Chapter - 24
As we ventured deeper into the forest, an uneasy quiet settled over us. The thick canopy above allowed only fragments of light to filter down, casting eerie shadows that danced with every step.
Suddenly, Jennifer raised a hand, signaling us to halt. She tilted her head, eyes narrowing as she scanned the shadowed trees. "Something's here," she murmured, her voice a soft warning. In one fluid motion, she unsheathed her sword, and I caught a glimpse of her face—a newfound alertness sharpening her usually calm features. Cassia shifted beside her, gripping a short knife in one hand and a small, ornately carved staff in the other, the two weapons contrasting but somehow perfectly suited to her.
Without warning, two creatures slinked out from the darkness, prowling toward us with slow, predatory grace. They looked like saber-toothed tigers, but twisted, nightmarish versions. Their sleek bodies were covered in dark, coarse fur that rippled as they moved, and their fangs extended down past their lower jaws like deadly, hooked blades. They weren't massive, but they radiated a kind of lethal agility that was almost more intimidating.
Jennifer's stance shifted. She took a single step forward, raising her sword with measured poise, while Cassia squared her shoulders, positioning herself slightly to the side. The first beast, its yellow eyes gleaming with hunger, lunged forward, but Jennifer met it head-on. With a graceful, precise arc, she swung her sword, catching the creature across its shoulder, while she twisted her body to the side. The impact forced it back a step, its hiss echoing through the trees as it crouched, preparing for another strike.
Meanwhile, the second creature's eyes were fixed on Cassia, its tail lashing as it prowled in a slow, circling motion. As it moved, I gripped my axe tighter, feeling my heart begin to pound. This was my moment. I stepped forward, positioning myself closer to Cassia. The creature's eyes shifted toward me, and I felt its intent as it tensed, muscles coiling.
In a flash, the beast lunged, jaws open, its yellowed fangs aimed straight for my throat. My grip tightened around the haft of my axe as instinct took over, my body moving before my mind caught up. With a pivot of my hips and a solid plant of my back foot, I brought the axe around in a sharp arc.
The blade caught the creature's foreleg with a crunch that traveled up my arms, a satisfying weight in my hands as the edge bit in. It wasn't a deep cut, but the strike was enough to halt its momentum, throwing the beast off balance and forcing it back with a yelp.
The creature stumbled, its snarl turning to confusion as it shook out its injured leg. Before it could regain its footing, Cassia darted in beside me. Her grip tightened on the staff, her eyes darkening with focus as she whispered, "Boreal Flame." A sudden surge of icy blue flames erupted from her staff, enveloping the creature in a wave of chilling blue. The fire was cold and biting, frost forming across the creature's fur as it struggled, hissing in confusion and pain as the blue flames encased it, immobilizing its limbs with creeping layers of frost.
The creature's snarls faded to a whimper as it struggled against the chill that drained its strength. Realizing the opening, I stepped forward and swung my axe with all the force I could muster. The blade struck true, cleaving through its neck in one decisive blow. The creature fell silent, the icy flames around it flickering out as its body went still, and the frost that had encased it began to dissipate, vanishing into the air.
Across the small clearing, Jennifer had engaged the first beast in a rapid series of attacks, her movements efficient and unyielding. Her sword was a blur, deflecting its lunges and leaving shallow cuts along its flanks. With a final, powerful thrust, she drove her sword through the creature's chest. It gave one last, shuddering growl before collapsing at her feet.
I stood still for a moment as the adrenaline ebbed, leaving a rush of pride behind. I'd only played a supporting role, but I'd held my own and contributed. Jennifer glanced over, her usual cool demeanor replaced by a brief nod of acknowledgment. Cassia extinguished the remaining frost on her staff.
"These were just the beginning," Jennifer said, wiping her blade before sheathing it. "They were manageable, but they're a reminder. We need to stay sharp."
Cassia nodded, her gaze flicking toward me for a moment. The way we'd taken them down together had shown me a glimpse of how we could work as a unit—and maybe, how I could fit into that dynamic after all.