The sky becomes overcast as Princesa resumes her frantic search, while impatience at this foolishness gnaws at me.
“There you are, you little chug bug!” she finally exclaims with relief, spotting Todd stretching his segmented body toward her, as if wanting to be picked up. But the cloud’s shadow above narrows, more focused.
No, not clouds!
In an instant, my muscles coil, acting on instinct. I charge into Princesa, carrying us skidding across the red grass, colliding into the massive root of a nearby tree.
“What the fu—” she grunts, clutching Todd tight in her arms. As I rise to my feet, the sound of beating wings and claws raking through soil reverberates where she stood moments before.
My blood thunders through my veins, scalding my muscles and tendons with molten Rush, yearning to be unleashed. I whirl in fury, expecting an arrohawk. But this—this is no mere beast. Wings not scaled or webbed, but feathered in purest white on top with hints of purple and blue shading the black underside. Its wide, muzzled face turns toward us, its eyes shimmering like celestial orbs.
It’s a magnificent, almost mythical creature—a brutonous.
“Is that... one of those arrohawks?” Princesa’s voice trembles, filled with awe and fear.
“No,” I growl, heart pounding with recognition and rage. My arm instinctively sweeps her behind me. “This is the brutonous chick that destroyed my glider.” My fangs bare, seething with the memory of shame. The legendary creature—one that should no longer exist—saved Krogoth from my searing plasma, twisting my honor to bitter, shameful ashes.
It tilts its fuzzy maned head, inspecting us, its powerful front leg talons gouging deep into the soil.
“Chick!” Princesa exclaims, wisely retreating behind me. “It’s the size of an elephant.” I’m unsure what an elephant is, but legends say a full-grown brutonous could eclipse the Peaks of Scarn themselves.
Ishouldhate it—for the shame it inflicted on me, for what it stole. But it possesses an aura of majesty, its eyes and actions suggesting eerie intelligence. It must have been this creature I spotted in the sky earlier, following us.
But for what purpose?
“I don’t like it,” Princesa mutters, clutching Todd tighter to her chest. “It tried to eat me and poor little Todd. Get rid of it, Dracoth.” Her tone sharpens into a sneer.
At her words, the brutonous chick’s attention snaps to the squirming Todd. Its large tongue lolling out, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth and large fangs.
It bounds forward, wings aiding its powerful leap, scattering leaves into the cool air. I extend my claws, baring its path, my eyes flashing crimson. The beast halts, but its lip curls back in a defiant snarl, each bark reverberating through the forest. Princesa flinches at every jolt of sound behind me.
“Oh my God,” she mutters.
The brutonous tries to outflank me, moving to circle around, but I mirror its steps, barring its approach. I’m not eager to kill it—something holds me back.
“What are you waiting for?” Princesa demands, her impatience rising. “For fuck’s sake, kill it, Dracoth!”
No... My gaze locks onto the creature’s eyes—those swirling celestial orbs. They’re like stars, bursting with molten fire in their black depths. The more I stare, the more I’m reminded of something, a presence I’ve felt before...Arawnoth.
Could this beast be a sign from the Gods?
My mind reels with implications so profound I can’t comprehend them. Was this creature sent to save Krogoth, cursing me, my father, the Magaxus, and our entire civilization?
The thought ignites a burning rage deep within me. My snarl twists in fury.
“Why him?” I roar, the words erupting before I can control them. “You forsook me, chose him—the traitor. Why? Answer me!” My voice cracks, raw with unfamiliar emotion, my lips trembling.
The brutonous chick stops barking to stare at me with a tilted head, its bushy tail wagging excitedly.
“Really? You’re doing the raging nutjob routine now?” Princesa sighs, exasperation thick in her tone. “Fine. Whatever.” I hear her rummaging through her pack. “I’ll take care of it.”
Over my shoulder, a chunk of cooked meat flies, hurtling toward the brutonous. Its tongue lolls like a tattered war flag as it leaps into the air, catching the meat mid-air in its eager maw. It devours the chunk in a single gulp, tongue lolling in satisfaction.
“This thing puts Todd to shame,” Princesa mutters as she digs for more food.
The brutonous chick spins in a circle, spreading its regal wings and panting in excitement.
Such a strange creature.
