---
The beast lunged suddenly, closing half the distance in a blur of black and gray. John barely dodged, rolling across the damp leaves as the creature's claws ripped a furrow into the soil where he had stood.
Fizz shot upward, leaving a streak of red light as he spat a tiny flame to distract it. The fireball hit the beast's shoulder and fizzled, leaving only a smudge of soot on its scales.
The Howler snarled, teeth gleaming with saliva. It snapped at Fizz, who zigzagged desperately to avoid its jaws.
John came up from his roll and slashed with his dagger, catching the beast along its haunch. Sparks flew as the blade scraped the scale, leaving only a shallow line of blood.
The Howler turned on him instantly, its roar shaking the mist.
John stumbled back, heart hammering. "That barely cut it."
Fizz hovered near his shoulder, panting. "I can end this. Just say the word. I burn my life force, I blow this thing back to whatever stinky cave it crawled out of."
