Just when the beast lunged again with a roar that shook the air, Ruby braced herself—her arms still covering Julian. But suddenly, there was a loud thud—a heavy crack—followed by a wild howl of pain.
The beast’s leap collapsed mid-air.
Ruby blinked, startled, as the creature hit the ground hard beside them, stunned and twitching.
Her eyes darted up and there stood Sora, her chest rising and falling from the force of the throw, her arm still stretched from where she had flung a massive stone that struck the beast squarely on the skull.
Ruby gasped. "Sora..."
The tall woman walked over, her expression still focused and sharp like a true hunter of the mountains. Her face was calm, but her eyes gleamed with alertness. The beast whimpered lowly, still dazed, and slowly began to crawl away into the deeper forest.
"Oh gods..." Ruby exhaled, placing a hand over her chest, feeling her heartbeat pounding hard against her ribs. She looked back at Sora with genuine gratitude, her voice a little breathless, "Thank you... thank you so much..."
Sora gave a small nod. "I saw from the car window. That thing would have torn you both apart if I hadn’t acted quickly." Her voice was steady and strong.
Ruby reached down and helped Julian to his feet. He still looked shaken, dust on his clothes, his hair messed up from the fall. "You okay?" she asked softly, brushing his shoulder.
"I think so..." he said, embarrassed. "You saved me wife."
She didn’t respond, just pulled him close for a second before turning to Sora.
Sora stepped forward and gently picked up the bag filled with Mistvine, checking the weight with one hand as if it was no big deal. "Let’s move. That creature might return with more."
And without another word, the three of them started walking back toward the car, this time Ruby walking a little closer to Julian, still not letting go of his hand.
Ruby quickly jumped into the driver’s seat and started the car, her hands gripping the wheel tightly. Her heartbeat was still racing, but she tried to act calm. Julian sat beside her, gulping down water from his bottle, his face pale and robe slightly dirty from the fall. He wiped his lips with the back of his hand and looked at her with wide eyes.
"That was so scary!" Nini said from the backseat, her voice still trembling. She clutched the strap of her bag tightly, glancing out the window as if afraid the beast might return.
"Yeah..." Old Bran mumbled, rubbing his arms, "This mountain’s always been dangerous. Long ago, people said strange things live near the Mistvine cliffs... wild animals, spirits, and worse."
He sighed, as if remembering something unpleasant, then added, "But I never thought we’d run into one today..."
Maira, who had finally calmed down after the chase, leaned forward between the front seats and asked nervously, "But if you use up the Mistvine... and if it runs out, what will you do then? You can’t come here all the time, right?"
Ruby glanced at her through the mirror, then smiled proudly. "Oh, that’s why I brought many with the root still attached."
She turned slightly, looking at Maira with a confident grin. "I’m going to grow Mistvine on my own. If it adapts, I can farm it safely near my workshop without ever needing to risk people again."
Old Bran’s eyes widened, clearly impressed. "That’s a smart idea! I’ve never heard of anyone trying to grow Mistvine outside this mountain. You might be the first, witch."
Ruby’s smile grew. "Let’s hope it works."
And with that, the car rolled forward on the rocky path, slowly leaving the misty cliffs behind as the group returned toward the safety of the village.
After dropping off Old Bran, Maira, Nini, and Sora back at the village, Ruby and Julian were showered with thanks again and again. The old ghost even patted Ruby’s head gently and said, "You’re a brave one, little witch. May the spirits keep you safe." Nini waved until the car disappeared on the sky and even Sora gave them a soft nod of respect.
The moment they reached their inn, Ruby parked the car and quietly stepped out, not saying a word. Julian followed behind her, just as silent. Their footsteps echoed in the empty hallway as they entered their room. Ruby walked straight to the bathroom to wash her hands and face, while Julian took their dusty bags and set them in the corner. The room felt quiet—too quiet. Only the soft hum of the ceiling fan filled the air.
Ruby stared at her reflection for a long time. Her red eyes looked tired, and her cheeks were still slightly red from the heat. A light cut on her wrist reminded her of how close she had come... She splashed water on her face again and let the cold drops run down her neck.
When she came out, she saw Julian sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, hands clenched together. He wasn’t saying anything either.
They were both shaken.
Without a word, Ruby walked over and sat beside him. For a moment, they didn’t speak.
Then, softly, Ruby whispered, "Today was too close..."
Julian nodded. "I thought I was going to lose you." His voice cracked slightly, and his fingers gently reached for hers.
Ruby looked down at their hands. "I was scared too... but we survived."
They sat there like that for a while—silent, breathing, and thankful. Alive.
"But wife... your hair..." Julian said gently, his moss-green eyes full of concern as he looked at her from the side. His fingers hesitated before brushing a few uneven strands near her shoulder. Some sections were jagged and frayed—clearly cut by those horrible bugs. Her once soft, flowing hair now looked slightly uneven, especially toward the ends. Some strands were shorter than others, and it made Julian’s heart ache.
"I know..." Ruby replied quietly, not even bothering to look in the mirror. Her voice wasn’t angry, just tired. "It’s not good to mourn over what I’ve already lost." She tried to smile, but it didn’t fully reach her eyes. "Maybe I should try a new hairstyle... something that might fix all this mess." She let out a soft sigh, lifting a lock of her hair and letting it fall through her fingers. "I took so long to grow them again... and now..."
—To be continued...🪄