The job had seemed simple: investigate and neutralize the threat plaguing the local farmer’s livelihood. Yet, as the hours waned, the simplicity of the task unraveled into complexity. The creatures he hunted were more than mere beasts it seemed. At least smart enough to avoid the detection of day. Cloud’s position was a calculated choice, offering a panoramic view of the farmland. From this vantage point, he could oversee the golden fields, now swaying ominously under the moon’s pale light. The crops had become a stage for a nocturnal ballet of destruction.

The farmer’s words echoed in his mind, painting a picture of devastation wrought by unseen marauders. Cloud could almost hear the cries of the animals, the sound of tearing flesh and snapping bones, a macabre symphony that played out each night since the troubles began.

And then there was the matter of the other adventurer that had accepted the job — the unknown variable in this equation. Cloud’s experience had taught him to expect the unexpected, to prepare for the possibility of betrayal or incompetence. Yet he also knew the value of an ally, the strength that could be found in unity. Would this partner prove to be a kindred spirit or another obstacle to overcome?

As the night deepened, Cloud’s senses remained alert, his body a coiled spring. The slightest sign, the faintest trail, would be enough to set him into motion. He was the hunter in the darkness, a sentinel standing against the chaos that threatened to engulf the land. The wait was a test of endurance .. a challenge to his resolve. But Cloud was no stranger to such trials. He would stand guard until the dawn if necessary for he was the shield that protected the innocent, the sword that would cut down the malevolent forces that dared to disturb the peace of Provo.