Page 29 of A Soul to Guide

He shattered its skull by bringing his knee high to his chest and then stomping on it with every bit of force he had in his strong legs. Brain and blood splattered with a cracking plop beneath his foot. It didn’t even have a chance to make a noise, but its body did flail for a second.

Merikh looked himself over, seeing that his clothing was ruined from his quills and the Demon blood that covered him.

See?he thought as looked around at the two dead Demons.All she had to do was help, and now I’m done.

It’d taken, what, less than two minutes when he’d been trying to get her to calm down for around five or ten?

The scent of her fear was still present in the air. He snorted out a huff, the material covering his snout billowing away before laying over his nose hole again.

“You should control your fear before more Demons come. I can protect you all night, but that would only exhaust you.”

Merikh approached her shield and stood over her, watching her through the gaps of her grass vines. He purposefully stepped on a bundle of sticks to make sure she knew he was in front of her, and her left ear twitched at the sound.

In the dark of night, her glowing starburst pupils gave off a small amount of light. They moved towards where she heard him step, and he tilted his bony head curiously. He’d figured her hearing was sensitive from their travels, so he wondered just how impeccable her other senses were.

Her lips tightened and turned inward, and the expression she wore was one of great struggle. Her thick white brows twitched as they slowly drew together.

She didn’t trust him, didn’t want to go with him. Then again, who would want to willingly go with him?

“It’s either me or the forest, Elf,” he stated firmly. “Make your decision, or I will do so for you.”

Her trembling worsened. “What if I say no?”

His tone was cold and unfeeling as he said, “I think it’s best if you tell yourself I’m giving you a choice.”

When her jaw muscles ticked, as though she’d gritted her teeth, he knew she’d made her decision.

Her grass shield disintegrated, appearing to wither of life as it opened above her. She raised her hand up to grab the fading edge so she could get to her feet.

Merikh shot forward and grabbed her wrist, pulling her from her shield. Her gasp was cut short by her squeal as he hoisted her until her stomach lay over his shoulder and her upper body hung down his back.

Before she could say anything on the matter, he bolted. She gasped and groaned as she bounced, the wind constantly being knocked out of her from the speed at which he ran.

“Put-put...” She struggled to speak. “Put me down!”

She kicked and kneed at his chest while she punched at his back. She was extremely lucky his quills were laying slimline down his body; otherwise, she would have stabbed herself.

“The area will become a feeding ground for nearby Demons. The death of their brethren, alongside your fear and blood scent, will bring more.” He held her legs down firmly to settle her bouncing so as not to pain her. “If we stay too close, we will get caught in their hunting. If we get far away enough, we’ll be able to avoid another fight.”

Merikh wasted no time as he sidestepped around trees, shrubs, and fallen logs, occasionally jumping over what he could. The wind whistled in his sensitive ears, as did the light thumping of his footsteps.

She was silent for a few moments, as if she’d accepted his response. Then she whispered, “Please... slow down.”

With an irritated growl, refusing to slow down at all, Merikh pulled her from his shoulder and cradled her tall and lithe body in his bulky arms. She crossed her arms over her stomach with a hiss, and he looked down momentarily to notice the drying cut across her cheek.

Well... that wouldn’t do. Her face was far too supreme to be marred.

He could have chosen to only heal her face, but Merikh took any and all wounds she could possibly have. He healed her, the sacrifice being he must bear them instead. His ankle felt a little tender, but at least she didn’t have any major wounds.

Once more, she gasped, this time in pleasant surprise. She even touched at her unmarred cheek.

“You can wield magic as well?”

He grunted in response as he listened to their surroundings.

When he heard a flap of wings, he stopped, put her on her feet, and shoved her between his body and a tree. He made sure his cloak covered her completely as he placed his palm over her mouth and turned his head upwards to watch through the gap in the tree canopy.

The cold moonlight cast halos between the sections of leaves, streaking white beams of light throughout the shroud of darkness.

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