Blood in the Camp

The scream still echoed in Lila's ears as she burst out of the shack, her wet rag forgotten on the floor. The camp was chaos—tents flapping, people shouting, wolves snarling. Shadows moved fast at the edges, those green-eyed wraiths pouring in like a flood. Their growls rattled her bones, low and hungry, and the air stank of rot and fear.

Kade was already running, his knife flashing as he slashed at a wraith lunging from the dark. It screeched, black blood splattering, but another took its place. Lila froze for a second, her heart slamming against her ribs. The camp wasn't big—maybe thirty rogues—but it was a mess of bodies and claws now, everyone fighting or fleeing.

"Get back!" Kade yelled at her, ducking a wraith's claws. He drove his knife into its side, twisting until it collapsed. His eyes met hers, fierce and urgent. "Find cover!"

She didn't argue. She bolted toward the nearest tent, ducking as a wraith crashed through a firepit nearby. Sparks flew, lighting up its twisted face—half-wolf, half-something dead, with teeth too long and eyes glowing like poison. It turned on her, snarling, but a spear sailed through the air, pinning it to the ground. The big guy from earlier—Tor—yanked the spear free, grinning like it was a game.

"Move, princess!" he barked, charging another wraith. She didn't like him, but she wasn't complaining.

Lila dove into the tent, her shoulder slamming against a crate. Inside, a woman huddled with a kid—maybe ten years old—both wide-eyed and shaking. "Stay low," Lila said, grabbing a broken chair leg from the dirt. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

Outside, the fight roared on. She peeked through the flap. Ryn stood on a crate, firing arrows fast—every shot hit a wraith, slowing them but not stopping. Sasha was out there too, a sword in her hand, cutting through the monsters like they were paper. Her scar gleamed with sweat, her green eyes blazing. But there were too many. For every wraith that fell, two more slipped in, tearing at tents, dragging rogues down.

A yelp—high and sharp—cut through the noise. Lila's stomach dropped. She knew that sound. She'd heard it growing up when pups got hurt. She leaned out, scanning the chaos, and saw him—the kid with the missing ear from earlier, pinned under a wraith's claws. Blood streaked his face, his small hands pushing at its snout.

"No," she breathed, gripping the chair leg tighter. She didn't think—she ran.

"Lila!" Kade's voice chased her, but she didn't stop. The wraith snapped at the kid, its teeth an inch from his throat. Lila swung the chair leg with everything she had, smashing it into the thing's head. Wood splintered, and the wraith staggered, green eyes locking on her. She hit it again, screaming, until it lurched back.

The kid scrambled free, sobbing, and bolted toward a shack. The wraith lunged at Lila instead, claws raking her arm. Pain flared, hot and bright, but she stumbled away, clutching the bloody scratch. It came at her again, jaws wide—

Kade tackled it, his knife sinking into its neck. Black ooze sprayed as he twisted the blade, and the wraith went down, twitching. He spun to her, breathing hard, his jacket shredded. "What the hell was that?" he snapped.

"Kid was gonna die," she said, wincing as blood dripped down her arm. "Couldn't just watch."

He stared at her, then shook his head. "Stay close this time. Mean it."

She nodded, falling in behind him as he moved toward the center of the camp. The wraiths weren't slowing—dozens now, maybe more, swarming from every side. Rogues fought back with spears, knives, claws, but they were losing ground. Bodies littered the dirt—human and wraith alike. Lila's stomach churned, but she kept moving.

Sasha's voice rang out, sharp and loud. "Fall back! East wall!" She stood on a barrel, slashing at a wraith mid-leap. It fell, gurgling, and she jumped down, rallying the survivors. Ryn was at her side, arrows gone, now swinging a hatchet.

Kade grabbed Lila's wrist, pulling her toward the east side. "Wall's got a gate," he said over the noise. "We hold there or we're done."

They ran, dodging claws and bodies. The east wall loomed ahead—a rough barrier of logs and scrap metal, taller than Lila. Rogues clustered there, some climbing to throw rocks, others bracing spears. Tor was among them, blood on his face, shouting orders like he thought he was in charge.

A wraith charged from the left, straight at Lila. She swung her broken chair leg, but it snapped against its hide. Kade shoved her aside, taking the hit—claws raked his chest, tearing through his shirt. He grunted, stabbing it in the eye, and it dropped.

"You okay?" she asked, helping him up. Blood soaked his front, but he waved her off.

"Fine," he lied, voice rough. "Gate's close. Go!"

They reached the wall as Sasha and Ryn caught up. The gate—a heavy slab of wood and iron—stood shut, a dozen rogues guarding it. Wraiths slammed against the logs, claws splintering wood. The whole thing shook, creaking like it might collapse.

"Hold it!" Sasha yelled, planting herself in front. She swung her sword, taking a wraith's head clean off. "We don't break!"

Lila pressed against the gate, her hands shaking. The baby kicked again, harder, like it felt the danger. She whispered, "We're okay," more to herself than anything. Kade stood beside her, knife ready, blood dripping from his chest. Ryn climbed the wall, hacking at wraiths trying to scale it.

For a moment, it worked. The rogues pushed back, spears and blades flashing. Wraiths fell, piling up in the dirt. Lila's hope flickered—maybe they'd make it. Then a roar shook the camp, deeper than the rest, rattling her teeth. The wraiths froze, heads turning toward the sound.

"What now?" she muttered, dread pooling in her gut.

A massive shape lumbered from the shadows—twice the size of the others, its fur patchy and black, its eyes blazing green. Spikes jutted from its back, jagged and sharp. It opened its maw, letting out another roar, and the smaller wraiths parted like it was their king.

"Alpha wraith," Sasha said, her voice low and grim. "We're screwed."

"Run?" Lila asked, glancing at the gate.

"No time," Kade said, stepping forward. "It'll tear through us."

Sasha gripped her sword tighter. "Then we fight. Tor, Ryn—flank it. Kade, with me. Lila, stay back."

"I can help," Lila protested, but Kade shot her a look.

"You're bleeding. Protect yourself first," he said, then turned to the wraith.

The alpha charged, faster than its size should've allowed. Sasha met it head-on, her sword slashing its leg. It roared, swiping at her—she ducked, but the claws grazed her arm, drawing blood. Tor and Ryn circled, jabbing with spear and hatchet, but the thing barely flinched. Kade darted in, knife aimed at its throat—it twisted, slamming him into the wall. He hit hard, sliding down, dazed.

"Kade!" Lila shouted, starting toward him. A smaller wraith lunged at her, and she kicked it back, her arm throbbing. She reached him as he staggered up, blood running from his temple.

"Still alive," he muttered, grabbing his knife from the dirt.

The alpha wraith roared again, slamming Tor aside like a ragdoll. He crashed into a tent, groaning. Ryn's hatchet lodged in its side, but it shook her off, sending her sprawling. Sasha fought on, her sword a blur, but she was tiring—blood soaked her sleeve now, her swings slower.

"We can't win this," Lila said, panic rising. "There's too many."

Kade's jaw clenched. "We don't need to win. Just hold 'til it backs off."

"How?" she asked, desperate.

He didn't answer—just charged the alpha, knife raised. It swatted him mid-air, claws ripping across his chest. He hit the ground hard, rolling, and didn't get up.

"No!" Lila screamed, running to him. The alpha turned on her, jaws wide. She froze, nowhere to go, the baby kicking like crazy. Time slowed—those green eyes, that rotting stink, death coming fast.

A sharp whistle pierced the air. The alpha stopped, head snapping up. Another whistle, then a rain of arrows flew from the trees beyond the camp. Not Ryn's—dozens of them, tipped with fire. They slammed into the wraiths, the alpha included. It roared, flames licking its fur, and stumbled back. The smaller wraiths scattered, some burning, some fleeing.

Lila dropped beside Kade, shaking him. "Wake up! Come on!" His chest moved—barely. Blood pooled under him, too much.

Sasha limped over, sword dragging. "Who's out there?" she rasped, staring at the trees.

Shapes moved—people, hooded, carrying bows. One stepped forward, lowering their hood. A woman, older, with silver hair and a scar across her throat. Her eyes locked on Lila, hard and knowing.

"You're the one they're after," she said, voice rough as gravel. "And you just brought hell to my door."