Victor takes his curved sword out of his belt quietly as his soldiers do the same. The soldiers holler and rush to the beasts taking off beast heads, impaling the beasts, and cutting off limbs. Beasts howl, bare fangs, and pounce on their attackers once they realize that they are under attack.
A beast jumps down from a tree sinking his fangs into Victor’s leg. The sword lands far from Victor. Victor punches the Beast with his fists. Victor pounds against the beast’s belly then lands a hit on the beast’s eye. The beast howls.
Taking advantage of the moment, Victor pulls the beast’s jaw one way and the roof of the mouth the other way using all of his strength. The beast struggles to get away, but Victor allows the beast to inadvertently drag him. Once Victor finds a way to hold onto the beast’s jaw while pulling himself to his knees, the beast’s jaw snaps. Crack!
Victor reclaims his sword then runs his sword through every beast body he comes close to. At least two more beasts drop down from the trees, but Victor backs away then slices off their heads.
A group of beasts circle him, so Victor turns around slowly holding his sword pointing at his attackers. All the beasts pounce on him, but Victor snatches the daggers in his boots then jabs his daggers into as many chests as possible.
The bodies of the beasts fall to their deaths on top of Victor. Victor takes in a few breaths then uses all the might he can muster to push the dead beasts off. He breaks free just in time to see the remaining beasts rushing from the scene.
However, a few beasts surrounding the soldiers close in on them. Once the fleeing beasts are gone, the ones circling the soldiers rush off with the pack.
****
Borden grips the fur coat on the back of Emilia’s neck with his teeth. He pulls her up and lays her on the solid ground.
“Thank you,” Emilia says as she shivers. Another beast joins the group dashing to Borden immediately.
“We’ve been attacked.” The new edition declares breathless.
Emilia looks over the dead bodies of the beasts who were slain as well as the wounded beasts. Blood and pain surrounds Emilia; she shivers. She passes over a body without a head.
A severed head rests next to a wounded beast. The wounded beast is on his side, but his stomach rises and falls. Blood stains the fur on his belly and his ankle. Emilia bends down to his mouth. His breaths are quick and short struggling to breathe.
Emilia grips the back of his neck and drags him to the lake where he can drink. As the wounded beast drinks water, Emilia examines her reflection.
Slowly, the reflection in the water turns black, and icy air stings the skin underneath Emilia’s fur. Emilia closes her eyes. Listening to the beast sipping water and the sound of the lake, she tries to calm herself.
You’re better off as a beast, you know. The wind whispers to her. Lakey agrees with windy, don’t you?”
Yes. The lake agrees rippling.
Your family is doing much better now that you’re gone. Your father and mother are both very calm. Your sisters are happy, and they are helping out around the house. The wind circles around her like a taunting family ghost. Grace cleaned the house. Mary cooked. They weren’t cleaning up after you or taking care of your assigned tasks. You should just remain a beast.
Being a beast is wonderful. You don’t have to pay bills, you don’t have to worry about food, and you won’t be in the way. You will only make things worse if you go home honey. The lake comforts as if it were Emilia’s grandparent. Don’t you like the wind in your fur? And swimming as a beast is a lot more fun. You get to feel the water run through your fur.
You don’t have to live by society’s rules anymore. You can be yourself here. The lake coaxes, you can talk to yourself all you want, pretend to be a soldier, and travel wherever you want without permission.
“What will happen if I go home?” Emilia mumbles holding back tears.
Then your parents will have an extra mouth to feed. They will worry about how to get more money. You’ll be a burden. You know you’re not good at cleaning or cooking. You’re a mess. You’re better off right here. The wind points out as the lake gently pushes waves onto Emilia’s paw like a pat. Emilia nods. A few uninjured beasts suck water from the lake then pour the water on the wounds of those who are injured.
“Grab who you can, and we’ll head back to the mines,” Borden shouts.
Emilia rests beside her brown injured beast friend letting him roll over onto her back. She uses all her strength to stand. Each step is a struggle and she has to secure her shifting body weight to prevent collapsing inadvertently causing pain to the beast on her back. She then follows the crowd away from the lake heading towards the mines. Yes she’s more helpful as a beast.