing death, he’s still finding ways to act tough and defiant. His lips tugged as he suppressed a laugh.

  “Good, wasn’t trying to hide it.” He returned to the second bowl, chanting once again as he grinded the petals with more water. Under his touch, the pale blue starpetal glowed faintly, releasing a soft ching sound like bells underwater.

  Edrimar glanced over at Zarien. “Haven’t heard that sound in years…”

  “Because you haven’t been bitten in years.”

  Syelira carefully carried the bowl over to Edrimar, offering it. Her eyes soft, tears forming in the corner. “Drink this.”

  Edrimar’s muscles twitched as he stared for a second and then shifted a little, propping himself up a little on his elbows, arms shaking.

  She tilted the bowl slightly, helping him drink the herbal tea.

  Once finished, he laid back, breathing out slowly, closing his eyes.

  The aroma of bitter metallic mixed with a light, minty fragrance filled the room.

  Handing the second bowl over, Maelira applied the paste to his wounds, forcing his body to jerk. Steam rose as the cold met the fire inside him, sizzling around them.

  “Will you quit it? You already know it’s going to sting.” Her voice was stern.

  “I’m not controlling it,” he said quickly.

  “Is he going to be okay?” InuShin asked, stepping forward as he noticed the swelling of Edrimar’s veins weakening, yet the blackness remained.

  “He will.”

  “See? I told you I'm not gonna fall to some Gr?nnage.” He smirked, weakly.

  “As long as the idiot sits still and rests.” Zarien pushed himself to his feet.

  “Who’s got time to sleep? We need to take the fight to the Gr?nnage and get to the Kobrrev.”

  “You need to rest, and let the remedy do its work.” Maelira ordered.

  “And that’s why I had you drink the Solanwyn tea. I know you won’t sit back long enough to make a full recovery.” Zarien began cleaning the mortar and pestle.

  Footsteps approached the healing chamber. Slow. Purposeful. The air around them seemed to hold its breath.

  The Chieftain stepped into the room, lightly tapping the stone arch three times. Her fur cloak draped to the flow, dragging slightly. White hair cascaded down her frame, deep lines formed around her eyes and mouth.

  Chieftain Soravell’s icy blue eyes, sharp yet reverent, fell upon each occupant until they lingered on Edrimar. “You fought while venom coursed through you.” Her voice was soft, frail. “Only a fool or a warrior does such a thing.”

  Grinning, he shrugged despite wincing a little. “You know my preference.”

  A brief, amused smirk crossed her lips. Her gaze shifted, slow, intentional, towards InuShin.

  In his throat, a lump formed, as he stared up at the Elder’s eyes, rubbing his fingertips against his palms.

  “You’ve stirred up quite the chatter among the village,” she said. “Standing alongside our warriors against the Gr?nnage.”

  His heart pounded, unsure how to answer. “I… did what was needed.”

  The Chieftain paused, staring deep into him.

  “What was needed,” she repeated softly. “Many speak those words, but few act upon them.” With slow, deliberate movements, she stepped towards him, each stride sending a faint tremor through the stone.

  When she stopped in front of him, she lifted her hand, hovering her palm mere inches from InuShin’s chest. “You carry all five currents within you, but the control still needs to be nurtured. Never in my life have I met a being able to control more than one element.”

  A soft snore filled the gap.

  Turning his attention, InuShin saw Edrimar fast asleep.

  “Good, the idiot is finally asleep,” Zarien said.

  “Chieftain Soravell, what brings you in?”

  “The battle today awakened something in my people. Seeing an outsider, a young S?lvcù, fight beside us without hesitation, reminded them what it is to be courageous.” Her eyes returned to InuShin’s. “Despite many of them treating you with disdain, you continued to show your true self. Your compassion for others, your respect for life, your hope for harmony. It’s not something my people have seen in a long time.”

  InuShin stood silently, his eyes darting between his mother and the Chieftain and tucking his chin slightly.

  “In you, my people saw change, rare as spring in a bitter winter. They saw the potential for harmony between the tribes.”

  A subtle warmth crept to his face. “I’m not… I’m not a hero.”

  “No,” she agreed. “You are not. Heroes are carved by history. You are shaped by choice. And it is your choices that have stirred the Skifulv.”

  With a deep breath, InuShin tilted his head up slightly. “What does that mean?”

  “Many of our warriors, hunters and scouts, wish to join your mission. To approach the Kobrrev and to put a stop to this senseless fighting.”

  “Yes,” Syelira whispered.

  “A small group, only those who understand the risks, will accompany you.” Her eyes fell on Edrimar’s sleeping form. “But only after the reckless one has recovered. In the meantime, consider our village a resting place. To gather your strength, some supplies, and prepare for what is to come.”

  Bidding farewell, Chieftain Soravell stepped out of the room, her footsteps slowly fading.

  “Shin, you did it.” Syelira bounced with joy. “You were able to get the Skifulv to join us. How do you feel?”

  “I’m… not sure.” Inhaling deeply, his ears flattened. “Edrimar shielded me from seeing the others kill each other, but the aftermath felt sickening. Seeing all that blood, the violence…” His thoughts drifted to those menacing red eyes. “The evil.”

  His ears twitched to the soft steps of Syelira as she moved closer, wrapping her arms around him. The aroma of sun-warmed flowers after morning mist surrounded him, calming his nerves, as he returned the hug.

  “I know the feeling.” She nuzzled closer, burying her head into the crook of his neck. “If it were possible to end this without any killing, it would be better. I would prefer it.”

  “Sye, Shin,” his mother said, softly. “I know it isn’t ideal. But sometimes we have to resort to measures we do not like, in order to achieve the desired outcome. If we could find a peaceful way to resolve this, I too, would like to do so. But in order to protect you two, and the others, I will do what is necessary.”

  Pondering her words for a moment, his chest tightened before he nodded. “I will too, Mom.” Syelira released him, sadness yet determination filled her eyes. “Let’s unite with the Kobrrev and put an end to this fighting.”