Poison leaves too much to chance. A failed attempt meant they would surely try again.
Killian’s eyes snapped open as his ears pricked, catching movement in the distance. He stood, drawing his swords. Turning in a slow circle, he took stock of the sounds of theforest. The trickle of the stream and…nothing else. The forest had gone quiet again. Too quiet. No singing insects or hooting owls.
Hokda groaned, groggy and disoriented when Killian kicked at him. He opened his mouth to complain, but went still at the sight of him.
Jerking his chin at Fyar, Killian motioned for Hokda to wake the king quietly. Slowly. No sudden moves.
Soon, the three were awake. Fyar drew his own blade, but stayed low to the ground.
The horses nickered nervously, stamping their feet and pulling at their ties.
Killian whispered, “There’s something out here with us.”
“Lyra?” asked Hokda.
Killian shook his head. “No elf or two-legged creature.”
“A true hunter.” Fyar flexed his hands. “Stay back. It’s my kill.”
Bowing his head, Killian stepped back, crowding against Hokda to push the healer further out of the way. To protect him. Hokda clicked his tongue and snapped at his rough manhandling. They crouched amongst the tree roots, and waited.
It came from above, a long and lithe body dropping from the branches above them. Gleaming claws extended from a paws as big as dinner plates, maw open wide, it aimed for the soft flesh of Fyar’s throat.
Fyar just barely rolled out of the way in time.
Twisting mid-air, this predator landed gracefully on the edges of their camp. Crouching low to the ground, the feline curled its lip and hissed, exposing lengthened top fangs thatextended past the lower jaw. Spotted black and white fur covered the cat’s hind legs, its front half a speckled grey. It’s tail flicked in agitation.
On two legs, this feline would easily be as tall—if not a head taller—than Killian.
Breathing deeply, Fyar rolled back his shoulders and brought his sword up, the blade pointed straight out, the hilt supported at his side. Flecks of gold burst through Killian’s sight as Fyar focused his stores ofenin his legs to give him a boost and in his arms to give him strength.
The feline yowled, spitting angrily as Fyar’s sword sliced through the muscle of its shoulder. It attacked, claws catching and drawing blood as it danced out of Fyar’s reach again and again, keeping the king at its front and never letting him close to its belly.
Killian grit his teeth, hissing whenever the fangs or claws got too close.
Standing on its hind legs, the feline met Fyar’s sword head on. Using its massive paws to attack, batting at Fyar while he backed into a corner.
Smaller—but not weaker—Fyar used his size to his advantage. Moving quicker than his opponent and maneuvering into the space inside the feline’s guard, where it was weak.
All it took was one well placed blow of Fyar’s sword. The blade pierced the feline’s thick hide and slid up into the ribcage, slicing through internal organs and tissue.
Fyar panted, his clothes and hair soaked in blood.
In silence, he took one of his flags and stuck it into the body. He surveyed his kill. “It would make a fine rug. If the blooddoesn’t stain.”
“Yes,” Hokda agreed, emerging from behind Killian. “Pallux cats are rare. From the high mountains of Valle. Cold weather creatures. She shouldn’t be here.”
Killian closed his eyes and turned his face towards the sky. “Fuck. Another thing not native to Netyere? Where’s all this shit coming from?”
“Escaped from a carnival, perhaps,” wondered Hokda, staring down at the feline.
They all knew otherwise. No carnival could hold a beast like this. It was brought here purposefully and set loose in Fyar’s path.
Fyar knelt by its side, ignoring the way his boots began to stick as the blood became tacky. He pet over the feline’s muzzle, the rough whiskers and large teeth. “A shame. Beautiful things, these creatures. They don’t deserve to be slaughtered as pawns in Lyra’s games.”
“How did they know it would go after you?”
“They didn’t,” said Fyar. “They may have given it my scent, but it’s more likely that this isn’t the only creature they released into these woods. The chances of us coming across one were high enough, especially when we are out looking for them.”
