While Vin crept from the trees, the trio of Ravenours reached their fish trap. 

A tall, lean man worked his broad shoulders and large hands to lug it onto land. Even while his neat attire was splashed by the thrashing fish, his demeanor was fair, too smooth not to be intentional.

Behind him wandered another Ravenour—shorter, restless, kicking rocks like they'd offended him. 

His scales and hair were a light pastel pink, and his uniform looked like he'd slept in it. They also looked like they never touched a comb in their life.

The tall Ravenour, whose slim fingers, slick hair, and casual vibe gave Vin the impression he played music—smooth jazz if any genre—groaned at their wandering companion, irritated. 

Their bickering was cut short when the third companion stiffened.

She'd seen Vin.

Her expression sharpened instantly.

The tall man reacted before she even spoke, stepping forward with a drawn blade. 

The more youthful pink-haired one scrambled over, steel already shaking in his grip.

Vin lifted one hand, palm exposed. No aggression.

Didn't matter.

They advanced anyway—controlled, but lethal.

The woman's presence eclipsed the others.

Terracotta-toned skin.

Ruby eyes that held no softness.

Vin couldn't help but admire the contrast between her intensity and the dusk-washed forest around them.

Hostility tightened all three faces as they strode toward him.

So much for first impressions.

Vin braced, voice steady. "I don't want trouble."

Something shifted.

The woman squinted.

The tall man leaned forward slightly, as if language made more sense with his neck extended.

Vin slowly touched his chest, "Need help."

The young woman observed Vin for a long time.

Her gold-trimmed attire suggested authority—and the way the other two waited for her reaction confirmed it.

Then Vin noticed details that set her apart.

No scales on her visible skin, unlike the other two.

One wing missing.

One horn longer than the other.

While the others' ears were replaced by blocky scales, hers were long and proud.

She said something to the tall, slick-haired man, motioning lightly toward her own ear. 

Vin could hear them, but their words were unknown; he was only sure he heard her mention the word "human."

The man with slim fingers stole another guarded look at Vin's rounded ears, and soon their blades lowered.

Vin didn't know the full reason.

But clearly, whoever their enemies were, he wasn't one of them.

As they murmured back and forth, the pink-haired Ravenour zone-out-nodded through the entire exchange, pushing hair out of his eyes like it was an ongoing battle.

Eventually, they reached a decision. 

Jazz hands kept close to the one-winged woman, never leaving her side. 

However, the fidgety Ravenour went to collect the fishing net, and when done, they all cautiously approached Vin.

The guards took position behind Vin—too close for comfort—while the woman stopped right in front of him.

Vin turned slightly to glance back at the two men—

A firm hand snapped around his jaw, forcing him to face forward.

His muscles tightened.

Instinct told him to break the hold, but that misshapen dragon woman wouldn't let him look anywhere but at her.

He grabbed her wrist, locking eyes with her.

She leaned close.

Close enough that he felt her breath and smelled the subtly sweet fragrance of pears.

He even sensed a vague glow at the center of her chest—her soul, maybe.

Fiery, yet streaked with something dimmer… something tired.

Either he was imagining it, or dying had rewired his perception of the world.

She was aggressive, but wasn't searching for a fight.

She just latched unyielding ruby eyes onto him as if dissecting his very existence.

Vin's glare didn't break.

Not just because he was irritated—it was a statement to the new planet that he wasn't prey anymore.

After a long moment, she released him and then motioned with her head as if saying, "This way."

A shove landed on his shoulders from behind, pushing him onward.

Vin shook them off and followed her lead.

Night fell like a curtain dropping.

Shadows thickened.

Colors drained to muted purples and blues.

What was a thriving forest with plenty of wildlife and sounds became vacant—eerily still.

Mist crept up the ground, brushing Vin's ankles. A dull tremor rippled below the soil—soft, wrong, like something stirring underneath.

The one-winged woman picked up her pace. Her usual composure fractured as she glanced around sharply.

If she was scared…

Vin didn't want to know why.

A sharp, deep, bone-chilling SNAP exploded behind them—and the forest erupted with movement.

Something was coming.

Something huge.