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The dense wilderness closed in around Liana as she darted through the thick brush, her heart pounding with the thrill of her escape. Behind her, Jax and the boys she'd left behind were likely still clueless, distracted by their own attempts to hunt and impress one another. She had used their distraction well, slipping away with a swift, silent determination that kept her movements light and quiet, careful not to alert them as she melted into the shadows.
After several minutes of steady running, Liana slowed her pace. The forest here was dense, the trees gnarled and towering, draped in vines that twisted and coiled like silent serpents. Shafts of sunlight filtered down through the canopy, illuminating patches of moss and wildflowers that clung to the forest floor. She took in a deep, steadying breath, her senses heightened as she felt a rare satisfaction in finally finding a moment of solitude.
Her throat, parched from the escape, reminded her that she hadn't had a chance to drink since they'd entered the wilderness. Just as she was about to curse her own unpreparedness, she caught sight of a small stream weaving through a nearby grove of trees. The sunlight glimmered off the rippling surface, making it look like a ribbon of silver winding its way through the underbrush.
"Perfect," she murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper as she knelt beside the stream. She withdrew her water bottle and lowered it to the surface, watching as the crystal-clear water filled it, cool and refreshing. She splashed a bit on her face, feeling the coolness ease her tension, then took a few sips, savoring the sensation as it soothed her parched throat.
But then—snap!
The sudden sound of a branch breaking made her heart jolt. She sprang up, twisting around with wide eyes, her senses immediately on high alert. Her gaze scanned the thick trees behind her, and that's when she saw it.
Emerging from the shadows, barely ten paces away, was a creature unlike any she'd ever encountered. It resembled a wolf, but there was something distinctly off about it, something that sent a chill down her spine. Its fur was a dark, matted gray streaked with grime and patches of scars. Its eyes, however, were what froze her in place—two glowing, blood-red orbs that burned with an unnatural intensity, almost as though they were fueled by the creature's very spirit. Smoke curled from its nostrils with every heavy breath, and the acrid smell of sulfur filled the air, mingling with the earthy scents of the forest.
Liana's gaze drifted lower, taking in the creature's movements as it stepped closer, its limbs shaking slightly. That's when she noticed the deep, jagged wound that stretched across its belly, a wound that was still raw and bleeding. Dark crimson dripped steadily onto the forest floor, and bits of mangled flesh hung loosely from the edges of the wound, evidence of a brutal fight that had nearly torn the beast apart.
Her stomach twisted as she pieced together the grim scenario: this wolf-like beast was wounded, likely from an encounter with a more powerful predator, and now, desperate and in pain, it was prowling through the wilderness in search of a way to survive. And Liana, alone and exposed, was now in its path.
The beast's gaze locked onto her, its eyes narrowing as it sniffed the air, its ears flattening back against its skull. Liana could practically feel its ravenous hunger—its desperation. She didn't know if it was intelligent enough to recognize her as a mage, but she could see something flicker in its gaze, a raw and animalistic instinct. It didn't care that she was human. All it knew was that within her body lay power, energy, magic—nourishment that could help it heal.
With a sudden, feral snarl, the beast lunged toward her, its muscles coiling and releasing in a powerful leap that sent it hurtling forward, jaws wide and gleaming. Panic surged through her veins, freezing her in place for a heartbeat too long.
But then, instinct kicked in, and she spun around, bolting through the trees as fast as her legs would carry her. The forest blurred around her, branches and vines whipping against her skin as she sprinted, her breath coming in sharp, desperate gasps. She could hear the beast behind her, its heavy, labored breathing mingling with the sound of its claws tearing into the earth.
This can't be happening. Her mind raced as she ran, her thoughts swirling in a whirlwind of fear and disbelief. She had never faced a creature like this before, much less on her own. The academy had warned them about the dangers of the wilderness, but the beast's size and ferocity were beyond anything she had anticipated. Now she understood the emphasis on moving in groups—this wasn't a fight she could handle alone.
She dodged around a fallen tree, her feet skidding on the loose soil as she tried to put more distance between herself and the beast. But it was relentless, closing in with each stride. Her heart pounded painfully against her chest as she pushed herself harder, her muscles screaming in protest, but she couldn't afford to slow down.
Up ahead, she spotted another fallen tree, this one partially obscured by a tangle of vines. She leaped toward it, intending to clear it in one swift motion. But as she lifted her leg, something tightened around her ankle with a sudden, brutal force.
A gasp escaped her as she looked down to find a thick, thorn-covered vine wrapped tightly around her leg. Its thorns dug deep into her skin, drawing blood that trickled down her ankle and soaked into the forest floor. She tried to pull her leg free, but the vine held fast, its sharp, jagged thorns biting deeper with every movement. Pain shot up her leg, raw and searing, forcing her to bite down on a cry of agony.
No, not now!
She glanced back over her shoulder, panic flaring in her chest as the beast closed in. Its red eyes were fixated on her, its jaws parting to reveal rows of sharp, yellowed teeth. She could see the hunger in its gaze, the desperation that drove it forward despite its own wounds. To it, she was nothing more than prey, a means to survive.
Liana's mind raced as she weighed her options. She knew that tearing her leg free could leave her injured, her ankle possibly too damaged to continue running. And yet, staying trapped meant facing the beast head-on, a confrontation she wasn't prepared for. She could practically feel its hot breath now, smell the rank stench of decay and blood that clung to its fur.
With trembling hands, she reached down, fingers clawing at the vine, trying to pry it loose. But the thorns dug in deeper, their sharp tips slicing into her skin. Pain shot through her with every pull, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to give up.
The beast was nearly upon her, its muscles bunched as it prepared to lunge, its jaws snapping eagerly as though it could already taste her.
Liana looked up, her gaze meeting the creature's as they locked eyes, predator and prey in a deadly standoff. She felt her heart hammering in her chest, her pulse pounding in her ears as the reality of her situation hit her with brutal clarity.
It was either her… or the beast.
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Thanks to Arbab_Mughal_6960 for the contribution