Hunt Race

The trembling hand remained raised.

Run.

The wounded hunter's lips barely moved, but the meaning was unmistakable.

Run.

Kael's grip tightened around his sword.

He could still leave.

If he turned now, he might escape before the beast noticed him.

His eyes shifted to the hunter slumped against the tree.

Leaving meant abandoning him.

Kael exhaled slowly.

"...No."

A low growl rolled through the forest.

The bushes behind the wounded hunter rustled violently before something massive stepped into the clearing.

It stood nearly twice Kael's height at the shoulder.

Dark, coarse fur covered its muscular body, interrupted by old scars that crossed its hide. Long claws dug into the earth as amber eyes fixed themselves on the newcomer.

The beast wasn't enraged.

It was studying him.

Kael's heartbeat quickened.

Too big...

His instincts screamed at him to retreat.

But the wounded hunter was directly behind the creature.

There was no way to reach him without drawing its attention.

The beast took one slow step forward.

Then another.

Kael slowly drew his sword.

The sound of steel leaving its sheath echoed softly through the clearing.

The beast's ears twitched.

Its muscles tensed.

It's waiting for me to move.

Kael didn't charge.

He remembered Darius's words.

Stop. Observe. Think.

The beast lowered its body.

Its hind legs coiled beneath it.

It's going to pounce.

The instant its muscles contracted—

Kael threw himself sideways.

BOOM!

The beast crashed into the spot where he had been standing, its claws tearing deep trenches into the earth.

Before it could turn, Kael rushed in.

His sword flashed.

A shallow cut appeared across the beast's shoulder.

Barely enough to draw blood.

The beast didn't even flinch.

Its tail whipped around.

Kael barely raised his arm in time.

CRACK!

The impact hurled him across the clearing.

His back slammed against a tree.

Pain exploded through his ribs.

He struggled to breathe.

"So... strong..."

The beast turned toward him again.

Slowly.

Confidently.

It knew he wasn't a threat.

Kael forced himself to his feet.

His left arm throbbed from the impact.

His ribs ached with every breath.

One direct hit...

That was all it would take.

The beast advanced once more.

Kael glanced past it.

Rowan was still alive.

Still unconscious.

If he kept the beast focused on him...

There was still a chance.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and tightened his grip on his sword.

"Come on..."

The beast answered with a deafening roar.

Then it charged.

Kael sprinted toward the trees instead of meeting it head-on.

The chase had begun.

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