Page 3 of Fury of the Bound
Suddenly, I felt the weight of his cold, piercing gaze for the split second he looked over me. My heart stilled, but I was hidden in the shadows, and he didn’t move forward, which meant I was well hidden. The tension in the air was thick and pressing against my chest like a vice.
The sky split with a crack of lightning, momentarily lighting up the woods. The rain started pouring, quickly drenching me. I barely felt it, too focused on the stillness between us, my pulse thudding in my ears. Darian stood there, unblinking, his eyessweeping over the woods again, his posture unyielding, waiting for something.
Please move.
Then, out of nowhere, another hunter sprinted towards him through the rain, clapping him hard on the shoulder, the smirk on his face evident even in the dark. Darian’s eyes flickered briefly to the newcomer before scanning the woods once more, his gaze passing over my hiding spot but never lingering. Finally, with a swift turn, he nodded to the other hunter and started to walk away, his steps heavy but deliberate.
I exhaled sharply, feeling the tightness in my chest ease.
Pompous ass.
I hated hunters with a burning passion. I have not come across a single one who didn’t let the power mess with their head. But Darian? He was on a whole other level.
Everything about him screamed arrogance and cruelty. Seeing him like this, so closed off, was just sad.
I could feel his disdain from here. And to think the likes of him were the ones who had been tasked with protecting this realm.
What a joke.
I turned around just as another lightning strike struck the woods, creating a flame of fire in the same direction as the cottage.
Oh shit.
My heart raced as I darted through the trees, my feet pounding against the wet earth, jumping over branches and rocks in a blur of motion. The rain hit my face like icy needles, stinging with every step I took. I could see the fire now, its glow flickering through the thick, misty air; the orange hue of the flames danced wildly as they crept through the dry underbrush, threatening to consume everything in their path. Even with the heavy rain, it didn’t die down.
The ground beneath me was slick with rain, but I pressed on, adrenaline fueling my every move. My breath came in ragged gasps as I drew closer. The heat of the fire mixed with the cold of the rain, creating a jarring contrast. I could feel the burn of the flames in the air now, and the crackling of the fire was deafening. My mind snapped to focus, desperation surging through me. There was no time to waste.
With every ounce of strength left in my drained body, I reached for the power within me, pulling the water from the nearby stream. It rose in fluid spirals, swirling around my outstretched hands. My magic pulsed through the air, guiding the water with precision, weaving it towards the fire. The world slowed as I concentrated, pouring every last bit of energy into it.
I hurled the water towards the fire, the torrent of liquid crashing into the flames with a deafening hiss. The fire spluttered, steam rising in thick black clouds as the water smothered it. It didn’t go down easily; the flames fought back, but slowly, inch by inch, the fire lost its battle. What was once a roaring inferno now faded into a faint hiss, leaving nothing but scorched grass and a damp, smoky haze in the air.
Exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave, and I staggered back, breathing heavily, my legs shaking beneath me. The fire was out, but I knew this victory was fleeting. There would be consequences for this, but at least, for now, I had stopped the destruction.
I couldn’t help but hope my magic hadn’t caught anyone’s attention. It was a risky move, but the fire needed to be stopped, no matter the cost.
I lowered my head, gasping for breath. The cool rain was falling more slowly now, and the steady patter on the ground felt almost comforting. That’s when I heard it—a soft, tortured whine followed by a low growl, a sound of pain. My heartskipped a beat, and I froze. My instincts kicked in; something was out there.
I moved cautiously, every step deliberate, my boots crunching against the scorched earth. The once vibrant grass was now charred, the scent of burnt vegetation hanging thick in the air. The rain had slowed to a mere drizzle.
Then something flickered in the corner of my eye. A movement, only small but noticeable. It had wings.
My pulse quickened as I moved forward, my mind racing with questions as my heart raced in my chest. As I approached, the creature came into view, and my breath caught in my throat. I stopped in my tracks, eyes wide. It writhed in pain on the ground, its wings crumpled awkwardly under its body. The sound of its whimpers and growls filled the silence of the night, and the helplessness in its cries was almost too much to bear.
My heart skipped a beat when its head snapped towards me. Its silver eyes, like the stars themselves, locked onto mine with an intensity that made me freeze. Time seemed to slow as I stumbled back, my stomach twisting with disbelief.
A small dragon.
The creature, no bigger than a large dog, was struggling to move, its delicate wing tangled in some broken debris. They were extinct, a creature we spoke about only in bedtime stories. But here, in front of me, was the very creature everyone thought was dead.
A myth comes to life.
I stared at it, disbelieving. The weight of what I saw hit me all at once. The creature, which I had only heard about in whispers, was real, and it was in pain. I took a step forward, instinctively wanting to help. The dragon's silver eyes never left mine, narrowing slightly as if weighing my every move. Its pain was palpable, its body trembling with each breath. I held my ground,though, lowering myself slowly and cautiously, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might frighten it.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” I whispered; my voice soft but steady. “I just want to help.”
The dragon's gaze flickered between me and its injured wing. I could feel the tension radiating off it, the way it instinctively pulled away whenever I moved too close. I took another small step forward, careful not to make the creature feel cornered. The last thing I needed was to get burned or worse.
“I’m not your enemy,” I added, my voice softer this time. “Please.”
