Out of the shadows steps a giant clawed foot. Skin like albino leather is stretched over its tall, gangly frame. It stands easily over seven feet, red, beady eyes peering out with eerie vacancy. Yellow hair like straw sprouts from its head, forming a thin line down its thick neck and horned back. It licks its lips, the rancid saliva leaking from its gaping jaw adding to my nausea.
I stop breathing.
It sniffs the air, its nostrils flaring. Then it falls forward onto its taloned hands and roars.
“Run,” the Pirate King says before sprinting headlong toward the exit.
I try to dash after her, but everything feels heavy. Lethargic. The cave walls seem to be closing in on me as I trip through the tunnel. It takes a moment for the beast to cram itself through the narrow space. That is my only saving grace as I army crawl toward my escape.
“Wait! I need help!” I call out. Her hand closes around my wrist, and she groans, hauling me out of the tunnel and to my feet.
“Gods damn it, you’re heavy.”
I don’t have time to snap a witty retort as the creature springs for us.
“Sorry about this,” she whispers before shoving me into the beast’s waiting claws.
Grizzly teeth sink into my arm. Blood spurts everywhere as I howl, trying to wrangle free.
I’m rummaging through the pain, searching for my magic in my state of disorientation, but before I find it, the creature’s jaw unlatches from my skin. I stumble backward.
Just in time for it to projectile vomit all over me. Black, sticky, tar-like goop drips from my head to my toes.
The creature makes a mewling sound, clawing at its throat. My fingers start to spark, and I shoot out whatever I can muster to torch it. My flames are pathetically weak, but at this point anything is better than nothing. I spin, scanning for the Pirate King.
“HEY!” My shout echoes off the cave walls as her silhouette darts out into the light.
That bitch left me!
More creatures appear from the shadows, cramming into the tunnel, shoving against each other, bloodlust lighting up their crimson eyes. I stumble outside, teetering on my feet. The Pirate King is now a small dot bobbing in the distance.
That backstabbing little?—
The beasts tumble after me, lured by my blood—charging at me on all fours like a pack of hyenas with the speed of a Stygian horse. I’m no match. My muscles lock, and suddenly I can’t move at all.
I’m going to die. It’s been real, world.
That’s when I hear the snarl. Feel it in my bones.
A flash of white appears in the distance, growing closer and clearer through my fuzzy vision.
Zadyn bounds toward me inOrCatform, his thundering steps kicking up mountain dust as he gallops at the speed of light. He leaps over me as I collapse, latching onto the neck of the beast hot on my heels.
I flatten out on a bed of broken skulls. And I don’t even care. It feels so nice to rest.
Don’t you dare go to sleep,Zadyn commands.I hum in response.Serena, answer me, damn it!
Mkayyy, I’m just resting.
STAY. AWAKE.
Another growl rattles the ground. It’s louder. Loud enough to shake a few rocks loose from the surrounding mountains. I lift my face from the dirt to glance at the shadow blotting out the sun.
Powerful arms shift beneath me as I’m lifted into the air. My head lolls against Zadyn’s shoulder, bouncing violently as he runs me out of range just in time for Furi’s blue fire to incinerate the horde of Valley Dwellers. Her rage is palpable as she breezes overhead, scorching the earth and doling out death. She finally settles on the ground, and I watch as she bares her teeth and chomps down on them one by one.
That’s my girl.I smile to myself.
“Serena?” Zadyn slows as we reach the trees, his voice thick with concern.
