Hide and Seek

Bells face went pale.

"How do you know?"

"The shadows aren't moving correcty, and on that note do you not feel the sense of cold surrounding the two of us?"

"Now that you mention it I guess I do. How are we supposed to fight it?"

Clyde stared blankly at Bell wondering if she had limits to her insanity. Just who was she really? Despite her past she seemed ready to throw herself back into the fight with no caution for her own well being.

"We don't fight it, after all I my previous encounter with it wasn't memorable in the slightest. Plus with you here the only option we have is to hide and possibly set up an ambush."

Bell looked downward and without another word Clyde picked her up to carry on his back. They had been moving at a slow pace in hopes that her injuries wouldn't open up but they no longer had the luxury.

Clyde once again closed his eyes to focus on his surroundings. But this time something was interfering with his ability, unfortunately he had to make a decision that would affect his life and another's without his typical magic sense he had grown accustomed to.

Trusting his gut, Clyde transversed the forest almost stumbling over himself on several occasions as if the roots from trees were trying to take him down. Despite his magic disappearing at a time like this he knew the Wendigo was getting closer because its whispers were growing louder in his mind.

'Can I just get a break for one moment!'

As if answering his thoughts and opening appeared before his and Bells eyes leading to an exit. However upon going through the clearing was a tall stone wall. It was a dead end.

Turning around Clyde looked back at the forest they escaped from to hear silence. He didn't know what could've been worse. As he was getting ready to put Bell down she noticed something.

"To our left a little ways looks like an opening to an abandoned mine."

When he looked over and saw what she was talking about it all became clear. They were being led here by the creature and that's where it wanted them to go. It was the middle of the day which explains why it wanted them to go into a dark dungeon, more likely than not it's nesting grounds. Clyde's face twisted into a strange grin.

'Perfect.'

Clyde sat Bell down and unsheathed his silver sword. He had decided this was the best option for the most hopeful outcome.

"What happened to not fighting it?"

"Plans change, and on that note stand against the wall and shut up until this is done. If it looks bad then run and pray that we are close the exit of the forest."

With Bell behind him Clyde dedicated him self to the only task at hand, survival. Thoughts were going racing through his head but above all else was the primal sense to live at all cost. After all he wasn't going to break his promise to himself in a place like this.

Breaking the silence in the air the leaves rustled. If it wasn't for the return of his magic senses just now Clyde's head would have been torn off. In that moment Clyde turned his back to the forest with a defensive stance toward the stone wall above him. Coming from the top of the wall was the Wendigo diving toward Clyde. With not time to react at all Clyde tripped on himself falling back but out of way of the creature.

'Not good.'

Not exactly as planned but Clyde did manage to survive the surprise attack from above. Before Clyde could react the Wendigo jumped to the nearest tree and angled itself for another diving attack. Still on his back Clyde grabbed his Silver sword and preemptively struck upward to where the creature would be diving to. Despite seeing the weapon this was a creature who would risk everything in the moment to satiate its hunger and dived towards Clyde's counter attack.

Clyde's blade did not pierce the Wendigo but he managed to parry it off him allowing himself a chance to stand up. That was strike two and he knew this needed to end fast before he made a mistake.

Both Clyde and the beast stood across each other on the open ground. Bell was visibly distraught at the sight of such a thing as she hadn't seen this thing in all of its terror hidden by the nights darkness. Standing at four meters tall with curved knife like fingers the average person might very well have a heart attack at the sight.

It lunged at incredible speed toward Clyde and in the moment Clyde sidestepped to the right but it was too late. A sharp pain on his left arm filled his body with despair. He knew if he looked at the damage right now he could faint and taking his eyes off the beast would be death anyway.

The only thing keeping strength in his left arm was adrenaline and that would run out soon. This time he would go in for a feint putting the rest of his strength into one attack. Hopefully it would be enough to kill it or at least severely injure it so that Bell could escape.

As he turned towards the monstrosity it was on all four of its limbs and so Clyde appeared to raise his sword for an overhead slash. As expected the creature would lunge at him so before committing to the slash he carried the motion of the sword to the ground in an attempt to impale it downward. This was easier said than done as the sword went into the creatures shoulder piercing all the way to the dirt.

'Could've been worse'

Pulling the sword up out of it would be a big risk but before Clyde could make a decision of what to do next the Wendigo stood tall with the blade still through its body. He knew that it would be in pain but also knew that the pain of its hunger was greater. Now Clyde had no weapon near him and an agitated enemy.

It let out a huge scream that could be heard from at least a few miles. Clyde had already decided that he needed to lure it away from Bell so he sprinted toward the forest. He knew that outrunning the creature was pointless but perhaps he could use the forest to his advantage. It's times like these that Clyde wished he inherited a different magic type but thinking that way would only get you so far. Before he or the creature got far in the forest a cry was heard and unfortunately he knew it was that stupid girl.

'Is she trying to get herself killed!? I told her to run and she didn't. I guess I don't get to die a selfless death afterall.'

The Wendigo turned around following the girls call. Clyde was a little confused that it had the audacity to leave him but he would repay the favor momentarily. Bell was still standing next to the stone wall with her hands over her face.

"Bell if you got any tricks now's the time!"

As the Wendigo was in the air lunging at the girl a bright yellow wall erected from the ground directly in front of her causing the monster to slam head first into it.

"Yes!"

'She is full of suprises but judging from her bodies condition we won't see that again this fight, but that was all the time I needed.'

Clyde was able to catch up to the now fallen Wendigo and without needing to think it through he grabbed the hilt of the sword from the back side of the creature and swung upward causing the right shoulder to be hanging on by I thread. Following that before it could react he cut the head clean off.

Looking over at Bell she was unconscious as it seems what she did wasn't intentional and rather a fluke. He would need to ask her later but he was glad she didn't die. Judging from the color she the action itself she seemed adept to some type of miracles.

At this point Clyde felt the full severity of his cut from early and realized he might pass out soon. Reaching into his satchel he spread some bone dust on the corpse and put his finger to it emitting a small flame torching it. With that done and his conscious clear he checked the wanted poster in his satchel and saw his name written in a gold light. With a sigh of relief he fell over and passed out.

***

Clyde awoke to darkness but before panic got the chance to take over him Bell addressed him.

"You're alive it seems."

"Thanks to you we both were able to live."

"I don't really know what you're talking about as when I woke up I saw the corpse burning and you on the ground next to it."

'So she doesn't know, now isn't the time to bring it up as there are more important matters like our location.'

"Where are we?"

"Well the sun was setting and instead of being out there I dragged you with me to the mines."

'I can't blame her but we are lucky to be alive.'

"Do you know how much time has passed?"

"I couldn't tell you exactly but it must have been several hours."

Clyde knew that despite it being night they were far more likely to survive out there than in here. So he began to wrap his arm up with the remaining bandages in his satchel which was pretty much empty since the trip began.

"We are leaving."

"Are you sure that's a good idea, you seem pretty hurt."

"We have no choice unless you plan to become food to a slumbering titan mouse horde."

She wasn't really sure if what he was talking about was real or not but it was clear he was leaving either way so she took his word.

"I'm ready when you are."