Forest Of Beasts

Chapter 14: Into The Fire

Beast didn't think he could run much further.

The meadows must have stretched into forever, or at least it felt that way. He and Gaston moved through the darkness in blind fear, guided only by lightning that turned the meadows a burning yellow each time it crackled through the clouds.

It was probably a beautiful sight to look at under better circumstances, but Beast's limbs were heavy, like he was running through thick tar, and his heart felt like it was trying to puncture his ribcage, in an impossible effort to escape his chest.

The only thing he could concentrate on very well was making sure that Gaston was still at his side.

Even though he was slowing, the hunter could still apparently show what a master in endless defiance he was. He ran as if unhindered by such things as injured legs, and for a moment Beast was sure he'd even heard him laughing.

Insane hunter. Beast could have smiled at the thought of it, though.

Instead he looked over his shoulder and into the sky, trying to catch desperate sight of their pursuer. It was clouded, and Beast couldn't find see much of anything, but the terrible screeching had stopped at least.

Still, he didn't want to gamble their lives, just guessing and hoping for the best anymore. There had been far too many lucky escapes already, and he was so sick of running for their lives.

He was a Beast, after all.

With a decisive growl, he snagged a hold on the back of Gaston's shirt, pulling him to a staggering stop.

"Beast..." Gaston cursed through a gasp. "What the hell are you-"

Beast didn't waste any time, pulling the last arrow out of Gaston's quiver, and lifting the bow up with it. He focused as well as he could on the blank sky.

"I already tried that," Gaston said, between pants for breath. "If you care to remember...it didn't work out too great, actually..."

"It's worth another shot," Beast kept his adamant glare on the heavens. "Literally."

He took a sharp breath, waiting for something to happen, or else pierce through the clouds and come at them in a sudden ambush. His body tensed and braced, and he curled his lip into a ready snarl.

A hand tugged at his arm.

"Beast," Gaston said.

Beast shrugged him away. "Let me concentrate."

"Beast, look-"

"I can do it."

"Beast!" Gaston grabbed his shoulder, pulling him the rest of the way back around.

"Gaston, we can't-"

"Look over there," Gaston told him, his voice laced with disbelief.

"What..."

Beast trailed off, his chest quivering with some forgotten emotion, as he followed Gaston's gaze.

Glowing in the misty distance, and set against the pastel-blue sky of earliest dawn, was the silhouetted outline of a castle, sat high upon a hill.

"...it can't be," Beast murmured, and for a moment he forgot everything else.

It was like a small beacon of hope, as slight as it seemed when there was still so much forest laid out before it. But it was still there. And they'd made it.

He turned to Gaston, in odd elation.

"It-it's my castle."

Gaston blinked at him, his face flushed with perspiration. Perhaps he was too exhausted to share in his enthusiasm.