The commander looked perplexed for a moment. He stood up and faced Yuto with a questioning gaze. He seemed dumbfounded for what appeared to be a minute and then finally he regained his composure.
"What happened?" he repeated the question.
Yuto exhaled slowly then responded confidently "I think I saw a Lumivark"
There was dead silence that didn't last that long
"That could be true, the air changed after you left. A drop in temperature is one of the effects caused by a Lumivark." Adrian said as he rubbed his chin. "And with that being said. I think a gone Lumivark is the least of our problems."
Rhett grabbed his sword at a lightning speed as well as the other soldiers and pointed it towards Yuto. Slowly Yuto's eyes widened as her shoulders tensed.
"There... there is s-something behind me, right "she said as her voice trembled slightly. The commander sent a hand gesture to Yuto for her to stop moving and talking as well.
A low growl resonated behind Yuto. She could feel it's hot breath before she could turn. Fear hit her like cold waves. She found it hard to breathe as it felt like something was pressing hard on her throat. Her heart was hammering so hard that it felt like it could break out at any moment. She felt her hand sweat while holding the hilt of the sword. For the first time Yuto wasn't even sure that her grip on the sword was strong enough.
'Move' was the first thing that came to her mind. Yuto had barely had time to twist her body out of the way when the beast's claws tore her fabric grazing her skin. She stumbled back with a sharp cry.
"Protect his highness!" the commander shouted
Before the creature could attack again Marcus swung his sword towards the beast forcing it to recoil with a furious snarl. It then charged towards him barring its sharp teeth however the commander stepped forward blocking the attack which resulted in a loud deafening sound as the beast's rage increased.
Yuto forced herself to stand straight ignoring her burning shoulder, she was determined to help kill whatever that beastly thing was. She gripped her sword tightly ready for action. The beast had started circling them with its large paws shattering the twigs and leaves beneath it. Its deadly eyes calculating who probably was easiest prey among the five and its gaze met with Yuto's.
It pounced towards Yuto and this time she met it head on. She slashed it upwards, steel scraping its thick hide. The beast screeched as it leapt backwards however Adrian's arrow sank deep into the beast's neck and blood splattered across the forest ground. The beast collapsed and a triumph smile spread across Yuto's face.
"It's down" Rhett shouted with relief flooded upon his face. Slowly everyone lowered their weapons.
''We should move before more of such things show up," the commander said hastily. He looked at Adrian "you were right."
Adrian just offered the commander a tight smile. Yuto cautiously stepped near the beast to inspect it closer. She had never seen anything like it in her entire life. The beast just looked incorrect. Its body was twisted and some of its parts were too long while some were just way too tight. Its bones looked as if they were forced to grow in wrong directions. If one didn't look carefully, it would be assumed that the beast had no eyes at all as the eyes were just very small. The area around its mouth spelled like of rot.
As she inspected its head, suddenly the beast opened its eyes as red as blood. It whipped its tail forward at a lightning speed, Yuto turned but it was too late. The spike stabbed into her leg. Burning pain exploded up her thigh, she fell as she choked a cry down her throat. Her vison vision darkened for a moment. The shouts of her comrades was a distant sound fading away.
The commander had sliced the creature's head off as soon as it stabbed Yuto. At the thought of being found out to be a girl Yuto bit her tongue to stay awake. Adriane grabbed a random cloth and tied it on the wound tightly.
"Bear with it, for now we have to get to safety," he said "can you ride?"
"Are you blind? The dude can barely move his body. You are gonna have to ride with him. We ain't got enough time to play house" Marcus said sarcastically as he saddled on his horse.
Adrian took Yuto in his arms and put him on the same horse as his. The rest then mounted on their horses.
''We cannot proceed forwards into the mountain. We better get out the quickest route. Follow my lead" the commander shouted as his horsed started moving.
All that Yuko could see were blurry motions. The movement of the horse was very fast which further worsened the pain on her leg and the dull pian on her shoulder. Yuto clenched her teeth fighting the scream that was threatening to break free from her chest.
'I'm sorry. It will be over soon' she thought she heard Adrian whisper as the darkness consumed her vision.