I watch in horror as Ramsey charges forward, toward a beast he has no hope of besting, his words echoing in my head.
Could he have meant them?
It doesn’t matter, because if I don’t find a way to help him, he’ll die.
I’m no Fiona or Araelya, but perhaps I don’t have to be. Perhaps I just need to distract the creature so Ramsey can strike.
Tusks jut out from its face, six in total, all looking like they could impale men much larger than those from Tempest.
Ramsey swings his axe. The great animal sidesteps and drives into his side, throwing him against a tree.
“Run!” Ramsey growls.
Refusing to leave him, I watch, seeing how the beast moves, which isn’t at all how you’d expect an aggressive animal to.
At the sight of me rooted in place, Ramsey straightens, gripping his axe in one hand as he bares his teeth.
The beast stares at him and backs away ever so slightly. Ramsey charges forward, and the giant rushes him again, an enormous tusk slicing his torso.
Ramsey cries out, and for a moment, I’m unsure of what to do. If there’s anything I can do.
Then, the beast looks at me, its two golden eyes shining in the midday light, and I know…
I walk forward, stepping softly as the creature watches me. It’s furious, likely to charge if I’m not too careful, so I place my hands in the air, so it can see my palms.
“Asha!” Ramsey snarls, straightening again. I see him hunching, getting ready to charge.
Knowing I have mere seconds before he launches another attack, I rush forward, placing myself between him and the beast.
“Asha!” he roars, trying to shove me away with his free arm, but I push toward him, driving my shoulder into his wound.
He screams from the pain, but I keep at it, until his suffering is so great, he drops his axe.
“Why?” he asks, his voice tortured.
Unable to waste precious time, I spin around, facing the creature, showing it my palms.
It hunches, snarling.
“I won’t hurt you,” I saw in a soft voice. “And I don’t think you want to hurt me.”
“Asha!” My name is a low growl in Ramsey’s throat.
I walk towards the beast, smiling, trying to show it I’m harmless.
Its golden eyes squint, and it snorts, still deciding if I’m a threat.
I hear Ramsey shift behind me. I cast him a look over my shoulder. “It doesn’t want to fight.”
“You are mad if you think?—”
The beast approaches, coming an inch from my face.
I bring a hand to its furry pelt, petting the bear-like creature, asking, “What’s wrong?”
It looks off into the forest, huffs, then slowly jogs away, nodding its head for me to follow.
“Great Tempest…”Ramsey whispers.
