Morning finally broke over Havenwall, though for many, it felt like the night had never truly ended. The conversation beneath the Pegacampus wings had left its mark, haunting the sleepless hours spent staring at ceilings and walls, replaying horrors they wished they'd never heard.
But life continued. People woke. Work waited. And Havenwall needed building.
Yve moved through the compound as the first rays of sunlight spilled over the walls. Near the gate, the RV sat where it always had, two figures occupying its roof—Victor and Ethan, the designated night guards who had done more sleeping than guarding.
She climbed onto the front bumper and tapped Ethan's leg. "Wake up."
No response.
She tapped again. "Go to your quarters."
Ethan stirred first, his mouth hanging open slightly as he blinked at the morning sky. His head had somehow ended up resting against Victor's shoulder during the night. "Uh... what time is it?"
"Morning."
"Oh." He seemed to process that slowly. Very slowly.
Victor groaned beside him. "Already?"
The two men exchanged the exhausted look of people who had gotten no real sleep and knew they weren't getting any more. Eventually they climbed down from the RV—Victor nearly missing a step, Ethan walking directly into the side mirror. Neither seemed particularly concerned as they shuffled toward their quarters.
Yve hopped down from the RV and froze.
Someone was walking across the compound. A familiar figure.
"Dylan."
The man stopped. For a moment he simply stood there. Then, slowly, he turned around.
Yve's smile vanished instantly. There was a cut across his cheek—not large or deep, but fresh. "Oh my heavens! What happened to you?" She hurried over. " Who did that?"
Dylan's expression remained unchanged. "Oh, it's nothin'." His hand brushed his cheek. "Cut myself by accident."
Yve stared, then frowned. "Let's have Ysa heal that." She immediately reached for his hand. "Come on."
Her fingers wrapped around his.
But Dylan didn't move. At all. Instead, he remained perfectly still, holding her in place.
Yve blinked. Something about that felt strange. Before she could think about it—
A sudden pressure squeezed her wrist. "Ow." She winced.
The living bracelet coiled around her arm had tightened unexpectedly. Nierven, the ancient serpent who remained asleep most of the time, usually curled around her wrist like jewelry. But now his coils had tightened. Hard.
Yve rubbed her wrist. "Nierven, you're hurting me."
The serpent shifted slightly. Then the pressure loosened almost immediately.
Yve frowned at him. "What was that about?"
Nierven gave no answer, already appearing asleep again.
Yve looked back toward Dylan. "Go find Ysa."
"Don't wanna." The response came instantly. Flat. Dismissive.
Yve blinked. "Why?" She pointed at the cut. "That could get infected, you know." Then she added matter-of-factly, "You humans are so fragile. A single bad bacteria could kill you."
"I'd let it heal." Dylan shrugged. "Had wounds worse than this, y'know?"
"Well what's the point of having a Haelar if you won't let them heal you?"
"Just leave me alone." The words came sharper than expected. Annoyed. Almost hostile.
For a moment, both of them paused. Dylan turned away and started walking.
Yve remained where she stood, confused. That wasn't like him. Not completely. Dylan could be grumpy, stubborn, anti-social. But not... this. Not with her.
"Hey." She hurried after him. "Dylan."
He didn't stop. So she reached out and grabbed his hand. "Is there something wrong? Did I say something that upset you?"
The moment her fingers touched his skin—
Nierven woke. The serpent's body suddenly tightened around her wrist. Far tighter than before. A low vibration traveled through his body.
Yve flinched. "Ow—" Her eyes dropped toward the bracelet. "Nierven, you're coiling too tight."
The small serpent stirred again—not fully awake, just enough to tighten for another second before settling once more.
Yve frowned. "What's wrong with you?"
Nierven gave no answer. His tiny body remained wrapped around her wrist, but the tension hadn't completely disappeared.
Yve glanced at him for a moment longer before turning her attention back to Dylan. "Hey..."
He stopped.
She hesitated. "Is this about the other night?"
Dylan's jaw shifted slightly. "No." His gaze drifted away. "Just... I just need space, alright?" The answer came quickly. Almost too quickly.
Yve's shoulders lowered. "Oh." She looked down briefly. "Uhm... alright."
For a second neither moved.
Then Dylan turned and started walking again. A few steps. Two. Three.
"Dylan..." The word escaped her softly.
Dylan stopped. His shoulders stiffened. Slowly he rolled his eyes and turned around. "What?"
Yve's gaze had dropped toward Nierven. The serpent remained motionless. Too motionless. Then she looked back up. "For how long were you by yourself when you followed me into the woods?"
Something flickered across Dylan's face. Gone almost immediately. He walked back toward her. Stopped directly in front of her. Close enough that she could clearly see the cut across his cheek. Close enough that she could study his eyes.
"Not that long, really." His voice was calm. "My gear dropped when I jumped down." A small shrug. "Had to shove everything back where it belonged." He met her gaze. "Then I followed you." A pause. "And then you were there."
Yve held his eyes. Searching. Studying. Looking for something she couldn't explain. "Oh..." Her voice came quietly. "Are you sure you didn't encounter anything?" A beat passed. "Or anyone?"
The morning breeze moved through the compound.
"Did you talk to anyone besides me?"
Dylan shook his head. "No." A small breath escaped him. "I mean... we were the only two awake that night."
Yve slowly nodded. Still watching him. Still searching.
The silence stretched.
Then Dylan sighed. The tension seemed to drain from his shoulders. "Look." His voice softened. "I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed." A crooked smile tugged at his mouth. "I'm sorry if I flipped out on you." His eyes met hers. "I didn't mean that."
Then he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
Yve froze. Only for a moment. Then she hugged him back.
"Yeah..." The word barely left her lips. Because something inside her chest hurt. Not physically. Something deeper. A strange pressure. A feeling she couldn't explain.
Her eyes stung. A tear slipped free before she realized it.
Against her wrist, Nierven suddenly tightened again. Harder. Much harder.
Yve winced as the coils dug into her skin. Sharp enough to leave angry red marks. Sharp enough to nearly draw blood. Yet the serpent refused to let go. As if every instinct in his tiny body was screaming.
But Yve only hugged Dylan tighter. Her chest tightening with every passing second. "Dylan..." Her voice trembled. Just slightly. "I hope you know how much I care for you."
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Dylan slowly nodded against her shoulder. His arms remained around her. Holding her.
And Yve closed her eyes. Trying desperately to ignore the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
The moment stretched a little longer.
Then—
"Ugh."
Ysa happened to pass by at exactly the wrong moment.
Carrying a wooden crate against her hip, she took one look at the two of them standing there in an embrace and immediately grimaced.
"You two should get a room," she said without missing a beat. "You're both an eyesore."
Neither of them managed to respond before she continued walking.
Yve watched her go, then glanced back at Dylan. The absurdity of the interruption seemed to break some of the tension between them. Slowly, the hug loosened and they stepped apart.
Dylan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "You alright now?"
Yve nodded, but her eyes never left his face. "Yeah."
The answer came automatically as she wasn't paying attention to the question. She was studying him.
The shape of his eyes. The way he held himself. The way he looked back at her. Looking for something she couldn't even define.
Something that would either confirm her fears or make them disappear.
Neither happened.
After a moment, Dylan seemed satisfied enough with her answer. He gave a small nod and turned away. "See ya around."
Yve watched him walk across the compound. She kept watching until he disappeared behind one of the houses.
Only then did she lower her gaze.
Her fingers drifted toward Nierven's coiled body around her wrist, gently brushing against the serpent's scales. They glinted faintly beneath the morning light, cool and familiar against her skin.
Yve let out a long, slow breath.
Her eyes moved across the compound, lingering on faces, paths, buildings, and corners without truly seeing any of them. Her thoughts were elsewhere, rearranging fragments of memory over and over again like pieces of a puzzle that refused to fit.
The cut on Dylan's cheek. His reaction when she mentioned Ysa. The way he had snapped at her. The conversation beneath the Pegacampus wings.
A knot tightened in her chest.
The feeling had been growing since last night, quiet but persistent, and now it was becoming impossible to ignore.
Dread washed over her. Not sudden panic. Not fear. But something worse.
The slow realization that something was wrong before you could prove it.
Yve closed her eyes for a moment.
Maybe she was imagining things. Maybe exhaustion was finally catching up to her. Maybe she was letting the events of the previous night influence her judgment.
Or maybe she already knew exactly what was bothering her.
Maybe the answer was already sitting in the back of her mind, waiting.
And maybe she was simply too afraid to say it out loud.
~~~
That afternoon, preparations were finally complete.
Near the front gates of Havenwall, a large group had assembled beneath the afternoon sun. Pegacampus shifted restlessly across the open field, powerful hooves stamping against the earth while their riders performed final equipment checks.
The mood was noticeably different from the day before. There was purpose now. Direction. A target. They were no longer simply surviving. They were hunting.
Ysa sat atop Caelum at the front of the formation. The massive Pegacampus stood taller than the others, his silver-white wings partially unfurled as they caught the sunlight. Her eyes swept across the gathered team—humans, sirens, warriors, scouts. Every one of them understood the assignment.
"We are looking for our people," Ysa began, her voice carrying easily across the field. "That means you do not miss a single detail."
The chatter immediately died.
"Focus. Sharpen your instincts. Watch the ground. Watch the trees. Watch each other."
Her expression hardened.
"And remember this." She let the silence settle before continuing. "Just because we are dealing with humans does not mean we can afford to underestimate them."
Several sirens nodded. A few of the rescued survivors exchanged uneasy looks.
Ysa continued. "These humans are vile. They are wicked. They hunt, torture, enslave, and butcher their own kind without hesitation." Her gaze moved across the group. "If you encounter one whose scent carries the blood of many lives taken, you will capture them alive."
No further explanation was needed.
A heavy silence followed.
Then Lysander stepped forward. His voice rang out immediately. "Formations!"
The response was instant. Decades of training took over. The sirens guided their Pegacampus into position with practiced efficiency. Wings folded and shifted. Riders adjusted their spacing. The formation expanded outward into several organized groups designed for scouting, tracking, and rapid response.
The enormous creatures moved slowly at first, settling into their assigned positions.
Nearby, Yve stood watching, arms folded, expression thoughtful.
Ysa guided Caelum closer until the great beast towered beside her sister. "You sure you're not coming?"
Yve looked up. For a brief moment she was tempted. The search mattered. Their missing people mattered. But her gaze drifted toward the walls of Havenwall. Toward the houses. Toward the people moving inside.
"No." She shook her head. "We can't leave this place unguarded."
Ysa studied her for a moment before nodding. She understood. Maybe more than Yve realized.
"Okay." A small smile appeared on her face. "We'll probably be gone a few days." She extended a hand toward her sister. "Stay alive, sis."
Yve took it. Their hands squeezed briefly—a simple gesture that carried far more meaning than either of them voiced aloud. "You stay alive."
Then Ysa released her hand and turned back toward the formation. The moment of levity vanished.
"Move out!" The command echoed across the field.
Pegacampus immediately surged forward. Massive wings unfolded in near perfect unison. The sound alone was staggering. Feathers spread wide enough to cast moving shadows across the ground. Powerful legs drove them forward into a sprint. The earth trembled beneath pounding hooves.
Then the first wave lifted.
A violent gust exploded outward. Dust, loose grass, and leaves erupted into the air. The shockwave rolled through Havenwall, rattling windows and sending loose tarps snapping against their ropes.
Within moments the formation climbed higher above the compound. Sunlight flashed against feathers. The riders became silhouettes against the afternoon sky.
Yve remained where she was for a while after the search party disappeared beyond the horizon. Her eyes followed the empty stretch of sky they had vanished into, lingering there as if staring long enough might somehow bring them back sooner.
The wind tugged gently at her hair.
Yve was still staring upward when a hand tapped her shoulder.
She turned.
Dr. Jenkins stood behind her, adjusting his glasses.
Yve immediately tilted her head. "Is there something wrong with your eyes?"
Jenkins blinked. "What?"
"The glass things." Yve pointed. "Are your eyes damaged?"
For a moment, Jenkins simply stared at her. Then realization crossed his face. "Oh. No, no." He adjusted them again. "My eyes are perfectly functional."
"Then why wear them?"
Jenkins looked mildly embarrassed. "Purely aesthetic."
Yve stared at him for another second before eventually nodding. "Oh." A pause. "Uhm... alright."
Jenkins decided not to continue that particular discussion. Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back.
"What do you need?" Yve asked.
"I've interviewed every siren in the settlement except you."
Yve blinked. "Really?" A look of genuine surprise crossed her face. "You still need to do me?"
Jenkins shrugged. "Lucas' orders."
That sounded exactly like something Lucas would do.
Yve sighed dramatically. "Fine." Then she pointed at herself. "What do you want to know?"
Jenkins immediately shook his head. "Follow me."
~~~
Meanwhile, somewhere downstream, darkness swallowed everything. Fragments drifted through Dylan's mind.
"Son."
The voice felt distant.
"Son."
Then another voice broke through the haze.
"Hey, stupid. Get your ass up right now."
Then a flash. A scream tore through his mind. Another flash.
A gravestone. **LINDA PIERCE**
Another image slammed into him. A woman screaming as a man drove a knife into her chest.
Then everything went black.
Dylan's eyes snapped open.
He sucked in a violent breath, nearly choking on it as air flooded his lungs. The world spun around him. The sound of rushing water filled his ears while sunlight beat down against his face.
He coughed hard. His bloodshot eyes darted around wildly. Trees. Grass. Sky. His head throbbed so badly it felt like someone had driven a railroad spike through his skull. Every inch of his body hurt. His muscles burned. His ribs ached. Even breathing felt difficult.
Grabbing fistfuls of grass, he anchored himself to the ground and tried to steady the violent spinning in his head.
Then his stomach lurched. He doubled over and vomited. Water, bile, and blood splattered onto the grass.
The coughing only made it worse. Another wave came immediately afterward, forcing more blood-tainted vomit from his system until tears blurred his vision.
When it finally stopped, he remained on all fours for several seconds, gasping for breath.
Slowly, painfully, he began to crawl. Every movement felt wrong. Heavy. Like his body no longer belonged to him.
A nearby tree stood only a few yards away, yet reaching it felt like crossing a battlefield. By the time he finally reached the trunk, his arms were shaking.
He slumped against it and sat there, breathing hard and only then did he notice where he was.
A large concrete outfall stood nearby, nearly ten feet across. Murky water poured from its mouth in a constant torrent, emptying into the river below. Foam floated across the surface. Trash and sludge drifted in the current.
The smell hit him a second later. Rot, waste, sewage.
Dylan's face immediately turned green. He leaned forward and vomited again.
When the spasms finally passed, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stared blankly at the flowing water.