The Crimson Dawn

Chapter 3

The night air was crisp as the group stumbled through the cobblestone streets of Jeric, their laughter echoing into the darkness. The city was quieter at this hour, with most taverns and shops closing for the night, save for a few shady establishments still bustling with activity.

Barrett, his broad shoulders barely fitting in the narrow alleyways, stretched and cracked his knuckles. “Honestly, that was the most fun I’ve had in weeks. Did you see that guy’s face when I threw him through the table?” He laughed, his yellow eyes gleaming with amusement.

Ari groaned, holding her stomach as she leaned against the nearest wall. “I think I’m going to die,” she muttered dramatically. Her fiery red hair stuck to her pale skin, still damp from the tavern’s chaos.

Gedeon rolled his violet eyes, his lithe frame moving effortlessly as he supported Stella. “You’ll be fine, Ari. Maybe next time don’t challenge Barrett to a drinking contest.”

“Or,” Derick added with a smirk, flipping a coin he’d pocketed during the brawl, “don’t drink at all if you can’t hold your liquor. Basic rule of survival.”

“Basic rule of being boring,” Ari shot back, though her voice was weak.

Raphael, ever the vigilant one, scanned the shadows around them. His shaggy blonde hair fell into his eyes as he adjusted the strap of his armor. “We should find a spot outside the city walls. Too many eyes on us here.”

Stella nodded, brushing a stray platinum strand from her face. “He’s right. The tavern keeper’s bound to spread the word about us, and the last thing we need is more attention.”

Aydin, walking slightly behind the group, silently agreed. Though he’d spent years away from his noble upbringing, his polished demeanor and immaculate vest still made him stand out. His bright blue eyes, sharp and observant, flicked between his companions, a mixture of fondness and frustration in his expression.

They reached the city gates just as the guards were changing shifts, slipping out unnoticed into the open fields beyond. The soft chirping of crickets and the gentle rustling of leaves filled the air, a welcome reprieve from the chaos of Jeric.

Barrett found a clearing near a cluster of trees, where they could set up camp. He dropped his pack with a thud and began gathering wood for a fire. “Alright, I’ll get this started. Someone else can take first watch.”

“I’ll do it,” Raphael volunteered, his tone firm. He tightened the straps of his armor, his brown eyes scanning the perimeter.

Aydin glanced at Stella, who was rummaging through her bag. The moonlight highlighted the sharp contrast between her dark lashes and violet eyes, making her look almost otherworldly. He hesitated, then cleared his throat. “Here, Stella, take my cloak. You’re still damp from—”

She cut him off with a teasing smile, draping his cloak over her shoulders. “You’re too kind, Mr. Starash. Are you sure you’re not cold?”

He shrugged, trying to ignore the warmth rising to his cheeks. “I’ll be fine.”

Derick chuckled from his spot near the fire, where he was roasting a chunk of bread he’d snatched earlier. “You two are adorable. Like a romance novel come to life.”

“Shut it, Derick,” Stella and Aydin said in unison, which only made the rest of the group laugh harder.

As the fire crackled to life, the group settled into their usual rhythm. Barrett sharpened his axe, the sound of the whetstone grating against steel filling the quiet. Ari curled up on her bedroll, her fiery red hair spilling over the edge as she muttered something incoherent about plants. Raphael stood watch, his silhouette steady against the faint glow of the fire.

Stella sat beside Aydin, fiddling with a small pendant around her neck. Her voice was soft when she spoke. “You know, you didn’t have to stand up for me back there. I could’ve handled those mercenaries.”

Aydin looked at her, his blue eyes serious. “I know you could’ve. But that doesn’t mean I’d stand by and let them treat you like that.”

She smiled, a mix of gratitude and amusement in her expression. “You’re too good for this group, you know that?”

“Maybe,” he said with a faint smile, “but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

The night wore on, the fire burning low as one by one, they drifted off to sleep. Aydin stayed awake a little longer, watching the flames dance and listening to the soft breathing of his companions. For all their flaws and chaos, they were his family now.

Aydin rested his head drifting off to sleep.

Stella’s sleep was restless, her body twitching as flashes of the past invaded her dreams.

Men stood over her, their faces twisted with cruel grins. Pain radiated through her body as they struck her, the sharp snap of sticks against her bare skin making her cry out. She tried to stifle her screams, knowing they relished her suffering, but the agony was too much. Their hands—rough, invasive—violated her dignity and shattered her spirit. Her pleas went unheard, drowned by their jeering laughter.

She woke with a startled, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Her violet eyes darted around the dark camp, trying to distinguish the dream from reality. The firelight flickered, casting shadows that made her heart race.

“Shhh, it’s okay. You’re okay,” Raphael’s calm voice broke through her panic. He crouched beside her, his hand hovering just above her shoulder, hesitant to touch her without her permission. His brown eyes were soft, full of concern.

Stella swallowed hard, nodding as she tried to control her trembling hands. “I’m fine,” she whispered, though the crack in her voice betrayed her.

Raphael hesitated. “Did you have the dream again?”

She nodded, running her hands through her platinum hair.

He sighed deeply, his expression a mix of sympathy and helplessness. “You know… it might help if you talked about it. Sometimes getting it out in the open—”

“I said I’m fine.” Stella stood abruptly, cutting him off. The sharpness in her tone made Raphael flinch, but he didn’t press the issue.

“I’ll take the next watch,” she added, avoiding his gaze. She adjusted her cloak and moved toward the edge of the clearing, her steps determined but unsteady.

Raphael watched her retreat, guilt gnawing at him. He remembered the state she was in when he’d found her—a battered, broken girl tied to a post in the bandit camp. The angel’s words had been clear: Wait until the time is right. But every day he’d waited had felt like a lifetime, knowing she was suffering.

He ran a hand through his shaggy blonde hair, frustrated with himself. I should’ve acted sooner.

Stella perched on a rock at the edge of the clearing, the cool night air biting at her skin. She wrapped her arms around herself, staring at the stars as if their distant light could wash away the darkness inside her. Her lips trembled as she whispered to herself, “You’re not there anymore. You’re not theirs.”

But no matter how hard she tried, the scars—both visible and invisible—remained.

Stella pulled Aydin’s cloak tighter around her, breathing in his warm, familiar scent. It helped calm the storm raging inside her, the memories fading just enough for her to take a steadying breath. A small smile crept across her face as she sat quietly, listening to the soothing sounds of the forest.

She closed her eyes and let her Kitsune senses take over. Her ears twitched ever so slightly as she picked up the rustle of leaves, the soft hoot of an owl in the distance, and the rhythmic breathing of her companions sleeping nearby. The heightened awareness brought her comfort, a reminder of who she truly was beneath the scars.

The only person who knew her and Gedeon’s secret—that they were Kitsune—was Aydin. Stella’s smile lingered as her thoughts drifted to the day they first met, back when they were just eight years old. It had been a moment of chance, or perhaps fate, that brought them into Aydin’s life.

Aydin’s mother had taken a liking to Stella and Gedeon, two scrappy orphans with sharp wits and an unshakable bond. Lady Starash had a kind heart, and despite her noble status, she often worked to help those less fortunate. Stella could still remember her gentle voice and the way she’d fussed over their tattered clothes and muddy faces.

But Aydin’s father was a different story. Lord Starash had made it painfully clear that Stella and Gedeon were beneath them, orphans with no place in high society. His sharp words and cold glances had always made Stella’s chest filled with irritation, though she’d learned to keep her true nature hidden.

Even so, Aydin had never treated them differently. He’d been a bright-eyed boy with a mischievous smile and a kindness that made her feel safe. Stella remembered the day he’d stumbled upon her fox form for the first time, her soft silver fur streaked with mud as she tried to hide in the garden. She’d been terrified he would tell someone, but instead, he’d crouched down and whispered, “You’re beautiful.”

Since that day, Aydin had kept their secret, never once betraying her trust. He’d become her confidant, her protector, and her best friend.

As Stella sat listening to the world around her, the memories of those early days brought a bittersweet warmth to her chest. Aydin’s cloak still smelled faintly of cedarwood and something uniquely him, a scent that always grounded her.

“Thank you,” she whispered to no one in particular, her voice barely audible over the night breeze. She didn’t just mean for the cloak but for everything Aydin had done for her and Gedeon over the years.

With her Kitsune senses keeping watch and her memories reminding her of the good in her life, Stella felt a little more at peace, even if only for a moment.