𝕬𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝕷𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖞 - [𝗞𝗮𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿]

𝐱𝐱𝐯𝐢𝐢. 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 — tear it up

━━━━━━━

 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐒 of the Volcra seemed to come from everywhere; the flap of their heavy wings sent gusts of wind their way and Aleksa's hair blew into her face. She didn't falter as she followed Kaz up the creaking steps to the mast where Inej had last been seen; where a dagger had left the Wraith's hand and impaled Aleksander's chest.

 They were getting closer, Aleksa could feel it. Even if the Volcra were nothing but monsters with pointed teeth waiting to claw and tear at their flesh, they were still shadows. They were still a part of her.

 Aleksander had made them with power that should never have come to fruition, but even so, shadows lurked within the Volcra's skin, they twirled within what little hearts they had left.

 The shrill screech of a Volcra surging forth made Aleksa freeze for a moment, eyes glued to Kaz as he continued on. The Volcra were shadows, and the shadows had been the only friends she'd grown up with... So why couldn't she move past the fear that seized ahold of her in their presence?

 The beast had landed on the skiff; its weight shaking the boat. Striking teeth snapped and blood dribbled from the Volcra's mouth as it grew closer to Inej. It could smell its next meal. Its jaw snapped again, a horrific growl rumbling from the depths of the thing's gut.

 Aleksa's stomach dropped as she clambered up the rest of the stairs; Inej's form that so commonly glinted with an array of pointed knives was bare. Not a single sliver of sharp metal lined her belt.

 Before Aleksa could raise her hands and test if Inej's words 'have you ever tried fighting fire with fire?' applied to the shadows, the familiar — and ugly — glint of Kaz's golden crow-headed cane swung in an arc and implanted itself into the Volcras skull. Even after everything, Aleksa still found herself forgetting that beneath Kaz's billowing coats and showy vests laid a lean body that was far more than capable of crushing bone.

 The beast screeched and thrashed, wings beating uselessly as Kaz pulled his cane back and grunted as he swung again. A crack rang through the air as the Volcra's movements became slower with each swing.

 Neither Aleksa nor her crows noticed the sound of pounding wings growing closer. The cane clattered against the beast again, and before Kaz could pull it free and swing one last time, his eyes widened, "Aleksa!"

 The Summoner pivoted on her feet, eyes wild as a Volcra surged towards her. The weight of the ghastly beast sent her to the wooden planks as saliva dribbled onto her cheek. Her hands pushed at the monster's chest as it snapped its teeth and tried to grow closer to her flesh.