Carrie and Jago stared at the beast approaching them. Was this creature stalking them in the forest and meadow? While keeping Carrie close, Jago pointed his sword at the majestic beast. The Snow Lion stopped, blinking. To their surprise, it pushed the blade down with its right paw. While it sniffed at them, they shared blank stares.
Carrie furrowed her brows. “What’s it doing?”
“I don’t know.” Despite the initial caution, Jago sensed no aggression. A distinct glimmer of intelligence shone within its amber eyes. What are you? Before he spoke, the Snow Lion turned towards some nearby thicket.
A fearsome snarl escaped its throat, its fur-covered back bristling. Once Carrie and Jago turned in that direction, branches rustled, and horses neighed.
Within minutes, hooded men on horseback emerged with a gargoyle-like symbol.
The lead cultist sneered. “Ah, there you are!”
Jago squinted, tightening his grip on the sword. Dammit! The cult bastards followed us!
Snorting and whining, the horses stepped back.
“What’s the matter with them?” one cultist said until he spotted the Snow Lion. “What is that?”
“Who cares? Let’s grab them!” another said.
Jago raised his sword, preparing for a fight. Carrie stayed behind him, frightened. Before either side could attack, the Snow Lion stepped in, growling at the zealots.
“What the hell?” a subordinate uttered. The Snow Lion’s eyes gleamed while inhaling air. With no warning, it unleashed a massive fire stream. “By the gods!”
Jago and his ward stared in shock as the Snow Lion produced a dense fire barrier. Startled, the horses squealed and bucked. Some dumped their riders while fleeing.
After distracting the extremists, the Snow Lion focused on the duo. In a soft growl, it gestured its back to them. After exchanging puzzled glances, they relented and climbed aboard. Once the lion arose, it galloped into the forest. Trees whizzed past as they held on.
The peace didn’t last as fanatics pursued them. One follower attempted to reach Carrie, but Jago threw a fireball at close range. The man screamed while tumbling off his mount.
Carrie glanced over her shoulder, focusing on one rider. An unseen force lifted the man, hurling him into two other riders. They fell off their horses and into a nearby tree. One tried crawling back up, but the charging horses trampled him.
Carrie recoiled from the horror. “God, they didn’t stop to see if those men were alright!”
“What makes you think they care?!” Jago shouted.
The zealots pursued their quarry through the woods, whipping their horses to spur them on.
Jago checked back. “Those bastards are too close! We need to lose them!” As though agreeing with the monk, the Snow Lion quickened its pace. His eyes narrowed while watching the zealots split. “They’re encircling us!”
Without warning, the Snow Lion flashed a blinding light. Its passengers shielded their eyes from the brightness. Behind them, the horses whinnied, and the riders swore; some stumbled from their mounts.
Once its light vanished, the Snow Lion veered right, resulting in the remaining members crashing into each other. After repelling the sect members, the Snow Lion fled with its riders.
When they reached a clearing, two cliffs faced each other with a gap between them.
Several minutes later, the cultists emerged from the forest.
YOU ARE READING
Killer Instinct: Carrie Unleashed
Fanfiction"Carrie had an ability, but she was a person, not a monster. She had hopes and fears, and we pushed her. You can only push a person so far before they break." A dark veil fell over Chamberlain, Maine, after tragedy struck the quiet town at the hands...
