Iron and old smoke stung the cold morning air. Streaks of bright yellow and red filled the sky, birds chirping in the distance. The sound of crushing cloth filled the room as the occupants prepared themselves for their adventure.

  “Edrimar, you sure you’re feeling better?” Maelira asked.

  “I’m fine.” Jaw clenched, he secured his satchel and then grabbed his spear. “We’ve wasted enough time.”

  “There’s no point in arguing with him,” Dravien said, securing a hammer to his leather harness. “He’s going to ignore what any of us say.”

  InuShin watched them as he secured his tantō in his baldric. His shoulders were relaxed, yet his chest was tight. Wonder what the Kobrrev are like. A gentle brush of fingertips glided across his shoulders as Syelira finished braiding his hair. A slight tingle of goosebumps tickled his skin.

  “Are you sure you’re ready to go?” Syelira asked, her eyes gentle. “We can rest a little longer if needed.”

  Nodding, he smiled smally. “I’m ready.”

  “Good, because I want to get there before sundown.” Edrimar stepped toward the entrance, a slight hunch. “Let’s go.”

  Edrimar stepped out of the room, the patter of his steps growing slightly fainter. Maelira, Zarien, and Dravien followed suit.

  Adjusting her bow and quiver, Syelira offered a reassuring smile, brushing the strands of red away from her face. “We can do this.”

  Nodding curtly, he said. “We can achieve anything.”

  Stepping out of the room, side by side, InuShin and Syelira followed the other S?lvcù down the hallway. A low rumble of rhythmic drums filled the communal space as a handful of Skifulv warriors prepared themselves.

  Chieftain Soravell stood nearby, staff in hand, her cloak draped to the ground.

  “Warriors, yesterday was just the beginning of what is to come. You all fought valiantly and you brought honor to our people,” she said. “We know the Kobrrev don’t view things like we do, but I have no doubt that you will be able to work together and put an end to the Gr?nnage attacks. ”

  Skifulv warriors, men and women, raised their weapons high in the air, chanting together. Each of them painted their face with a smoke-gray powder around their eyes and different line patterns.

  After a few quick taps from Chieftain’s staff, the Skifulv warriors led the way out of the mountain.

  Stepping out onto the ridge, the golden sunlight lit up their path to the forest. Despite removal of the fallen bodies, blood stained the ground like rust on steel. A faint, acidic tang of venom filled the air. Vines, burned like brittle ash, were scattered all over like black snow.

  Where we lost so many lives, friend and foe. The weight grew on him and slowed his movements, the horrors flooding his mind. We nearly lost Edrimar.

  Syelira whispered a soft, S?lvcù prayer, honoring their lives. Pausing, InuShin waited for her to finish, the sound of her words calming him. We’ll win. We’ll bring peace back to these lands.

  Advancing deep into the forest, the leaves shifted from the wide, red-tipped to a sleek silver-green spaced variation. The scent of crushed mint and wild berries grew sharper.

  Around them, the faint sound of bells chimed without any particular direction of source.

  “Be careful,” Maelira said. “The Kobrrev enjoy tricks. They live everyday life with illusions, misdirections, and humor. Some can be harmless, others are detrimental. It is best to treat them all as the latter.”

  Stepping carefully, the pack of S?lvcù and Skifulv advanced further into the woods.

  Mixed with laughter, a voice, child-like, echoed around them. “So you wish to go to the Kobrrev village?”

  Ahead of them, a ripple in the air formed, distorting the trees, path, and grass. Everything became a blur for a moment before the path split open into three. Each one emitted a different energy. Distinct yet unreadable.

  A second voice joined in, equally playful. “Then you must decide which is the correct path.”

  Multiple paths? InuShin’s gaze darted between each of them. How are we supposed to know which one to take?

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Growling lowly, Edrimar tightened his grip on his spear, igniting the tip. “Kobrrev and their little games.”

  A small, spectral light of red and orange appeared on the left path, partially hidden behind a bush.

  What is that?

  Its little ears flicked and then it darted behind the bush, shaking the branches.

  “I’m not in the mood to play these games,” Edrimar barked, his knuckles turning white. “The initial path was forward, so I’m sticking with that direction.” He pushed through the group, marching ahead.

  “Edrimar, we don’t know that,” Maelira said, grabbing his uninjured shoulder. “We know the Kobrrev won’t make it easy. We should wait and weigh the options first.”

  “No, they think creating different paths will make us go either left or right. And that’s exactly what they’d expect, so it would make sense to keep the path forward, thinking we won’t go that route.”

  InuShin opened his mouth, but one of the Skifulv jumped in. “Why don’t we split up? Each group can follow a path and then after a bit, we can return here and inform the others.”

  “It’s their illusion. There’s no telling if we’ll even be able to return to this spot. They can change it at will. This is their forest,” Zarien added.

  “While you all waste time, we could be making progress,” Edrimar said, jaw clenched and shoulders stiff. “The Skifulv can take the right path, we’ll take the forward path.”

  “What about the left path?” another Skifulv warrior said, her white hair tied into a short braid, shaved on the sides with an undercut.

  “I’ll walk it,” InuShin whispered.

  “Not by yourself,” his mother countered. “It would be wise to stick with the adults.”

  “I’ll go with him,” Syelira joined, taking her bow in hand. “We can keep each other safe.”

  “Children keeping each other safe?”

  “If I recall, it was a child that saved your children from your own trial. Or am I remembering wrong?” Edrimar smirked.

  The child-like laughter echoed louder, surrounding them completely. “If you can’t come to an agreement, what makes you think you’ll be able to make it to our village?”

  “We’re supposed to be working together,” Maelira said softly. “Why do you want to take the path to the left?”

  “I saw a strange light behind the bush, and I think it might be telling us the way to go,” InuShin answered.

  “Or they could be leading us into a trap,” a Skifulv argued.

  Dravien cleared his throat. “I’ll go with them.” Stepping behind InuShin and Syelira. “The Skifulv can stick together on the right path, you and Zarien can stick with Edrimar, should he get bit again.” He snorted. “And I’ll accompany the little ones. Does that solve everything?”

  Hesitant, his mother ran her fingers across the hilt of her sword, glancing between the party. Her expression was calm with a subtle layer of concern. “If anything happens to them…”

  “I know, Maelira, I know.” He smiled softly, resting his hands on the shoulders of Syelira and InuShin. “There’s no need to say it.”

  “Then it is settled.” A third Skifulv member said, stepping toward the path to the right. “Regardless if we find anything or not, we report back here after a few hours.”

  InuShin watched as the Skifulv warriors followed the path, disappearing into the dark shadows. Shifting his attention to the others, he asked, “Do you think they’re going to be alright?”

  “They’ll be fine, they’re tough and they don’t fall easily.” Edrimar turned around, facing the middle path. “I just think they deserve to get taken down a peg.”

  “It’s not a competition, Edrimar.” Maelira sighed, her head tilted at an angle, as if listening to the wind.

  “Maybe for you, but the Skifulv love a challenge.” Pushing his spear off the ground, Edrimar marched forward.

  “Shin, Sye, be careful. Dravien, you know what to do.” His mother smiled softly. Warmly.

  Nodding curtly, InuShin rested his hand on his tantō. “You, too, mother.”

  Maelira and Zarien followed close behind Edrimar down the middle path, disappearing into the shadows.

  Once the remaining three were left alone, Dravien cleared his throat again. “So, what was this light you saw?”

  “It was red and orange, and it had little ears.”

  “Kobrrev magic.” Dravien grinned. “Let’s follow the path.”

  Positioning himself in the lead, Dravien carefully walked down the remaining path.

  The air grew warmer, thicker, like a fresh forest fire. The small spectral light emerged from a bush, dashed across the path, and disappeared within another.

  “There, did you see it?” InuShin pointed ahead.

  “Yes.” Dravien approached the bush, bending down slightly.

  A subtle raspberry-like noise muffled around them as a plant suddenly snapped closed near Syelira, earning a small yelp from her.

  “One of their harmless tricks.” Dravien laughed lightly.

  Ears twitching forward, InuShin stepped past as he listened for the slightest patter of light footsteps. As he stepped down the path, a thin line of pressure brushed against his leg, forcing him to freeze.

  A sharp whistle cut through the air.

  “Shin, step back!” Syelira shouted.

  Within milliseconds, three arrows shot in front of him, mere centimeters from his face, and stuck into a nearby tree.

  Tight grip on his tantō, his heart pounded against his ribs as his muscles twitched.

  The child-like laughter echoed ahead of them. “Talk about a close one.”

  “One of the more dangerous traps.” Dravien stepped beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Good thing you didn’t keep moving forward. It feels like your other elements are growing sharper.”

  “Do you wanna play some more?” the first voice asked.

  “Yes! More play!” the second answered.

  “They think this is fun?” Syelira asked.

  “They live in play. Mischief is in their nature.”

  Rustling leaves whispered ahead as orange triangular pinnae popped out, twitching. A little Kobrrev girl emerged from the brush, dressed in a silky robe-like garment of forest green and deep blues, accented with russet. Her orange hair trickled down her back, reaching her knees. In her hand, a little ball of blue fire, casting a dancing shadow on her face.

  A sharp whistle cut through the air as Syelira shot an arrow in her direction.

  The little girl’s eye widened as she stepped back, the fire disappearing.

  “Sye, redirect the arrow!” InuShin shouted, reaching forward. Focusing, he attempted to manipulate the air around it, but it was too late. He couldn’t.

  Suddenly. An earth wall emerged, shielding the little girl as the arrow struck it, getting stuck.

  Can she control fire and earth?

  The little girl peeked around the wall, her foxlike ears upright and aimed tentatively toward them. “You don’t want to play?”

  “Play? You could have seriously hurt Shin. Or killed him,” Syelira barked, nocking another arrow.

  “I was only playing,” the little girl whispered, malachite eyes welling with tears.

  “Well, that’s not playing.” Her air grew more intense, whipping her hair around.

  “Sye…” InuShin said.

  A second Kobrrev appeared behind her, a young boy in matching clothes. His orange hair tied into a high ponytail.

  Wait? Did he create the earth wall?

  As the little boy opened his mouth, a third voice, fatherly, erupted in the distance, forcing them to jump.

  “Rivven, Relka. Come along. We’re going home.”

  They glanced to each other, then to the S?lvcù, and then turned around, dashing down the trail.

  “Get back here!” Syelira chased after them.

  “Syelira, be careful.” Dravien followed suit.

  Frozen in place, InuShin glanced behind him, back down the path they came. Should I follow? Should I go get the others? His heart raced as he shifted his attention back and forth.

  “InuShin!” Dravien hollered.

  Firm grip on his tantō, InuShin ran after Dravien and Syelira. Soft, but rapid patter of their footsteps on the soft dirt filled his ears. His companions in sight, they made their way further through the path, symbols appearing on both sides. I hope the others can find their way.