The following m was a flurry of activity. The ctter of hooves on cobblestones annouhe arrival of the wagon just as the sun peeked over the horizon, its rays cutting through the lingering chill of dawn. Rava supervised its pt with her usual sharp efficy, ensuring it ositioly as needed while Vivieretched nguidly, her tail flig in zy arcs, a trast to the bustling preparations around her.

  The group spent the few hours meticulously pag the wagon, loading it with the supplies they had requisitioned or prepared the day before. Rations were carefully stowed alongside ons, bs, and spare tools, each item pced with deliberate i. Renzia moved with a peculiar rhythm, her mannequin-like frame twisting and bending as she hahe heavier loads with uny ease. Her cloth-ed fingers lingered over the items she touched, as if memorizing them.

  Vivienne occasionally chimed in with suggestions—or, more often, quips—her dark eyes glinting with amusement as she watched the others toil. "Don’t fet to leave room for my vanity case," she joked, earning an eye-roll from Rava and a curious tilt of Renzia’s head.

  By the time everything acked and double-checked, the sun had climbed higher into the sky, its golden light warming the air. Late m had arrived, and with it came a sense of readiness. The wagon stood den with their bined efforts, a tangible sign of their impending journey. Rava tightehe straps seg the st bundle, her gaze sweeping over the group.

  "Well," Rava said, her tone firm and anding, "let’s get moving. We’ve wasted enough daylight as it is."

  Vivienne sighed dramatically, though her grirayed her amusement. "As you and, Lady Ravanyr," she teased, before her form began to shift. Her lithe frame stretched and rippled, limbs elongating and ref until her lesser-wolf form stood in her pce, sleek and imposing. Her dark fur shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and her bck eyes glinted with a mischievous light as she g the others.

  Rava and Renzia wasted no time, moving with practiced coordination to secure the harness over Vivienne’s broad shoulders and powerful frame. Renzia’s movements were particurly effit, her mannequin-like preaking quick work of the task. Ohe straps were tightened and the wagon firmly attached, Rava gave a satisfied nod.

  "You know," Vivienne rumbled in a low, gravelly voice, her lupine snout curling into what could almost be described as a smirk, "you could at least pretend to be impressed by my generosity. How many wolves pull wagons these days?"

  "Generosity?" Rava quipped dryly, adjusting the st buckle. "You volunteered."

  Vivienne gave a huff, her tail swishing behind her, but she didn’t argue further.

  With everything secured, the group set out without any fahe wheels of the wagon creaking as it began to roll forward. The dirt road stretched out ahead of them, winding through gently sloping hills and sparse patches of forest. The rhythmic sound of Vivienne’s cws clig against the earth set the pace for their journey.

  They spent the majority of the day traveliward, the sun climbing higher into the sky and bathing the road in a golden haze. The dirt beh the wagon wheels grew dustier as the hours passed, coating their boots and supplies in a fine, pale powder. The road stretched endlessly ahead, fnked by dry, swaying grass and scattered groves of trees that offered little shade. The sound of Vivienne’s cws clig steadily against the earth filled the silences, broken only by the occasional chirp of unseen birds or the faint rustling of a breeze through the foliage.

  versation arse. Rava occasionally made practical remarks about the supplies or the terrain, her sharp eyes sing for anything out of pce. Kivvy, perched he front of the wagon, occasionally threw out some offhand ents about how b the ndscape was, only to earn herself a pointed look from Rava or an amused snort from Vivienne.

  Renzia remained as silent as ever, seated stiffly in the back of the wagon. Her red twin-drill hair bobbed faintly with the rog of the wheels, and her faceless head tilted toward the horizon as though staring into some unseen distance. Whether she was deep in thought or merely in her quiet, uny way was impossible to tell.

  By the time the sun dipped lower in the sky, its golden light deepening into hues e and violet, they decided it was time to set up camp. The road had carried them far from civilization, with no vilges or structures in sight, only the quiet expanse of nature pressing in around them. The air grew cooler, and long shadows stretched across the earth as the distant sun threateo vanish entirely.

  “We’ll camp here,” Rava said, gesturing to a retively ft patch of earth beside a sparse copse of trees. The group didn’t argue—though they weren’t yet weary, there was no sense in pushing on into darkness.

  Kivvy immediately scampered off, muttering something about the “pointlessness of hauling firewood when she could’ve brought more explosives.” Her small figure disappeared into the small cluster of nearby trees, the occasional crack of branches marking her progress.

  Rava and Renzia begaing up a pair of tents with methodical efficy. Rava worked with a soldier’s practicality, driving stakes into the ground with precise, measured strikes, while Renzia moved with the uling grace of a marioretg vas and tying rope in eerie silehough the mannequin’s wooden hands made faint creaking noises with eaent, her efficy was undeniable. They worked together seamlessly, though Rava occasionally g Renzia’s faceless head as though still unsure how to feel about their strange new panion.

  Meanwhile, Vivienne shifted bato her humanoid form, rolling her shoulders and stretg with a relieved groan. Dust g to her skin and dark clothes, and her bck eyes sed the supplies with a thoughtful gleam. “I’ll handle dinner,” she announced, dusting off her hands with a wide, toothy grin that was anything but reassuring.

  Both Rava and Kivvy, who had just returned with an armful of sticks, paused mid-motion to stare at her. Rava’s brow furrowed with obvious skepticism. “You? Cooking?”

  “Are you sure that’s wise?” Kivvy added, dropping the wood unceremoniously to the ground. “Because I like not being poisoned.”

  Vivienne scoffed, pg a hand dramatically over her chest with mock offense. “I had to cook for my husband and children every day. Sure, I might not have the tools I’m used to, but I manage just fine.”

  Rava shrugged, clearly unvinced, but didn’t argue. Instead, she grabbed the warding rods from the supply bag and strode off to set them at the edges of the camp. She moved with purpose, driving the rods into the ground and activating them with soft, glowing pulses of aether that created a faintly visible barrier around their resting site.

  “You were married?” Kivvy asked, her voice full of disbelief.

  Vivienne’s ughter rang out, light and melodic. “Twice, actually.” She grihe warmth in her voice almost nostalgic. “The first one didn’t go as pnned. But the sed... well, it was everything I could’ve hoped for. I was truly happy. A wonderful husband, two wonderful children.” As she spoke, she moved around the kit, gathering ingredients for the stew, her hands quid sure.

  Before Kivvy could ask another question, Vivienne spoke up. “Anyway, I’ve got a stew to make. Unless you want to help with preparation, I suggest you make yourself scarce.”

  The goblin sighed then shrugged, going off to the wagon once more.

  Meanwhile, the camp grew livelier as the stew Vivienne was w on began to release its aroma. The rich, savory st of simmeri aables wafted through the cool evening air, mingling with the faint smokiness of the crag fire. Kivvy sat cross-legged he firepit, clutg a bowl to her chest with wide, eager eyes, practically vibrating with excitement.

  Vivieirred the pot with the air of someone used to anding a kit. “Now,” she begaone equal parts informative and apologetic, “I don’t have mu the way of seasoning, which I definitely pn to fix once we’re in a town with proper supplies. But I used that meat seasoning we had and threw in the more fragraables from our stash. It’s not a gourmet meal, but it’ll do.”

  She dipped the dle into the pot and brought a small taste to her lips, blowing on it gently before taking a sip. Her brows furrowed slightly as she sidered. “Hmm. It’s a bit bnd,” she admitted, “but holy, with what I had to work with, it’s not bad.”

  “It smells amazing!” Kivvy excimed, rog bad forth in her spot. “Is it ready yet?”

  Vivie out an exaggerated sigh, giving the goblin a side-eye. “For the first time in the six times you’ve asked me that—yes.”

  Kivvy leapt to her feet with aed squeal, her bowl already outstretched as she practically shoved it toward Vivienne. “Finally! Feed me!”

  Rava, having just finished setting the warding rods, approached the firepit, her expression mildly amused as she crossed her arms and watched the se unfold. “You’d think she hasen in days.”

  “I knht?” Vivienne said with an exaggerated eye roll, though a grin tugged at the er of her lips. She dled a generous portion into Kivvy’s bowl, the stew steaming as the goblin scampered back to her seat with glee.

  Rava raised an eyebrow as Vivienne filled another bowl and ha to her. “This better not kill me.”

  Vivienne snorted. “Oh, ye of little faith. Trust me, I’ve been feeding people my whole life. You’ll survive.”

  Rava took a cautious sniff, her expression softening slightly. “Smells det,” she said grudgingly before sitting down to eat.

  Vivienne smiled to herself as she filled her own bowl, the firelight casting a warm glow on their small, makeshift camp. For a moment, the group fell silent, the only sounds being the crag of the fire and the king of spoons against bowls as they ate. Even Renzia, who had remained eerily quiet throughout, sat nearby with a bowl, holding it delicately in her wooden hands as though p what to do with it.

  “So?” Vivienne finally asked, gng around as she settled herself onto a patch of grass he fire, her bowl cradled in her hands. She took a small, deliberate bite, her sharp gaze flig over her panions. “What’s the verdict?”

  Kivvy didn’t answer immediately. She ractically vibrating where she sat, cross-legged on the ground, shoveling spoonful after spoonful of the stew into her mouth with the kind of fervor usually reserved for someone who haden in weeks. The small goblin’s cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk st nuts, her eyes wide with joy. “I don’t know what you were saying about it being bnd!” she mao excim between frantic bites, her voice muffled around the food. “This is amazing!”

  Vivienne raised an eyebrow, the er of her lips twitg upward in amusement. “I’ll take that as a glowing review.”

  Rava, sitting opposite Kivvy with a bowl of her own, was eating at a far more measured pace. She lowered her spoon to speak, her expression more posed but still appreciative. “If anything, this is a little too fvorful.” She paused, swirling the remaining stew in her bowl thoughtfully befng up at Vivienne. “Wouldn’t it be bnd to you because of its ck of aetheritent? Or is it only our food that tastes like that to you?”

  Vivienne frowned, her brows knitting together as she sidered the question. She tilted her head slightly, her sharp teeth fshing briefly as she took another bite. “Maybe,” she admitted after a moment, chewing slowly as though testing the fvain. Her gaze grew distant, thoughtful, as she stared into the fire’s flickering fmes. “If that’s the case, I’ll o go huntiually. Food like this only fills the stomach for so long.” Her voice grew quieter he end, her toinged with something heavier, though she tried to brush it off with a small shrug. “I did ge myself ih though, so I should be good for a while.”

  She said it casually, but even as she spoke, Vivienne could feel the ever-present gnawiion deep inside her—a huhat had nothing to do with the stew she was eating. It was quiet now, little more than a whisper in the back of her mind, but she knew better than to trust its sile was always there. Waiting.

  Rava didn’t respond immediately, but her crimson eyes lingered on Vivienne for a moment longer, as though weighing her words. Finally, she nodded once, choosing not to press the matter. “Good to know. I’d rather not wake up in the middle of the night to you deg one of us looks like a te-night snack.”

  “Aww, Rava, don’t put yourself down. You aren’t a snack, you are the whole meal!” cooed Vivienne, a teasing lilt in her voice.

  Rava opened her mouth, likely to retort, but a shrill, chittering screech pierced the air beyond the campfire’s glow, cutting her off.

  Kivvy froze mid-bite, her cheeks puffed with food. “Thash washn’t me,” she mumbled through her mouthful, swallowing hard as her wide eyes sed the darkness.

  The sound came again, louder this time, from somewhere just outside the protective light of their campfire. Rava set her bowl down with deliberate care and reached for her gaus, her movements brisk and purposeful.

  Vivienne, oher hand, calmly took another spoonful of stew, blowing on it to cool it off. “Ooh, aherbeast,” she said brightly, as though someone had just announced dessert. “Tastes unfamiliar! Maybe I’ll get to eat some proper food tonight.”

  The sound of rapid, uhumps began to echo in the distance, growing closer. It was a strange rhythm, like cws scraping against roterspersed with the rustle of dry leaves. Vivienne’s head tilted slightly, her tail swishing zily behind her. She spooned another bite into her mouth, unfazed.

  The firelight flickered as another screech split the night, louder and closer than before. This time, it was followed by a sharp crack, like the snap of a tree branch.

  Rava’s gaze so the sound. “It’s testing the wards,” she muttered, sliding her gaus onto her hands.

  Vivienne finally turned her head, her bck eyes glinting as she gnced over her shoulder. The faint ripple of energy from the ward flickered where the barrier had been struck, but there was no visible sign of whatever had do.

  “It’s stealthy,” Vivienne remarked casually, sipping the st of her stew and lig her spoon . “Couldn’t see a thing out there.”

  Rava was already standing, her body tense and ready for a. “How you be so calm about this?”

  Vivienne smirked, setting her bowl down with a soft k. “Rava, darling, I’ve already decided it’s dihe only question is whether it wants to be roasted rilled.”

  Another screech ripped through the air, apanied by the sound of the barrier trembling under a forceful impact. This time, the shimmer of the ward seemed weaker, the blow taking a toll.

  Kivvy scuttled backward, her wide eyes dartiween Vivienne and Rava. “Uh, this feels bad. Really bad. Should I... do something?”

  Rava pointed firmly toward the campfire. “Stay where you’re safe.”

  Vivieood, stretg as though she’d just woken from a nap, her tail swaying zily behind her. Her humanoid form, while far less physically imposing than her monstrous shapes, carried an air of casual fidence. Her bck eyes gleamed in the dim firelight as she rolled her shoulders and stepped toward the ward.

  The thumping tinued, uneven but deliberate, moving around the edges of the camp. It circled like a predatauging its prey. The firelight flickered against the ward’s faint, shimmering glow, casting strange shadows across the trees.

  Rava’s sharp eyes darted between the darkness and the ward. She adjusted the gaus on her hands, her muscles coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. “It’s testing us,” she murmured. “Trying to find an opening.”

  Vivieilted her head, as though listening to some distant sound only she could hear. “Testing,” she echoed, her tone pyful. “How clever. Almost makes me feel bad for what’s about to happen.”

  “Are you taking this seriously?” Rava growled, her eyes snapping toward Vivienne.

  Vivienne smirked, pg a hand on her hip. Rava huffed. “Don’t ahat.”

  Another screech tore through the air, this one louder, sharper. It sounded closer now, almost as if the creature were standing just outside the ward. A long pause followed, filled only by the crackle of the fire and the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.

  Kivvy, clutg her knees by the fire, gnervously at Rava. “It’s... not gonna just, like, pop out of nowhere, right?”

  “No promises,” Vivienne quipped, earning a gre from Rava.

  Then, with n, a thunderous crack shattered the tense silehe ward rippled violently, light fring as something struck it from the other side. Rava turned sharply toward the source of the impact, her fists already raised.

  Vivieook a siep closer, peering through the shimmering barrier. Her voice was calm, almost zy. “Nothi. Just a lot of noise.”

  Another crack rang out, sharper and more forceful tha. This time, the ward's shimmering boundary flickered violently, struggling to stabilize. The pressure in the air grew heavier, the oppressive mix of celestial and dusk aether seeping into the camp like a creeping fog.

  Rava’s jaw tightened as she turo Vivienne. “We’re out of time. Whatever it is, it’s getting bolder.”

  Vivienne shrugged, the zy sway of her tail the only indication she’d eveered Rava’s urgency. “Then we’ll deal with it. You’ve got me, Renzia, and your own radiant self. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  “Plenty,” Rava muttered, her jaw tight as her gaze locked onto the ward’s shimmering edge. The flickering light ed and stretched the shadows on the ground, giving the se an eerie, surreal quality. “The ward is our best defense. I say we leverage that, keep it tained, and wear it down.”

  Vivienne gave an uned shrug, her tail swaying zily behind her. “Whatever it is, its taste is iing,” she said, a toothy grin spreading across her face. Her limbs flexed, cws glinting in the firelight, as she strolled toward the edge of the warded zoh the unhurried gait of a predator who knew she was untouchable—at least for now.

  She squinted into the darkness, her bck eyes glowing faintly as she sed the void beyond the campfire’s light. Her senses, honed by her predatory nature, extended outward. The world beyond the ward was startlingly clear to her—every bde of grass shimmering with sharp detail, the distant silhouette of a woodlock visible against the starlit sky.

  Then, for the briefest of moments, she caught it. A ripple in the grass, low and fluid, moving in a straight line as if guided by deliberate i. The subtle shift was unnatural, and it stirred something primal in her.

  “There,” Vivienne said, raising a bded talon to point toward the movement. Her voice carried an edge of excitement, her grin widening. “Movement. I want to eat it.”

  Rava frowned, her eyes narrowing as she peered into the darkness, though she could see nothing through the ward’s distortion and the oppressive veil of dusk aether. “You’re certain?”

  “Would I say it if I wasn’t?” Vivienne replied, her tone light but dripping with predatlee. She flexed her cws, her stance shifting slightly forward, as though she were already preparing to luhrough the barrier.

  SupernovaSymphony