Carissa pointed to the discarded satchel. “If we can throw the Y’thapa to them, they can take it and the wolves will go away. Simple.” Algernon glanced at the satchel, then shrugged. “Whatever you wish, Carissa.” Carissa dismounted the horse, careful not to upset Kybelle’s body, and began treading towards the satchel. It was at…
Carissa plunged her dagger through the heart of the first wolf before slashing across the face of a second one. And then Algernon crashed through the pack on his horse, trampling a few wolves before he dismounted the horse. Another wolf began to lunge at Carissa, until Algernon nocked an arrow and shot him. Four…
As the wolves neared, the horses began tossing their heads and fighting Carissa and Algernon’s control. The wolves came near enough for her to see their bared teeth, near enough for her to hear their guttural snarling. Cold flashed across Carissa’s skin and she suppressed a curse. Their fear was drawing them, and the horses…
This had gone on far enough. She couldn’t allow Elon to just tell them how to kill him. She leveled the rod at the Elder’s chest. “I don’t think so.” Elon pushed Carissa’s hand down until she lowered the rod. “All is well, Carissa.” Carissa spun to face him. “All is well? You’re about to…
Elder Lorem turned to her, as did everyone else. “And why ever not?” Carissa replied, “He’s with us. We journeyed together from Nysia to Esmeray.” The entire crowd bristled with murmurs: “What’s the meaning of this? Are they Nysian spies?” “I knew we shouldn’t have trusted them.” “We ought to rid ourselves of all the…
As Carissa wandered through camp in search of food, Elon trailing behind her, she heard someone yell, “Carissa!” She turned just as Lyron ran up to her, a large grin on his face. “My family has a wagon. You could ride on ours until we make camp tonight.” Carissa buried a cringe. “You’re certain your…
“What did you mean by what you said earlier?” Carissa startled awake, thudding her head against the back of the tree. She must have been truly tired if she’d fallen asleep in this position. Carissa wriggled her fingers and toes, causing painful tingles to shoot up her arms and legs. The torches around the camp…
“Wait!” Lyron ripped away from the woman and sprinted towards Elon before standing in front of him. “You can’t shoot them. I won’t let you.” The man’s eyes glittered with anger. “Step away from them, Lyron.” “If not for them, I would still be a Reaper slave. They freed me and destroyed a Reaper stronghold.”…
Three Days Later A thin ribbon of gray streamed from the horizon into the sky, and Carissa’s breath caught. “Are those campfires?” The group was slow to respond. After three days of traveling through bare, blackened forests, sleeping on dirt, and not having access to fresh water, she wasn’t surprised. They were all exhausted—even Elon,…
“Carissa! Elon!” Lyron yelled. Carissa moaned and tossed her arm over her eyes. Sunlight glowed brightly against her eyelids, but her body was heavy with exhaustion. “Please come out. Lila’s missing, and I don’t know what to do.” It took a moment for his words to register. Once they did, Carissa jerked into a sitting…