Max fades in and out of consciousness as the pair walk, meaning their pace only grows slower.
Syl can't help but worry for the other boy, who seems to have hit his head at some point today. Only a few hours ago he would have never even considered helping him. But dire circumstances tend to have the effect of liquidating old rivalries.
After finding Max, Syl had completely forgotten about whatever had been following him, but it certainly hadn't.
Dark paws padded along the ash strewn ground behind them, near silent, and certainly inaudible over the ruckus of the fire. It's heather colored gaze watching the pair with a hunter's careful patience. It doesn't care that embers and bits of flames from the trees and brush above fall onto it's scaled body.
Syl and Max have reached the lake shore by now, nearly unaware of their silent stalker. Syl is panting, due to both the smoke, and having to half carry Max in his already weakened state. He sets him down on the rocky shore for a moment to catch his breath.
He turns in a slow circle, taking in the severity of their situation. Around the small forest valley, massive sandstone cliffs rise up out of the land like emotionless sentinels, blocking the rest of the world from view.
Before this, Syl had thought there was a certain silent beauty in the sharp cut faces of the cliffs. Now, they feel like the walls of a cage.
It's then, that a low growl from a few not yet charred bushes to his right announces the arrival of the hunter.
Syl spins toward it, hands moving upward defensively - a habit trained into him since near birth - but nothing comes to his palms. Because of course, despite the heavy smoke darkening the sky, it's daylight out.
Instead, he searches the ground around himself, picking up a large rock and hurling it at the creature without pause. He has no reason to hesitate, he's been raised to do one thing. Kill creatures exactly like this one
The beast doesn't flinch as first one, then another stone clatters against it's scales. It stands easily taller than both ten year olds. It's posture and body almost cat-like, only wrong and twisted. It's body is covered in scales, all the way down to it's long spiked tail.
Syl is loosing hope. Neither fire nor rocks have stopped the creature, and Max can barely walk.
He glances back at Max in fear, but the ginger haired boy is gone.
YOU ARE READING
These Dark Eyes
Fantasy19 year old Evelyn Harris is a world class eventer, and a well known one at that. Building up her career from a young age. It's been stressful, for both her and her family, but she wouldn't give it up for the world. Eve definitely never expected it...
