When the Beasts Turn

The woman’s smile widened as the man’s spear emerged from the snow, its blade slick with dark, thick blood. The snow beneath them shifted, trembling as something massive stirred beneath the surface.

Then it burst out.

A Mirelurker erupted from the snow, its elongated limbs reaching for the nearest target. Its slick, mottled skin glistened in the pale light, and its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth. The beast was enraged, its eyes wild with fury as it lunged toward them.

The man’s smile only grew.

He didn’t flinch or retreat. He planted his feet firmly, adjusted his grip on his spear and drove it forward with all his strength. The blade pierced through the Mirelurker’s thick hide, sinking deep into its chest.

The beast convulsed, its limbs thrashing wildly as it tried to fight back, but the man held firm, twisting the spear as he pushed it deeper. The Mirelurker’s movements grew weaker and slower until, finally, it went slack and collapsed into the snow.

He pulled his spear free and shook the blood from its blade before turning toward the woman with a smirk on his weathered face.

“Shall we?” he asked. “I’m sure your mother has more in store for us.”

“Oh, I’m sure she does,” Sophia replied.

They joined the battle together, their movements synchronized as their blades cut through the chaos. Around them, the Nightshade warriors fought with the same coordinated precision, their attacks relentless and unforgiving.

Sophia moved through the snow with ease, her weapons flashing whenever an enemy came too close. The warriors around her had already learned not to crowd her. She was fast, and with the blizzard limiting everyone’s vision, she had become even harder to predict.

The older man moved beside her, his spear sweeping through the air as he struck down another beast.

“Still keeping up?” Sophia asked.

“Girl, I’ve survived longer than you’ve been alive.”

She laughed.

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting.”

Another warrior rushed toward them.

Sophia ducked beneath his sword while the man drove his spear into the warrior’s side. Sophia finished the attack with a clean strike before moving on.

—

Meanwhile, the warriors Victoria had kept in reserve still stood.

They were a wall of steel and silence, their eyes fixed ahead and their bodies still despite the chaos surrounding them. They had been trained for this moment.

They had been waiting for this moment.

And then one of them turned his head.

He had sensed movement, a flicker of motion at the corner of his vision. When he looked, all he saw was a Virelop.

Its small white body was almost invisible against the snow, its red eyes gleaming in the darkness.

He frowned.

“Blasted creature.”

The Virelop stared at him for several seconds, its head tilting slightly as it sniffed the air.

Then it turned and disappeared into the woods.

The warrior shook his head before turning back toward the battlefield.

But then he heard a screeching sound.

It cut through the howling wind and sent a shiver down his spine.

“These beasts are frightening,” he muttered.

He reached down and suddenly felt something on his armour.

He rubbed at it, his fingers coming away sticky.

The warrior frowned.

It was some kind of paste.

Dark, thick and foul-smelling.

“What is this?” he asked, holding his hand up for the others to see. “Is it some kind of fruit or something?”

One of the warriors leaned closer.

“I don’t know.”

Before either of them could examine it further, a massive shape burst through the trees.

The warriors immediately raised their weapons.

The creature was enormous.

Its body was covered in black hair marked by stark white stripes, while two long, curved teeth jutted from its upper jaw like ivory hooks.

A Tidebreaker Korrath.

The beast moved with terrifying speed.

It crashed into the warrior who had been examining the paste.

Its jaws closed around him.

His scream was cut short.

The beast tore him apart before throwing what remained of him into the snow.

The remaining warriors immediately unsheathed their swords.

“Attack!” their commander shouted.

They rushed forward.

Steel flashed through the storm as the Tidebreaker Korrath swung its enormous claws. One warrior was knocked several feet backward, while another managed to drive his sword into the beast’s side.

The creature roared.

Three more warriors attacked simultaneously.

One struck its leg.

Another drove his blade into its shoulder.

The commander thrust his sword directly into its throat.

The Tidebreaker collapsed.

But there was no time to celebrate.

Another roar sounded from the forest.

Then another.

Then several more.

The trees began shaking.

More Tidebreakers emerged.

One.

Two.

Five.

Then even more.

Their massive bodies pushed through the trees, their white-striped black fur almost disappearing into the storm.

The warriors stared.

“This isn’t possible.”

“How many are there?”

“Hold the line!”

Their training took over as they moved together, their attacks coordinated and disciplined.

But there were too many.

Every time one beast fell, another appeared.

The commander grabbed one of the warriors by the arm.

“Go! Inform the Luna! Tell her the beasts have turned on us!”

The warrior nodded and immediately ran.

—

Victoria stepped out of her carriage.

The moment she did, the wind struck her face.

She stared across the battlefield.

Her reserve warriors were fighting the very beasts she had expected to fight alongside them.

Tidebreakers tore through their ranks.

Virelops attacked from the trees.

Even some of the larger creatures that had previously followed the Enclave were now turning against them.

Victoria’s face hardened.

“What is happening?”

No one answered.

She turned sharply and marched back toward the carriage.

The door slammed open.

“Selith.”

Her voice carried barely controlled fury.

She grabbed the front of the woman’s tunic.

“What is going on?”

Selith looked up slowly.

Victoria tightened her grip.

“The beasts are supposed to work with us. They’re supposed to be on our side. The warriors I kept as a last resort are now being attacked by them.”

Selith’s milky eyes remained fixed on her.

Her expression was almost bored.

“Take your hand off my clothes,” she said quietly.

Victoria’s eyes twitched.

“Do you know who you’re speaking to?”

Selith’s gaze sharpened.

“I do.”

Her voice remained calm.

“I am speaking to the woman who would sacrifice her own daughter for power.”

Victoria’s fingers tightened.

Selith didn’t even flinch.

“And if you still want that power,” she continued, “you will let me go now.”

Victoria stared at her.

For several seconds, neither woman moved.

She could kill Selith.

She could end the old woman’s insolence right there.

But there were things only Selith knew.

Things she was responsible for.

Things Victoria still needed.

She couldn’t risk it.

Slowly, Victoria released her grip and stepped back.

Selith straightened her tunic.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

“Perhaps rather than trying to understand what is happening, we should throw our all into this battle.”

She glanced toward the carriage entrance.

“From the sounds of it, the northern pack is out for blood.”

Victoria’s jaw tightened.

“We plan on giving our all.”

She folded her arms.

“But that wasn’t what I asked you, Selith.”

The old woman turned toward her.

Her milky eyes remained completely unblinking.

“Victoria…”

She spoke slowly, almost patiently.

“You have the power to control the beasts.”

A brief silence followed.

“Have you tried calling them off?”