Page 34 of The Shadow of Polaris

Stepping into the sunlight, mud caked on both of my knees and elbows, I breathed deeply. Rune stirred softly, wiping the dirt from his eyes. Arcturas’s fur straightened down her spine, sensing that we weren’t alone.

“Rune, I need you to roll behind those rocks and stay quiet,” I said through gritted teeth.

My hands shook and I forced them still as I scanned our surroundings. Trees, flourishing and green, whispered with a gentle breeze. It was too quiet. Not a single chickadee chirped. Not a single field mouse squeaked across the forest floor. My toes curled in my boot, ready for an ambush.

Rune struggled to the boulder, gasping and wheezing as he tucked himself into its shadow. A blood stain across his tunic grew. I needed to tend to his wounds. A twig cracked to our left and a flock of birds flurried into the sky. I couldn’t do that, however, if we were both dead.

Without hesitation, Arcturas shot into the trees, darting between roots and boulders. I sprung forward, following behind her. The muscles in my calves strained as I pushed faster to keep the wolf in sight.

Blood pounded in my ears and my vision tunneled. Arcturas growled and roared as she tore through the flesh of our unseen enemy. I skidded to a halt, watching the creature howl in agony as Arcturas ripped at its neck, thick black ooze spewing from the open artery. My skin pricked behind me. Just as another leapt for my back I ducked to the ground, rolling away from its yellow claws.

The creature landed inches from my face and straightened its spine to stand on two hairless, dirty feet. Its toenails, vile with green fungus, curled around the front of each toe. The creature hunched down to face me, cracking its skeletal fingers. Its leathery body, humanoid and hairless, wrinkled beneath the movement. Instead of eyelids, the creature’s four emerald eyes protruded from its face like an arachnid. There were two small slits where its nose should be.

It pounced once more, and I raised my forearms to block the rows of needle-like teeth snapping at my skin. Hot, floral scented breath licked across my cheeks. With all of my strength, I pushed the creature away. It flung backward, as if weightless, and slammed into a large tree across from us. I jumped to my feet. Before it could lurch for me once again, I flung the hilt of my dagger toward it.

The blade spun and hurtled through the air. Seconds drew by until my aim struck true, plunging through the creature’s eye, pinning it against a tree trunk. It shrieked in fury, frantically clawing at its now gushing face.

Arcturas, having torn the other creature to shreds, pounced and tore the sagging flesh from its chest. With her muzzle soaked in black sludge, she ripped at its insides, letting its organs hang limply from its frame as the life faded from its gelatinous eyes.

My head spun and a cold sweat washed over me as I watched blood spurt from the carcass now splayed across the forest floor. In its cold, white knuckles, was a strand of long black hair and a scrap of dirty grey cotton. They had been tracking us, using my scent to follow our route. Blood sprayed across the undergrowth, and a foul sweet scent burned my nostrils like wilting flowers. Falling to my knees I released the contents of my stomach, heaving violently and spitting up bile profusely. Arcturas nuzzled against my face, smudging blood across my cheek.

Staggering back to my feet, we made our way back to Rune who had straightened himself against the boulder.

“What happened?” His eyes grew wide at the muddy flesh caked up my arms.

“There were trackers, some sort of hairless creatures with buggy green eyes. They had a scrap of my clothes and a few strands of my hair.” I kneeled next to him, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Are you okay?”

I pulled off his bloodied tunic, but there were no gashes or wounds. Only smooth, tanned skin.

“Yeah, I’m alright. I must’ve passed out when that thing dragged me back through that burrow,” he said, rubbing a hand through his hair.

“Who’s blood is that?” I asked, pointing to the discarded tunic.

“It all happened so fast, but I must’ve wounded whatever had grabbed me. Those creatures you’re describing, they sound like Arachnae. They’re beasts of the Eastern Realm. Once they’re summoned and introduced to a smell, they’ll relentlessly stalk their prey. Do you think someone in Venia summoned them to find you?”

“Maybe. By now, I’m sure the Elders have gotten wind of my escape.” My stomach knotted at the thought of those ancient men in their high thrones.

“Well, they normally travel in pairs. So, I think we’re safe. Let’s just pray to the Gods that they don’t send more after you.” I helped Rune to his feet, using my shoulder for support.

“The thing that pulled you into the burrow,” I said, kicking a pebble across the path, “I think I’ve seen it before.”

“What do you mean? It’s attacked you before?” Rune asked, watching the round, grey stone scatter down the sloping trail.

“Well, not in real life,” I said. “I’ve seen it in my dreams, I think. At first, I thought they were just nightmares, but now I’m thinking they’re premonitions.”

“With everything else going on, that wouldn’t surprise me,” he said.

“I know. That’s what worries me. These dreams, they…” I trailed off, my stomach lurching at the stench of rotten flesh. “They terrify me. At the end of each one, I end up dead.”

“Well, that thing didn’t kill you.” Rune reached for my hand. His skin was warm against the cold sweat of my palms. “It went after me and it sounds like it let you go.”

“I guess you’re right. Still, something about those red eyes. I can’t shake them.” I shuddered. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead, scattering gems of afternoon sunlight across the cobblestone.

“We’re safe for now. Let’s just focus on getting to the city. Once we’re there, nothing can touch us. Not even your dreams.” Rune smiled and continued down the road.

At every snapping twig or rustle of leaves, my fingers, still wrapped tightly around my weapon, twitched. He was right, we were safe for now. Dwelling on nightmares wouldn’t do me any good, I thought, but the feeling of unease only grew as we carried on.

Chapter 20

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