The first order of business would be to avoid any more Crackpaw encounters. Zack led the Ironstar siblings out of the immediate danger area, walking slower than normal so Alan could help Anna walk. The arrowhead must even now be cutting up her insides.

He’d heard that internal wounds could be as bad as those on the surface if enough bits of you got sliced. He would have been more comfortable with some more distance before stopping, but it was obvious Anna’s wounds couldn’t wait. The moment he found a shallow rocky hillock that would provide cover, and motioned for everyone to pause.

“Why are we stopping?” Anna asked.

“We need to get that arrow of you,” Alan said, before Zack could offer. “I still have a [Light Healing Potion], and there’s no better time to use it.”

“Oh,” Anna agreed. “All right.” She gingerly placed her back against the hillock. “Go ahead.”

Alan knelt beside her and gripped the arrow shaft. “This will hurt. Count of three?”

Anna huffed. “Just do it, Ala—”

She yelped as Alan wrenched the arrow out of her chest with all the Strength a Brutalist could muster. Fresh blood spurted all over her nice blue dress as her green Health Bar appeared again with a fourth still charred. Zack winced as Anna doubled over coughing.

Yet Alan had a potion out of his pack and pressed to his sister’s lips a moment later. His expression looked almost as pained as hers. “Drink it all. We’re out of the woods now.”

As Anna straightened and forced down the clear red liquid, her trembling eased. As her wound sealed, blood that had previously pumped eased off like a spigot being closed. Her Health Bar went full green before vanishing. Finally, Anna sighed heavily and leaned against the hillock.

“Are you all right?” Alan asked worriedly.

Anna laughed lightly. “What a perfect end to a perfect day.”

Alan gently rubbed her arm, then rose to look at Zack. With visible effort, he offered a reasonable smile. “Thank you again, Zack, for your help today. Safe journey.”

That was obviously an invitation to go away, yet Zack wasn’t offended by this casual dismissal. He had no desire to stay in a Party any longer than he had to. He reached into his pack and flipped a single Life Crystal toward the two of them. “Took this off one of the Miners.”

“Keep it,” Alan said. “It’s the least we can offer you in return for your help.”

Zack cocked an eyebrow at Anna. “It’s yours. Party rules. But if you’re feeling grateful and generous, offer me a meal instead. You can find me at The Mead Beast anytime past eight, Miss Ironstar.”

“Anna,” she reminded him. She also smiled at him, much to the visible annoyance of her brother. “And I might just take you up on that, Zack Silverstone.”

Yes! While Zack was pleased he’d made an impression, he kept his face impassive. “You two have a good day.” He turned and sauntered off, then activated [-Shadow Walk-] just to be flashy.

No harm in a little flourish on the way out.

He took his time getting back to Wolfpine, even soloing a lone Gloamwolf on his way back. Once he finished off the wolf, he checked his experience. 26160/29000. If he kept up his death-dealing in Crackpaw Mine and made sure not to get horribly injured, he could reach Level 6 and get his next Skill in a few months or less.

Soloing was, without question, the way to go. Glenn was going to be so jealous when Zack filled him in on today’s exploits. Zack had a spring in his step as he returned to Wolfpine, yet when he arrived, a number of people had joined the two armored Town Guards who always watched the gate.

Other than the Town Guards, who were impossible to identify in their armor, Zack recognized Ziva Willowbraid, Erika Willowbraid, Karl Coldbreaker, and Hal and Tania Redwood—Glenn’s parents. Debra Whitetalon was there as well, staring mournfully at the safe road while she wrung her hands.

All six of them were Townsfolk, and none could leave town after the sun went down lest the Gods turn them all to salt. So why were they all clustered at the gate like this?

Once he reached the gate, Zack waved casually. “Problem?”

“Zack!” Tania said, as he hurried over. “Have you seen Glenn today?”

So Glenn had gotten himself in trouble again. “Should I have?” Zack asked easily.

He kept any obvious worry from his face. Tania Redwood was a tough woman who didn’t worry easily, so if she was worried about Glenn, this matter must be serious. Zack didn’t want to make her feel even more nervous by acting like he was worried, too.

Beside Tania, Hal Redwood looked around ready to gnaw off his own fingernails. He looked a lot like Glenn, just older. His constant worrying about his only son had lent lines to his face.

“Glenn never returned from hunting today,” Tania said grimly. “Becka just left as well, off to look for Azalea Whitetalon. Azalea went missing late this afternoon. No one’s seen her since.”

So Azalea Whitetalon was missing again? That girl simply couldn’t stay out of trouble. Zack glanced over his shoulder at the empty Safe Road, then back at Tania. She looked lost.

Zack clapped a hand on Tania’s shoulder and smiled confidently. “Glenn’s fine.”

Tania stared at him, obviously conflicted.

“He and Becka will find Azalea,” Zack said. “Don’t forget, I hunted with those two for over a year. They can handle any Monster out there with ease, so you don’t you worry about a thing, Miss Redwood. If they’re together, they’ll have Debra’s little darling back before nightfall.”

Tania didn’t look entirely convinced, but she had the decency to look reassured. She looked to the gate. “You’re right. They’ll be fine. Of course they’ll be fine.”

“I wish I had your confidence,” Hal Redwood muttered. His gaze remained locked on the empty Safe Road beyond the gates, as if he was desperately willing his son to appear from thin air.

“Hey, it’s hard to have my confidence,” Zack said, and slapped Hal on the arm. “Yet I know Glenn. He’ll be back. Count on it.”

Tania managed the barest of grins. “Thank you, Zack. Tell your mother I said hello.”

Zack offered her a knowing wink. “Will do.” Even at his mother’s age, Tania Redwood was still easy on the eyes. She was almost as curvy as Becka.

Zack strode away from the gate to get cleaned up. He remained covered in dirt and was still a bit wounded, and he wasn’t about to walk into The Mead Beast smelling like Crackpaw Mine. There might be girls there. There might even be an Anna.

Zack gave no thought to trekking out after Glenn and Becka. There was no way he could find them with the sun already down, and he wouldn’t insult them by trying. He knew how tough his two best friends were, and he knew they could handle whatever Balarel threw at them.

Besides, it wasn’t like there was anything he could do to help them tonight.