“I took them beneath my tattered wing;    

I shielded them from the blood;

Then they turned…

Despite everything…

I guess the truth does that to a person.”

III

“I wanna rest! My butt hurts from sitting in the saddle all day!” Whined Sidney, as she stood up in the stirrups. 

 Jack turned to face her, “You know that we can't risk going to an inn. Not with Ashlum spreading like crazy. I don't wanna die from sickness, all because your bottom was sore.”

 “But I got bruises on my back from sleeping on twigs and rocks!”

 “Then don't sleep on twigs and rocks.” Smirked Sean, as he glanced over his shoulder and raised an eye-brow at the girl. 

 “Yeah, Sid. I’d thought that you knew that sticks and stones will break your bones.” Smiled Jack. 

 “Will? It's already happening to my poor back. It aches!” 

 “Then don't sleep on twigs and rocks!” Laughed Jack, as he playful poked Sidney’s back.

 “Oww! SEAN!” Shouted Sidney as she swatted at Jack, and missed. Startled, a flock of birds burst from the cover of a nearby tree. Sean whipped his head around and glared at the girl. But the withering glare did nothing to dishearten the girl’s complaint. “Jack wont keep his hands to himself! He knows my back hurts!”

 “You damn brats, are you trying to alert every Durain within the borders of Ebnight of our location?”

 “No, but Durain may be monsters but they’re nowhere near as scary as the Demora we slay.” Triumphantly smirked Sidney. 

 Sean sighed, “True but I don't wanna wake up in the middle of night to a feral monster trying to eat me… But then again at least I wont feel anything cause I’d be in a deep sleep, since I wouldn't be sleeping on twigs and rocks.”

Everyone laughed. Even Sidney who was trying not to act hurt. They rode on for several minutes in silence. 

 “Can’t we please set up camp and sleep before we go after it? I’m tired.” Complained Sidney, who was just trying to fill the dead quiet air with noise. Sean ignored her, as he took a swig of alcohol from his leather canteen. 

 “Do you have a death wish, Sid? We already told you that we won’t risk going to an inn.” 

 “Nooo… but are the chances of us getting sick? Plus I never mentioned going to an inn. I asked if we could set up camp.”

 Jack slowed his horse so that he was riding beside Sidney, “I know that you were hinting at going to an inn. Not only will we get sick, but most inns have bugs in their beds.”

 “How is getting bugs in our beds any different from sleeping outside?”

 “At least outside and under the stars, is free” 

“Ugh… no matter how much you save Jack, you know you’ll never have enough money to buy your freedom,” Sidney tapped her silver shackle, “Not like we can run away, they can track us with their magic. But if we go to an inn I’ll give a quick prayer for our protection.”

 “To gods that don't exist?” scoffed Jack, as he tried not to act insulted by Sidney’s comment on how greedy saving was useless. 

 “Well if you get stricken down sick we know why.”

 “Well, I won't cause we ain’t going to an inn.” 

 “Can y’all both drop it? Y'all's yapping is killing my ears.” Shouted Sean, as he spurred his horse to a faster trot.

 Sidney rolled her green eyes in response, while tucking a frizzy strand of her strawberry blonde hair behind her pointed ears. “Why can't we rest before? Or at least let me rest. Ain’t I gonna be the one, who has to bait the Démora to come to the trap? I’m the one who has to do the ‘running for her life’.” 

 “Oh, you’re the Damsel. Oh boo hoo. Poor you. This is what you signed up for. Man up. Quit acting like one of those prim perfect Elves.” Snapped Jack.

 “Elf!” Shouted Sidney in astonishment. “Elf?!” With dramatic extravaganza, she placed her hand over her heart and gasped. “Do you really think any High Elf would have the courage to endure even four hours on mule back, accompanied by two stinky, gruff, gross men? I’m half Wood-Elf and even I find this a difficult task! Clara can barely stand the sight, while only managing to conjure the ability to talk to us, much less join us.” Jack stiffened at the mention of Clara’s name. Sidney saw the reaction and smirked. 

 “Awww, you like Clāra! She is very pretty. It would be a cute couple, only if she wasn’t disgusted by your presence.” Jack whipped around in his saddle and glared. Sidney burst out laughing. 

 “First off I do not like Clāra. Nope. Not at all. What is it you say in Limpethain? Nava? Yeah, Nava. I nava like Clāra” While saying ‘nava’ he profoundly tapped his chest. “Second of all quit making it sound like she only hates us. She hates any human, who so much as breathes in the same room as her.” 

 “Clara also hates Wood-Elves.” Grumbled Sean. 

 “Yes, yes I know. I am part Wood-Elf, the impure insulting race of Elven kind. What makes matters worse is that I am also human. Completely infecting whatever tiny purity may be in my Elven blood.” Laughed Sidney as she rolled her eyes. “Jack, you like Clara.”

 “I do NOT!” 

 “Speaking of Clāra” Interrupted Sean, as he wiped away the mess of his drink from his chin. “I want to make sure y'all know the prodigal.” Jack and Sidney both groaned. “If anything goes awry, y’all have to go report to our informant, who happens to be Clara. Oh, and a side note. Jack, good luck with your crush.” Sean looked forward, his eyes on the trail, though his voice was hinting at a smirk and soft laugh. 

 Jack’s jaw dropped and closed. His hands flew up as he made an exasperated sound. Sidney’s laughter rang out louder. Jack glared at Sidney.

 “Shut it, Limpaythain” Growled Jack, shouting her nationality as though it was an insult. Sidney laughed and started making kissing noises. Jack sighed and pulled his woolen hood over his head. 

 Sean glanced back at Jack and Sidney. The dappled light highlighting their features. Their voices ringing out over the hum of the forest, in joyful amplitude. The laughter was a welcome submergence of ignorant happiness. It blocked the pains which throbbed from the fatal wound, dealt by the truth. It was crusted over, pussing with grit and dirt. Though crusted over it was still bleeding and only needed the slightest pressure to gusher forth. A wound never fresh, but never scarred. One that lay twitching and festering beneath the skin and in the heart. The rare soul-crushing truth. Something that they all bore.  

 Sean glanced back at Jack as he took a swig of his drink. Jack had a lanky face if a face could be lanky: He had a dumbed-down look, half-closed hazel eyes, a good chin, and sharp brows. A messy cap of curly brown hair tickled his ears and the nape of his neck. His face refused to completely tan and instead was splattered by freckles, which covered his acne scars. His mouth was always slightly agape, mouthbreather, with a slight overbite. The sunlight highlighted the silver bracelet on his right wrist. They all had one. They all wore shackles. It could have any of them immobilized at any whim of Clara’s. 

 Rift Hunting was among the most dangerous jobs. Something no one wanted to do. And they were paid nothing for their troubles. So, the Elves bought prisoners and trained them. Put them in magical shackles so they couldn’t rebel. Sidney had one. He had one. Jack had one. And all they had were each other.

Sean knew the truth. That Jack was fed up with Clara’s insults. That he hated her. Instead of paying his time in jail and then going free, Jack had been bought and placed into slavery. Given the chance, Jack Daymon would kill Clara.

 ~

Sean pulled his horse to a stop and dismounted. The movement was wobbly. Evidence of his addiction. He held out the Elsh Runestone, in one hand and a compass in the other. The silver marking inscribed in the round stone, glowed a fierce pulsing silver, when held due North.  

 “The Démora is this way. Dismount. Unpack the stuff. Let’s go. Once we reach the edge of the interval, we take an hour nap.” They complied. Jack pulled the bundle of sharpened wooden spikes free from their strappings to the horse’s flank and saddle. Sean carried Jack’s crossbow, strapped across his chest, while his was strapped to his back. Sydney carried a backpack full of lightweight supplies and held the spear and three shovels. Each person had a short sword strapped to their side.

 After tying up the horses, they left. Following Sean through the underbrush and moonlit trails. 

 Sidney looked up through the sparse canopy, and up at Maysbrin and Dreffan, Sevvet’s two moons. Maysbrin was a bright silver one that was larger and further along in the sky, so close sometimes that she was afraid that it might come crashing down. Dreffan had a pale orange glow, it seemed a little more cheerful about its existence, and not as aggressive. 

 After an hour of walking, Sean stopped. 

 “We can rest here for tonight.” Announced their mentor. Jack sighed and shrugged off his bag. Sidney set happily down her stuff, then flopped down onto the grass and gnarled tree roots and in a few minutes was snoring. Jack, however, once Sidney was asleep, walked over to Sean. 

 “I didn’t want to say this in front of Sidney, but are you sure we should do this?” Hissed Jack, his voice barely above a whisper. 

 “I don’t see any other Demora hunters in the area.”

 “We’ve never encountered a Demora this big. Hell, it might not be that large, but two or three smaller ones. We don't have the supplies or manpower to deal with that many. This is putting us all in jeopardy.”

 “Part of the job, Daymon.” Jack stiffened. He hated it when his last name was used. I made him feel small, smaller than he already felt. Like he was a helpless naive child. 

 “I know but shouldn’t we wait to see if there's anyone else who can help?”

 “You mean wait for this Demora to slaughter towns and innocent people?”

 “Are you really gonna put Sidney up to this?”

 “She signed up for this.”

 “NO, her parents signed her up to this. They sold her to the Elves, and she got placed with us, cause of what happened to Xaiden.” Sean’s expression darkened. Xaiden was his apprentice, who died right before Jack was placed into his care. Xaiden had been eaten by a Demora. Sean pressed the dark memories away with a swig of his drink. 

 “We’re doing this, Jack. It’s our job. Now, are you gonna rest or waist this time?”

 “Fine, if something happens to her. To us. Let it rest with your conscience, that it’s your fault.” Jack turned and laid down. He glared up at the sky and sent a prayer to the dead gods.  

~

To Jack’s surprise, Sean had let them sleep to sunrise. Sidney was already up, bouncing about, in merry excitement as she passed pieces of dried meat to Sean. Seeing Jack awake, she flashed her crooked teeth in a wide smile, and bounded over to Jack. The prep in her step and her aloof manner was contagious. It scared away grim thoughts and brought blessed peace and merriment to the group. 

 “Here’s your breakfast, lover boy.” Jack shook his head, trying to shake away his reluctant smile, which was something near impossible. Sean laughed. After breakfast and cleanup, they headed out again. 

~

Intervals were dangerous. This one looked deadly. 

 Intervals were the surrounding area that was affected by the opening of a Rift. Rifts were the slicing between time and space, creating a portal between different realms. No one knows what lies in the realm of the Nameless, that is why they have no name. But it said that it is a vast empty world, where the only life is the Nameless themselves. A world of hunter, be hunted. That is why they come to Sevvet, a world full of prosperity and food, to fill their never-dying hunger. How they open their Rift is unknown, but thanks to Elven runes, Demora hunters could close them. In Intervals, time and physics don't work properly, affected by the power and dust flowing in from the Demora’s Rift. 

 Larger the Nameless, larger the Rift. Larger the Rift, larger the Interval. 

 An eerie green haze rose from the grass; stretching out to either side, like a great wall and disappearing into the trees, only to dully claw up, from the tangled tree limbs and then arch for the sky; creating a widespread dome. The dome flickered and surged with green light, off casting the blue sky. 

 Only humans could enter the Rifts, made by the Nameless. They were the only creatures upon Sevvet unaffected by its magic. Simply because they’re species were born from it. 

 Sidney slowly bounded toward the edge of the Interval. She gently set down the shovels and spears that she had been cradled in her arms. Her face having taken up a sickly shade. 

 “I’ve never seen one this big, before.” Happily, stated Sidney, as she enthusiastically motioned toward the Interval, despite her obvious discomfort. “Do you think it’ll have big fangs or horns? Maybe both. Each one is different.”

 “Don’t know, kid.” Gruffly answered Sean, as his eyes studied the area. Occasionally he scratched his beard, a force of habit. 

 “What do you think, big bro?” Piped Sidney. She was determined to see Jack as an older brother. Since Ravi, Sidney’s older half-brother, who was the man of her family's household, had failed her. He had left her to her greedy weak-willed parents. They sold her, despite the fact that they were well off. Their explanation? She was ‘a half-elf, a half child, too noisy, talked too much. A handful.’ Though Jack was inwardly touched by Sidney’s compliment of sorts. It mostly angered him. Other Demora hunters his age, chastise him for it. Being apprenticed to Sean Gawnd, one of the most well-known Demora hunters meant that they were eager to bring him down with whatever insult they could come up with. 

 “Don’t call me that!” Snapped Jack. The last insult, particularly harsh, still stung his flesh. “I’m not your brother.” Sidney just smiled brighter. 

 “We’re part of the Demora Hunter Family! You're my big brother. Me, your sister. Sean the grumpy uncle.” Cheered Sidney as she reached for the sky, a smile painted on her lips. Sean was too busy studying the area to lay any thought into Sidney’s exclamation. Jack glared at her. 

 “Are you sure you're thirteen? You’re being immature.” 

 “Maybe you're too mature.” Shot back, Sidney. 

 “I’m not having this conversation with you.” Sidney stuck out her tongue. Jack pulled his hood up, ignoring all other comments from her. 

 “Let’s go.” Announced Sean.