The creature paused, tilting its head. It turned slowly towards where they stood, still hidden by the tree trunks. Unsettlingly long claws splayed across the bark as it searched. Where eyes should have been, there were only empty crevices. No nose graced its blank face. As it sank lower to the ground, it bared its teeth.
Aloisia held her breath. Her fingers twitched around the feathers of her arrow.
And the moment passed.
On all fours, the Forgotten God scampered back, seeking its companions.
Aloisia released her breath.
“What now?” Kaja murmured. “How do we get one alone?”
Ezra tapped his chin. “That one seemed interested enough. Perhaps we could lure it to us, and away from the others.”
“How?” Aloisia asked, the word but a breath. Her gaze flickered to where the creature had disappeared.
“Give it what it wants,” he said. “Blood.”
Aloisia frowned. Before she could ask him what he meant, Ezra pressed a blade to the meaty part of his palm beneath his thumb. Blood sprang forth, and he marked the bark of the nearest tree.
“Is that wise?” Inari asked.
“Unless you have any other plans,” Ezra said, “I think this is the only way to bring one to us.”
“And what if it brings more than one?”
“Then we shall have to figure a way out of said situation.” Ezra took off in the opposite direction of where the Forgotten Gods had gone, marking the trees as he went.
Aloisia glanced back to where the creature had last stood, hoping he would be right.
They followed Ezra back in their two groups. Their prey being behind them unsettled Aloisia. Did it make them the prey instead?
Unease churned in Aloisia’s stomach the further they went. Tension pulled taut across her shoulders. She walked backwards, her bow at the ready, certain their lure would work, and the creature would appear as quickly as it had vanished.
A flash of inky black moved between the trees. Aloisia gave a low whistle, pressing her back to the nearest tree. The others turned. There wasn’t time. It sped towards them, on all fours, its teeth bared and a low growl rumbling from its chest. Aloisia drew back the bow string. The creature leapt. She loosed the arrow, and it found its target.
As corporeal as the creature had appeared, the arrow sailed through it. Its body parted like smoke, reforming once the arrow was gone. Then the Forgotten God landed, knocking Ezra to the ground.
Aloisia cursed under her breath.
The creature’s claws curled around the scholar’s face. To his credit, Ezra did not scream. Aloisia and her sisters unravelled their enchanted chains. They could do nothing, not if the creature could dissolve like mist, not if Ezra and Inari did not first cast their spell.
Inari brought his hands up and began a low chant. The creature’s attention turned to the shaman; its head cocked to one side as if listening to the words he spoke. Shifting off Ezra’s chest, it approached Inari. He held fast. His eyes never left the Forgotten God. Ezra rolled to his knees, lifting his palms, and joining the chant.
Too late, the shadowy monster realised what was happening. It howled, scrambling away as if it could outrun the spell. Aloisia did not know what words the men spoke, but she could see the effect it was having. The Forgotten God groaned, its limbs weighing it down until it could not move any longer.
Inari lifted his gaze from the creature, his eyes finding Aloisia. He gave a nod.
Aloisia led the next stage of their plan, swinging the enchanted chain at the creature. It lifted an arm, only for the chain to wind around it. She breathed a sigh of relief. It was solid enough for the chains to hold.
One by one, the other huntresses threw their chains. The Forgotten God’s other arm was bound, then a chain wound around its waist, another around its neck. It struggled, tugging on its bindings, but the spell Inari and Ezra wove kept it in place.
Hope filled Aloisia’s chest. It was working. They would bring the creature to the trial, to prove Fynn’s innocence, and Inari’s too.
The Forgotten God gripped one chain around its arm, giving another yowl. Then it pulled, knocking Kaja to her knees. Aloisia stilled as the chain fell from Kaja’s grasp, her heart dropping and her hope with it. The creature screamed and whipped the chain forwards. Kaja ducked. Ezra rolled backwards, the chain narrowly missing his chest. In the chaos, Ezra stopped chanting.
One by one, the chains plucked free. As it writhed, the metal sailed around them. Aloisia retreated, her back hitting a tree. She reached for her bow and took aim. The creature charged at Inari, who was still trying to keep the spell in place. Aloisia loosed the arrow and this time it struck. The Forgotten God howled, its head snapping to face her. From its shoulder, the arrow protruded. It seemed to do little to slow it down, changing its course towards her.
The other huntresses loosed arrows upon the Forgotten God. Still, it did not slow. Aloisia sipped a breath, keeping her hands steady as she reached for another arrow. There was nowhere to go. Ezra joined Inari’s chant once more, and the creature drew back. It gave another scream and pressed its claws to its head, as if to block out the words. Aloisia took another shot, and the Forgotten God sank to its knees before her.
