The forest was quiet again.
Smoldering metal carcasses lay scattered around them—sparking, broken, and no longer a threat. The scent of burned circuitry and scorched earth clung to the air.
Artemis stood over the final Hunter's body, chest heaving, claws retracting slowly with a sharp, metallic click. Her eyes faded from crimson to a dull glow, exhaustion catching up all at once.
Behind her, Elara slumped to the ground, wincing as she held her wounded shoulder.
"Still dramatic as hell," she muttered with a weak smile.
Artemis turned to her, stunned for a moment—almost afraid this was a hallucination.
"Elara…"
Elara looked up, eyes glassy with tears.
"You made it," she whispered.
Then Artemis was kneeling beside her, arms pulling Elara close. It was rough, desperate, armor against skin, blood against dirt—but it was real.
Elara clung to her.
"I thought you were gone," she breathed. "Everyone disappeared. The sky ripped open. You didn't come back—"
"I tried," Artemis said, her voice tight. "I never stopped trying."
They held each other for a long moment, the world still around them. No monsters. No machines. Just the two of them in the quiet aftermath.
Then Artemis leaned back slightly, brushing a hand along Elara's cheek. "What the hell is going on, Elara? Those things—the Hunters—what are they?"
Elara exhaled slowly. "They're not from here. They came through the portal after the first wave of creatures… but they weren't attacking everything. Just people like us."
Artemis's eyes narrowed. "Like us?"
Elara nodded, pulling something from her pack—a notebook, ragged and stained, its pages filled with frantic sketches, tech diagrams, and symbols. "I found others. Changed. Some survived longer than others. Some… lost control."
She flipped to a page. It was a drawing of Artemis—white hair, glowing eyes, claws out. "I started seeing them in dreams. Before you even found me."
Artemis stared. "You saw me?"
"I felt you. Every time you got closer, the signal pulled stronger."
Artemis leaned closer to the page, eyes scanning the notes. "And the Hunters?"
"They're like a cleanup crew," Elara said. "Not here to conquer. They're here to erase. Anyone affected by the portal… anyone who's different."
Artemis's stomach turned. "So they're hunting me."
"They're hunting us," Elara corrected, eyes steady. "You changed physically. I changed too, just… in other ways."
Artemis looked at her closely. "Like what?"
Elara hesitated, then extended her hand. The moment she focused, a soft field of blue energy shimmered across her skin.
"Tech affinity," she explained. "I can control some of their systems. Rewire things. That's how I built the beacon."
Artemis blinked. "You… made that signal?"
Elara smiled faintly. "I wasn't going to wait around. I knew you'd find me if I gave you something to chase."
Artemis's throat tightened. "You risked your life—"
"So did you," Elara said, reaching for her hand. "So let's stop pretending we wouldn't burn the world down for each other."
Artemis grinned softly. "Too late. I kind of already did."
They both laughed, breathless and wrecked.
Then Artemis stood, helping Elara to her feet. "We can't stay here. They'll send more."
Elara nodded. "I have a hideout. South ridge, under the mountain. It's shielded. Safe… for now."
Together, they started walking—bloodied, battle-worn, and unbroken.
Side by side.