The monster's claw had barely pulled back when my sword came down in a hard arc.
Steel bit deep into its right shoulder, crunching through bone and muscle.
Black blood sprayed across my forearm.
At the exact same second its jaws clamped onto my left shoulder.
Teeth punched straight through leather and skin, grinding against bone.
Pain exploded white-hot behind my eyes.
I grunted, twisted the blade, and yanked it free.
The creature let out a wet, choking whimper, blood bubbling from the gash I'd opened.
It staggered backward a couple steps, then turned and lurched into the dark trees the way it had come, tail dragging, leaving a thick trail of dark red on the dirt.
My legs gave out.
I dropped to one knee, sword planted tip-first in the ground to keep from face-planting.
Breath came in short, ragged pulls.
I could feel hot blood soaking the front of my shirt.
For a few seconds the whole world was just the throb in my shoulder and the taste of copper in my mouth.
