The trees at the edge of the isle shivered—and then something lunged out of the shadows.
It was enormous. Beast-like, but made entirely of shadow and bone. Its eyes were hollow pits leaking dark mist, and its mouth gaped open, full of jagged glass.
I barely dodged as it swiped at us.
Lira moved fast, blade slashing with precision. The beast yowled, stumbling back, but not down. I grabbed a branch and swung it, which was about as effective as throwing a spoon at a dragon.
"Magic, Athena!" Lira shouted. "Try anything!"
"I don't have any—!"
But even as I said it, I felt that pull in my chest again. I screamed—not in fear, but in fury—and the sound warped. My voice echoed with power I didn't understand, and the beast staggered like it had been struck.
Lira didn't hesitate. She lunged, driving her blade into its chest.
With a final shriek, the creature dissolved into smoke and ash.
Silence fell, broken only by our ragged breathing.
I dropped to my knees, heart thundering.
