The Last Silvermaw Hunter

Chapter 18

I had fifteen beasts down within twenty seconds. I was a whirlwind of steel and fire, and no one would take any more of my family. No one.

I cursed as a body landed on my skirt. Six feet tall, black beady eyes, teeth stained yellows, stained with blood, ivory skin stretched over its boney frame.

My dress tore as I shoved the thing off. It's a shame, I really liked this dress, even if it was a bit over the top. My wings tensed and I barely turned in time to block the blow aimed at my head.

The hiss that came out of my throat was anything but human. The creature smiled, "You would be a prize. I wonder," it mused, "how much would the master pay for you?"

My smile was purely predatory. "It's too bad that you won't be able to find out." I purred, the creature's head rolled the other direction before it could react.

The ground shakes and Vashak roars. I turn to look and my mind empties of all thought. One of the beasts was able to get through Vashak's guard and onto his back just between his wings, it wasn't possible for the archers to get the creature and I was too far away to help him.

But I have to try. I can't lose him, I just got him back.

I take a step in his direction, but a blur of black jumps on his back and kills the creature, and it falls off his back, it's then that I realize three things. One, that's the same wolf from the clearing. Two, he's a shifter like Sander. Three, he looks like Sander. But that's not possible. I held Sander as he died and watched the light fade from his eyes. I stood vigil over his body, staying with him until sunrise. And I know for a fact that male is not my brother, so who is he?

I didn't even finish the thought before a shooting pain not unlike lighting shot down my wing. The breath rushes out of me and I fall to my knees, when a pain twin to the other shoots down the other. My power shockwaves and my knees hit the ground.

A screamrips from my throat at the same time my power creates a ring of fire around me as the pain intensifies tenfold. I look around my breath coming out in short, rapid pants.

My vision darkens at the edges, and I know without a doubt that if I pass out now, I won't be able to protect myself, but to be fair I can hardly do that now.

I hear the snap of the bow before I see the arrow. I have no choice but to brace myself for the pain. I wait....and wait...and wait...I open my eyes and see the shadow of two people. My mother and the wolf from before.

My mother stands there in fear and awe. She whispers, "Tristan."

Everything fades to black.

🗡️🛡️🗡️

When I wake up, I'm surrounded by darkness. I sit up, a twinge of pain shoots down my back. I look down and there's a white wrap around my torso.

My hands shake and I reach behind me only to find nothing. A strangled cry escapes my throat. My wings....my wings are gone. Tears fall down my face landing into the palms of my hands turning to steam. Its not soon after that they are fire themselves, then my sheets smolder, then the whole room is aflame. I walk to the window as shouts sound from before the door. I step onto the windowsill as they break through the door and I jump.

Its not fear I feel as I fall is peace....and freedom. Wind whips around me as I fall, I smile and I wonder if flying feels like this. Vashak roars and I turn so my feet are aimed at the ground. I feel him dive behind me then swoop so he's flying up underneath me. I land on his back, landing so my body absorbs the impact. Wrapping my hands around one of his neck spikes and he flys up and out.

We fly for hours before we reach the coast. I watch and the land drops away and turns into water on the horizon. I watch my reflection in the water and smile, spreading my arms out, I grimace and it pulls at the skin at my back.

My muscles scream as I get up and stand on Vashak's back. "Stop." I whisper. He makes a sound in his throat, but keeps going. "Vashak," I say louder, "stop."

He slows down and hovers above the ocean. I walk over to his shoulder and crouch. "Get closer." I say, I think he knows what I'm going to do, he wants to stop me but he knows I need to do this more than he would know. He slowly angles his wings so that he glides down closer to the surface, slowly stopping when his claw can touch the water. He looks over his shoulder and watches me, I read the question in his eye. If I know what I am doing. I can't find it within me to speak, but I give him a nod in answer.

He watches me as I stand back up and back up a couple steps, he growls again, but I don't listen and I run...

Then I jump.