The forest was quiet, save for the crunch of boots on leaves and the distant chirp of morning birds. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the branches, painting the path in gold and shadow.
Lyssa walked ahead, crouched low, her gloved fingers brushing over the soft earth. "Tracks are fresh," she murmured, eyes narrowing. "Four… no, five of them. Moving north."
Behind her, the others followed, talking softly to fill the silence.
"So," Ren said, breaking the stillness, "since we've got some walking to do, might as well share a bit about ourselves, huh?"
Nara perked up immediately. "Ooh, I'll start! Our parents run a little farm west of Valen. We grow wheat and keep sheep."
Niri added, smiling softly, "And chickens. Nara forgets them every time."
"I don't forget!" Nara huffed, crossing her arms. "I just… prioritize!"
Everyone chuckled. Even Lyssa smirked as she brushed a branch aside. "Farm life, huh? Explains why you two move in sync — you've probably been working together since you could walk."
Ren nodded. "Yeah, my mom runs an inn by the southern gate. Been helping her since I was a kid — cleaning tables, carrying barrels, pretending to know how to cook."
"You pretend well, I bet," Arin teased.
Ren laughed. "Better than you, probably."
Lyssa glanced over her shoulder. "My turn, huh? My father was an A-rank adventurer before he retired. Trained me himself — said the guild life was too boring for him now. Guess he wasn't wrong."
The others laughed quietly, but when their eyes turned to Arin, the mood shifted slightly.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… I don't really have parents. But I've got five aunties who raised me. They're… everything to me."
The air fell still for a moment, everyone unsure what to say.
Then Ren grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. "Then you've got six now. We're a family too — Silver Dawn forever."
Lyssa groaned softly. "You're making it sound like a tavern slogan."
Nara giggled. "But it's cute!"
"Cute won't save you from teeth and claws," Lyssa said, though the faint smile on her lips betrayed her amusement.
They all laughed, the sound echoing gently through the forest. Even the silence that followed felt warmer — like the start of something that might just last.
Lyssa straightened, pointing toward a set of claw marks on a nearby tree. "Tracks lead this way. Stay close, Silver Dawn."
And together, they stepped deeper into the woods, their laughter fading into the whispering leaves.
---
The scent hit them first — the sharp tang of blood mixed with the stench of wet fur and decay. The trees thinned ahead, opening into a shallow hollow where the ground was littered with bones and torn hides.
"There," Lyssa whispered, crouching behind a moss-covered log. Four gray shapes moved lazily around a half-eaten goat, their jaws slick with red. Dorewolves — lean, vicious things with eyes that glowed faintly yellow even in daylight.
Ren knelt beside her, scanning the den. "Four of them. Looks like two adults and two younger ones."
Nara's fingers tightened on her staff. "What's the plan?"
Lyssa drew her short sword, the steel catching a glint of light. "Simple and clean. No mistakes."
She pointed quickly, marking each role with her finger.
"Ren — you draw their attention from the front. You're the shield. Keep them focused on you."
"Got it." He checked his grip on his blade, his expression sharp and calm.
"Niri, I want you behind that fallen tree. Cast barriers if anyone slips up — but keep your mana steady."
"Understood."
"Nara — you'll support with ranged magic. Start with flame bursts to scatter them, then pick off the stragglers."
Nara nodded, her usual playful tone replaced by focus.
"And Arin," Lyssa said, turning to him, "you and I will flank. We take the back once Ren engages. Fast, silent, and lethal."
He gave a firm nod, tightening the straps on his gloves.
Lyssa's hand signaled — three, two, one.
Ren rose from cover with a shout, sword flashing. "Hey, furballs! Come get me!"
The wolves snarled, abandoning their meal and lunging toward the noise. Dust and leaves scattered as Ren met them head-on, blade clashing against teeth and claw. One wolf leapt; he blocked with his shield, kicking it aside with a grunt.
"Now!" Lyssa hissed.
Arin darted from the side, blade slicing across the neck of one distracted wolf. It collapsed without a sound. Lyssa followed, driving her sword clean through another's flank.
"Flame burst!" Nara's voice rang out as a sphere of fire arced through the air, exploding beside the largest wolf. It yelped, fur singed, and stumbled right into Ren's waiting blade.
Niri raised her hands, a soft glow surrounding Ren as a faint barrier shimmered into place — claws scraped harmlessly against it.
"Nice timing!" he shouted, cleaving through the last wolf's shoulder. It fell, whining, before going still.
Silence fell. The clearing was filled only with the sound of their breathing.
Lyssa wiped her blade clean on a patch of grass. "All clear."
Nara exhaled, letting her staff lower. "We did it…"
Ren laughed, a low, relieved sound. "Not bad for our first mission."
Arin knelt, checking the wolves to be sure. "Four confirmed. Guess Silver Dawn passes their first test."
Lyssa smirked, sheathing her sword. "Barely, but yes. Next time, we take something harder."
Niri groaned. "Can we at least rest first?"
They laughed, the tension melting away as morning sunlight broke through the canopy, casting silver rays over the quiet den — fitting light for their first victory.
Lyssa scanned the quiet clearing one last time, then sheathed her sword with a sharp motion. "Good. That's all of them."
Ren dropped to one knee, wiping sweat from his brow. "We actually did it…"
Before the relief could fully settle, Lyssa's voice cut in again — calm, commanding. "Don't relax yet. Remove the cores and any useful parts. The guild won't take our word for it — we need proof."
Arin blinked. "Cores?"
Lyssa nodded. "Every magical beast has one — a mana core near the heart. The guild buys them for a good price, and they serve as official proof of completion."
She knelt beside the nearest wolf, drawing a slim dagger from her belt. "Watch closely."
With practiced precision, she cut through fur and muscle, her movements efficient and unflinching. After a moment, she lifted a small, faintly glowing orb — pale blue, pulsing softly. "Here. That's one."
Niri winced a little at the sight, while Nara leaned closer, curiosity lighting her eyes. "It's beautiful…"
"Expensive, too," Lyssa replied dryly, dropping it into a pouch. "Ren, take that one. Arin, handle the next. I'll guide you."
Arin hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright." He followed her instructions, steadying his hand. The resistance of flesh made him tense, but eventually, the blade met something smooth and solid — a faint glow beneath the blood.
He pulled it free, heart racing a little. "Got it."
"Not bad," Lyssa said, almost approving.
They continued working quietly — Ren cutting with slow confidence, Nara carefully separating the fangs and claws as Lyssa had shown her.
"These can sell too," Lyssa explained, pointing. "Claws, fangs, hides. Anything from a dorewolf is useful to craftsmen."
Ren looked up from his work. "So basically, don't waste anything?"
"Exactly." She straightened, brushing dirt from her knees. "Everything has value — remember that. Adventurers live on what they can gather."
When the last core was secured, the team stood together again, packs slightly heavier with their spoils. The tension had eased into pride.
"Now," Lyssa said, slinging her bag over her shoulder, "let's head back. The sooner we report to the guild, the sooner we get paid."
Arin grinned faintly. "Silver Dawn's first reward, huh?"
Nara raised a fist. "Let's make it count!"
The group began their walk back through the forest, the sunlight breaking through the leaves above — each step lighter than the last, their first mission truly complete.