I bump against a tree, the bark scraping my arm. I hiss in pain, my pace faltering.
Something large swoops down, disturbing the air and the tree branches above me.
Toto barks.
“Get down, Kansas!” Rook shouts.
I hit the forest floor on my knees, but it’s too late. Razor-sharp claws dig into my shoulders, piercing flesh. Blood immediately wells, running hot and sticky down my chest.
The pain frosts my vision.
I scream, writhing, and drop Toto. He tumbles, gets his feet beneath him, then barks and barks.
Pressure builds, then sinks down my body as the creature tightens its hold, thenlifts.
The ground disappears beneath me and I pedal at nothing but air.
Blind, white-hot pain burning through my shoulders, I reach up, and grab hold of something furry.
I hit and slap, the creature screeching in protest, but its hold doesn’t budge.
Instead, it flies, wings beating at the air.
Whomp. Whomp. Whomp.
My hair flies in my face. Dirt and leaves spin around us.
How am I going to get out of this? How do I get down? How do I fight?
I’m not giving in. Not yet.
The air gusts up and the trees sway, leaves rattling.
The creature lurches and its grip loosens.
I take the opening, grabbing hold of one of the creature’s toes and yanking up.
Bone cracks. The creature shrieks and drops me.
I hit the dirt with a thud, pain lancing through my back. More blood seeps from the open wounds, soaking my dress, dripping to the forest floor.
Toto continues barking, but I think he’s barking at me, telling me to get up, to move.
I’m on my feet in an instant, teeth gritted, eyes burning with tears. I run. A tree branch catches my hair, rips. It takes everything in me not to break down into gut-wrenching sobs. Everything hurts. Terror pounds through my veins.
Which way do I go?
Several more shadows pass overhead. They start talking to one another in a chittering, squealing language, then—
One lands.
I come to a stop.
Another. Then another.
I turn and spot a third, then a fourth, surrounding me and Toto.
I can only make out their silhouettes. Six feet of pure muscle, bodies covered in fur and leather, eyes dark against the night. Wings like bats folded closed against their backs.
