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I take a step forward, and the hunters step back. Blood drips from my bone blade and from the cut on one of their arms. "Well? What are you waiting for? Save the world." I grin. "Kill me."

Another step forward. Another step back.

"It'd be such a shame if you came all the way out here for nothing. May as well make sure that SOMEONE dies tonight..."

"Oh my GOD you're such an edgelord."

Who- My eyes flick left and right, looking for source of the voice. The hunters look even more surprised than me. Before I can decide whether to stand my ground or make distance, a marowak steps out from the brush. With the threat in plain sight now, I regain my balance, brandishing my blade. "Oh? And who's this, a hero... or a martyr~?"

They groan, throwing off my balance yet again. "Just shut up, I'm going to die of second-hand embarrassment before that pocketknife of yours even touches me." Then, the marowak turns away from me without a care in the world. "You two, get out of here. I've got this."

"B-but-"

"Go, it'll be harder to fight with a pair of walking targets nearby."

As quietly as I can, I leap toward the marowak, thrusting my blade-

*BONK*

They throw their bone club behind them, knocking me out of the air without looking. "I've got this. Leave."

The hunters run off, and I scramble to grab my blade and back up to a safe distance. "... You're good. I've been waiting for a decent challenge."

The marowak turns back toward me. "I know it won't matter, but I feel like it's only fair to tell you that I'm not here to capture or kill you. So. Easy way, or hard way?"

"I've got about as much trust in that as I do white on my blade's edge."

Marowak smiles. "Okay, that one was pretty good." They kick their club into the air and grab it. "Hard way it is."

The fight is hopeless. Every attack I throw at them, they see it coming and respond with a perfect dodge or counter strike. Blow after blow leaves me aching and breathless, until I need to stop and make distance to recover. I've fought opponents stronger than me before, but never one more skilled. An expert fighter, and with the advantage of evolution... I think I need to retreat-

As if sensing my intent, Marowak chooses that moment to make an attack of their own, rushing in with a swing! I duck under it, but it was a feint; the real attack is a kick that slams directly into my face. I try to scramble away, but they grab me by the ankle and swing me overhead, slamming me onto the ground, then finishing with a stomp to the gut that knocks the wind out of me.

Gasping and worn out with my blade flung off somewhere, I stare up aimlessly as Marowak looks me over. "Ah shit, think I got too rough. Hang on." They rummage around in their bag and pull out an oran berry, considering it for a moment before splitting it in half. They bend down and raise my limp head, putting half in my mouth and moving my jaw to make me chew.

Once it starts kicking in, I weakly push them away and finish it myself. I wince at my numerous remaining aches. "Half... Really..?"

Marowak drags me to my feet. "The bruises will keep you pacified. You've been through worse. And let's be real, physical pain is far from the worst thing you're feeling."

"What, you think I'm, ngh, mad that I lost to you?"

"Not at me, but you're mad alright. And plenty of other things too. Thinking the world's going to end tends to do that to people."

This idiot... Just another hero out to get rid of the human and save the world... "The world IS going to end. You, me, everyone, we're all going to die, and there's nothing anyone can-"

Marowak grabs me! They get me in a bearhug and- No, wait... This is just... a hug..? "It can get better. I know it doesn't feel like it, I know how hopeless it all feels, but it can get better."

"What... What are you talking about? WHAT can get better? Because my life sure as hell can't! I'm a fugitive! Everyone wants me dead!"

"That would be a problem, if you were wanted for a crime you actually committed." What. "It CAN get better. You CAN find a way to prove your innocence. There IS a way to restore the world's balance. It's not hopeless."

"How do you know that? How do you know any of that!? And- And there's nothing that *I* can do to save the world! I TRIED! I'm just some stupid human that got caught in the middle of all this b-bullshit, that I d-didn't deserve..."

"I know. Fate played one cruel joke on you. None of this is fair. You didn't deserve any of this."

"I j-just... I don't want to die, I don't want anyone to die! I was so happy, and then... a-and then..." I'm not sure when I started crying, but now, I start sobbing. "WHY!? Why is this ha-happening to me!? Why d-do I keep losing people!? Compass... Rose... Why did you leave me all alone..."

I whine and whimper and sob and sniffle in the embrace of the marowak. They hold me steady and rub my back as I cry my heart out onto them. Eventually, they shoved the other half of the berry into my mouth, and I started returning the hug. I don't remember which happened first.

As my tears start running dry, they pick me up and carry me somewhere dark. I cling to them, the only nonviolent touch I've felt in weeks, until I finally fall asleep...

... And then, for the first time in weeks, instead of a nightmare, I have a dream.