Knightingale [THE FIRST DRAFT.]

CHAPTER EIGHT

"In which a once graceful creature attacks on sight."

[ THIS BOOK is available illustrated on my KOFI @/2ndstarart ]

The forest was quiet at night. At least, it was quiet to those who hadn't the strength to hear beyond what was known.

The fire would crackle, the magpie would ruffle her feathers every so often and the sleeping boy would snore ever so slightly but that was their part of the little glade could hear.

However, if one stretched their perception, they would start to hear the slow sway of trees, a twig snap and a low growl.

Gale had lowered her guard that night as she allowed the other two their dreams. Her eyes stayed trained on the fire, which she diligently kept going as the night wind picked up. It wasn't until the creature had broken into their bubble, that Gale's head lifted, hearing the thing let out a long breath.

Behind her stood a creature much like a deer, distinguishable by the large antlers on his head. However, reader, you must be alarmed for this isn't any ordinary stag, in fact, it wasn't a deer at all. With a great glittering, blurring coat of blue stars on its snow-white fur and a fluffed tail much like that of a conniving fox, this was a Pantheon.

The girl didn't dare turn around; it wouldn't make much difference to her in any sense either way. She heard the cervid creep forward as he unhinged his jaw to reveal a sharp row of teeth, his saliva dripping from them and slipping to the dirt floor below. She could swear she heard it sizzle as it hit.

Gale froze, hoping the creature would move on. Adric stirred. The Pantheon prepared to pounce.

Adric's eyes opened, the newly awake fuzziness dispersing quickly as they laid on the creature baring his teeth in front of him. Blinded by its glaring coat, in which he hadn't seen anything like it, a white sheen filled his sight. He felt around for his sword, but it was much too far out of reach.

He wanted to scream, to shout for someone, anyone, yet nothing came from his mouth as the Pantheon leapt from his cloven hooves high above but seemingly heading for him.

With mouth wide, the creature descended onto him.

A loud 'clang' rang throughout the glade as metal slammed against teeth; Gale positioned herself between the animal and his frozen victim, her dagger pushing against his jaw, forcing it wider. The creature quickly leapt off, seemingly backing down from the fight. However, his focus moved to the girl, now towering in front of Adric. She took a tentative step forward for she was facing away from the fire, her eyes possessing a white sheen of their own.

The creature noticed that her eyes were looking near him, but not at him. Pantheons were always smart creatures. He strafed to the left gracefully and her eyes never moved.

Adric rubbed his eyes, the white tint slowly faded as he watched Gale stand still. "Gale!" He shouted, trying to warn her of the creature she seemingly couldn't see.

She turned in frustration, "Shut it-!" The pantheon slammed against her body towards the treeline, his antlers pushing against her and a large-trunked tree.

With a newfound courage, Adric looked around him, his sword almost camouflaged from sight. Holding it tight he made course for the beast. Gale didn't seem to be struggling against the animal's bramble-like antlers, but her grunts and groans didn't go amiss as he approached. She tried to open her mouth wide and screech, but the animal pushed against her chest, making breath a scarce commodity.

The sleeping Magpie awoke with a start, her beady eyes focused on the girl trapped against the tree. Mallory was right, she wasn't cut out for this life, for she had to turn away, helpless. Her eyes landed on her brother, much too late to stop him.