The Ogre howls in pain and drops to one knee. I watch in horror as he staggers back to his feet, releasing a bellowing roar as he charges forward again.
Ailyn clutches me tighter, sobs wracking through her tiny body as the sounds of battle collide in a storm of steel and magic and snarling beasts. “I’m scared,” she whimpers.
“I know,” I whisper, struggling to push down the fear clawing at my chest. “We’re going to find somewhere safe.”
But the moment the words leave my lips, I realize I have no idea where safety might be. Everywhere I look there is only violence.
Magic bursts in crackling streaks of light as Dark Elf warriors hurl spells toward the monsters. Wolves collide in snarling masses of fur and fangs. An Ogre releases a terrifying roar that shakes the ground beneath us.
My heart pounds wildly as I turn in a slow circle, the wolf pup at my feet, as I search desperately for somewhere to run.
Ailyn is crying in my arms, her small hands clutching the front of my dress as she presses her face against my shoulder.
In the distance, I see an Elf woman with her children, hiding behind a stable. She waves to me, yelling at me to run toward her.
As I race to safety, movement catches the corner of my eyes. A flash of metal flies through the air so fast, for a moment my mind cannot make sense of what I’m seeing.
Time slows as a crude iron blade spins end over end, cutting through the smoke and chaos, heading straight for us.
I twist sharply to avoid it, pulling Ailyn closer and turning my back toward the weapon as I wrap myself protectively around her, but it’s too late. A sharp cry tears from my throat as blinding pain explodes through my shoulder, slamming into me so hard it nearly knocks me off my feet.
Heat spreads beneath my sleeve, and the scent of iron fills the air as blood begins to run down my arm. My heart hammers as I look at Ailyn, checking her for injury. Thankfully, she’s alright. That’s the only thing that matters.
Gritting my teeth, I stagger forward, struggling to remain upright as the world tilts around me. I have to keep moving. I cannot—
A savage snarl cuts through the noise of the battle, and I turn back to see a Fire wolf with glowing red eyes. My stomach drops as it bursts free from the chaos of the fighting and charges forward.
There isn’t time to run. In one swift motion, I lower Ailyn and shove her behind me, placing myself between her and the wolf. “Run, Ailyn!”
The beast lunges, and pain rips through me as sharp claws rake across my torso, slamming me to the ground, forcing the air from my lungs.
The wolf’s sharp teeth snap inches from my face a moment before a blur of silver fur barrels into its side, sending it tumbling away.
It’s Vaelen.
Locked in battle, they roll across the ground in a tangled mess of fangs and claws.
Ailyn scrambles toward me, tears streaming down her cheeks. Olly lets out a furious growl far too big for his tiny body.
But before I can pull her close again, the ground begins to quake beneath us. My heart stops as I look up and see a massive Ogre coming toward us.
Ice fills my veins as his cold yellow eyes lock onto mine and his lips curl in a feral grin.
Ailyn clings to me, sobbing. “No!” she cries out as Olly charges the Ogre with a brave little snarl.
The Ogre laughs and kicks the pup away, sending it flying to the side.
“Ailyn, stay behind me,” I whisper.
Searing pain arcs through my body as I push to my feet. Gritting my teeth, I force myself to focus, scanning the ground for anything I can use as a weapon.
A broken plank lies near the wreckage of a shattered cart, the sharp end glowing with red embers.
Heat stings my palms as I snatch it up, but I tighten my grip as I place myself between Ailyn and the Ogre.
Vaelen breaks away from his fight to rush toward me, but the other wolf chases after him, slamming into his side. They fall to the ground, battling viciously.
Fighting and chaos surround us. No help is coming. Panic snakes down my spine as the Ogre stalks toward us like a predator closing in on his prey.
