Blood and Claw

Ronan, struggling to push himself up with the aid of his war hammer, shouted to Garran.

"We need to leave now!"

Garran hesitated, his mind racing. The anger surged within him—Thorne's life had been snuffed out so easily, right before their eyes. The thought of retreating now, after everything, only fueled his frustration.

He gritted his teeth, his hands clenched tightly around his weapon, as the weight of their situation bore down on him.

Everyone turned to Garran, waiting for him to decide their next move.

Evryn was just as uncertain. He had watched a man get hurled through the air like a ragdoll, and the wolf they were facing was no ordinary creature.

Without warning, Garran surged forward, moving faster than Evryn could process.

Was it Aether? No, it couldn't be. This was the raw power of years of battle-hardened strength.

The wolf's glowing blue eyes locked onto Garran as it realized his trajectory.

Garran was heading straight for its left back leg, aiming to strike.

Garran moved swiftly, pulling his great sword back to strike at the wolf's massive leg.

The wolf, anticipating the blow, shifted its weight at the last possible moment, its veins straining as it moved its leg just in time to avoid the full force of the swing. Garran's sword grazed it, but only just.

Garran didn't flinch. He spun back around, his stance already set for another strike, undeterred by the near-miss.

Snap!

The veins binding the wolf's body shattered, and the beast's immense form crashed to the ground with a deafening thud. The impact rattled the earth beneath them, shaking the trees and sending a shockwave through the air.

Everyone froze, terror gripping them as the creature lay sprawled before them, its primal energy still crackling in the air.

Except for Garran.

A wide, unshakable grin spread across his face as he watched the wolf struggle beneath the broken vines.

Without hesitation, Garran surged forward, his great sword held low as he slashed across the wolf's right flank with deadly precision.

The wolf let out a pained cry but twisted its body just in time to evade any further strikes.

"No, you don't." Garran muttered to himself.

In a swift motion, he drove his sword deep into the wolf's back, the blade sinking into its flesh with a sickening crunch. The wolf howled in agony, its body arching with the force of the impact.

With a fierce grunt, Garran yanked his sword free, not staying atop the creature, but pulling back to avoid being caught in its thrashing.

The others stood frozen, watching in stunned silence as the battle unfolded before them.

Garran could have stayed mounted, dealing more damage from above, but he didn't. It wasn't honorable. A true warrior fought with respect, even against beasts.

The wolf whipped around, its glowing blue eyes locking onto Garran, its gaze cold and unyielding.

Without hesitation, the beast lunged, its mouth wide open and its head tilted to the right, ready to tear Garran apart.

But Garran was already moving. He ducked to the left, narrowly avoiding the wolf's snap.

The wolf's jaws clamped shut, thinking it had caught him, but Garran was already beneath it. In an instant, he thrust his sword into the wolf's lower jaw, piercing the flesh. With a swift motion, he yanked the blade to the right, widening the gash and opening the wolf's mouth further.

The wolf's eyes shot wide open, its pupils dilating as the cold steel of the blade pressed against its teeth. With a blood-curdling, guttural scream, it jerked its head back, wrenching its mouth away from the sword. The sound, distorted and muffled by the gaping wound on its jaw, tore through the air with unnatural ferocity.

Evryn and the others flinched, their hands instinctively covering their ears as the shrill, agonized scream reverberated through their bones.

Garran stood with a cold grin, satisfaction flickering in his eyes as he watched the wolf recoil from the devastating blow.

Garran was already in motion, charging toward the wolf's back left leg. With a swift, practiced motion, he pulled his great sword back and cleaved through the thick fur and muscle, severing the claw that had pierced and killed Thorne.

A sense of grim satisfaction washed over Garran as he gazed at the severed claw. The thought of bringing it to Thorne's family—showing them the very claw that had taken their beloved husband's life—brought a sense of closure. He could now offer them a tangible piece of retribution.

The wolf let out a harrowing cry, its pain growing more intense. It raised its back left leg, jerking it forward as it recoiled from Garran's strike, spinning around to face him once more, eyes burning with fury.

Garran knelt briefly, placing the blood-soaked claw into his pouch. The crimson stain clung to the vicious weapon as he secured it, ready to carry it as a grim reminder of the battle.

Evryn stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief as he watched Garran effortlessly dismantle the wolf. The speed and precision with which he worked seemed almost unnatural, as if the battle was nothing more than a routine task for him.

This guy is a badas… Evryn thought, the words echoing in his mind as he took in the sheer skill and confidence on display.

The wolf tensed, preparing to charge at Garran with all its fury, but then, as if sensing something, it stopped mid-motion.

It turned its massive head toward Evryn. Its eyes locked onto him, not just meeting his gaze, but piercing into him—staring deep into his very soul.

Evryn's heart skipped a beat, his eyes shrinking in horror as the wolf's unblinking stare bore into him. Every instinct screamed in warning, but he couldn't look away.

What the hell does it want from me…? he thought, his mind racing in confusion and fear as the beast's gaze seemed to reach into the very core of his being.

Like it hated him—or perhaps it wanted something from him. Evryn couldn't tell. There was an unsettling weight behind its gaze, something more than just primal fury.

Before he could make sense of it, Garran realized what was happening.

"Evryn, move!" he barked, but it was too late.

The wolf lunged, its massive form tearing across the forest, charging straight at Evryn.