Page 47 of The Blackened Blade

Never again would I run away.

Never again would I give up without a fight.

If I ran from this beast now, it would surely follow me, and with its sheer size alone, it could easily catch me in seconds.

I needed to fight.

I grip the dagger in my hand and slightly bend lower, preparing for the attack that's soon to follow.

I had gotten stronger and faster with my training, and wouldn’t be giving this life to anyone,or anything,this time around.

I had to survive this.I would.

And whatever this beast was, I would beat it.

I watch as it stalks nearer to me, now just a few feet away as a deep growl falls from its lips and it bares its sharp fangs toward me. Its lips spread, looking almost as if the beast was grinning as it watched me.

Suddenly it leaps forward, its claws extended as it reaches for me.

I dodge, rolling to my left and down into an open area. I twist and flip, pulling myself onto my feet as the beast dashes toward me. The tree that stood behind me just moments ago, now lays shredded at the beast's feet with chunks of bark torn to splinters.

And by the looks of it, this was the beast that ripped the brown grizzly bear to pieces.Literally.

I hold the dagger in my hand, the shape of its hilt now embedded into my skin with my tightened grip.

Watching the beast's movements, I wait for it to come to me, slowing my heavy breaths and my beating heart. I won’t fall here.

I died once before, but I won’t let it happen a second time.

I lift my hands slightly, the blade flipped in my right hand as I narrow my gaze at the beast making its way toward me.

It charges again, this time I meet it halfway in my own run toward it.

It lashes out toward me, but I dodge, sliding under its extended claws and beneath its large body.

Slashing the blade outwards and along the beast's side, I catch it before it manoeuvres away from me. I flip out of the way, just as its large fangs gnash down just inches from my face.

I’m crouched on the forest floor, blade at the ready, waiting for its next attack, when suddenly the beast bends down, its body almost an imitation of my own.

Another shiver runs across my skin as its dark eyes gleam, watching mine.

Those weren’t the eyes of some wild mindless beast, they were bloodthirsty alright, but somehow alsocalculating.

This beast held an intelligence like no other magical creature I’d seen before. Its movements alone proved that.

Its icy blue eyes glow as the moon trickles down on us, its dark fur bristling with the cold mist surrounding its body.

Everything quickly falls to darkness as clouds cover the last remaining light from the moon, almost as if a signal to the beast to attack again.

Its large body veers toward me before it swiftly turns to the right just as I’m swiping my foot out to unsteady it. It leaps into the air, anticipating my move and uses a large oak tree as leverage to jump.

It twists midair before I can land a blow, knocking me across the forest floor bed and slamming me into a twisted and torn tree trunk.

The bark slices into my side, drawing blood.

The beast rushes toward me as I back up further into the large broken trunk, pulling my knees to me.

The wound on my side widens and I wince with the pain, but lean back further into the tree, using it as leverage, as the beast makes its way nearer.

---