A blade of wind hissed through the forest clearing, slicing through leaves like paper.
A boy ducked a fraction too late.
The pressure grazed past his shoulder, cutting a clean gash through his tunic.
He staggered back, boot skidding against the mossy ground.
The moment he straightened.
Whoosh!
A shadow lunged from the left.
Claws gleamed.
Slash!
He twisted his body, just barely ducking under the swipe.
The air hissed by his ear.
Too slow.
His hand shot out.
Clang!
Parrying the beast's arm with his dagger — the steel clashing against the claws in a burst of sparks.
Vael swooped overhead in a spiral, wings slicing the air like knives.
The wind around him shimmered unnaturally, wrapping around him like an aura.
Kai grunted as Vex dashed behind him again, jaws open wide.
The spectral feline struck with silent speed, vanishing and reappearing like a flicker.
Kai pivoted, barely catching the blur with his dagger's edge, deflecting her pounce.
