Page 102 of Sohut's Protection

Being in the camp for the last few days made the jungle seem terrifying and if she hadn’t been living in it for a year, she wasn’t sure she could have gone hunting alone with only Wawa by her side.

Such were the thoughts in her head that when Sohut’s heavy hand landed on her shoulder, the suddenness of it had her freezing.

Turning slightly, she cast a wide-eyed look at him.

He was holding her rigidly as he came to press his body against hers—so close she could feel the cords of his chest muscles pressing into her back.

His hot breath fanned her over her ear. “Don’t. Move. Don’t even breathe.”

Cleo stiffened.

Something about his entire being made goosebumps rise over her skin.

He was staring straight ahead into the bushes, his green gaze cold, and every muscle in his body felt alert and ready.

A chill traveled down her spine and Cleo stiffened even farther as a strange feeling suddenly enveloped the area.

It was the sort of feeling you get when you become aware that you’re in the presence of something very, very dangerous.

She was vaguely aware that Sohut was reaching into his trousers and pulling something free and a side-eye told her it was his blade.

There was something out there, something threatening, and she wondered if it was one of those guards the Torians had spotted.

The thought that there was an enemy in their midst…

For a few long seconds, nothing happened.

There wasn’t even a sound.

Still, she didn’t dare to move. She didn’t dare to breathe, as Sohut had said, and as she held her breath, the bushes in front of them stirred.

Wawa…please let it be Wawa.

But what appeared through the bushes looked nothing like her little companion.

It was as black as night. So black that it took a few moments to realize she was looking at an animal and not into a dark void.

Even its eyes were dark.

It stood on four legs but on its back, rising into the air, were four sharp spikes that stood from its spine.

It stepped out of the bushes and paused, looking at them.

Behind her, Sohut was as hard as stone and she realized he was moving slowly to stand in front of her, blocking her from the literal nightmare in front of them.

“The fuck…” She breathed almost soundlessly. “…is that?”

“A spined creature…” Sohut was in front of her now, blocking her from the beast that stood unmoving. “Don’t move.”

A spined creature?

The same creature he mentioned was Wawa’s prey?

How the…

Moving just slightly enough that she could see around Sohut, Cleo’s eyes widened in disbelief.

No way.

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