Sember (Forestfolk, Book 2)

Chapter 22b

Vill screeched some distance away. The thought of him crying over his tattered ear offered little satisfaction, though, because I was still dangling over a bottomless pit.

With a great heave, I managed to thrust one elbow onto the ledge. This enabled me to raise my head high enough to peek over it. I found Vill doubled over in the dim orange torchlight, one bloody hand clutching the side of his head. The other hand flailed as he screamed with anger and pain.

With another thrust, I planted my other arm on the ledge. Rocks tumbled into the yawning chasm below as my feet scrabbled for a toehold. I managed to haul my chest over the ledge, but the pebbled ground threatened to send me sliding back into the pit.

Vill's yowling began to die down, and I knew it wouldn't be long before he ran over to finish me off. I swung a leg up and over the ledge, finally gaining enough traction to pull the rest of me out of death's grip. I rolled away from the edge, my chest heaving with ragged breaths, practically overjoyed I wasn't crumpled at the bottom of a ravine.

Above my own noisy respiration, I heard the distinct crunch of approaching footsteps. Vill had finally recovered himself, and now stalked in my direction, his chest filling with air again as he approached.

My gut clenched at the murderous look in his eyes, and I clambered to my feet. I had to get away from that chasm.

I started running before I even gained my balance. He stood between me and the rest of the cave, so I furrowed my brow and barreled toward him like a raging boar. Flames engulfed my hands as I charged, and his eyes grew huge. He stopped inhaling and dove out of the way, and I found myself too slow to catch him.

He twisted around and gave me a quick blast, using my momentum against me. I stumbled forward, off-balance again, and hurtled headlong into a rocky outcropping. My forehead clipped a sharp edge, and my hands scraped along rough surfaces, trying to halt my descent.

I growled as I got back to my feet and searched for him.

The slippery little beast had disappeared again.

My ears perked at the sound of crumbling rock behind me, and I spun around. I barely had time to register Vill standing on the peak of the outcropping before he flew at me. He'd pushed himself off the rock, and now hurtled straight at my face.

I stumbled backward and landed with a thud. He sat atop me, pinning my shoulders back, and opened his mouth wide. A fine mist sprayed out from under his tongue, coating my face.

I sputtered and tried to blink away the stinging in my eyes. My flaming hands dimmed, and Vill tittered with delight.

Enough!

Fresh anger surged through my core, and it took little effort to release a full-body blast powerful enough to throw Vill away from me.

I wiped at my face with a sleeve, but a dizziness set in, and my vision blurred in and out. Once again, I found myself scrambling away from him. I thought I saw him brandishing a rock, but everything grew blurry again.

A fierce gust tumbled me backward.

I threw a fireball at a pale blob that I thought was Vill. The resulting sound told me it hit a boulder.

Another gale slid me back farther, and I wasn't surprised when I found myself at the edge of the ravine once more.

About to plunge to my death yet again.

My vision cleared finally, and Vill came into sharp focus. His air sac expanded, preparing for the final blow. The one that would pitch me over the edge.

I had to try it again.

I formed a burning pellet in my hand.

His chest grew even larger, like he could inhale the world.

Then I felt my vision blurring again. Vill's edges grew fuzzy, and I knew if I didn't do it now, it would be the end for me.

I flicked the pellet straight at the center of Vill's hazy form.

I watched as it flew, a pebble of light streaking through the dimness.

Time seemed to slow as I held my breath.

I blinked . . . and then . . .

The pellet struck squarely into his distended rib cage.

And he exploded.

Literally.

The noise was somewhere between a pop and a bang. It happened so quickly I barely had time to react. My eyes slammed shut. My arms flew up, too late to actually block anything.

I blinked several times when I dared to open my eyes again. The bleariness faded, and I was gradually able to see again.

The scene before me was too gruesome for words.

Blood. Entrails. A mangled corpse lying in even more blood.

My stomach lurched with nausea.

A second later, I heaved its contents onto the cave floor.

Wiping my mouth on my sleeve, I glanced at Vill's unmoving body and looked away again. I should have felt triumph. Or remorse. Or something.

But I was empty.

Ewwww... Vote? *hopeful gore-spattered grin*