Elira's breath came in short, ragged gasps as she stumbled through the tangled forest. Her limbs burned, her legs were scraped raw, and her chest ached with fear.
But she couldn't stop.
Not when she could hear the unnatural voices closing in—guttural, hissing words in a language that sounded as though it didn't belong in this world.
Then—
A root caught her foot.
She fell hard to her knees, the wind knocked from her lungs.
Before she could scramble up, they surrounded her.
Dark figures with glowing runes etched into their armor. Their faces were hidden by jagged helmets, their movements sharp and inhuman. One stepped forward, dragging a long black blade behind him, its edge whispering against the ground.
Elira tried to crawl back, dirt and leaves in her palms. "Please," she breathed. "Please, I don't even know who you are!"
The one with the sword tilted his head slightly, almost curious. Then, in that chilling voice, he barked a word that sounded like a curse.
He raised his blade—its edge now glowing red.
"No! Please, don't—"
She threw her hands over her head—
A roar split the night.
Everything stopped.
The soldiers turned just as a blur of black and silver fur slammed into the nearest one, tearing him off his feet. A sickening crunch followed.
Elira gasped, looking up—
The beast.
Massive. Wild. Glowing eyes filled with wrath.
He ripped through the soldiers, claws slashing through armor like parchment. Two tried to fight back, swinging their dark blades, but the beast snarled and caught one mid-air, throwing him against a tree so hard the trunk split in half.
The last one turned to flee—but didn't make it far.
Elira watched, eyes wide, frozen to the forest floor as the prince's monstrous form stood surrounded by carnage. The air was thick with smoke, blood, and the hum of spent magic.
The beast turned slowly.
Its glowing silver eyes locked on hers.
Elira trembled, still on her knees, unable to think—unable to run.
"Y-you…" she breathed. "You followed me…"
The creature stepped closer, slowly, almost cautiously. Its breaths came in deep, rhythmic growls, shoulders rising and falling like a wave of fury barely held back.
She tried to speak, but her voice cracked. "You… saved me?"
The beast stopped just feet from her. Towering. Dangerous. But still.
Not attacking.
Not even baring its fangs.
Elira's eyes welled with tears she hadn't expected. "I thought… I thought I was going to die."
The beast knelt—knelt—just enough to lower its head. And in that moment, something in its eyes changed.
Softer. Human. Familiar.
Her breath caught. "You're not just a monster, are you?"
The creature stared back at her—silent, breathing hard—but something in her heart knew.
And then it did something that left her frozen.
It reached out a clawed hand. Not to hurt… but to help her stand.
Still trembling, Elira placed her fingers into the beast's paw, stunned by how warm it was.
Her knees wobbled. Her mind swirled.
But she stood.
"I don't understand any of this," she whispered. "But… thank you."
The beast didn't reply.
It just stood protectively beside her, massive and unflinching, like a shadow cast from some ancient magic.
And for the first time, Elira didn't want to run.