Beasts (Trigger warning: Blood and Gore)

"T…thank you," Lydia said, aware if he had not shoved it back, its claws would have reached her.

"It was nothing, your highness," Ahmad said as he shoved the stick in front of her. 

"Here, I managed to grab it before the horse ran away," he added while eyeing the wolves that were advancing towards them.

At the same time, he was also observing their surroundings, because he knew red eyes on a group of predatory animals were never a good sign. 

It meant they are under the will of a much stronger creature.

Since they haven't heard a monster's call, the wolves in front of them are probably within its auric field. Depending on how strong it is, it might be several meters or kilometers away from them.

As soon as Lydia took the stick from him, Ahmad slid off the horse and drew the pair of his sword.

"Let me take care of this quickly, your highness."

Before Lydia could respond, he had already moved in front of the horse, slicing through the snow to create a flurry that momentarily distracted the wolves and blocked their vision.

Using that to his advantage, Ahmad used the other pair of his sword to cut off the head of the wolf closest to him. With how powerful his slash was, the upper arm of the wolf at the side was nearly detached, too.

However, instead of aiming for it next, he focused on the headless body in front of him. Then he stabbed its heart before twisting the sword to ensure the heart would be crushed.

"At your sides," Lydia warned, when two wolves aimed for him on his left and one on his right.

Aware of the matter even without her warning, Ahmad swiftly pulled out the sword from the body and slid to its side. 

Once the three wolves clashed, he twirled, avoiding the fall of the headless wolf, while aiming for the heart of the wolf least affected by the clash.

After stabbing it and crushing its heart, he eliminated the other two quickly and wiped the blood that had spluttered on his right eye. 

Then, he moved back in front of the horse, while taking down the ones blocking his path, so he could ensure no one gets past him.

'What the hell,' Lydia thought. Her heart thumping loudly as her eyes remained glued to the scene unfolding before her. 

'He's strong. At this rate, he could really take down the rest.'

Lydia followed Ahmad's every movement, all the whilst remaining aware of her surroundings. 

Ever since her body warmed up, her mind has become clearer, and an unusual calmness dawned on her… 

Enabling her to notice his decisive movements that were always aimed at the wolf's hearts.

'Why?' she wondered.

Before she could figure out the answer, the horse glanced backwards, so Lydia checked if there's something behind them.

There was none, but she still guided the horse to turn sideways so she could look in both directions. 

As soon as the horse settled, Lydia caught movement on her left, so she eyed the area.

In between the trees and the rock past the intersection, there was a snow leopard trying to camouflage with the snow. However, its red eyes and the blue glow around its body revealed its location right away.

Noticing it had been spotted by its prey, and aware it can cover the distance in a few seconds, the snow leopard launched in a powerful sprinting leap.

'Shit.'

'Shit,' Lydia thought as she gripped the stick tighter to block and attack. 

With the leopard's speed, it was clear she could not overtake it with the horse. Besides, if she runs toward Ahmad, she might get in the way and put the three of them in greater danger.

'Fuck,' she cursed because within a few seconds, the snow leopard was already a meter away from them. 

With one more leap, it aimed to deliver a fatal bite on her neck.

Although she managed to block its mouth with her stick, the leopard's leaping force, combined with the horse's side stepping to avoid danger, lead her to fall on her back.

'Ugh,' she winced as she eyed the snow leopard that was displaced on her left.

The stick was still in between its mouth.

As it changed position to turn to her, Lydia hurriedly sat and searched for a stone or a stick nearby. 

When she found a stone near her foot, she grabbed it by digging her fingers into the snow. However, she could not pull it out, so she used both hands while eyeing the leopard that had cast her stick to the side.

With the stick gone, the leopard eyed Lydia, who had finally pulled out the enormous stone. Then it leaped towards her to close the one meter gap. 

Since it's too fast for her, and she's not confident the heavy stone would land on its head or face if she threw it, she put her complete focus on its mouth instead. Then she shoved the stone in its mouth when it was close enough.

However, she could not handle the leopard's strength and size, so she was knocked down on her feet again. 

'Fuck,' she cursed. 

This time, the leopard was pressing one of its paws on her stomach, preventing her from wriggling away. Besides, its claws were digging through her thick clothes and into her flesh.

"Ahmad! If you're done there, or if you could, please help," she shouted while trying to lift the leopard's foot. 

'This, damned kitty. It's trying to crush me.'

'Should I try biting its leg?'

Swoosh

Chkk…

Lydia's pupils dilated as she stared at the sword embedded in the center of the leopard's forehead.

'He responded. Is he done there?' she thought as she pushed off the leopard's foot, so she could avoid the blood that was about to drip on her.

However, with its weight, she could not move it much, so she waited till it gradually fell to the side.

Thud

'Finally…'

Lydia stood and checked if the leopard was dead… it was about to, so she looked for threats around her before looking at Ahmad.

There were still four wolves ganging up on him. Without the pair of his sword, he had shifted to a different fighting style, but he was still fighting with ease.

When Lydia heard a wimpy growl, she looked down only to see the dark blue glow around the leopard turn fiery like fire.

As if supplemented with strength, one of its feet twitched, and its eyes which were returning to normal turned red again.

'This doesn't feel right.'

'It should've been dead by now since its skull and brain were pierced, but it seems to have gained new life.'

'I guess this is the answer I was looking for earlier,' Lydia thought as she bent down to pull the sword out of its head. 'I probably need to crush its heart.'