"Did it?" Berrodin arched his brow. "I'm not surprised. The Urthenhoast Mountains span the entirety of the upper east continent. I believe it's the longest mountain range in Delahost, followed by the Arkenthel mountains, in the west-"
Berrodin stiffened, trailing off. Ahead, Starvhost flicked his ears back, and the bristles along its neck rose. Cyrus glanced around, studying the trees. Quietly, he grabbed an iron spoke lodged beneath Berrodin's seat, and gripped it tightly.
"What is it? Did you see something?" Cyrus asked.
Berrodin held a finger to his lips, and brought the wagon to a stop. He pointed ahead, towards a series of hoofprints dotting the mud.
"Those tracks are fresh. Barely an hour old, I'd say," Berrodin said. He lowered his hood with a frown. "Bushboars have a decent sense of smell, and are highly aggressive. Once the stench of this beast reaches them, it'll only be a matter of time before they appear."
"What should we do?"
"Keep moving, and pray the cover of rain hides our scent." Berrodin flicked the reins. "If Osyras has mercy, we'll reach the cave before the wind shifts, and we can hide there until morning."
"Will we be able to fit the wagon inside?" Cyrus asked, wincing each time the wagon creaked. On either side, the trees crept by, their leaves and trunks knotted together to form a net of shadows.
"No, but there's a small grove of trees nearby," Berrodin said. "We'll stash the wagon there, and cover the boar in-"
The wagon jerked to a stop, throwing Berrodin forward, and slamming Cyrus into the bench. He scrambled to his feet as the corpse slid towards him, slipping across the wet wood. The tarp caught on a loose board, freeing the boar's snout, and its tusks whisked past Cyrus's leg as he dived over the side.
Berrodin hurried around the side, and helped Cyrus back to his feet. "Are you alright?"
Cyrus brushed a bit of the mud from his tunic. "I'll live for now. What happened?"
"One of the wheels must have caught on something," Berrodin said. He gestured towards the back. "Try pushing it while I have Starvhost pull. Hopefully, we'll be able to break free."
Cyrus nodded, and made his way around the wagon. Inside, the boar's tusks embedded into the back of Berrodin's bench, and inch deep. A shiver ran down his spine, and he shook his head, before grabbing the back.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Berrodin snapped the reins, and Starvhost let out a snort, plowing his hooves through the mud. Cyrus strained his muscles, pushing as much weight into the wagon as he could without slipping. Inch by inch, the wagon teetered forward, rising up and over the root or rock its wheel caught on.
"We almost got it!" Berrodin said. "Just a bit more."
Cyrus frowned as Berrodin's voice faded, muffled by the rustling forest. Overhead, the trees swayed and shook, showering the ground with leaves and twigs. Through the noise, frantic whispers echoed in Cyrus's ears, desperate for his attention.
He turned, eyes darting back and forth. A flicker of movement drew his attention through the bushes, and the blood drained from his face. A wild boar, hulking in size, plowed through the trees. The ground shook beneath its dark hooves, and its nostrils flared, while black tar flew from its tusks.
Quick on his feet, Cyrus lunged past the wagon, and grabbed Berrodin by his cloak. Fueled by adrenaline, he dragged the old man from his seat, and flung him away, just as the boar slammed into the side, shattering the wagon in two.
Shards of wood and the corpse of the boar flew into the air, scattered as Starvhost reared back, snapping the wagon shaft in two. Breying, he bolted into the forest, the reins bouncing behind him.
Cyrus swore, and whirled around. The wild boar stood amidst the remains of the wagon, pawing at the tarp as drool dripped from its maw. It towered over them, taller than a horse, with thick jagged tusks, and eyes darker than coal.
Cyrus risked a glance at Berrodin. The old man laid frozen on the ground, his body trembling.
Cyrus knelt next to Berrodin. "Can you get up?"
"I- I think so," Berrodin said. His arms shook as he rose to his knees. "What are we going to do?"
Cyrus gestured towards the treeline. "We'll move while it's distracted. Get behind the trees, and continue heading to the cave. Do you think you can still find it?It's not far from here. Keep an eye out!"
Cyrus glanced over his shoulder. The boar tore at the cloth wrapping the corpse, shredding it to pieces. As the last threads of fabric fell away, it let out a guttural snort, and whirled around. It bared its tusks when it spotted Cyrus and Berrodin creeping towards the trees.
Cyrus swore, and yanked Berrodin to his feet. "It spotted us. We have to go. Now!"
They stumbled through the brush, the wet grass slick beneath their boots. Cyrus supported Berrodin as the old man gripped onto his shoulder. Mud sprayed from the boar's hooves as it lunged after them, its tusks swinging wildly.
"It's gaining on us," Cyrus said, ducking beneath a low branch. "Where are we going?"
"I-I'm not sure. Everything's turned around right now. I can't tell where we are," Berrodin said, gasping for breath.
Cyrus gritted his teeth, and brushed the rain away from his face. The trees loomed around them, clawing at their clothes, while thick vines tangled their path. Despite their speed, the boar slowly gained on them, snapping branches like twigs, while its fetid aroma filled their nostrils.
In the distance, a shadow grew from beneath the boughs of a towering elm, revealing a narrow slit cut into the mountain. Jagged stones hung over the entrance, but the hole was just big enough for them to squeeze through. "There. Beneath the old elm. Do you see it?"
"Yes! That's the cave," Berrodin said, breaking into a grin. "We're going to make-"
Berrodin was cut short as the boar slammed into his legs, flipping him into the air. Cyrus skidded to a halt as the old man crashed into the ground, landing on his arm with a sickening crunch. The boar continued to plow forward, its hooves dragging through the mud as its own weight threw it off balance.
Scrambling back, Cyrus scooped the old man into his arms, and hoisted him up. Berrodin cursed, and cradled his arm, which bent in an unnatural direction.
"What are you doing?" Berrodin asked. "Leave me here, and get yourself to the cave. At this rate, I'll only slow you down, and we'll both end up dead."
"Quiet! I can't think with you shouting in my ear," Cyrus said, staggering forward. He ignored the old man's protests as the boar regained its footing, and spun to face them. A low growl rumbled from its throat, and it lowered its body, narrowing its beady eyes.
Adrenaline flooded Cyrus's veins as he pushed forward, drawing upon as much strength as he could. Ten meters remained between him and the cave.
Then nine.
Then eight.
The boar rushed them, black tar bubbling at its mouth. Its tusks swung in a wide arc, carving through the air, as drops of water sprayed from its hair. It moved at a speed seemingly impossible for a creature its size, and the ground shook beneath its hooves.
Five meters left.
Four.
Three.
Cyrus's boots sunk into the mud, slowing him down. Berrodin had gone silent now, his pale face streaked with rain and sweat. His wrinkles deepened as he peered over Cyrus's shoulders, watching the boar close in.
Two meters.
One.
A rock protruded from the mud, catching on Cyrus's boot. He tripped, the forest spinning away as he stretched out his arms, and tossed Berrodin towards the mouth of the cave. The old man shouted his name, but he couldn't hear it over the pounding of his heart, and the call of the forest, thrashing its branches and leaves.
With one last surge of strength, he dragged his body between the roots of the elm, hoping to stare the boar down as it caught him. Its large body filled his view, a rippling grey mass, with thick coarse hair, and broken rotted tusks. Even its bloodshot eyes filled him with fear, and so, he clenched his eyes shut, praying his death would be swift.
At that moment, a single word, no louder than a whisper, echoed through him, accompanied by a burning sensation, which tore through his chest.
'Awaken.'