[Chr24] Season of Fangs and Spikes
The wind roared through the frostbitten forest, carrying with it biting cold and the promise of danger. Jean adjusted the thick scarf around his neck and leaned closer to the tree before him. His golden eyes inspected the fresh scrapes etched deep into the bark. “These are new,” he murmured, wiping his gloved hand through the still-leaking sap. “We’re on the right track.”
Rowan paced behind him, his thick boots crunching heavily through the snow. “And how long until we catch up?” he growled, his voice sharp with frustration. His calloused hand rested on the hilt of the blade at his side. “We’ve been at this all day, Jean. The tracks barely last an hour before the wind buries them. What if we’re chasing ghosts?”
“They’re not ghosts,” Chance said calmly, his glowing eyes locked on a handheld device scanning the environment. The device hummed faintly as he adjusted a dial. “Something massive passed through here, heading east. They’re fast, but the claw marks suggest they stopped to mark territory. That’s a good sign.”
Zane remained silent, standing a few feet away with his broad shoulders hunched against the wind. His stony complexion seemed impervious to the cold, but his sharp, gray eyes betrayed unease. “Territory means we’re in it now,” he rumbled, his voice low. “We’re walking into their hunting grounds. If they find us before we find them…” He trailed off, his hand brushing the hilt of the massive blade strapped to his back.
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting the forest in an eerie twilight. Jean lit a torch, the flame flickering wildly in the wind. “We press on until nightfall,” he said, leading the group forward. “If they’ve stopped, we’re close. Let’s not waste our advantage.”
As darkness fell, the forest grew deathly still. The tracks became harder to follow, and the claw marks fewer and farther between. Jean halted, his instincts pricking as the air grew heavier. The sudden sound of snow crunching behind them made the group freeze. Rowan turned sharply, his blade already drawn. “We’re not alone,” he hissed.
A distant crack echoed through the trees, followed by another and another. The sound of heavy footfalls surrounded them. Zane’s glowing eyes narrowed as his sensors flared red. “Singular lifeform. Large. Closing in fast.”
“It's here…” Zane muttered, his grip tightening on his blade. His voice was calm, but the tension in his frame betrayed him.
The group closed ranks, the flickering torchlight casting shifting shadows in the snow. Glowing eyes appeared in the darkness, reflecting the firelight like shards of ice. The creature emerged, it's massive, antlered form stepping out from between the trees. It's fur shimmered, and it's antlers gleamed like jagged spikes.
Jean raised the torch higher, his heart pounding in his chest. “We might still reason with it...”
“Reason?” Rowan barked, his sword held defensively. “You’ve lost it. These things don’t reason—they kill.”
Chance stepped forward. “If there’s a chance to perhaps talk, we need to try. But if they attack, we don’t hesitate.”
The creature moved closer, it's growls rumbling through the cold night air. Zane stood firm, his blade drawn but his stance unthreatening. “Jean, talk fast,” he said grimly.
Jean stepped forward, lowering the torch slightly. “We’re not here to harm you,” he called out, his voice strong and clear. “You were lost, but you can be saved. We can help you, but you have to stop this!”
The creature paused, it's movements halting as if it understood. One stepped closer, i'ts glowing eyes meeting Jean’s. For a moment, the tension eased—but then a guttural snarl tore through the night, and the creature charged.
“Defend yourselves!” Chance roared, his blade swinging to meet the beast. The forest erupted into chaos, the clash of metal and claws ringing out beneath the frozen canopy. Jean darted back, still shouting to the creatures, desperate to break through the cursed form.
Submitted By pxrxn0rmxl
for Christmas Event 2024
Submitted: 17 hours ago ・
Last Updated: 14 hours ago
