Blood Moon

8. Brave

Before any of them could move, huge clawed hands picked one soldier up from the ground. The soldier kicked in screamed fruitlessly as the behemoth brought him up to his maw. A horrified shout was all they heard before the behemoth's teeth clamped shut on his torso, pulling the soldier apart in mere seconds. 

"Run!" Luna screamed.

The soldier tumbled out the way, helplessly crawling as they rubbed their eyes. The behemoth looked down with his beady eyes, unbothered by the smoke, and let out out a terrifying roar. He discarded the dead soldier's lower half on the forest floor and lunged forward to claim another soldier who was lying close to him. Luna took an arrow to her bow and fired a shot towards the demon's hands, praying it would hit its mark. When the demon stumbled back with a roar, she took it as a sign and lunged towards the soldier. She grabbed him by his shoulders and swung he a few feet away, quickly ducking behind a large tree.

She felt someone grab her arm and she flinched, ready to stab. But then, the familiar smell entered her nose. "Legosi?"

"Yes. Look, I have a plan. This smoke, I'm sure the behemoth isn't responsible for it. We need to find its pet, or else we're all going to die."

"Don't leave my side!" She spat. "Nobody here should know you're a warlock, remember?"

"Am I supposed to sit here waiting for you to save the day? Why the hell do you think I'm training, Luna?" He held her by her arms and brought her face close to hers. "I can hear the demon breathing, Luna. I f*****g hate it."

Luna was stunned, looking straight at his blazing eyes. "Are you going to listen to me now?" Luna nodded.

"What kind of demon do you think it is?" His grip slackened but he didn't let go of her completely.

"I don't know, but I smell a demon. It smells different from the behemoth, in fact, I had never smelled this demon before." Luna said.

Once again the behemoth attacked, this time more aggressively. He pushed down trees from his side, some falling down on the soldiers. The sound of crunching bones made Luna's skin crawl as they ran away, Rigel close beside her.

"I can look for him. I know, it's dangerous, but the smoke will prevent them from seeing anything. The behemoth will wipe us all out if we just sit here hiding." Legosi argued.

Luna was hesitant, but she nodded in surrender. "Make sure no one finds out Legosi, or else I'll end up killing every single one of this soldiers." 

Legosi halted, shocked by the truth in her words. "I will."

He left her side and Luna stood there for a moment, assessing her surroundings. The smoke was now thicker than ever all she could see now was white, disrupted by the flashes of silver, which were the soldiers running around her. Thinking about it now, this smoke could be used to her advantage.

 The behemoth roared once more and the whole mountain shook. She heard a clank of metal beside her and she turned. The first thing she saw was blonde hair before the man lifted his face. It was the Captain, his face pale as snow and drenched in sweat. His armor was clinking as his whole body shook in fear. His grip on his sword was weak and his teeth were chattering. Luna scoffed at the look on his face. "No wonder the King only ever sends you out to hunt for food, you incompetent bastards."

A flash of shame and then rage replaced the unadulterated fear in his face and he spat at her. "You dare speak insolently to the King's Knight!? One word from me and you shall be beheaded without questions-" In a split second, his mouth was wrenched open and something sharp and cool was placed on his tongue. He looked down and saw her blade's hilt jutting out his mouth. 

"If you are able to utter that word, Captain." Luna spoke menacingly. This time he was definitely sure, her eyes were flashing red. A new gush of fear entered his system, this time, it rendered him motionless. He stopped breathing and felt as if her heart was going to spill out of his mouth.

She slowly pulled her blade out and turned her back. Breathing in deep, her eyes slowly turned all black. She pushed herself deep into the white smoke and tracked where the behemoth was. She heard the wet squelch of her boot colliding with the dismembered body parts scattered on the forest floor but chose not to pay attention. By the time she got close to the behemoth, it was already trying to pick up another soldier. The man hung limply on its hand, hopelessness and fear etched on his face. Luna hastened her steps and in one quick swipe, ran her blade on the behemoth's huge knuckles. The demon staggered back once more, bellowing in rage. Its hands opened and the soldier fell into her arms. 

She quickly ducked out of the way and brought the man to Rigel. "Hide them fast, I need you to bring the soldiers I save to safety."

As Rigel ran away, the behemoth swung its fists towards the ground, sending piles of dirt scattering everywhere. One giant foot stepped forward with a powerful stump, knocking Luna off her feet. The huge demon placed its palms on the dirt, feeling it. Luna stood up and maintained her distance, struggling to see through the smoke. "Legosi, you better get this right."

As she hid behind a large oak tree, she felt something wet nudge her hand. When she looked down, she saw Rigel. She turned towards the loud roaring, searching for another soldier when the behemoth's movements came faster. Through the thick smoke, she heard a loud scream. Swallowing the panic, she bolted towards the sound. When she came closer, she saw a man encased in silver running, the behemoth close behind. The soldier stumbled forward until finally, his booth caught on one gnarly root and he was sent flying down head first. He spewed gibberish sounds, his jaw shaking uncontrollably. The behemoth closed in and his gigantic foot was lifted up, aiming to crush the man below it.

Her legs pumped faster, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She grabbed the man by the collar and flung him away, the armor making a clinking sound as he collided with a tree. Luna rolled out of the way, missing the behemoth's foot only for an inch. She placed her palms on the soil and pushed upwards, bringing herself back up. But before she could make a run for it, something wet and large closed over her hair and she was suddenly yanked up. She yelled in pain as the behemoth brought her higher until they were face to face. Up close, Luna could see his small beady eyes scrutinizing her. As the monster gazed into her eyes, a terrifying smile appeared on its gruesome face. Luna tried reaching for her blade but her head was in so much pain she couldn't help but hold on to it. 

"Rigel!" She yelled desperately. "Damn it, I think I'll have to use my-"

She felt something whisk above her and suddenly she was plummeting to the ground. She on her back, the impact knocking the breath out of her, making her cough. Before she could grasp what was happening, strong arms circled around her waist and she was taken away. She turned her head, expecting to see Legosi, but she was mistaken. The man lifting her had golden locks and green eyes, resembling the Captain. Quickly, Luna reverted her eyes back to normal. When she studied his features, he seemed young, the same age as Legosi. Beads of sweat ran down the side of his pale face and he was panting as he ran. Finally, the man hid behind a large tree, wedging his body in between the large roots and placing Luna in front of him. Even through his armor, Luna could feel his heart beating fast. Fear was radiating off him like the stench of rotten corpse, even as Luna studied his face, it was evident. The man was shaking, lips quivering and breath coming in fast. 

"You are one brave man." Luna uttered out loud. The young man's gaze met hers and his head shook vigorously. "I am trembling in fear even though I am wearing a high-class armor. I-I c-can't call that brave."

As his sight became better, his eyes widened. Luna's raven hair now fell on her shoulders unevenly. "I apologize to what I've done to your hair, miss. I couldn't think of any other solution."

"It's alright, I don't care much for it." She stood up, unfazed, pulling out her blade from her boots. "Where are you going?" The young man said. 

"Back to the behemoth, there's still a lot of your comrades running around like headless chickens." She spoke nonchalantly.

"I just saved you from the jaws of death!" He stared at her unbelievingly. There was no sign of fear in her eyes and she stood there as if it was just another day of her life.

A small smile appeared on her lips but it disappeared just as quickly. "And I am thankful, but it isn't done yet."

He heard a loud thud and suddenly a large wolf appeared, rubbing his head on the girl's small frame. Luna settled herself on top of its back and nodded ro him. "Also, kind sir, anyone who is willing to help another person despite his fear is a brave man in my book. Run, Rigel."

Before he could stop her, the wolf leapt into the smoke once more.

Legosi took a deep breath, crouching by the roots of a huge tree. He could hear. It was close. The small ragged and shallow breaths, whistling quietly. Even through the sound of metal clanking and screams, he could hear it. Ever since he was a child, his hearing was commendable. Even the slightest sound won't go past him. But this skill proved to be both a boon and bane for him. Even until now, he could hear the bones crush and the whimpers dying down. Even as he ran away from that accursed place, Legosi had heard the sound of his family dying and it's still embedded in his mind.

Now, he can use it to his advantage. Following that sound, Legosi navigated his way to the demon. His eyes were closed as he followed it, he was relying solely on the sound. As he went on, the smoke got thicker. The air was also growing thin. "I'm getting nearer."

He pulled out the small blade by his hip and ran his finger down to its tip. The blade glowed a dark shade of blue and it started vibrating. As he was finally preparing to lunge, all noises seized. "Damn, it must have sensed me."

He opened his eyes and saw the smoke became less dense. "That whistling sound must have been from releasing smoke." He muttered to himself. He heard a rustle to his left but he didn't move. It would do him no good to chase the creature in the smoke. He needs to get it to come to him. He stood there quietly listening, waiting for the small demon to attack. When he took a step forward, a twig cracked beneath his foot. He heard whizzing sound to his left and his adrenaline had him jumping out of the way. Something collided with the tree behind him, shaking some leaves off it, but when he turned around but all he saw was a blur. With the brief moment that he saw the creature, it seemed to be eyeless. Its arms were scrawny and long, same as its legs. It jumped away but Legosi could hear it wheezing. It's a very physically weak demon. It must be the reason why it was taken under the wing of a behemoth. Its skill is very handy especially when ambushing a large group of humans. Still, Legosi didn't think that unintelligent demons could be able to make a relationship like this. Only high-grade demons who had consumed about a thousand humans are smart enough to speak and plot.

Legosi stayed still, realizing that the demon also relied on sound as it is eyeless. As he stayed put, the whistling sound occured once more. "It's releasing smoke again!" Legosi ran and the whistling stopped once again. When he opened his eyes, the smoke had lessened. "The demon needs to stay put when releasing smoke." He whispered in realization.

Now all he needed to do now was to make sure he survived long enough until the smoke is thin enough to see through. He needs to exhaust the demon. 

Legosi ran from tree to tree, narrowly missing the scratches sent his way, some even making contact. Blood was spilling from his cheeks where the demon successfully made a cut. "Just a little more." He whispered. The smoke was finally clearing. From a distance, he heard Luna's voice calling for Rigel. "Damn it, just a little more."

Placing a hand on the tree beside him, he chanted an incantation Varga had taught him. His fingertips vibrated from the strength travelling from the tree to his body. He knew that everything on earth emits energy, it was a question of whether you are capable of taking it. Strength crawled back onto his body and he stood up once more. When he looked up, the smoke was now even thinner. Taking a deep breath, he shot out from the thick group of trees he was hiding in. The demon had now been cautious of him, refusing to go near enough so that he could pierce ot with his blade and always stayed more than an arm's length. 

He could here it jumping one tree to another, trying to get close to him. Still, he remained looking ahead, paying no attention to it. He needs to get nearer. Suddenly is foot got wedged under a lifted tree root and he was sent flying two feet forward. He fell face down and pain shot through every part of his body. He felt a throb in his ankles and he winced in pain. His blade was also thrown a few inches away from his hand. When the demon heard his distress, its pace went faster, arms outstretched. 

Every second that passed, the demon came closer and closer. When it finally leapt forward aggressively, a smile appeared on Legosi's face. He pulled out another blade from his shirt and turned just in time to pierce the demon's heart. The scrawny demon stilled for a moment, dangling on his blade. Then it suddenly shook, letting out a wheezing noise as more smoke poured out of his body. Its thin hands grasped the hilt of the blade, struggling to pull it out, but Legosi pushed it deeper onto its chest until it lay limp on the ground.

Only seconds after the demon's death, the smoke cleared fast. The stinging sensation on Legosi's eyes was also gone. "I got to go back to Luna." 

When he tried to stand, he felt a sharp pain on his ankle, making him slump back down. "Damn it." He cursed. He then grasped his ankle with both hands and started his healing incantation. "Wait, for me Luna."

Luna breathed in the air and her eyes widened. "The demon is gone." Darkness seeped back into her amber eyes and she smirked. Breathing in deep, she made her move. This time, the smoke was thinning rapidly and she could the behemoth clearly. Its green skin was smeared with blood and his beady eyes were unfocused. In his hand was the clump of Luna's hair. It must have felt that its pet was now killed. It took a bug step backward, preparing to leave. "No, you don't."

With incredible speed, Luna ran from tree to tree, appearing and disappearing fast. The behemoth let out a roar and slammed both of his fists on the ground, the force vibrating all throughout the mountain. But Luna paid no concern, she continued her fast movements, closing in on the behemoth on an alarming speed. Before the demon could move away, Luna appeared from behind a tree and slashed the demon's ankle. Black blood oozed out of the deep wound, scattering on Luna's coat. The behemoth roared in pain and slammed his fist down in anger. Its huge body swayed left to right, his fist going in every direction. It could feel his death coming closer, making it disconcerted. Its large fist hot the trees, knocking them down as if they were only twigs but his aim was poor and it didn't know where the attack is coming from.

Luna worked fast, transferring her blood into her blade, the metal glowed a bright red. She ran towards the demon once again, this time, aiming for his other ankle. The blade cut through the thick flesh with ease, once agin placing a deeper wound. The demon staggered backwards cowardly but it could no longer leave, not with the state of his feet. The demon swayed forward, desperately trying to to hold on to the thick trunks of the tree but it did not help. He fell, taking along some trees with him on the way down. Luna acted fast, from standing by his foot, she ran fast up the behemoth's back before it could stand. She ran along its back before jumping high up, both hands hugging the hilt of the sword, aiming for its neck. In a loud thud, she fell back down, her blade piercing the neck of the behemoth.

The demon struggled for a moment but Luna twisted her blade from the inside and pulled out, leaving a gaping hole from inside. When the behemoth's last breath left its body, Luna's adrenaline disappeared. She felt the exhaustion seep into her bone and she sat there for a moment, her eyes going back to normal.