24. Sax #2
Charging through the forest as fast as I can, the noise grows louder, spurring me on, but I falter at the sound of a cry that rings through the air.
Racing deeper into the layers of trees, I come to a halt, my steps turning into a prowl as I hide among the hedges, eyes locked on a silhouette in the distance.
Another scream.
Another layer of terror.
My eyes latch on a trembling figure scooting backward on the dirt. I follow their line of sight, right to the looming threat.
A figure dressed head to toe in black stalks toward them, a heavy hood hiding their face from view. My gaze snatches back to the terrified girl on the ground, and panic surges through me when I realize it's not just any girl.
It's Meadow.
Of all the people in the world, especially of the Land Protectors, she's the most untouchable.
Ivy has never been given the opportunity to care about many people, but Meadow's one of them, and right now, protecting her is the equivalent of protecting Ivy.
A snarl slips from my lips as I launch into action, barrelling toward the figure. My erratic attack catches their attention, allowing them to easily spot my approach, and with a quick clap of their hands, I'm flying backward.
A tree breaks my fall, and I collapse in a heap on the ground, a grunt rumbling from my throat.
Disoriented, the ground shifts beneath me as I struggle to rise to my paws.
The whimpers from Meadow grow louder until an almighty roar bites through the air.
It’s the spark I need to launch me to my feet. Turning in the direction of the chaos, I’m rooted to the spot as my gaze latches on something new. It's not the black-outlined silhouette, or Meadow’s panicked frame on the ground, but the daunting outline of… a bear.
Holy fuck.
As a Land Protector, I'm already aware that Meadow’s magic hasn't come to fruition yet, until now.
But she's in her most vulnerable state. Despite shifting for the first time, completely transforming her presence from a small girl to a large bear doesn’t work in her favor.
As scary as she looks in comparison to a few moments ago, her danger levels have only increased.
With an ache in my chest, I channel into my magic and dart toward the threat once again.
The blacked-out silhouette circles Meadow like a predator stalking its prey, spiking the rage inside of me. I make it within two feet of them, certain I’m unnoticed, when another clap of their hands echoes through the forest, blasting me back once again.
My stomach bottoms out as I hit the ground with a thud, bypassing the trees this time, but instead of admitting defeat, I'm infused with a heightened level of rage.
I feel feral.
The turmoil inside of me is unbearable. The essence of harm thickens in the air, blurring my vision with a red haze, which is unsafe for everyone. But as I force myself back to my feet, paws digging into the dirt beneath me, I can sense a difference.
The adrenaline inside of me is almost unbearable as I spy the intruder hovering over Meadow, hands raised again.
It's not lost on me that the last claps did not affect Meadow, only me, but something tells me that whatever's about to come next is going to be disastrous.
I move on impulse, the distant sound of footsteps alerting me that we won't be alone for much longer. I can only hope it's more backup for me and not for them, but there are no guarantees, and I need to take action immediately.
Their hand clenches above Meadow’s bear, and she whimpers, falling to the ground, writhing in pain. The frenzy for blood is undeniable as I charge, leaping through the air.
The forest moves around me in a way I've never felt before, and I collide with my target with ease, sending them sailing through the air this time. But when they unsteadily rise to their feet, they don’t charge back at us, choosing instead to race off into the distance.
My heart lurches in my chest.
Chase or save.
Chase or save.
Chase or save.
Another whimper from Meadow snaps my attention away from the enemy, and the distress inside of me becomes unbearable. All I can think about is Ivy.
Despite my instincts screaming for me to chase the threat and rip them to shreds, I focus my energy on Meadow. She writhes in the dirt, agony in her groans, but as I press my paw against her arm, she knocks me away, a tremble palpable around her.
The adrenaline inside of me is uncontainable.
I can't hear. I can't think. I can't do anything but let the sensations take root inside of me.
Until I hear it.
Footsteps behind me.
How foolish of the intruder to come back now.
How foolish of them to think they can catch me off guard.
How foolish of them to walk into the tiger’s den, unaware of the wrath they are about to face.
Inhaling sharply, I move with ease, rising up on my back legs to slam my paws into the ground protectively in front of Meadow, and the roar that snaps past my lips is almost unrecognizable.
The ground shakes, the magic inside of me finally finding a release, and movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention just in time to see the intruder lurch through the air, just like I had.
Their back slams against a tree as they fall to their demise, and my tiger once more seeks the taste of blood. It’s alluring, thick and rich in the air as I dart toward my target, certain that Meadow is safe behind me.
But the moment I come to a stop, my heart jolts along with it when I see the injured body, unmoving beside the tree.
Because it's not the black-outlined intruder.
It's Ivy.