Suspicious

Shen's legs ached from the effort, but he wouldn't slow down. He was aware that the creatures might reappear. Zara's lips moved in a barely perceptible murmur as she roused slightly. Leaning closer, Shen hoped to hear what she had to say.

She said, "Don't… forest…," and then went quiet once again. Uncertain of what she meant, Shen scowled. They had been saved by the Bloodflower grove, but there was a caution in her words. He decided to concentrate on the current task: getting to the settlement.

The settlement was indicated by a dim glow on the horizon as the edge of the forest came into view. The sight of the deserted streets dampened the relief that swept through Shen. The peasants had gone inside, probably scared by the earlier disturbance. But as soon as Shen arrived, a group of men and women warily emerged, their faces displaying a mixture of fear and alarm.

Shen was approached by the village leader, an elderly guy with a cane and a worn face. His keen eyes grew wide upon seeing Zara's lifeless body. "Be quick! "Take her to the hospital!" he said, gesturing for assistance. Zara was gently removed from Shen's arms and carried away by two villagers who hurried forward.

For a minute, Shen remained immobile, the shadow of her weight still pressing against his arms. He was startled out of his reverie by the chief's hand on his shoulder. "Join me," the elderly man said. "We require answers."

Shen sat at a wooden table in the chief's humble house, drinking a cup of hot herbal tea that he had not yet touched. The cold clutch of fatigue and guilt tightening his chest was not much eased by the room's warmth. Across from him, the chief sat with a solemn gaze.

With a steady yet inquisitive tone, the chief questioned, "What happened in the forest?" "What brought those creatures?"

Shen inhaled deeply as he tried to gather his thoughts. He talked in a raspy voice. "Night hunters." They assaulted us. Although we fought, the majority of the soldiers were killed. He stopped, staring at the ground. "Zara and I barely made it through."

The chief scowled more deeply. For decades, night hunters have not been observed in these areas. Why now?

With the sight of the luminous plant racing through his head, Shen paused before responding. He said softly, "There's a plant in the forest." It is known as the Bloodflower. The animals stayed away from it. They are weakened by its sap. We wouldn't have had a chance without it.

The chief's expression flickered with realization as his eyes widened significantly. "Bloodflower," he said again. "We never realized it could repel those things, but our ancestors thought it had protective qualities. Maybe that's why they haven't returned for so long. Their natural defense must be the grove.

Shen nodded, putting this important detail away. But he couldn't stop thinking about another question. He questioned, "What brought them here in the first place?" "They must have been drawn together by something."

The chief's face grew serious. He spoke carefully as he stated, "Our trade routes." The village is situated where two kingdoms meet. In order to collect supplies, we have had to send caravans back and forth. Our movements might have disturbed their territory. We may have unwittingly brought them here.

Shen felt the weight of this realization bear down on her. "Then we have to move quickly," he stated forcefully. "The creatures will return if they regroup; they are still out there."

With a worried expression on his face, the chief nodded. He declared, "We'll do everything we can to fortify the village." And you ought to get some rest. You've accomplished enough for this evening.

Shen didn't sleep long. He heard heavy footfall and clinking armor outside when he woke up. He hurriedly got up, armed himself, and entered the town square, where he was startled to see that Republic soldiers had surrounded the village, their uniforms immaculate and their weapons shining. One could feel the tension in the air.

The group's leader, a grim-faced officer with a scar along his cheek, moved forward. He spoke to the peasants in a strong voice. He said, "We've come to look into the disturbance in the forest." "Who is to blame for the mayhem?"

With his hands up in a peace sign, the chief took a cautious step forward. He claimed, "The creatures attacked us." "It was self-protection."

The officer squinted his eyes. Say, creatures? Despite the fact that our men have reported losses along the border, you stand here. Untrustworthy, isn't it?

Shen moved forward, putting himself between the chief and the officer, and his jaw tensed.
His voice was firm but tinged with defiance as he replied, "We lost people too." "I personally battled those beasts. They pose a danger to our two realms.

The officer's inscrutable demeanor changed as he looked at Shen. He questioned, "And who are you to speak for this village?"

Shen inhaled deeply as his fingers coiled around his sword's hilt. "I am a Maveron commander," he declared resolutely. And I'm being honest with you. These beasts will rip through both of our countries if we don't cooperate to stop them.

Before he spoke, the officer looked at Shen for a long time. "We'll confirm your account," he stated icily. However, this village is governed by the Republic till then. Any additional acts that are performed without our permission will be deemed aggressive.

The officer's tone made Shen's blood boil, but he made himself keep his cool. The people' existence hinged on preventing the situation from getting worse.

The cop looked at his troops. He gave the order to "search the village." "We'll discover the truth about this."

Shen held his ground as the soldiers started searching, his thoughts racing. The village now faced a fresh internal threat, and the beasts were still out there. Even if it meant opposing the Republic, he knew he had to find a way to defend these people.