The forest was deceptively calm, golden morning light filtering through the canopy, scattering shifting patterns across the damp earth. Elara crept silently along a trail of hoofprints, bow in hand, every step measured. She had been tracking a herbivore since dawn, hoping to bring back fresh meat to the village.
[Just a simple hunt… no surprises, no mistakes.] Her heart steadied as she adjusted the bowstring against her fingertips. The silence should have comforted her, but it gnawed instead. The air felt heavy, the usual chatter of birds gone. Even the insects were quiet.
The further she went, the more her instincts prickled. [Something's wrong… why is it so quiet?]
Then it came.
A roar tore through the stillness, deep and resonant, shaking the very ground beneath her feet. Birds burst from the treetops in a frenzy of wings, and leaves cascaded down like confetti. Elara froze, her breath caught in her throat, her bow quivering in her hands.
Amber eyes glowed in the shadows ahead.
A sleek shape emerged—muscular, black as midnight, striped with faint gray markings that melted into the gloom. Its claws flexed, scraping the soil, its long tail swaying with a predatory rhythm. The Shadowclaw Lynx.
Elara's body locked. Every instinct screamed for her to run, yet her legs refused to obey. She fumbled with her bow, but her hands trembled so violently the string nearly slipped from her grip.
[Move! Shoot! Do something!] Her mind screamed, but the predator had already decided.
It lunged.
The Lynx closed the distance in a blink, claws raised high, its growl a thunderous rumble. Elara's heart stuttered. The predator's fangs gleamed inches from her—
And then a figure cut between them.
Corwin.
His body blurred into motion with a perfect Soru dash, boots slamming the soil as he intercepted the beast. The claws struck, but Corwin's muscles tightened, his stance solidifying with Tekkai. Sparks flew as the attack skidded against hardened flesh and armor. He grunted but didn't yield.
Elara's wide eyes locked on him, stunned. [Who… who is he?] She had never seen him before, yet here he was—shielding her with his body, absorbing a blow that would have shredded her to pieces.
The Lynx snarled, its amber gaze flicking between them. Its tail lashed, striking the ground hard enough to crack roots. Corwin didn't flinch. He raised his hammer and swung in a wide arc, forcing the predator to recoil a step.
The forest shifted again as two more shadows streaked in—Hunnt and Pyro.
"Stay back!" Hunnt barked, his voice sharp with command. His gauntlets glinted, catching fragments of sunlight as he burst forward with Soru, closing the distance in a heartbeat. He drove his fist into the Lynx's ribs. The impact rang like metal striking stone, sparks snapping outward. The monster growled, staggering but not faltering.
[Hunnt… he's fighting it? With his gauntlets?] Elara's jaw tightened as her grip slackened slightly on her bow. The boy she knew from the forge, the one who crafted in silence and precision, was now striking a predator head-on, his blows echoing with purpose.
Pyro dashed to the flank, his SnS gleaming as he spun low. "Nyaa! Over here!" he jeered, slicing across the Lynx's hind legs. Sparks flared as blade met hide, and the beast snarled, twisting to swipe at him. Pyro slipped past with Kami-e, his body flowing just out of reach, tail flicking triumphantly.
The Lynx lunged again, claws flashing toward Hunnt. Hunnt ducked low, his body slackening instinctively with Kami-e, letting the strike skim overhead. He pivoted sharply, gauntlet cracking into the beast's jaw, driving it back a pace.
Corwin pressed in, hammer raised high. He stepped into the monster's path and brought it down hard, the blow connecting with a sickening thud. The Lynx staggered, amber eyes flaring with fury.
Hunnt didn't let up. He darted in with Soru, fists raining down on weak spots—elbow joints, ribs, the underside of the jaw. His strikes weren't perfect, many glancing off the thick hide, but each forced the predator to adjust.
Pyro danced at its flank, blades flashing, feinting and darting. "Nyaah! Too slow!" he taunted, twisting away from its tail with a Kami-e dodge so fluid it looked rehearsed.
The Shadowclaw Lynx roared, its cry vibrating through the trees. It lashed out violently, claws gouging furrows into the earth. The three of them pressed in, forcing it to retreat step by step. Finally, with a furious snarl, it whipped its tail, sending dirt and leaves flying, before leaping back into the treeline. Blood trailed from shallow cuts across its flank.
Hunnt landed beside Corwin, breathing hard. His gauntlets smoked faintly from repeated impact, but his eyes were sharp. "It's wounded. We can track it."
Corwin adjusted his stance, hammer resting against his shoulder. "That thing's not ordinary… it's smart. It'll be waiting for us."
Pyro crouched low, sniffing the earth, tail flicking. "Blood trail's fresh, Master. Nyaah… it won't get far."
Hunnt nodded. "Good. Then we finish this."
Behind them, Elara lowered her bow, her arms trembling. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, eyes locked on Hunnt's gauntlets. [Those gauntlets… they're not just tools. They're weapons. He's been hiding this strength all along.]
Her mind swirled with disbelief. The quiet boy who forged in the heat of the workshop had just stood against a predator she could barely face. Corwin—who she had never met—had thrown himself into danger without hesitation. And Pyro, the playful feline, moved like a shadow dancer, his blade and body flowing with impossible grace.
[Hunnt… who are you really? What else are you hiding from us?]
The forest stilled again, but the tension did not fade. The Shadowclaw Lynx was out there, wounded but alive, its amber eyes no doubt watching from the shadows. The trail of blood beckoned, deeper into the forest, where the real test awaited.
Elara's grip on her bow tightened. She forced a steady breath, grounding herself. She had seen their strength—strength she hadn't imagined possible. And now she understood: the fight ahead would push them all to their limits.
Hunnt adjusted his gauntlets, Corwin's hammer glinted, and Pyro's SnS flickered as he twirled it. Together, they advanced, the forest swallowing them whole.
The Shadowclaw Lynx was waiting.
And this time, none of them could afford to falter.
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✨ Hi amazing readers! ✨
I'm beyond excited to share not just one, but two epic stories with you!
📖 Final Fantasy: The Unwritten
Step into the vast multiverse of Final Fantasy—where heroes, destinies, and untold adventures intertwine in ways you've never seen before.
⚔️ Renegade: Arsenal of War
Follow the journey of a relentless tech soldier who forges groundbreaking weapons to end the war once and for all.
Your support means the world to me—every read, comment, and share helps bring these stories to life. 🌌🔥 Together, let's explore the unwritten and fight through the arsenal of war!
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