My blade snaps in two.
As its fangs approach, I do the only thing I can think of. I throw my forearm over my face in a last desperate defense.
Jaws close around my arm.
Bone crunches.
A scream rips from me as the wolf bites down harder. With a burst of strength, I manage to kick out at the berserkr. Its back legs buckle. I move my other arm, straining to reach my broken blade—
In a blur of movement, knives fly at the beast.
The wolf releases me with a sharp yelp.
Val is sprinting toward me. “Amund!”
The berserkr darts off.
She falls over me. “Shit, are you okay?”
I must be in bad shape if she’s this worried.
“Fine,” I choke out, but blood bubbles from between my lips. I give a wet cough, trying to breathe, but my ribs feel like they’ve been crushed. Each breath is more painful than the last.
Val whips out her radio, her hands trembling. “Amund needs help!” she practically screams. “Please, you have to hurry.”
I groan. “Don’t—”
The last thing I need is Father finding out about this. I was careless. Stupid.
Val kneels beside me. “Can you stand?”
I push up against the ground, trying to rise to my feet, but cannot. “Follow the wolf,” I rasp, more blood splattering down my leathers. “You have to catch it.”
“There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you again,” Val says. “I never should have left earlier.”
Groaning, I struggle to get up. “Have to—”
“Enough, damn it,” Val says, her voice thick. “The only place you’re going is the infirmary.”
“She’s right,” Father says, startling us with his sudden appearance.
Val blinks a few times. “That was quick.”
“I was nearby.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you were,” Val says quickly.
She takes one shoulder while he lifts the other, and the two of them help me up. My feet drag over the dirt. It isn’t easy, but we manage. Thankfully, the infirmary isn’t far. Otherwise, I don’t think I’d be able to make it.
“Help!” Val shouts once we’re inside.
Mother rushes over, wiping her hands on her skirt, eyes darkening a bit when she spots Father before her gaze slides to me. Her face turns panic-stricken. “Oh my gods, Amund. What happened?”
“He was attacked,” Val says.
“Get him on the bed,” Mother orders. “Hurry up.”
As they lower me, my vision starts to narrow.
