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The Blood War

Chapter Twenty-three

The herd of elk broke from the trees, pounding quickly with deadly hooves in their direction, before either of them could even blink. Flashes of wolves pursuing them were faintly visible as they escaped the tree line, but the pack quickly peeled off, leaving the elk to run alone, straight towards Outlander and Bone.

“Curses!” Bone shouted, taking a step back, and then another. “Flea-ridden rotting rats! Opposite-fleshed bats of-” he was interrupted of his shouting as Outlander rammed herself into him. “Yelling isn’t helping!” she barked. “Run!”

The elk were upon them in a few passing heartbeats, giving them barely any time to shift where they stood. The lead buck, rack of antlers towering and hooves sharp, bore down on top of them with the others close behind. Bone launched up from his place beside Outlander, teeth gnashing over the elk’s throat and causing it to collapse.

He dodged away as the now-dead prey collapsed to the ground, barely pulling himself away in time. Outlander was already running, bounding for the distant tree line where Bone had come from earlier. He followed, dodging around pounding hooves and avoiding their stomping legs, breath coming quick and painful.

An elk bore down suddenly on Outlander paces ahead of him, sharp hooves looming above her, coming down to bring her death. With a burst of speed he lunged, catching her by the scruff and shoving her away from the prey-turned-predator, just as hooves crushed down on the back half of his spine.

A piercing cry leapt from his jaws as he was driven into the ground, pinned by the heavy weight of the elk, sharp hooves digging into his flanks and back. In barely a passing moment the weight was gone, leaving him pressed painfully to the earth. Through the pounding of his own ears and the hooves around him he could hear Outlander cry his name, but he was only dimly aware.

Bone managed to pull himself to his feet, feeling the sting of blood lace itself into his fur. Elk were dodging around him now, or at least trying to; occasionally a kick would strike him in the sides or jaw, leaving his ears ringing and pain stinging his body.

Outlander’s side, warm and full of life, suddenly pressed against his as she urged him the rest of the way, into the outskirts of the trees. The elk continued their stampede, the last of them disappearing into the forest on the opposite side of the field, leaving them alone.

That’s when Bone wobbled on his feet and collapsed into the dirt.

- President Loki

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