Leeched

3.) There and Gone

"Khilan!"

Ferren was already sprinting for the door, sparks flying from her bare feet and fingertips, leaving a glittering trail of red in her wake. Gendra stood so fast she knocked her chair to the floor with a loud clatter as both she and her father ran out the door after her.

"FERREN!"

The boy's shouts were coming from within the grove, somewhere past the edge of the trees. Gendra felt her heart pounding from the crown of her head down to her toes as she followed Ferren's train of embers. Ferren swung her arms wildly, ripping out saplings down to their roots, heaving rotting logs, and tumbling boulders aside to make a path as she ran frantically towards the sound of Khilan's voice.

"Khilan!" her desperation echoed through the trees, projected louder by magic. "Khilan, where are you! What's happening—?"

She stopped short and Gendra slowed to avoid crashing into her. They stood at the edge of a clearing, the stream rushing loudly somewhere to their right.

"Ferren, what are you...?"

But Gendra never had the chance to finish her sentence. She followed Ferren's wide-eyed line of sight, across the clearing. At the other edge a monstrosity loomed, towering above them.

Leathery skin, darker than soot. Long, muscular legs that seemed to bend the wrong way. A bloated, distended body that ended in a bulbous head. Two long arms connected to clawed hands, as big as Gednra's father. And clutched in one of those hands was a limp Khilan.

"Mercy upon us..." her father breathed, stumbling to a halt behind her.

The terrifying creature stared down with beady, black eyes at Peya. The shaggy hound was snarling and howling by its feet, looking like a tiny rodent next to its impossible height. The monstrosity tilted its head curiously, reaching its free hand towards her. She yelped, turning with her tail between her legs, and scurried towards them at the edge of the clearing. The creature watched her, taking notice of the three new arrivals.

"Peya, you fool!" Gendra knelt to grab the shaggy dog, who tried to cower behind her. She looked up, first to her friend and then to the monster across the clearing. "Ferren, what is that?"

But Ferren didn't respond. She wasn't sure she'd heard her question at all. Instead of answering, she strode into the clearing, headed straight for the creature.

"Ferren!"

Gendra reached out to grab her, but she was too quick. She watched with horror as her friend walked closer and closer to the creature. Sparks continued to fly from her hands, and the beady eyes of the creature became fixed on her. A grey tongue shot out to lick its thin lips.

"What in the world is she doing?" her father stepped closer, sweat dampening his deeply creased brow.

Gendra shook her head, too shocked to speak. What should she do? Pull her friend back? Follow her and help? She had no idea what that thing was capable of. She watched, frozen between decision, as Ferren stopped in front of the creature.

"Release my brother!" she shouted, her hands glowing with magic.

The thing began to sniff the air, not unlike Peya when Gendra was cooking over the hearth. It crouched lower, closing its eyes. The nostrils of its flat nose flared as it leaned towards Ferren and inhaled deeply. Its eyes snapped open.

Its jaw slackened as it unhinged its horrid mouth and its long, gray tongue flopped out. A strange noise, something between a shriek and laughter, escaped its throat. Gendra gasped as it relaxed its huge hand, dropping Khilan to the ground.