My Wild Beast-Chapter 162: The Horde (3)

{Music Recommendation: Shamanic Run by Infinity Realm}

Leaves rustled and whipped back as a massive shadow tore through the undergrowth. Powerful paws struck the dirt in a blur of motion, muscles rippling beneath sleek fur. The jungle blurred around them, branches snapping, paws thudding as it blended seamlessly in with the trees.

Screeches and screams rose into a mixture of a horrific symphony, echoing along the wind. The trees shrunk back, as though shuddering at the bloodshed on Tayun. Still, they raced on to the Vohraki, focusing on where the next horde was attacking.

Though the Vohraki were the strongest of the monkey tribes, they were also dealing with an influx of vampiras. Tayun was also calling Yiska into that direction. Not to mention, the Teju Jagua was nearby, and if it was free then it could be causing just as much destruction.

Nova held onto Yoa tightly, eyes focused ahead. "How did they get free...?" She whispered, wondering how the island was not long ago rejoicing from the subtle positive changes, and was now in utter chaos.

Yoa’s answering growl rumbled through the night, his golden-red eyes catching the flashes of moonlight that slipped between the trees. Beside them, the river roared, glittering under the stars as it crashed against stone and shore.

They ventured deeper, goal insight as the trees shifted and groaned occasionally. Nova lifted her head and looked over her shoulder, eyebrows shooting up at what the trees were doing. Whenever a vampira caught a whiff of their scent and followed their trail, the roots of the surrounding trees shot up, tripping them over.

The creatures didn’t react in time or were too fragile and weak to continue chasing the tiny woman riding the black jaguar through the jungle.

Though the island was in an uproar, the path was clear of their foes. They were well concealed as the vampiras had likely targeted the tribes.

Yet, the sounds of scrimmaging, screeches and haunting whistling turned their heads up to see an entirely different type of battle.

The Silver Feather flock fought the vampiras among their giant trees and in the skies above. The difference was, these vampiras were much like the harpy eagles whereby they could shift into a half-form of creature and human. While in their human form, their leathery bat wings stretched wide behind them. Unlike those attacking the capuchin tribe, they didn’t look like living corpses thirsting savagely for blood.

In fact, they fought like warriors, moving with rapid speed their ancestors had been known for. Unlike the others on the island, they wore animal hides fashioned into rough trousers that allowed them to move freely through battle.

’There must be a hierarchy among them,’ Nova mind linked him, aware that they might attract their attention. ’Should we be pleased they haven’t attacked the other tribes?’

’We do not know if they haven’t attacked them. The Apatka and Oncari are powerful and skilled warriors. If I was their leader, I would order them to attack the crocs and jaguars as well as the eagles. Though it is doubtful Silver Feather would help the rest of the island after their land is defended...’ Yoa’s thoughtful tone lingered at the back of her mind along with his words.

’You don’t think Vulcan would send his men to help?’ Nova asked, her head tipping back to stare at the shapes clashing and breaking away, fighting for survival in the growing storm.

Her gaze then landed on Vulcan who flew backwards, dodging his attacker after they tried to swipe at him with a clawed wing. He caught the vampira’s outstretched arm and twisted sharply, his other elbow slamming down on their bicep, breaking bone. The vampira screeched, reaching up to grapple with him, but Vulcan slipped a small blade between his ribs and twisted slowly, keeping eye contact the entire time.

The creature shuddered then went slack. Vulcan removed his blade and threw him into three others gathering around a harpy eagle. A female vampira sank their fangs into the beast’s neck, but their comrade fell on top of them, and she lost contact with the eagle.

The other two twisted in the air but were too slow. Two knives cut through the night, whistling before they sunk into their eyes. Vulcan brushed off his hands, expression cool, composed, then suddenly stilled.

The creatures didn’t drop dead. Instead, they slowly pulled the blades from their eyes, ignoring the black ichor flowing down their cheeks. With unnatural precision, they hurled the weapons back at Vulcan. His wings snapped forward, shielding his body from their assault, then burst free. The air cracked with the force of his defence, the shockwave flinging his opponents into the trees like broken dolls.

Above them, the sky churned, the thunder rumbling as the wind picked up. The harpy eagle from before shrieked as it dove, talons sinking deep into a vampira’s chest, wrenching it apart before launching skyward again. The puncture wounds in its neck of no concern.

Vulcan shot forward, unsheathing his blade to cut through their necks, and halt any healing or resurrection.

Nova looked away as their heads flew from their bodies but was jolted suddenly. She gripped onto Yoa’s fur and leaned closer to his back. He’d leapt onto one of the trees, claws sinking into the bark before he climbed to greater heights along the flock’s trees.

They weren’t meant to be stopping, but something in Yoa’s demeanour had changed as he watched Vulcan’s warriors push forward.

One by one bodies dropped to the ground. If they hadn’t been slain before then the fall broke necks and backs, making it a painful death, IF death was still possible for these guys. Nova watched in horror as these warriors continued fighting even with blades stabbed through their chests.

"Behead them!" Vulcan shouted, his voice louder now they had made it almost to one of the nests.

Nova hopped off Yoa’s back in sync with his thoughts as he shifted back, standing taller, holding Nova by the waist as she rubbed at her inner thighs from riding on his back.

"Vulcan." Yoa’s voice carried over the fighting, even as low as he called the chief’s name.

Vulcan kicked his foe in the chest and flew back, scowling at Yoa.

"Tayun needs you," he said. "She needs all of you."

Vulcan caught a vampira by the neck, his eyes locked on Yoa and crushed their windpipe in the process, his claws sinking in, the black blood trickling over his fingers as his stony expression held Yoa’s. The vampira clawed at his hand until he struck his face and yanked his vertebrae free with a sickening rip.

Nova looked away again, nausea making her sway. Yoa’s grip on her tightened and she leaned into him for a moment before glancing back at Vulcan.

The eagle shifter’s hardened gaze moved from Yoa and to the woman at his hip. His jaw clenched as he tossed the dead vampira aside so she wouldn’t see anymore bloodshed, though it was clear from the black blood smeared and splattered over her spoke of the battles she’d already faced tonight.

"My people have fought enough tonight. Why should they bleed for tribes too weak to hold their ground?" He spoke evenly, coldly, eyes locked on Yoa once more.