Mother of Midnight

Chapter 130 – Another Meal

What Vivienne didn’t tell the group was how ravenous the wound was making her feel. Even without arms in her current serpentine form and without actively bleeding everywhere, she could sense the steady, inevitable drain on her aether. The gnawing hunger clawed at her insides with ferocity, sharper and more insistent with each passing moment. It took every ounce of her considerable willpower not to whirl around and devour Elira on the spot. The human’s aether pool was vast and deep—like a beacon of energy radiating warmth, maddeningly close, tantalizingly within reach.

Vivienne grit her fangs, coiling tighter on herself for a moment as if to restrain the hunger physically. No, that wasn’t an option. Eating an ally, tempting as it was in this moment of weakness, would cause more problems than it solved. Still, she couldn’t deny how her instincts whispered to her, urging her to take what she needed to stop the aching emptiness gnawing at her core.

Fortunately, it was late in the afternoon. With any luck, aetherbeasts would begin to emerge soon from wherever they hid in these endless plains of tall, golden grass. Unlike in forests or ruins, where aether gathered more predictably in the shadows or near ancient constructs, the steppes were wide open, offering no clear indication of where the beasts might appear. That was both a challenge and an opportunity—without natural barriers, she could see them coming from a distance, and perhaps more importantly, they could sense her too.

Her tongue flicked out, tasting the dry air for any hint of aether. Nothing yet, but it wouldn’t be long. Aetherbeasts couldn’t resist the ebb and flow of energy around a wounded predator. Soon enough, something would come looking, drawn by the fading traces of her leaking aether.

She only hoped it would be something she could handle in her current state.

It didn’t take long before she sensed them—small aetherbeasts, their presence tugging faintly at her awareness like ripples in a calm lake. By the time the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the endless steppes, she had cornered a small group of them. Two of the creatures resembled boars, though their twisted forms made them look more like patchwork monstrosities, with jagged tusks glowing faintly and patches of their bodies bristling with crystalline shards. Alongside them prowled a trio of sunwake lynxes, sleek and shimmering, their fur catching the waning light as though each strand was a filament of molten gold.

Vivienne didn’t hesitate. Hunger drove her forward, and instinct guided her strikes. She coiled tightly and lashed out, her serpentine form a blur of motion as she seized one of the boar-like creatures in her jaws. It squealed briefly before her crushing bite silenced it, the rush of its fading aether filling her with fleeting relief. The memories it carried were weak—fractured glimpses of wild hunts across the plains, echoes of a life spent in primal chaos. They did little to slow her, barely enough to leave a lasting impression before they dissolved into nothingness.

The lynxes put up more of a fight, their movements swift and coordinated. One managed to rake its claws along her flank, but the wound didn’t faze her. The burning sensation they once inflicted had dulled significantly compared to her first encounter with their kind. She twisted, catching another in her coiled tail and slamming it into the ground before devouring it in one swift motion.

The last lynx hesitated, perhaps sensing the tide of the battle turning against it. It tried to flee, but Vivienne was faster, lunging forward to sink her fangs into its neck. The creature let out a final, pitiful yowl before collapsing, its shimmering body dimming as the last of its aether drained away.

The boars had tasted far better than the lynxes—rich, savory energy coursing through her, soothing the gnawing hunger for a fleeting moment. Yet it wasn’t enough. Even after consuming all five creatures, the ache in her core persisted, a constant reminder of the aether she was steadily losing from her wound. She could feel it stabilizing somewhat, but full recovery still eluded her.

With a final flick of her tongue, she scanned the area for any other signs of prey. The plains stretched out endlessly, the tall grass rustling softly in the evening breeze. Nothing else stirred, and the sky had begun to darken, stars twinkling faintly in the growing twilight.

She turned back toward the camp, her serpentine form moving silently through the grass, the faint glow of lingering aether clinging to her scales. The hunt had bought her time, but it was clear she couldn’t keep relying on luck and small game to sustain herself. The wound wasn’t just a minor setback—it was a ticking clock, and she needed a solution before her reserves ran out entirely.

By the time she slithered back into the clearing, the others had settled in for the evening. Kivvy was still tinkering with something by the wagon, her tiny hands moving with practiced precision as the soft clinking of metal filled the air. Rava sat by the fire pit, now alight with a modest flame, while Elira and Ivor quietly discussed something off to the side.

Vivienne shifted back into her humanoid form as she approached, suppressing a wince as the wound on her arm reopened slightly, a trickle of dark fluid seeping from the jagged edge. The snacks had proven to do something to heal her, but it wasn’t enough. She needed something bigger, more substantial. With a sigh she shifted back into the giant serpent.

Rava glanced up as Vivienne approached, raising an eyebrow. “Any luck?”

“Some,” said Vivienne. “I think I need something more substantial. I’ll go hunting when it’s darker.”

Rava’s brow furrowed. “You’re pushing yourself too hard. You need rest.”

Vivienne shook her head. “If I stop moving, the hunger will only get worse. I can feel it gnawing away, Rava. This wound—it’s doing something more than just draining my aether. If I don’t stay ahead of it, I’m afraid it might—” She cut herself off, unwilling to voice the darker thought aloud. Her gaze flicked toward the horizon, where the last sliver of sunlight bled into the sky, casting the endless steppes in hues of gold and crimson. “I’ll be careful.”

Rava sighed, clearly wanting to protest but knowing it wouldn’t do any good. “Fine. But don’t go too far. We can’t afford to lose you out there.”

Vivienne smiled, though there was little warmth in it. “Wouldn’t dream of it, darling.”

Night fell quickly over the steppes, draping the plains in a thick blanket of shadow. The tall grass whispered in the cool breeze, creating an eerie soundscape that could have been comforting in other circumstances. But tonight, Vivienne felt anything but comforted. Her wound continued to throb faintly, a dull ache that refused to fade no matter how much aether she consumed.

As she moved further from the camp, her senses sharpened, seeking out even the faintest trace of aetherbeasts. The steppes seemed oddly quiet, as though the creatures of the night were avoiding something—or someone. She paused atop a small rise, scanning the horizon. In the distance, she noticed a faint shimmer, like heat rising from the earth. She slithered toward it cautiously, her instincts on high alert.

When she drew closer, she saw what appeared to be a cluster of strange, crystalline plants growing out of the ground, their surfaces glinting faintly under the starlight. Each stalk was surrounded by an aura of raw aether, radiating a subtle but steady pull. Vivienne’s tongue flicked out, tasting the energy in the air. It was pure, untainted by the chaotic madness that usually clung to aetherbeasts. This… this might actually help.

She coiled around one of the larger stalks, her obsidian scales catching the faint light as she carefully bit into its base. A rush of aether flooded her senses, warm and soothing, as though it were knitting her frayed edges back together. The wound on her arm stopped throbbing, and for the first time in hours, the gnawing hunger receded slightly.

Vivienne exhaled, relief washing over her. It wasn’t a complete fix, but it was something—enough to keep her going a little longer.

Just as she finished consuming the last of the crystalline plant, a sound caught her attention. Rustling, followed by a low hiss. She turned, her eyes narrowing, focusing on the source. It was an odd sight, something that made her question for a moment whether she was hallucinating. A bizarre, towering insect, unlike anything she had ever seen, emerged from the shadows. It vaguely resembled a praying mantis—though, if one were to sketch it from memory after hearing a description decades ago, it would hardly be recognizable.

Its body was massive, covered in a rough, stone-like material that seemed to pulse with some kind of strange energy. Vines of orange wound themselves around its thorax, and clusters of small white flowers dotted its exoskeleton, their petals appearing almost delicate against the brute strength of its form. The creature’s forelimbs were disturbingly long and curved, resembling massive scythes—perfectly honed and poised to strike.

What made the creature even more unsettling, however, was its head. It wasn’t insectoid at all. In fact, it seemed to blend the features of two creatures that had no business being anywhere near each other. Its face was the angular, sharp profile of a shark, but with the curved, elongated snout of a deer, a strange fusion that made Vivienne pause before sizing it up. Its eyes, dark and penetrating, glowed faintly with an eerie light, and they were fixed solely on her—unblinking.

Her tail flicked behind her, obsidian scales shimmering faintly in the dim light as she sized up the creature. It was undoubtedly large—its towering frame stretched high above her, its limbs reaching out with calculated menace, yet it didn’t seem to rush forward. The creature was studying her, almost as if weighing the threat she posed.

For a moment, Vivienne simply stood still, her predatory instincts flaring. There was no fear in her; only the growing thrill of the encounter. It was rare for her to face such a unique beast—rare for her to face anything truly capable of challenging her. But this thing... It was more than a simple aetherbeast.

“Hmm,” Vivienne murmured, her voice light and laced with an amused tone. “I haven’t quite had one of you for dinner before. Interesting.”

The beast hissed again, the sound deep and unsettling, like a knife being drawn across stone. Its scythes scraped the ground in anticipation, and it took a slow, deliberate step toward her.

Vivienne, unfazed, stretched her tail behind her, her claws flexing, and she tilted her head slightly. “Oh, darling, this is going to be fun.”

Without another word, Vivienne moved, her sleek serpentine form undulating like liquid, heading toward the beast. Her obsidian tail lashed behind her, its sharp blade slicing the air as she propelled herself forward. She was quick, her body flowing smoothly with precision, her senses alive and tuned to the rhythm of the battle.

The creature hissed again, its long forelimbs scraping the ground as it lunged toward her with startling speed. The scythe-like limbs swept through the air, sharp and relentless. Vivienne twisted, her sinuous body slinking low to the ground, narrowly avoiding the slash that came from above. Her scales glinted in the dim light as she coiled, fluid and evasive, a serpent moving with deadly grace.

The beast didn’t hesitate, its shark-like head lunging toward her, jaws snapping with terrifying force. Vivienne’s instincts kicked in, and she darted to the side, her sleek form slithering past the attack with ease. As the creature’s head missed, she struck—her tail snapping forward, aiming for the side of the creature’s head.

Her obsidian blade collided with the creature’s stone-like armor, the impact sending a jolt through her. It wasn’t enough to pierce, but it left a crack in the rough surface. The creature let out a furious hiss, its forelimbs striking again, this time with greater force, aiming to trap her. Vivienne darted back, coiling her body like a spring to avoid the hit. She needed to get in closer, to exploit that weakness she’d seen.

She hissed with excitement, her mouth opening wide to let loose a burst of venom. The stream of liquid sprayed toward the beast’s exposed underbelly, hitting its rough hide with a sizzling hiss. The creature recoiled, screeching in anger as the venom began to eat away at the surface.

The creature jerked back, hissing and clawing at the affected area. Its forelimbs lashed out in a desperate attempt to scrape away the venom, but the liquid had already begun to sink into the stone-like surface, eating away at the organic material beneath. Vivienne’s senses hummed with the surge of her own power as she tightened her grip on the situation, pushing herself forward.

Her tail snapped through the air again, aimed precisely at the creature’s side where the armor had cracked. It landed with a sharp impact, but once again, the stone shell resisted, the blow reverberating through her body like a harsh sting. She winced, shaking her head, refocusing. It wasn’t enough. She needed to break through.

The creature seemed to sense her hesitation. With a rapid motion, it swung its scythe-like forelimbs outward, sending a wave of crushing force toward her. Vivienne twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the gust of wind from the swing sent her tumbling sideways, her tail dragging across the dirt. She managed to right herself quickly, but the creature was already lunging at her again, its massive form closing in with unnatural speed.

The sharp stench of its breath reached her nostrils, a mix of something sharp and metallic, like the taste of iron after a battle. It didn’t faze her, not as much as the sudden rush of adrenaline in her veins. She had to act. She coiled tighter, muscles coiling like ropes, gathering every ounce of strength to spring herself forward.

The creature’s head snapped toward her, its shark-like mouth snapping open, rows of jagged teeth gleaming. Its body swayed, preparing to strike again with a swipe of its talons. Vivienne hissed in frustration. This wasn’t how she worked. She needed to strike fast, unpredictable.

She waited, tension building in her frame, and then in an instant, her body sprang forward, propelling herself with the force of a whip. She shot toward the creature’s exposed side, aiming for the soft patch beneath its armored surface. Her tail lashed out once more, this time with more focus, and with a scream of crackling energy, the tip of her tail drove deep into the gap in the creature’s armor.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sickening crunch, the armor split open like brittle stone under the pressure of her strike. The sound of breaking material echoed in the air, and Vivienne pushed harder, her tail twisting as deep as it could go. She felt the warmth of blood seep around the wound, and for the briefest moment, she was overwhelmed by the sweet, bitter sensation.

The beast screeched, a sound that shook the ground beneath her, and it twisted violently in an attempt to dislodge her. Its claws raked through the air, scraping across the dirt and rock, but Vivienne held her ground, her body anchored in place as her tail drove further into the gap.

The creature’s thrashing grew more erratic, each movement sending a shock through her body. She gritted her teeth, the sensation of her tail embedded deep inside the beast’s body stirring a primal urge to end it quickly. But she couldn’t get complacent. The creature was powerful, and every second she spent in close range of its razor-sharp claws was a second she could lose.

With a growl, the beast reared back, its powerful limbs swinging wildly, forcing Vivienne to twist herself free. She felt the sharp sting of a claw scrape across her side as she pulled away, but she was quick to recover, coiling her body into a defensive position.

Her eyes narrowed, tracking the creature as it staggered back, fury burning in its eyes. The blood from the wound in its side spilled in thick streams, pooling around its feet. It wasn’t enough to slow it down. Vivienne’s muscles burned, and her heart pounded in her chest. She could feel her own power slipping away, slowly draining with each passing moment. The hunger was gnawing at her again, and she needed to finish this, now.

The creature charged once more, its massive form lurching forward with a speed that seemed impossible for something its size. Vivienne’s heart skipped a beat, and she darted to the side, narrowly avoiding another swipe from its claws. She was quick, but it was fast, and as the creature continued its relentless assault, Vivienne found herself being pushed back, further and further.

Vivienne’s mind raced, her body shifting with the rhythm of the fight. The creature’s charge pushed her further back, each swipe of its claws bringing it closer to her. There was no hesitation now; she couldn’t afford to keep retreating. Her muscles tensed, coiling with energy as the creature barreled toward her once more, its jaws snapping. It was only a matter of time before one of those talons found its mark.

She had to end it.

In a flash of motion, she sprang forward, her serpentine body flowing with the grace of a predator. As the creature lunged at her, she twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding its sharp claws. But this time, instead of darting away, Vivienne lashed out with her body, wrapping herself around the massive insectoid creature. Her powerful coils snaked around its torso, tightening with a strength born of pure instinct and desperation.

The beast struggled, thrashing beneath her, but Vivienne’s grip only tightened. She squeezed, her obsidian-scaled form wrapping tighter and tighter around its stone-like body, pinning it in place. The creature screeched, its limbs thrashing wildly in an attempt to dislodge her, but Vivienne’s strength was unyielding. She could feel the heat of its breath against her skin, the vibration of its struggles shaking through her body. Every moment, the pressure of her coils increased, each squeeze making it harder for the creature to move.

Her heart pounded in her chest, the adrenaline surging as she held the creature in her grasp. Her tail wrapped around its legs, anchoring it to the ground, while her body wound around its torso like a vice. The beast fought against her, its claws raking at the air, but it couldn’t reach her now. Every effort it made to escape only caused Vivienne’s coils to tighten further, the muscles in her body working together with ruthless precision.

She could feel the life draining out of the creature as its movements slowed, its gasps growing more labored. Her tail curled around its limbs, immobilizing it, as she slowly but surely began to crush the life from its body. The creature let out another agonized hiss, its body spasming, but Vivienne didn’t relent. The power in her form surged, the pressure building with each passing second. She could feel the bones inside the creature cracking, its organs being squeezed beneath her unyielding grip.

The creature’s body jerked again, its claws scrabbling at her scales, but its movements were becoming sluggish, its breath growing shallower. Vivienne’s tail coiled around its throat, restricting the flow of air, and she could sense the slow, almost painful cessation of the beast’s struggles. Its head twitched, the once-proud creature now helpless in her grasp.

She squeezed harder, a dark satisfaction bubbling within her as she felt the final tremor of life leave the creature’s form. The pressure was too much. With one final screech that was cut off in the middle, the beast’s body went limp, its last breath escaping as a ragged hiss.

Vivienne held it there for a moment longer, her coils still tightly wrapped around the creature, making sure it was truly gone. She could feel its heart slowly stop beating, the last traces of life fading from it. Only then did she finally release her grip, unwinding her body from its broken form. The creature collapsed to the ground, lifeless, its body heavy and still.

Her breathing was slow but steady, her heart rate beginning to calm as she stepped away from the corpse. Her scales shone in the dim light, still reflecting the aftermath of the battle. The air around her felt thick with the tension that had built up during the fight, but now, it was all stillness.

She hissed softly in satisfaction, looking down at the creature she had just slain. It had been a struggle, a test of her strength, but in the end, it had been no match for her.

Vivienne flicked her tail, letting the venomous tip gently tap the corpse. "Well," she murmured to herself, her voice light and almost playful despite the carnage around her, "that wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought it would be."

Vivienne hovered over the creature’s still-warm body, her obsidian scales gleaming faintly in the dimming light. The hunger had subsided, but only just. She felt the pull of its energy, the deep, gnawing hunger for the aether coursing through her like a storm gathering on the horizon. Her snake body trembled with anticipation, her long tail flicking in the air as she coiled tighter around the beast.

Her jaws parted, fangs glistening, and with a low hiss of satisfaction, she sank them into the stone-like flesh. The rough texture scraped against her teeth, but the resistance wasn’t enough to deter her. She forced her way in, savoring the sharp crack as the tough exterior gave way under her strength. Her venom-laced tongue flicked out, tasting the creature's blood, the faint tang of its aether swirling into her senses.

As Vivienne’s fangs sank deeper, the familiar surge of power from the aether filled her veins, but something was different this time. It wasn’t just the creature’s essence she was pulling into herself—it was more fragmented, like shattered glass. The familiar sensations of hunger and thirst faded, replaced by flashes of memories, distorted and unfamiliar. She saw images flash before her eyes, like a kaleidoscope of lives long passed.

For the first few moments, they were disjointed—faint whispers of voices, glimpses of faces she didn’t recognize, places that were alien to her. A young woman, dressed in tattered clothes, running through a rainstorm. The sensation of warm hands, a heartbeat, a sudden scream. A man, older, standing over a battlefield, his face hardened with years of war. A bright blue sky above, the smell of saltwater in the air. And then, it was gone, replaced by something else. A child laughing, playing with other children in a field of tall grass, their faces glowing with innocence. But that too, faded away, replaced by another piece of another soul.

The fragments were fleeting, slipping through her mind like sand through fingers. She tried to focus, to make sense of it, but each new memory was so brief and so intense that they only left her more confused. They weren’t just memories of the creature she had slain; these were lives. Entire lives—people, souls—woven into the very fabric of the creature’s existence. Each one, a piece of a greater whole. And yet, there was no order, no rhyme. Just chaos. All jumbled together in a disorienting swirl.

At first, she could push them aside, flicking them away like flies. But with each swallow, the memories became more vivid, more urgent. They didn’t come in simple flashes anymore—they crashed against her mind like waves, overwhelming her senses. She saw a mother weeping over a sick child, her hands shaking as she held the small, fragile body. The deep, wrenching pain of loss seeped into Vivienne, almost as if she were the one mourning.

The memory twisted, fading into another. A man kneeling by the edge of a great river, staring into its depths. His reflection rippled in the water, distorted by the movement of the current, but there was a feeling of... resignation in his eyes. Vivienne’s stomach twisted as she felt the weight of that resignation settle in her chest, a feeling of helplessness she couldn’t shake.

And then another memory—a loud crash, the sound of wood splintering as a structure fell apart. She saw a figure running through a burning village, their breath coming in quick, panicked gasps. Firelight danced across their face, illuminating the horror in their eyes as they turned, screaming for someone. But there was no one to hear.

Vivienne's breath came in short, shallow gasps as the memories piled on top of each other, each one more intense than the last. Faces, places, sounds—they rushed through her with a speed that left her head spinning. The fragments were no longer just flashes—they were entire lives, entire moments, all stitched together in the chaos that was the beast's soul. She could feel their pain, their joy, their fear. She could hear their voices, their pleas for help, their cries of triumph. She felt their blood—warm, thick, and alive—coursing through her veins as though it had become her own.

Her head throbbed with the pressure of it all. It was too much. Too much to hold onto, too much to process. She was drowning in them, in the intensity of their emotions. They weren’t just memories—they were fragments of souls, their essence now a part of her. And they clung to her, thrashing like wild animals inside her mind, gnawing at her, tugging her in every direction.

She swallowed again, trying to push the flood of sensations away, but they only intensified. Each piece she consumed pulled her deeper into the web of lives she had no claim to. It was as if she could feel the love of mothers, the betrayal of fathers, the despair of those who had lost everything. It was endless. It was overwhelming.

The world around her seemed to bend and shift with every pulse of the memories. Her surroundings became distorted, the landscape warping, folding in on itself. The sky bled into the earth, the ground trembling beneath her. A voice—her voice—rose from her throat, but it was not her own. It was the voice of a thousand other beings, all speaking in unison, their anguish blending into one terrifying sound that filled the air.

She felt their presence, felt them within her, pushing against her, clawing at her from the inside. It was a suffocating mass of sensation, and Vivienne’s mind teetered on the edge of collapse. The memories swirled around her like a storm, battering her consciousness until she could no longer separate herself from them.

The weight of their collective souls pressed against her, a crushing burden she wasn’t sure she could bear. She could feel their anger, their grief, their love, and their hatred—all intertwined, all pushing into her as though they were a part of her own existence. They were with her. They would always be with her now. Each fragment, each shard of their soul, carved itself into her own, until she wasn’t sure where one ended and the other began.

The world around Vivienne was still, the heavy silence pressing down on her as the lingering sensation of the storm ebbed away. The memories that had battered against her mind, overwhelming and chaotic, had suddenly ceased, leaving only a ringing emptiness. The strange flashes of lives long passed—the pain, the joy, the screams, and the whispers—faded, leaving behind only a faint sense of lingering grief. She blinked, the raw intensity of it all still echoing in her consciousness. The ground, once trembling with the weight of the emotional storm, had settled, and with it, Vivienne could finally breathe freely again.

Her gaze dropped, and she saw the remains of the creature. What had once been a towering, imposing form, now lay in fragments, its jagged body dissolving slowly into the earth. It had been powerful, fierce even, but now it was reduced to something indistinguishable, mere remnants of a being that had once existed. The rough stone-like exterior, the vibrant vines, and the white flowers now seemed to be nothing more than a patchwork of lifeless pieces scattered across the dirt.

Vivienne’s chest tightened as she stared at the remains, her thoughts swirling. She had consumed its essence—its very being—and yet the aftermath felt different than it had before. There was no triumphant satisfaction, no sense of power flowing through her veins. Instead, there was a hollow feeling, a coldness that crept into her bones. It was like something inside her had shifted, something fundamental, and she wasn’t sure whether that change was for the better.

She returned to her humanoid form and let out a loud sigh. As she flexed her fingers, she could feel the strange pulse of vitality returning to her. Her arm, once a gory stump, had healed, the skin and scales now perfectly whole, unmarred by the wound that had once threatened to drain her life. The blood that had once seeped from the stump was now gone, replaced by the normal, steady rhythm of her own body. 

She could feel the faintest lingering pulse of energy from the aether still coiling through her veins, but it wasn’t nearly as overwhelming as it had been when she consumed the creature. She had expected to be satisfied, to feel the surge of strength that came with devouring an aetherbeast, but this time, it was different. This time, the power felt muted, distant.

Why do my wounds heal when I eat?

The question lingered in her mind, unresolved, as she stood there, lost in thought. She had always known that consuming aetherbeasts was a way to replenish herself—she had always felt the immediate return of strength, the healing of her wounds, and the restoration of her energy. But this... this felt different. It was as if the act of consuming the creature had done something more than just heal her body. Something deeper. Something she couldn’t quite put into words.

And the memories—those fragmented, disjointed flashes of strangers' lives—their joy, torment, and lives humming at the back of her mind. Entire histories, fragmented pieces of souls, all bleeding into her consciousness. She had tasted their pain, their joy, their fear. Their fragments had become part of her.

Why do I always see memories when I eat them?

She stood there for a long moment, her gaze drifting to the remnants of the creature. The stillness of the world around her felt oppressive, and her thoughts turned inward, wrestling with the questions that had no answers. Her instincts made her want to eat the creatures. They seemed to ignore each other, or even work together, but they were always hostile to her. Did they know she was different?

She took a deep breath, grounding herself, focusing on the present. There was little time to dwell on these thoughts. The night was deep and dark, and the rest of the group would likely be sleeping by now, excluding those on watch. But as she moved away from the remains of the creature, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted within her. She didn’t know what it was, but it was there. She had crossed a threshold, and she wasn’t sure if she would ever be the same again.

She saw a movement in the corner of her eye. Her head snapped towards it, but nothing was there. Nothing at all.