The Black Cat, Part Nineteen

The sun rose. 

Zenith slumped against a tombstone, the crumpled note from Dylan's scout clutched in her fist.

Sleep had eluded her. If these people found them, she imagined others could have with ease. 

Across from her, Asuka gnawed on a piece of dried fruit, her brow furrowed in concentration. She looked worried. Emi sat beside her, sharpening her dagger absent-mindedly. 

No one had talked in a while. 

"So," Emi finally broke the silence, her voice rough with exhaustion, "what's the plan, boss lady? Where do we go?" 

Zenith grimaced.

Running felt futile now, like a hamster endlessly spinning on a wheel. News of the bounty seemed to be spreading like wildfire.

Apparently, these guys they'd taken down were from some group called the Fletchers. Zenith hadn't heard of them before and it seemed clear that she and the girls would be getting visits from many other guilds none of them had heard from.