The Last Silvermaw Hunter

Chapter 7

I don't know why I did it. I just did.

I ran over to Saber and ripped my dagger out of his thigh, then continued to run to where my sword had flown when he pinned me to the wall.

I was usually fearless with shifters, but now, I was absolutely terrified.

I've met a total of two shifters in my lifetime. But they never shifted before my eyes, like Saber was doing just now. His blue-black hair shortening, to a coarse texture. His ears and the bottom half of his face lengthened, into a pair of wolf ears and muzzle. The sounds of his bones breaking and reshaping themselves filled the room until, an wolf bigger than the size of an jeep wrangler

I slid on my knees and reached for my sword as Saber jumped towards me. He was far enough away from me that he would have landed on me.

But he didn't

He landed on someone in the crowd, with his canines inches from his throat. They had the same blonde hair as me, silver eyes, and scarred hands from the fire he would have in his makeshift blacksmith shop, to make the blades and daggers I trained with every day for years.

Sander.

I need to find a way to stop Saber from killing my brother.

The whip.

With one thought, I summoned the whip into my hand. The crack of the whip echoed across the room as the tip hit the floor.

The wolf whipped its head around to look at me. I cracked the whip again. It started to get off my brother, and head in my direction.

My brother, the stupid idiot he is sometimes, started to crawl back away from the wolf, which made Saber turn back to him and growl.

Sander, if you move when I'm trying to get him away from you, I will let him kill you. I said in my mind.

I was serious. I would let Saber kill him.

I noticed that, Adorite. My brother replied, looking over at me with a 'do I look stupid to you?' look.

My own face was a mask of annoyance. I cracked the whip again, regaining the wolfs attention.

The wolf stepped closer to me, peeling its lips back, showing its teeth and growled.

I myself, stood my ground, and growled back. Sure, I was scared but I wouldn't let him take sent of my fear.

Everyone started to slowly back away and out of the room, the only people that stayed were, the King, June, Sander, me, and, of course Saber.

The King stood up, probably to interrupt the duel, but my mother put her hand on his arm then pulled him back down.

To be honest, looking straight into the eyes of a wolf is, I don't know, like an out of this world experience. It was terrifying, exhilarating, and kind of terrifying. Just seeing the pure predatory look in their eyes just does that.

I've read enough books to know that I was now apparently challenging him. If I were to move away now he would take the chance to attack. 

I had to end the duel. So him attacking was a chance I was willing to take. 

I rolled to the left barely dodging the swipe of Sabers paw.

I debated my next move. Climb the wood behind the thrones to the rafters, or use the whip to rope climb up to the rafters.

Saber growled then ran towards me once again, so I just chose. 

The whip wrapped around the rafter in a knot, making it secure. I started to climb.

Sabers claws kept barley hitting me as I climbed up to the rafter. I was so just two feet away from the rafter and fifty something feet off the ground when the whip abruptly jerked to the side, making me lose my grip. 

For a second I was free falling. The leather of the whip grazed my hand and instinctively I wrapped it around my wrist, stopping my fall. Nearly dislocating my wrist in the process.

I looked down to see the wolf have the whip in his jaws, tugging it. I looked up to see the whip slowly starting to unravel. 

I stayed there for a moment, watching the whip unravel. 

"If you don't want to fall Aordite, I suggest you climb." The voice of my brother brought me back into the present. Hurriedly, I started to climb back up to the rafter. 

I grabbed the rafter as the whip fell from the rafter. I stood up. Nearly losing my balance in the processes.

Slipping my bow off my shoulder and grabbed an arrow out of the quiver. Notching the arrow, I aimed it at Saber, careful not to aim it at anything vital, then let go. The arrow whizzed through the air and embedded it in his shoulder.

He growled as his leg gave out from under him. He tried to get up but his leg collapsed from under him again. His skin rippled, he was going to shift back. He couldn't do that. If he shifted back with the arrow back in his shoulder, he would never recover correctly. 

I jumped, it probably wasn't one of my smartest moves. Somehow I knew I would be fine. I landed on my feet, stunned. I wasn't one for action, but here I am doing it. I stood there stunned, monetarily forgetting what I was going to do. When Saber let out another growl, did I remember what I was going to do.

I walked over to Saber who was still, trying to get up. He tried to get up but fell again. This time he landed on the arrow and not his side, like he has every other time he fell. I grimaced as I saw the arrow push through the flesh on the other side of his shoulder.

I swallowed down the bile that was rising in my throat. I had to focus on my task. I was able to move forward until my foot hit the hilt of the whip, making it slide over to Saber, gaining his attention. His head spun to my direction, his eyes narrowed as he saw me.

Sander I'm going to have you hold him down, while I get the arrow out of his shoulder. 

When he answered, his voice held a hint of distaste, Got it. 

I glared at my brother. Get rid of the attitude, i get that you don't like him but work with me here.

Fine, I'll help, just understand that you're going to have to repay me.

I nodded, understanding his point, but still. I watched silently as Sander grabbed the wolf's shoulders and held him down, careful to not mess with his wounded shoulder too much. I took my dagger out and cut the end of the arrow off. "This is going to hurt." I said under my breath, then pulled the arrow out.

And once again everything turned black.