Blade Song

Chapter 14- Smoke and Shadow

"Move," I said to the quivering women over my shoulder.

They just whimpered in response.

The wolf sprang into the air. My body tensed to dodge, but I stopped short. If I made that move, the beast would end up on top of the stupid women who refused to go.

I sloppily whipped the blades upwards to guard my face. The wolf collided into them, pushing me back. It bounced back just as quick, snarling as it sized me up again.

"If you don't move, I will feed you to this thing!" I shouted. "Fire pit. Go!"

The three of them finally picked themselves up and dashed towards the campfire close by.

Good. Now all of my attention could be focused on whatever the hell this thing actually was. It wasn't acting like a normal wolf at all. Where was the rest of its pack? Why was it risking jumps instead of going for my legs? Could it really not be wounded?

It lunged again. I moved easily and spun, sending my blade up its side as it passed me. As before, its body simply split apart at the blade. I was cutting as though my attack was going to meet the normal resistance of flesh, but there was none. It was effortless, like slicing through smoke.

As it landed, it sewed itself back together and turned for another attack.

"What are you?" I muttered.

It attacked again and again. I retaliated with the same result.

I clicked my tongue as we circled each other. How was this thing pulling off its little ghosting trick? It'd connected with my blades when I'd guarded before. So, what? It could only be solid on its terms? Maybe I could trick it. It was risky, but nothing ventured...

Another attack. Instead of dodging, I stood my ground. When it was mere inches from me, I brought the blade across its chest. I felt it then, that oh so satisfying splitting of skin as the steel slid over the tissue.

The creature fell at my side with a final whimper as my darling completed the measure. The beats were few, but satisfying. How I'd missed that beautiful sound.

I hung my chakrams back at my waist and peered over the dead creature. Scarlet seeped from its dark chest and soaked the dry earth beneath it. It was probably the first drink that cracked dirt had tasted in years.

"So, you can bleed," I said to the lifeless creature as I nudged it with my foot.

As I did, the wolf started to dissipate into the air like vapor, and was soon gone altogether. All that remained was its blood stain.

I'd fought a lot of nasty and deadly beasts in my days as Seven, in that horrible pit, but I'd never seen one quite like that. I couldn't remember the last time anything that walked on four legs gave me that much trouble.

I shrugged it off as a question for later and went to join the women at the campfire.

"T-thank you," one of them stuttered as I approached.

"Yeah, sure." The camp seemed quiet and empty now. "Where the hell is everybody?"

"We got separated when those things started attacking," another one of them said.

"Things? Plural? There are more of them?"

They all nodded in rapid unison.

A grin spread over my face. "Where?"

They stared back at me in frightened silence. It was clearly not the response they were expecting.

"Aki." Takahiko landed next to me and folded his wings behind his back. His approach was nearly silent, like an owl. "I'm glad I found you, and them." He nodded at the women standing behind me. "We've gathered all the others not far from here. I feared the worst when we couldn't find these three."