text: &#x200B; The fire was a mistake. Without shelter it seemed the best option to keep the night at bay. Most creatures in the forest feared the unfamiliar though some were drawn to the foreign glow. First came the insects. Together, their chorus filled the forest, all trying to be heard above the rest. They crawled, stung and bit. Sleep seemed impossible despite such exhaustion. Nell sat up and brushed off a spider as it crawled up her leg. She turned to Jeremy who had been keeping watch and found him propped against a stone sleeping soundly. She didn't see the point in waking him to say she would take over for the night, though she was frustrated enough to consider it. They were still days away from civilization and Nell knew sleep would find her eventually. Jeremy kept direction and Nell feared their fate should he make a mistake. A crow landed on a nearby branch and regarded Nell with one black eye reflecting the fire. They sat watching each other. Nell's blinks each became longer and her head fell slowly to her chest. A "caw" startled her awake. Nell found the crow still perched on the branch, thrusting its neck forward as it called frantically. Nell met its eyes again before it took flight passing close enough to the fire to spread the ashes. She watched it disappear into the night. There, two yellow eyes appeared in the void. Nell froze as an outline approached the fire. A long, skeletal cat carried the crow twitching in its mouth. The feathers appeared off-black in contrast to the cat’s coat. Jutting ribs made the creature appear half starved. Large, flat ears were folded together circling the gaunt face, they dropped down covering its eyes. Wide hooked claws protruded inwards from the paws and the cat crept forward on their edges. The creature’s silhouette remained clear as darkness refusing the light of the fire. Nell positioned herself behind the fire and cried out to rouse Jeremy. She looked to him for only a moment as he awoke confused. The cat was gone. "What the hell's the matter?" Jeremy demanded. The color had drained from Nell. She stared into the darkness beyond the haze of the fire. After a time, she replied emotionless; "It was the kingyan. Right there. It saw us." Nell rounded the fire. Two dark feathers sat beside the stones. "You're sure? You haven't slept, Nell. They're legend at this point; a story to keep children from wandering into the woods." Jeremy tried to convince himself as he gathered his makeshift spear and hurried to Nell's side. Nell knelt and with a finger she traced at a faint crescent shaped track left in the dirt. "Did you see its eyes? Nell! Did it look you in the eyes?" Jeremy demanded. "It did. We're dead already." She held a feather, examining it intently. "Get up." Jeremy pulled her to her feet. The feather fell slowly and a breeze took it into the fire. He stood behind her so that their shoulder blades touched. "Eyes open, always. We can't leave a blind spot and we can't lose focus for a moment." Leaning against Jeremy, Nell tried to compose herself. The image of the kingyan haunted her. She didn't believe in them. They were an omen. A perfect predator named the god of death. There is said to be no escape once the kingyan chooses its prey. They show themselves only once, supposedly, giving the dead a final opportunity for prayer. Adrenaline coursed through Jeremy as he stood still searching the night. He regarded the fire for the span of a blink. Without the light they would be defenseless. Thankfully it would not need to be fed again before morning. He could feel Nell shaking behind him. Alone they wouldn’t stand a chance. "We can escape this, I know it." He lied. "Someone must have survived. We were warned." Jeremy began to believe his own words. "The river! We can make it to the river in a day. Nell, don't you give up now. Are you watching the trees?" Leaves shifted in the breeze and the unsteady dance of the flames threw shadows in all directions. Nell pushed hard against Jeremy as they stood back-to-back. Dawn was near. An early bird’s song could be heard over the cacophony of crickets. Shock and exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her but underlying panic kept her vigilant. “You’ve heard the stories. What’s the point? I’m tired, Jeremy.” Jeremy knew the legend well. He’d also heard the stories retold with ever-changing details, though some remained constant. He understood her despair. The crescent tracks were said to be the only trace left by the kingyan. Long ago, some thought it would be poetic to create physical representations of their gods. Generations of breeding and experimentation led mostly to mutants that could hardly support their own weight. They died off, either on public display or eaten by the rich who believed they would inherit some of the god's power. The kingyan was different. A fitting avatar for the god of death. Ironically, its creators came to worship the kingyan as the god itself. Only two were made: Kingyan and Yama. They were released into the wild in a bid to befriend death. “Those stories all end the same. It’s watching us. Waiting for us to sleep or turn our backs. We can’t give it an opportunity. We make for the river at first light. This will be difficult. The terrain is rough and our attention will be divided. I’ll stick close and watch our backs. You'll have to call out obstacles and anything that moves. We need to move and see as one. Steel yourself, Nell. We’re not dead yet.” There was abruptness in Jeremy’s tone that revealed disquiet beneath his reassurance. Night lasted longer than expected and day spilled through the canopy slowly. The kingyan had not reappeared but that did not stop Nell from seeing it in every shifting shadow. When the sun’s light surpassed that of the dying fire they left it behind cautiously, pushing through their exhaustion. Their instincts prompted them to run but they would not allow the seeming absence of the kingyan to influence their decisions. It was close, watching and waiting for a moment of inattention. They moved at a measured pace through the unsteady footing of the forest. Jeremy's focus lied behind them, every fallen branch or pitfall threatened to trip him if not for Nell’s direction. \ “Nell, stop.” Nell ignored him and continued to push forward. She knew what he was going to say. Night was nearly upon them and they were unsure how far they were from the river. “We need a fire now!” Jeremy’s urgency convinced her. Often, he needed several attempts, and the sun began to hang dangerously low. “We’re vulnerable. You’ll need to cover every angle while I start the fire.” “We can run.” Nell pleaded. “I’ve not slept for days. I don’t know if I can do this. We must be close. You said it would only take a day.” “I was wrong. You’ve come this far. You looked the kingyan in the eyes and you’re still here. Don’t lose your nerve now. We can’t risk being caught without light.” Jeremy met Nell's eyes for the first time since seeing the crescent tracks. The surrounding area was cleared of deadwood in a frantic effort to prepare for nightfall. The kingyan could be upon them at any moment and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Jeremy’s hand moved in a blur while his bow drill smoked, and to their relief a spark grew into a crackling fire as the crickets signaled dusk. \ Darkness crept towards the fire and soon the nearest fuel was beyond its reach. Jeremy squeezed Nell’s hand before stepping into the night to find the nearest fallen branch. Nell’s breath hung in her chest until he returned dragging an uprooted sapling. A despondent expression told Nell what he would never; they weren't going to make it. Jeremy fed the fire and returned to his position. He wanted to believe they had escaped, that there was no way he could have survived if it was still out there. One story stuck in Jeremy’s mind: A hunter found the kingyan in his snare. Unwilling to approach it alone, he returned to town and gathered all those eager to claim a trophy. Days later the hunters had yet to return. A search party found all eight men dead with identical wounds. Jeremy assumed the story was exaggerated but everything he had heard of the kingyan reiterated its persistence. Dawn was far. He dreaded leaving Nell to gather more wood but he had little choice. The sapling burned quickly and gave off only a faint glow. The kingyan would be upon them before they knew it. Suddenly the crickets ceased their chirping. Nell thought she heard a bell ringing faintly between heartbeats. In an act of desperation, she grabbed the burning sapling as a torch, marched towards a dead tree and held the fire close. The tree ignited brilliantly, illuminating their surroundings. Her gaze followed the flames as they climbed. Bark began to fall, carrying the fire to the forest floor and spreading it along the dry vegetation. Jeremy began to laugh. Strange notches marked another nearby tree as if someone had made a confused attempt to cut it down. Nell grabbed Jeremy’s shoulder hard. She turned his attention up the notched tree. A black tail swayed leisurely in and out of the fire. The kingyan was sprawled across a branch with a crescent claw hanging for balance. With eyes hooded behind its ears, the kingyan turned to meet Jeremy’s stare and tilted its head. Jeremy stepped back into the embers and took another unconscious step as they began to burn through his soles. The kingyan dropped, landing gracefully among the flames. Sharp shoulder blades shifted with every step as it started towards them. Facing Death, a realization dawned on Jeremy: it was imperfect. It had allowed itself to be seen again. This was no god; it was an animal. He held the spear level with a white-knuckled grip, standing between the beast and Nell. Unfolding its ears, the kingyan revealed yellow, slit eyes before pouncing a seemingly impossible distance and landing in front of Jeremy. Before he could react, the kingyan hooked a claw around his ankle and launched itself past Nell in a swift motion. The crescent claw cut deep through his tendon, bringing Jeremy to a knee. Using the spear for support, he spun trying to find it. The fire continued to spread as more trees were overtaken. “Where did it go? Oh my god, Jeremy!” Nell screamed. A sharp pain persisted in his side. Jeremy looked down to see blood beginning to pool. Holding the wound, he tried with futility to stem the bleeding. He held the spear firmly as Nell tried to take it. “I need to try! I won’t just let it have me. We’re so close.” Nell released her grip but held her hand out expectantly. “Get behind me Nell. I know what to expect now. Let’s just hope it comes back while I still have some life left.” Standing on one good leg, Jeremy pressed his bent elbow against the wound in his side as blood continued to pour. Time seemed to slow. Nell’s gaze leapt to every shadow. She stopped to pull Jeremy away from the spreading fire when he stumbled and fell. As she helped him up, Nell’s instincts made her look over her shoulder. There, the kingyan crouched ready to pounce. She dropped Jeremy. Quickly, Jeremy marked the direction of Nell’s attention and planted the back of the spear in the ground, holding it steady. Grabbing one of Nell’s ankles, he pulled hard, sending her crashing to the ground as the kingyan jumped. The spearhead tore along the creature’s jutting ribcage revealing white bone. The wound in Jeremy’s own side tore deeper as he twisted to face the kingyan. It stood before a trembling Nell with one claw raised. Nell raised a hand in defense and squeezed her eyes shut. Her fingers grazed the kingyan’s whiskers. Immediately, it let out an incredible cry; pained and piercing. It continued to yowl and bounded out of sight. They had no time to think. Color had drained from Jeremy’s face and he continued losing blood at a steady rate. Supporting him, Nell walked Jeremy to a small tree that was fully engulfed in flames. “I’m so sorry, Jeremy”. After making him lean forward she pushed his wounded side against the burning tree for seconds before pulling him back. His screams horrified her, though they were nothing compared to those of the kingyan. “We need to leave. Now.” Nell stated. Jeremy didn’t have the strength to protest. He was dead. The kingyan had pierced his stomach. Even with the wound poorly cauterized he would not survive the day. The pain was immeasurable. Jeremy struggled to remain conscious and upright when he felt Nell behind him linking arms. “Why are you doing this, Nell? You know I’m not going to make it.” “Just watch my back.” She responded. She leaned forward and his wound pulled open again, though the blood poured slowly. Jeremy tried to support his weight with his one functioning leg, and soon they found a rhythm that allowed them to move steadily. They traveled in their original direction along the edge of the fire and found it had spread far. Morning was upon them before they were removed from its light. \ Soon they reached a steep incline leading to the river. Jeremy realized Nell was right when she suggested they should run for it. “Leave me here.” Jeremy said as he unhooked his arms and let his weight drop. “I can’t leave you! We’re here. We’re safe now.” Tears filled Nell’s eyes. She understood even as she tried halfheartedly to pull Jeremy back to his feet. Jeremy chuckled. “I never asked if you could swim. On second thought, don’t tell me.” He shifted to sit against a tree and Nell handed him the spear. “Go, now! Please just go.” Jeremy pleaded. Nell listened and turned her back on him. After navigating down the incline she spared a final look towards her companion but could see only his shoulders poking out from behind the tree. Cold water made her inhale sharply. Relief washed over Nell as she left the bank and started across the wide river. Jeremy died. Slow. He had time to watch Nell enter the river. He had time to regret his decisions. He sat back against the tree. The kingyan stood before him. In the day’s light Jeremy had the chance to truly see it for the first time. It was magnificent. The kingyan peeled back its hooded ears revealing its eyes. Lowering its head towards Jeremy the creature almost seemed to bow. It held the pose for an extended moment. After sparing Jeremy another look the kingyan moved expertly down the incline towards the river. To Jeremy’s horror it began to swim. In his weakened state he couldn’t even cry out a warning. A ringing turned his attention. A second kingyan passed his wounded side. A bell strung around its neck.