Page 13 of Of Shadow and Moon

I have so much anger within me, anger that flows through my veins like lava spilling from the mouth of a volcano in Tepetl. Nobody would ever know it, though.

I square my shoulders, shaking my head to dislodge these thoughts, and continue my journey through the dark forest.

The trickleof water reaches my ears, a welcome sound after hours of trudging through the forest. My throat is dry and my canteen is nearly empty. I quicken my pace, weaving between the trees as the sky begins to blanket the forest in darkness. I can feel the shift in the air, the way the forest seems to yawn and stretch, ready to torment those not welcome. So far, I’ve been lucky; nothing has tried to rip me apart. Yet.

I push forward, keeping my steps light, listening to the trickle of water growing louder with each step. Finally, I spot it, a small stream cutting through the dense underbrush, its surface glimmering in the fading light. I kneel down beside it, slipping my canteen into the cold water and watching it fill. The water is clear, almost shimmering, and I feel the tension ease from my shoulders as I dip my hands into the cool stream, letting it wash away the dirt from my palms.

As I sit back, taking a drink from my canteen, I catch aglimpse of light out of the corner of my eye. Then another. And another. Fireflies, hundreds of them, hovering around me, tiny sparks dancing in the air like the stars came down to Tonalli. I can’t help but stare, momentarily lost in the beauty of it. I feel my smile stretch wide across my face and take in a deep breath. The forest around me fades, the dangers momentarily forgotten as I watch the little lights swirl, painting the darkness with their quiet magic.

But that’s my mistake.

A low growl cuts into my reverie, and I get a shiver down my spine. I whip around, my heart racing, as the creature steps into the clearing. Larger than a wolf, lower to the ground, its body an abnormal mass of fur and muscle. Yet the color of its eyes is an unnatural yellow glow amidst the dark, and its mouth is full of row after row of crooked teeth in uneven lengths. When it opens its jaw, large black tar drips down, sizzling upon contact with the ground and scorching the grass.

A Fangshade.

Of all the creatures in the forest, it had to be a Fangshade. They're some of the most deadly monsters in all of Tonalli. Hardly anybody comes out of a duel alive. It’s strategizing as it stares at me, so I do the same in return. I formulate a plan of how in the fuck I am getting out of this.

It lets out another low growl, stalking closer. The fireflies scatter, their light blinking out as they disappear into the darkness, leaving me alone with the creature.

“Thanks a lot, assholes,” I mutter at the beauties who left me to die.

My hand instinctively goes to the hilt of my dagger, my fingers tightening around the familiar grip as I steel myself. I run over in my head everything I have read about Fangshades. I’ve actually never seen one in person, so if I make itout of this, I’ll have more information to store in my head about this beast. The thought makes me smile, and yes, I understand that I’m completely deranged. They are vicious, cunning hunters, relentless in their thirst for blood, which makes me wince. It’s probably been following me since I cut up my hand on that tree bark.

The Fangshade lunges at me, and I throw myself to the side, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws. It lands where I'd been just a moment before, its claws raking across the ground and tearing through dirt and roots like they were paper. Scrambling up, I place my back to a tree and hold the dagger low, waiting for the next move.

It circles me, its eyes shining bright and never leaving mine, weighing me up. Its fur is matted, streaked with dark stains that could only be blood. There’s another deep growl, the beast is getting annoyed. I know it's just waiting for me to slip, to give it an opening, but I'm not about to give it that satisfaction.

I take a deep breath, forcing my heart to stay steady. “Come on, then,” I say to myself, but the creature seems to get it, its lips curling back in a near grin.

Before I can even react, it hurls towards me again, much quicker the second time around, a mess of teeth and claws.

I sidestep, slashing at it as it passes, this time drawing blood. The Fangshade lets out a howl; the sound echoing through the trees, but it doesn't fall back. If anything, the scent of its own blood only seems to make it angrier. It crouches low, muscles coiling, preparing to strike again.

This time, it feints left before dashing right, catching me off guard. I try to pivot, but it's too fast; its claws rake across my arm, tearing through fabric and skin alike. Pain flares up my arm, hot and sharp, but I grit my teeth, refusing to letit distract me.

The Fangshade pulls back, its mouth dripping with dark saliva as it eyes me. The warm trickle of blood down my arm just makes me take another step forward, raising my dagger. I have to end this quickly. Fangshades don't tire easily, and if it senses even a little weakness, it'll use it against me.

It lunges again, and this time I don't move, which makes it hesitate. It’s the opening I need. I wait until it's almost upon me, then drop to one knee, driving the dagger upward into its chest with all my strength. The blade sinks into its flesh, and the creature lets out a blood-curdling scream, thrashing as it tries to pull away. I twist the blade, feeling it bite deeper, my arm screaming in protest as I hold my ground.

The Fangshade recoils, its breaths coming in ragged gasps as it stares at me, hatred and pain mingling in its eyes. Thick blood pours from the wound, pooling on the ground beneath it. It takes a step back, then another, its body swaying unsteadily as it tries to stay upright.

But I don't give it the chance.

I pull the dagger free, drive it into its throat, through muscle and bone until my blade finds its mark, and in one last, strangled cry, the Fangshade collapses, its body thudding to the earth with a heavy weight. Standing over it, I breathe hard; my whole body's trembling, cold with adrenaline and exhaustion.

I stand there a while longer, and watch as the light fades from its eyes; the forest surrounding me hushed once more. The fireflies return as if sensing there’s no more danger near, their lights twinkling, but now they seem like the reminder of what almost was—a beauty I almost allowed myself to believe in, even here, within this twisted place.

I take a shaky breath, wiping the blood from my dagger before slipping it back into its sheath. My arm throbs, the cuts stinging as the adrenaline begins to fade, but I push the pain aside. I quickly tear off a part of my top and wrap it around just below my armpit, to stop the flow of blood. There will be time to tend to the wounds later. Right now, I need to keep moving to a safer spot. If there is one.

The Dark Forest isn't done with me yet.

The night beginswith a sharp sting as a jagged branch slashes across my cheek. The forest wastes no time in reminding me it is alive, malevolent, and completely unforgiving. Blood trickles down my face, but I hardly register it. Compared to what follows, this is nothing.

My body, by the time night falls, has been through a war. Bruises blossom across my arms and ribs, and each step jars pain through my legs. The forest hums, unnatural, alive in ways that creep into your skin. The air was thick with growls, skitters, and whispers?like some great chorus of predators waiting for me to falter. Dark silhouettes dance at the edge of my vision, like living things, and my instincts scream for me to be ready at a moment's notice.

I don't have to wait very long for the forest to make the first move.

The attack is sudden; a blur from the dark. A creature launches itself from the shadows, a Grimmaw, his body stretched and slick with oily black fur that drips slowly to every place it walks. It has twin orbs of pale green light, its eyes smoldering with dangerous hunger. It glides closer to me, its extended claws scratching along theground, a drizzle of saliva running from its jagged, bone-white teeth.

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