I sit on the ground in a daze, just watching. My mind is still foggy and I don’t feel fully present. The chimera comes back so viciously that Wreck has to retreat toward a pile of large stones. I realize he’s cornered. He continues swinging his axe, but the wounded animal is crazed.
He’s not going to make it, I think in terror. I don’t really care whether Wreck lives or dies. I just know that I don’t want to witness someone being eaten ever again.
The chimera hurls itself forward, knocking Wreck to the ground, landing on top of him. It attempts to bite his face but Wreck shoves the axe between its jaws. The animal growls furiously, white foam spilling from its huge gaping mouth. I understand he is about to be killed.
I don’t hesitate or think about what I’m doing. I just scramble to my feet, run toward the pile of stones and begin climbing as quickly as I can. Topping the rocks, I jump down, landing right on the chimera’s back. The animal roars, rising on its hind legs in attempt to shake me off. I wrap an arm around its neck, and stab my trophy knife deeply into its eye. We both collapse to the ground, and I land on my side, losing my breath. I expect the chimera to now finish me off, but it remains motionless.
“You all right?” Wreck asks, breathing heavily. “Are you hurt?”
I stare blankly at him. He kneels in front of me, looking over the scratches on my arm. They’re not too deep. Carefully holding my arm, he pours water from his flask. It hurts a little.
“I don’t think you need stitches,” he says. “But you tell me if this arm starts bothering you, all right? It could be dangerous if it becomes infected.”
I nod indifferently, still in a daze.
“You really killed it, Kora!” Wrecks laughs, thrilled. “You actually killed this huge beast! I’ve never seen anything like that before. You were magnificent!”
I don’t react, gazing in awe at the dead animal. Wreck removes the knife from its eye-socket and wipes the blood off with his hand.
“This is a very lucky knife indeed,” he says, returning it to me.
I slip my trophy back into my pocket and crawl toward the dead chimera on hands and knees. Remorse sets in as I run my fingers through its long silver fur.
“This chimera didn’t want to kill me,” I sigh. “I had to provoke it.”
Wreck ignores my words, offering me the axe. “Like to take its head?”
I turn away, my eyes welling with tears. Smiling broadly, Wreck raises the axe and brings it down violently, lopping off the huge head. He smears the animal’s blood on his hands, and then smudges it across my face.
“From this point on, you’ll be as strong and fierce as this chimera,” he whispers solemnly. “The animal’s spirit will always be with you, protecting and helping to defeat any enemies.”
“Why would this chimera help me?” I wipe my eyes. “I killed it.”
“It was a fair fight,” he says, licking blood from his fingers.
“What are you doing?” I ask, wincing. “That’s gross.”
“I actually like the taste of blood,” he states. “I sometimes eat raw meat.”
I don’t comment, feeling too weak and worn out.
“This chimera would have killed me if you hadn’t intervened,” Wreck says. “So the score is now one to one.”
“What score?”
“I saved your life the night we met, by beating the heck out of Ace. Today, you’ve saved mine. And I do appreciate it.”
I don’t bother to answer, my thoughts drifting back to my mother whom I failed to save. I have to block the memory, pushing it out of my consciousness.
Wreck pulls me to my feet, and we head back toward the village. It’s still daylight, but the woods appear dark and grim. Wreck walks beside me, whistling carefree. I feel gratitude toward him, because he didn’t have to risk his life fighting the chimera. He didn’t even have to spare our lives the night we met, but for some inexplicable reason he did. I wish I could trust him, but how can I? I still don’t understand what he wants from me.
“Kris,” I say softly, and he looks at me in surprise, not used to my using his real name. “Please tell me why you’re helping me.”
“I’ve hardly helped you at all,” he laughs. “You killed that chimera all by yourself. Dang, Kora! You’re a beast.”
“I’m being serious. Please tell me, whatever it is... I need to know.”
Wreck remains silent a few moments, just grinning, then says, “I’m just returning a favor.”
“What favor? I don’t understand.”
“You’re not supposed to understand.”
I sigh, feeling irritated. He winks, smiling slyly, and continues with his whistling. I wonder what this guy is hiding from me.
***
It’s late when we arrive back at the village. I have to walk through a crowd of rangers, carrying the head of the chimera, my face still smeared with its blood. The rangers begin yelling and clapping their hands upon our arrival. I straighten my back, smiling and feeling like a conqueror. We approach the platform where Tartis sits in a chair, and I toss the chimera’s head at his feet.
“I’ve passed your test!” I exclaim, wondering where this new found confidence has come from.
Tartis frowns, his face darkening. I don’t lower my eyes, willing myself to look at him. Wreck stands beside me, arms folded across his chest, and his presence does make
