BAD WOLVES - A Grimmhold Tale

Chapter VI - The Devil

Her gaze flicked around restlessly, never settling on one spot for long. Like a flash of lightning, it kept jerking back and forth from one tree and bush to the next. It caught itself like a moth on sticky threads, again and again, somewhere in the mist—only to realize that, in the end, it was just a harmless shadow.

Was there something in the corner of her eye? Had something moved?

Scarlett gritted her teeth so hard that it hurt.

'Pull yourself together,' she scolded herself sternly but was only moderately successful. She had to concentrate on the path because she couldn't afford to lose track of the other redcoats!
Her fingers felt stiff as she reached into the leather pouch on her belt and pulled out a brass-colored compass. It was simple, but it would serve its purpose.

It was easy to lose track of time and direction here in the Bone Forest. All orientation points blurred in the fog until you could barely see your hand in front of your eyes. The needle turned restlessly in the round body, shaken repeatedly by its next, sweeping movement. But the direction was right... a drop of relief fell on a hot stone.

The gliders' wheels whirred, and on her left forearm, the tiny hands of the barometer trembled. Green zone. The seven-mile boots worked perfectly; the Tinderling worked flawlessly. But the confusion of this place made her heart beat like a fleeing deer.

'No need to worry,' she told herself. But it was still there: that feeling in her stomach. An instinct like the one that made you turn your head when a barrel was pointing at you, even before the loud bang sounded.

There was a crack not far away.

Scarlett's head whipped around to face the direction the sound had come from.

Her heart stopped.

There was no reason for a noise. 

No animal lived here, no human... At least nothing that wouldn't harm and kill her.

Immediately, her body tensed even more, and her hand slid jerkily to her weapon.

There was a sudden movement in the corner of her right eye. But before she could turn her head, adjust her gaze, and aim, she saw the faint glow in the mist.

Then everything happened quickly, and something hit her with force.

Scarlett's mind tried to process what she saw, but it took her only seconds to realize tiny fragments.

Something like three golden hairs were hit by a glint of light—a shimmer that climbed over sharp, curved claws and made them flash like daggers. Sharp teeth in a torn open mouth and glowing red eyes. A massive body, bent and grotesque... but her world spun before she could recognize more.

The force swept her off her feet, and the momentum of speed sent her hurtling across the forest floor. Out of reflex, Scarlett wrapped her arms around her head. Her body somersaulted—once, twice, three times. Her senses were flooded with impressions: cracking bones, small stones pressing into her body, splinters of bone or twigs stabbing into her flesh. She felt burning, stinging, pulling, and fabric rattling. Then she rolled over one last time.

The impact squeezed all the air out of her lungs as she hit her face hard on the forest floor. Her head was spinning, and black spots danced before her eyes.

Scarlett rolled onto her side with a jerk. Her body howled immediately, and an agonized moan escaped her throat. Sharp claws drew deep furrows in the ground, exactly where she had been lying a moment ago.

"What the hell!"

That could have been her throat! Then, the beast leaped back into the fog, instantly swallowing her. Her thoughts raced, and at the same time, they seemed to slip away and run into nothingness. Adrenaline shot through her body and pushed everything unimportant into the background until only one instinct and one thought remained: survival!