Page 31 of Foxes of Legend

Enko raised his hand, causing Craig to flinch as Enko patted his back. “Shut up, Craig.”

Screams came from somewhere in the forest, the party going quiet as someone shut the music off.

A woman ran into sight at the treeline. Blood covered her from head to toe, flowing from deep slashes below her neck.

Brynn! I hadn’t seen her disappear from dancing.

“Demon! It killed him!” she screamed.

That sparked everyone into movement. Half the students were screaming, running back to the safety of the castle.

“Brynn!” I said as I ran toward her.

Kairos appeared in front of me, blocking me from my friend. “Enko, get her back to the dorm.” He turned and headed toward the action, his hand on his mace.

Enko held out a hand, but my eyes were on the forest where Brynn had come from.

I ignored Enko, skirting around him. Enko’s giant feet crunched on the forest floor behind me. When I reached her, shewas surrounded by other students. She pushed through them and pulled me into a hug.

“I’m here, Brynn. Everything is going to be okay,” I told her, gently stroking my hand over her back. A student pushed me away, pushing some fabric between us to slow her bleeding.

“Dove,” Enko said with a warning tone from behind me. “It’s not safe. You heard Kairos, I need to get you back to the dorm.”

Aside from the long slices across her front, slashes covered her exposed arms as she had fought against it. Her throat was undamaged. It hadn’t been going for the kill.

Tears streamed down her face, her black makeup forming long lines down her cheeks as she recapped the story. “We were making out...and...and then this hand came around the tree, long fingers with sharp black nails. It got him and swiped at me. I sprinted away. I didn’t see what type or Tier it was, I think I saw antlers or it could have been tree branches. I don’t know.”

My eyes moved to the forest where Brynn had exited, and where Kairos had entered. Demons weren’t going to take anyone else from me.

Enko jogged up to my side. “Dove, you have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

“Wendigo, Tier III,” I responded as I saw Kairos standing with several others in a circle.

Kairos glanced back at us, giving Enko an annoyed look. “I told you to get her back to the dorm.”

Enko shrugged. “You try it next time.”

“This isn’t something she should see,” Kairos argued, blocking me from the boy who had been slain.

“I think she can handle it,” Enko said as I pushed past Kairos.

The first-year was on the ground, his eyes lifeless, mutilated, his flesh shredded. It hadn’t even eaten him. Because it wasn’t hungry? Or because it was trying to send a message?

“Clear out!” Elder Peter yelled as he approached the scene. “You aren’t supposed to be so deep in the woods!”

The last of the students dispersed as a medical team helped Brynn onto a stretcher. Elder Peter approached the body. He pointed at Kairos and Enko. “You two, stay. The rest of you, clear out.” I remained until we were alone. Elder Peter rolled his eyes as he saw me. “What was it?”

“Wendigo, probably alone. Picked off a couple of first-years who had wandered away from the party,” Kairos stated.

“Any idea how it got past the barriers?” Elder Peter asked. When they shook their heads, he continued. “You’re on border patrol tonight. Seven too. Make sure there aren’t any strays lingering in the forest. Secure the perimeter, find any holes. I’ll inform the Archfox to check the footage for any weak points.” He scoffed as he looked at me, “Wouldn’t want to scare off any new students.”

Kairos and Enko walked me back to the school, before turning around going directly back out. Short of breaking Kairos’ orders and following them on their patrol, I couldn’t investigate further.

I rushed to the medical wing, only to be turned away by the healers, telling me that no visitors were allowed.

19

Dove

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