The Raven and the Wraith Book 2 (Completed!)

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 17

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 17

"What is it?" Kiera whispered, standing very still as she saw me listening intently.

I could scent the Razorlash she held in one hand and her dagger in the other. The scent of powdered pain and cold steel. Dangerous scents.

Next to her, I could scent the equally dangerous, yet unfamiliar steel of Chan's sword. He had also heard the sound, and was also listening intently.

"Something, or a few something's, have been stalking us. Now they're trying to scare us into their trap." Chan said.

I opened my eyes, seeing the warrior in a ready crouch, his slanted eyes flickering with a feral light. He reminded me of a cat more than ever, then. A very, very lethal cat. I was happy to have him on my side.

All three of us moved into a circle, scanning the darkness around us. The rustling sound had stopped, all that reached my ears were the occasional noises from smaller creatures hurrying about, far away. I could also hear the steady, unwavering double-tap pattern of Chan's heartbeat, and Kiera's faster, but still calm, heartbeat.

Long, quiet moments passed. I could almost feel all three of us, as a group, tensing up.

"Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Slow and deep." I whispered, following my own advice.

Chan and Kiera followed, and soon I could feel the distracting tension fade away, leaving behind only that focused readiness. My blood was singing in my veins still, an exhilarating fire that filled me with energy, making me feel light and fast. I knew that ferocious speed I had used to defeat the Kodell on top of Tads wagon, back in Ravenfall woods, was once again mine.

It made me grin savagely. Whatever thought to attack us had no idea what it was facing.

Then, from all sides, the night exploded into motion. A rush of black-furred creatures, flying across the rocky slope on four legs, their fangs glowing yellow so brightly it lit up their mouths.

"We're fighting floating jaws?!" Kiera yelled incredulously, even as she threw her pouch of Razorlash at the oncoming beasts.

I knew what she saw. Her night vision was not near as good as mine, so with these things black fur against the thick darkness around us, all she could see were the gaping maws filled with glowing fangs rushing us.

"Yup! Punch em in the face!" I yelled back, leaping forward to swipe my throwing knives downwards and at an angle.

The thing side-stepped my attack, as I had expected. Directly into the path of Chan's swords, as the warrior fluidly twisted his stance to skewer it through its side, where it's lungs and heart should be.

Chan nodded at me, his eyes gleaming with raw satisfaction as he recognized how I had directed the thing into his strike range, where it's forward and sideways momentum ruined its ability to dodge him. We both understood each other, then, on a fundamental level. We knew how to fight together, how to use each other to provide unexpected attack angles.

Then they were all around us and the night dissolved into attack and retreat, block and parry. My knives were short, more like daggers than swords, so I found myself face-to-face with the creatures multiple times in the matter of a few moments.

They were quick, nimble things, with long, lithe limbs and narrow muzzles bristling with ragged fangs. Jaws meant for tearing, for leaping past an opponent and slashing them. I understood them immediately, seeing how they were built, seeing their attack patterns. They were clearly used to being faster than their prey.

This time, they were not faster. In the first series of attacks, the three of us were unscathed. But the ground held three dying, or dead, creatures. The things pulled back slightly and began to circle us, the pack moving in a swaying, snake-like pattern that confused the eye.

I noticed something strange, then. Not a single creature had attempted to attack Kiera directly. It was both relieving, and confusing. Chan and I were more than fast enough to meet these things head-on, but Kiera wouldn't stand a chance.

"They're scared of me!" Kiera breathed, seeing how their circle always widened dramatically when it came around towards her.

I flicked a glance her way, and after a moment of confusion, I understood why the things were scared of her. Out in the darkness, four of the things were flopping about with uncoordinated, muscle-tearing twitches. They were leaking blood from their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths, and I could hear their tortured, rasping breathing. They were dying very badly. Razorlash was not a child's toy.

"They don't like Razorlash." I told her.

"Yeah. Haven't met anything that does."

"Take out another pouch and wave it around. Show them you have more."

Kiera stepped closer to me, almost up against my side, and reached to her belt and pulled another pouch out, holding it above her head and waving it around.

"You want more of this? I have more! Lots more!" She yelled, turning to keep up with their circling.

I turned with her, understanding she was vulnerable while holding her arm up high like this. Understanding she expected me to protect her side, if she was rushed.

For some reason, that unwavering trust in me made me feel warm, made me smile. Even though I was still in battle stance, still seeing the world around me through the fiery haze of battle rage. I wondered if I had ever in my life smiled like this before. Certainly not when I was in mortal danger!