Second and Third finished their short-winged birds in no time, but the pitiful Eldest—who had caught a porcupine-like animal, merely attempted a few bites, and his nose and mouth were covered with spikes. Never mind the fact that he didn’t even manage to eat a mouthful of meat, the blood he now tasted in his mouth even belonged to himself.

At the start, Irina had thought that those spikes merely pricked Eldest’s hands, and it was only upon seeing his bloody mouth that she sensed something wasn’t right.

“Eldest?”

Irina held up her skirt and walked towards him.

Eldest raised his head at his mommy, his yellowish-orange eyes brimming with...