A Beast in the Midst

The snow plains of Showyth turned into taiga as Roe approached the region’s border. Her white armor glittered in the moonlight seeping past the clouds. She looked pristine, luminous – and according to her, a walking contradiction.

A twig snapped. Roe unsheathed her weapon. Its glow reflected in her deathlike glare, which was only relaxed when a fox hopped out the bushes – though it didn’t matter too much. Being on the verge of murder was Roe’s natural expression.

“Calm down, Roe,” she said to herself.

But at another sound, her own advice was neglected.

Threads gathered in her palm, forming a small dagger. It soared the air as soon as it finished.

Some rodent shrieked.

It was a good thing the Nexus didn’t rely on animal life, or else Roe would’ve blamed herself for the disaster with all the critters she killed out of paranoia. But she was a Guardian. It was her nature to be on high alert – is what she’d tell herself.

As she furthered into the forest, the area darkened. Even so, her gear still carried its own radiance. In anywhere past the first three sections, it’d be a liability. Except that was the point. The things loved light. Like anglers, Guardians were predators luring in their prey.

Roe hated it. Nonetheless, wearing it was necessary. She preferred stealth above all else, not being a beacon that yelled, “Hey, come and get me!” Even all the way in Showyth, she always suspected one of them was watching her from the shadows just waiting to attack. They wouldn’t best her, she’d be ready for them – but where Roe saw vigilance, others saw…

Crazy.

Though being in Section 1, even she could admit her unease wasn’t warranted. Anomalies? Here? Pigs would fly before then.

Then again, the world was ending. Possibilities were open.

An owl fell dead at her feet, and Roe was convinced it was its own fault for “sneaking up” on her. Her senses were keener that night, perhaps because of the emptiness that lingered in her mind. It still felt strange, but somehow, she was grateful.

One – for some peace, despite her persistent anxieties. And two —

She couldn’t be caught off-guard.

Roe sprung forward, hurling into the overgrowth. She raised her hand, the sword’s blade glinting as she prepared to plunge it into her “stalker.” But before she made that fatal strike, her wrist was caught, and her back hit the dirt.

The face above her was the same she saw earlier. He smirked, a playful spark in his eyes.

“Alec,” she said. “Why are you here?”

“Ouch. That’s the first thing you say?” he retorted teasingly.

Alec stood up, gently pulling Roe onto her feet along with him. She was about to question him more, about why in the Nexus was he here instead of Seris, but any words she would’ve said were cut off by his lips on hers. For a moment, there were no anomalies lurking in the dark. After he pulled away, he embraced Roe like she was his lifeline.

And in a sense, she was.

“When the Elders told us, I… I came here as soon as I could,” he spoke into her hair. “Hitchhiked a carriage, even took a ride from a Flier.”

“For what? It’s not like I’m in any trouble.”

Despite her bluntness, she melted in his touch – a “weakness” that only he could bring out. His forehead touched hers as his hands traveled up to cup her face.

“Maybe not, but – you hear you only got a year left, and it makes you a little irrational, yeah?”

“Or indifferent… There must be something wrong with me.”

Except, Alec was the exception to that. Her eyes narrowed, noticing he wasn’t equipped with neither armor nor weapons. Just a plain tunic and pants. For their tribe? An indecency, and depending on where you were, a risky one.

“What are you doing dressed like that?”

“It’s like you said. Indifference.”

“That’s not the same as stupidity. Hurry up and get changed.”

For Guardians, it was easy. All they had to do was shape the Nexus’s threads into their desired gear, and there it was on their bodies. It was something the other tribes envied – the ability to create with thread. But even with its simplicity, Alec remained in his garments.

He stepped back and said, “No.”

“No?”

“Think about it, Roe. Our whole lives have been dedicated to the Nexus, ever since we were babes… But now that everything’s going to be over, is that what we should still be doing?”

“It’s our duty – we’re Guardians. There’s nothing else for us.”

“We could quit. Run away.”

Silence fell between them. Roe’s eyes were wide. Her lips parted, but nothing came out. Was he mad?

“Does that even exist?” Roe asked once she could finally speak. “You don’t just— quit. You can’t. Without us, the Nexus would—”

“Die? That’s already happening, remember?” Alec ran a hand through his hair, then sighed. “And… When it takes us with it, I don’t want to have regrets…” he came close again, and taking her hand, he said softly, “I’ve always wanted to settle down, believe it or not.”

She was sure he had lost it. Maybe the shock and despair of it all was too much for him. “Settling down” was a practice reserved for the others, whereas for their kind, marriage and childbearing was nothing more than a necessity for population. Roe didn’t even know her father’s middle name.

“You don’t have to look at me like that,” he chuckled, but the smile was quick to fade. “Have you never thought about it? Even just once?”

“Can’t say that I have.”

“Well – what about now?”

“Now I don’t know what to think. But I do know this – I won’t abandon my responsibilities.”

“What happened to not caring?”

“My feelings— or, lack thereof… Are irrelevant. It doesn’t change the very reason for my, our existence. There is no ‘Roe’ without ‘Guardian.’”

“And there’s no ‘Alec’ without ‘Roe.’”

She ignored the warmth in her cheeks. Sure, he might’ve been the love of her life, but Roe was never the type to be easily swayed by words. Or flustered. But that one was difficult, especially with the deep sincerity attached to his every word, and the loving look etched into his face.

“Calm down, Roe,” she thought.

“What’s your idea here, Alec? We run off like some teenagers, get eloped, and have kids all within a year?”

“The ‘having kids’ part would have to be skipped.”

“No kidding.”

“You’re as stubborn as ever.”

“Of course.”

He sighed again. It was filled with resignation and sadness. That hurt her, but she stayed firm.

“If that’s what you wish. You know I’d never force you.”

Hand in hand, Roe and Alec continued along the trail. He had eventually given in to spawning his armor, as he was much easier at being persuaded than his counterpart. Roe often caught herself distracted by him, as she always did, but this time she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

“Why did he have to say those things?”

However, something else grabbed Roe’s attention. Something a lot less pleasant than a doting fellow soldier in love.

“It’s probably just an animal,” Alec said as he saw Roe reaching for her sword.

“Sounds too big.”

“A bear?”

“Again. Too big.”

They treaded onward cautiously. The rustling turned louder, more intense. Even the ground shook, like a giant was pushing past the trees. “Yeah, that’s no bear,” Roe whispered. Her steps became more calculated, as a low growl emerged from a throat that sounded as if it was shredded.

“Oh my gosh,” Alec said, horrified.

A moose carcass lay in front of them. Its blood stained the snow, broken bones riddled its body, and organs were torn to pieces. Even Roe felt bad for it, almost.

“Alec,” she said grimly. “You do realize only one thing could’ve done this, right?”

But just as he was about to come up with some other explanation,

It appeared.