“A long ranged weapon? You have a pigeon right? Use her,” Talon had told me when I asked if he had any ideas for a long range weapon. I frowned at the thought of sending Eira into battle. She was a pigeon after all, not a raptor. How could she be expected to fight? “You could equip her with armour and maybe give her runes of shape shifting.” He provided when he saw me glance at Eira in amusement at the thought of her fighting.

“She’s a pigeon Talon. Pigeons don’t fight even in other forms. In fact, they’re one of the most peaceful birds I have ever known.” I said in exasperation. Even in armour, Eira would be easily taken down by a well aimed arrow. Arrow…? I stood up suddenly and rushed to check the Grave Flower seeds I brought along. Most of these seeds I had magically enhanced. The Glass Rose for example, originally had normal seeds that couldn’t even cut butter and took much longer to grow. They could hardly be considered dangerous unless you cut yourself on the thorns. Those were the natural Grave Flower seed.

If I could make the vines launch the thorns under a certain circumstance, the sword could be a long ranged weapon. The only question was how. The vines would have to be able to produce thorns as fast as they were shot and the thorns should not back fire at the user.

Finally, I decided on 3 different designs of seeds. I used a Glass Rose seed and began placing runes on it. “You know, they say the Blood Hunter can read minds.” Talon commented, looking at my work. He could barely understand the runes I was using, having failed his basic rune crafting exam.

““They” were never a good source of information, whoever “they” is.” I replied without looking up. I was best known in Raven Tribe for my ability to imbue runes into living objects.

“Well you better hope “they” are right when “they” say the Blood Hunter only hunts at night. Rumours are that he’s killed so many people, the stains of their blood are unable to be washed off his wings.”

“I doubt both are true at any rate,” I doubted he was the kind to wait for night just for the joy of a hunt. “Oh yes, did you know imbuing living objects with runes is considered dark magic in the city?”

“You mean they took five years to realize you imbued runes into your seeds?” He asked, incredulous.

“I mean, after five years, they decided that I am now too dangerous to live and have decided to acknowledge the fact that I have been performing, what they consider, dark magic.” I finished up the last of the seed designs. Blood Hunters were only used when someone was considered a danger to society and were the best fighters in the known worlds. They were some of the best fighters in the known worlds and few lasted longer than a couple of minutes against them. I fought best at close range; most likely, the organization would send a fighter specialized in long ranged attacks.

I tested the different seeds and considered them successful. It was evening by the time I finished and Talon invited me back to his tribe to eat dinner. I declined, unwilling to put his tribe in danger should the Blood Hunter attack. Suddenly, I felt a cold breeze blow into the cave and the temperature dropped considerably. Snow started to fall outside the cave and the snowflake-shaped marking on Eira’s chest glow a pale blue.

At that moment, a shadow passed over the cave’s entrance and a figure landed. “Itzel of Unknown Origins, you have been caught using dark magic. Surrender yourself to us or die by my blade.”