8. Chapter 8
8
I perched high in the tree's thick foliage, anxiously awaiting the starting whistle. My fingers absently brushed over the cold, golden whistle Darius had given me, feeling its smooth surface as I replayed his words in my mind:
" Prioritize your safety above all else. You've got one hour—act fast, stay sharp, and take the three of them out. Wait for the signal to begin. If you're in danger, use the whistle to stun them. We'll be at the entrance, waiting. "
I adjusted my bow and the trio of daggers strapped to my thigh, squaring my shoulders as I settled onto the branch. My stomach churned, but I forced myself to focus, sifting through possible scenarios of what they'd throw at me besides dogs. I tried to recall anything from my history lessons that might offer a clue to any creatures. It had to be something—
The signal rang out, echoing across the sky and stopping my breath. I swallowed my fear and leapt into motion, squatting low on the branch. Shouts rattled in the distance before ferocious growls slashed through my focus, coiling my stomach. I froze, gripping the tree trunk tightly, recalling the calming techniques Darius had drilled into me before any training began.
Inhale, exhale.
Inhale, exhale.
My breathing narrowed, turning back into its silent rhythm. Whatever that was, I didn't like the sound of it.
Another set of snarls and shouts echoed off the trees.
You've got one hour—act fast, stay sharp, and take the three of them out.
Centering myself with a sharp breath, I quickly assessed the width of the nearby tree and judged it suitable for my plan. After securing my bow, I pressed my back against the trunk, took another deep breath, and sprinted along the sturdy branch, launching myself into the air.
The collision with the next tree knocked the wind out of me. I instinctively clawed at the rough bark, scraping my hands as I desperately searched for placement. My bow rattled against the overhanging branches, throwing off my balance.
The snarls grew louder, more feral, and ravenous. Ignoring the pain, I pushed forward, jumping from one tree to the next, each leap drawing me closer to the spine-chilling growls.
My breathing became labored and frantic—inhale, exhale.
My mind returned to the last time Jesri evaluated me with dogs less than a year ago, and I failed miserably. There were six of them, and one with a feral infection that left me bedridden for weeks. I barely managed to knock it unconscious before it could tear me apart. That evaluation had plagued me with nightmares for weeks.
A sudden crunch to my right jolted me back to the present, followed by a low growl that sent icy shivers down my spine. You've got one hour.
I forced my fear deep down and steadied myself against the trunk, gazing toward the source of the sound.
A streak of white fur darted out of sight so swiftly that if I blinked, I would have missed it. I narrowed my eyes, tracing the path of the fur, and steadied my breathing. Embracing the trunk, I shifted to lower branches, aiming for a better view.
I landed softly, ensuring the leaves didn't quiver under the sudden change in my weight as I crept out further, testing the branch's sturdiness before scanning the area and sitting down, coiling my legs beneath me. It was eerily silent, except for the birds that chirped in the distance and the muffled laughter from the men waiting for me to finish.
I unslung my bow, swiftly drawing an arrow and letting out a sharp whistle, hoping to entice the creatures to come to me rather than hunt them down. I did it again, scanning the area for any movement or disruption.
Nothing.
I suppressed my anger and started to sheathe my arrow when a guttural growl shattered the silence beneath me. In an instant, searing pain shot up my leg as I saw large claws dig deep, scraping against my flesh and splattering hot blood on its white coat as the beast fell back to the ground, taunting me.
My scream pierced the air as my grip slipped on my bow, and I watched in terror as it plummeted down beside the beast. With a swift motion, I pulled my legs up and leaped to the branch above, clutching my bloody and torn leg. Letting out another anguished cry, I glanced back and locked my eyes with the creature. Its large yellow eyes peered deep into mine. I had never seen anything like it—a creature resembling both a wolf and a bear, moving with deadly silence unlike any other animal. Its once-white fur was now matted, and a sticky gray, and its eyes held an intelligence far beyond any ordinary dog I had faced.
It snarled, exposing its rotted sharp teeth. My heart pounded, adrenaline flooding my veins as instinct took over. Before I even inhaled, my hand was already moving, hurling my longest dagger straight into its eye. The beast dropped instantly, letting out a frantic screech as it clawed desperately at its face.
One hour.
How in Tyran am I supposed to take out three of these?
I quickly scanned the area, and before I could stop myself, I leaped down, landing hard on the ground and feeling the pain from my calf sting insufferably as blood oozed out. The smell of the beast overwhelmed me with surprise as I grasped hold of my bow with shaking hands.
It was still moaning and clawing at its eye as I let my intuition take over. I quickly backed up and lunged atop it, reddening its rough fur with my sticky blood. I dug my heels into its side, ripping out chunks of fur, trying to hold on as it thrashed beneath me. I shoved my bow string over its narrow head and pulled up against its neck as it snarled loudly, rumbling my body. It clawed for me as I squeezed my thighs against its frame, stinging my leg and bubbling out more blood. I held tightly to my bow in one hand before swiftly yanking the dagger out of its eye.
Blood sprayed, splattering onto my face as I quickly sheathed the dagger right before the creature started running violently, almost bucking me off. I yanked hard on my bow, hoping it wouldn't snap, and steered it toward a large boulder.
I sucked in a breath, unable to brace myself as it smashed with a sickening crunch, throwing me up and over before I smacked hard onto the ground. The air escaped my lungs, leaving me gasping with rapid coughs.
I shifted over to my side, swallowing any air I could and allowing my lungs to readjust as more pain cracked at my bones. I looked down at my left pant leg sliced open, revealing the four claw marks that would have me stumbling for who knows how long. I cut one of my sleeves off, hurriedly tying it around my bloodied leg, hoping it would stop the bleeding for at least a little.
One hour.
I struggled to lift myself, gauging how much weight I could put on my injured leg and grunted in frustration. Spotting a few of my arrows scattered nearby, I quickly retrieved them, limping over to where the unconscious beast lay.
Its breathing was labored as its eye bubbled out blood that coated its matted fur. I choked down a gag before another snarl erupted dangerously close. Whirling around, I pressed against the white beast, swiftly scanning my surroundings before feeling for my bow still hooked over the lifeless beast's head.
Another sickening growl reverberated through my bones as I frantically took hold of my bow and tugged hard. The other beast's snarl was wet and guttural, drawing more fear into me.
I calculated my steps toward the nearest tree, seeking an advantage, but deemed it unfavorable considering my worsening leg and the risk of becoming a target.
I swiftly scanned the area once more, unable to locate the second beast, as I continued to tug the bow free. Its head was at an obscure angle, lodging the bow between it and the boulder.
Frustrated, I grunted, urgently assessing my options with only arrows and daggers as a looming dread began slithering up my spine. Shifting my gaze to the right, I caught sight of two ghastly yellow eyes that sucked the air out of me. It was akin to the white beast but bigger and cloaked in fur as black as midnight, absorbing all light. One eye bore a slash, amplifying its already horrifying appearance into something grotesque and nightmarish.
It licked its teeth, drooling as it began stalking toward me slowly, snarling deep. I clung tighter around the bow, praying for help.
Terror gripped my chest, tightening with every heartbeat, like a spider weaving its lethal web around me. A trembling breath escaped me as I strained harder against the bow, each pull amplifying the icy dread threatening to paralyze me.
It crept closer, inch by inch, its eyes locked on me.
A curse slipped from my lips as fresh blood began to seep down my leg, my makeshift bandage already soaked through.
Inhale.
I leapt, scrambling up the lifeless beast with a frantic urgency. I twisted its head with a forceful shove, trying to tug the bowstring off that now scraped against the jagged boulder. A wet snarl blared close as I locked eyes with those horrid yellow eyes hurtling toward me with an alarming speed.
" Tyran! " I cursed in desperation. " Please! " My cries pierced the dense woods, sending birds scattering into the sky. Fear consumed me entirely as I shut my eyes tight, summoning every ounce of strength to yank my bow free. With a jolt, I flung backward, crashing to the ground behind the white beast, my bow clutched tightly in hand, now dripping with sticky blood. Without hesitation, I thrashed about, frantically retrieving several arrows scattered in the fall.
The beast advanced, just a few steps away; its foul smell mingled with the coppery scent of my blood. With desperate speed, I nocked multiple arrows, letting out a scream of pure determination as they shot into the beast's face. A sharp yelp tore from its throat as it staggered, but its momentum carried it forward, crashing into me with brutal force.
I cursed as the impact sent me skidding across the ground, the beast's massive body rolling over me. Pain exploded in every part of my body, its weight crushing my chest while its claws raked across my arm. Blood poured from my leg, pooling beneath me as dizziness clouded my vision. I could feel warm blood trickling down my face, the world spinning around me as I fought to stay conscious.
The beast quickly got up, thrashing its head violently and clawing at the arrows lodged in its snout. One stuck in its slashed eye while the others pierced its throat and mouth. I scrambled back toward my bow that lay a few feet from me.
It noticed the movement and snarled at me, quickly slashing out. I rolled sharply away as its large paw struck the ground, inches from my head. Swiftly, I pulled out my long dagger, realizing my others were scattered with my arrows in the crash, and scanned the area for my other two before another claw came crashing toward me. Instinctively, I held the dagger prostrate as its large maw slammed into it, stabbing straight through and spraying me with its ghastly blood. It yanked its paw back and clawed out again, barely slicing into my arm before I dodged away. Its angered roared, piercing my ears with a ring.
My body shook at the deafening roar, adrenaline surging through me as I forced myself to my feet, every step a jolt of pain. I stumbled toward my bow, gritting my teeth with each agonizing movement. Just as my fingers closed around it, a more thunderous and fearsome roar echoed from my left, stopping me cold.
I spun around, bracing for another attack, but what I saw left me breathless. This new beast was unlike the others. Its fur gleamed with a golden brown hue, streaked with rich golden-coppery oranges, and its massive frame bore more resemblance to a majestic wolf than the grotesque creatures I had just faced. Its eyes were a mesmerizing mix of bright coppers and golds, and shone with an unexpected gentleness that made me hesitate.
The jet-black beast snarled, its gaze locking onto me with a chilling, silent claim of ownership. My breath caught as the golden creature responded with a deep, menacing growl that reverberated through my chest. It stepped forward, placing itself between me and the black beast as if to shield me. The air crackled with tension as my heart pounded in confusion.
In a blur of movement, the black beast lunged, its fangs gleaming with deadly intent. It struck the golden creature with ferocious speed, sinking its teeth deep into its side. A blood-curdling yelp escaped the golden beast's snout, and my heart lurched in fear.
Frantically, I reached for the golden whistle around my neck—only to realize it was gone. Panic seized me as dread settled in my gut. With a desperate prayer on my lips, I tightened my grip on the bow and bolted, pushing my shredded leg to its limit and sprinting away as fast as I could.
As I fled, the clamor of battle behind me intensified, claws scraping against the earth and teeth clashing in a flurry of violence. The heat of their massive bodies bore down on me, just feet away. A sharp snap followed by a pained yelp cut through the noise, forcing me to glance back.
I quickly scooped up more arrows, nocking them with trembling hands. The golden beast had its jaws locked onto the black one's throat, blood staining its coppery fur. I released the arrows in a flurry, not caring for precision, just desperate to keep them at bay.
Within seconds, the fight escalated into a savage brawl. Teeth snapped, saliva sprayed, and guttural growls echoed around me, turning my insides to sludge. They barreled toward me like cannonballs, each trying to overpower the other in a frenzied race to reach me first. The ground shook with their ferocity, and I could feel the vibrations in my bones, my heart hammering in sync with the relentless violence.
I ran harder than ever. My lungs, legs, and body screaming against the strain. I felt my blood rushing down my leg, pooling into my boot as a numbness overtook it, tingling down into my toes just as I reached the tree. I began climbing as fast as possible; my nails split against the bark that splintered into my palms.
A torrent of guttural snarls echoed behind me as the black beast broke free and lunged at my legs with its bloody maw.
Its claw caught onto my left boot, pulling me down and taking my boot off completely. I hung on, kicking frantically, and forced the broken arrow deeper into its eye.
It yelped out again before the other beast jumped on its back, biting hard into its neck, its blood coating its teeth. They fell back with a sickening snap, seeing the black beast's head slump lifelessly in the massive beast's mouth.
I got to a branch and began hoisting myself higher and higher, wholly out of range of the golden beast that dropped the black beast at the base of the tree. It began roaming around under the tree, limping and whimpering out. Blood covered its golden fur with two of my arrows protruding from its back. I nocked another arrow, letting it fly into the beast's side. It roared in pain before it limped and fell to the ground.
I took a staggered breath, struggling to gather my thoughts as panic and fear churned inside me. I pushed the pain down and focused on the motionless golden beast lying before me.
There's no way that arrow took it down.
Still, I nocked another arrow, just in case, and released it. The arrow struck its neck, and the beast let out a soft, pitiful whimper that made a pang of guilt twist in my chest.
I shoved the feeling aside and settled onto the branch, focusing on my breathing to steady my racing heart.
Inhale, exhale.
My entire body trembled as the adrenaline drained away, and I became aware of the blood dripping from my head. I touched the gash on my hairline, pressing down to stop the bleeding.
I needed to get back to the gate, uncertain how much time had passed.
Pushing aside the fog creeping into my vision, I wiped away the blood that threatened to blur my sight and began my descent. My muscles screamed in protest as I slid down the trunk, finally jumping clear of the black beast that sent my leg barking in protest.
The golden creature lay several feet away, its breaths coming in slow, ragged gasps.
A strange sensation washed over me, urging me to aid the creature.
No. Absolutely not.
The creature's labored breathing persisted, only stirring my heart more. With a reluctant groan, I began to shuffle my way toward the beast, leaving a trickle of blood in my path.
As my hand made contact with the beast's soft fur, a surge of unexpected emotion flooded through me. In that moment, the apprehension that had clouded my mind dissipated, replaced by a profound sense of connection to the creature and an intuition of its inherent goodness, which seemed to radiate from every fiber of its being.
I moved fast, yanking out the arrows in its back and side as blood poured out but clotted unusually quickly. I did the same to the arrow in its neck as it stirred slightly before its breathing settled.
I stood, watching momentarily, holding my breath as if I could give it to the beautiful beast, hoping it would somehow make it out of these wretched lands and be free. My heart wilted before I slowly limped away.
I trudged on in a deep limp, not knowing what way to go but forward.
Only one more step.
Only one more—
A blistering pain pulsed through my head, ringing like canon from a warship. Across from me, Darius' men lounged against the gate, their laughter contrasting against my agony. I tried to call out, but my voice emerged hoarse and feeble. Every step I took worsened the swelling in my leg, and each movement sent a sharp sting through my body.
My eyes were beginning to stick closed from the blood that was now drying, leaving me looking like something straight out of a horror book Calum and I used to read as children.
"Look!" I heard someone say as my head continued to ring.
Only a few more steps.
My breathing and heart pounded harder, drowning out everything else and clouding my mind in a haze of noise. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground, my bow skittering away from me. I heard Darius shouting orders when warm, strong arms lifted me up.
The world around me was a blur of sound and motion, but I focused on the soft repetition of my name, whispered urgently in my ear.
And, for the second time today, I let the darkness pull me under.