Kal portaled them to Aztlan, at the exact place where Vlad the witcher has tracked the beast.
"I still can't believe that you left your own ceremony" Kal said stretching his fingers.
"That's the great impaler for you" Zander answered.
"Well have fun with the Valkyrie. Don't forget to bring back it's head" Kal said as he stepped back into the open glowing portal.
"Will do" Zander said before the portal vanished.
"Am certain that the beast is not far from here, my lord" Ian informed.
Zander crouched down as his eyes studied the huge foot prints, he used his fingers to trace it, "You are right, this track is still fresh" then suddenly a loud growl echoed. Zander looked up. T'was definitely close. Then with quickened foot steps they followed the sound.
*******************
Aurora pulled open the front door, and the night's fresh air wrapped her hair about her face. She looked up at the sky and smiled, the night was indeed beautiful with the moon casting it's silverly glow. But the night air was just too chilled, she pulled her shawl more tighter around her shoulders and with a slow pace she headed to a certain wagon that was filled with woods which her friends purchased for her. She needed to warm herself up a bit.
The wagon was a bit far from her cottage so it took her weak legs some time to get there. She unlocked the wagon, before she reached in and lifted up a heavy log. "Wow, this is huge -" she barely finished the sentence when she heard an unholy roar that resonated greatly. Aurora broke out in cold sweat, then slowly she lay the log down. Then quietly, very slowly she turned around, her eyes glancing around nervously she was certain that the sound she heard was no human.
She gulped, her eyes darting in all directions and suddenly she saw something - something huge, Aurora couldn't quite make out what it was because it was far from her, but from her eye sight it looks like...is that a creature? - a beast!
Her heart thundered in her chest as she peered closer, only to find out that this weirdly shaped creature was crouched over a certain body, tearing at it's torso. There was blood and gore everywhere.
Aurora froze. She stood magnetized in that spot, fear raised goosebumps on her skin. 'I can't die today, I don't want to die' she cried inwardly, as she started to sought for a plan - the beast was obviously busy with it's victim, so she needed to sneak away quietly - very quietly. Aurora wasn't sure if that plan would work but she had to try than risk dying.
"There you are, you fucker" Zander said in a hushed tone, as they observed the beast unnoticed. The beast has clearly found a prey, and it was devouring it from limb to limb. They know better than to charge in on the beast, they had a devise plan to corner it.
While they were still on that, the beast raised it's massive head, to take a sniff in the air. It gave out another roar and charged. Not at them, but at something - someone a few distance from where they were.
Zander didn't waste a moment's thought as he immediately chased after the beast with Ian following immediately - they were not going to let this blood thirsty creature have another innocent victim.
The great impaler attacked the beast frontal, while Ian took it from behind. This wasn't the first time the two fought a beast at least three times their size. They knew exactly how to tackle this beast, but it appeared to be giving them a tough time with it lashing out with it's gigantic blood-stained fangs hanging out of it's mouth and it's lethal talons. Zander moved swiftly dodging it's lashes and delivering strikes that was fatal with his big heavy sword that was forged specially for him.
Aurora was sure she was going to die. She was aware when she ran, the beast chased after probably because her breathing could be heard miles away. She was petrified - she had never being this scared in her life, she knew she couldn't outrun the beast even if her legs were good. Her knees gave out and she fell, but only to realize that she wasn't being chased anymore.
With her heart still thundering, she shifted her position on the muddy ground, turning to see something - a person battling with the beast. Her eyes widened. Someone was actually attacking the beast!
They were several paces away from her, she couldn't get a clearer view of the scene as the moon was the only source of light. She could only make out their silhouette. It looked like there was a second person attacking from behind, but she couldn't be sure.
Aurora stared at the scene with bilwildered look on her face. Finally the beast fell. Aurora sat sprawled on the bare ground watching with her mouth agape as the attacker sheathed his sword and walked towards her. Now that the beast had fallen, she could see that they was indeed a second attacker. Aurora watched the stranger approach her. She thought of standing and fleeing from here but unfortunately she couldn't stand up yet, Her whole body was still shaking. What if the attacker was coming to kill her too now that he was done with the beast. Helpless to do anything, she just sat there and stared unblinkingly as the man came into full view.
Zander knew the reason why he was walking up to the mortal, that looked absolutely petrified - t'was because gods cannot under any circumstance be seen by humans, they were practically invisible in their eyes. But it was like Zander started to doubt himself because this mortal was looking back at him, as their gaze held for quite a time.
Zander crouched down - t'was impossible but he wasn't going to rely on that.
"You can see me?" he asked. Aurora didn't know if that was supposed to be a question. "Is there a reason why I shouldn't?" she stuttered.
Zander smiled at her honest reply - and it seems as if Aurora's world was spinning, she was still a bit shaken up about the creature that was about to kill her, and this unbelievably dashing male who came out of nowhere and actually saved her life.
"Of course not, never mind that. Are you alright?" he made an attempt to move closer, Aurora flinched.
"It's okay. I mean you no harm" he said and Aurora seemed to calm down a bit perhaps it was the sound of his voice - the rich deep tone was very relaxing.
"Are you hurt?" he asked
Aurora waved her head a bit, "Nay. Am just a bit shaken up" she said quietly still staring at the stranger's face. She couldn't get herself to look away.
"Who wouldn't be after almost getting eaten by a creature" Zander said.
To satisfy her curiosity she asked. "Are you one of the men here for festival night?"
Zander looked perplexed by her question. "Uh, am not entirely sure what that means, but no. I am -" he paused thoughtfully before he answered, "I am a hunter, and I have been tracking that creature for a while now."
At the mention of the beast, Aurora titled her head, to look behind him wondering what happened with the beast dead body and the other attacker.
As if reading her mind, Zander said "Don't worry about that, it's already been taken care of" he was certain that Ian has already taken the dead Valkyrie.
Aurora turned to met his gaze, and it seemed like it lasted forever.