The earth trembled.
A herd of giant tusked boars, each the size of a small house, charged across the frozen plains. Their thick, frostbitten hides were coated in ice, their breath steaming in the cold. Snow exploded beneath their hooves, kicked up in massive waves as they stampeded with the force of a natural disaster.
Yet among them, something unnatural ran at their speed.
A figure, wrapped in a heavy, tattered cloak, sprinted alongside the beasts effortlessly.
The being's movements were inhuman. No exhaustion. The same way the boars were built to trample and endure, the figure moved with predatory grace, keeping pace as though it was born for this.
One of the largest boars, a five-meter-tall titan, snorted loudly, kicking up ice as it thundered forward. The cloaked figure matched its speed perfectly.
Then, in a single motion, the being struck.
The impact shattered the air.
The massive boar's body whipped to the side, its thick skull slammed into the frozen ground with earth-shaking force. Its entire bulk trembled as it collapsed instantly, its spine snapped from the sheer power of the attack.
A thin mist of blood and ice filled the air.
The rest of the herd did not stop.
They continued their charge, leaving behind the lone, cloaked hunter and the giant carcass.
The figure stood still.
Then, slowly, she reached up and pulled back her hood.
Raika's ashen green hair cascaded down her back, whipping in the icy wind. Her skin was lined with old scars. She was not the five-year-old girl who had once fled this place.
She was something else now. Something that had endured.
Her gaze drifted across the vast, white plains. There was nothing but endless snow, but she knew. Beneath these frozen fields, her village lay buried.
The memories of her father's deep laughter, her mother's gentle hands, her brothers' teasing voices, all of it, crushed beneath the weight of time and ice.
She inhaled deeply, the cold filling her lungs.
"Right here," she murmured, her voice steady. "This is where it happened."
The wind howled in response. Raika did not let the silence linger. She turned back to the corpse of the boar, gripping its massive protruding tusks.
With a single motion, she dragged it.
The enormous carcass, easily over two tons, glided across the snow as if it weighed nothing. Her steps were slow, but her grip was firm. Raika did not look back. The past was buried.
But she was still here.
°°°°°°°
Raika dragged the massive boar through the snow. The frozen wind bit at her skin but she barely noticed. The weight of the beast meant nothing to her. It was just another routine kill, another day in a world that had long since burned away everything soft inside her.
She approached the cave mouth, a jagged entrance carved into the side of a frost-coated mountain. Without stopping, she threw her head back and called out.
"Veyn!"
The only answer was the howling wind.
Her grip on the boar's tusks tightened as she yanked it forward, its bulk scraping against the icy ground. The echo of flesh dragging against rock reverberated through the cave as she pulled the carcass past the threshold.
"Veyn!"
Still no response.
Raika scowled, her eyes narrowing as she hauled the carcass deeper into the cave, its massive frame leaving a trail of disturbed frost and bloodstains in its wake.
"Veyn, I swear if you're out there sneaking around again—!"
"I'm right here."
A voice finally cut through the air. Raika turned, eyes locking onto the lean figure standing near the back of the cavern.
Veyn had grown.
The scrawny, frightened boy she had once clung to in the snow was gone. In his place stood a young man with sharp features, piercing dark eyes, and a quiet confidence. His white hair was tied loosely, strands falling over his forehead. Though he wasn't as physically imposing as Raika, there was a quiet, almost effortless attractiveness.
He gave her a slight smirk as he approached, dusting the frost off his thick cloak.
"I was out gathering supplies from the fallen villages. You know, doing the hard work while you were busy playing with the local wildlife."
Raika snorted, "Hard work? You mean sneaking around ruins like a rat?"
"Exactly," he said smoothly, lifting an arm to display a small skin bag tied to his belt. "And I didn't even get caught once. Unlike you, I prefer my meals without a side of broken ribs."
She rolled her eyes, stepping back toward the carcass and kneeling beside it.
"Yeah, yeah. Call me when you can actually bring home something useful instead of scavenged scraps."
Veyn chuckled, "You'd be starving without my 'scraps.'"
She didn't argue.
Raika pulled out a sharpened blade and, without hesitation, drove it into the thick hide of the boar. A deep, wet rip echoed through the cave as she peeled away the first layer of fur and flesh.
"You do the hard part," Veyn said, moving to the side as he untied the bag from his belt, "I'll make sure it doesn't taste like dirt when we eat it."
"Bold of you to assume I wouldn't just eat it raw."
"That's why I don't let you cook," he said dryly.
She let out a low chuckle, cutting deeper into the beast, slicing through thick muscle and tendon. Each stroke of her blade was practiced. By now, skinning and butchering animals was second nature to her. The smell of fresh blood didn't bother her, nor did the sensation of warmth leaving the flesh.
Veyn, meanwhile, set out a small, worn cooking pot near the firepit in the center of the cave.
"So," Raika said, continuing her work, "find anything good today?"
"A few things," Veyn replied, kneeling as he sorted through the contents of his bag. "Old blankets, some dried herbs, and—oh, I found some actual salt."
Raika paused. "...You're joking."
"Nope," he said, holding up a small, glass jar filled with crystalline grains.
Raika whistled, "Well, damn. Maybe you're not useless after all."
"Finally, some respect."
She scoffed, turning back to the boar. "Don't get used to it."
Veyn just laughed, shaking his head as he began prepping the fire, letting the warmth slowly fill the cavern.
°°°°°°°
The scent of roasting meat filled the cave, the rich aroma mingling with the lingering chill in the air. The fire crackled softly, its glow casting long shadows on the jagged walls. Veyn stirred the pot, watching the juices bubble and thicken as he carefully added the salt he had found earlier. Raika sat nearby, cross-legged, tearing into a chunk of fresh boar meat. The way she ate would have been terrifying to most, yet there was something almost mesmerizing about it. She was a heavy eater, burning through food at an unnatural rate, but despite her abnormal metabolism, she wasn't bulky.
Her body was all lean muscle, built for power and speed. She had the silhouette of a warrior, yet there was an undeniable beauty in her form. It was more of a sleeper build, deceptively strong yet graceful.
"We won't need to hunt for at least a week," Veyn commented, watching her devour another strip of meat. "It should last a month, but, well… I know you."
"You make it sound like a bad thing."
"I'm just saying," he smirked, leaning back, "it's a miracle you're not three times your size."
She grinned, licking the grease off her fingers. "I don't get fat. I get stronger."
Veyn chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Until you eat us out of our winter supply."
They sat in silence for a moment, the warmth of the fire softening the tension of survival. But then, Raika's expression shifted slightly, something serious settling into her golden eyes.
"Veyn," she started, her voice lower now, "the Mate Choosing Ritual is the day after tomorrow."
Veyn froze mid-bite, his entire body visibly stiffening.
"...Shit."
Raika smirked at his reaction, resting her elbow on her knee as she watched him struggle with the reality of it.
Among the Sentient Krepsunas living in the Fallen Bridge, the balance between males and females was uneven, which was a result of the Ice Rain and the Fallen Bridge's curse. The male population was far smaller than it should have been and for the survival of their kind, they were highly valued.
So valued, in fact, that they had to be fought over.
The Mate Choosing Ritual was an ancient tradition, a brutal event where females fought for the right to claim a mate. It wasn't about love, nor was it a gentle courtship. It was raw, savage, and necessary.
Females who wanted a male would engage in combat, proving their worth and dominance. If a man was already chosen by a woman, the woman would have to fight for him not to be taken away. The strongest won the right to take their chosen mate, and in cases where a male was particularly desirable, they would be shared among the victors.
Veyn had everything the females wanted—looks, intelligence, and most importantly, he was untouched by the curse. Unlike many males who had weaker bodies or had fallen sick from the Bridge's influence, Veyn was healthy. He was a rarity, and that made him a prime target.
And every year, Raika had been the only reason he hadn't been claimed.
Veyn sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "Do we really have to go?"
"You know we do," Raika answered, stretching her arms behind her head. "You're too valuable for them to just let you skip it."
"I hate this," he muttered. "Why does it have to be like this?"
Raika tilted her head, "Because males are rare, and females want to continue our species. Do I really need to explain this again?"
Veyn shot her a glare. "I know why. I just think it's stupid."
She smirked, resting her chin on her fist. "Well, you can either get yourself a mate, or let me do what I always do."
His jaw clenched. "You mean fight for me like some kind of prize?"
"Oh, come on. You love watching me beat the crap out of them."
"...I don't want a mate. Not yet."
"I know."
Veyn looked at her, meeting her gaze. She had protected him for years, standing against every challenger, ensuring that no one could take him against his will. She never once asked for anything in return.
"...You're really gonna do it again?" he asked quietly.
Raika smirked. "You bet I am. Don't worry. I don't mind doing it. I've been doing it since I was fifteen and I'm not going to let anyone take you. Now rest. Tomorrow, we're going to the Underground Spot."