System Break

"No," I yelled. "Drop it." Then slower, "…drop … it." I had more trouble stopping Dark Bear from eating the qi-cores than we had killing the monsters. It was the one time I actually looked forward to fighting a troll just to reverse the trend.

I grabbed the qi-core from the ground, glared at him and dropped it in my pack. "You can eat what Mother feeds you, like the rest of us."

We stayed out on the plains as darkness fell and continued to kill our way towards The Reach. Our vision was limited in the darkness but with two moons and qi-sight we easily pin pointed monsters and there was enough moon light to dispatch them. 

Hell hounds, giant lizards and spiders, creepy insect like monstrosities and a roaming band of ferals were on the menu.

It was morning and Demon Bird guided us to a pack of hell hounds. 

Dark Bear charged them as soon as we were in range. Although they were almost his height, he was much bulkier. He weighed at least twice as much as them. A hell hound's qi pathways were simple and most of their threat came from their ferocity, speed, and strength. 

Dark Bear's qi pathways were a legion. Intricate patterns crisscrossed his body from the large core in his centre. A thin barrier lined his skin, their bites and scratches slid right off him. Where his bite was powered by his qi. He could bite a hell hound in half and when he swiped one they flew through the air for several yards.

He charged, but I was faster. I flew past him and grabbed the first hell hound by the jaws as it tried to bite me. I swung it into the second and let them both tumble away.

I pivoted to smack down the third, but Dark Bear beat me to it. He swiped its muzzle and bit down into its exposed neck. A sickening crunch followed as its throat was crushed in his mouth. Its partially severed head hung loosely from its body and he continued to play with it despite it definitely being dead.

Hell hounds never learn. The pair ran back towards me and the first tried to take a chunk out of my leg. I grabbed its jaws again and flipped it onto its back. I was going to rip out its throat or belly, but the loud crack signalled the fact its neck had snapped. It lay unmoving on the ground.

The third ran towards Dark Bear and I couldn't resist grabbing it by the tail. I tried to swing it over my head, but the damn tail ripped off and it dropped it behind me. I stood looking at the tail in my hand and the sound of a hell hound whimpering was a truly depressing thing.

"Kill it," I told Dark Bear. "I can't stand that sound." He took far too long, and I scolded him.

"Don't play with your food. Just bit its neck in two and be done with it. And don't get complacent. These are beginner monsters."

Dark Bear whined.

"No, you can't eat their cores."

I pulled out my skinning knife and looked at the mess in front of me. At least the one with the broken neck was in good condition. The two Dark Bear killed would have been in somewhat good condition if he didn't claw them to shreds after they died.

It was the seventh skin I tied down on his back and he whined. "I'm carrying the cores; you can at least carry the skins. Oh and remind me to ask Arcaena to make saddle bags for you."

I looked up into the sky. "It's time to go," I said. "Where's home?" I asked him.

He turned and faced south west. I shook my head and adjusted his heading. "This way." He was able to find me anywhere, but otherwise his navigation was a little off. "Use my mind to guide you," I said. "My brain knows the way." Our link was bi-directional. He could use my perception just as I used Demon Birds, but he was still finding his way.

We ran together until we reached the forest. I patted the skins. "Take these to the cabin that Inchel is building. Yes I know that's a long way, but you can eat on your way there. And you need the training. I have to slow down for you all the time."

I didn't mention I had to slow down for everyone, but he was eager to be my equal and it motivated him to train hard. Ailen was nowhere to be seen, which was good, he used his brains rather than wait for me.

I was running late so I flew through the forest at top speed. It was a good example for Dark Bear and the bar was set high.

After sweeping through the forest like a bat out of hell I arrived at our tent before noon. 

"You are late," a stern voice said from behind.

I turned and grinned. "I can make up the time in the mountains. Can you keep up?"

Gisael bared her teeth. "I would leave as planned because I cannot do what you do."

"Are you packed? Ready to go?"

"Of course," she said.

Reyas crawled out of the tent. "I have everything." She flicked her head back towards the tent. "I gave some stuff to Kysandre for her cabin."

I shrugged. "Let's go. We can't be dawdling."

Reyas scoffed and Gisael growled. It was terribly cute. My eye was drawn to Gisael's hip. "Your sword turned black."

"It is ebony," she said.

I smiled and began to run. They chased after me and I heard more than a few curses directed my way. Gisael, the master of the forest, could not keep up with me. She didn't like it one bit.

.

I lay on the grass north of the forest and when she arrived she kicked me playfully.

I turned on my side. "Reyas will be a while."

"You are not getting sex. I am still angry."

I laughed. "No you're not. You are struggling with a new sensation."

She peered at me.

"Someone left you behind running through the forest."

She bared her teeth at me. "You are still not getting sex."

I jumped to my feet, swept my arm behind her, and pulled her close. "I wasn't asking. You keep mentioning it - perhaps it's all you can think about."

She could feel me pressed against her and she stared into my eyes. Her hand slid over my shoulder and her mouth opened slightly. She brought her face close to mine and our lips were separated by a breath.

I let her go and she stumbled one step backwards. I said, "Reyas is here. Let's get going."

She drew in a ragged, angry breath. "You," she said and I laughed.

"It's only the three of us. We can relax when we make the cache."

"Summer is over, it will be colder than you remember," Reyas said.

"We better hurry and get there before the sun sets," I said. "Then I'll keep you both warm."

Reyas giggled, Gisael glared and I laughed. I really loved a journey with just the three of us.