This part of the forest is darker than the rest. Even at the height of the day, the shadows stretch long and deep. Every needle is dipped into shade. It's like a storm permanently hangs overhead, a blanket of ominous grey strung between the knife-like tips to the trees.

Shivering, I bunch up a fistful of my tunic. It is still saturated, water oozing between my fingers. The drizzle is easing off now, but the remnants of the previous day's downpour sits in murky pools and rises up out of the muddied grass with every step. My boots squeak. I sigh, running a hand through my hair, wincing at the further dampness clinging in droplets there.

Cold is pleasant. Snow is a dream come true. But I hate rain.

Something shifts in the undergrowth. Flinching upright, I whip around, hand flying to the hilt of my dagger. Yet all that reveals itself is a flash of brown feathers, quickly vanishing as the bird flutters away.

With a shake of my head, I continue, though I keep stroking the hilt. I'd managed to shake off much of my jumpiness over yesterday's journey as I left Threlkeld behind, but now it clutches at me again, the branches tearing at my tunic like claws. I quicken my pace, throwing another glance over my shoulder.

Behind me and a little to the left, Mount Vasim looms over the land. Having bent away from it, I now pass under its shadow in my journey southwards. Perhaps it is the sight of it that leaves me so on edge. After all, it was on one of those distant ledges high above that I sat with Fiesi, another the location he almost stole my life.

Shoving back the memory, I refocus on the forest ahead. The trees are thinning, if only slightly, which brings an intertwined twist of relief and anxiety. It means I can escape this uncomfortable section of forest, but it is also a subtle sign of what lies ahead.

It isn't long until I reach the trees' edge. As I duck under a tangled arch, needles prickling my shoulders, I catch my first sight of Katamen.

The village is tiny on Rovena's map, tucked away amongst woodland and mountains, and its reality mirrors that image. Rocky peaks climb high either side, shielding what little sunlight trickles through the clouds and darkening the place in a similar way to the forest that surrounds it. The rush of a stream tinkles in my ear, water cascading from a slope and settling in a craggy pool beside the closest settlement. As I watch it ripple and splash, disturbed by the gentle rain, a pair of children dart out from behind a wall and crouch down, cupping clear water in their palms.

Panic seizing me, I stagger backwards, throwing myself in amongst the brambles. These trees may be large, but their trunks are thin, not enough to hide me. I stare at the black flame winding around my arm and sigh.

"If only you'd behave," I mutter as I fling my bag around. "It would make my life so much easier."

My flame hisses and splutters. It isn't keen on the idea.

A few seconds of sifting through my bag, pushing aside the rolled-up map, and my fingers close over cool leather. At least I've managed to keep them dry, through some miracle. I take a moment to support myself fully against the tree before tugging the gloves on, leaning my head into the bark until the dizziness subsides.

Next is the mask. I draw it out and turn it over in my hand, rubbing the thick fabric between my fingers. It is a greyish white, like snow dappled by dust, with dangling ties and two eye-shaped holes. As I poke a finger through one, fire streaks through me with stinging force, and I draw in a sharp breath, retracting my hand. It must be magically enchanted.

Thankfully, it doesn't produce the same reaction as I place it over my face. Knotting the ties takes a few tries, but I persist, despite how my fingers start to ache at the difficulty. Perhaps I should have practiced this before coming close to a town.

Finally, however, I yank them apart, and the mask tightens, secure. Picking up my bag, I rise, feeling my face the moment the bag's straps are back over my shoulders. It is a strange sensation akin to the gloves. Not entirely uncomfortable, but an unsettling touch all the same.

Confident in my concealment, I start towards Katamen, although I do take out my dagger briefly and check my reflection in the blade. It is odd seeing material rather than skin. But the feature that causes my step to falter is the greenish hue to my eyes, soft, like damp moss or a tree's needle.

A smile sits on my lips. Another step closer to some normality, however much magic I need to achieve it.

I look back up just as cobbles hit my boots. After the sodden grass, the hard stone is enough to make me wince. I slide the dagger back into my belt and hurry onto the street, pulling my hood over my ears in a swift movement.

The quicker I make my visit, the sooner I can be alone again. Safe. Initially, I didn't plan on visiting any town at all, but I've already run out of the little food Rovena could provide me with. Besides, if I can find at least some temporary shelter, I will take it.

Remembering my incident with Aiden back in Threlkeld, I keep my eyes firmly on the street ahead. And so I see right away where the houses part to make way for the pool I spotted earlier, and the two girls still lingering beside it. They both spin around in sync, their bright eyes locking onto me.

"Hello!" the smaller of them cries, dashing out, two gold-brown plaits flying out behind her. I step back, but she comes right up to me regardless, her eyes wide and filled with wonder as she gazes up. She barely comes to my waist.

I can't help the smile that springs forward, despite how near she is. "Hello."

Her eyes flick to my right, to the end of the path I just entered. "Are you a monster?"

My fire stirs. It takes every bit of restraint I have not to stumble away from her, run away, back into the trees. "What... what do you mean?"

She points towards the forest, rocking back and forth on her heels. "You come from the bad place. Monsters live there."

The bad place. Eyes racing along her finger, I find the row of trees waiting at the end of the street, their sharp tips, their waiting darkness. Mount Vasim towers over them. Coldness embraces my heart, stuttering its pulse.

The mountain. The forest. My vision spins and dances, flares of light speckling the world. Screwing my eyes shut, I feel for the brickwork behind, trying to root myself in place.

No wonder those shadows pressed so deep.

"Everly!"

I open my eyes to see the other girl grab at the first's collar, yanking her back. She gives Everly a stern look. "He can't be one of those. He's human." Her brows furrow as she glances up at me. "Aren't you?"

My hand finds its way to the back of my neck. It is growing cold, yet it thrums warmly, like melting spears of ice piercing my nape. My tongue is dry. "I--"

"Lena! Everly! Get back here!"

I jerk around towards the voice, my shoulder colliding with the edge of a house. I'm glad for its intrusion, however my heart races. A boy is sprinting down the street towards us, head bent as he skids over the cobbles, the wind ruffling his mousy hair. Everly gives a little squeal, curling into the chest of the taller girl. Lena, I assume. She giggles, wrapping her arms around Everly.

My skin prickles. I'm aware that I should leave, but before I can force my feet to move, the boy is staggering to a stop between me and the girls. He is a similar height to me, maybe a little taller, but besides that I can only guess at his age. He shoves Lena and Everly behind him, then bends over, pressing his hands into his knees as he pants.

He looks up at me. "Sorry... sorry if these two... were any trouble." Pausing, he straightens, catching his breath. "They're my sisters. I'm supposed to be watching them, but they ran off."

"No," I manage, flashing a strained smile. "No trouble."

"Cody!" Everly exclaims, bouncing as she jabs a finger at me. I flinch into the wall. "Cody, he came from the bad place!"

"The forest," Lena adds as an explanation. She folds her arms, eyes narrowed as she looks up at her brother. "Are people supposed to come from there?"

Cody frowns. His gaze trails in my direction as he rests a hand on Everly's shoulder. After a moment, he shakes his head and turns back to them. "No harassing strangers, okay? Lena, you have to be the big sister. Keep Everly under control."

Lena sighs. "Fine." She pokes her sister in the back. "No running off."

"Can I trust you to behave yourselves?" His eyes rest on me again. "I just need to talk to this... man."

I bite my tongue, swallowing my laughter at the term. Do I really look that old with the mask on?

Standing up straighter, Lena gives an affirmative, "Yes." Everly nods enthusiastically. Patting them both on the head, Cody waves them away, and they run back to their spot by the pool, whispering between themselves. My skin crawls as they glance back at me.

"Are you a monster?"

I draw in a steadying breath. An innocent question, a meaningless choice of word. No malice. No-one knows who I am. My relation to this forest, myth or not, has no bearing. It isn't worth dwelling on.

It certainly isn't worth making a fool of myself over before a skeptical stranger.

Cody wears a frown as he surveys me, wary. His clothing is simple: brown, stained by wear, multiple layers he huddles into. I notice there are no weapons at his waist. It feels silly to be surprised by that, but after all I've seen, not carrying a blade of sorts seems to invite danger.

He toys with a loose lock of hair. "Did you really come out of that forest?"

My hands clasp behind my back. I feel a sudden urge to hide my gloves. "I travelled through it, yes."

"Did you..." He ducks his head, a nervous smile twitching his lips. "Did you see anything?"

"No," I say without wishing to elaborate.

"Oh. Huh." Offering a shrug, he turns, as if purposefully putting his back to the trees. "Just a village story, that's all. A curse, a monster, the usual. Don't worry about it. Everly hasn't stopped talking about it since our mother told her."

His nonchalance is clearly false; he is as curious as his sister about the forest's interior. But I'm happy to take it in order to shift the subject. I don't need to draw any more attention to myself. "I don't mean to be rude, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. If you don't mind, can you show me where I can--"

Gasping, he jerks towards me, his touch to my arm cutting off my voice. His eyes are fixed on my dagger. "You're not from here," he breathes.

"No, I'm travelling, and--"

"Girls?" Cody whips around, though his hand lingers on my arm. I wrench from his grip, my legs already tensing in readiness to run, but he isn't attacking. He looks scared.

Lena and Everly look up from their game.

"Stay here, alright? Don't go anywhere." His voice doesn't shake the same way his hands do. "Lena, I'm counting on you."

As the girl nods, Cody grabs my arm again and starts walking before I can pull away. I stagger after him, surprised by his strength, although part of that may be down to my stunned instinct to freeze. He drags me to a gap in between the houses and shoves me into it, ignoring my yelp of protest.

I try to scurry out again, but he slides in after me, blocking my path. The space is barely wide enough for my shoulders. The other end boxes us in with another stone wall. Bits of straw hang over the top.

"Hey!" Shifting towards him, I reach for my dagger. "You can't--"

Pressing a finger to his lips, he shushes me. His eyes are wild, panicked, and that is enough to crumble my argument.

"Please," he says, voice barely a breath, "stay quiet. They're never far away. They'll hear."

"Who?" The realisation clicks as soon as the question emerges.

"Neyaibet." His head inclines sideways. "Do you really not know?"

"I can guess," I mutter.

His eyes flick to my waist again, to the dagger. "They took all weapons when they first arrived. Now, anyone found with them is... well, it's a crime, and they don't take kindly to criminals." Drawing in a hasty breath, he throws a glance over his shoulder, back to the street. "You need to leave. Now."

I gesture to my bag. "Surely I can just hide it?"

Eyes dark, Cody shakes his head. "They recognise newcomers. They'll search you. Please, leave." He swallows. "It isn't just you who'll get hurt."

My stomach twists, tied in knots. The terror lacing his tone says it all. If Neyaibet finds me, they'll see that he let me into the village, and they'll charge him with crime too. Perhaps even his little sisters. I'm nodding before I've thought about it.

"Okay. Thank you."

With a grateful nod, he turns back to the street, and instantly shrinks back into the gap. His shoulder brushes mine. I bite my lip, bracing both hands on each wall, my heart already pounding with the will to get out.

But Cody holds me back. His trembles channel into me as he lays a hand on my shoulder. "On second thought," he whispers, "let's stay here."

I open my mouth to ask why, but the answer drifts towards us, snatching my breath.

"Good afternoon, girls."

Though I don't recognise the voice, I do see the tension that stiffens Cody's stance. He meets my eyes, sparks of fear dancing bright. Neyaibet, he mouths. It only adds confirmation to my guess.

"Is there anyone looking after you two?" the soldier asks.

"I'm looking after her," Lena tries to say, pride woven into her voice. Unfortunately, Everly steals her moment.

"Our brother," she answers eagerly.

"I see," the soldier says. Chills weave along my spine. "And where is he?"

Cody tilts his head back, lips moving soundlessly. He's praying. Closing my hand around my hilt, I grit my teeth, joining him.

"He's talking to the man from the forest," replies Lena.

"The monster!" Everly adds. I wince.

"And who--"

A loud crash cuts the soldier off. Cody flinches, daring to peer out of the gap as clunking footsteps race past us. He seems to deflate as he releases his held breath.

"Thank the heavens." Scampering backwards, he re-enters the street, waving for me to follow. "Quick, before he comes back."

I breathe my own sigh of relief as I break out of the narrow space. But I'm not fully paying Cody any attention. Resting a hand on the bricks, I squint at the bend in the street where the soldier vanished, and catch the sound of raised voices. My grip on my dagger tightens.

Cody taps at my side, snapping my head back towards him. "Go," he hisses.

For a moment, I hesitate, torn in two separate directions. My flame tugs me back towards the shelter of the forest, but a bigger part of me, tangled with fear and curiosity and empathy for that jerkiness of his movements, coils around my heart. This isn't right. He shouldn't be forced to hide simply to protect himself.

A scrape of metal echoes from further down the street. The sound grates through my bones, too familiar, and before I know it I'm skidding around the corner, the dagger sliding free from my belt.

Cody shouts something from behind. I ignore him. I can't leave, not yet.

A square similar to the one in Threlkeld greets me, although cramped with a few more tables. I lock eyes on the soldier first, the two soldiers, both stood over an upturned stall, and throw myself behind a discarded pile of crates gathered around the nearest corner of a house. Crouched on my knees, I peer over the top, keeping the dagger clutched firmly against my chest.

"That will teach you your place." The voice booms, deep and rolling like thunder. Although I haven't heard it before, the confidence oozing from each word can belong only to a Neyaibet soldier.

Shifting, I push up on my knees and catch a full glimpse of the scene. The voice must belong to the soldier standing right over the broken stall, blade drawn and pointed downwards at a woman bent over the scattered remains. Shards of pottery litter the ground, interspersed with pieces of glass scattered around a lantern cracked open at one side. Its flame splutters, flickering wildly as it shrinks into the lantern's centre.

The woman hangs her head. As she draws breath, it is wracked with sobs. A tear splashes to the damp cobbles. "I'm sorry," she gasps out, gaze fixed on the sword's tip at her neck. "I didn't--"

"This is your own fault," the soldier snaps. I curl my fingers over my hilt. "Learn to respect our rules, or face the consequences."

"What happened here?" the other soldier chips in, the one that spoke to Cody's sisters. He hangs a few paces back, fingering the edge of his own sheath as if debating whether to draw.

Without removing his blade from the woman's neck, the first soldier turns. "This wretch thought she could charge ten coins for trash like this." He kicks at a slice of pinkish clay, letting it hit the stall's cracked leg with a light thud. "Non-essential goods. She didn't even ask our permission."

The other grunts. "As long as it's dealt with."

He spins on his heel. Panic spears through me, the realisation that he will be heading this way. Gripping my dagger, I whip around, tumbling from my perch on my knees, and press my back against the crates. If he tries to take my weapon, I'll fight.

But as soon as I turn to the bend, Cody hurries around it, Lena and Everly trailing behind him. He stumbles to a stop when he sees the soldier and offers a hesitant smile.

For the briefest moment, his eyes flick to me. But he wrenches them away as the soldier marches forward.

The rumble of his companion's voice drifts in waves from behind, pierced with threat, but the pounding in my ears drowns out his exact words. Clunking footsteps pass my feeble hiding place. I thank everything above the clouds draping the sky that his eyes remain pointing forwards, focused on Cody, and do not notice me huddled up into the corner of a house.

He jabs a finger at the two girls. "This your brother?"

They both nod, Everly ducking behind Cody's back as the soldier approaches. Lena stands firm, though her hand slips into her sister's.

So young and yet so scared. So terrified of the threat of a blade. Defended by a boy who, now bowing under the shadow of the man, appears no older than me. Perhaps younger. He licks his lips, offering a silent nod of his own.

He keeps his gaze on the ground, yet I get the distinct sense he's still watching me out of the corner of his eye.

"Baine, is it?" the soldier asks.

Cody doesn't move. "Yes, sir."

"Watch them more closely in future. We wouldn't want an accident to befall them, now, would we?"

With those words hanging in the air like humid droplets, he strides past them, barging into Cody's shoulder on the way, and vanishes around the corner.

I don't waste time checking Cody's expression. Grabbing for the crate, I spin around again, scrambling back to my knees. Relief loosens the tangle in my stomach. The soldier with the thundering voice has also gone, though he leaves destruction in his wake. The square is deserted besides the woman. She runs a hand over her neck, visibly shaking even from this distance.

Instinct snatches away common sense. Standing, I shove my dagger back into my belt and dash over.

She barely lifts her head as I stagger to a stop before her stall. Turned upside down, one pole snapped clean off and a widening crack snaking down the slab's centre, there is little hope for repairing it. I step carefully over and pick my way through the broken pottery, finding a space to crouch beside her.

I swallow, searching for my voice. "Are you okay?"

She looks up, and the trails wetting her cheeks paired with the void-like hopelessness leeching the light from her eyes aches in my chest.

Not knowing what else to do, and yet filled with a burning desire to move my hands in some way that is useful, I start scooping the shards towards me. She observes wordlessly. Surprise twitches her features.

I pick up one larger piece, running a finger over the pink-grey pattern that forms rippled waves. "This must have been beautiful." Setting it down, I try to meet her gaze. "Can you fix this?"

Despair swallows any glint of her attempted smile. "Maybe."

"Hey, forest boy!"

I jolt up towards Cody's voice. I've been downgraded to a boy, I notice.

He folds his arms. "I thought you were leaving."

Rising, I chew at my lip. I should leave. He's right. But I survey the shards on the floor again, the weeping woman, and hear the echo of the soldier's threats circle my mind. I rub at the flat end of my hilt.

"I can help you," I say, raising my gaze to meet Cody's. I hope the desired fierceness shows in my eyes, however the mask may have tampered with them.

He stares back. "You can help by leaving before they catch you."

I pace over the stall towards him, glancing over his shoulder at the street leading back to the forest. The Anathe's forest. A shiver unfurls, winding up my spine. Stepping back, I face them both, shaking my head.

Edita once said that monsters were cowards. If that is true, then wouldn't retreating back into those trees prove her correct?

"It isn't fair," I start, "for you to be treated like this. You don't deserve it."

Sitting back on her heels, the woman scrubs at her eyes. Cody gives a humourless laugh. "Since when has the world been fair?"

Surveying the rest of the square, I catch sight of a few faces peeking around corners, checking the soldiers have gone. Curious eyes drift over me, fear flashing within them. Perhaps fair isn't the right word. All I know for certain is the wrongness that shadows Katamen, every resident hunching under it. Neyaibet's shadow.

It's foolish. Senseless. It's going to get me caught.

But it's the right thing to do.

"I know what it's like to be trapped." I'm speaking mostly to Cody, but my voice raises, tendrils reaching out to anyone who will listen. "Trapped and defenceless, not able to change a thing." I draw out my dagger, letting it glint in the weak sunlight. "I can help you fight back."

Cody snorts. "Yes, because one knife is enough to fight a whole host of trained soldiers." The brief mirth in his eyes fades as he looks at his feet. "Look, I don't know who you are, but you have to trust me. This isn't a battle we can fight. We have no weapons--"

"So we get them back," I say, driven by a nonsensical excitement buzzing through my veins.

He raises a brow. "If it were that simple, we'd have already done it."

"I'll get them back," I amend, catching a glimpse of myself in my blade as I spin it. Snow-white mask, forest-green eyes. I look like some sort of hero.

This is a hero's work, isn't it? Saving a village from those who terrorise it?

Rovena intends that I protect others, royalty or otherwise. Akurin is still a long way away. I'll get there eventually. I need to start somewhere, to prove I can do this in some form, before I save the whole kingdom. Besides, these people need protecting now. There isn't time to wait.

"We're also not fighters," Cody says, tone dropping as he creeps closer. His gaze still darts about. He's watching out for the soldiers. "All the best fighters are gone already." His voice wavers, head drooping.

I offer the slightest of smiles. "How many soldiers are there?"

He shrugs. "Fifteen? Twenty?"

"And how many people can you gather?" I sweep my gaze over the rows of houses.

"I don't..." Shaking his head, he laughs lightly. "You're really determined to do this?"

"Yes." I lower the dagger, spinning it in my hand. "If you'll let me help."

He smiles, and for the first time, it fully lights up his eyes. They're gentle, the hazel colour of sun-touched bark. "If I know who I'm letting help."

A smile of my own touches my lips. "You can call me Nathaniel. Nathaniel Aspen." Whatever its connection to Fiesi, it is growing on me.

For a moment, he stares at me. Then, with a shrug, he holds his hand out. "Cody Baine."

I shake it. "So you'll join me?"

"Why not?" As he releases my hand, his smile falls to uncertainty, his gaze drifting sideways. When I follow it, I find the girls, chattering in light voices. "As long as we can keep them safe," he murmurs. "And anyone else vulnerable."

Nodding, I ponder it, and an idea springs to mind. Somewhere out the way, somewhere Neyaibet won't go. "Take them to the forest."

"The forest?" His eyes widen, startled, fearful. I hide my wince as a ribbon of flame winds beneath my gloves.

"Trust me. There's nothing there." My confidence in the statement surprises even me. "They'll be safe."

Cody nods, and that rush of rightness returns. I clutch my dagger at my side. I'm ready for this. It's something good, and for once, I'd like to bring that.

Eagerness flutters in my chest. "Alright. Gather everyone you can. It's time to fight back."

───── ⋆⋅♛⋅⋆ ─────

Fun Fact: The way were going to meet Cody changed twice before ending up like this. At first, he was going to be playing a homemade guitar (for no real reason other than it was the vibe when I was outlining). Then he was going to be at a stall himself. But then these two girls decided to steal the show and also bring Nathan trauma, go them :D

 So, Nathan set off on his mission and immediately got distracted! But he's being a good boy, really, helping out the people. He's grown so much *pats him*

Now let's just hope this doesn't turn out to be a bad idea, I guess--

- Pup