Even without the tracks, the path the creature took became more obvious once they broke thro ugh the obscuring tree line and had natural light once more. The ground-cover plants were brown and dead. Rot crept up the trunks of the ancient trees, spreading to the branches. Some of them had snapped and fallen, reaching up from the ground like skeletal limbs from a grave.

  “All from the beast?” Alnyx wrinkled his nose, bending down and breaking off a part of one of the branches, which turned to ash in his fingers.

  “No, no shape shifting beast could do this. The fissure must have been...Corrupted by something, so it started to leak.”

  “This is still not our problem?”

  “At least not the one we're being paid for.” They raised their hand to wrap around the floating stone, the light growing dark as they could use what was still left of the sun once more. “If it's all the same, I'd like to make this quick. The sooner the Scholars-”

  They heard Fish before they saw him. A brief, low, growl of warning. The elf drew his blades in an instant as the flash of white broke from the decaying trees and cracks rocks. The dark shape that followed it was no longer an elk. It wasn't...,.Anything at all.

  Aspic was the only was Alnyx could think to describe it. A mountain giant-sized, undulating, pile of aspic moving right towards them. It had tentacles made of the stuff, one of which was thick as a tree trunk as it swiped out towards the three of them, only barely missing as they scattered. Every branch and remnant of tree it struck splintered with deafening cracks as it cut through them.

  “You said it would be weaker in its den!”

  “Before I knew we were dealing with a potentially corrupted leyline on top of everything, thank you!” Absinthe raised both of their hands, bending and contorting their fingers until acid green energy danced between them like spiderwebs.

  “What are we meant to do then?”

  Alnyx was able to cleave one of his twin blades through another pseudo-pod that came at him. It fell with a noisy splat to the ground. After a moment it began to twitch and move back towards the largest part of the mass.

  “Absinthe!”

  “Yes I can see, give me a moment to think!” A wave of their hand, so the tendril that made its way towards them hit only a wall of light and burned away.

  Fish was wise to get closer to Absinthe while the mage tried to figure out a plan. Every tentacle that burned or was cut away seemed to grow three more in its place. Whatever fool let this thing get out of its lab infused the blood of a hydra into it before it got away.

  “There should be a center mass. A core. You know, like a heart I guess?”

  “I need something more than a guess!”

  “I'm not exactly used to planning while being attacked! Look for something solid inside of it. Or...More solid I guess.”

  “Stop saying that!”

  It wasn't clear if the growl came from Alnyx or Fish. But when a tendril was missed by Absinthe's flame, the Lycine pounced and ripped into it with his jaws. Were the beast a natural wolf, it would have squished through like jelly. Instead, the air around Fish seemed to smoke, coming more concentrated from its partially open maw. The way your breath was visible in the cold. The psuedopod it kept pinned with fang and claw began to ice over, bursting to shards when the jaw tightened and snapped it off.

  “Such a brilliant boy aren't you?” Absinthe couldn't help but be at least a little impressed, looking back in Alnyx's direction.

  The elf had been trying to move closer to the thing, with some success. He bent backwards as one of the tendrils shot out directly towards his chest, grunting at the strain it put on his back before being able to straighten as it went back the way it came. Spikes of it came up from the ground as he got closer. It was aware enough to know which of them was the larger danger at the moment.

  “Can you see it yet?” Absinthe called.

  “There are lots of solid things in it.” Bones, trees, rocks. One of the skulls that floated by was decidedly humanoid. “How am I supposed to know what it is and what it isn't?”

  “Look for the outlier!”

  “What does that even MEAN?!” The last word was half word and half pained gasp, as the momentary distraction allowed the shapeshifter to get one of the thick tentacles around his middle.

  Alnyx was certain he could feel his ribs cracking under the band of both solid and not solid goo. With some maneuvering, he managed to get his sword through the tentacle, severing it from the whole. He fell onto his knees, head bent to catch his breath. Bracing himself for a hit that didn't come when a howl erupted on his left, Fish to the rescue.

  “Alnyx are you-”

  “I'm fine. Stay back.” The elf pulled himself back to his feet before Absinthe could move forward. “Stay back. I'll find the damned heart.”

  “Outlier!”

  “That still means nothing!”

  With the Lycine closer, able to help deflect and distract, Alnyx was able to take better stock of the creature. The mass of aspic wriggled and rippled, every bit of it seeming to be in constant motion. Even the center parts of it, which seemed to generate the endless psudeopods, never seemed to be quite stable. He was certain if he reached out a hand to touch it, he'd feel it vibrate.

  An outlier. This whole ancestor-cursed thing is an outlier. He kept the thought to himself. No brain, no lungs, and sure as The Grove itself no heart.

  Not from where he was sitting anyway. Sitting....Wait, that was it. Organs. Organs didn't move. Something had to center it enough for its limited thought. So, what WASN'T moving?

  Judging from the heavy panting from Fish, and the way the flashes of flame seemed less and less bright, he didn't have much time to figure it out. Ducking under another spear of aspic, he got within an arm's reach of the center, and kept moving around it. He couldn't stay still long enough to get more than glances. The thing had no chitin, no armor, and couldn't create a spike that would pierce his flesh. But he didn't want to test the speed at which the blunt tendrils came out in case they could force their way through.

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spotted a form within that didn't seem to move as everything around it did. Near the “top” of the center of the mass. More brain than heart.

  “Got you, bastard.”

  Whatever energy he had left, he mustered into the leap upwards, one sword dropped on the ground and the other in both hands over his head. As he brought it down, through the thick layer of aspic and finally made contact with the solid mass, it was difficult to cut through. The sword got stuck just an inch into it, the whole mass thrashing violently, like it was trying to dislodge him. Alnyx had to put his whole body wight into the push, sinking inch by agonizing inch until the mass was cleaved in two.

  As if it being whole was the only thing keeping the whole of the massive thing sentient and fighting, and perhaps it was, the movement stopped. Almost instantly, the aspic became liquid, like ice melting. And with nothing to keep Alnyx or the mass upright, they tumbled to the ground. The stone-like center twitched, a squeal of a noise coming from it like a cry. As if it had eyes to see the elf pulling the dagger from his belt, and was begging to be spared.

  Alnyx's hand made contact with the sopping wet mass as he brought the dagger through it to silence the noise. Pain. Rage. Sorrow. The feelings hit him all at once, being passed through the skin to not skin contact.

  “Who is really the monster here?” it said without words. Alnyx left the blade in as he pulled himself to his feet.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  The way he brought his booted foot down on it, effectively ending the noise, answered the unspoken question.

  Fish's giant, furry head against his thigh was grounding as it always was as the Lycine came to him. Both of them were coated in the cooling now liquid of what had been the body. Fish extracted the dagger by the handle with his teeth and offered it up. Back into its sheath it went.

  “Are....You all right?”

  Absinthe's voice was soft. Hesitant. Like they didn't think they were meant to see the way Alnyx had to lean Fish for support to keep his feet under him. “That was...Something else.”

  Battered, bruised, likely a broken rib at the very least. Alnyx was far from all right. But there was such sincerity in the question, that he couldn't bring himself to be snappy. So he simply grunted.

  “ 'lmake it.” Not a yes or no. “We need to bring back proof for the contract.”

  “I can handle that. You...You should probably sit down or something.” They set their pack on the ground, digging through it for something.

  Alnyx didn't need to be told twice. He dragged himself to one of the tree trunks that had been knocked down, leaning against it. Sore as everything felt, the weight of Fish's head on his lap and the way he nuzzled into his legs kept his mind from it.

  And so did watching the precise way that Absthine worked. The liquid would just look like water to the unknowing eye, but some of it went into a jar before it was too soaked into the dirt and mud. Tainted it wouldn't be as potent an ingredient. But everything had a use. Into the bag the jar went after it was cleaned off with a handkerchief that was far too nice a material for what it was being put through.

  Absinthe stepped to the remnants of the “heart” as they had called it, head tilting one way and the other as they sized it up. Back to the pack, they pulled out two boxes that seemed too large to be able to fit into the rigid leather. One half went into each, and they went in with the jar.

  “Did you....”

  “A good scholar is always prepared for whatever may come.” Absinthe winked, and then picked up the elf's sword that had been left on the ground. “Half should be more than enough for a trophy for the Taskers I think.”

  Alnyx didn't have the energy to argue. He watched as Absinthe cleaned his blades off with the fine cloth and walk towards him to hand them back over. They'd have to be properly cleaned of what was left of the beast. Judging by the audible gag Fish gave when he tried to lick some of the mess from his fur, the metal wasn't the only thing in need of some sort of fresh water.

  ***

  Absinthe led the way this time, as Alnyx took time to sheath the blades and still leaned on Fish for shared strength as they made their way out of the dead vegetation and back to the green of the Kingswood. Even if the elf was able to travel at the speed he had on the way in, it was too dark for them to make their way back to the Huntsmen camp tonight. So, they found a suitable clearing, and Absinthe went about setting out sleeping rolls.

  “You're hurt.” They said, as if it wasn't obvious in the way Alnyx was clearly breathing irregularly and moving exactly as much as necessary.

  “It's fine. A few bruises. Usual for most Taskers.”

  “Bullshit, Let me look at you.”

  “There's nothing for you to see.”

  It certainly wasn't because Alnyx wasn't sure he could get his tunic off on his own, let alone unlaced. Of course not. He even managed to contain a wince when he tried to take off his sword belt so he could sit in a more comfortable way.

  “Don't play hero. It isn't a good look for you.” And neither was the way Absinthe's brows knit together and caused wrinkles when they said it. “Let me look. Where does it hurt?”

  Everywhere didn't seem to be an appropriate answer for the moment. And the fact that even the not at all painful shake of his head didn't deter them said Alnyx wasn't going to be able to continue getting away with non answers.

  “Ribs. The thing had a tighter grip than I thought. I don't feel any true breaks.” He didn't say anything about fractures though. “It's fine.”

  He tried to lean away when Absinthe, who had sat close by once the light source was set, reached out their hand to touch him. He only managed to aggravate the pain, letting out a hiss of pain.

  “That isn't fine. Shirt off, or I'm going to take it off for you.”

  Alnyx hated the brief image the phrasing gave him. Not the time, not the place. No matter how-

  “Come on now. I need you in one piece to collect this coin. I don't need Marigold thinking I was feeling greedy.”

  The contract. Of course. The horned scholar was going to need to make sure He lived since his name was the primary on the contract in order to get paid in any sort of decent time. Investigations and suspending payments in suspicious circumstances weren't unheard of.

  “Fine.” Alnyx tried to go for annoyance with the growl, but it quickly became more of a pained sound when hands were laid on him.

  He was little help as Absinthe worked the laces out of the leather armor, snarling at every pull and bit of pressure. It was clear that they were trying to be delicate, but the rawhide strings seemed to get caught in every single eyelet on both sides. Finally, all that was left was to get it over his head. The elf shook his head once it came up and over, as the head hole side knocked against his ears.

  “Oh you poor thing. Those look terrible.”

  A thick band of deep colored bruising two hands wide all the way around his torso at his ribs. No broken skin, since the psudeopods hadn't really been capable of it. And if there were breaks, that meant they stayed inside. Alnyx wasn't sure if that made him feel better or worse. And now, Absinthe would be able to see all the scars a decade of working for the Taskers earned. Claws and teeth here. A blade from a foolish cultist there. Burns and pockmarked skin from mages whose powers never agreed with him. In some spots, it was as if he was more scar tissue than not.

  “May I?” Absinthe asked more as a warning before their hands touched the bare ribs.

  Their hands radiated warmth, and weren't as soft as Alnyx expected them to be. Scholars, healers, academics; they all had hands like noblemen in his experience. They didn't do the kind of work that would allow callouses to form. Perhaps the flames they used came at a price.

  “You might be right about the breaks. I can't be sure though, not without a probing examination I don't have the training or tools for. Any numbness or tingling of any kind?”

  “Told you 'mfine.” He snorted. “Didn't take you for a healer.”

  “I know enough to keep myself alive. Can you picture me at some poor bastard's bedside? They'd assume they already died and were in the Hells.”

  Alnyx wanted to laugh with Them, but even the thought of the action hurt too much, so it was mostly a huff of air. The wrinkle of Abstinhe's nose said they understood it for what it was. Already. The fact that Alnyx could get used to the mage being there wasn't a welcome one. He was going to have to have a talk with Marigold about trying to set him up. He had assumed that punishment for gently rebuffing her advances would get him someone incompetent. Not the girl playing Cupid.

  “Did you hear me?”

  Alnyx blinked, answer enough for Absinthe as they shook their head.

  “I asked if you carry and balms or salves with you for these sorts of things.”

  “For bruises and a little bit of pain?” Alnyx scoffed. “No. They're just bruises. Not all of us have bags that apparently are portals to never-ending storage spaces.”

  “You don't travel with the right sorts then. I'll see what I have.”

  He found himself briefly mourning the warmth of the hands. Instead, he went back to focusing on the constant pressure of Fish sprawled across his legs. A soothing weight. He closed his eyes, resting his head back against the tree he had sat under.

  “Here we are. Probably not enough for more than the trip back with how big it is....”

  Alnyx kept his eyes closed as Absinthe returned to his side. With just a turn of the lid of whatever they brought with, he was assaulted with a pungent odor. He could smell it even with with drying aspic and ichor on his skin. Even Fish lifted his head.

  “I get it from one of the herbalists I work with. Little more...Potent stuff than you can pick up for sale at the markets.”

  “It smells like a fertilizer heap.” When Absinthe laughed, he peaked his eyes back open. “What? It does.”

  “You're no prairie rose yourself at the moment you know.” They shook their head. “It'll help so you can sleep without pain and hopefully prime some of the healing work. If you can't move in the morning, I'm not going to be able to carry you.”

  “Fish can. Has.”

  “By the Weave you're absurd.”

  There was no gentle warning when they touched him this time. And the warmth was replaced with an icy chill. Apparently the pocket of space the inside of the bag inhabited was freezing. It didn't help that it also stung something terrible when Absinthe began to smooth it over his skin. He couldn't help the pained groan.

  “You were more quiet when it was trying to kill you.” Absinthe had no pity for him. “Echinacea. It works as a numbing agent along with all the bits that help with healing. The tingle means it's working.”

  “You were right. You would make a terrible healer.”

  “Oi!” the smack to his shoulder was accompanied by an equally sharp laugh. “Don't insult your healer, or the person preparing your food. Important rules.”

  “Good thing I haven't asked you to cook for me then.”

  “Keep it up and I'll take the balm back.”

  “No.” he winced at the desperation in his answer. Didn't want to let on just how much the tingling salve was helping.

  “That's what I thought. Now, hold still and let me finish.”