It screeched above them; the sound slicing through the wind as something tore through the trees. Then silence followed, the group’s breaths filling the surroundings as they tried to locate it. Charlotte turned around, her eyes widening, clenching her sword’s hilt. “Ray, to your right!” His eyes moved before his body, and there it was — golden-brown feathers cutting through the air, flying straight at him. He raised his sword on instinct. It struck. Metal rang as it slammed into the blade, the force ripping the weapon upward and jolting through his arms. Ray’s feet left the ground as he was thrown backward. The creature vanished into the trees in the same motion. He crashed into the dirt, skidding before his back struck a tree. He dropped to one knee, gasping, his sword buried in the ground beside him.

  Shit. He should’ve heard it sooner. His arms shook as he pushed himself up, pain flaring as the glass wound split open again, blood seeping through the white bandage.

  “What are you doing?” Charlotte’s voice rang out, her arms steady, feet planted firmly. “Evade it; don’t try to block it!” Ray rocked his head, gripping the hilt of the sword. “I know, I know.” He stood, taking a deep breath and exhaling. Gabriella scoffed, staring at him, her head tilted. “It seems you’re all talk.” Another screech through the air interrupted them as their fists clenched around their weapons. Ray shook his head, exhaling. Okay.

  They all turned, forming a circle as it tore through the trees once again. Ray, this time, side-stepped, barely dodging as it inched past him and vanished into the forest. Charlotte’s grip tightened around the hilt of her sword. Taking a deep breath, she rushed deeper into the forest. “Follow me!” The others followed, except Gabriella and Xylo, but after grumbling for a bit, they too rushed in. The hauwk flew into the sky, the sun shining over its golden-brown feathers, its eyes tracking the group as it circled above them. Tucking its wings, it descends whistling through the air, tearing through the leaves and bushes. Ray halts, ducking before it flies past where his head had been and into the sky once more. Lucy stares at him, still moving through the forest, her eyes narrowing. She tried to speak, but Gabriella’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Why are we running? Let’s face it head-on,” she said, halting. Charlotte turned around to face her. “We cannot. It’s too fast.”

  “Not for me.”

  Charlotte clenched her fist, her brows furrowing. “Then go on, face it alone.” They stared at each other as another screech followed. This time Gabriella smirked, her grip tightening as she turned toward the canopy through which the sound echoed. The others took a step back; Lucy stood beside Ray, her eyes watching him. Ray took a deep breath, steadying his gaze over Gabriella. Soon it tore through the leaves, appearing in front of her. She swung her sword, but a heartbeat too early. Her eyes widened as her attack missed; she dug her feet into the mud, bracing for impact, but it flew past her and straight towards Ray. Too late to dodge, he raised his sword to block. But a kick to his waist pushed him aside as the hauwk flew past where his head had been. He exhaled while Lucy rushed toward him, lending a hand. “Sorry for kicking you.”

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  He took her hand, standing up. “Thank-”

  “Did you notice it, Ray?” Lucy asked, staring at him. His eyes narrowed, but he nodded. Charlotte walked forward, her breath steadying. “It has yet to attack anyone except him.” The others glanced at each other, then back at Ray. Gabriella stood, staring at the ground, her smirk faded. She took a deep breath and turned around, exhaling. “If it is only targeting him, we can use him as bait an-”

  “We will not do that!” Charlotte said, glaring at her, her fist clenched around the hilt of her sword. Lucy stepped in front of Ray, staring at Gabriella. Xylo walked forward, pointing his sword at Ray. “He’s been useless so far, she’s right.” Jacob raised his weapon, a frown etched on his face. “Even so, he shall not be used as bait.” Sylvina stayed quiet, her eyes darting between them all. Ray sighed, shaking his head and walked in between all of them. “It’s fine, I’ll be bait. I have an idea, I think.”

  The ground rumbled under heavy footsteps. Mei Zhi stood, her breath shaky, eyes steady on the aligktor in front of her. Its roar knocked the group a few steps back. Half of Mei Zhi’s teammates stood still, their limbs shaking. The other half attacked the aligktor, catching its attention on one enemy at a time. Their attacks left not a single scratch. She moved forward, lunging at it while its focus lay on someone else. The veins in her arm bulged; her fist clenched as she landed a punch square on the aligktor’s jaw. Blood spurted around, both through the aligktor’s cracked scales and from Mei Zhi’s ripped fist. She jumped back, shaking off the blood. “Keep it distracted!” she said, her voice ringing through the wind. The four that kept attacking the aligktor nodded at each other and began their attacks once more.

  Mei Zhi rubbed her hand, the blood spreading across her skin. Her gaze fixed on the aligktor’s moving figure. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed its footsteps getting heavier. She rushed towards it, sliding below its neck. She clenched her fist and jumped, punching its scaleless neck. Its rubbery skin stretched inwards as it stumbled over its weight, its claws flying around. A smile spread on her face for a moment before fading as the aligktor’s claw hit her, sending her flying. She crashed into the ground, back first, but landed on her feet. Blood trickled down her forehead, tracing her neck.

  Her attack still gave the other apprentices an opening. One of them climbed onto its figure and sliced three of its six eyes. The aligktor roared, now its body moving even more ferociously. Mei Zhi took a deep breath, steadying her stance and rushing forward once more. The apprentice who climbed the aligktor slipped, falling to the ground, but another apprentice caught him and narrowly escaped its violent claws. The aligktor staggered, its roar fading as Mei Zhi kicked its neck. This time, it stumbled backward, falling over its side. The remaining two apprentices stabbed, sliced its neck, its blood gushing out, pouring around them. Mei Zhi fell on her back, staring at the sky, wheezing. A distant screech reached her ears as she glanced in its direction.

  On the cliff, Marcus raised the red flag a second time. “Group four has defeated the aligktor.” The crowd erupted into cheers and clapping.