A tremor of fury ran through Fezar's body. "You murdered my wife!" he roared, lunging at the shadowy figure with his blade.
The attacker, agile and skilled, parried the blow with ease. Their blades clashed in a deadly dance, sparks flying as metal met metal.
Sera, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs, searched frantically for Delena. But the boulder offered no solace, its harsh surface cold and empty. A moment ago, she had wished for her daughter's escape, and now, with a chilling pang of regret, she longed for her to be by her side.
She scanned the slope below, her eyes searching for any sign of movement. The forest stood silent, bathed in the pale moonlight, offering no clue to Delena's whereabouts. The only sound was the clash of blades behind her, the metallic symphony punctuated by Fezar's enraged growls.
"I did not intend to harm your wife," the masked figure finally spoke, stepping back and disengaging from Fezar's attack.
But Fezar, consumed by grief and vengeance, was deaf to reason. He slashed again and again, his grief fueling his relentless assault. Each attempt was met with the same effortless parry, his blade finding only the empty air.
With a swift, precise movement, the figure blocked Fezar's final attack and delivered a powerful punch to his stomach. The widower crumpled to the ground, his knife clattering to the earth with a dull clang. The figure kicked it away, his expression one of remorse.
"I grieve for your loss," he said, his voice low.
Fezar lay curled in a ball, his body wracked with pain and rage. He cursed through gritted teeth, spittle flying from his parched lips.
Suddenly, the air grew thick with an unseen presence. A guttural growl echoed from within the depths of the abandoned mine, sending shivers down Sera's spine. Peering into the darkness, she saw a pair of eyes glowing yellow, burning with primal hunger.
Before she could react, a figure emerged from the mine entrance, its silhouette growing larger with each step. It was Delena, her eyes wide with terror, screaming incoherently.
Sera instinctively pulled her daughter behind the boulder, shielding her with her own body. Delena's small frame trembled; her sobs muffled against Sera's chest.
"Delena," Sera whispered soothingly, though her heart hammered against her ribs. The little girl's face was pale and drawn, her eyes reflecting the horrors she had witnessed.
But their reprieve was short-lived. The grizzly bear lumbered out of the mine, its massive form dwarfing them all. Its eyes, two burning coals in the darkness, locked onto the figures before it.
The once confident figure, his hand now firmly gripping the hilt of his long blade, took a cautious step back.
And then, with a deafening roar, the grizzly bear charged.