Page 54 of Unbound

I don't need to be told twice. I'm terrified of the wolf, but the thought of diving into those depths and facing the ancient rogue elemental again... no. I simply can't make myself do it.

I turn, sprinting away from the wolf and toward the twisted forest.

I duck between forms that only vaguely resemble trees. They're like sculptures of wood frozen in the act of melting, their surfaces smooth and flowing. Some have what look like fruits hanging from their branches—perfect spheres that pulse with inner light.

I glimpse strange shapes between the trees—green entities drifting like spirits and a massive caterpillar with claws and horns slithering up one of the tree things.

I hear distant screams, the metallic clash of weapons, and triumphant shouts from all around.

Behind, the fire wolf's paws striking the ground with percussive thumps as it gallops, each impact like a small explosion. It's hunting me now, and there's no way I can outrun it.

I need to hide.

I weave into a thicker section of trees, jumping down small ledges, turning, and skidding to a stop behind a tree. I press my back against its smooth surface and have no way of knowing if the wolf lost sight of me or not. My breathing sounds impossibly loud in my ears, and my heart feels like it might burst.

The footfalls slow, growing more deliberate.Hunting. Tracking.

I close my eyes, trying to control my breathing. Every exhale feels like a betrayal, revealing my hiding spot like a fucking spotlight. This isn't how it ends. I refuse to die here, alone in this alien place, without even trying to tether an elemental.

Thiscan’tbe how it ends.

A low growl rumbles through the forest, so close I can feel the heat of it on my skin.

I open my eyes and find myself staring directly into the blazing gaze of the fire wolf. Its eyes are rubies of anger and fire, intelligent and savage. It regards me with what almost looks like curiosity, its head tilted slightly to one side.

For a moment, neither of us moves.

The heat of its body so close is unbearable. As it draws closer, the hairs on my arm turn black at the edges and curl.

Its jaws part, flames licking between dagger-like teeth, and it lunges.

I throw myself sideways. Heat sears a excruciating line across my back as I roll across the ground. Pain tears through me, but I force myself back to my feet, running deeper into the forest.

The fire wolf is right behind me, so close I can feel its heat on my heels. I zigzag between tree-sculptures, ducking low branches, leaping over twisted roots. But it's no use. The creature is faster, stronger, built for the hunt.

I burst into a clearing and come to a stop. There's nowhere left to run. The trees end at a sheer cliff that drops away into nothingness—a void where reality simply ceases to exist.

I turn, panting, to face my pursuer.

The fire wolf pads into the clearing, its movements slow and deliberate again.

It knows I'm trapped.

Heat waves ripple through the air between us, scorching my lungs with each breath.

This is it, then. After everything—surviving the selections, the challenge matches, daily life at Confluence, and even a rogue elemental and Malakai during the trial—I'm going to die here, alone, without even understanding what I truly am.

The thought ignites something in me.

Not fear.

Fury.

My hands ball into fists, nails cutting half-moons into my palms. No. I refuse to die like this. Others have died so I could make it here. To this moment. To today.

Failing isn't an option.

I stand straighter, facing the elemental directly. My breathing comes in ragged gasps, but my voice comes out steady enough to get the point across.

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