Page 3 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

Tomas leans against the wall, his arms crossed. "What we always do. Survive."

But as I look into their eyes, I see the same fear that's gnawing at my insides. We might put on a brave face, but deep down, we all know the truth. The waira are coming, and our little village might not be ready for what follows.

The fire crackles, casting dancing shadows across our faces. I clutch the mug of mulled wine, its warmth seeping into my trembling hands. Tomas paces by the window, his jaw clenched tight. Mara sits beside me.

A log in the fire pops, making me jump. My heart races, and I take a slow, steady breath, trying to calm my nerves. The spiced wine burns my throat as I take another sip.

We remain in quietude for what feels like an eternity. A sound suddenly cuts through the thick silence, distant but unmistakable. A long, mournful howl that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

We freeze, eyes wide, barely daring to breathe. The howl comes again, closer this time. Then another joins it, and another.

"Gods above," Mara whispers, her face pale in the firelight.

Tomas moves to the window, peering out. "I can't see anything, but they sound close. Too close."

My hands shake so badly I have to set down the mug. The waira's cries echo through the air, a chilling chorus that speaks of hunger and violence. I think of the tracks Goran described, larger than any they had seen before. What kind of monsters are out there, circling our village?

"What do we do?" I ask, hating how small and scared my voice sounds.

Tomas turns from the window, his expression grim. "We prepare for the worst and hope for the best. That's all we can do."

As if in response, another howl rips through the air, so close it might as well be right outside our door. I shudder, huddlingcloser to Mara. The fire suddenly seems feeble against the encroaching darkness, and I can't shake the feeling that our little sanctuary is about to be shattered.

2

JYTOS

The stench of fear hangs thick in the air. The delicious aroma sets my blood singing. My tentacles twitch with anticipation as I stalk through the craggy mountain terrain. Every muscle in my seven-foot frame coils, ready to strike at any given moment.

A faint growl rumbles in my throat. "Come out, come out, wherever you are," I taunt, my deep voice echoing off the rocky walls.

The creature, a massive, six-legged beast with razor-sharp tusks, lets out a terrified bellow. It's trapped between me and the sheer cliff face, nowhere left to run. Pathetic.

I bare my teeth in a feral grin. My long tongue flicks out to taste the air. "That's right, big boy. Time to play."

My tentacles lash out, wrapping around the beast's thick legs. It thrashes wildly, but I'm stronger. Always stronger. With a vicious yank, I bring it crashing to the ground.

"Fuck yeah," I snarl, leaping onto its back. My claws dig into its hide as it bucks beneath me. "That all you got?"

The thrill of the hunt courses through my veins, a primal euphoria that nothing else can match. This is what I live for. What I was born for.

As the last of the Umbrath, I'm the apex predator in these godforsaken mountains. Everything here belongs to me. My territory. My hunting grounds. My prey.

The beast lets out one final, pitiful whimper before I sink my teeth into its throat. Hot blood floods my mouth, and I growl in satisfaction. Another successful hunt. Another day of survival in this harsh world that's tried so hard to wipe me out.

But I'm still here. Still fighting. Still winning.

I rip into my kill, savoring every bite. "Damn, that hits the spot," I mutter, licking blood from my lips. "Almost makes me wish there was someone around to share it with."

The words surprise me. Where the hell did that come from?

I wipe the blood from my chin, savoring the last traces of my meal. The beast's carcass lies at my feet. My tentacles twitch with residual excitement, but as the thrill of the hunt fades, an all-too-familiar emptiness creeps in.

"Fuck," I mutter, kicking at a nearby rock. It shatters against the cliff face. "Is this all there is?"

I look out over my domain, the craggy peaks and deep valleys stretching as far as the eye can see. It's mine, all of it. But what good is an empire with no one to rule?

My tentacles curl around my arms, an unconscious gesture of self-comfort. I growl, irritated by my own weakness. "Get it together, Jytos. You're the last Umbrath. Act like it."

---