Lib Novel Page 20
She wasn’t going to argue. She wanted to be gone before whatever had killed that beast found them, or the Gek’Dragar appeared.
They moved across the narrow valley.
It was silent. There was no wind, no rocks falling, nothing.
Carys slowed. She saw Sten looking up.
High overhead, clouds were forming, blocking out the sun. It made the shadows down here much darker. Shadows clung to the rocks and dark spaces at the edge of the chasm. The hairs on the back of her neck rose.
They weren’t alone.
All of a sudden, something darted in the shadows. She stared hard, trying to see the shape of it. She formed an energy ball on her palm.
Her energy was coming stronger and more easily now. The lingering effects of the drugs were almost gone. She tried to form her armor, but still nothing. She blew out a frustrated breath.
Movement in the shadows again.
Nearby, Sten formed his sword.
“Can you tell what it is?” she asked.
“No.”
“It doesn’t look too big,” she whispered.
The creature rushed out, opening its jaws wide showing off its needle-like teeth. It had red eyes on each side of its snout. It was small, but powerfully built, with wicked spikes along its back.
Carys formed a small energy ball and threw it. It hit the creature and it made a horrible noise, snapping its jaws.
She frowned. As she watched, it snapped at the energy ball.
She threw another one.
“Wait.” Sten caught her arm.
The second ball hit the creature. It tossed its head back, gulping the crackling energy down its throat. Its body bulged and grew.
Horror filled her. “It’s feeding on the energy.”
The now-larger animal tossed its head back and roared. Then its red gaze locked on them, and it charged.
Sten leaped forward and sliced with his sword. He and the animal danced around each other. He slashed again, striking a glancing blow.
The animal suddenly twisted and raced at Carys.
Heart pounding, she ran at it, then dropped down sliding beneath it. She formed energy spikes on her hands, like claws, and jammed them up into the creature’s underbelly.
It let out a deafening roar.
Blood splattered, and she rolled to her feet and spun. Sten appeared beside her, and they charged together.
He slashed with his sword and Carys whipped up her energy gauntlets. She and Sten worked together fighting the creature.
Carys distracted it, slicing again with her energy claws across its snout.
It roared, but she kept its attention long enough for Sten to slide in, and ram his sword into the creature’s side.
This time, it didn’t make a sound. Its body shuddered, then it collapsed on the rocks.