Burning Darkness [ Under Heavy Construction]

Chapter 3

~Summer~
~June 27, 2015~

     I arrived at the river and saw a grizzly bear looking over the water. It was clawing and biting at the jumping fish trying to catch a meal. The area was completely cleared out and very spacious. I tossed my backpack aside and twirled my spear. If I stab it in the right spot, I could kill the grizzly with one blow. I tiptoed over towards the bear, my heart thumped with each step. The crunching sound of grass under my shoe seemed louder than ever.

Once I was within striking distance, I gripped the spear with both hands and positioned it over my head. Right before I could plunge the spear in the bear's neck, Devonte sprang up from the water with daggers in both hands. He maneuvered behind the grizzly and plunged the daggers in the bear's back. Devonte held on tightly while cursing under his breath. It wasn't enough to immobilize the bear and he knew it.

I tucked and rolled to the side, avoiding the wild animal as it stumbled back in rage. The grizzly viciously flailed about until Devonte lost his grip. He went flying off towards the left and landed on his feet while sliding back, clenching his teeth.

We exchanged looks for a couple of seconds and sprinted in unison. As I approached the bear, it turned around before I could drive my spear into a vital organ. My spear pierced its midsection, causing a pool of blood to begin leaking.

The bear howled and started clawing at me. I was a bit slow on dodging and the bear's sharp claws grazed my chest, ripping my shirt in the process. I lowered my spear and jumped back wincing in pain. I planted my feet then charged head-on.

I stopped dead in my tracks when Devonte ran out in front of me. He swooped in dodging attacks and even managed to snatch out his daggers while blood spattered on his face. The grizzly clawed with his right and followed up with a left swipe. Devonte ducked and sliced the bear's left paw.

No, he's not getting this kill all by himself. I charged the bear once again and drove my spear into its stomach. Devonte swooped in once more, stabbing the bear in the neck. With a full head of steam, Devonte then shoulder bashed the animal. They both fell into the river with a loud splash, while blood begins spilling into the water.

Devonte stood up and the water stopped at his knees. He huffed and puffed, taking in deep breaths. I stuck with my spear into the ground and eyed the bear's corpse. Nine years of training in this forest took the sympathy I used to feel when slaying wildlife. Devonte proceeded to take out his dagger and began cutting off the bear's paws.

"Wait, what are you doing?"

Devonte stopped just before taking the third. "What does it look like? I'm getting proof that I killed the bear," he said.

I shook my head, "you weren't the only one that killed it," I responded.

Devonte looked at the blood-stained dagger and tossed it towards me. I caught it and started cutting the last two. I placed them in my backpack and slung it across my shoulder. I snatched my spear from the ground and walked back the way I came, while Devonte went off towards the right.

I stopped and looked over my shoulder, aa a malicious growl had echoed throughout the clearing. Devonte held his dagger in a steady defensive position. He dropped his backpack and quickly turned his head in the direction of the water. I patiently waited for something, anything to appear across the river. After a few minutes of complete silence, I decided to keep walking. I stopped again when another bloodthirsty growl called out.

"Devin, I think we have company," Devonte cried. I turned around to see three enraged bears approaching crossing the river.

I gripped my spear and spun around. Three more black grizzly bears emerged from the woods. They all showed their menacing teeth and one of them stood up on its hind legs. I backed up slowly and glanced at Devonte. He moved his head in every direction looking for an escape route. They surrounded him, each taking turns striking. A bear walked behind me and growled, while the other two bears occupied the sides.

I never had to fight three bears all at once, usually, it's only one at a time. The bear to my left clawed at me, I used the end of my spear to smack its paw away. I twirled my weapon and charged, before I got close enough, the grizzly to my right lunged. I planted my right foot on the ground and stopped on impact. I ducked the incoming attack and rolled away from the bear behind me. I executed a roundhouse kick, but couldn't spin as efficiently while holding the spear.

My attack hit the bear's stomach but the grizzly wasn't fazed by it at all.  One of them headbutted my ribs, causing me to stumble over my feet. I managed to keep my balance while dodging another attack. I hopped over to the right, weaving another attack. A breeze of wind, cooled the scratched on my chest causing me to wince. My shirt had multiple rips down the middle, showing my already bleeding wound from the first bear. I twirled my spear and stared at them while they circled me. Vengeance filled all of their faces, eyeing me down like a fresh pile of fish.

I looked over my shoulder to see a bear running at me with its mouth gaped open. I spun on my heels and swung my spear with as much strength as I could muster. The bear howled in pain when the tip of the blade sliced through its fur. A long bloody cut appeared across its nose to its ear. I landed in a crouched position and watched as the grizzly placed both paws on the wound. It stood up seeping blood from the slice and stumbled backward.

The other two bears turned their attention to their injured comrade. I looked over at Devonte to see how he was doing. He was bleeding from a cut on his left arm. He clutched one dagger in his left hand that hung down to the side and held the other over his chest.

Devonte breathed heavily and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. I saw him fatigued, from taking on all three bears at once. Blood trickled down from the blade of his dagger and dripped into the grass.

We can't keep fighting, we're outnumbered 3 to 1. I'm surprised he hasn't passed out yet. The course of the fight was starting to weigh on me. No matter what I did, there's always another attack coming and I'm pretty sure Devonte had noticed it too.

I thought about the freak accident that happened with the campfire yesterday. We could use our elements... I quickly disregarded the idea. Over the years dad made it very clear to us, not to ever use our element(whenever we got them) in the forest. He never really explained why, but he always enforced the rule. What else are we supposed to do in this situation? This a matter of life and death, it might be the only way we make it back to camp. I can survive a lecture from dad later.

"Devonte! Use your element! We have no other choice!" I yelled before narrowly dodging a swipe towards my body.

He snapped his head in my direction, "are you sure?!"

"Unless you want to die, that's fine too," I said sarcastically.

He immediately tossed the daggers aside, and a gust of wind formed around his feet in a circular pattern. Devonte smiled and cracked his knuckles, a vortex of water swirled around him.

That was every elementists basic form of combat, the elemental vortex. Most variations of an attack are performed with help from the elementist's elemental vortex. Devonte was pumped up, well if that's the case I will do the same.

I stuck my spear into the ground and started focusing fire energy into my body. I felt a surge of power and strength rush through my veins. The vortex slowly formed until fire spun around my feet.

I refuse to die here!

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