Page 46 of The Blackened Blade

Stopping to check the small wound, I hear a sound rustling to my left.

I turn around quickly, grabbing the dagger I’d sneakily taken from the training grounds locker. The small metal blade gleams as I grip it.

It wasn’t the best weapon against a beast, especially a large one, but it was better than the small metal forks in the cafeteria.

A feral growl falls from the bushes as I take a defensive stance, my heartbeat kicking up a notch as I imagine all the creatures it could be.

I grip the dagger tightly as the creature pounces from the bushes and bares its fangs just feet from me. Its greenish-gold eyes gleaming and narrowed in my direction.

The thrum of my heart calms at the sight of the animal. A mountain lion.

It had to be the biggest I’d ever seen, stretching out at seven foot long, but I’d fought bigger and badder. A mountain lion I could take.

I pull my body lower and into a crouching position as I flip the dagger in my hand.

By the looks of the animal's eyes, it wasn’t planning on letting me leave without a taste.

It growls again, taking a slow step closer as its eyes watch my movements.

I twist the blade in my hand, preparing for the attack that's soon to come, when suddenly it freezes.

It takes a shaky step back and then turns and runs away quickly.

I watch on as it dashes through the forest, never once turning back my way.

Pulling myself up straight, my mind tries to understand what just happened. There's no way such a large mountain lion was afraid of the flicker of a dagger.

My brows scrunch together as I look back toward the forest, the mountain lion now completely gone from sight.

A small sigh leaves my lips. It would have been a good way to push my training up a notch.

Nothing beats training like trying to survive an animal that wants to eat you.

I turn around, going to make my way to my little training area to work out instead, when suddenly I freeze. The air drains from my lungs all at once.

Two dark ice-blue eyes stare at me from the treeline opposite from where I stand. Too large to be any human or natural animal of the forest.

The night's dark sky and dim lighting make it difficult to make out what magical beast it is.

It's covered by the dark forest and trees around it, but the ice cold shiver working its way over my skin tells me it's something I should be running from.

It takes a slow step forward, its eyes focused fully on me as its enormous body shakes the trees around it with the slight movement.

My breath catches in my throat with just the sheer size of the beast. Even walking on all fours it must be over eight feet tall. Its fur is as black as night, tipped with white and blue strands that look almost like ice, and the nature around it seems to freeze up or shrivel with just its appearance.

A cold mist surrounds the forest floor around it, but I can make out four paws, all tipped with razor sharp claws and a large bristly tail. The beast reminds me of something similar to a wolf shifter or a hellhound, but stands at three times their size. And with a power so dark and murderous, it emanates from its every pore.

A low growl pours from its large mouth, shaking the trees beside it with its vibration.

It takes another step, stalking closer to me.

Every fibre of my being screams for me to run, to turn away and flee. That whatever this beast is, he has the look of a predator who always gets its prey, and tonight, that was me.

Another shiver runs up my spine as the beast stalks closer, my body frozen in place as its eyes stay fixated solely on me.

I bite the inside of my lip, tasting the coppery blood that trickles from it. It helps to drag me from my frozen state, and pull me back together.

My eyes close in on the beast.

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