Chapter 17 - COMBAT BETWEEN SISTERS
Kira attacks her opponents mercilessly and with great agility. Despite my initial fear, she seems to be in her element, moving quickly and precisely, as if she knows exactly what to do, despite the fact that the wolves outnumber us. Kaiden, having finished with his own battle, rushes over to help Kira. I can't help but look from side to side, witnessing everything with my heart in my throat.
Kaiden intercepts Kira's opponent roughly, even though Kira seems to have everything under control. When Kaiden snatches the wolf from her grasp, Kira lets out a furious growl in his direction, clearly annoyed. Knowing Kira's temperament, I know this will not end well. It's two wolves against one now, but it doesn't seem like much of an advantage for them, given the palpable tension between the two.
Kaiden gives Kira a shove, possibly as a sign that he wants him to let him finish off the wolf, but Kira is unwilling to budge. She pushes him back harder, making it clear that she's not backing down. The wolves stare at each other, both of their eyes full of defiance. The tension between them is so intense I can almost feel it in the air, and I realize that this fight is not only against the enemy wolves, but also an internal struggle between them.
“Kira, Kaiden, this is no time for this!” I scream, desperate at the growing tension between them. The situation is dangerous enough without them fighting each other.
The enemy wolves take the opportunity to attack all at once, quickly surrounding us. Kaiden and Kira each find themselves fighting several different wolves, while more join the fray. Kaiden throws himself into the fray, moving with impressive speed and strength. Every blow is precise, every bite lethal. The enemy wolves don't stand a chance against him and Kira, who fight together with impressive coordination, though also with palpable tension between them.
They finish off several of the wolves, but cannot yet claim victory, as the remaining ones continue to lurk, waiting for the right moment to strike. The battle continues, growls and howls fill the air. Kira and Kaiden fight with everything they have, but there is an obvious tension between them that seems to want to explode at any moment. They won't let the other fight quietly, trying to impose their strength and dominance.
As I watch the fight, my heart is pounding in my chest. Suddenly, in the distance, I hear a sound similar to the one we heard before. It is a howl, deeper and more resonant, and it is accompanied by a growing sense of danger. More wolves are coming, and they seem to be coming at full speed.
I look up at the fight in front of me, with Kaiden and Kira busy engaging the enemy wolves. My mind races in a thousand directions, searching for a solution. I don't have time to ponder the questions that arise in my head, like who I really am or what it all means. I need to act fast if I want to keep living.
And, no matter how much fear comes over me, I realize that I can't just sit idly by. I reach for something, anything I can use as a weapon, and find a thick branch on the ground. I grip it tightly, determined to survive, though my hands tremble with fear.
The new wolves arrive, bigger and fiercer than the previous ones. I hold the branch tighter, my sweaty hands slip a little, but I don't release my grip. The wolves are intimidating, their fangs in full view and their eyes gleaming with malice. I don't take my eyes off them, even though terror threatens to consume my courage. Some of the wolves sniff the air, wrinkling their noses as if searching for something. They seem to have noticed our presence.
The new wolves take their eyes off me and focus on Kira and Kaiden, who are still engaged in their fight. The fatigue begins to show in my friends' bodies; their movements are slower, heavier. No wonder, after all they have gone through facing the wolves that destroyed my parents' house, and now this. They won't have enough strength to face a third group of angry wolves.
I must do something. I can't let these wolves go after them. Gathering all the courage I can, I scream, “Get away from them!” With all my strength, I hit one of the wolves with the branch right on its head. The wolf snarls and turns to me, its gaze full of fury. My heart races; I hadn't thought about what I would do next. Now the wolf is even more annoyed than before, and he comes at me with a ferocity that chills me to the bone.
Kaiden and Kira are still busy with their own fights, and I don't have time to think of a plan. I am alone in front of this wolf, who is now looking at me as his next victim. Can I really take on this wolf with just a branch and come out alive? Reality hits me: I am not a warrior, I have no supernatural powers. I'm just an ordinary human, trapped in a situation far beyond my capabilities.
As the wolf approaches, snarling with its exposed fangs, I feel time stand still. Will this be the end for me? Will I be able to find a way to survive or am I destined to be devoured by these beasts? What could I do at this moment to change my fate?
The wolf I hit with the branch approaches me, and I recoil with each of its steps, my heart pounding wildly. His fangs gleam in the dim light, his gaze fixed on me with a mixture of fury and determination. I know this will not end well. Without looking where I'm headed, my back slams into a tree, leaving me trapped. Now I have no escape, I am at the mercy of this enraged beast.
The wolf approaches, its growls reverberating in the air, and just as it seems it is about to pounce on me, Kaiden suddenly appears. With a mighty paw, he knocks the wolf down, both of us rolling on the ground in a fierce struggle. Kaiden, now much more aggressive than before, growls with terrifying intensity. However, something strange happens: the wolf beneath him does not seem to want to attack him, nor does it show any defensive signs. It simply stands still, staring at Kaiden with an expression I can't quite make out.
Meanwhile, Kira takes down his opponent with a quick and effective maneuver. Without wasting any time, she runs to where we are, transforming back into her human form. “She's coming with us!” she screams urgently, interposing herself between me and the group of wolves with a defensive, protective stance. Her voice is loud, almost desperate, as if she is trying to convince not only the wolves, but also herself that they can get out of this situation.
Kaiden seems to awaken from his angry trance at Kira's scream. He stands up from the wolf he had knocked down, and they both stare at each other for a moment that seems like forever. It is then that I notice that the other wolves have stopped moving, watching the scene intently. Their gazes, dark and piercing, are fixed on me. A cold sweat ran down my body as I let go of the branch I was still holding tight against my chest, hoping that somehow that would calm them down. Will they want to attack me because I'm human?
Kira, her face pale but determined, steps forward, raising a hand as if to parry any attack the wolves might launch. “she's not a threat, we're just trying to get to the pack, “she exclaims, her voice echoing in the silence of the forest.
The atmosphere is tense, the silence that follows almost unbearable. Kaiden, now standing next to Kira, watches the wolves with an expression of defiance. The wolf beneath Kaiden finally stands up, shaking the dust from his fur, and lets out a low howl, almost as if he is calling the others to back off.
I stare at the scene, holding my breath, wondering what our fate will be. Will they let us go? Or is this just a respite before an even more vicious attack? My thoughts crowd my mind, filled with unanswered questions and growing fear. What will happen now?
With the branch now on the ground and everyone exchanging tense glances, the enemy wolves Kira had left alone take the opportunity to escape. Kaiden turns away from the wolf he had subdued, and though he seems to hesitate for a moment about whether he should pursue the fleeing ones, he decides not to try. He stands still, watching as the last of the enemy wolves vanishes into the darkness of the forest.
When it's finally all over, I drop to the ground, exhausted and trembling. I hadn't realized how much fear I had been holding back until that moment. Kira and Kaiden, back in their human forms, approach me, their faces full of concern.
“Yini, are you okay?” asks Kira, crouching down to my height and examining me for any visible wounds.