Rise by Jennifer Anne Davis

I slowly turned and scanned the area, looking for the source of the threat. Between the trees only fifteen feet away, an enormous brunbjorn was moving directly toward me. It walked on all fours, smelling the air as it neared. The bear-like creature was easily five times my size.
    I gradually started to back up, trying to keep a good amount of space between us. It breathed out, making a strange grunting noise. All of a sudden, it charged at me. I turned and ran. The animal pounded on the forest flooring as it neared, swiftly gaining ground. Its hot breath skimmed my neck. It roared a deafening sound and swiped its paw, slamming me to the ground. I rolled over as the brunbjorn went up on its hind feet, smelling the air. It dropped to all four paws, the ground jolting under me from the impact. I lay there, motionless, trying to decide if I should kick the animal and run or play dead.
    The brunbjorn stood over me and roared, the sound vibrating through my body. I shoved myself forward, between the animal’s legs, so it couldn’t see me. Trying not to make a sound, I scrambled to stand behind it. It huffed and turned around, foam clinging to its mouth. Its eyes were two black coals that promised death. My hands pulsed, and a sharp, stinging sensation shot through me. I fell to my knees, crying out in pain. The animal circled me, observing its prey.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Anders noiselessly stalking up behind the brunbjorn . It raised its massive paw, its black nails longer than my foot. I leaned back as it viciously swung, narrowly missing my face.
    Anders slid a long dagger from his sleeve, clutching the weapon in his hand as he moved to the side of the animal. When the brunbjorn swiped at me again, the assassin darted in and embedded the knife in the animal’s side.
    It savagely roared in pain and staggered back. I crawled to the tree behind me, wanting something solid to cling to. The animal whipped its head in Anders’s direction. When it caught sight of him, it charged. Instead of running away, Anders stood his ground. The massive brunbjorn tackled him to the ground.
    Anders grabbed the dagger sticking out of the animal and yanked it free. The brunbjorn stood above the assassin and swayed. Without hesitating, he thrust the knife into the animal’s stomach. It reared its head back, howling in agony. He grabbed the blade strapped to his thigh and with quick and lethal efficiency plunged it into the animal’s neck.
    It wobbled and collapsed on top of Anders. The assassin shimmied his body out from under the brunbjorn and came to me.
    “Are you hurt?” he asked, breathing heavily, fresh blood coating his clothes.
    “No.” Besides a few scratches, I was unharmed.
    He squatted next to me. “I hope you consider that an acceptable murder.”
    “Yes,” I said. “That was definitely an appropriate time to kill.”
    Standing, he pulled me up. “We need to leave before more brunbjorns come.”
    I nodded and said, “Kaia.”
    “What?”
    “My name,” I replied. “It’s Kaia.”

Chapter Four
     
     
    Dropping to my knees alongside the stream, I scooped the frigid water with my hands, drinking it. After traveling hard all day, I was desperate to quench my thirst.
    “How much farther?” I asked between gulps.
    “At the rate you walk, it’ll take us another day to get there.”
    Ignoring Anders’s jab, I rubbed water on my forehead, attempting to clean my wound. “Are you related to Vidar?” I stood and dried my hands on my pants.
    “No,” he replied, rinsing his bloody hands in the water. “Although he is my closest friend.”
    It was hard to believe Anders had any friends at all. Stretching my stiff back, I asked, “Is Vidar your age?”
    His eyes narrowed. “Why do you care?”
    “Just curious to know something about the person you’re taking me to.” Was he a wise, elderly man? Or young and hotheaded like Anders?
    “Let’s get moving.”
    “It’s almost dark,” I pointed out, not