Nemorous

VI

Playing with fire
Uvan seri hu txepit
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The yips of viperwolves were putting Jake on edge. He'd taken to covering the end of his spear in a jacket and covering it in sap.

"How do you know that's flammable?" Leila asked in a low whisper.

"I don't." Jake said with his teeth occupied with a pack of matches.

Animals pant and hip as they get closer.

"You got an extra knife?" Leila asked as she rummaged through her bag.

"No." Jake said, struggling to light the makeshift torch.

The panting turned to growling.

"We're too stationary." Leila muttered as her fingers brushed something cool and metallic.

Bingo! Pocket knife.

Jake lit the torch with a match and exposed the approximately twelve pack of viperwolves.

"Jesus." Leila backed up, closing her bag, her pocket knife in her fist.

The animals snarl and growl as they begin to try and out maneuver Jake and flank the pair. Climbing on roots Jake and Leila back away.

"Can't catch a fucking break." Leila muttered as she stayed an arms length away from Jake until they met a clearing.

The pair were surrounded.

Jake tried to ward them off, but Leila was usually in the way.

"God, I hate to do this-" Leila kicked one away, making it yelp. One lunged for Jake and he smacked it with the flaming end of his makeshift torch.

"Christ!" She muttered at Jake burning the thing somewhat. She flipped open her knife with a flick of her wrist, the heavy blade clicked into place as she was tackled down by one, it clawed her shoulder much like a baby's hand would grasp at anything and hold it with as much strength as it could without thought.

She twisted as she brought the knife down between its ribs, making it drop noiselessly and suddenly. She clutched her shoulder as the other viperwolves clung to her pant legs.

She twisted her body, rolling to get them loose.

At that, she heard some struggle from other viperwolves, Jake and what appeared to be a woman as she smacked the viperwolves away with her bow.

She was fast and fierce and Leila was having some bisexual panic as the woman hissed.

The woman snapped out of her fierce display and grimaced at the flaming torch.

"Fayvrrtep!" She hissed as she grabbed the spear-torch thing, "faysawtute!" She uttered with disdain as she threw the torch into the water.

"Wait. Don't!" Jake watched it happen and scoffed a chuckle of upset.

Leila's eyes were glued to the woman as she kneeled on the throat of a viperwolf.

"Oeru txoa livu." She asked the animal for forgiveness as she opened its airway, the operculum and stabbed it with a grimace.

"Ma oeyä tsmukan, ma oeyä tsmukan."