ng's here," J

listening. The sound got closer, he heard the moveme

erceive t

s close. A strange scent filled my nose. It wasn't like anything I'd ever sme

the trees broke and the wilderness became a long, sloping valley. That's wher

e if we can sneak up on

process in his mind. Sneak up, jump, and give a fatal b

father's lead. "I'

ander maintained a short d

then sprung into the air with one coile

e. He weaved in the air and hovered over the ground

ting my charge, as everything happened so fast. Instead he shifted his weight in mid-air to turn a

orybook. It was twelve feet tall, with tree roots for feet and long, dangling arms that dragged along the ground and ended in black claws, connected to a masculine form. Its head

emonic man-eating creature of the forest, rumored

creature, but close enough to see

his clawed hand, and sharp spines sprung up from the fingers. Zander dodged as blow rolling on the gr

ght out curved ram's horn, and blew into the pipe s

s it pursued him through the valley. The ground shook underneath his

t. He attempted to get close, but every time he tried the monster swung his large claws, preventing him from landing a secure bite. Now

ion that it was hurt, merely kicked Zander off. The blow sent him crashing into the tree stem. He heard somethin

he manor's claws came too close, and they cut across his fath

himself to stand and return to the fight. His father needed him.

to hear thundering in the trees. He looked ahead and there were a sleuth of wolves stampeding t

wolves transformed to human, he was Lucian. The manor tried to whip him out into the air, Lucian dodge

t was soaked with blood, but he was

nd the manor met, rearing up on their hind legs

he exerted more pres

his feet and defending his clan A second wolf charged at the manor, it was Jordan. He sank his teeth in

the face of the manor apart. Zander's heart lifted. The