Chapter 97: Flashy Entrance
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And though they didn’t say it aloud, both of them felt the adult spark starting to grow—slow and cautious, but no less fierce than the flames that had just stitched his skin whole.
Fenna squeezed his hand once before letting go. "Let’s finish the boar before someone comes looking for it."
Zephyr smirked. "Still thinking about that kiss, though."
"Later," she said.
But her eyes said maybe sooner than that.
A few steps away, Muse paced in irritated circles, her injured cheek glowing faintly from the shallow tusk-scratch. Aurora hovered beside her, chirping with concern for her seat. The cow stopped, gave the chick a long suffering look, and licked her gently once, causing the phoenix to squeak indignantly and puff up like a tiny ember dandelion.
Muse mooed once. It was gruff but steady and returned to glaring at the dead boar.
Fenna wiped a streak of sweat and soot from her brow, her body still recovering from channeling the True Fire. "One Ember tusk down," she said with a sigh.
Zephyr knelt beside the carcass, his breathing steadier now. The boar was still, its flanks no longer steaming. With practiced hands, he pressed his fingers to its throat—no movement. Dead.
He drew his hunting blade and slid it cleanly down the creature’s midline, parting with a thick hide. Steam and smoke poured from the wound, reeking of iron and ash. He reached in, elbow deep, and after a moment, his hand brushed something warm and pulsing.