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“I can smell her. She’s close.”
I inhale, catching a full whiff of her and my cub. My heart races. I’m finally going to get her back. As we follow the scent, my excitement turns into anger at the thought of anyone else near my cub, even if it is unborn.
We turn a corner to see two elves guarding a room. They’re dead before they even have a chance to raise their swords. I make to open the door, but it’s locked. I don’t want to potentially injure Sierra by breaking down the door, so I search the dead guards for a key.
Seconds later, I find one and unlock the door as fast as I can. I fling the door open, only to see a dark elf standing there, grinning.
“I’m afraid you just missed her,” he declares.
My vision turns red, and I pounce on him, ripping his heart out before tearing his head off with my teeth.
“What a fool,” I mutter.
“They did that to trick us,” Senrith says. “I can still smell her in this hall. I say we keep searching down here.”
I follow him down the hall, the scent getting impossibly stronger. They must have really wanted to stall me and for what? Did they think I would just give up?
“Here,” I say, ripping a door open. Sure enough, Sierra is inside.
I’m so happy to see her that it takes a moment to notice the elf holding her against his chest, a knife at her throat.
“Step any closer and she dies,” he says.
“Clever.” I laugh. “But you won’t even be able to make the first slice before I reach you.”
“Do you really want to chance that?”
“Do you? Let her go, and maybe I’ll spare you. Your brothers out there didn’t get that offer. Would you like to join them?”
“Even if you let me go, another of your kind would kill me.”
“Not if I told them not to.”
I pretend like I’m negotiating, but I’m really just stalling for time, terrified of my girl getting hurt. I can feel Senrith sneaking up behind me. If I can distract this guy, maybe Senrith can get in there and disable him so I can grab Sierra.
“Zephiro?” Sierra’s voice shakes. “Zephiro, you have to get out of here. You’re going to get killed.”
“Ha! Your own girl doesn’t even have faith in you.”
“Zephiro, please. Don’t listen to him. You have to leave. They have an entire army. I don’t want you to die for me.”
“Trust me, my love, their army has nothing on my tribe. I didn’t come alone, Sierra. You don’t have to worry about me. I came to get you, and I’m not leaving without you.”
“Aw, sweet. Just like your girl,” the elf says, licking the side of her neck and moaning.
He then closes his eyes, burying his nose in her hair and inhaling. While he’s distracted, Senrith sneaks out from behind me, and we strike together. The elf’s eyes pop open just as I land in front of him, and he immediately moves his blade from Sierra’s neck, right into my side.
I can feel my old wound opening up, but I can’t think about that right now. I’ve almost got my girl back. Nothing can stop me. I grab Sierra, shielding her with my body and barreling out of the room with her. Senrith will finish him off.
Once out of the room, I turn to Sierra. Senrith, having finished, comes out and stands guard for us.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I ask her.
“Zephiro… your wound…” She gasps, pointing at my side.
I look down, noticing all of the blood for the first time. At the same time, I start to really feel it. The weakness is setting back in, and I know that I don’t have much time to get out of here. I won’t be able to handle another fight like this.
“You’re going to die,” she sobs, throwing her arms around me.
