Nearly a week passed from the time they left Settling Stone. James kept his distance from all but Elder Bo during the day. At night, they would all come back together and he'd have tubs waiting. That first week was arduous for most of them. It was long nights of pain and adjusting as they grew their skills to handle the night flares. The days were long as they were kicked out of the camp early and forced to fight until nightfall.

Amber proved herself more than once by surpassing everyone in level. Luna kept her company on most days, helping the woman reach level three in near record time for not being in the wastelands. The nekorian had gained a new skill at level three, that she was very proud of.

James scanned the forest as he felt Amber stalk him. This had become a game over the last few days as she made no sound as she approached. Her soul was nearly invisible to him as she used her newest skill. Sadly, she wasn't high enough level and when she leapt at him, he turned and wrapped his arms around her invisible body.

Hissing and kicking, she fought against him as he held her down. "Dammit, James! Let me win!"

Laughing, he bopped her on the head. "It's never going to work, little kitten."

Growling, she bit his arm, her teeth denting his skin before she tried to shake and take a piece with her.

"Hey!" he protested and bopped her again.

Giving up, she slumped on the ground. "How can you detect me, James? No one else can."

Her Soul Shift skill allowed her to disappear from the world. Even her soul faded away as she entered a different realm that mimicked this one. To her, everyone's souls grew blindingly bright as she could track them through the growth of the forest. She wouldn't even make a sound as she stalked her target.

"As if I'd let you peek on me in the bath," he teased.

Frowning, she shifted under him. "You bathe out in the open. Everyone peeks on you."

Chuckling, he poked her nose before getting up. "You simply just need a stronger soul to overpower my senses with the skill. You're only level three, Amber. Gaining levels isn't a straightforward predictable growth. From level seven to eight, I leapt in power that dwarfed previous level ups. Reaching level nine will likely be the same."

Climbing to her feet, she rubbed her nose while pouting. "It's not fair…"

He smiled softly. "You'll get there, Amber. Our path is a marathon, and you are trying to sprint. This forest isn't the best place for us to go stronger either. Now be a good cat and go kill a rabbit or something."

"Really?" she deadpanned.

"Did I say something wrong?" he teased.

Sighing, she shook her head. "I'm not getting much from the Forsaken here anymore. It'll take another week or two to reach level four."

Turning her so she faced away from him, he kneaded her shoulders. "Relax, Amber. Go out there and stay ahead of the others. You're my second, right?"

"Yes," she answered as her body shivered.

Letting her go, he pushed her forward. "Go. I'll see you tonight."

Amber glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled. "Thanks, James." To match her words, her tail was swaying dangerously close to happiness.

Starting off at a jog, Amber disappeared back into the forest. Only a few seconds passed before Luna stepped out from around a tree. "You made her happy."

Nodding, he turned to his wife. "She deserves kind words for the work she is going to be doing."

Crossing her arms, Luna leaned against him. "I think I'll let her hunt alone for a bit."

Wrapping his arm around her, he guided them along their path. "Elder Bo is just ahead. We should catch up."

"Or we can walk casually," Luna countered. Turning to the west, she hummed. "I found a wasteland section in the middle of the forest. It isn't very large, but we should check it out."

Frowning, he stopped them. "Why didn't you lead with that?"

"Didn't want to ruin the moment you were having with Amber. But seriously, we need to check it out. A zone shouldn't be forming in the middle of the forest."

Agreeing, he picked up their pace until they reached Elder Bo. Explaining the situation only took moments before James let Luna take the lead. He was hoping the entire day wouldn't be spent inspecting the zone, but they might just have a place to train for a few days.

The orange and brown leaves of the trees slowly faded to black as they raced through the land. Miles passed in minutes as they headed west and away from all but Amber. Elder Bo would inform the others what had happened and they would all likely meet up near the zone.

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Trees turned from brown to black with ash-like branches as black leaves littered the floor. Souls of Forsaken stretched out around them, forming groups and packs as they spotted a city.

Stopping near the edge of the forest cut off, James eyed the small city. It only spanned about ten miles in diameter, but it wasn't as destroyed as the one he was in before. Largely, it looked like it had been frozen in time with rust free signs and barely cracked blacktop. The roads still had painted lines, and the windows were still whole on many of the buildings. Even more, most of the buildings weren't destroyed or destitute. But it was the wind that chilled him to the bone.

The Fall breeze had shifted to something that pulled at his soul. His internal fire flickered as he eyed the city and the empty streets. Spreading out his senses made it far worse, as if something was living in the city that didn't want to be found.

"You feel it too, don't you?" Luna asked.

"Yes," James said softly. "We need to study this place."

Nodding, Luna turned back to the forest. "I'm not going to wait for the others to find us. I'm going to go get them. I can smell Forsaken all over this city and the others can clear them out while you research."

"Go. I need to think."

Kissing his cheek, she raced off.

What is this place? James asked himself. The Forsaken feel different. Strong, and entirely unlike the wasteland I came from. What am I going to be walking into?

***

Amber was of course the first one to reach him, having been out to the west. James watched her come to a stop by his side, her body shivering as she took in the city.

"This is the wastelands?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered. "Although, it's just a smaller version of it. The normal wastelands spread for miles and miles in all directions."

"Where are we camping out?"

Rubbing his chin, he scanned the area. He didn't want to stay out in the open as it would be too unprotected. Instead, he studied the nearby buildings. It would be wise to set up in one if possible.

"Let's check the nearby buildings," he said after a few moments. "We'll stick together for now."

"Afraid I'm going to die?" she teased.

"Nope. I just want to watch your tail as you jump around with those claws of yours," he quipped in return.

"Oh…" Blushing, she looked away.

"I'm joking, Amber," he said with a chuckle. "You tease me often enough, but you can't take it?"

Grumbling, she walked off.

Smiling to himself, he followed. Spreading out his senses, he found that he still struggled to penetrate the city. Something was in there that pushed against him. Swallowing hard, he scanned the streets as they entered the city. The nearby buildings were six to eight stories tall, and he didn't know if they were apartments or offices. Either one would work.

Patting Amber's shoulder, he directed her to the left and to the entrance of the nearby building. Nodding, she summoned her claws as they approached the bronze gilded double doors.

With glass windows, the door let them see into what looked like a foyer of some sort. A reception desk was on the right wall, with computer screens displayed behind a taller ledge. Two chairs rested behind the desk, and it was the first place that was intact in an ancient city that he'd seen intact.

Amber kept the lead as she pushed open the doors. To their surprise, they didn't grind open, but swung inward as if on well oiled hinges. Amber shivered as she stepped inside, and he did too as he joined her. He could sense multiple souls in the building.

"Let's check the top floor," he suggested.

Amber nodded and they went to the staircase. The foyer was open and airy with what he knew were elevators that led up and down the building. Without power they were useless, and even with power, he wouldn't risk them.

The staircase didn't have a single blemish as they started toward the top. The railings were painted red, and the paint still looked new, despite being hundreds of years old. Frowning, he watched Amber ascend each unbroken step with ease. Her normal swaying tail was nearly between her legs as they felt the building stirring with souls.

"There's a lot," she whispered.

"It'll be good practice for you," he replied.

Curling her hands into fists, she took a deep breath. "You're right. But top floor first."

The climb to the top only took a few slow minutes before they came to a sturdy metal door. Pushing on the push bar, Amber stepped onto the landing of a split hallway. Three paths led off from their location. Turning left, she frowned, and James frowned with her.

Keeping her claws ready, she started walking. It wasn't long until they came to their first apartment door. The number seven o' one was printed on the door, and they could feel life inside.

"Strike quickly," he warned. "You don't want to let them attract the others."

Nodding, she grabbed the handle and turned. Pushing open the door, she activated her Soul Shift and stepped inside. James kept his Soul Senses on her as he detected a mediocre soul inside.

The nekorian stalked the soul as James followed her inside. What he found was the same black humanoid Forsaken that he had found in the previous city. Its mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth as it eyed him with fear.

"No…It's here…" it pleaded as it backed away.

Holding up his hands, James said, "I'm not here for you. She is."

"She…"

Amber appeared behind the creature with blazing claws and slashed through the Forsaken's back, tearing flesh and soul alike.

The creature spun, extending its arms in whips that ripped through the air with a scream. Amber barely had time to duck before her back was scorched with acid. She screamed in pain before slashing into the monster again. An arm fell to the ground and the monster copied her previous scream.

Before she forgot, Amber siphoned the soul, making the Forsaken flail. Its remaining arm punched into her side, melting flesh and organs as she cut it off. Roaring in pain and rage, Amber leapt onto the monster and stabbed her claws into its chest over and over, shredding its soul before they both collapsed to the ground.

Moving forward, he pulled the arm from her side. The cat dismissed her Soul Claws and whimpered as her body healed.

"That sucked…"

"Your reserves are draining," he stated. "You should eat."

Nodding, her mouth started to salivate as the hunger took hold. With hardly more than a brief pause, she tore into the Forsaken as he handed over bottles of water.

Minutes passed as she recovered, and they prepared to take on another apartment. Once she was ready, Amber climbed to her feet and hugged him.

"These are like the things you fought on your own?" she asked softly.

"Yup," he admitted. "Although, they are rather easy."

Frowning, she pulled away slightly. "That was easy?"

"Get going, kitty cat. You have this entire floor to clear before the others get here."

Growling, she poked him in the chest, harder than she had ever before. "It's not kitty cat!"

"Kitten?" he teased.

Throwing up her hands, she stormed away, muttering curses under breath. For his part, James grabbed the body of the Forsaken and carried it to the window. Opening it up, he tossed the body out and watched it splatter across the concrete.

One down. Many more to go.

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