Thomas lay unconscious beside the fire Sophie had built, his breathing shallow but steady. Sophie sat close, sharpening arrows with slow, practiced movements. Every scrape of stone against her arrow heads was controlled, quiet, deliberate.Then A rustle. North of her position.
Through the bushes, something is there. Sophie didn't react. Didn't look. Didn't tense. She kept sharpening the arrowhead, pretending she heard nothing. But she felt it. A presence. Eyes watching her.
Watching Thomas.The rustling crept closer. Sophie's fingers tightened around the arrow. In one smooth motion. She grabbed her bow, armed the unfinished arrow, and fired. A sharp yelp came from the bushes. Sophie stood, drawing her blade. Her steps were silent, her breathing steady. She'd learned how to move like a ghost. She reached the bush, lifted her blade high, and swept the branches asideA small demon cowered there.
One eye. Her arrow lodged in the only good one.It whimpered, waving its thin arms in every direction except hers. Sophie realized:
It's blind. "Who are you?" she said coldly. "And why shouldn't I kill you where you sit, scum?" The demon trembled. "P‑please don't kill me! I– I can help you!" "How?" Sophie snapped."I can show you where the survivors are! That's why you're here, isn't it?" Sophie narrowed her eyes.
"How would you know what I'm here for? Maybe I'm here to wipe out every last one of you."She stabbed the demon's side, not fatal, but enough to make it collapse.It screamed, clutching its wound.
"Please! I know you're here for survivors! I can take you to them! Don't kill me!" "I'm not buying your tickets," Sophie said, raising her blade again. The demon shrieked, sensing the danger.
"WAIT! I can tell you everything about demons! Everything about the underworld! I know secrets names of places!" Sophie paused. That… could be useful."For what?" she asked. "Why would I want demon secrets?" The demon whimpered, voice shaking."Because… because the Ancients are coming back." Sophie froze.The fire crackled behind her. Thomas lay unconscious. The forest went silent.And Sophie whispered:"…The Ancients?"