My Wild Beast

{Music Recommendation: Mountain Oath by The Last Retinue}

A chill ran down her body as the Sky Matron wiped the droplets of blood from her razor-sharp nails down her chin and neck.

"Your first mark," Ixana purred, tilting her head, her wings half-spread like a predator ready to strike. "One of many to coat my wings in your blood."

Nova's grip tightened on the branch until the bark dug into her palms. She shifted her weight onto the balls of her feet, knees bent, lowering her centre like Yoa had once shown her in sparring. If Ixana wanted to circle, Nova would be ready to pivot.

Ixana lunged, her claws swiped for her chest, but Nova twisted sideways and swung her branch in a wide arc. It cracked against Ixana's forearm with a satisfying thud. The blow barely slowed her. Ixana pivoted, her wing lashing out like a blade and knocking Nova off balance.

She stumbled, dropped to one knee, and rolled just in time to dodge talons that gouged deep furrows into the dirt. Nova pushed back up, branch raised defensively, only to find Ixana already circling, lips curled into a cruel smile.

"Run," Ixana hissed, feathers bristling. "Let me enjoy this."

Instead, Nova lunged forward, thrusting the branch like a spear. How dare she play with her life like this was some silly children's game? Ixana deflected it easily with a contemptuous flick, but Nova followed through, pivoting in close and slamming her elbow into her ribs. In that brief flinch, her hand darted down, fingers brushing cold steel.

It was one of Ixana's throwing blades.

Before the Sky Matron could react, Nova wrenched it free and spun, hurling it behind her toward Aiyana. "Yana!" She shouted, not waiting to see if it reached her friend.

Ixana's eyes narrowed, blazing incredulously, expression twisting into something far more vicious. "Boys," she called out in that glacial tone. "Kill the bitch."

Nova's breath hitched at the command. But she didn't have time to pay attention to the shadows springing out of the trees and charging in Aiyana's direction because Ixana was on her again. Nova barely raised her branch before Ixana's talon locked around it, splintering the wood with casual strength.

The broken end fell uselessly from Nova's grasp. She reeled back, but Ixana was already there, her talons carving through the air where Nova's throat had been a heartbeat before.

Frustrated, Ixana shrieked and lashed out with her wing. "Ooft!" Nova hurtled toward the ground.

She slammed down hard, her attempt to brace herself doing little to stop the pain jolting up her body. Another wing slashed down, but she rolled.

Again and again, the wings slashed down, followed by the talons, lifting up roots and dirt, wafting the particles into the air. Nova swiped her leg out, locked the other around her feet and twisted, forcing the Sky Matron down—one of many moves she proudly remembered Yoa teaching her.

Nova rolled hard, dirt biting her skin, and came up gasping, heart ramming into her ribs as she jumped to her feet, ready. She had no weapon and was running out of ideas to keep this warrior, this predator, from killing her.

Air whooshed towards her, and the dirt in the air flew into her eyes. She grimaced, eyes squinting shut to the small scratches. Talons reached out while she was blinded.

"Nova, watch out!" Aiyana screamed.

Her hand shot up, warding off the strike she couldn't track. Ixana's talons sliced across her forearm, burning lines of pain that forced her to gasp. Still, the desperate block bought her just enough time to stumble back, blinking furiously against the grit in her eyes.

The bond flared like fire through Nova's chest as she staggered back, breath torn from her lips as fury surged back along the tether. Yoa felt her pain. His rage burned through her fear.

Pain sliced through Yoa's forearm as he leapt to the highest branch of a healthy tree unaffected by the raging fire he'd been sent to investigate. The Vohraki still cried out in rage. Someone purposely created it.

This pain was not his own. Now he knew why the morning felt so ominous. Someone was after Nova. He stood tall, searching across the horizon, his sight focusing in the direction Nova was in. Nothing appeared amiss, but the bond never lied.

'Nova?!!' His voice bounced back.

They were too far apart, and that stirred the beast within him to pace and claw at his chest, wanting, no needing to get free to get to their Serakai. His temper burst through the seams, and he couldn't stop himself from the roar ripping past his lips as he shifted mid-air, leapt down and began sprinting towards the caves.

His roar shot furiously across the island.

'I'm on my way, Nova. Please, hold on.'

Back at the caves, Aiyana slit the throat of one of the fallen warriors clinging to him from behind. They fell to the ground, and she elegantly leapt off, eyes blazing as she looked back to Nova. She looked well and truly beaten up with slices across her body from Ixana, who may have started this as a game but was clearly starting to tire, her movements becoming more sluggish against her girl.

Pride swelled in Aiyana's chest as she saw Nova fight for her life with the fierceness of a feline, a warrior, a huntress.

The sounds of grunts drew her attention back to Atia, who had been struggling with the warriors and eagles meant to keep him away from Nova. Bloodied and bruised, but a warrior through and through, his injuries were few, and the bond thrummed with unrelenting drive and energy. He had yet to tire.

It really did impress Aiyana, even if she shouldn't be surprised by his skill.

Still, Aiyana helped him as swiftly as possible; their priority was Nova, not each other. Their thoughts aligned as three blades sank into the backs of the warriors facing Atia. His gaze snapped up to meet Aiyana's, relief and something much warmer flashing across those golden-green eyes.

Then the connection broke as Aiyana turned away, and Atia shifted into his jaguar form and leapt towards the five harpy eagles diving towards him.

He will be fine, Aiyana repeated to herself like a mantra.

That's when the ground shuddered, halting her in her tracks as a roar cracked through the forest, stilling not only Aiyana but everyone in the clearing.

A chill swept through the scorching heat of the midday sun.

Yiska was not happy.

The trees bent as if bowing, leaves trembling in reverence to the sound. Birds shrieked and scattered from their perches, and even the shadows recoiled.

The island knew the voice of its predator. The cry of a Serakai defending what was his. Yoa might be miles away, but he just announced to the people of Tayun to stay out of his way or be a casualty in his path.