The Marí

Part.18

A guttural growl erupted from the depths of the forest shattering the quiet and sending a jolt of terror down my spine, I whipped around eyes wide and found myself staring at a monstrous beast. Was it a bear? A wolf? No-it was something unnatural a jaguar-bear hybrid cloaked in shadowy black fur, streaked with dark gray that seemed to meld with the forest's dim light, Its eyes glistened with a predatory gleam a deep red that locked onto mine with merciless hunger. The creature's growl rumbled through the clearing vibrating in my chest and rooting me to the spot, breath caught in my throat, heart hammering I struggledto think-move-do anything but stare. Its powerful form stalked toward me, muscles rippling beneath its dense pelt as it inched closer, eyes unblinking and fixed on me as though savoring the fear that radiated from my trembling body.
Desperately I took a step back my foot catching on a loose stone, I stumbled and fell hard onto the damp forest floor my hands scraping against the cold gritty soil, sharp scent of loam filled my nose mingling with the nauseating stench of the beast's hot, blood-sick breath that wafted over me. Before I could react it lunged, the swipe of its massive paw connected with my side sending me hurtling backward the world spun as I crashed into the frigid stream, the icy water enveloping me in a numbing embrace.
I surfaced gasping as the icy water clawed at my skin, every breath sharp and ragged. My body trembled uncontrollably, water dripping from my hair in rivulets that stung my eyes yet driven by a surge of defiance I forced myself to face the creature once more, beast's eyes glowing with predatory intent held an unsettling glimmer of awareness as if it recognized me-not just as prey but as something more. Sucking in a shuddering breath I stepped forward my feet sinking into the mud, every muscle in my body screaming in protest with reckless determination I kicked at its enormous paw, It was a gesture as futile as it was brave but it drew a flicker of surprise in those blood-red eyes a resonant growl rolled through its chest, rattling the trees and sending tremors up my spine.
Hands clenched at my sides I shouted "What is your problem? Can't you see I'm busy trying to find food? I've spent the entire morning trudging through this wretched forest and you-you-want to make me your snack?" My voice rough and raw echoed in the clearing, daring the beast to respond.
The creature's ears twitched, as though registering my voice in a way that felt almost... understanding, my pulse thrummed a frantic beat that drowned out reason "Hena is waiting for me," I continued desperation edging my words "And if I don't return with something I don't even want to imagine what she'll do" My chest tightened with the absurdity of confiding in a monster but I pressed on anger spurring me forward "Now go away and let me do my job!"
Silence hung between us thick as the mist rising from the stream my defiance faltered as I caught the glimmer of familiarity in the beast's eyes a flicker that sent a shiver through my core "Please," I whispered the fight slipping from my voice "Please, you magnificent, terrifying thing." terrifying thing."
The creature's gaze darkened and with a snarl that seemed to split the air itself it lunged the force sent me tumbling backward, the cold water engulfing me once more. This time it was less of a shock-more of a brutal embrace almost familiar, spluttering I surfaced gasping as I pushed wet hair from my eyes. A bitter laugh bubbled up from my chest raw and jagged what was this? This strange dance, this unrelenting force between us? My limbs trembled as I recalled dreams that felt half-forgotten, flashes of eyes just like these and a voice whispering in the dark and without thinking I shouted, "Orpheus, I swear, if you knock me down one more time I will kill you!" The name burst from my lips with a force that surprised even me ringing out into the silence like a bell, the beast stopped dead muscles coiling as it turned its head eyes narrowing with something almost akin to recognition, I swallowed hard the name still hanging between us, electric and damning. Where had it come from? My body ached, my heart stuttered the creature stared at me its gaze shifting from bloodlust to something deeper, older.
I rolled my eyes in frustration mentally berating myself, what is wrong with me? why am I dropping names like some kind of madwoman? I didn't want this beast thinking I'd escaped from some asylum or had completely lost it.
Shaking the thought off I cleared my throat forcing myself to regain a semblance of authority "Uhh... fine. Maybe I haven't been Miss Congeniality but let's call it a truce," I said my voice trembling with a mix of exhaustion and defiance "It's getting late and I really need to eat. So, when I come out of the water you are not going to send me flying back in I have no fur to keep me warm unlike you. Are we clear?"
My voice cracked betraying my frustration but the creature didn't seem to mind. It just watched me with those piercing red eyes glinting with something—curiosity? Amusement? Or maybe just a desire to tear me apart. I quickly dismissed the thought, the wolf-bear thing—Orpheus—gave me what looked like a shrug taking a few steps back from the water's edge I pushed through the chill and swam cautiously to the surface, coming face to face with the creature. For the first time, I really saw it Its eyes—those red eyes—were unnervingly captivating drawing me in deeper as if they could reach into my very soul. I didn't know what compelled me but before I could stop myself my fingers were stretching out brushing lightly against the scar that ran from its brow to its left chin, the touch was soft almost reverent.
"Oh, Orpheus... my Orpheus," I whispered a name that seemed to slip from my lips as if it had always been there, tears blurred my vision before I even understood what was happening. Why was I crying? The raw anguish that suddenly overwhelmed me left me breathless, confused. What was this? The creature recoiled at my touch its growl low and menacing vibrating through the air then with shocking force, it swatted me back into the water sending me hurtling through the air, the impact was brutal—my body slammed against a jagged rock before plunging into the stream the pain was instantaneous sharp and blinding as the cold water closed over me once again.
I fought to stay conscious, the world spinning as I gasped for air. The water churned around me icy and unforgiving but I barely registered the discomfort, my entire body screaming in protest my vision blurred as I surfaced again, the creature's gaze already locked onto me with a burning intensity that stole my breath.
"Please..." I whispered my voice raw and fragile "I just want to survive. Just let me live."
The creature hesitated for a moment its eyes tainted with something—? But before I could even begin to hope for mercy, it let out a deafening roar that shattered the silence and lunged again sending me crashing back into the water. Pain flared as my body collided with another rock as I struggled to keep my senses intact but the world tilted and my head began to spin. My limbs felt like lead as I sank further the icy water pulling me deeper wrapping around me like chains the last thought that flickered through my mind was the glow of the creature's eyes, burning like embers in the fading light. Just as the darkness began to close in on me I felt a strong hand grip my arm, lifting me from the water as though I weighed nothing my body was hoisted then gently lowered on the forest floor I gasped for air the cold water rushing from my lungs. Above me stood a towering figure his presence massive and imposing but strangely... graceful his features were sharp, enigmatic and his voice—a deep resonant murmur—whispered above me like a forgotten legend.
"Humans..." he muttered as if in both wonder and disdain brushing the wet strands of hair from my face "They never learn." My eyelids felt heavy struggling to stay open, the world around me a blurry haze the stranger's presence loomed above me—both comforting and unnervingly potent. There was an undeniable aura of authority, of dominance radiating from him like a force I could barely comprehend, paralyzed in both fear and strange solace. As my vision fizzled, I caught the faintest glimpse of his eyes—crimson just like the beast, glowing like molten embers they burned through the fog of my fading consciousness, searing into me though I couldn't understand why.
Who was he? Why had he saved me?
"Sleep," he murmured his voice low and commanding yet layered with an unexpected gentleness, the sound of it curled around me wrapping me in a cocoon of warmth yet beneath it I could feel the weight of a thousand unspoken orders "You are safe."
Safe? The words didn't make sense, my world was teetering on the precipice of nothingness the edges of my mind fracturing as the line between reality and nightmare blurred into one indistinguishable void, his voice sounded so unnervingly familiar, too familiar like a soft thread of sanity pulling me toward oblivion. The last thing I felt was his hand—warm, impossibly strong—brushing my cheek his touch sending a thrill spiraling down my spine, the contact was so intimate so strangely tender that it burned into men even as everything else slipped away. My mind spiraled into the abyss, my body surrendering to the pull of unconsciousness leaving me at the mercy of the forest... and the monstrous creatures that stirred in its shadows watching, waiting.