Leon ducked a swipe from a third beast, its claws grazing his pack, his breath ragged.
The creature was too close, too fast, its smoky form lunging.
"Shit—!" he yelped, stumbling.
A flash of silver—Zara's axe crushed the beast's skull, knocking it away from Leon, its body dissolving into the mist.
"Don't make me regret this," she muttered, her voice gruff, her curse marks flaring brighter, her arm trembling from the effort.
The remaining beasts hesitated, swaying, their coal eyes flickering, then melted back into the mist, their roars fading.
The forest whispered louder now, mocking, waiting, the trees' red veins pulsing in rhythm.
Leon collapsed to one knee, gasping, his wind magic spent, his dagger still clutched tightly.
Terya knelt beside him, brushing her hair back, her torn top barely holding, a wicked glint in her eye.
"You're not dead yet, hero," she said, nudging him with her elbow, her voice warm despite the chaos.
