July 28th, 2018. 5:45 PM.

  Elio, Reggie and Ray hike through Lewis State Forest, a dense tapestry of towering oaks, maples, and hickories, their branches intertwining to form a lush green canopy. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the soft, leaf-littered ground. Ferns and moss carpet the forest floor, while winding trails snake through rolling hills and rocky outcrops.

  Ray takes it all in as he breathes in the scent of the forestry around him; “Hey, Elio. As beautiful as it is out here, you never answered why we’re going this way to restock on supplies when Lawrenceburg was like a few hours closer. What’s got you in such a rush?” He asked.

  “Huh? Oh, I thought I told you. My bad, dawg, I didn’t realize. To keep things brief, one of my old friends lives in Nashville, which is just a while up north, so I decided we might as well head there and stay for a while.” Elio answered as he watched Reggie walk ahead of him.

  “Ahh, alright. Who’s this friend we’re visiting?” Ray asked curiously.

  Elio lets out a smug grin; “Oh, nothing too crazy. His name’s Atticus O’Neil-” “Hmm? Atticus O’Neil? Isn’t that the lead singer of that Aussie band, Thrashold?” Ray interrupted in soft surprise.

  “Yup!” Elio snapped his finger; “Believe it or not, Atticus and I were childhood friends, but in the third grade, his family moved back to Australia.” He explained. Ray grabs onto a tree branch as he draws his sword and begins to carve it as the other two yap.

  “Oh, right, I forgot, didn’t he have a concert in Gull’s Bay like last year?” Reggie asked as he walked back. Elio scooped up Reggie as they continued walking; “Yeah, I’m surprised you remember that night.” “Yeah, while you went there to go visit him backstage, I stayed back at the lodge and ate the food you prepared the night before.” Reggie replied. “Hey, Ray, you’ve been silent, what’s up?” Elio asked.

  “My bad, I got hungry.” “I’m actually kind of hungry too, and unfortunately, we’re completely out of food to cook.” Elio replied. He glanced over at the branch Ray’s carving; “You’re wanting fish tonight, huh?”

  Ray nodded. “Alright, then how ‘bout we set up camp for the night?” Elio asked as he took off his backpack. “I’m good with that. I can set up camp while you take care of the fishing, if that’s alright.” Ray answered as he held out the branch, now carved into a rod with a string attached to it.

  Elio grabs the rod before walking off; “I’ll be back. Come on, Reggie!” Elio called as he grabbed a cooler with his free hand, dragging it behind him. “Right! Bye Ray!” He replied as he tailed behind Elio. “Take care.” Ray said as he got to work on setting up camp.

  “Hey, Elio.” “What’s up, buddy?” Elio asked as he glanced down. “Why did Atticus move back to Australia anyway? California’s already so far away, on the complete other side of the Earth Continent. I’m just curious.” Reggie asked back.

  “Oh, that? Pretty much, before he moved to California, his house burnt down cause of an Australian firehawk. It’s a species that proactively starts wildfires in order to catch prey, and his house was in a pretty rural area, so it ended up catching fire. He has family in Cali though, so they moved there until they could get back on their feet again. Then they were able to buy a new house back there, so they left.” Elio explained.

  “Seriously? There’s a bird that does that?” “Heh, yeah. Ain’t nature just neat? With the kind of wildlife there, I’ve always imagined what the monsters there are like.” Elio grinned at the thought.

  “I can imagine how good the animals there taste.” “Nah, we’ll just stick to produce if we go there. Platypi, blue-ringed octopus, box jellyfish, stonefish, cane toads, nah, too many poisonous animals.” Elio replied, quickly shutting down the thought.

  “I concede then.” Reggie commented before going quiet, enjoying the scenery as the two hiked toward a river.

  * * *

  July 28th, 2018. 7:50 PM.

  Elio quietly sits on a weathered log at the river’s edge, the string on the rod disappearing into the golden-hued water. The setting sun casts a warm glow through the dense trees, their leaves rustling softly in the evening breeze. The river flows lazily past, reflecting streaks of orange and pink across its rippling surface.

  Reggie yawns; “Hey, Elio? Can we go? We’ve been here for a long time now.” “Yeah, we’ll go after I catch this next fish, this one’s so close, I can feel it.” Elio replied as his eyes remained laser-focused on the water. Reggie nods before curling up.

  As Elio focuses on his fishing and Reggie focuses on his nap, a black bear, hidden behind the bushes, crouches low, its muscles coiled like a loaded spring. Its dark eyes lock onto its unsuspecting prey, nostrils flaring as it inhales their scents. Clawed paws grip the soil, tense and ready. With a final, silent shift of weight, the bear gathers its power, lunging forward like the unstoppable force of fur and fury that it is.

  Its body stops moving as Elio swiftly turns around, landing a devastating elbow bash to the bear’s head. The bear falls unconscious, hitting the dirt with a loud scuffing noise.

  “Dammit, I scared the fish away.” Elio groaned. “Alright, let’s go, Reggie-” “Wait, you can keep fishing.” Reggie cut him off as he stood up from where he laid. Transforming into the Nightmare, he continued; “I’ll just have this as my dinner.” He declared.

  “Wait-” Elio paused in concern as he thought to himself; “Oh, wait, never mind. I forgot you’ve actually had bear meat before. Alright, you enjoy that, I’m just gonna keep fishing til you’re done.” He said, sitting back on the log.

  “This tastes so good!” Reggie commented, his voice muffled by his own ravenous chewing. Elio grimaced; “Don’t talk while you eat, that’s disgusting.” “Got it-” “What did I just say?” Elio interrupted. Reggie’s ears fold down slightly as he continues to gorge his meal.

  * * *

  July 28th, 2018. 8:20 PM.

  As Elio relaxes under the moon, a deep, guttural eruption rumbles from the depths of Reggie’s throat, vibrating like a distant thunderclap. The sound swells into a raw, primal roar, rattling his chest, making Elio stand up in fright before tapering off into a gravelly growl.

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  “Jesus Christ! Reggie, is that what you sound like when you burp in that form?!” Elio shouted in shock. “Pardon me, I finished the last of that bear too quickly and swallowed excess air.” Reggie replied. “Wait, what?” Elio asked, looking at where the bear once was.

  Elio’s eyes widened; “Geez, you ate the bones as well! Though, I guess this means we can head back now. Ray’s prolly gonna start hunting his own food at this rate.” He suggested as he grabbed the cooler.

  “That works for me.” Reggie answered as he walked alongside him.

  * * *

  July 28th, 2018. 8:35 PM.

  The two aimlessly trek through the woods. “Elio, this doesn’t feel the right way. It’s taking us longer to get back to camp than it did when we left.” “Nah, I know. I can’t lie, I forgot which way we came from, the place is so different looking at night.” Elio responded.

  “Well, that’s reassuring.” Reggie commented sarcastically before smelling the air, tilting his head in confusion. “I smell Ray, maybe we are close.” “The hell are you talking about?” Elio asked, returning the confusion. “Hold on.” Reggie said as he kept sniffing the air.

  He inches his head towards Elio’s hand, his nose locking onto the fishing rod; “Well, I guess it’s not Ray, but I’m definitely smelling steel.” Reggie commented as he pressed his nose against the rod further. He pulls away before walking off in the direction they came from before.

  “Hey, wait, Reggie! Where are you going?” Elio asked as he tailed him. “I don’t know what it is, but I think what I’m following is the scent of Ray’s sword.” Reggie answered as he continued to scour through the woods. “That’s strange, I wonder when Reggie could do that? Maybe the Nightmare gives him stronger senses?” Elio pondered.

  * * *

  July 28th, 2018. 8:40 PM.

  Ray uses a stick, poking a fire from a makeshift pit he made from rocks and sticks. “So bored… it doesn’t help that my phone’s dead. Not that I’d get service out here anyway, but still-” “Hmm?” Ray paused as he heard the sound of bushes rustling. Reggie pokes his head out, Ray lets out a massive sigh of relief; “Where were you guys?” Ray asked, his irritation leaving quickly.

  “Sorry,” Elio said as walked around the bush; “...the fish were slow today, then Reggie ate a bear, and then we got lost on the way back.” he explained. “Oh, alright. How’d you find your way back?” Ray asked.

  “It’s strange, for some reason, my nose was able to track the steel scent from your sword after I picked it up on the rod you carved.” Reggie answered, putting his paw on his nose. Ray raises an eyebrow; “What?” “Yeah, I’m just as confused.” Elio replied as he shrugged.

  “Do you have any idea what it could be? Like, any theories?” “Theories?” Elio asked as he opened the cooler. “I assumed that the Nightmare would enhance his senses, but that wouldn’t make sense because it’s never done that before.” He answered.

  “Ooo, nice haul!” Ray commented as he looked at the fish that were caught, letting out a grin. “Thanks! But yeah, that’s all I got so far as to why that happened with Reggie.” Elio replied. “Uh… well, you did mention Reggie ate a bear, you think he might’ve inherited its sense of smell or something?” “Are you suggesting that the Nightmare somehow allowed Reggie to ‘absorb’ the bear’s sense of smell by devouring it?” Elio raised an eyebrow as he put a stick through one of the fish.

  “I don’t know, but it doesn’t feel like a coincidence. How strong is a bear’s sense of smell?” Ray asked. “Uh… It’s like seven times stronger than a bloodhound’s, the latter’s being three hundred times stronger than ours. So, twenty-one hundred times stronger than a human’s sense of smell.” Elio answered as he put his fish over the fire to start roasting it.

  Ray does the same as he speaks up; “Well, I see how he was able to track my scimitar now. I doubt a cat’s sense of smell is that strong, right?” “Well, yeah, a Martian tabby’s sense of smell is only fourteen times ours.” Elio answered. “Clearly, there has to be a reason why this new ability kicked in now. Reggie primarily eats meat, so you think he’d have shown some other abilities from different animals by now.” Ray replied.

  “Hmm…” Elio pondered before noticing Reggie slowly leaning forward towards his fish. Elio gently shoves him back; “Reggie, how are you hungry? You just finished eating a little while ago! You even ate the bones-” Elio paused. “Wait, bones! Could that be why?” He wondered.

  Reggie’s ears perk at Elio’s pause; “Hold on, are you saying that the reason I took that bear’s sense of smell came from me eating the entire thing, including the bones?” He asked, losing interest in the fish. “That makes the most sense, logically speaking, but for now, I’ll just take it with a grain of salt.” Ray answered. “Until further speculation, I’m not gonna deem it as completely factual.”

  “Sounds like it’s for the best.” Elio replied as he took a bite of his fish. “We can figure it out some other time, for now, I just wanna eat and go to sleep so we can get to Nashville early tomorrow.” He added. “Sooner we get to the city, the better.” Ray responded.

  “Aight, that’s settled. Hey, Reggie, if you want, you can grab ONE fish, but leave the rest for us.” “Awesome! Thanks, Elio!” Reggie chirped, quickly opening the cooler and looking inside. “Only one!” Elio repeated.

  “Ahhh, shut up.” Reggie yawned. “What was that?” Elio retorted playfully.

  Ray lets out a small chuckle. He shakes his head before taking another bite; “I wonder what Atticus is like? People slander him online to high hell, but then again, which artist isn’t? Though, a person like that sounds right up Elio’s alley when it comes to friendship. Hard to believe I was a wanted criminal and now I’m not, just like that.” He pondered as he continued eating, looking at the fire.

  * * *

  July 29th, 2018. 10:45 AM.

  The night passes, and after miles of endless pavement and roaring semis, the city of Nashville rises from the horizon like a beacon of relief. The skyline sharpens with each step. Glass and steel glowing in the sun, billboards flashing with color.

  Elio’s grins from ear-to-ear with excitement as the steady drone of highway traffic gives way to the layered symphony of civilization: voices, music, and the rhythmic hiss of the bus brakes.

  Ray takes a deep breath as he stretches; “Thank God, my feet are killing me. Elio, think we could find a hotel first, then visit Atticus later?” “Yeah, I was planning on that. Let’s stop by a diner on the way first, I’ll pay.” Elio replied.

  Ray nodded; “I’m good with that.”

  * * *

  July 29th, 2018. 11:30 AM.

  The metal chairs screeched as Elio shifted uncomfortably, spearing a fry with his fork. Across from him, Ray sipped his milkshake, his eye focused on Reggie, hunched over on the floor as he drank from a gigantic water bowl. The smell of burgers and grease hung thick in the warm air, but the usual comfort of it felt hollow.

  A woman in a crisp suit walked by, wrinkling her nose. “Disgusting wannabes.” She muttered as the three continued eating, not paying any mind.

  Two teenagers snickered near the curb. “He’s trying so hard to look tough, acting like we didn’t see him crying before Elio rescued him.” “Yeah, ‘wah, the consequences of my actions-’” The teenagers stop as Ray gives them a nasty glare. The two quickly leave.

  Ray lets out a sigh as he goes back to sipping his milkshake. “Man, people do not like you.” Reggie commented. “I can see that.” Ray replied. “Though I can’t care too much, I’m not gonna let some comments from pre-pubescent high schoolers ruin my mood.” He added.

  Elio laughed; “That’s a good way to look at it. And don’t worry, if it makes you feel better, you’re not alone, I read those people’s heat signatures, they hate me too.” He assured him. “I’m not exactly surprised, people will hate others out of association-” Ray stopped as he felt something drench his back in liquid.

  A man in running gear jogged past, shaking his head; “You’re a bitch.” He huffed as he continued running, retracting his hand holding a thermos.

  Ray took a deep breath, ever so slightly tightening his hand on his glass. Reggie jumped onto the table, quickly licking Ray’s hair to get the water out. Elio swallowed the last of his burger, avoiding his gaze.

  He stood up; “Alright, we can leave, Ray.” Elio said softly. “Thanks, I appreciate it.” Ray nodded, standing up and letting Reggie perch on his shoulder. “Thank you too, Reggie.” “Of course, Ray.” Reggie responded, nudging his head on his cheek to show some affection.

  The three leave the table in silence before making their way down the road to find a hotel.