Chapter 9: Fighting for His Life
He hastily pulled out an elixir and downed it in one gulp.
The vial slipped in his frozen hands, its acrid contents burning his throat as he swallowed. The cold bit his fingers, numbed by the wind howling through the forest.
*Grrrr*
Two wolves emerged, their fangs dripping thick saliva, their yellow eyes gleaming. Their claws scraped the frozen ground, sending clumps of mud flying. He stepped back. His breath formed quick clouds in the icy air.
He feigned a slip, his knee deliberately hitting a stone to lure the first wolf. The beast lunged, its jaws snapping inches from his face. At the last moment, he rolled in the snow, ignoring the searing pain in his ribs.
His dagger plunged into the wolf’s belly with a wet sound. The blade tore through flesh, releasing a torrent of black blood that splattered the pristine snow. The creature’s entrails slid onto the ground, emitting a pungent stench. The wolf collapsed, whimpering, its paws weakly clawing the earth.
No time to savor the victory. Another wolf charged, its fangs aimed at his throat. He parried with his forearm, but the teeth sank into his flesh, grinding muscle and tendon. Blood gushed, hot and sticky, soaking his sleeve.
"Aaaaargh! Shit! I should’ve poisoned myself first..."
The pain exploded, a white flash that stole his breath. He slammed his dagger into the beast’s eye, driving the blade to the hilt. The wolf recoiled, howling, blood and vitreous fluid spraying from the shattered socket, before collapsing in spasms.