ROGUE RAZOR

[Thicket]

Even as he sprinted, Hadwyn was still the slowest.

"We got him running!" cackled Loyd, from somewhere far ahead. Hadwyn couldn't see through the trail of dust his party members had made.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He stopped, leaning against a tree like a desert dog. Only desert dogs had no tree to lean on. He raised his head, a bead of descending sweat making it hard to see for a moment until he rubbed them out.

He saw nothing but a trail of dust behind what he assumed was Loyd, and Alice was not far behind.

As Hadwyn wheezed, he was still amazed at the endurance of his fellow party members. Sure, he thought Loyd was fast, but Alice was much faster apparently, as she covered the distance between her and Loyd in just a few seconds. Loyd had a five minute head start and she still caught up.

Sure enough, when they entered a more moist patch of land, Hadwyn saw her running alongside Loyd.

"Those fuckers ditched us again."

Hadwyn jumped at the voice.

Mateo was sitting just a few feet away. He was picking at dead grass.

"Guess we just aren't fast enough." Hadwyn sighed.

Mateo turned to Hadwyn and shot him an annoyed look.

I was sitting here for the last five minutes spitting dust out of my mouth. You weren't even close, buddy." Mateo got up and turned his attention to Hadwyn fully.

Hadwyn smirked at him. "Maybe we gotta try harder."

"We? No, no. You. You're gonna try harder. I'm not letting Loyd pull that shit on us anymore." He rubbed his head, paused for a moment then began to rub vigorously. He eventually stopped and glared at Hadwyn.

"Oi! We got it!" Alice's voice rang out in the distance.

She materialized right next to them. Her face was covered in blood. Her rapier gleamed with the same crimson too.

She was grinning ear-to-ear.

"Couldn't keep up?" She taunted.

Mateo pressed his fingers to his temples and closed his eyes. "Don't test me. I'm still the second strongest. I'll wipe the floor with you."

She giggled madly. "If you can catch me, that is."

"Hey!"

Everyone turned. It was Loyd. He slung a giant bloody net over his shoulder. Inside was a mutilated snake-like beast.

Hadwyn hated snakes.

Loyd smirked. "Guess who dealt the finishing blow?"

"Guess who doesn't give a shit?" Mateo snapped. But he was unanimously ignored.

Loyd swung the net in front of Hadwyn, causing him to take a step back. Loyd knew of his disdain for the slithering reptiles, yet he still chose to prey on Hadwyn's hatred of snakes.

Loyd dangled the net with just one arm, simultaneously displaying his apparent fearlessness and strength.

The creature weighed more than it looked, as Hadwyn had done a copious amount of research into the monster before following his party on their mission, yet Loyd held it almost effortlessly with one hand, grinning at the rest of the team.

It was no surprise that he was their leader.

Hadwyn narrowed his eyes at the net.

No... no you did not...