Page 5 of Monster's Maiden

Aiden rolls his eyes but chuckles too. “Just saying, my reflexes saved me.”

“You mean your clumsiness saved you,” I counter. “You tripped over your own feet and fell out of the way.”

We all laugh at the memory, the sound echoing through the snowy forest. It's moments like these that remind me why I cherish our expeditions. The camaraderie between us is as vital as any skill we possess.

"Pass me that cloth," Maya says, reaching out. I hand it to her without missing a beat.

The dae's hide feels smooth yet firm under my hands as I work on it. The process is second nature to us now—cleaning and preparing game is as much a part of our lives as breathing. Yet, the work goes faster when you’re among friends. When every joke and jab makes the effort less taxing and the chill less biting.

I glance at my friends. Their faces are flushed from the cold and exertion, but their eyes shine with joy and solidarity.

“We make a good team,” I say softly.

Aiden claps a hand on my shoulder. “The best.”

Maya nods in agreement. “Couldn’t ask for better company.”

As we continue cleaning the dae, my eyes drift toward something peculiar in the distance. It appears to be partially covered ruins nearby. The jagged edges of ancient stone, half-buried in snow and ice, seem to call to me with an almost magnetic pull. I can't ignore the itch of curiosity gnawing at me.

"We should check that out," I say, nodding toward the ruins.

Aiden looks up, eyebrow raised. "You serious? We're in the middle of something here."

"Yeah, but how often do we find something like this?" I argue. "Come on, it’ll be a quick detour."

Maya glances at the ruins and then back at me, skepticism written all over her face. "You think there's anything worth seeing in there?"

"Only one way to find out," I reply. My enthusiasm must be infectious because I see the glint of intrigue soon spark in their eyes.

Aiden sighs, shaking his head with a grin. "Fine, but if we get trapped by some ancient curse, it's on you."

"I'll take full responsibility," I quip, already on my feet. “Besides, when’s the last time we’ve allowed ourselves to explore a bit beyond our village?”

We leave our task behind and head toward the ancient structures hidden beneath the snow. Each step I take feels light with anticipation, my mind racing with possibilities of what we might uncover.

"Lead the way, fearless leader," Aiden says with a mock bow.

“Don’t mind if I do.” I take the lead, my heart pounding faster as we get closer to the ruins.

Maya stays close behind, her eyes scanning for any signs of danger. "Let's hope this isn't a waste of time."

"It won't be," I assure her. "Trust me."

The ruins loom larger as we approach. Crumbling walls and eroded statues emerge from the snow like specters from another time. My heart races with excitement. What secrets lie within these forgotten stones?

We inch closer to the entrance, the chill of the forest replaced by an eerie stillness. Snow gives way to stone, each step revealing more of the ancient structure. The air feels charged, almost humming with the weight of history.

"Look at these carvings," I whisper, tracing my fingers along the intricate patterns etched into the stone. "They’re beautiful."

Aiden kneels beside me, brushing away a layer of snow to uncover more. "Never seen anything like this before. Must be old."

"Ancient," Maya corrects, her eyes wide with wonder as she examines a nearby pillar adorned with strange glyphs. "What do you think they mean?"

"No clue," I admit, though the mystery only fuels my curiosity. "But they look important."

Aiden chuckles. "Always knew you had a thing for old rocks."

"These aren't just rocks," I protest, but I can’t help but smile at his teasing. "This is history."

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