FOREVER KNIGHTS: #9 Feral Breed

Meeting his stare, she was chilled to the bone. Certain it wasn’t a dream. Even from within the confines of this nightmarish vision, she knew what he was. But to each side of him was a creature she’d only caught fleeting glimpses of as it loped after the mare she’d ridden to flee yesterday. A massive drooling creature that looked at her through unblinking orange eyes. Each breath sounded wet making its side collapse and wheezing as it reflated.

The man creature’s hissing sneer contaminated the silence and a sly glance upward had clouds blocking the moon and darkening the mountain.

Dread swelled inside her as he leisurely lifted a hand which sent the massive creature descending on her.

Even as she realized he’d kill her, a haunting howl rumbled through the woods. Creeping warmth back into her heart. She twisted gratefully toward the sound.

Jumping from the cover of trees, a white wolf with pale eyes crouched and bared its teeth toward the bearded man. Slinking a slow circle to keep him in view.

Nora was disappointed it wasn’t her wolf. She felt the sudden weight of the evil animal land on her. It’s rending teeth clapping over her face and digging into her flesh. Stealing her air. She flailed and pushed at it but her broken limbs were weak defenses.

The old man’s head snapped to level a hate-filled stare on the alabastar animal attacking him. Using magic to fight it back. He watched the animal with a snarl.

In the next instant the man had caught the wolf by the throat and gave a jagged-toothed smile as he prepared to snap its neck but another giant wolf bowled him over. Rushing past as it landed on the creature attacking her. Ripping at its neck and spine while the old man shrieked in agony. The white wolf regaining its footing and shaking its head as it began a low growl, surging toward the man as he fought off waves of pain. Pain Nora didn’t understand.

A feline roar cut the air. Glowing eyes lit the treeline surrounding them.

Yellow-eyed wolves crept from every shadow. There were animals everywhere now. But still not the one Nora hoped for.

Panic filled Nora as she looked at the man and was feared he’d kill them all.

The creature was off her now but she wheezed trying to get air through a torn throat. Feeling fluid filling her airways.

She tried to reach toward them to yell for them to run but couldn’t speak.

The old man looked at the line of wolves and saw the streak of a panther crossing the snowy mountain top and he gave a roaring shout that echoed over the mountain before he whirled in a flash of gray robes. The giant beast at his feet still moving with him as he was forced to retreat.

The wolves skid to her side turning into men sliding over the muddied floor. And tripping on furs as they scrambled to her. One propped her head up on his lap trying to stem the flow of blood pouring into her lungs. Another was reaching in her mouth trying to chase fluid out. Another mopped her with shreds of cloth they tore from their clothes.

Someone was holding her hand.

They all were trying to help. Trying to save her.

But one of them stood looking at the others. He shouted that they couldn’t let her lay there and continue to suffer. She was spitting out blood as best as she was able but the feeling of suffocating was so terrifying she clung to the hands holding hers. Her eyes flitting over them all in terror and suffering.

“I’m not going to let her suffer!” The white haired one shouted as he knelt and picked up her face. He gave her an apologetic look and jerked her head. She felt her neck crack and emptiness. The pain stopped.

Opening her mouth to scream, she jerked herself awake. Gratefully ripping from the horror of the nightmare. As she blinked awake she sensed the warm pressure surrounding her. Offering strange comfort.

Nora was impossibly exhausted from night after night of these awful dreams. She could barely lift her heavy eyelids. Turning onto her side she registered it felt like the bed dipped behind her. Pressure like a hand brushing her face moved hair over her shoulder and stroked her bangs aside.

Comforted she was lulled back to sleep. Darkness enveloping her as she vaguely heard the whispered.

“Goodnight.”