The Head Knight tightened her grip on her sword, eyes narrowing in the dark.
"I'll circle around from the right. You - Stay alert."
She whispered, barely audible over the gentle crackling of the campfire.
Kyle gave a small nod, not bothering to respond.
He could already feel the presence lurking nearby. It was neither human nor entirely beast—something in its energy was off.
The knight moved swiftly, stepping lightly over the grass as she melted into the darkness. Kyle remained where he was, his hand hovering near his sword.
Then—
A low, guttural growl rumbled from the bushes.
Kyle tensed, watching as the head knight lunged forward toward the noise, blade flashing under the moonlight.
But before her strike could land, something burst out of the undergrowth—not toward her, but straight at Kyle.
A massive, tiger-like beast.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto Kyle, and in the split second it took to spring forward, Kyle had already moved.
