Poisonous Fox

Sentry duty was boring.

In fact, the entire trip was ending up much more dull and boring than Kate had been hoping for.

There Kate was, patrolling around the camp as evening set, doing absolutely nothing to improve herself. She could be practicing her forms, working with Gregory on artificed sword designs, or even sparring with one of the knights. But instead, she had to do the first shift of sentry duty while everyone else got settled in for the night.

They had been on the road for a week, and Kate was getting sick of it. There had yet to be even a single bandit attack.

From the stories, Kate had been expecting more. At the very least, to dispatch a highwayman or three. But no, nothing. No action. Just… travel. It made her sick.

And according to the Caravan Master, there were still two weeks to go until they reached Bath.

Kate shuddered at the thought, and almost pulled at her hair to relieve the stress of it all. Only the redeeming fact that she would receive an additional sword aligned sacred mark at the end of the journey calmed her down. The results would be worth it. That was what kept her going, kept her sane, kept her from cutting down those that would hinder her.

Another deep breath. She continued her route around the camp. She would not throw away her entire life just because of a moment’s impatience. It was just… hard. Yes, that was it, she thought. But like any other challenge, she would overcome.

And besides… sentry duty did not necessarily have to be a complete waste of time.

While she patrolled, she kept an eye on her aunt. Aunt Janet, otherwise known as Lieutenant Muleater, was the nominal leader of the knights assigned to accompany the caravan north. Aunt Janet was also the one in charge of Kate.

Kate scoffed at the thought. Whatever.

At the center of the camp, Janet had just settled down by the fire, in discussion with her uncle Ken. Ken, unlike Janet, was only a knight, despite his bloodline. He was always a bit bitter about it, but that was his problem.

Currently though, while Kate was unsure of what they were discussing, she was glad for Janet’s distraction.

Soon, as Kate patrolled, she put a large covered wagon between herself and Janet. With the view obstructed, and with Janet’s back turned, and with Janet’s distraction, Kate felt it was safe enough.

“Finally,” Kate huffed.

She stopped walking and began unlimbering. She stretched and held poses to warm her core and exercise the small muscles. Once she had a gleam of sweat, she unsheathed her bastard sword and began practicing her forms. From the Bull to a Lunge, a passing step then the Heron, a power slice than the Sloth. She danced from form to form, attempting to envision a shadow foe.

Shadow fighting had never been her expertise, it required too much effort to imagine an enemy and fight it at the same time, but she had no choice with the slim pickings on the trip, and she had been getting better.

Her imaginary foe now used some simple attacks, which Kate parried into a pummel strike, followed by a passing cut.

The biggest problem she encountered was separating the imaginary foe from herself. As she knew what the foe would do in advance, it was difficult to be surprised, and was hence a poor substitute for live combat.

Better than nothing, though.

While she danced and focused on creating her foe, she lost track of her surroundings. To her own detriment, of course.

“Shirking in your duties again.”

Kate finished her strike and suppressed her groan. In her sixth sense, she perceived Lieutenant Muleater leaning against the wagon, watching judgefully.

“I’m keeping an eye out.”

“Please. Anyone could have snuck up on you. I wasn’t even trying. You need to work on your battlefield awareness–I won’t have my niece dying of something embarrassing.”

“You’d be alright with me dying then?” Kate joked, trying to get her aunt off her back.

“No. Of course not.”

Janet sighed as Kate sheathed her weapon and turned around so that they faced each other.

“You begged us to go to Bath,” Janet said. “You begged. You’re the one that wanted to do this. You’re the one that wanted to sign up as a merc.”

“Yeah, but only because you and mom wouldn’t agree to sponsor a proper trip north!” Kate protested, already knowing where Janet was taking this.

“For good reason,” Janet snorted. “And that doesn’t change the fact that you wanted this. And let me tell you, the duties you have right now? They’re light compared to what real mercs would have.”

“I’m good for a fight,” Kate huffed. “That’s what matters.”

Janet groaned. “Most of what knights do, gods, even most of what mercs do, isn’t fighting. It’s work like this. Prepping gear and supplies. Walking. Grinding away the hours while trying to stay alert. Because let me tell you, that one moment you aren’t alert? That’s the moment you’ll die.”

Kate scoffed. “I’ve let my guard down plenty of times and I’m still alive. So obviously you’re wrong.”

Janet clenched her fists and tightened her shoulders, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply out from her nostrils. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah sure, whatever. You done?” Kate asked with somewhat intentional irreverence.

Janet growled with exasperation. “Crown save me from my sister’s teenage daughter!”

“You could try punishing me,” Kate needled, knowing full well that Janet’s options were limited.

Janet barked a laugh. “Yeah? How? Not like I could cane you, and even if I could, you’d just consider it training. The closest I’ve got is putting you on second shift, but you’d probably just ignore your duty without someone to keep you honest. It’s just so frustrating!”

Kate smirked.

“If only there was a way to show you that actions have consequences…” Janet said thoughtfully. Something in her tone caused Kate to grow wary. Almost as if Janet had a way to punish Kate already. But no, if Janet had such a method, then surely it would have been put to the test already?

“Maybe I could take your discretionary funds while in Bath…” Janet said thoughtfully.

And while that would be onerous, it really did little to bother Kate. If that was all Janet was thinking of, then Kate had nothing to worry about. Relief started to set in.

“...Or maybe I could take your sword.”

“What?” Kate’s jaw dropped.

“You heard me.”

“But… if I don’t have my sword, then how could I fight if we’re attacked?”

“You still don’t get it,” Janet sighed. “The first duty of a sentry is not to fight. It’s to give warning. If you did see something, you would call out and then I would arm you. And it’s not like you don’t have a dagger.”

“Bu–” Kate stuttered in protest. Surely Janet was jesting? But as Kate looked into Janet’s eyes, Kate saw nothing to bely humor. “-you’re serious.”

“I am.”

“You… you want to take my sword?” Kate asked, feeling numb all over from the horror.

“If I catch you shirking your duty again? Then yes, you don’t deserve it.”

Kate gulped. “I… alright. I’ll be good.”

“You had better,” Janet said. “I’d hate to explain to your mother that you died due to your own inattentive folly.”

Janet left to return to the fire, leaving Kate to dwell on her fate.

A moment passed, and Kate shook herself from her reverie. Kate decided that she had better follow through and keep an eye out. At least for a few days. Until her aunt forgot about the threat. Kate continued her sentry, pacing around the perimeter of the camp, and watching the hills.

It was not much later, with the sky dark, that Kate caught a glimpse of movement along one of the rises.

Her blood warmed and the hair on the back of her neck rose. She should let someone know. But… she should verify first. After all, it could have just been nothing. Kate left the camp and prowled into the darkness, heading towards where she had seen movement.

As she approached, she caressed the hilt of her blade, rubbing it with her thumb, feeling the ridges of the bindings. Time was slowing down. Each breath deliberate. Lithe steps, as light as a dancer. Her mouth watered with anticipation.

“Kate!”

Kate cringed.

Gregory had called out and was now jogging towards her from the camp, his heavy footfalls made as much racket as a drunk meohr.

“Did you see something?” he asked, only somewhat out of breath. “I know that your aunt’s been a bit harsh, so don’t you think you oughtn’t… do whatever it is you’re doing?” he asked with weakness and hesitation.

Kate had stopped stalking towards the hillside, but she had yet to turn her back on a potential foe. However, she needed to respond to the boy.

“Is there a reason you’re out here?” Kate asked, her teeth only somewhat gritted.

“I’m making sure you don’t get in trouble,” Gregory said.

“So what, you were just watching me this whole time?” Kate asked.

“No?” Gregory said.

Kate chuckled, or tried too. Her voice was far too high pitched to really convey the derisive intent that she meant. “So how’d you know I left?” she asked.

“...I thought I’d check on you and see if you wanted company,” he said.

“And that just happened to be when–”

“-yes! Fine, alright. I might have been watching for you to come by. Is that such a crime.”

Kate scoffed. “At least you admitted it.”

Before she could further dress him down, or he could further weasel out of it, they heard a cry, followed by a crashing sound. Slate skittered down the hill, and Kate tracked movement coming down it, and fast.

“Stay behind me!” she called, drawing her bastard sword and charging into battle.

The clattering stone came to a stop at the base of the hill, along with a lump of something purple. Kate rapidly scanned the surroundings for any sign of a trap. She hoped for a trap. For anything. But no, it was just that lump. As she approached, it came within range of her sixth sense.

“Oh.”

“What is it?!” Gregory asked from behind her–he stood far too close. If this had been a battle, then he would have entangled her from moving effectively. But it had not devolved to a battle, and Kate suspected it to remain that way.

Rather than answer Gregory, Kate approached even closer, though carefully keeping her sword ready to strike from a fool’s pose.

The creature, and it was a creature, was wounded and still breathing–though faintly. It had a thicker and poofier tail than she had ever seen before, and its ears were sharper and longer than was typical as well. Even its muzzle appeared more pronounced. It wore strange clothes, a style that she had yet to encounter. It left an overall impression of exoticness.

She nudged it with her foot.

When it failed to respond, she kicked it over on its back, uncurling it somewhat so that both she and Gregory could have a better look.

“I-is that a–” Gregory started.

Kate nodded. She was having difficulties looking away from the creature. Kate felt certain it might have been female. While difficult to tell on beasts, especially when they concealed their gender, Kate just had a feeling. She felt a compulsion to almost check.

“-a kunbeorn,” Kate finished for him.

“Is it… dead?” Gregory asked.

Kate shook her head. “Not yet anyways.”

“But… what’s it doing out here? I think–” Gregory wet his lips “-I think you should kill it, Kate.”

The very idea repulsed Kate. “No.”

“But we don’t know why it’s out here! It could be a trap. And it would be putting it out of its misery anyways.”

“Out of its misery, or out of yours?” Kate asked.

“W-what?” Gregory asked.

Kate bit her tongue before she further alienated him. As if anyone that knew him could do so without knowing his feelings towards kunny.

“Nothing,” she said instead. “But I’m not–”

“Kate!”

She cringed again.

Janet and one of the sweord knights were closing in on them with their weapons drawn and their heads on swivels.

“What did I just get done telling you!” Janet scolded.

“I was doing what you said,” Kate half-lied.

“Nu-huh. No. You’re supposed to sound the alarm if you find something–” Janet finally reached them and glanced down at the creature. “Whose was it?” she asked.

“Oh crown,” Gregory swore. “Is there somebody else out here?”

“Unless you think this thing came here by itself?” Janet made a circling hand signal to the other knight and he began climbing up the slope.

“It–she’s wounded,” Kate said, correcting herself.

“Hm? How can you tell?” Janet asked.

“Battlesense,” Kate shrugged. “Through i–her shoulder and side.”

“All the more reason to figure out whose it is and where they are.”

“I don’t see any wounds,” Gregory murmured. He was hanging back from the hundeor as if she would bite him. And while she had an impressive muzzle, Kate doubted the creature was in any condition to engage anyone, at all.

“Under her jacket,” Kate clarified.

“Clear,” the knight called from up on the rise. “Nobody’s up here.”

“Just my luck–” Janet groaned.

“What do we do?” Gregory asked. “Kill it?” he finished just a bit too hopefully.

“Possibly,” Janet considered.

“What would the owner say though?” Kate said.

“And that’s a point against culling,” Janet said as she pointed to Kate. “But if it’s wounded, then there’s a threat nearby. Describe them.”

“They look strange,” Kate said, struggling to put what she sensed to words. “The skin’s blistered around what might be a line? It runs through her shoulder. The line’s a bit more obvious on her side…”

“Godskissing luck,” Janet swore.

“What?” Kate asked. Though now that she looked at the wounds, thinking back, the blistering did seem a bit similar to Gregory’s ill-advised anti-pickpocket device. “Oh. A rad weapon?”

“From an arcbow.”

Gregory’s face paled. “But those aren’t sanctioned by the Crown.”

“Yep. Which means something a bit more organized that we’re inclined to deal with.”

Kate flapped her lips. “We can take them.”

“Can we?” Janet said, her voice a bit colder than normal. “Running off to that sort of battle, without even knowing who it is… you’re gonna stumble into a premature grave, Kate. You know I love you, but you need to grow some sense.”

“Pick the thing up. We’ll head back to camp and raise the alert.”

“We’re bringing it back?!” Gregory protested.

“This is somebody’s property,” Janet said plainly. “And it looks like it was well taken care of too.”

“Probably valuable,” Kate said, already bending down to lift the kunbeor up in a bridal carry. Kate could not help but notice the sweet scent coming up off the creature as she lifted. Her tail brushed Kate’s arm, and it felt even softer than it looked, despite what must have been the grime. And even then, under the grime, Kate could see significant potential. “Definitely handsome.”

“W-what?!” Gregory asked, probably from Kate’s last comment.

“Just thinking out loud,” Kate answered, beginning to carry the creature back towards camp.