Five Harvesters crashed through the underbrush, heading in the direction of the death scream of that other Harvester eaten by the flier.

Manee headed directly to the first, her swords slicing into the front of it before I blinked. Havi went for the next, drawing its attention.

That left three.

[Harvester, Level 101, Predator, Chicken.]

[Harvester, Whispering Trap, Level 103, Predator, Chicken.]

[Harvester, Level 97, Predator, Chicken.]

Without even thinking, I went for the one with Whispering Trap. While I'd gained the skill, I hadn't used it yet. The knife in my hand sparkled in the sunlight, and I launched myself into its side as it ignored me and tried to continue.

The knife cut deep, glowing as soon as I buried it to the hilt. Smoke rose from the wound, and two legs stabbed at me. I yanked the knife back out, rolling away under a mushroom and pulling on my stealth.

Blood gushed from the wound in the creature's side as it chased me, stabbing randomly into the shadows.

It missed as I dodged each of its razor-sharp feet before slicing at one of them. I cut the tip off, and that enraged the Harvester even more.

The next leg I dodged, but the second hit my thigh, stabbing deep inside before yanking me out of the shadows and closer to its beak. Pain ripped up my thigh from the wound. The movement drew me within range, and I stabbed my knife into its eye socket.

It dropped me, freeing my thigh, which I sent healing energy to from my necklace. The soothing energy sealed my skin, stopping any more blood from flowing out. The Harvester twitched several times in my direction, but I rolled along the ground until under the mushrooms again. This time, I focused on staying hidden. Blood coated the ground everywhere the creature moved.

[Harvester, Bleed, Whispering trap, Level 103, Predator, Chicken.]

I smirked at my knife and the new affiliation it'd added. It cut deep without burning a hole, then sliced as I yanked it back out.

Fascinating, and useful.

My injured Harvester tried to stumble toward Lenna's fight, but I dashed back out and sliced at a back leg. It chased me again, and the injury in my thigh split open and I bled everywhere. I still managed to dodge out of reach.

This time, it moved even slower after me, and then it triggered the eerie music. I didn't feel a pull at all. When nothing happened, it faced Lenna. Feeling a little light-headed, I stuffed my mouth with food.

"Stay awake," I whispered to myself.

The Harvester spun, dripping even more blood everywhere as it stabbed in the shadows yet again. It missed me by a mile, and I watched as blood poured from the eye wound and the wound on its side. The one on its foot didn't bleed as much.

Eventually, it shuddered, then collapsed.

[You have gained bonus experience for killing a level 103, Harvester.]

[You have gained a level.]

Only one level?

The notification made me blink, but Kabi and Lenna still fought. Yet, Havi took out Lenna's target while Manee watched her son fight. She didn't interrupt, just watched each of his movements.

With that under control, I slowly marched toward my carcass and butchered it. This wasn't my first Harvester, and it took no time at all to find the heart. Then eat it.

[You have gained insight into Whispering Trap. Whispering Trap: You can produce an eerie sound with your aura, drawing prey closer. It has a small hypnotic effect if your fortitude is higher than their willpower.]

Words changed around about producing the hypnotic effect, which made me smile. Another weapon in my toolbox. Energy flooded my body as I ate more of the creature, the taste of chicken taking over my mouth. At least it was better than the gophers, and the corn flavor.

I tossed some extra bits in my inventory and found both Manee and Havi watching me closely.

"That's the devourer," she whispered, almost too soft for me to hear. A little louder, she continued, "Do you get anything for it, or is it required for your class?"

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Seeing no reason to lie, I answered. "I potentially get stats, skills or extra experience."

"Let's keep moving." She nodded, then turned away.

My leg felt better after eating the heart, but I still moved a little slower than before. The outside of the wound healed before the inside. As time went on and my stomach processed the meat, it healed faster.

The single level gain didn't feel worth it, and I mused on that fact as we took off racing through the trees. Killing the same thing over and over again netted you less experience eventually, but it still felt wrong that even with the large gap between it and my level, I only got a single jump.

After only a little bit, Manee slowed down again and held up a hand.

"More trouble…" she growled, glaring ahead. "Forger…"

This time nothing came up on my radar at all.

He stepped out from behind a tree, his eyes locking on Havi. They flickered to Manee, and he frowned.

[An OFFENDER has been detected in your area, with an active bounty. You have been given a temporary boost to stats and abilities.]

[Makco, Collector, Level 142, Predator, Unknown OFFENDER.]

"Go!" she hissed, then launched herself at the Forger. He met her outstretched blades with a shield of glowing energy, yet his feet slid back, kicking up dirt.

Havi nodded at us and took off without waiting to see if we'd follow. Each of us kept going, but I kept tabs on Manee's fight until both of them fell off my senses.

More sweat trickled down my face as we picked up speed bit by bit, until we flew across the forest floor like before. Eventually, I felt Manee's presence behind us, slowly catching up. Relief washed through me.

She sped up and started running next to me. A sweet scent hung around her, but I ignored it. Eventually, Havi noticed her presence, and he slowed down before coming to a stop.

That's when I noticed the blood coating her wrap, though given how orange it was, I assumed it was not hers.

By this point, it had to be late afternoon, but I wasn't sure given the canopy of the massive trees overhead.

Havi paused next to a green mushroom with purple spots and touched a single spot. It shimmered, and he motioned for all of us to hurry inside. It closed up behind him as we all stood around in the tunnel.

Yet, I yanked on Kabi's arm as he started down the hallway, pulling him to a stop. People were ahead, and I didn't know who or what, besides a few crystals.

Manee vanished.

Something screamed, and it wasn't her.

Havi shifted back toward the door, but again I grabbed him as something moved in the forest.

My eyes widened as I shook my head.

He frowned and pointed the way Manee went. All of us headed down the tunnel as quietly as possible.

A bloodbath greeted us, of Harvesters and slaves huddled against a wall away from the mess. The collars called out to me, and I dodged around the fighting, only whipping my knife out as a Harvester got close.

The four Azura folks were freed within minutes, all the collars of the thinner variety.

"We can't stay here," mumbled Kabi, staring at the blood pooling on the floor next to the carcasses of the Harvesters.

"The slavers chased us this way," replied one of the Azura folk. "We plan to head to Needlecrest."

"Needlecrest fell several days ago," he replied. "Your best bet is to head north and try not to get caught again."

"Or south," I said.

He glanced at me.

"How many Forgers are left from the outpost?" I asked, thinking of how many had died so far.

"The southern barrow is clear," said Manee suddenly. "It is the closest safe place."

The four nodded.

The coppery scent of blood filled the small space, and my mouth watered. I turned to face Lenna, doing my best not to eat even more of my food stashed in my inventory. At the rate I was eating today, things wouldn't be looking good for long.

Lenna gripped her bow, but her concentration stayed on Manee. As the four people fled out a different exit than the one we'd entered, Manee twitched like she might be on something. Havi approached slowly and placed a hand on the center of her back.

"My love, maybe you should join them and protect them down south?"

"No!" Her voice came out in a panic as her head twisted to glance at me. "I can't! Not until you're safe. We must get that Forger."

"Let me check your leg again," I said to Havi. Manee's eyes stayed on me as I touched the red rune and sensed the cord stretching out from it. It traveled in a line almost directly northwest.

"Well, we're much closer. It's Northwest, almost on the dot."

"That's the camp." Manee nodded.

Havi gave her a strange look, but didn't say anything. Instead, he glanced at Kavi.

"We don't have anywhere closer that's safe to rest," Havi muttered, his nose twitching. "Not that this is safe."

"We can sleep on some mushrooms if you know the runes to hide," replied Kavi.

Havi glared at him, and this time as Kabi chuckled.

"Of course I know the runes! Who do you think taught Cekta?"

A full-body shiver went through Manee at Cekta's name. Yet, she didn't join the conversation. Instead, she stared at a tunnel leading north.

Lenna touched my hand, causing me to glance in her direction. She shook her head sharply at me as Havi and Kabi chatted about runes.

"Let's find a mushroom," I muttered, heading toward the tunnel to the north. Lenna followed right behind me as Havi came next.

Kabi hung back near his mother, who hadn't moved. His presence fell off my radar as we continued.

Havi touched my wrist, getting my attention. Then spoke softly, "Something is wrong with her beyond the fight with the family. We must be careful."

Lenna nodded and opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but stopped.

I gave him a sharp nod, and he took the lead.

Kabi and Manee caught up to us easily, and Manee felt much more relaxed.

Once we exited back into the bright sunshine, it didn't take long to find a mushroom a few stories up on a giant tree. Havi sketched runes into the mushroom beneath us while Manee sat with her back against the trunk. We kept Kabi between us and her.

My stomach asked for yet more food, and this time, I ate a couple pieces of meat, then found myself stuffing my mouth full until my stomach felt like it'd burst.

I leaned back against the trunk, let my eyes close for a split second, and stretched out my senses.

Then Lenna shook me awake. "It's time."

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