Tomlin thrust his spear forward with all the strength he could muster. The wooden point plunged deep into the Fleshburrower's flank, and the monster let out an ear-splitting shriek. It thrashed wildly, limbs flailing in a furious spasm. Tomlin staggered back, heart in his throat, but after a few seconds the creature collapsed. With a final gurgling hiss, it crumpled into a heap beside Liam. At last, silence fell over the clearing.
For a moment, neither boy moved. Then Tomlin rushed to Liam and heaved the heavy carcass off his friend. "Liam! Are you okay?" he gasped, offering a shaking hand.
Liam was smeared with dirt and dark blood, but alive. He coughed and nodded, letting Tomlin help him upright. "I've… been better," he groaned, pressing a hand to the claw cuts on his chest. He managed a weak grin. "Thanks for the save."
Tomlin sagged to his knees, weak with relief. A grin broke across his face, growing wider by the second. "We did it," he panted. "We actually did it! Our first monster!" A shaky laugh bubbled out of him.
Liam gave a breathless chuckle, still dazed. He glanced at the slain Fleshburrower to be sure it wasn't moving. It lay utterly still, its eyes dull and lifeless. Seeing it dead at last lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.
Tomlin nudged the corpse with his boot and immediately regretted it. "Eugh... gross," he muttered, wiping slime off on the dirt. Then he laughed in sheer disbelief. The danger had passed, leaving behind only giddy triumph.
"So much for an easy stroll," Tomlin quipped as he plopped onto his backside. "Maybe I'll save the dragon-slaying for another time."
Liam managed a croaky laugh. "Good plan." Slowly, he got to his feet and pulled Tomlin up as well. Leaning on each other, they limped back to the fire and sank down onto their blankets.
By the flickering firelight, they tended to their injuries. Liam had three shallow claw marks across his chest; Tomlin nursed a collection of bruises on his side and shoulder. They cleaned and wrapped their wounds with strips of cloth as best as they could.
Despite the pain, Tomlin was buzzing with excitement. "That was insane!" he exclaimed, eyes alight. "You were all whoosh with your sword, and then your eye glowed and poof—no more illusions!" He swung an imaginary sword for emphasis.
Liam couldn't help but grin. "It's called the Eye of the Abyss," he said, tightening a bandage around his ribs. "Lets me see through things that aren't real. Came in handy, huh?"
"Handy? It was amazing!" Tomlin said with a broad smile. He gave a breathless laugh, then winced as his bruised ribs protested. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving him drained and achy.
After a quiet moment, Tomlin nodded toward the Fleshburrower's carcass at the edge of camp. "So... do we get an Essence from this thing?" he asked hopefully.
Liam shook his head. "I don't think so. Some monsters don't leave an Essence behind. Maybe this one didn't have much to begin with, or it faded when it died."
"Figures," Tomlin sighed. He had really hoped this would be his big moment. Still, he mustered a shrug and a crooked smile. "At least we got a great story out of it. Fighting a monster on my first day—I'll take that as a win."
"You'll get your Essence soon enough," Liam assured him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "And yeah, this sure beats a boring walk in the woods."
Tomlin chuckled and nodded. He scooted closer to the fire, letting its heat soak into his tired limbs. After a beat, he looked at Liam, expression earnest. "Thanks for having my back, by the way. I know I got a bit overexcited."
Liam shook his head. "We're friends—that's what we do." He then gave Tomlin a crooked, grateful smile. "And you had mine. That last jab... I wouldn't be here without it."
Tomlin's cheeks flushed a bit at the praise. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to play it off. "What are friends for?" he said softly. They bumped their fists together, sharing a weary grin.
A comfortable silence settled as they watched the flames dance. The terror of the night slowly melted into a proud sense of accomplishment.
Tomlin yawned hugely, the excitement finally giving way to exhaustion. He curled up in his blanket on the bedroll. "If any more ugly tunnelers show up, wake me for round two," he mumbled, eyes already closed.
Liam chuckled quietly and tugged his own blanket up to his chin. "Sure thing. Sleep well, hero."
Within moments, Tomlin was out cold, a faint snore buzzing from his nose. Liam stayed awake a minute longer, staring at the silhouette of the dead monster. This wasn't the easy start they'd expected, but they'd proven themselves when it counted.
Bruised, battered, but proud, Liam finally closed his eyes. Tomorrow, they would continue toward the village—two friends a little wiser, a little tougher, and ready for whatever the new day brought.