Cold mist curled off the surface of the river as the group emerged from the treeline, their boots crunching over the damp gravel of the bank. The water was wide and deceptively calm, its dark depths rippling faintly as though concealing secrets.
Cassie adjusted her pack, her fingers brushing the hilt of her dagger as she scanned the opposite shore. The forest loomed there, tangled and foreboding, its shadows darker than the fading daylight.
“We cross here,” Theodoric said, his tone clipped but decisive.
A ripple of unease passed through the group, though no one voiced it. The morale was fraying, thin as thread stretched to its limit.
“Callen,” Theodoric continued, gesturing to one of his guards, “take the first group across. Move quickly. Keep your eyes open.”
Cassie lingered near the rear as the first group waded into the water, the current lapping at their thighs. Theodoric stood at the riverbank, sword in hand, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings. She joined him, her voice low.
“This feels wrong,” she murmured.
His eyes flicked toward her, unreadable. “It always does.”
The first group reached the opposite shore without incident, though their movements were tense, the water slowing them down. Theodoric motioned for the next set of guards to follow, his jaw tightening as he watched their progress.
A sudden, sharp splash shattered the uneasy quiet.
Cassie’s head snapped toward the source of the noise, her dagger already drawn. The water churned violently near the middle of the river, frothing as though something massive moved beneath the surface.
“Out of the water!” Theodoric shouted, his voice cutting through the confusion.
The guards scrambled, but the river exploded before they could react. A massive, slick-skinned beast erupted from the depths, its bulk sending waves crashing against the banks. Its elongated body was covered in thick, amphibian-like scales that glistened in the weak light, and its gaping maw revealed rows of jagged teeth.
It moved with terrifying speed, lunging toward the panicked figures in the water.
“Defensive positions!” Theodoric barked, his sword gleaming as he stepped forward.
Cassie took up the rear guard, her heart pounding as she saw two guards dragged under by the beast’s claws. Their screams were swallowed by the water, replaced by the thrashing of limbs and the growling of the creature.
“Hold the line!” Theodoric shouted again, rallying the remaining guards as the beast turned its attention toward the opposite shore.
The group was scattered now, the river isolating those who had made it across from those still stranded on the near bank. Cassie moved instinctively, positioning herself between the beast and the exposed guards struggling to regroup.
The creature lunged, and she sidestepped, slashing at its scaled flank. Her dagger scraped uselessly against its hide, the blade glancing off without penetrating. It turned on her with a guttural snarl, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto hers.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Over here!” she shouted, darting toward the shallows to draw its attention.
Theodoric seized the opening, his blade arcing in a precise strike toward the beast’s head. It roared, rearing back as his sword left a shallow gash along its jaw.
“It’s armored,” Cassie called, her voice steady despite the chaos. “Go for the joints!”
Hildiger charged forward, his longsword aimed at the beast’s exposed leg. The blade bit deep, and the creature howled, its massive tail whipping through the air in retaliation. It struck Hildiger with brutal force, sending him sprawling onto the rocky shore.
Cassie moved quickly, pulling him back before the beast could strike again.
“Stay with me,” she urged, her tone sharp but steady as Hildiger groaned, struggling to rise.
On the opposite shore, the guards began firing arrows, but the projectiles glanced harmlessly off the beast’s armored back. Theodoric shouted orders, coordinating their attacks, but the creature’s relentless movements kept the group on the defensive.
Cassie’s eyes darted to her pack. The explosives.
It wasn’t a good plan. She knew it even as she reached for the bundle of charges, but it was all they had.
“Your Highness!” she called, drawing his attention. “We need to trap it!”
His gaze flicked to the charges in her hands, and he gave a sharp nod. “Do it.”
She moved swiftly, her breath coming in short bursts as she waded into the shallows. The beast was circling now, its movements more deliberate, as though it recognized the danger they posed.
“Cover me,” she shouted, her voice carrying over the din.
Theodoric and the remaining guards launched a coordinated attack, drawing the creature’s attention as Cassie worked quickly. She secured the charges along a cluster of submerged rocks, her fingers steady despite the adrenaline surging through her veins.
The beast lunged again, its claws raking through the water just inches from her. Cassie darted back, lighting the fuse with practiced efficiency before retreating to the safety of the shore.
“Get clear!” she yelled.
The explosion shattered the air, a deafening roar that sent a plume of water and debris skyward. The beast let out a guttural scream, its massive body thrashing violently as the blast tore through its flank.
When the water settled, the creature’s broken form lay half-submerged near the bank. Its breathing was labored, its once-ferocious movements reduced to feeble twitches.
The group stood frozen, their weapons still raised, as the last vestiges of the creature’s life faded away.
Cassie knelt by the detonated site, her chest heaving as she surveyed the damage. The charges had worked, but at a cost. The explosives were gone, their last resort now spent.
Theodoric approached, his sword lowered but his expression grim. “Good work,” he said quietly.
She didn’t reply, her gaze fixed on the still water. The victory felt hollow, the cost etched into every weary face around her.
The group regrouped on the far shore, their movements sluggish as they tended to the wounded. Cassie bound Hildiger’s ribs as best she could, her hands steady despite the exhaustion threatening to drag her down.
“We can’t keep this up,” he muttered, his voice strained.
She didn’t answer, the truth of his words hanging heavy between them.
As night fell, Theodoric sat alone near the remnants of their supplies, his sword resting across his knees. His gaze was distant, fixed on the horizon as though searching for answers that wouldn’t come.
Cassie exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over her face. What was the point of the hunting competition again? Glory? A show of strength for the nobles back home? It felt ridiculous now, standing on the edge of the river with the scent of blood thick in the air and the wounded groaning in the background.
She glanced toward the water, where the creature’s corpse still bobbed gently in the shallows. It hadn’t been a hunt. It had been survival. And they were running out of whatever luck had carried them this far.
She tightened the straps on her pack, forcing her tired muscles to obey. “At least it can’t get worse,” she muttered under her breath.
As if on cue, a distant howl rose from the forest beyond the river. It was long, low, and full of something ancient and hungry.
Cassie closed her eyes briefly, already regretting her words.