from its massive paws—all four of which were the size of Kenders’ head—and dug into the dirt as the cat flexed. Black-tufted ears lay flat against the cat’s enormous head as it stared at the wolf pack leader. Its loud snarl faded into a low, growling rumble.
Nikalys muttered, “Blast the gods.”
Kenders silently concurred.
The lead wolf hesitated, glaring at the lynx, seemingly annoyed that the cat had dared to interrupt its pack’s hunt. Whether driven by bravery or hunger, the wolf moved forward, loping the few feet separating it from the lynx, let out a snarl, and leapt for the cat’s throat.
With lightning speed, the lynx swept its right front paw across its body and batted at the wolf. An audible crunch filled the clearing as the cat’s paw struck the pack leader in the side, sending the wolf tumbling through the air, out of the firelight, and crashing into the forest brush. A soft, whimpering sound confirmed that the wolf was seriously hurt, most likely with broken ribs.
Turning to face the next closest wolf, the lynx tilted its head and stared, almost daring the lupine to move. The remaining wolves were silent now, motionless. After all of the growling and snarling, the quiet of the forest was pronounced, interrupted only by the firewood popping and the soft whining of the injured wolf.
The nearest wolf dropped his head and looked behind it, almost as if it were weighing its options. The lynx loosed a second bone-rattling roar that reverberated through the hills, ultimately making the wolves’ decision easy.
Tucking their tails between their legs, the pair immediately scampered away, kicking up dirt and leaves as they ran from the clearing. Kenders heard the whimpering pack leader running away as well, but not nearly as fast as the others were. The lynx padded to the far side of the fire and looked in the direction the wolves had run. It tilted its head, listening.
Nikalys whispered, “That thing is three times bigger than any lynx I’ve ever seen.”
“What if it means to have us for its own eveningmeal?”
The lynx swiveled around, turning toward them and giving the pair the first good look at it from the front.
Its face had an almost wise look to it. A clean, white ruff hung under its neck and long whiskers draped from its maw, glinting in the firelight. Tufts of white fur sprouted from the inside of its ears. Staring at the two of them with deep, dark brown eyes, the cat began to saunter to where they huddled by the thicket.
Nikalys stepped forward, began waving his hands over his head, and called out, “Hey! Over here!”
The cat stopped and stared at them both, its gaze dancing between them.
“Nik, what are you doing?”
“Getting its attention,” murmured Nikalys. Raising his voice, he called, “Over here, you overgrown tuft of hair!”
The lynx instantly shifted his gaze to rest solely on Nikalys.
Continuing to wave his arms, Nikalys said, “Run, Kenders.”
Now, the lynx turned its full attention to her.
“Go!” ordered Nikalys. “I’ll distract it!”
The massive golden-brown cat began to pad toward Nikalys.
Nikalys yelled, “Blast it! Go! Now!”
She took a single step away from him and immediately stopped. “No.”
Yellow Mud was gone. Mother, Father, and Jak were dead. She was not about to run away and let a giant cat kill her only remaining family.
In that moment, the soul-draining events of the past few days caught up to her. A flood of emotions exploded inside of her. Anger, grief, hopelessness, frustration. Clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, she turned back to glare at the cat with burning eyes.
She wanted the giant lynx to leave them alone.
She wanted the blasted cat to go flying into the forest like the wolf.
She desperately wanted something—anything—to keep her and her brother alive.
Something inside of her snapped.
Abruptly, a pattern of colored strings popped into existence before her, hovering in the air above the campsite.
Nikalys muttered, “Blast the gods.”
Kenders silently concurred.
The lead wolf hesitated, glaring at the lynx, seemingly annoyed that the cat had dared to interrupt its pack’s hunt. Whether driven by bravery or hunger, the wolf moved forward, loping the few feet separating it from the lynx, let out a snarl, and leapt for the cat’s throat.
With lightning speed, the lynx swept its right front paw across its body and batted at the wolf. An audible crunch filled the clearing as the cat’s paw struck the pack leader in the side, sending the wolf tumbling through the air, out of the firelight, and crashing into the forest brush. A soft, whimpering sound confirmed that the wolf was seriously hurt, most likely with broken ribs.
Turning to face the next closest wolf, the lynx tilted its head and stared, almost daring the lupine to move. The remaining wolves were silent now, motionless. After all of the growling and snarling, the quiet of the forest was pronounced, interrupted only by the firewood popping and the soft whining of the injured wolf.
The nearest wolf dropped his head and looked behind it, almost as if it were weighing its options. The lynx loosed a second bone-rattling roar that reverberated through the hills, ultimately making the wolves’ decision easy.
Tucking their tails between their legs, the pair immediately scampered away, kicking up dirt and leaves as they ran from the clearing. Kenders heard the whimpering pack leader running away as well, but not nearly as fast as the others were. The lynx padded to the far side of the fire and looked in the direction the wolves had run. It tilted its head, listening.
Nikalys whispered, “That thing is three times bigger than any lynx I’ve ever seen.”
“What if it means to have us for its own eveningmeal?”
The lynx swiveled around, turning toward them and giving the pair the first good look at it from the front.
Its face had an almost wise look to it. A clean, white ruff hung under its neck and long whiskers draped from its maw, glinting in the firelight. Tufts of white fur sprouted from the inside of its ears. Staring at the two of them with deep, dark brown eyes, the cat began to saunter to where they huddled by the thicket.
Nikalys stepped forward, began waving his hands over his head, and called out, “Hey! Over here!”
The cat stopped and stared at them both, its gaze dancing between them.
“Nik, what are you doing?”
“Getting its attention,” murmured Nikalys. Raising his voice, he called, “Over here, you overgrown tuft of hair!”
The lynx instantly shifted his gaze to rest solely on Nikalys.
Continuing to wave his arms, Nikalys said, “Run, Kenders.”
Now, the lynx turned its full attention to her.
“Go!” ordered Nikalys. “I’ll distract it!”
The massive golden-brown cat began to pad toward Nikalys.
Nikalys yelled, “Blast it! Go! Now!”
She took a single step away from him and immediately stopped. “No.”
Yellow Mud was gone. Mother, Father, and Jak were dead. She was not about to run away and let a giant cat kill her only remaining family.
In that moment, the soul-draining events of the past few days caught up to her. A flood of emotions exploded inside of her. Anger, grief, hopelessness, frustration. Clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, she turned back to glare at the cat with burning eyes.
She wanted the giant lynx to leave them alone.
She wanted the blasted cat to go flying into the forest like the wolf.
She desperately wanted something—anything—to keep her and her brother alive.
Something inside of her snapped.
Abruptly, a pattern of colored strings popped into existence before her, hovering in the air above the campsite.
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