Still, that nagging thought remains: the fact that she is demonstrably aroused, even in this hostile environment. A traitorous part of me dares to wonder—is it me? I quickly dismiss that thought.
Arrogance is a luxury I cannot afford. Not here, not now.
Pushing those wayward thoughts aside, I focus on what's in front of us—navigating this treacherous forest. The air is thick with humidity; the silence broken only by the incessant drone of unseen insects and the rhythmic pad of Kira's feet against the damp earth.
The dense foliage offers little respite from the unrelenting sun that beats down mercilessly.
If we went farther into the forest, we would have shade. A glance at her and I revise my statement. She is shaded thanks to her small stature.
The wind shifts and I detect a faint, musky scent on the breeze. It's unfamiliar, not a creature I've encountered before.
Caution thrums through my veins, urging me to slow our pace. I glance at Kira, hoping to catch her eye, but she's several paces ahead, her focus fixed on a point farther down the path.
"Kira," I call out, my voice low and urgent. "Something's not right."
She spins around, her brow furrowed. "What is it?"
"There's a new scent," I explain, gesturing with my snout. "I can't quite place it, but it's unfamiliar."
Her expression remains unconvinced, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features.
"Probably just some weird forest animal," she scoffs. "We can't exactly stop and investigate every new smell, can we? Wait, what am I saying? You’re never careful about anything, it seems like. So, what do you detect?”
"This isn't like the other scents. This one carries a hint of danger."
She hesitates for a moment, then lets out a frustrated sigh. "Fine," she concedes. "I trust your judgement. But we're not waiting around for long. If this mysterious creature doesn't show itself in five minutes, we keep moving."
I give her a curt twitch of my spines, appreciating the concession, however begrudging. We stand in silence for a few tense moments, my nostrils twitching as I try to decipher the source of the smell.
It's faint, almost teasing, swirling on the warm breeze.
Just as I'm about to suggest we continue, a low growl rips through the stillness. It originates from somewhere deep within the undergrowth to our left, the sound guttural and menacing.
Kira's eyes widen, the color draining from her face.
I give her a look that communicates that she should have believed me.
She doesn't respond, her gaze moving back to the direction the rustling leaves originated. The growl comes again, closer this time, followed by the unmistakable snap of a twig underfoot. Battle hormones surge through me, propelling me into action.
"Stay behind me," I growl, shoving myself between Kira and the source of the sound as she moves her gun into position. My senses are on high alert, my instincts screaming at me to protect the strange little human at my back.
The creature emerges from the undergrowth with a horrifying grace.
It is vaguely felidae, sleek and muscular, with obsidian fur and claws that glint menacingly in the dappled sunlight. Its eyes, however, are the most unsettling feature—swirling red orbs embedded in its skull, devoid of pupils or whites. It lets out a hissing snarl, revealing a maw filled with jagged teeth, dripping with a bioluminescent drool.
Kira gasps, moving to get around me so she can get a clear shot. Before she can, the creature launches itself at me, a blur of dark fur and malice.
I rear up on my hind limbs, towering over the beast, and meet its charge head-on with a thunderous blow from my clawed forearm. The impact sends the creature skidding back, a surprised yelp escaping its throat.
A tingle of relief passes through me knowing that I am able to hit it. I never again want to feel the same sense of powerlessness as I did with that cursed sand creature.
My jarring strike isn't enough to deter it, however. With a renewed snarl, it lunges again, this time aiming for my legs. I sidestep, feeling the wind of its claws whistle past my flank.
Kira takes a measured shot, but misses. It's very fast.
I retaliate with a sweeping kick, catching the creature square in the chest. The blow sends it crashing into a nearby tree trunk, its body contorting at an unnatural angle.
For a moment, there is silence. Kira, who is crouched, looking like she was poised to take to take another shot, lets out a shaky breath.
