It circled him just as Dorian did it. Feet jumping forward, the beast mocked Dorian and made him flinch. His head jerked, and the bear took advantage of the stumble. The next thing he saw were antlers. Dorian scrambled backward and fell to his back.
The antlers came down on the ground on either side of his body. The tip of one scratched his throat.
Too close.
Dorian kicked. His foot hit its nose, and the beast reared back with a shout. Dorian jumped to his feet, but the beast was already swinging. Its paw caught Dorian in the side.
The weight of it sent Dorian flying into the air. Pain grabbed him. He landed in a pile of snowy mud by the wall. His breath knocked out of him, Dorian gasped for air and held to his side. He pushed up and leaned against the wall a moment to try and collect himself. Something wet touched his fingers, and he realized the bear had slashed his side. But the cut wasn't what had his breath struggling. It was the ache of the hit he'd been clamored with.
The beast found him, and it once more bellowed in his direction, saliva spewing from its great mouth.
Dorian realized then he didn't have his swords.
It charged for him again. Dorian slumped flat against the ground at the last minute. Its antlers jammed into the wall where he had just been. Dorian frantically crawled beneath it, pushing his pain away and focusing on any glint of silver he could find. The beast jerked its antlers just as Dorian forced himself to his feet.
He couldn't find his swords.
"LEFT!"
He followed Corbin's voice and saw them.
Wood caught his chest. He was swept off his feet once more. He landed in a pile of snow this time, head thrown back. He shook as his eyes re-focused. Wood broke, and he saw the beast breaking the pieces that had stuck to his antlers across the wall. Dorian remembered the knives Corbin had given him. He pulled the two from his belt and forced himself to his feet.
A jagged breath entered his tight lungs, and he stood his ground.
The beast found him again. Blazing eyes poured through him. It came at him and reared back on its hind legs. Dorian swiped twice but caught only air. The bear boxed towards his face. Dorian managed to block one paw, but the other came swinging by his head.
He arched backward just in time.
A single claw whispered across his throat.
Dorian stumbled. He'd just escaped death, twice, and his mind seemed to paralyze at the reality of his situation.
The bear roared back and swiped again. Dorian pulsed back again and swung low. The knife caught in the bear's side. It roared in pain and threw its arms. Dorian fell. His entire body groaned. The agony of his bones radiated through him. He could feel his form threatening the surface. But he didn't want to use it if he didn't have to.
The bear wailed and shook. Dorian forced himself up again, clutching his side. He saw his swords on a pile of snow on the other side of the beast. Unable to suppress the grunt sounding from his lungs, he lunged forward, almost stumbling as he made his way to them. A cough choked his throat just as his hand touched the hilt.
The ground trembled. Dorian stayed low, fingers wrapping around the leather, the other hand stilling around his bleeding side.
One...
His ears perked, and he closed his eyes.
Two...
Shouts echoed around him, but he focused only on the noise of the beast.
It bellowed again. Closer.
Three.
Dorian straightened and whirled. The beast was on him, and his sword caught its shoulder. It boxed at him. Dorian set his feet and pushed it back. It bent its head and threw its antlers at Dorian's arms. The jagged point caught one, and Dorian cried out as his skin ripped. The sword fell to the ground again. The beast reared back, and both paws shoved at Dorian's chest.
Dorian fell. He couldn't breathe. Both paws had knocked the wind out of him again. Blood collected in his throat. He rolled over to cough up scarlet stick onto the white snow.
The beast had him, and it knew it.
It hovered over him as though taunting Dorian's final moments.
