The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)(36)

In the deep recesses of night, when his frame became heavy and his legs went numb, a noise rang out. At his back, he felt Tiern stiffen. The sound had been faint, like a shout from far away. Paxton held his breath as he listened intently.

There it was again! Zandora lifted her arm as some kind of signal to the other Zandalee.

A shout from afar came louder this time, followed closely by others. The hunters jumped to their feet.

“It’s coming from the east,” Harrison said.

“The Kalorians,” Paxton added.

Without discussion, they all began to sprint into the dense trees, away from the water and toward the sounds where the Kalorians were stationed a half mile eastward. As he ran, Paxton pushed through jagged branches that whipped against his face. He cursed and kept running, too wild to feel any of it.

It seemed like only minutes later when a low, inhuman sound filled his ears. Paxton slowed his steps, and Tiern grabbed his shoulders from behind to avoid colliding into his back. Together they peered into the trees, moonlight casting shadows through the leaves.

“Listen,” Paxton whispered. The other hunters stopped, as well. Above their panting breaths were more yells from men, closer now, and an unmistakable roar, feral and vicious. The hairs on Paxton’s arms stood on end as Tiern’s fingers dug into his shoulder. Zandora hissed low.

The great beast was near.

One of the wealthy men shook his head and stepped back. “Seas alive!” He sounded ill, his eyes wide in the moonlight.

“We have to help them!” Paxton tore into the trees once more, sheer determination overpowering his fear. As the Lochlan men and the Zandalee crashed through the underbrush, sounds of the Kalorian men became clearer, yelling war cries. They were herding the beast straight for them.

“It’s coming!” Tiern shouted from behind him.

The two youngest Lochlan lads climbed hurriedly into the nearest trees. Two of the wealthy men fled to the south. Paxton, Tiern, Harrison, and Samuel found shelter behind trees, some standing, some kneeling, all with weapons at the ready. Paxton caught the glint of Zandora’s long, sharp arrow.

He peeked around the tree trunk and watched slivers of the wood exposed by moonlight. Tiern sidled close to him, watching from the other side.

He’d heard descriptions of the beast. Pictured it many times in his mind. But as it burst through the brush, nothing could prepare him for the infamous creature. It was unlike any animal he’d ever seen. A mixture of scales and coarse dark fur, beady black eyes and tusks that curled to the side around a mouthful of sharp teeth. Massive paws with oversized claws.

The people hadn’t exaggerated its size. Paxton’s jaw clenched in horror as it barreled toward them on all fours. A barrage of arrows bounced off its thick body. The beast stood and gave a great roar, shaking the ground, and Paxton thought he saw dark fur glistening under the beast’s squatty neck. Blood? Paxton broke from his shocked trance and sent an arrow flying at the beast’s mouth. As if sensing the approaching danger, it lowered its head and the arrow pinged off its skull, falling to the ground like a mere gnat.

Paxton swore.

All at once, a group of Kalorian men broke through the trees behind it, wild and fearless. The next moment was chaos. Paxton didn’t dare shoot while so many men surrounded the beast.

“Stay here!” he told Tiern as he rushed forward.

“I don’t think so, Brother,” Tiern responded from behind him in a shaking voice.

Paxton wanted to argue, but there was no time. The great beast spun and crouched, preparing for the Kalorian attack. When the men got within reach, the beast swung its arm in a flash, throwing three men into nearby trees. It slashed its claws through another man’s belly. Paxton wrenched his dagger from his waist. At once, he, Harrison, and Zandora leaped high onto its back. The beast was nearly wide enough for all three of them, and smelled pungently of wet decay.

Before Paxton could get a grip, he felt himself soaring haphazardly, high into the air, until his body smacked the ground hard, knocking the wind from his lungs. Through his wide eyes he saw the beast running straight at him, staring him down. He raised an arm to shield his face. The creature never stopped. It kicked him in the ribs as it ran past, its claw ripping the skin of his arm, sending him tumbling in pain. He lost his knife somewhere in the brush.

“Pax!” Tiern crouched over him as he fought for breath, his eyes frantic. “You’re alive—thank the seas. Here’s your dagger.” Tiern leaned over him and shoved the knife back in his sheathe with shaking hands just as a bloodcurdling yell sounded from a man behind them. Pax tried to sit up and hollered at the jabs of pain searing through his body.

“Don’t move, Brother. You’re hurt. You need to put pressure on your arm.”

Pax absently grabbed his bleeding arm and lay there in dismay, watching as the great beast tore through hunters with no effort at all. And yet, it didn’t seem as if it wanted to fight. It seemed as if it wanted to get away, as if the people were a nuisance in its path. Tiern sat up on his knees and shot an arrow just as the beast raised its head. It nicked the side of its neck and the great beast roared, stumbling as it swatted at the spot.

“You hit it!” Pax said. The effort to speak sent agony through his ribs.

One of the wealthy men somehow ended up in the beast’s fleeing path.

“Get out of its way!” Paxton yelled hoarsely, grimacing.