Page 72 of Whispers of the Elderoak

Ava sat as still as possible, watching the creature prowl toward the warriors. It hadn’t noticed her yet and she hoped it wouldn’t. She had no idea how to fight against one of these things, especially without any weapons.

“Why is it here?” Quinn growled as the warriors took their positions.

The others didn’t answer, backs to each other and weapons at the ready. The creature continued to stalk forward, unafraid of the warriors. Three more monsters emerged from the woods. The four fae were now surrounded, preparing for a fight.

The first monster jumped at Quinn, and the warriors burst into motion. They were so quick, faster than Ava could even keep track of. Their fae blades squelched as they met the flesh of the monsters.

As she watched them fight, a fifth being emerged from her right, eyes locked on her. She jumped to her feet, looking around for a weapon but her eyes found none. The warriors were distracted with the other four and didn’t notice the new threat creeping toward Ava.

Weaponless and vulnerable, she took off and ran into the woods as fast as she could, hoping she could escape. She had gained some strength over the last few days thanks to thehearty meals and sleep, and she pushed herself hard, flying through the woods.

As she got further away from camp, the sounds of battle faded, and she kept running as the creature crashed through the brush behind her. Growls sounded as sticks snapped under its heavy paws and she increased her speed. Why did she leave camp? In her panic to get away she wasn’t thinking, and her terror had taken over. Now she was alone with the monster with no way to fight it.

She should go back because they knew how to fight, and it was her only chance. Maybe she could outrun it and lead it back to camp to be killed by the warriors. She started to change direction, looping back to lead the creature to the camp when she tripped and fell.

Scrambling for purchase she tried to rise but excruciating pain exploded in her calf and ran up her leg as the daemon hound’s teeth sank into her flesh and muscle. She screamed as it dragged her deeper into the woods.

Her leg was on fire. Unimaginable pain crawled up her calf, spreading through her whole body. Poison? It was just her luck they would have poison in their fangs.

She clawed at the ground, trying and failing to grip onto something. It was taking her somewhere. Maybe somewhere else to savor devouring her bite by bite. She tried everything, hitting it with her fists, scratching at its eyes. Nothing worked. It barely even flinched.

She was going to die out here.

As her hope faded, something leapt out from the woods and crashed into the creature, throwing it into a tree. She scrambled away, dragging her injured leg and hid behind a boulder, peering over the top to watch the fight.

It was a bear, midnight black and larger than a grizzly, it roared at the daemon and charged as the creature rose onto its haunches after being thrown. Though the monster was huge,the bear was bigger and within a few seconds, it had the creature’s head in its mouth, snapping its neck with ease and leaving it to crumple to the ground.

She’d seen this bear before. It was the one causing chaos at camp. The ursine giant lumbered toward her, curiosity in its eyes. This must be Aro. Why was he at the camp when she escaped? Had he helped her somehow? Did Casimir know?

Though the creature was dead, Aro very well may kill her too. She sat still, looking into his yellow eyes as he stopped and stared at her, mere feet from where she was sitting.

“Thank you for saving me.” Her voice quaked, but she didn’t shy away.

He walked closer, stopping with his nose inches away. She closed her eyes, waiting for a blow. She could smell the dirt in his fur and feel his warm breath upon her. Then, something wet trailed down her face.

Opening her eyes, puzzled, she looked at the bear. Did he just lick her? Aro lowered his head and nudged her hand as if asking her to pet him. So, she did, scratching behind his ears and laughing.

“You are so sweet,” she said, rubbing Aro’s muzzle and scratching his head with both hands as a low happy growl rumbled in the back of his throat.

Aro walked around the boulder and nudged her back, attempting to get her to stand up. She tried and was able to stand on her uninjured leg but the moment she tried to put weight on the other, she gasped in pain and almost collapsed, holding on to the nearest tree.

“I can’t walk,” she said, looking at Aro whose height on all fours reached the level of her shoulders.

Gosh, he is huge.

Aro lowered himself down and looked at her expectantly.

“Um…. You want me to ride on your back?”

He chuffed as if saying, “Duh.”

Aro watched her every move as she nervously hobbled to him, swung her leg over and gripped his fur, hoping she didn’t hurt or upset him. He rose and ambled toward camp, carrying her as if she weighed nothing. Her leg throbbed with every step.

She was riding a bear. She was in a magical realm, with a group of fae warriors and she was riding the bear of the general, Ava realized with disbelief.

They had only been walking a couple of minutes when Casimir burst from among the trees, breathing heavily. Was he coming to help her? As soon as he caught sight of her on his bear, he froze, eyes wide. His eyes took in the scene as he inspected her, then moved down to her bleeding leg.

“He saved me,” she said hesitantly.

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