Page 2 of Monster's Maiden

The dae’s ears flicker as it nibbles on a patch of frozen grass, oblivious to our presence. Its calm demeanor contrasts sharply with the tension in our little group. I can almost hear Aiden’s heart pounding in sync with mine.

Aiden’s breath comes out in slow, controlled puffs beside me. “Do you think it senses us?”

“Not yet,” I reply softly. “But we can’t afford any mistakes.”

Seconds stretch into minutes, each one feeling like an eternity. The air feels electric with tension, every sound amplified in the stillness of the forest. My fingers tighten around my bow, ready to draw at a moment’s notice.

“Now?” Aiden’s voice is barely audible.

“Almost,” I reply, eyes never leaving our target.

The dae takes a few more steps forward, closer to our hiding spot. Its graceful movements are mesmerizing, but I force myself to stay focused. One wrong move and we lose our chance.

Maya glances at me, her expression a mix of excitement and impatience. “Lara…”

“Hold steady,” I murmur.

Another gust of wind sweeps through the trees, carrying with it the scent of pine and snow. The dae lifts its head, nostrils flaring as it sniffs the air. My heart skips a beat—has it sensed us?

But no, it lowers its head again, resuming its grazing as if nothing happened. Relief washes over me, but I don’t let my guard down.

“Get ready,” I whisper to Aiden and Maya.

They nod in unison, their focus sharpening once more. The dae edges even closer now, almost within range.

I take a deep breath, drawing an arrow from my quiver. My fingers grip the bowstring with practiced ease. The world narrows to the small space between me and the dae. Everything fades—Aiden's nervous fidgeting, Maya's controlled breathing, the cold bite of the wind—all of it disappears. My heart beats steady and sure, syncing with the rhythm of the forest.

I pull back the string. Time seems to slow, every detail sharpening. The feel of the taut string against my fingers, the frigid air brushing my cheeks, the soft crunch of snow underfoot. I exhale slowly, steadying myself.

The dae lifts its head again, ears twitching as if sensing something amiss. My heart skips a beat. It’s now or never. I let out a slow breath and adjust my aim.

The string on my bow snaps back, releasing the arrow with a sharp twang. Time seems to slow as I watch it arc through the air. It flies true, slicing through the cold air with deadly precision. A blur of motion that feels both instantaneous and eternal. The sound of its flight is lost in the forest's quiet symphony, but I know it finds its mark even before it strikes.

The dae doesn’t have time to react; it’s a perfect shot. The arrow sinks into the dae with a soft thud, burying itself in the creature’s side.

The dae stumbles, its graceful movements faltering as it tries to comprehend what just happened. For a moment it stands there, frozen in surprise, each muscle taut and defined. Its eyes wide with sudden pain and confusion.

We watch as the dae stumbles forward a few more paces, its legs trembling and buckling beneath its weight. Then, with a final, heart-wrenching bleat, it collapses to the ground. The grace of its fall is almost poetic. Its majestic form now lying lifeless in the snow.

Aiden and Maya rush forward toward me, their faces full of relief. I lower my bow, my hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline rush. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The forest seems to also exhale around us, the tension easing as silence falls once more.

We approach the fallen dae together, our movements slow and respectful.

"Nice shot," Aiden says, admiration in his voice. He kneels beside the fallen dae, his gloved hand brushing over its silver coat.

"Thanks," I reply with a faint smile, stepping closer. The dae's beauty is undeniable even in death, its sleek fur shimmering like moonlight on water. A pang of guilt tugs at my heart, but I push it aside. This is survival. We need this. Its meat will sustain us through these harsh winter days.

Maya bends down carefully to inspect the arrow’s entry point. “Right through the heart,” she murmurs over her shoulder. “You never miss, do you?” Her eyes shine with admiration.

Her voice breaks my trance, unable to tear my eyes from the fallen dae. Its once graceful form now lies still, contrasting starkly against the pristine snow.

I shrug, trying to mask the guilt swelling in my chest. "Just lucky today," I manage to say, though my voice sounds distant even to me.

Aiden looks up at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Luck has nothing to do with it."

I move even closer to the dae, each step feeling heavier than the last. Kneeling beside it, I place a hand on its side where the arrow struck. The warmth of its body fades rapidly in the freezing air. A lump forms in my throat.

“We needed this,” I remind myself softly.

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