Aloisia inclined her head. She squeezed her thighs and clicked her tongue, the mare taking off to Littlewatch. Oda, Kaja, Ezra, and the other huntresses followed.
The streets were eerily quiet as they entered the town. A basket lay abandoned on its side, apples spilling out across the stone path. Doors were left ajar, forgotten in haste.
Aloisia slowed her mare as they travelled further into Littlewatch. Her hearing and sight still heightened from their hunt for the Forgotten Gods, she drove her scope beyond the hooves upon stone, beyond the stillness of surrounding the streets.
Screams.
Aloisia jolted, her mare halting beneath her. With another squeeze of her thighs, the horse bolted forth, and she guided her towards the howling. It grew louder, a strange blend between human screams and unearthly cries.
“Mother have mercy,” Oda uttered under her breath.
Aloisia pulled her mare to a stop as they drew closer to Temple Green, the screams still distant.
“I’m going to find my guards,” Oda said. “There still may be a few looking for any stragglers. Anyone you spot, send them to the Temple.”
Aloisia gave a nod. “We’ll find the Forgotten Gods.”
They left the horses in Temple Green, and Aloisia led the way past the Temple and into the empty streets of Littlewatch. Their footsteps echoed on the cobblestones. She brought her bow from her back, nocking an enchanted arrow. Her sisters followed her lead.
The screams drew closer as they moved through the town. Aloisia hastened, panic pounding within her. She steadied her hands, glad the leaves Inari had given her were taking effect. They turned into the market square, an eerie silence falling around them. She raised her bow, searching the area. Ash dusted the cobbles, shifting in the breeze.
Then she saw it.
Shadows dripped from the wooden stalls like oil. A deep rumble shook her as the darkness gathered, forming a grotesque mockery of the human form. It lumbered towards them, baring ink black teeth as it opened its maw. A whimper sounded to her right.
Aloisia spared a glance in the direction of the stifled cries. A child hid under a stall. She pulled the bowstring taut and loosed the arrow. It lodged deep into the creature’s chest, and it let out a yowl. Her sisters shot their arrows a moment later, littering it with the enchantments. Inari lifted his palms, chanting a spell along with Ezra. It gave an inhuman wail, sinking to its knees. She reached for the chain at her shoulder but thought better of it. Without the cage, restraining the monster would be of little use.
They waited a long moment. The Forgotten God did not rise.
Kneeling, she turned to the child. “Come out. You’re safe.”
The little girl ran to her. She had a shock of dark curls, and tears ran down her cheeks. She flung her arms around Aloisia’s neck.
“Emilya?” She recognised her as the girl who had wanted to be a huntress, who had delighted in telling her of her skills with a bow.
Aloisia lifted her into her arms and turned to her sisters. There was no sign of anyone else nearby.
“Valda, will you take her back to the Temple?” Aloisia passed Emilya to the huntress.
“Of course.” Valda cradled the child to her chest and started at a run back the way they had come.
They continued onwards, bows at the ready. Ezra and Inari continued their spell until they were out of the market square. Iron Row sat empty, the sound of hammers on metal and the smell of the ever-burning fires absent from the street. A flicker of blue drew Aloisia’s attention. She hastened towards the back alley.
A Forgotten God stood alone in the alleyway, surrounded by wisps. They wove a spell of their own. Aloisia pulled her bow taut. Before she could shoot, the Forgotten God vanished, the wisps fading with it.
They pushed on. The winding roads were nearing Execution Square. Howls echoed around them. Aloisia could not see their origin. As far as they had come, there had been no sign of Dhara and Mavka yet.
Aloisia turned to her sisters. “Neiris, go back and find the lead huntresses. We need that cage. Bring them to Execution Square.”
Neiris gave a nod and began back over.
“Is it wise to split us up?” Morgan asked, her fingers trembling.
“How will they know where we are otherwise?” Aloisia answered. “They may search the streets and never find us. If Neiris catches them before they pass the Temple, then they will be able to reach us quicker.”
An inhuman howl sounded behind them. Aloisia turned, searching for the source. Around a street corner, a Forgotten God lumbered towards them. Its form was more corporeal than the last, taking the shape of a bear. A low growl rumbled from its chest as it considered them.
From behind the Forgotten God came another, more agile and moving at speed. It paused, tilting its head as if listening. Antlers protruded from its head, its mouth a gaping maw. It was the one they had almost trapped in the Dead Woods. Footsteps sounded down the street. Aloisia took aim, but the creature skittered down the street away from them and after the footsteps.
