Arcane Fang

## 5. Shadows in the Mist ### 5.1. The Trading Post in the Fog The faint silhouette of the trading post loomed in the distance, a weathered structure perched on slightly higher ground. Its wooden walls, darkened by years of swamp moisture, stood crooked but defiant against the surrounding wilderness. A faint wisp of smoke drifted from a chimney, curling into the heavy mist that hung over the swamp. "There it is," Vera murmured, her golden eyes narrowing as she scanned the area. Her ears twitched, every subtle noise setting her on edge. "Something's wrong." Calwyn frowned, glancing around. The swamp was quiet-too quiet. The usual hum of insects and distant croaks of frogs were absent, leaving only an oppressive silence that pressed against his senses. His hand instinctively brushed the quiver slanted across his lower back, its position angled for easy reach during sudden danger. "We're being watched," he said quietly, his voice steady but low. Vera's gaze snapped to him, her jaw tightening. "From where?" she asked, her fingers gripping the spear tightly. Calwyn shook his head. "Can't tell yet. But it's close." They moved cautiously, skirting the edge of the path toward the trading post. Faint scratch marks on the gnarled trees caught Vera's attention. She crouched, tracing one with her clawed fingers. "These are fresh," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not an animal," Calwyn observed, his amber eyes narrowing. The marks were deliberate, too precise for a swamp predator. "Something smarter." Vera nodded grimly, her grip tightening on the spear. "Stay sharp." ### 5.2. The Hollowcreep Ambush The attack came without warning. From the shadows of the mist, the Hollowcreep emerged-a sinewy, translucent form that shimmered faintly with greenish-blue veins. Its movements were unnervingly fluid, its glowing eyes locking onto Vera with a predatory intelligence. Another faint glow flickered to their left-a second Hollowcreep slipping silently through the mist. "Two of them," Calwyn muttered, his voice steady but tense. He nocked an arrow, his amber eyes scanning their positions. "They're flanking us." The first Hollowcreep lunged, its claws slashing through the air with unnatural speed. Vera rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, while Calwyn loosed an arrow. The shaft flew true, striking the creature's flank and tearing through its semi-transparent form. It screeched but didn't falter, retreating into the shadows. The second Hollowcreep darted forward, targeting Calwyn with a low, sweeping attack. He swung the bow in a wide arc, the sturdy wood colliding with the creature's head and stopping its lunge. The force of the blow sent a jolt up his arm, but he held firm, using the bow to keep the Hollowcreep at bay. The creature twisted sharply, its claws grazing his arm in a quick retaliatory swipe. A burning sensation spread through the shallow wound, and he gritted his teeth against the pain. "Venom," he muttered under his breath, adjusting his stance as the Hollowcreep retreated and circled for another attack. "Keep moving!" Vera barked, thrusting her spear at the first Hollowcreep as it reemerged. Her strike glanced off its shimmering hide, but the force drove it back. The second creature circled behind her, its glowing eyes fixed on her exposed flank. "Vera, behind you!" Calwyn shouted, nocking another arrow. He lossed another arrow, the shaft slicing through the mist and striking the creature's shoulder. It snarled, twisting toward him, while the first Hollowcreep lunged for Vera's spear. She twisted away, using the strap on her spear to swing it into position for a quick thrust. The tip found a weak point near the creature's chest, and it screeched, its translucent form flickering like a dying flame. But it didn't retreat. --- The creatures regrouped, their glowing eyes flicking between Calwyn and Vera as they circled in opposite directions. One darted forward, feinting toward Calwyn before retreating, while the other slashed at Vera's legs, forcing her to jump back. "They're working together," Vera growled, her golden eyes narrowing. "Driving us apart." "Stay close," Calwyn replied, his voice calm despite the tension in his stance. He wiped his arm against his tunic, the burning from the venom dulled by sheer focus. "They're testing for openings." The second Hollowcreep darted toward Vera, its claws slashing in a rapid, almost rhythmic pattern. She parried with her spear, the force of the impacts jarring her arms. As she struck back, the first creature lunged at Calwyn, swiping low to unbalance him. He dodged, swinging the bow upward and connecting with the creature's jaw. It recoiled, but its glowing eyes showed no fear. "They're faster than they look," Calwyn muttered, stepping closer to Vera. "We need to take one out-now." --- "Cover me," Vera said sharply, her spear angled toward the second Hollowcreep. She moved in a sudden, aggressive charge, forcing the creature to backpedal. The first Hollowcreep lunged at her exposed flank, but Calwyn was ready. His arrow flew true, striking just below the base of its glowing eyes. The creature staggered but didn't fall. Without hesitation, Calwyn nocked another arrow and loosed it instinctively, the shaft embedding itself in the creature's eye socket with a wet squelching sound. The Hollowcreep stood motionless for a moment, its translucent form flickering violently before it collapsed to the ground, its glowing veins dimming as it began to dissolve into the swamp floor. "One down," he said, nocking another arrow. "Stay sharp." The remaining Hollowcreep hissed, its movements growing more erratic as it circled them. It lunged at Calwyn, forcing him to leap back and fire an arrow mid-dodge. The shot grazed its flank, slowing it just enough for Vera to strike. Her spear plunged into its chest, driving it into the mud. As the creature recoiled, readying for a final assault, Calwyn nocked his last arrow. The weight of the realization settled heavily in his mind. Last one, he thought grimly, his grip tightening on the bowstring. A sudden lash of the Hollowcreep's tail caught Vera's leg, knocking her off balance. She stumbled, her spear slipping from her grasp as she hit the ground. The creature twisted free, its glowing eyes locking onto her with predatory intent as it lunged for a killing blow. "Vera!" Calwyn shouted, charging forward. He dropped the bow and, with a single fluid motion, unsheathed the knife and drove it into the creature's neck, twisting the blade as the Hollowcreep screeched in pain. It writhed violently, but he held firm, forcing it down as its thrashing slowed. Finally, the creature stilled, its translucent body beginning to dissolve into the swamp floor. --- The swamp fell silent, the oppressive mist settling once more. Calwyn sat down on a patch of moss, breathing heavily. He rolled up his sleeve, inspecting the shallow cut on his arm where the Hollowcreep's claws had grazed him. The area around the wound was reddened, but the venom didn't seem to have taken hold fully. He rubbed some of the damp moss on it, its cooling effect helping to dull the sting. Vera sat down beside him, her chest heaving as she inspected her leg. The tail strike had left a shallow gash, but the venom didn't seem to linger. "That was too close," she muttered, her voice laced with frustration. Calwyn glanced at her, his voice calm despite the weariness in his tone. "They hit hard, but it seems the venom doesn't take hold unless the wound's deep enough." He flexed his arm gingerly, testing for stiffness. "We'll need to keep an eye on these, just in case." "They're not just predators," Calwyn said, his tone grim. "They're hunters. They think." Vera's golden eyes flicked to him, narrowing. "And now we know. If there are more, we can't afford to let them surround us again." Calwyn nodded, standing and offering her a hand. She hesitated for a moment before taking it, pulling herself up. "We're still alive," he said simply. "That's what matters." She huffed, retrieving her spear and slinging it onto her back. "Barely." Calwyn knelt beside the remnants of the Hollowcreep, pulling his arrows free from its dissolving form. The shafts were intact, though the faint greenish-blue residue clinging to them made him frown. He wiped the arrows clean on a patch of moss, his movements deliberate, before sliding them back into his quiver. "Careful with those," Vera said, her tone wary as she watched him. "Whatever it was made of, I don't trust it." "Neither do I," Calwyn replied, standing and adjusting the quiver on his lower back. "But we can't afford to waste them." Vera nodded, her gaze swept the swamp around them. The eerie quiet had returned, but it felt heavier now, as though the shadows themselves were watching. She shifted her weight, her tail flicking in agitation. "You ready?" Calwyn asked, his voice low but steady. "Always," Vera replied, though her grip on the spear tightened slightly. "Let's just hope whoever's inside isn't as bad as what's out here." ### 5.3. A Calculated Trade Calwyn smirked faintly but said nothing, turning his focus to the trading post ahead. The structure was larger up close, its weathered wooden walls leaning slightly under the weight of time and decay. A single lantern flickered, casting faint light onto the overgrown path leading to the door.  As they approached, Vera held up a hand, signaling him to stop. Her golden eyes narrowed as she studied the building. "Someone's here," she whispered. "I can smell the smoke from their fire." Calwyn nodded, his hand drifting toward his knife. "Any idea who?" Vera shook her head, her ears swiveling to catch any sounds from within. "No. But whoever they are, they'll have heard that fight." The two exchanged a glance, unspoken understanding passing between them. Without a word, Vera moved to one side of the door, her spear at the ready. Calwyn stepped to the other, his bow drawn but lowered, his stance calm and prepared. He knocked on the wooden frame, the sound echoing in the stillness. For a moment, there was no response, the silence stretching thin. Then, the door creaked open just enough for a pair of wary eyes to peer through. "What do you want?" The voice was gruff, belonging to a figure shrouded in the dim light. The barrel of a crossbow appeared, aimed squarely at Calwyn's chest. "Shelter," Calwyn said evenly, his bow still lowered. "And maybe a little trade, if you're willing." The figure hesitated, their eyes flicking to Vera and back to Calwyn. "You're not soldiers," they muttered, their voice carrying a trace of suspicion. "No," Vera said, stepping into the light. "We're not. But we're not here to cause trouble, either." The figure's grip on the crossbow slackened slightly. "Fine. But if you try anything, I'll bury you out back." Calwyn nodded, his expression calm. "Fair enough." The door creaked open further, revealing a grizzled man with weathered features and a scar running down his cheek. He gestured them inside, his gaze lingering on Vera's spear and Calwyn's bow before closing the door behind them. "Welcome to my humble trading post," the man said dryly, motioning toward the sparse interior. "Make yourselves at home. Not that there's much to enjoy." --- The trader's sharp eyes flicked between Calwyn and Vera as they stepped inside. His grizzled appearance matched the swamp's harshness, his scarred hands and dirt-caked clothing telling of years surviving its dangers. He set the crossbow aside but kept it within arm's reach. "Names don't matter out here," he said curtly, gesturing to a rickety table displaying his wares. "You've got something to trade, or are you just wasting my time?" Calwyn glanced at Vera, who bristled at the man's brusque tone but kept silent. He stepped forward, lowering his pack to the floor. "We've got some dried meat and some boar hide," he said evenly. "Looking for anything that might keep us alive out there." The trader raised an eyebrow. "Boar hide, huh? Not bad." His eyes shifted to Vera. "And you, wolf-kin? Got anything useful?" Vera's ears twitched, her golden gaze narrowing. "If I did, I wouldn't trust you with it," she said coldly, crossing her arms. The trader chuckled dryly. "Fair enough. Let's see the hide." As Calwyn spread the boar hide across the table, he added, "It's not the full hide-I used part of it to make a quiver, but the rest is intact and sturdy." Vera stepped back, her body tense. Calwyn noticed and leaned closer as the trader inspected the hide. "You okay?" he murmured. "I..." she paused, her golden eyes narrowing. "I just don't trust him," Vera said, her voice low. "Humans like him usually have a price." Calwyn didn't argue, but his amber eyes softened. "Stay close," he said simply, his tone steady and reassuring. --- The trader tossed a bundle of arrowheads onto the table along with a small tin of salve. "That's what you'll get for the hide and meat." Calwyn frowned, inspecting the items. "We'll need a little more than that," he said, pointing to a tightly rolled length of sturdy rope hanging from the trader's wall. "The rope, too." The trader grunted, eyeing them. "You're pushing it." "Maybe," Calwyn said, his voice calm but firm. "But considering the swamp's crawling with things like Hollowcreeps, I'd say we're both lucky I made it here with the hide intact." The trader's expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Hollowcreeps, huh? You take one down?" Calwyn gave a slight nod. "Two, actually. We finished them both, right outside your door," he said, gesturing toward the entrance. The trader grunted, his eyes narrowing. "So it *was* a Hollowcreep causing that ruckus outside. Thought I heard something nasty out there." He reached under the table, pulling out a handful of small glass vials with tightly sealed corks. Sliding them across the table, he added, "Go on, quick. Get me their venom. Bring these back full, and we'll talk about better deals." Calwyn gave a curt nod, grabbing the vials. He stepped out into the swamp, his movements purposeful. A few moments later, he returned, placing the vials on the table, each one containing a faintly glowing greenish liquid. The trader's eyes lit up with interest as he inspected the vials. "Now that's what I'm talking about. You just earned yourself a better deal." He grabbed the rope and added it to the pile, plus five of those venom vials. "Take it, they might come in handy. And if you find more useful materials like these, you know where to come." Calwyn smirked faintly, slipping the rope into his pack along with the rest of the items. "Deal." As he secured the pack, he glanced at the trader. "You seem to know your way around things like Hollowcreeps. Have you dealt with them before?" The trader leaned back against the wall, his scarred face lit briefly by the flickering lantern. "Used to. Back in the day, I was a guard on the swamp trade routes. Hollowcreeps, Swamprowlers, even a few nastier things-I've seen them all. You don't survive long out here without learning how to stay one step ahead." Vera tilted her head, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "And now you trade?" "Guarding's a young man's game," the trader replied with a dry chuckle. "Lost some good friends to the swamp and decided I'd rather sell supplies than be the next corpse it claims. Doesn't mean I've forgotten how to fight, though." Calwyn nodded, his expression thoughtful. "So that's why you're out here. Easier to deal with the dangers you know than head back to the cities?" The trader shrugged. "Cities have their own predators, lad. Out here, at least you can see what's coming. Most of the time." Vera exchanged a glance with Calwyn, her ears twitching slightly. "Just hope you've still got enough fight left if those soldiers come knocking." The trader's eyes hardened, his tone dropping. "If they do, they'll find out the swamp isn't the only thing that bites." Calwyn allowed a faint smirk, adjusting his pack. "Fair enough. Thanks for the trade." The trader let out a dry laugh, scratching his scruffy chin. "Now take your haul and get out of here before something out there decides to drag you back." --- As Vera gathered the supplies, the trader leaned back against the wall, watching them with a calculating expression. "You two heading deeper into the swamp, aren't you?" "Why do you care?" Vera snapped, her ears flicking. "Don't," he replied bluntly. "Just figured you should know the soldiers are crawling all over the southern trails. Heard whispers about them looking for something-or someone." Calwyn stiffened, his hand pausing over his pack. "You sure about that?" "Swamp's full of whispers," the trader said, his tone nonchalant. "You hear enough, and you learn to pay attention to the ones that stick." Vera exchanged a glance with Calwyn, her jaw tightening. "What else?" The trader's gaze flicked toward Vera. "Heard about a wolf-kin woman they dragged through here a few weeks back. Didn't look like she'd last long." Vera's claws scraped the edge of the table, her expression hardening. Calwyn placed a hand on her arm, his touch grounding her. She shot him a glance but didn't pull away. "What trail did they use?" Calwyn asked. "Old path near the southern ridge," the trader replied, pointing a gnarled finger toward the window. "You'll know it by the carved stones at the entrance. But watch yourself-something nasty's been lurking around there. Makes the Hollowcreep look tame." Vera's shoulders stiffened, and she stepped back toward the door. "We'll take our chances." The trader shrugged, stepping aside as they moved toward the exit. "Suit yourselves. Just don't come crawling back here if it goes wrong." ### 5.4. The Weight of Loss The swamp enveloped them once more as they stepped outside the trading post, the damp air heavy with the scent of moss and decay. The faint light of the midday sun struggled to pierce the mist, casting their surroundings in a muted gray. They walked in silence, the soft squelch of mud beneath their boots the only sound as they followed the trader's directions. Calwyn glanced at Vera. Her usual sharpness was muted, her golden eyes distant as she gripped her spear tightly. Her tail, usually held high with confidence, drooped slightly behind her. After several minutes, he couldn't ignore it any longer. "Vera," he said gently, his voice breaking the quiet. "You okay?" She tensed, her steps faltering for a moment before resuming. "I'm fine," she muttered, though her voice lacked conviction. Her grip tightened on her spear. "We don't have time for this." Calwyn slowed his pace, turning to face her. "You don't look fine." Vera stopped abruptly, her grip on the spear tightening. For a moment, she didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the ground. Finally, she exhaled, her shoulders slumping. "The trader was right," she muttered. "If they took her weeks ago... she's probably gone." Her words hung heavy in the air, the pain behind them cutting deeper than her usual sharp tone. Calwyn stepped closer, his amber eyes softening. "You don't know that," he said firmly. "You said it yourself-your mother's strong. If anyone could survive, it's her." Vera's ears flattened, and she glanced away. "You don't know that," she replied quietly, her voice wavering. "You didn't see how they treated our kind." "No, I didn't," Calwyn admitted. "But I do know what it's like to lose hope. And I know that giving up now won't help you-or her." She looked at him then, her golden eyes searching his face. His steady gaze didn't waver, and for a moment, the weight of her despair seemed to ease. As the silence stretched between them, her chest tightened, the ache she'd buried clawing its way to the surface. Her ears twitched, and she glanced away, her voice quieter now, almost fragile. "It's just... I don't understand," she said. "You've done enough. You could've left back at the trading post, been done with this. Why are you still helping me?" Her arms slumped on her sides. A shallow, uneven breath escaped her as she shifted her weight, her tail curling reflexively. She blinked quickly, as if warding off something she wouldn't allow to surface. Calwyn hesitated, his amber eyes flickering with a shadow of memory. Calwyn's expression softened, his voice low and reasuring. "Because I've been where you are. Desperate. Alone. Fighting to save someone when it felt like the whole world was against me." He looked away for a moment, his jaw tightening. "Someone helped me when I didn't deserve it. And I couldn't help them back." Her ears flicked forward slightly, her golden eyes lifting to meet his for just a heartbeat before darting away again. Her voice softened. "So this is about paying back some debt?" Calwyn shook his head. "No. It's about doing what's right. I've been in the dark before, and I know how it feels to think no one's coming to help." He met her gaze again, his amber eyes unwavering. "No one should have to fight that alone." Her lips parted as if to respond, but no words came. Instead, her shoulders eased slightly, and she exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. A faint, almost tentative smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, softening the sharpness of her usual expression. "You're strange, Calwyn," she said, her voice quiet but carrying an edge of warmth. "Strange, but... maybe not in a bad way." He chuckled lightly, giving a theatrical bow. "I'll take that as a compliment." Vera rolled her eyes, though her smile widened just a fraction. "Don't get cocky," she said, a teasing lilt in her voice. "I might just throw you into the nearest mud pit." Calwyn chuckled softly. "Fair enough, you've got plenty of expertise in mud pits. But I'd still climb out faster than you!" Vera's ears flicked, and she shot him a sharp look, though the faint glimmer in her golden eyes betrayed her amusement. "Oh, someone thinks he's funny," she said, her tone dry but lighter now. "Careful, or I might let you find your own way out, when it's your turn to fall in one." "Noted," Calwyn said with a smirk, quickening his pace slightly as if preemptively avoiding any retaliation. "Smart move," Vera muttered, shaking her head, though her lips twitched with the hint of a genuine smile. The two resumed their path, the silence between them no longer heavy but companionable. The swamp, with all its dangers, seemed just a little less oppressive as they moved forward, a glimmer of hope lighting the way.