BEASTLY ALLURE

●Unmistakable Again.

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"I never knew you would be so protective of something," the snake said, glancing at Curtis as his angry expression twisted into a sinister smile.

He continued, "I might very much enjoy my prize by killing you," his gaze shifting to me.

"Bold of you to assume I'll let you breathe the next minute," Curtis retorted, his body shielding me completely.

He interrupted the other snake, adding, "Did you forget how you ran with your tail tucked?"

"You have something to lose this time, Curtis," the other snake began, but Curtis didn't let him finish. He transformed into a massive red snake and lunged at him.

I turned and fled as quickly as my legs could carry me, stumbling with each step. The ground trembled beneath me, causing me to glance back.

Every time one of them crashed to the ground, the earth shook under the force of impact.

As I ran, a red tail began to trail behind me. Gasping, I quickened my pace, but the snake's tail coiled around my ankle, dragging me along the ground.

Desperately, I reached out, grabbing at anything for support. My hand closed around a dried branch, and I swung it at the tail.

The branch pierced into the flesh, causing the tail to writhe in pain and release its grip, sending me into a nearby tree.

I closed my eyes, bracing for impact, but I felt myself being lifted into the air.

When I cautiously opened my eyes, I saw a large, dark bluish-grey hawk carrying me upward.

Looking down, I watched as the ground receded further and further below me.

The hawk gently placed me on a sturdy branch, providing a safe distance from the chaos below. I clung to the tree bark for support, bending slightly to observe the ongoing struggle.

Oddly, the other snake seemed to be overpowering Curtis. A realisation struck me - Curtis was vulnerable when he was shedding his skin.

No wonder I hadn't found his skin earlier; he hadn't shed it yet.

I knew I couldn't let the other snake take advantage of Curtis' weakness.

Determinedly, I turned my attention to the hawk, which had transformed into a human form. However, the darkness made it difficult to discern his features clearly.

"I need your help once more, please," I urgently asked the transformed hawk. "I want you to carry me to that shining object on the ground and then fly me towards the snakes when they're not paying attention."

He hesitated at first, seemingly concerned about my safety. "Helping a feral could be dangerous for you," he began, but I cut him off.

"We don't have time to waste talking about it," I insisted.

After a brief pause, he agreed. I climbed onto his back, gripping my glass water bottle tightly.

As the hawk approached the snakes, I acted quickly. I smashed the bottle on the other snake's head and used the sharpened edges to cut into its skin, before pulling it out.

The snake hissed in pain and turned its attention toward us, but the hawk was swift. It soared upward, evading the snake's attack.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Curtis lunged at the snake's neck, driving his fangs deeper.

The snake crashed to the ground, its impact shaking the surrounding trees like an mini earthquake.

The snake slithered away into the forest, leaving me in a mix of relief.