The ride through the forest was like nothing Aiden had ever experienced.
Bones didn't move like an animal—he glided, shadow to shadow, his paws barely making a sound as they hit the earth. Each stride carried them further than the last, skipping across darkness itself. Wind tore at Aiden's hoodie, leaves whipping past in a blur, the chill air burning his lungs—but he couldn't stop grinning.
Even Kael, riding behind him with one arm braced against Bones' back, said nothing. Just held on.
No complaints. No sarcasm. No groaning.
That alone told Aiden how fast they were going.
The forest fell away behind them, and soon enough, the faint orange glow they'd seen from the cliffside was growing larger—fires. Lanterns. Homes.
A village.
Bones slowed as they approached the edge of the tree line. Aiden tapped him lightly, and the Gravehound came to a smooth, controlled halt just beneath a low canopy of branches.
From here, they could see it all.
A small farming village, nestled against the slope of a grassy hill. A wooden palisade surrounded it, more symbolic than functional. Lanterns hung from wooden posts, swaying gently in the wind. Faint voices echoed beyond the walls—conversation, laughter, the clatter of something metallic.
Normal life.
Aiden slid off Bones' back, knees a little wobbly from the ride.
Kael followed, landing silently beside him. He adjusted his cloak, then looked toward the village gate.
"They'll see us before we reach it," he said. "The Gravehound's… not subtle."
"Yeah, that's kinda the problem," Aiden said, glancing back at Bones.
The Gravehound stood perfectly still behind them, massive and quiet. The crimson glow in his eyes had dimmed slightly, but he still looked like a walking nightmare. His head nearly reached Aiden's shoulders, and that was while standing flat-footed. Smoke curled lazily from between his teeth.
"Right," Aiden muttered. "This is probably gonna freak them out."
He hesitated. Then walked up to Bones and crouched beside him.
"Hey, buddy. I need a favor. Could you hang back a bit while I go talk to the locals? Try not to look so… murdery?"
Bones blinked slowly.
Then, without prompting, padded backward into the trees and sat down behind a large, mossy stump.
It helped a little. But only a little. Aiden could still feel his presence—like cold air and pressure on the back of his neck.
Kael smirked. "That's an improvement."
"Still a shame he can't just… I don't know. Shrink or something. That would be convenient as hell."
Bones' ears twitched.
A soft chime echoed in Aiden's head.
[Soulbound Adaptation Triggered]
Request detected: "Shrink or something."
Subject: Gravehound Alpha
Adapting form for non-combat proximity.
► Alternate Form Unlocked: Pup State (Camouflage Variant)
• Stats unchanged
• Size reduced by 65%
• Active abilities sealed in this form
"What," Aiden said slowly, staring at the message.
Bones stepped forward.
Except—he wasn't Bones anymore. At least, not full-sized Bones.
The creature walking toward them was about the size of a large husky. Still black-furred, still rune-scarred, but the red glow had faded to a gentle ember, and the skeletal ridges were hidden beneath darker fur. His eyes looked less like death incarnate and more like a really intense guard dog.
Aiden blinked. "Did you just… listen to me?"
Bones wagged his tail once.
Kael stared.
"I don't like how obedient he is," he said flatly.
"I love it," Aiden grinned. "You're perfect. Who's a good eldritch horror puppy? You are."
Bones gave a very un-dead-sounding huff.
"Alright," Aiden said. "Let's try this again."
They approached the village gate on foot, Bones trotting beside Aiden like a very large, very unnerving pet. Kael followed just behind, cloak drawn up, sword hidden beneath it.
As they got within a hundred feet, the mood shifted.
Voices on the other side of the gate lowered. Two guards appeared—teenagers, maybe a few years older than Aiden. One carried a lantern. The other had a short spear and a panicked expression.
"Halt!" the spear one called out. "State your business!"
Aiden held up his hands. "We're travelers. Just passing through. Looking for shelter and maybe some information."
The guard's eyes dropped to Bones. "Is… is that thing with you?"
"Yes. He's my pet."
Kael made a choking sound behind him.
Bones sat politely and wagged his tail once. Steam puffed out of his nose.
"Pet," the guard repeated, deadpan.
The second guard leaned in and whispered something, and the first looked back toward the village.
Then, reluctantly, he called out, "Stay there. I'm getting someone."
He vanished into the shadows, leaving the second guard visibly sweating.
Aiden sighed and looked at Bones.
"This is going well."
Bones wagged his tail again, which somehow only made the second guard more anxious.
The wooden gate creaked slightly in the quiet, just enough for Kael to step forward.
He pulled back his hood.
"My apprentice and I are travelers," Kael said calmly, his voice low and level. "Adventurers from the guild out of Stillmarch. We were passing through when night caught us short. Shelter's all we ask."
The young guard blinked. "…Stillmarch?"
Kael nodded once. "Third watch district. East lot. You can check our registry number with the capital, but it'll be a few days' wait on courier pigeon."
The kid had no idea what any of that meant, but Kael said it like a man who definitely knew what it meant.
The kid straightened up slightly. "I'll, uh… tell Elder Bren."
He disappeared through a side gate, leaving the second boy alone again. That one looked at Kael, then at Aiden, then back to Bones.
"Your dog's creepy."
"He's in training," Aiden said.
"What breed is that?"
"…Experimental."
That answer seemed to satisfy absolutely no one.
Thankfully, after a minute or two of uncomfortable silence, a new figure appeared at the gate—an older woman wrapped in a long, bark-colored cloak. Her hair was half silver, half braid, and her expression was cautious but not unkind.
She carried a lantern in one hand and a walking staff in the other, carved with spiral patterns that glowed faintly where the light hit them.
"You're the ones traveling in?" she asked.
Kael bowed his head slightly. "That we are."
"Name and intent."
"Kael Dross. This is my apprentice, Aiden. We're registered out of Stillmarch. Caught the roads late, hoped to find rest for the night before heading west."
The woman studied them both—her gaze lingering a bit longer on Bones, who was now pretending to be very interested in a beetle crawling on the ground.
After a pause, she exhaled softly. "If you're guild folk, you're welcome to a roof and a place by the fire. We don't ask much from passersby."
Kael dipped his head again. "We'll make no trouble."
"I'm Bren. Elder here," she said. "Most of the grown folk are upridge for the late harvest run. Left the boys to guard the gate—mostly for show."
She turned and started back toward the village. "Come. We've enough stew for three and blankets left over."
They followed.
Aiden leaned close to Kael as they walked. "You made up that whole Stillmarch thing, didn't you?"
Kael didn't look at him. "Stillmarch is real. East lot registry's defunct, though."
"That's what I thought."
"Details sell a story."
Aiden grinned. "I'm starting to like you."
The village was small but lived-in. Homes built from pale timber and sunbaked brick sat low to the ground, clustered close together like they were huddling for warmth. Most had thatched roofs, some patched with tarp or hide. Lanterns hung from hooks along the main path, giving the place a soft, golden glow.
Children peeked from windows as they passed, and one or two teens paused mid-task to stare as Bones padded after them with his best "non-threatening monster dog" face.
Elder Bren led them to a building near the center—a larger, round structure with a tiled roof and smoke curling from a stone chimney. A wooden carving of a tree hung above the entrance.
She opened the door with a creak and gestured them inside.
The warmth hit Aiden immediately. The smell of spices, firewood, and something stew-adjacent pulled him in like a magnet.
The interior was simple: a round hearth, benches, sleeping mats rolled against the wall. Handmade tapestries draped the back wall, woven with symbols that Aiden didn't recognize—sun spirals, leaf-knots, crescent stars.
"Shoes off, weapons down," Bren said as she stepped over to the hearth. "We're not at war."
Kael unbuckled his sword and set it gently near the wall. Aiden pulled off his shoes and scratched at the back of his neck awkwardly.
Bones curled up beside the fire without instruction.
The Elder raised an eyebrow. "Well-behaved."
"Only for me," Aiden said.
She ladled out three bowls of thick stew and passed them over. "Rootstock, lentil, and river game. Sorry, no fowl."
Aiden took his with both hands, warmth seeping into his fingers. "Are you kidding? This smells amazing."
They ate in relative silence for a while, the fire crackling and popping gently behind them.
After the bowls were cleared, Bren rose and walked to a side alcove, pulling aside a cloth curtain.
"There's a guest mat and spare linen. You can sleep here tonight. We've no inns, so make do."
Kael stood and bowed slightly. "We're grateful."
Aiden looked at her. "Thanks. Really."
She paused just before leaving. "You've got good manners, boy. And good instincts. But if that dog bites one of the kids, I will hit it with a broom."
Bones snorted from the floor.
Aiden grinned. "Deal."
She disappeared behind the curtain.
Kael laid out the mat while Aiden flopped onto it, letting the stiffness and stress of the day melt out of his body. His eyes burned. His shoulders throbbed.
Bones crawled a little closer and curled at the edge of the mat, exhaling smoke in a soft puff.
Kael sat cross-legged nearby, arms resting on his knees, eyes half-closed but alert.
"You sleep?" Aiden asked.
Kael shook his head. "Just rest."
Aiden pulled the blanket up and rolled onto his side, the fire warm against his back.
The last thing he saw was Bones blinking slowly at him through the dim light.
A faint growl.
Then a tail thump.
And finally—silence.