Finally, the Beast was dead, laying at their feet as steam was rising from its ruptured hide, its blood seeping out into the ground and darkening the moss beneath it as the forest slowly reclaimed the noise of battle.
The echoes of its final roar faded between the towering trees, replaced by the distant calls of birds and the soft creak of branches swaying high above all of them.
Ashanti realized she was holding her breath once she saw this, and only when Kael straightened and drove the butt of his spear into the ground did she finally exhale.
"Clean kill," Kael said, voice steady. "Good pin. Good timing."
Dorg snorted, rolling his shoulders as he stepped back. "Shield's intact. Took the worst of the charge."
"Barely," Mirela replied lightly, wiping her saber clean on the beast's thick hide. "If you'd been half a step slower, you'd be paste."
Dorg grinned, tusks flashing, "But I wasn't, funny how things always work out eh Mirela?"
