Information
Acedia the Maldow
Jayded
The
Glacier YaherraOwner:
AlkunaAge: 8 years, 3 months, 2 weeks
Born: December 1st, 2017
Adopted: 10 months, 3 weeks, 1 day ago
Adopted: April 25th, 2025
Statistics
- Level: 140
- Strength: 352
- Defense: 352
- Speed: 353
- Health: 352
- HP: 352/352
- Intelligence: 313
- Books Read: 311
- Food Eaten: 0
- Job: Certified Mad Scientist
Lori Khata stared at the requisition form; another tedious order to transcribe into the computer. Things hadn’t always been this tiresome; a few years back, the Hunters only had to put in one order each month. Now, this chore seemed to land on her desk almost daily, with bigger orders needing to be made every couple of days. The endless lists of weapons and supplies began to blur on the page, each item more ridiculous than the last.
The coffee needed to be strong enough to bring Lazarus back from the dead. Any metal used had to be copper, iron, or silver, almost right down to the paperclips. The silver had to be of 925 Sterling quality or higher. Although no one on the team was Jewish, the salt had to be kosher due to something about its makeup being more effective. The holy water had to be specifically blessed by the head priest of the town's church, witnessed, tested, and confirmed by Lori's coworker, Francine. They needed wood; oak, ash, hawthorn, aspen, willow, or yew; but it was almost impossible to get it without the cost being prohibitively expensive. They had managed to get enough oak to carve a single dagger, and it had obliterated an entire month's budget.
Lori wanted to throw the paperwork in the air and bury her hands in her hair in frustration. All the nitpicky bureaucratic details grated on her nerves every time she had to fill out the little boxes while preparing an order. The fluorescent lights in the supply room were making an annoying, constant drone, setting her teeth on edge worse than actual insects. It was deep enough into summer that the supply room felt just short of stifling, and the air conditioner's valiant struggles resulted in some rooms being ovens, while others were refrigerators. This meant restricted airflow, leaky ductwork, or poor system balancing. Yet another thing on a never-ending list.
The red tape she faced while attempting to place an order was far from what she had envisioned when she first joined Bravo Team. For nearly a decade, their primary focus had been combat training and battling monsters, not dealing with paperwork. Now she found herself constantly arguing with vendors about delivery schedules and the quality of their supplies. Receiving a subpar order meant having to return it, and waiting for a replacement shipment put everyone's lives at risk as their supplies dwindled.
With an exasperated sigh and a shake of her head, she shot another glare at the requisition form.
White Sage Smudge Sticks - 4 inches long. Quantity: 10
Holy Water, blessed by a senior priest. Quantity: 2 gallons
Silver-plated stakes, with an iron core. Quantity: 10
Crossbow bolts, silver-tipped. Quantity: three packs of 48
Kosher Salt - 26 oz container. Quantity: 3
Salt slugs for a shotgun - 25 cartridge box. Quantity: 10
Pumpkin Spice Mix: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and ground cloves to be hand mixed at Headquarters. Quantity: 16 oz bottles of each
Custom order for a silver net - 925 quality or higher, 10 feet x 65 feet. Quantity: 1
Lori's mind drifted, maybe a bit too eager to focus on anything other than the check boxes and neat lines of the order form on the glowing screen in front of her. How did they manage to use up so many smudge sticks in just one week, along with two gallons of holy water and multiple boxes of salt shotgun slugs? And more pumpkin spice? How much of it were they going through?
While some people simply grumbled about the abundance of pumpkin spice in everything, the Hunters were required to keep packets of the sacred mixture on hand at all times. For some reason, the spices proved highly effective in warding off evil entities. Initially, the Power of Pumpkin Spice had been an almost embarrassing addition to their arsenal. It was only after a creature had been hit with the stuff and began screeching, coughing, and backing away that Lori began to keep a few packets of it in her jacket pockets at all times. If pumpkin spice and Vale monsters were comparable to garlic and vampires, who was she to criticize?
Lori's eyes drifted to the framed picture on her desk, her wandering mind finding yet another thing to focus on. It showed the Hunters' Bravo Team, everyone grinning and full of pride. That snapshot flooded her with memories of the excitement that once ignited her days and the strong bond that fueled her enthusiasm, making her eager to tackle any challenge that came her way.
The team had endured countless dangers: from spectral creeps, to haunting entities, to soul-snatching horrors. But now, their days were consumed by little more than cleanup duty. Every other day for the last two weeks, they heard another warning siren announcing another casualty, adding to the sorrow of those living the Hunter life.
Her job used to involve wearing silver-infused armor and wielding blessed guns loaded with silver rounds to prevent attacks and protect people. Now, she found herself wearing rubber gloves and armed only with a squeegee. The sound of a rubber-gloved hand sliding into a plastic bag to deposit an unidentifiable piece of human flesh filled her ears with a wet squelch that she could now hear in her dreams. She no longer saw the bodies as once-living individuals; they were just bothersome pieces of meat, like roadkill left out in the open. She understood that her mind was shielding her from the horror of this near-daily nightmare. Still, the creeping apathy was slowly seeping into other parts of her life as well.
Lori felt her sense of purpose slipping through her fingers. The work no longer felt meaningful, and she struggled to find motivation. These days, she was spending less time working and more time dreading the siren or doing dull, repetitive training. Worst of all, she often found herself plugging away at a keyboard and arguing on the phone with some petulant shipping manager.
She let out a deep sigh, a sound that carried the weight of a thousand grievances. As she leaned back in her office chair, which creaked in response, she covered her eyes with her hands, wishing to block out the harsh truth of her situation.
The computer's hum and the occasional ding of incoming emails were the only sounds breaking the incessant buzz of the lights above. The supplier database was impressive. With just a few clicks, she could compare suppliers, supplies, prices, and quality. Finding the items she needed was as simple as ticking a few checkboxes and then sorting them by price with one more click. She could put her order together in minutes, hit submit, and be finished. But today? Today, she couldn't find a reason to give a damn.
Lori’s fingers hesitated over the keyboard for a moment, almost as if they had a mind of their own. She wasn't exactly eager to type up the same old order for the usual supplies, but she had already lost nearly an hour griping to herself about having to do this very thing. And, heaven help her, it wasn't going to go away until she buckled down and got it done. Finally, with a resigned sigh, she began typing, her gaze growing distant as she selected the cheapest options for everything on her list. After clicking 'submit,' she printed the order, tossed it into the Orders Submitted box, and logged out of the system. She had gone through the motions with the enthusiasm of a zombie. Still, it was done, and the team would manage just fine for another week. The only task left was the dreaded job of checking the Creature Catalogs.
Richard, the leader of Bravo Team, asked Lori to review some older Creature Catalogs. It seemed that a few monsters were nearing a century since their last defeat, and they would return to the forest once that milestone was reached. With a grunt, Lori dragged herself out of her chair and headed to the library to begin her investigation.
The shelves of the Headquarters Library were filled with a wealth of knowledge, like a treasure trove waiting to be explored. Dusty tomes chronicled every creature the hunters had encountered over the years, their pages tinged with a golden hue from age. The manuals, bound in ancient leather, emitted a subtle scent of aged incense, adding to their aura of antiquity. Inside each book, she knew she would find carefully penned notes and the hard-earned insights passed down through countless generations of Hunters.
She hesitated again before finally picking up the first book. The cover featured a sinister-looking Nightmare Yaherra, its fierce snarl sending chills down her spine. Lori blew off the dust, watching the tiny motes dance in the stale air before settling to the floor. The creature looked like a typical feral pet, similar to the ones she saw during her early training days.
She found the detailed article about the monster a few pages in, but the words started to swim before her eyes, prompting her to quickly flip through the pages. The creature had initially appeared three hundred years ago, and Hunters had defeated it twice before. Now, its third return was looming, but unless the Yaherra was set to rise again this week, she didn’t see the need to overwhelm herself with all that information just yet. A quick check confirmed that the Yaherra wouldn’t be making a comeback for at least another month.
Lori's eyes started to feel heavy, and a jaw-cracking yawn escaped her mouth. She wasn't looking forward to spending a sweltering summer afternoon sifting through a pile of old, dusty books. If she kept going, she knew she would just end up dozing off. It was a monotonous task that seemed never-ending; as soon as she was done with one batch of books, there was always another one waiting for her.
The sunlight streamed through the small, dusty window, beckoning Lori to abandon her boring task and go outside for some fresh air. Her thoughts drifted to her inviting and comfortable couch. She found herself daydreaming about the glass of wine waiting for her and the familiar, predictable charm of a Hallmark movie playing in the background. To be honest, that was pretty much the best part of her day after slogging through hours of work.
Lori stared at the stack of books. Once full of fascinating information, they now seemed like just another chore she detested. She didn't care about the books anymore, their long lists of statistics, or even their kill counts. In fact, she didn't even care whether or not she cared.
Hmm, maybe she’d simply rewatch "The Unending Tale" instead. The melancholy Harvest Chelon in the Marsh of Depression unexpectedly crossed her mind for the first time in ages. Perhaps a bit of nostalgia was just what she needed right now. Maybe immersing herself in that old, beloved story could ignite something other than apathy within her, even if it was just a slight shift from the numbness she currently felt.
Lori flung the Creature Catalog back onto the stack and felt a wave of irritation wash over her as it skidded across the top and tumbled down the back. She winced at the sound of it hitting the floor with a dull thud, landing awkwardly between the research desk and the wall.
Resentfully, she pushed herself up from the chair and dropped to her hands and knees. The floor was a sticky disaster, coated with years of grime, shoe marks, spilled coffee, and just plain neglect. She could feel all sorts of grit under her palms, which promptly stuck to the floor. As she peeked under the desk, she caught sight of the dark, dusty corner and grimaced. Was she staring into the abyss, or should she call it the void and just start screaming? The feel of filth sticking to her palms from somehow still-tacky coffee spills certainly felt scream-worthy.
The book sat there, just out of easy reach, almost mocking her. The only way to retrieve it was to crawl through the sticky mess on the floor. Growling to herself, she edged further under the desk, propping herself as high above the nasty floor as the desk would allow her. As her hand moved to support her, she felt the floor wiggle. Glancing down in the dim light, she saw that one of the precisely cut stones in the floor was loose.
Damn. As if we needed this on top of everything else, she thought in disgust. It seemed like Three Brothers Construction wasn't as good at making floors as they advertised. Filing a request to fix the floor and dragging desks out of the way was almost a breaking point for Lori's mind.
Shifting her supporting hand to a more stable part of the floor, her hand brushed against something cold and slimy. Startled, she jerked back, banging her head on the desk above her and swearing profusely. For a split second, she was afraid it was some kind of creature, perhaps crawling out of the pages of the old, dusty tome.
Her thoughts drifted again, this time in horror and disgust. The last thing she wanted was a bug munching on the pages, leading to a fumigation nightmare and the unpleasant task of cleaning up insect corpses. Noticing that the strange blob didn't squirm or scurry away, she cautiously slid back under the desk to examine it properly. After a brief inspection, she realized it was just a stray piece of gum.
"Ew, seriously?" she muttered.
Her thoughts drifted once more as she wondered who could have thrown that disgusting thing down there. It was difficult for her to imagine anyone from Alpha Team or Bravo Team acting so immature and disgusting. She couldn't recall anyone from either team chewing gum in the first place. No one smoked because it was too risky for their lungs, especially for someone who needed to be able to break into a run at any moment. Gum was also considered a distraction. However, it felt too slimy, too... fresh to have come from previous generations of Hunters, who were now ten years gone. But then... who...
Glancing around a bit more, she felt a mix of disgust and dismay as she spotted several golf-ball-sized dust bunnies that had taken up residence. They were between her and the book, and she could feel her nose start to twitch.
Maybe she wasn’t ready to grab the book just yet. Pulling it out would stir things up and definitely lead to a sneezing fit. She would be left with a red, raw nose for the rest of the afternoon; not something she was looking forward to. Sitting in the sweltering heat and listening to the wheezing air conditioner was already unpleasant enough without adding allergies to the mix. It felt like a surefire way to turn the situation into something resembling one of the lesser levels of hell.
She suddenly felt a flash of warmth, which snapped her back to the present. She peeled her hand off the sticky floor and touched her talisman with a worried expression. Her head felt fuzzy, like she was in a fog. How long had she been stuck on all fours, hands in grime, staring blankly at a piece of chewed gum? How much time had she lost?
Lori nervously backed out from under the desk, not wanting to find herself in danger while trapped in the confined space beneath it. She left the book where it was, her eyes scanning the room in alarm. As she did, her talisman heated up again, causing her to grip it tightly. This time, it wasn't a quick flash but a sudden, sharp rise in temperature that persisted. As a Hunter, she knew that the talisman heating up could only mean one thing: she had been noticed by one of Vyces' monsters, and the talisman was having a hard time keeping her concealed. Despite her initial alarm, the room remained still and quiet, with no changes or shifting shadows like in the forest. After a few tense seconds, the talisman's warmth subsided.
She stole a glance at the clock, only to realize she had no idea what time she had first entered the library to begin her research. Naturally, that meant she had no way of knowing how much time had passed. This... was definitely not a good sign. She needed a break if her brain was taking little vacations without her.
Lori started gathering her things. "Screw it," she muttered under her breath. "I'm heading home early today. This is all just too much."
She was reaching for her purse when Francine, her friend and fellow Hunter, popped her head into the library and asked, "Hey, Lori. Are you taking a break?"
Lori barely paused, adjusting the strap of her bag as it settled on her shoulder. "Nah, I'm heading home," she said, exhaustion evident in her tone. "This heat is getting to me. I'm going to take a few hours for myself and leave a bit early."
Francine stepped into the room with a look of concern and understanding. “Hey, I get it, Lori; everyone deserves a break, and we probably need it more than anyone else. Goodness knows our job is depressing lately, and it’s only getting worse. But,” she gestured towards the stack of books on the desk, “Richard needs those books sorted through, and he wants it done sooner rather than later. We have no idea when the next Big Bad Evil Guy will show up, and the answer is in there. We can't afford to be caught with our pants down. Look, I know it’s a hassle, but it is important.”
Lori's jaw tightened. ‘Important.’ That word was thrown around like confetti at a toddler's birthday party. Everything was labeled as important, but to Lori, that just made it seem like nothing was.
"Look, I know it's important," she sighed, her frustration evident. "But I'm telling you, even if a monster shows up today or tomorrow, we can’t go after it until the new silver net arrives. It takes about a week or two to make, plus another week for shipping and delivery," she said. She reached up with her hand to rub her face, and thought better of it. Instead, she used her sleeves to rub the faint dusty feel off her skin to alleviate some of her stress. "And you know what? Even then, it'll probably be a piece of cake; just another shadow-whatsit or mini bugaboo. We’re not exactly dealing with the heavyweights anymore."
"That's what Richard is concerned about, though," Francine pointed out, "that a heavyweight might be coming back."
Lori made a face, feeling her body sag in exhaustion, "And I can get back to that later. Right now, I need a mental health day. Or three."
Francine gave a resigned shake of her head, "I don't think Richard will allow us three days off until we wrap up the books. But after that? Definitely!"
Lori let out a theatrical sigh and retorted, "Whatever. I’ll just take the afternoon off. What's the worst that could happen? It’s not like I’m going to lose my job over it."
Francine's expression turned grave. "There are worse things to lose, Lori," she said quietly.
"Even sinners don't get killed for just one sin," Lori said as she pushed past Francine and stormed down the hall, unable to tolerate the conversation any longer. "Besides, I already know I won't get anything done today, so why bother struggling?"
As she walked through the Hunters' headquarters, her footsteps echoed through the empty halls. The chipped paint and musty smell of the worn carpet runners brought back memories from when she first joined Bravo Team. Her pace gradually slowed as she once again found herself lost in her thoughts.
Back in the beginning, it felt more like an exciting journey of skill and knowledge, interspersed with days of adventure, very unlike the soul-crushing grind it had become. The walls were decorated with photographs of past and present Hunters, each wearing their gear with pride. A wave of grief hit her, prompting her to turn away before tears could spill. The role of a Hunter was highly respected, but it was also deadly. No one had ever survived long enough to retire; no one that is, until Marcus teamed up with the enchantress who provided the talismans.
With Marcus leading, Alpha and Bravo Teams were dedicated to tracking down every threat and eliminating it. They had successfully taken out most of the dangerous beasts, but some had proven to be impossible to slay.
Vyces and his platoon seemed to be invincible. The most advanced weapons only seemed to irritate them, and the strongest defenses barely slowed them down. Nevertheless, they adhered to a strict and well-established set of rules. To avoid their attention, people simply had to avoid accumulating too many sins. Marcus took it upon himself to investigate these sins, wrote detailed descriptions, and displayed them throughout the town.
Ultimately, Vyces and her team only dealt with those deeply entrenched in sin for a long time, or who had committed atrocious acts with widespread impact. By the time Vyces or her associates arrived, it was clear that the person had sealed their fate.
Lori was aware that the Hunters had probably killed something big and dangerous in the past. She was also certain that deep within the cursed forest, that entity might be starting to stir once more. However, the Hunters were in a position where they had to wait for their supplies to arrive before taking any action. Silver nets were so expensive that they could only commission one at a time if they wanted to afford anything else to combat the beasts that the Vale spat out.
Feeling completely drained, both physically and mentally, Lori snapped back to reality. She made her way to her car outside of Hunters HQ. Even though there were innocent lives on the line, Lori was so mentally burned out that she couldn't find it in herself to care.
.
The next day, the atmosphere felt heavy and damp in anticipation of the approaching storm. Ominous clouds began to gather outside, as Lori and Francine grabbed the stack of Creature Catalogs from the research desk. Lori paused, with a half-remembered thought lingering in the back of her mind. Her eyes swept over the research desk for anything she might have overlooked. Had she missed a book? It didn't seem that way; they had already taken every book in sight. Turning away, she lugged her armful of books to a more spacious desk, better suited for two people to work at. Once settled, they spread out their work on the expansive, scarred wooden surface that had been the site of many strategic conversations.
The grand library's soaring ceilings and stained glass windows cast a kaleidoscope of colors across the aged floorboards, creating a stark contrast to the utilitarian supply room. This elegant space also served as a museum, showcasing the Guild’s rich history with paintings of fierce monsters and displays of ancient weapons in glass cases. The air was filled with the rich aroma of old leather and years of dust, a true reflection of the wealth of knowledge found in the weathered tomes that filled the shelves.
"Okay," Lori sighed, with a hint of defeat in her voice, "let's just get this over with." She eyed the pile of books as if it were a mountain she had to climb.
The two friends spent several hours poring through various manuals. Some were reserved for review next year, while others indicated that their specific creatures would return in just a few months. Passing a calendar back and forth, the pair identified and marked the dates when certain monsters were expected to appear.
Lori was still reluctant to tackle the task at hand, but having Francine there to share the burden made it a bit more bearable. Francine wasn't just good at memorizing information; she was also sharp and able to pick out details that helped the two figure out which weapons would work best. Lori jotted down a new supply list, including the suggestions from Francine. Great. Fantastic. Just what she needed: more time glued to her keyboard. Frustrated, Lori considered crumpling up the new list and tossing it at someone’s head. She let out a sigh, muttering a few choice words under her breath as she massaged her temples to ease her growing headache.
Francine flipped through the pages of her manual and remarked, "I've never seen you like this, Lori. You're usually the first to dive headfirst into any lore we dig up."
Lori couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh as the floodgates to her frustration opened. "What's the point? Perhaps it's because I have yet another ridiculous supply requisition sheet to deal with? I just sent one yesterday, and now here I am, having to fill out another one today!"
She rolled her eyes. "Or maybe it's just another stack of dusty books, searching for the next monster that wants to kill us all? It would be nice to meet something friendly for a change!"
She threw her hands up, unable to mask the resentment in her tone. "Or, ooooh, for the big bucks, let's discuss the lives and souls taken by Vyces and her evil platoon? We all know that the next penny is going to drop sooner rather than later. I'm just..." Lori's voice broke, and she took a shaky breath. Then, with pure, helpless despair, she said, "I'm just so damn tired of knowing that our next call is going to be because we failed and someone else paid the price."
Francine closed her book and turned her full attention to Lori. Her face softened with compassion as she said, "I understand. The forest has never claimed its victims so quickly, and it's heartbreaking to know that a civilian is taken every couple of days. Richard and Marcus are shaken up about it; they're terrified that something extremely dangerous is coming our way. That's why we're going through the books; if something is coming, we'll find it in there, and we'll be prepared to face it."
Francine grimaced, inhaled deeply, and lightly brushed her fingers against the talisman hanging around her neck for reassurance. "In the meantime, we’ve got to keep it together. The pattern is clear: for every sin on Vyces' list, there has been a corresponding death, leaving just two unaccounted for."
It was as if her words changed the atmosphere in the room; both women felt a sudden rise in tension in the air around them. Lori and Francine looked around warily, but their talismans remained cool, reassuring them that no monsters were lurking nearby. Glancing outside, Lori saw the storm had fully rolled in, darkening the sky. A tingling sensation ran across her skin, and she caught a whiff of ozone just before the outside world erupted in a blinding flash and a thunderous roar that rattled the entire building.
"Thanks for the timely input, ominous thunder," Francine muttered.
Lori snickered and shook her head wryly, grateful that the tension had only been caused by ordinary weather.
As the roar of thunder subsided to a low growl, the heavens opened up. Heavy rain began hammering against the stained glass windows, causing them to rattle slightly. Lori made a face, dreading the journey home in the downpour. Still, the storm offered a refreshing break from the oppressive heat.
"Just two sins left," Lori echoed, her gaze growing thoughtful as she returned to their discussion. "Which ones are they again?"
“Bernd is responsible for overseeing the sin of Envy, but at the moment, I’m more worried about Jayded, who is in charge of Sloth,” Francine said, pausing briefly as thunder boomed once more.
She opened her manual again, her expression turning serious. "Look, Lori, I understand that all these losses are taking a toll on you. They’re affecting all of us, really. We can’t rescue everyone in this town, but I’m not going to let you struggle alone. That’s why I’m here: to support you." She tapped the book she was paging through, continuing, "According to this manual, Jayded can project a feeling of apathy and uses it like a weapon."
Lori perked up, her curiosity piqued, "You found her book?" But as she leaned in closer, she immediately wished she hadn't.
The drawing of the monster within was something that should have remained confined to nightmares.
Jayded was a Glacier Yaherra, pale as death and frosted in places with ice. Her scales looked as though they had been carved straight from an iceberg. Jayded's eyes were closed in the drawing, but the eye spots on her tail seemed to be real eyes, not just markings. Though merely a drawing on the page, they bore an intense, piercing gaze that sent a cold shiver down Lori's spine.
She dragged her eyes away from the picture, her voice trembling slightly. "She's gotta be the biggest one of them all, right? The one that makes us seem like we're just playing with twigs?"
Francine looked up at Lori, fear etched across her face. “No, Lori. She's a member of Vyces' platoon. That means she's too powerful to be killed. But honestly, she’s not even the worst of the bunch. That honor goes to someone else, and I’ll spill the details when we find his book.”
She paused, taking a deep breath. “In Jayded's case, her power is what sets her apart as one of the elites. She makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to redeem themselves. She can twist a person's thoughts against themselves, even trapping them in Sloth and apathy against their wills.”
Lori's eyes snapped back to the book. “So her attacks are psychic,” she murmured, thoughtfully tapping the page. “She can make us doubt ourselves, become sloppy and careless, huh?”
"All that and more," Francine said grimly, her fingers tracing over the information in the book as she half-read, half-explained. "She chooses her victims carefully, often targeting those who are already showing signs of mental exhaustion. She makes them lose time, makes them space out, and focus on internal thoughts instead of the world around them. Once they can no longer resist, she envelops them in a cloak of apathy, leaving them barely aware. When they’re too exhausted to resist and can’t focus on what’s going on, she delivers the final blow: taking their very soul."
Lori nodded, unsurprised. Every cadaver they had dealt with over the past two weeks had fallen prey to one of Vyces' soul stealers. It was a fate she wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy, let alone herself. The thought of being torn from her body and denied whatever afterlife might be out there... it sounded like a nightmare even more terrifying than hell itself.
"I know she's targeting you," Francine said, her face contorted with pain. "We can't lose you, Lori."
Belatedly, she remembered that Francine herself was psychic. Francine understood, perhaps better than anyone else, the fate of every person after a rampage.
Lori let out a deep sigh, her sarcasm fading away. “What am I supposed to do? I know there's going to be another death. Even if I get away, it will be somebody else. How can I possibly unwind with that hanging over my head?”
Francine flashed a small smile and said, "Just snuggle up in something cozy and soft. Spend the whole day in bed, binge-watch silly movies, and indulge in some junk food. Do whatever you need to do," she finished, taking a moment to look closely at Lori's expression. "Just promise me one thing... don’t let Jayded get the upper hand, alright? She's capable of making you sit there and take it. Fight her with everything you've got."
After taking a deep breath, Hunter Khata gave a determined nod. "I don't plan to let her take me without a fight. I’m hoping that a therapy session and some downtime will help me recharge," she said as she flipped open the next book, searching for the next resurrection date.
.
After checking the calendar, Richard gave her a full four days off. Luckily, the therapist was able to squeeze her in on the first day, which was great. Lori felt she was making progress, and both she and the therapist agreed that she needed this time to decompress.
However, her first day off was turning out to be even more draining than a shift at the supply depot. She decided to visit the local café, thinking that the aroma of fresh coffee and lively chatter might brighten her mood. It was 10 a.m., and the sun was shining brightly enough to chase away some of the gloom.
However, when she walked in, every face she saw looked exhausted and defeated. The typical buzz of the townspeople was now overshadowed by hushed tones filled with fear and doubt. It dawned on her that the Hunters weren't the only ones drowning in grief and the ever-present danger; the whole town seemed to be struggling under the oppressive shadow of the Vale.
The recent surge of deaths had everyone on edge. It seemed that Jayded's influence was already seeping into their lives. A sense of impending doom loomed over the town, but no one could pinpoint what it was or how to prevent it.
Lori felt the weight of the townspeople's fearful and anxious gazes pressing down on her. She knew the Hunters were responsible for handling the situation, but this only made her skin crawl. It did nothing to ease her growing tension. Lori finished her coffee, taking the last sip before nervously tossing the empty cup into the garbage.
Vyces and her creatures were indeed formidable, but their nature was that of ambush predators. They would lurk in the shadows, biding their time until the sin grew so strong that it summoned them to feast. It wasn't common for people to sin on such a massive scale. Lori returned home, feeling her stress building. Her much-needed vacation had not gotten off to a promising start.
.
On the second day, she decided to lace up her running shoes. Barely a mile in, a strange pressure began building in her head. It felt as if the air had grown thick with invisible hands, pressing down on her mind so heavily that she could barely breathe. Her thoughts turned into a hazy blur, and before she knew it, she was sitting on the pavement, staring at the gravel without remembering how she had gotten there. Getting back on her feet and making her way home took a lot of effort. It wasn't until her talisman started to cool down during the walk that she noticed it had been warm all along.
Lori's hands trembled as she dialed HQ, and her cell phone connected right away. The phone was answered on the second ring, and Marcus's voice came through, "Lori, this is Marcus. Aren't you supposed to be on vacation?"
"It's Jayded," she told him, her voice trembling. "She's got me in her sights. She just tried to coerce me into Sloth right in the middle of the sidewalk." The admission stung; it was difficult to admit she was scared and powerless, especially since it clashed with the strong image she had always tried to maintain.
Marcus dropped the first f-bomb she had ever heard from him, then took a sharp breath and cleared his throat. “Alright, listen up. Get home, get behind your wards, and put on your work coat. We’re going to come by and refresh everything. I'll rejoin the team after I grab some new talismans for your jacket. We’re going to gear you up as much as we can.”
Crossing the salt barrier at the edge of her property felt like a soothing balm, calming her mind. The beings from the Vale of Hungry Shadows were unable to cross that threshold. Well, most of them, anyway. As she walked into her house, she could feel the protective wards wrapping around her, bringing an even greater sense of peace to her racing thoughts.
She headed straight to her closet, snagged her work jacket, and threw it on. This was supposed to be her vacation, and not wearing the jacket had felt like a tiny break from all the responsibilities. But it seemed that even on vacation, she couldn’t fully relax.
The jacket felt like an extension of her, almost a second skin; familiar and comforting. Silver wire was threaded through the supple leather, with talismans secured all over that clattered softly with every step. Each talisman bore protective runes, making her invisible to all creatures from the Vale; unless she sinned, of course.
A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door, and in walked both Alpha and Bravo Teams. From that point on, it was a whirlwind of action as the teams swept through Lori's home, cleansing, blessing, and refreshing every protective charm they could find. Francine and Monique pinned Lori between them, swiftly stripping off old talismans and replacing them with fresh ones. Meanwhile, Leanne was busy moving through the house, smudging the air with a wand made of white sage. Outside, Marcus and Kyle were busy casting protective wards on all the windows and doors. At the same time, Monique reinforced the salt circle around the property, murmuring protective charms as she went. Over by the supplies, Cassandra was double-checking everything to make sure Lori was ready for whatever came next.
As Francine finished securing the final talisman, Richard stepped forward and presented Lori with a newly enchanted silver dagger. The blade radiated energy, almost urging her to wield it. Lori accepted it, sheathed the blade at her hip, and made her way to the kitchen. With the entire guild gathered, spaghetti would be the meal of the day to feed the men and women who had come to her aid.
.
On the third day, she decided to escape into a book - a romance featuring a charming hero and a feisty heroine.
Unfortunately, not even that could keep the shadows at bay. Every time she turned a page, she would notice something slinking toward her in her peripheral vision. She would spin around, heart pounding, only to discover that the room was empty.
This shouldn't be possible! Her wards were intact, and the creeping shadows were supposed to stay in the forest! But something small seemed to slither past the doorway, down the hall toward her bedroom. When she snapped her head toward it, she could see that the hallway was empty.
Suddenly, the awful pressure crept back in, pushing her down and making her feel detached from reality. She could feel the heat rising from her talismans, and fear bubbled up, prompting her to curse under her breath. She tried to ignore the growing pressure in her mind, urging her to give up and let apathy consume her.
She rushed from room to room, clearing each one and ensuring that every door and window leading outside was closed and locked. There was no sign that anything had gotten in, and the lingering scents of incense and sage proved that low-level monsters wouldn't be able to tolerate the place.
Lori had an eerie feeling that something was in her home, following her from room to room. Every time she looked back, there was nothing there. As she patrolled her home, she swore she could hear Jayded's hooves on the sidewalk outside. It was as if she were being stalked inside and outside at the same time.
She grabbed her gun and her knife, peering outside, only to find the streets empty. As she watched, the wind picked up, scattering leaves and trash. The blue sky darkened, taking on a red tinge, enveloping her in a false twilight. Suddenly, the warning siren blared to life, and the lights embedded in the sidewalks and street signs began to flash in the familiar warning pattern.
Fear faded away as she focused on the task at hand. Jayded was here, and the town's warning system had detected him! Her fear quickly transformed into a rush of adrenaline and the familiar bravery she always summoned when it was time to fight. She was Lori Khata, a seasoned Hunter and proud member of Bravo Team. Giving up was just not her style; instead, she always fought!
She opened her door, fists clenched at her sides, and hurled the words into the empty street, “Show yourself, you cowardly piece of shit!” Her voice echoed off the buildings, competing with the wail of the siren. The shadows quivered at her outburst, but the unseen pressure held firm. “You have rules to follow, you damned abomination!”
She scanned the area, convinced that the beast would ignore her challenge. Then, a chilling chuckle reached her ears, though she couldn't see the source. The voice seemed to come from a distance, and yet also directly into her ears, cutting through the cacophony of the alarm as if it weren't even there. The terrible, skin-crawling sound made the hair on her neck stand on end.
“The forest's magic has been decaying for three centuries now, along with the rules that once bound us,” Jayded's voice sounded silky smooth to Lori. “In short, the rules have changed.”
Her talismans were already feeling uncomfortably warm, but now they were getting hot - almost too painful to wear. She caught that slightly metallic, ozone scent in the air, warning her that if things escalated even a little more, they would burn out. Unfortunately, scorching the leather of her coat wouldn't be the worst thing that would happen as a result of losing all of her protective magic. Meanwhile, the atmosphere around her turned colder, and an unpleasant smell of decay started to creep in. She fished her phone out of her pocket, resisting the mounting pressure in her mind, and tapped the emergency number for Headquarters.
The phone rang once before she heard the leader of Alpha Team pick up. "Lori, this is Marcus. What's your status?"
Her voice trembled, "I'm... I'm home. Jayded is here, in broad daylight. She's attacking my mind directly."
Lori could hear Marcus take a deep breath before he spoke, his voice calming her nerves. "Okay, pay attention to me. Stay focused, alright?" He pulled the phone away and bellowed, "Gear up! Code Red!" The sound of quick footsteps echoed in the background as the team sprang into action. He brought the phone back, his voice calm and steady once again. "Lori, close and lock every door and window. Light a sage stick and keep it with you. Get every damned weapon and tool you have and be prepared to use them. Understood? We’re on our way."
Lori nodded, though he couldn't see it. "Understood, sir," she said, her voice steadier now. She paused, then said, "Marcus, Jayded spoke to me. She says the rules have been decaying this whole time, and that they've changed."
Lori straightened her spine, ignoring the harsh, mocking laughter that echoed all around her. The wind grew colder, and the smell of something rotten became more intense. She slammed her front door shut and gathered up everything she could get to defend herself.
Marcus was silent for a moment, then he said, "Thank you, Lori. We'll try to figure out the new rules... after we get to you."
Then, he began chatting away, his voice acting as a lifeline that kept her anchored in the real world. He recounted his latest hunt: a minor monster that had been terrorizing local farms. It was a simple tale, but honestly, it offered a much-needed diversion from the dark presence that lingered just beyond her property's boundaries.
With each weapon and protective resource she gathered, the tension in her mind decreased, and the urge to give in faded away. The talismans on her jacket were cooling down slightly, but she could still feel a hint of warmth radiating from them. She wasn't safe, not yet.
Lori, a seasoned Hunter, never went anywhere without protection. She always carried items that could take down the usual spooks lurking in the woods. Sure, they wouldn't do much against Jayded, but they might buy her some time if he decided to strike.
As Marcus' soothing voice droned on in the background, she collected various protective items: She grabbed some pumpkin spice packets, lit a smudge stick that began to smoke, filling the space with a cleansing aroma, and started pouring salt from a canister along the window sills and the entrance of her bedroom. While most creatures couldn't pass through a salt barrier, she knew it wouldn't hold Jayded back for long. Still, she hoped it would give her the precious edge she needed.
Gripping the silver dagger that Richard had given her, Lori's heart raced as she mentally prepared for the impending battle. Her gun was a familiar weight at her hip. This was the moment she had been waiting for. Lori was ready to fight. As a Hunter, death was always a possibility, but Lori had made peace with that long ago. She wasn’t even worried about the total oblivion that would come when, not if, Jayded killed her. What truly mattered to her was that she was a Hunter, and she preferred to face her end with courage rather than surrender.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," she told Marcus, "and I've got the dagger and my gun."
Marcus' voice grew more urgent. "Lori, the jeeps are two blocks away. Stay put. Do not engage with her."
"Marcus, she's coming for me," Khata said, her trembling hands flipping the safety off her gun. "I’m not looking to charge out and start a brawl, but I also don't plan to sit here like a fat snack waiting to be gobbled up."
Lori suddenly sensed a powerful force outside her home, a tingling energy washing over her like a wave of goosebumps. The energy intensified, straining the very fabric of reality as the soul-stealing monster drew closer.
There was a terrifying crackling noise, followed by a thunderous bang that shook the windows in their frames. The lights flickered and went out. Just before darkness swallowed the room, Lori glimpsed the digital clock reading 12:00 PM, before it went dark.
Jayded had chosen noon on purpose. The heart of the day. The platoon wasn't waiting until nightfall anymore; no one was safe.
She didn’t bother glancing outside. She already knew that the salt had turned to char. "Ugh, she just broke through my salt circle," Lori muttered to Marcus. She sounded way too calm, even to herself, given how badly her hands were trembling.
The words had barely escaped her lips when a powerful force slammed into her house. Dark energy shattered the wards on her windows and doors, then burst through the physical barriers as well. Her ears were filled with the sound of shattering glass just before she heard her front door splintering. The terrible chill seeped through every opening in the building, carrying with it the stench of death. Her talismans flared to life, searing hot almost immediately.
Her hand shook as she dropped the phone, the line still open to Marcus. "Shit!" she yelled, "She's attacking!"
Lori didn't wait for a response; she didn't need one. The time for hiding and waiting was over. She was going to fight back.
The heavy, powerful gun in her hands had been blessed by the town's priest. Its silver bullets, infused with holy water and iron shavings, were designed to slay any monster unlucky enough to be struck by them. Though she had never used the weapon against Vyce's platoon before, now seemed like as good a time as any to put it to the test.
The bedroom door crashed open, and a massive, seven-foot-tall quadruped emerged from the swirling, icy mist, her imposing form filling the doorway. Jayded had arrived.
Lori threw two packets of pumpkin spice, the little bundles bursting in twin clouds of aromatic dust as they struck the beast's face. The room filled with the warm scent of holiday baking, and for half a heartbeat, the icy chill and smell of decay were pushed back. Then Jayded snorted, and the stench of burnt spices filled the air. The fragrant clouds turned black and drifted to the floor as charred remnants.
Lori's hands were steady on the gun, and her breath was calm and measured. The sound of the gun was ridiculously loud in the small room as she fired off shot after shot. The bursts of gunfire lit up the room, casting the monster in sharp contrast to the icy fog around her. Each silver bullet was targeted directly at the creature's head. Four shots rang out, striking Jayded's unnatural body. Two more found the Yaherra's chest. Holes opened up where each bullet struck, then sealed up again. There wasn't even any blood. Once the noise of the last shot faded, the creature merely gave a small cough and spat all six bullets onto the floor.
"It's always entertaining when you humans think you're safe with your little trinkets," the Glacier Yaherra sneered, stepping over the line of salt in Lori's bedroom doorway. The protective line fizzled and smoked. "And really, I shouldn't play with my food. Kind of childish, if you think about it. Although it does make the kill sweeter in the end."
Lori cried out in pain as the Yaherra entered her bedroom. A searing burst of heat enveloped her, and she realized all the talismans on her coat had been incinerated in their attempt to protect her. The talisman around her neck also burned out, leaving the stench of scorched leather and a sharp throbbing pain where it had burned her. Despite that, Lori didn't cower, though she knew she stood unprotected before Jayded, with no hope left.
She sucked in a pained breath through her clenched teeth and stared defiantly at the beast that had destroyed her home, her sanctuary. "And with me gone, you've only got one sin left to check off your list," Lori knew that Marcus was still on the line, hanging on her every word as they desperately tried to arrive in time. She had to try to give him one last gift as a loyal Bravo Team Hunter: answers. "So what happens after Envy? Will you start your feast over from the top?"
The Yaherra's hooked beak parted, revealing razor-sharp teeth in a parody of a grin before she let out a maniacal cackle. "The souls of sinners are not a feast," she purred once she regained her composure, "but an offering, to Reep."
With no warning, she lunged at Lori, teeth snapping shut just inches away from the Hunter's face. Lori could feel the coldness of her breath and the foul odor of decay filling the air. Jayded's psychic attack slammed against her mind, pressing down with inexorable strength. The urge to surrender and let the soul stealer kill her was almost overwhelming. Almost. She brought the gun around to bash the creature in the face, but she was already moving, her body like a liquid nightmare. The mental pressure lessened as she evaded the blow. Casting the empty gun aside, the silver dagger was now in Lori's hand without her having to think. They both struck at the same moment: a snarling Jayded lunging for the Hunter's throat, the Hunter burying the silver blade in the creature's own.
.
Two jeeps came to a screeching halt in Lori's driveway, with both teams rushing desperately up the walkway towards her front door. Only a few seconds had passed since the phone had gone silent; the sounds of gunfire and snarling had been replaced by an eerie stillness. They were too late, and everyone knew it, but they couldn't bring themselves to stop until they saw her body with their own eyes.
The house was in shambles: every window was shattered, and their wards were broken. The ring of salt around the property had been charred so completely that it resembled a line of charcoal dust. The front door lay in ruins, reduced to mere kindling scattered across the living room floor. A heavy scent of decay permeated the air, accompanied by a preternatural chill.
In her bedroom, they discovered Lori's lifeless body, still gripping the silver dagger, tarnished solid black where it had plunged into Jayded's flesh. The creature's fangs had torn into her throat, and the word 'Sloth' was carved into her forehead.
Richard unleashed a string of expletives, his frustration boiling over as he hurled a chair across the room. It took him several minutes to collect himself and express his anger in coherent words. "She was on break, damn it! She shouldn't have been targeted so soon! Hunters receive counseling and therapy to help protect them from this shit! She should have been safe! Francine caught it early, damn it! There are rules!"
Gripping Richard's shoulder, Marcus said, "Things are different now, Richard. We both understand that. Lori mentioned that Jayded herself has verified that the rules have changed."
Richard leaned his forehead against the wall, shutting his eyes tightly as the pain of losing a teammate overwhelmed him, causing a quiet sob to escape.
The sense of dread in his chest kept growing, and Marcus resisted the urge to fall apart. All these deaths: they were sacrifices to someone called Reep. But who was Reep? What kind of demon needed so many souls?
The worst part was that everyone needed help, maybe even therapy, but who actually had time for that now? Making progress seemed impossible. The only way to learn which rules had changed was when one of the monsters broke one, and that almost always meant someone else died. This wasn’t just dangerous; they were officially in an ongoing life-or-death situation.
Richard appeared to be on the same wavelength as he struggled to speak despite his grief. "Francine, I need you to review the rules as we know them and update them. Try to get started making flyers. We have to alert everyone in town that the rules they're used to following are no longer safe."
"I'll get right on it as soon as we're done here, sir," Francine said, her voice shaky, as if she were on the verge of breaking down herself. "I just need to--"
"No," Marcus cut in, catching the attention of both teams. Nearly everyone’s face was streaked with tears. "I hate to say it, but we might be out of time. Francine, I need you to rush to the news station and make an emergency announcement right away. Mournstead is under a strict curfew - no one is allowed outside unless paired, even during the day. The most important rule has always been that children are protected from the forest's dangers. If that rule has changed, we could start seeing kids vanish from their yards in broad daylight."
Francine let out another sob for Lori, but then she took a deep, resolute breath and nodded. Before stepping out, she paused at the doorway to steal one last look at the body of her longtime teammate and friend. Then with a surge of determination, she hurried out of the house and jumped into one of the jeeps.
With heavy hearts, the remaining members of both teams started their tasks. Monique called in the Corpse Bearers to retrieve their fallen comrade, although it felt obscene to do so. After the body was carefully wrapped in a tarp and removed from the house, the rest of the team set to work cleaning up the scene, which was drenched in blood. They had to dispose of anything that was irreparably stained and scrub down the items that could be salvaged.
Monique's next call was to Lori's family. They would decide what they wanted to keep from her possessions, while the rest would be sent to the local second-hand store. It was a somber task, but they knew it was necessary to honor her memory and clear the space for the next steps ahead. The town would not let the house remain unoccupied for long, and the new family called to this hellhole would need a place to live.
Kyle grumbled under his breath as he and Marcus cleaned the floors. "This is complete bullshit. Clearing out a home that used to belong to someone just to have some unsuspecting sucker move in... it's disgusting," he spat. "We're just making space for someone else to be slaughtered."
"Preaching to the choir, my friend. Preaching to the choir," Marcus agreed with a weary sigh.
"When we get back, I need all hands on deck," Richard told them. "We need to scour the library for any missing Creature Catalog. Jayded confirmed they're planning a comeback for someone named Reep, but Lori and Francine turned up empty-handed. The book we need has disappeared, and we have to find it. Whatever's coming, it will be worse than all eight sin demons combined. We have to be prepared."
"Lori placed an order just a few days ago," Marcus reminded them. "Let's wait until the silver net comes in before we do any more monster hunting. Better safe than sorry."
With grim nods from everyone, they went back to cleaning up their lost companion's blood.
Adopted from Chrysariel, pet formerly known as Daydreamer.