“What are you?” the prowler asked, staring at Nev with a hungry intensity. “You are ‘her,’ aren’t you? I must have you,” he growled while perched over her and pressing his face close to hers. He inhaled deeply, smelling her skin. The scent of her sweat and blood hung heavy in the air. It was intoxicating. He stood up and stared down at his prize, grinning. “I can sense your fear and your fate. I will help you realize both,” he snarled. Momentarily distracted by the realization that the prize he had sought was lying just before him, he let his senses savor her terror.
With Nellis getting in a fortunate swipe, the final enforcer was thrown off balance. Addi and Nellis scrambled to eradicate him. Addi seized on the window of opportunity Nellis had provided. She fired a bolt into the Enforcer’s knee. As their assailant wailed in pain and stumbled, Nellis drove his pike up under their attacker’s chin. In an instant, he was dead. Addi and Nellis, having seen their attacker fall, turned just in time to see Wyatt manipulating the very air around him. Leaves and twigs caught in the torrent he commanded.
Wyatt pushed past the growing pain in his head and stood. “You will not have her!” he yelled, as the wind swirled with intensity around him. He pushed the particles of air around him with incredible fury and lunged them at the prowler.
The force of the gale struck the prowler and violently threw him back into a tree. He groaned and remained where he landed. Addi and Nellis quickly ran and surrounded the injured and stunned prowler. They drew their weapons and kept them squarely pointed at him. “Check on Nev. We will keep an eye on this piece of shit,” Addi directed, glaring down at the semi-unconscious prowler and reloading her crossbow.
Wyatt hadn’t waited for Addi’s suggestion. He was already cradling Nev in his arms. Her eyes were full of tears, and her breathing was ragged. The injury to her shoulder was bleeding some again. Wyatt quickly pulled the sash from his belt, reached through her sleeve, and pressed the cloth firmly against her wound. Nev moaned softly in pain as he worked to reduce the bleeding. “It is alright, love. I’m here. You did it,” he assured her softly. Pausing his attention to her wound only long enough for him to lean down and kiss her forehead.
Nev smiled at seeing Wyatt’s face hovering over her. “We did it. Are you okay?” she inquired, brushing his face softly with her hand.
“I’m fine. That damn thing knew just where to hurt you, didn’t he?” Wyatt replied.
“Yes, but I’ll be alright. The armor did its job. So, is it too late to find a cave instead?” Nev suggested, forcing a small grin before wincing.
“I love the way you think. And you,” Wyatt marveled, looking at her with total adoration.
“I know. Now, be a dear and help me up. I want to ask our guest a few questions before he bleeds out,” Nev responded, trying to push the pain down.
“Alright, but only a few questions. Your shoulder, well… you do remember me telling you I’m not an actual healer, right?” he asked, giving her a half-smile.
Nev nodded and braced herself for the pain as Wyatt moved to help her to her feet. “On three?” she questioned.
Kissing her twice quickly on the nose, he lifted her up and helped her stand in front of him. He then picked up her sword and secured it and her dagger to her belt. Once her weapons were seen to, he kissed her once more on the nose. “Yep, on three,” Wyatt said, winking at her.
“Have you grown more adorable, or am I just feeling lightheaded and dizzy from blood loss?” she mused with a grin.
“More… of course,” Wyatt replied, as he grabbed Nev’s right hand and cautiously walked with her to where Addi and Nellis were still standing watch over the prowler. Nodding at them, he kicked the boot of the prowler. “Hey, wake up. The lady has some questions for you. I suggest you answer them, or things will quickly grow more uncomfortable for you,” Wyatt ordered sternly.
The prowler’s eyes flickered open as Wyatt kicked him, and he grinned at his captors. “Well, well… what do we have here?” he sneered as he stared directly at Nev and Wyatt.
The prowler was a slightly smaller build than Sagrine, and his dagger lacked any adornments. His armor, however, was quite similar to Sagrine’s. Save, one glaring difference. There was no hood. Nev became gripped by his appearance. He was definitely human, but he’d been broken and contorted into something else. The prowler’s eyes were almost black in color. Even now, in his last moments, they were transfixed on Nev with intense hunger. His face also bore several deep scars, hinting at a terribly pain-filled past. Nev found herself almost feeling sorry for him. What horrors would be needed to twist someone into something so beastly? And who were you before you were subjected to them? Nev wondered.
“Curious about me, aren’t you? I can sense your questions bubbling just below the surface,” noted the prowler. He grinned broadly at her.
Nev felt herself reflexively bristle at the prowler’s attention. Shaking her head briefly, she seized back control of the conversation. “Why are you here? Why come after him?” Nev asked, gesturing towards Nellis.
The prowler tilted his head as he examined her. “Come closer, and I will tell you,” he taunted.
Wyatt kicked the prowler in his wounded gut. “You will tell her now,” he insisted, his eyes flashing with hatred.
Groaning briefly, the prowler looked up at Wyatt and grinned. “Your choice. The option won’t be available much longer, I’m afraid,” the prowler replied, staring down at his
