The Fire We Feed

The creature burst through the underbrush with a thunderous roar—a towering mass of muscle and claws, each step reverberating through the forest floor. Its glowing eyes burned with fury, a predator's gaze locking onto them with relentless intent. The rancid stench of its breath coated the night air, heavy and suffocating.

"Move!" Taryn shouted, yanking the chain taut as she veered left, heart hammering against her ribs.

Lucien followed without hesitation, the chain rattling between them in sharp, erratic bursts. They sprinted through the thick undergrowth, dodging low-hanging branches and roots that clawed at their boots. But the beast was faster—its thunderous steps closing the gap, each one a warning of how little time they had.

A snarl rumbled from deep within the creature's chest, the kind of sound that vibrated in the bones, and then it lunged.

Taryn barely had time to react. Jaws snapped inches from her shoulder as she threw herself into a desperate roll, dragging Lucien with her. They hit the ground hard, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through her shoulders.

The beast's claws shredded the earth where they'd been, dirt and leaves exploding in all directions.

Taryn gasped as she tried to untangle herself from the chain, limbs burning from the sudden strain. Lucien yanked her upright before she could catch her breath. "Get up!" he barked, pulling hard as the creature wheeled around for another strike.

They stumbled forward just as the beast's massive claws raked once more through the space they'd occupied. The sheer force of its strike left deep scars in the ground, a grim promise of what would happen if it connected.

Taryn swung her sword with everything she had, meeting the next charge head-on. Steel clanged against thick fur and sinew, and the impact jarred her to the bone. Pain radiated up her arm, but she gritted her teeth and dug in, refusing to give an inch.

Lucien was a blur beside her, slashing at the beast's flank with brutal efficiency. Blood sprayed in hot, steaming arcs, splattering across the forest floor. The creature howled, twisting with terrifying speed, swiping blindly at them.

"Duck!" Taryn shouted, yanking the chain hard to drag Lucien down with her.

A clawed paw swept overhead, slicing the air. Lucien rolled to his feet and was already moving, his blade cutting a wicked arc across the beast's shoulder.

The monster roared in fury, its wild thrashing forcing both of them to scatter. The chain snapped taut between them, nearly jerking Taryn off her feet. She stumbled, barely managing to block another vicious swipe with her sword.

"Watch it!" she hissed, frustration spilling into every word. Lucien growled through clenched teeth as he slashed at the beast's hind legs.

The monster reared back on its hind legs, claws gleaming in the dim moonlight, and let out a deafening roar. Lucien lunged, blade plunging deep into its shoulder. The creature screamed, the sound ripping through the forest like a thunderclap, but it only seemed to grow angrier. It swiped at Lucien with brutal force, claws flashing.

Taryn saw the opening—a fleeting, precious moment when the beast's weight shifted off-balance.

"Now!" she shouted, and they struck together.

Lucien's blade carved through the beast's ribs as Taryn drove her sword into the back of its leg. The creature howled in agony, thrashing violently. Hot blood gushed from its wounds, painting the ground beneath them in steaming streaks.

But it wasn't enough.

The monster snarled, muscles coiling for another deadly lunge.

"It's not going down!" Taryn hissed, fear and fury clawing at her throat.

The beast sprang forward with renewed rage, claws sweeping low. Taryn dove to the side, but the chain yanked painfully, jerking her off-balance. She hit the ground hard, a sharp jolt shooting through her knees and palms. Lucien dodged in the opposite direction, but the chain snapped taut, dragging them violently toward each other.

Taryn cursed, struggling to her feet. "Damn this chain!"

Lucien gave a grim nod, wiping blood from his brow. "We need to end this. Now, or it'll end us."

The monster shook its head, flinging blood from its eyes. Its glowing gaze locked onto Taryn, burning with fury and hunger. Lips curled back to reveal rows of jagged teeth gleaming under the sliver of moonlight.

It lunged again, a blur of claws and fangs.

Lucien moved first, yanking her toward him with brutal force. They collided hard, the chain snapping them together just as the beast's claws ripped through the air, missing Taryn by mere inches.

Her breath came in ragged gasps, chest crushed against Lucien's side. His arm braced her for only a second before she shoved him off, teeth bared in frustration.

"No time for this," Lucien muttered, steadying himself with a grim smirk.

Taryn ignored him, locking eyes with the beast as it prowled in a tight circle, blood dripping from its wounds. The thing wasn't giving up—it was angrier now, and they both knew it.

"We hit it together," she whispered, gripping her sword tighter. "One last push."

Lucien's silver eyes darkened with grim determination. "On your mark."

Taryn's pulse roared in her ears. The beast shifted its weight, readying itself for another lunge. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, but she coiled tight, waiting for the perfect moment.

"Now!" she shouted.

They moved as one—Lucien darting right, his blade slashing deep across the beast's side, while Taryn drove her sword into its chest, twisting the steel until she felt bone grind beneath the blade.

The monster let out a guttural, ear-splitting roar that reverberated through the forest. Blood poured from its wounds, drenching them both. The beast staggered, thrashing in desperation as claws gouged the earth beneath it.

Lucien didn't wait. With a savage roar of his own, he lunged forward, slashing across the beast's face. His blade cut deep, leaving a jagged gash along its muzzle, just missing its glowing eyes.

The monster reeled back, its snarl turning into a low, agonized growl. It swayed on unsteady legs, muscles twitching in exhaustion and pain.

And then, with a frustrated snarl, it turned and bolted, crashing through the underbrush. Its heavy footfalls faded into the night, swallowed by the shadows.

Taryn dropped to her knees, chest heaving, every muscle burning with exhaustion. Dirt clung to her sweat-soaked skin, and her hands shook as she braced herself against the ground. The only sound that remained was their labored breathing, filling the empty silence the beast left behind.

Lucien stood over her, equally battered. He rubbed his wrist where the chain had bitten deep, his expression unreadable.

Taryn forced herself to her feet, brushing dirt from her hands. The weight of exhaustion pressed down on her, but the ache in her chest—sharp and unrelenting—was far worse.

Lucien reached out, steadying her as she wobbled.

"Let go," she snapped, jerking free from his grasp. His touch sent a fresh wave of anger through her, and the chain rattled ominously between them. Lucien's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, rubbing the back of his neck with a sigh.

Taryn shot him a withering glare. The monster was gone—for now—but the tension between them clung like a second skin, suffocating and inescapable.

"We follow it," she said, voice cold and flat. "It's heading back to its lair."

Lucien didn't argue. He only nodded, his usual smugness replaced by a heavy silence.

The chain rattled softly as they fell into step—two enemies forced to move as one, even as everything else between them fractured with every step they took.

And with each step forward, Taryn knew: the hardest fight was still waiting ahead.