The forest clearing buzzed with movement and tension — the air thick with the scent of moss and stirred dust as the rookie hunt began.
Arin and his party, Silver Dawn, spread out as planned:
Ren moved ahead, light on his feet, scanning for tracks. The twins followed behind — Nara murmuring prayers under her breath, a faint gold shimmer surrounding her, while Niri's fingers danced with sparks of pale-blue mana, ready to strike. Arin stayed near the front, wooden staff in hand, feeling the rhythm of the forest with every step.
They were supposed to find and tag a group of mock beasts — magically conjured creatures meant to test rookie coordination. The sound of rustling leaves soon gave away their target: a pack of training direwolves, illusions strong enough to leave bruises but not kill.
"Three on the left, two behind the stump," Ren whispered.
"Got it," Arin said, lowering his stance. "Niri, cover the flank. Nara, support me if they break through."
They moved like they'd done this a dozen times.
Arin dashed forward, staff swinging in tight arcs, redirecting lunges with clean precision. Ren weaved beside him, blades flashing, while Niri launched bursts of lightning that crackled through the air. Nara's soft chants filled the space, each word lacing her allies with glowing protection.
It was going perfectly—until the ground shifted.
A deep, guttural growl echoed from beneath the trees. The light shimmer of the illusion beasts flickered — and from the shadows stepped something not part of the simulation.
Ren's grin vanished. "Uh… that one looks real."
Before anyone could respond, a massive black direwolf, its fur matted and eyes glowing crimson, emerged. It wasn't an illusion. It was a stray beast — drawn by the noise of the contest.
Niri's voice trembled. "T-that's not supposed to be here…"
Arin's heartbeat quickened, but he tightened his grip on his staff. "Then we handle it — together."
The others nodded, forming up instinctively. The test had become real — and Silver Dawn was about to face its first true battle.
---
The beast circled them, low and tense — its crimson eyes gleaming between the shadows. Unlike the training illusions, this direwolf was real. Heavy, breathing, dangerous. Its growl rippled through the clearing like thunder.
But Silver Dawn didn't falter.
They had done this before — under Lyssa's lead — and every memory of her instructions came rushing back.
"Stay calm," Arin whispered. "Ren, take the front. I'll guard your side. Niri, wait for my cue before you fire. Nara, keep your shield ready."
Ren flashed him a grin that didn't quite hide his nerves. "Got it, captain."
The direwolf lunged first.
Ren ducked under its claws, slashing upward — shallow but clean — buying just enough time for Arin to swing his staff across its flank. The creature howled, snapping its jaws toward him, but a glowing barrier from Nara shimmered between them just in time, sparks scattering like fireflies.
"Now!" Arin shouted.
Niri extended her hand, the air around her humming with power. "Lightning Spear!"
A spear of electric-blue energy formed in her palm and shot forward, striking the direwolf in the chest. The beast staggered, fur smoking, but didn't fall.
Ren leapt onto a nearby rock, using it to vault high — "Move!" he yelled — and came down hard, both blades plunging deep into the wolf's back. It thrashed, nearly throwing him off, but Arin darted forward and drove his staff against its snout, channeling a pulse of energy through it.
The wolf let out a final growl before collapsing with a heavy thud, smoke curling from its fur.
Silence filled the clearing.
Only the sound of their ragged breathing remained.
Ren stumbled back, panting. "Remind me to thank Lyssa when we get home."
Niri fell to her knees, staring at the charred ground. "That—was—awesome!"
Nara was already kneeling beside Arin, checking for injuries. "You're lucky you didn't get bitten."
"I had faith in you," Arin said, smiling faintly. "All of you."
Ren looked around the now-peaceful forest, then kicked at a scorched leaf. "So… does this still count for the contest?"
"Probably not," Niri said. "But who cares? We just killed a real direwolf without Lyssa."
They exchanged a glance — exhaustion melting into laughter.
For the first time, they'd faced danger on their own and stood tall.
Silver Dawn wasn't just Lyssa's team anymore.
It was theirs too.
The scent of blood and burnt fur still lingered in the air.
The sun had started dipping behind the trees, turning the clearing gold and red.
Ren crouched beside the fallen direwolf, pulling out a short knife. "We should get the cores and claws before scavengers show up."
"Right," Arin nodded, crouching beside him. "Remember what Lyssa said — the core's usually near the heart."
"Got it," Ren replied, steady hands cutting through fur and sinew while Arin steadied the body. The girls kept watch, still alert for movement in the trees.
After a few minutes, Ren held up a small crystal pulsing faintly with light. "One down."
Niri wrinkled her nose. "Ugh. It's glowing and gross at the same time."
Her twin, Nara, smirked. "That's your healer instinct complaining. I think it's pretty."
"Pretty disgusting," Niri shot back.
Arin chuckled. "Come on, we'll sell these to the guild. Mira said beast cores like these can buy enough rations for a week."
Once the last of the usable parts were collected, they washed their hands in the nearby stream. The water glimmered like glass, cool against their skin after the heat of battle.
Ren stretched with a satisfied sigh. "We did it. No Lyssa, no backup, just us."
Nara smiled softly. "She'll be proud."
Arin glanced at the fading light filtering through the canopy — his reflection in the water faint, violet eyes glowing back. "Yeah… I think she will."
Niri leaned closer with a grin. "And maybe we'll even rank up for this."
"Only if we don't forget to turn in proof," Ren reminded her, holding up the bag with the wolf's claws.
They all laughed, the kind that came from relief more than humor, the kind that made the forest seem brighter again.
As they began the trek back to the city, the wind carried their laughter between the trees — a sound full of youth, courage, and the kind of joy that came only after surviving something that could have ended them.
Silver Dawn was no longer just a rookie guild team.
They were becoming something more.