The Winds of Tepr

Chapter 60

Akun staggers to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest as the echoes of the tiger's roar fade into the cold night air. The settlement lies in ruins around him, shadows dancing wildly as flames consume the remnants of tents and wooden structures. The few Alinkar warriors who remain circle around him, their faces pale but resolute.

"Form up!" Akun shouts, his voice hoarse but commanding. He grips his sword tightly, the blade glinting in the firelight. The men close ranks, their weapons drawn, eyes fixed on the darkness where Khanai vanished moments before.

From the shadows, a low growl resonates, sending a chill down their spines. The tiger's eyes appear first—glowing stars floating in the night. Khanai steps forward with a fluid grace, muscles rippling beneath her snowy fur stained with crimson. She locks eyes with Akun, a predatory intelligence gleaming within.

"Steady," Akun murmurs, adjusting his stance. "We face it together."

The warriors nod, tightening their grips on their weapons. One man holds a spear, its tip wrapped in cloth and doused in oil. He strikes it against a burning beam, igniting the makeshift torch. The flames cast flickering shadows, illuminating the terror etched on their faces.

With a sudden snarl, Khanai lunges forward. The spear-wielder thrusts his weapon, but she dodges effortlessly, swatting the spear aside with a powerful paw. The force sends the man reeling backward. Another warrior swings his sword, aiming for her flank. Khanai twists mid-air, the blade slicing harmlessly through empty space.

Akun charges, raising his sword high. He brings it down with all his might, but Khanai anticipates the move. She sidesteps, and the blade embeds into the ground. Before Akun can recover, she strikes him across the chest. He stumbles back, a searing pain tearing through him as blood seeps from fresh wounds.

"Keep fighting!" he roars, refusing to yield. The warriors press on, attacking from all sides. Khanai moves like a wraith, her movements a blur. She leaps over one attacker, claws raking another's shield. The man behind her tries to catch her off guard, but she kicks back, sending him sprawling.

Desperation grows among the men. "We can't beat this monster," one mutters, fear creeping into his voice.

"Don't lose hope!" Akun barks, wiping blood from his brow. "We need to outsmart it."

He glances around, his mind racing. Spotting a cluster of intact barrels near a collapsed tent, an idea sparks. "Drive it toward the barrels!" he commands. "We'll trap it!"

The warriors spread out, slowly herding Khanai toward the spot. She notices the shift, her ears flicking back. Sensing their intent, she growls but doesn't retreat. Instead, she circles them, eyes sharp and calculating.

"Now!" Akun shouts.

They converge, weapons raised. Khanai darts between them, but the men close ranks, cutting off her escape routes. She backs toward the barrels as planned.

Akun grabs a burning log from the debris. "Get clear!" he yells, hurling it onto the barrels.

The flames catch instantly—oil inside the barrels ignites with a roar. Fire erupts, surrounding Khanai in a ring of blazing heat. The warriors step back, shielding their faces from the intense light.

"It works!" one exclaims, relief washing over him.

But Khanai is undeterred. With a mighty leap, she soars over the flames, landing gracefully on the other side. The men gape in disbelief.

"Impossible," Akun whispers.

Before they can react, Khanai charges. She barrels into two warriors, knocking them aside like ragdolls. Another swings his sword, but she ducks low, swiping his legs out from under him. He crashes to the ground.