A dust cloud erupted the moment the beast moved its front leg, an attack fueled by ancient anger and a longing to return to its slumber. Such a blow would have dealt a painless death, not that the unconscious Orion would have felt it anyway.

  The leg fell, reaching its destination. The impact was indeed painless.

  Clunk.

  A metallic ring echoed across the beach. Layla, who had braced for the end, opened her eyes briefly. She saw nothing but a wall of white. Am I dead? she wondered, her senses slowly returning.

  She felt soft particles hitting her skin and the crushing weight of exhaustion. Tremors vibrated through the air, and she could still feel Orion’s limp body in her lap. I can’t be dead if this idiot is still here.

  "Wake up, we have to move now!" she tried to shout, but she heard nothing. Huh. I can’t hear my own voice.

  Confusion set in as she pressed a hand to her ear. That sound... it damaged my hearing. Simply marvelous. I can’t see, and I can't hear the beast. Wait, how are we still alive? That attack was aimed directly at us.

  She felt the ground shudder. Was the beast toying with them? No, it wanted to sleep. It wouldn't prolong its revenge. She ran her hands through the sand and realized the truth; the sand directly around them was undisturbed, while a small crater had been blown out on her left and right. Someone shielded us from the impact.

  Magicians? In a barren place like this?

  The white mist continued to swirl around them. Layla watched the sand dancing with every shockwave. She began to count the tremors: strong, weaker, weaker, then strong again.

  As the last rays of sunlight vanished, the darkness was pierced by flashes of light through the mist, like iron striking a smith’s hammer. The frequency of the tremors slowed until, finally, there was only silence.

  Is it over?

  The dust settled, revealing a crescent moon that shone with an intensity that felt almost physical on her skin.

  Since when does moonlight feel so….. Soothing?

  Beneath its glow lay the head of the beast. Its eyes had lost their twilight fire.

  As the veil of dust fully lowered, the beast’s body was revealed. It was riddled with cracks, holes, and a glimmering red powder that sparkled in the moonlight. Pity welled up in Layla. She had been the aggressor, the beast had only defended its rest.

  Well it tried to kill me, only because I woke it, I did not deserve that reaction.

  But it was gone now. The "Ivory beast" remained standing even in death, refusing to fall.

  Three figures stood before the corpse, looking every bit as imposing as the monster they had just slain. On the left, a man leaned on a massive shield and sword, gasping for air. On the right, a woman used a staff for support. In the center stood a man with a spear, his weapon still leveled at the fallen beast.

  Three of them... Layla thought.

  The adrenaline finally gave out. Her eyelids turned to lead. Her body slumped back into the sand, Orion still draped across her lap. It still doesn't make sense, was her final thought before she drifted into a deep, heavy slumber.

  The man in the center spun around at the sound of her falling, his spear instantly pointing at the two youths.

  "We went to all that trouble to save 'em and now you're pointing that toothpick at 'em? You’re unbelievable, mate," the man with the shield wheezed.

  "I wouldn’t have helped you if that was your plan from the beginning," the woman with the staff added firmly.

  The leader looked at his comrades. "You both know I’d never do that. Stop fooling around. That young man needs help immediately, and the lady is far from healthy. Get to it. I’ll keep watch."

  The trio moved into action. "Yes, yes, we’re on it, Cap. Don’t stress your pretty little face; you might get wrinkles," the shield-bearer joked. He scooped Layla up and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of grain.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "Don't hold a lady like that, you brute! Have some decency," the woman scolded. She knelt by Orion, her hands hovering over his wounds. She began to chant, a faint green glow sprouting from her fingertips.

  "Girly, do you see any extra arms on me? I need my hands free for me sword and shield if we get jumped by another golem," The shield bearer grunted.

  "As if a stone-head like you could be killed by a golem. It’d be poetic, really," she replied with a small smile.

  "You’d like that, ya tree-hugger. No, I still have a few decades left in me. I reckon I’ll outlive you if you keep being so clumsy."

  "Zip it, both of you," the Captain interrupted. "We need to get to the cart. The nearest village is miles away, and it’s not safe here. We need to check their wounds and report to—"

  "Aye, Cap. On our way," they answered in unison.

  The three figures disappeared into the darkness, carrying the two castaways toward an uncertain future. Silence returned to the white beach, save for one final, distant shout echoing over the dunes:

  "WERE YOU TRYING TO MIMIC ME, YA POINTY-EAR?!"

  -

  Ticktickticktick….ticktickticktick.

  A woodpecker drilled into a tree, the repetitive sound echoing serenely through the morning air. After a few more strikes against the bark, the little bird took flight. The tree it had claimed as its feeding ground stood where a dark forest met a vast, open plain that rolled all the way to the sea. Fields of wheat gave the landscape a golden glow, while out on the horizon, several skiffs bobbed on the water as fishermen sought the morning’s catch. Nestled between the farms and the coast lay a small village.

  The woodpecker soared over the golden fields, its sharp eyes catching the glint of white rocks hidden beneath the stalks of wheat. Eventually, it reached the first house on the outskirts. An elderly couple sat on a small bench, grumbling to one another; the context of their complaints didn't concern the bird in the slightest, and it flew on.

  Its target was the bakery in the heart of the village, where humans always left a trail of crumbs. However, when the woodpecker arrived, it found a rowdy group of seagulls and crows already fighting over the scraps. Sensing a losing battle, it veered toward the neighboring structure, the largest building in the village.

  On the second floor, a window stood open for a change. Normally, the woodpecker merely perched on the sill, but curiosity took hold. Perhaps there were bugs hiding inside? It fluttered into the room but quickly sensed danger. A human with golden hair that seemed to catch the sun lay there resting. Not wanting to risk waking the giant, the bird hurriedly scrambled back toward the light, accidentally clipping a vase as it made its escape.

  Crack.

  "Huh?"

  Orion sat up, his eyes wide, his head whipping around in confusion. Where am I? Wasn't I resting on a beach?

  He checked under the covers, then inspected his left leg. No wound? No scar? Did I dream the whole thing? No... I’m still nothing but skin and bone.

  Creak.

  The room’s only door swung open. A tall figure stood in the doorway, barely fitting inside the building. Orion saw the legs first, but something was wrong, where there should have been feet, there were sharp, curved claws. A pair of pants and a plain shirt hid most of its body, but everything that lay bare was covered in thick brown feathers. It held a platter of food and a canister of water. Most shocking of all was the head, it wasn't human, but that of a predatory bird, like a buzzard.

  "A BEAST! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!" Orion yelled, terrified by the creature that had just walked in.

  Startled by the sudden scream, the creature dropped the platter with a clatter. Behind it, wings spread wide as if it wanted to fly away and escape the situation as fast as possible, but there wasn't enough room to fully extend them.

  "CAW!"

  Orion, already scrambled to the edge of the bed to stay as far from the creature as possible, tumbled onto the floor. He quickly ducked behind the bed frame, eyes locked on the door.

  But the creature was already gone.

  Paralyzed with fear, Orion stayed hidden. His mind raced with escape plans, but every single one ended with him being captured by the beast. He stayed there until he heard another pair of footsteps, softer this time.

  Is the beast trying a surprise attack? I need a better hiding place. Maybe I can strike before it does.

  Orion crept from behind the bed to the door and flattened himself against the wall, waiting. He grabbed a chair that had been sitting by the bed and hoisted it over his head, ready to swing. The footsteps drew closer and closer until they reached the threshold.

  Why did it stop? Does it know?

  Orion lowered the chair slightly and peeked through the crack between the door and the frame. The doorway was empty.

  "What are you doing, you idiot?"

  "GOD HELP ME! WAIT... LAYLA?"

  Orion spun around. A young lady with black hair and pale skin was sitting on the bed, staring right at him. Her annoyance was barely hidden, a look Orion had become very familiar with.

  "Yes, who else?" Layla laid her head in her left hand and shook it. "You know, you're a real idiot. You just scared the ever-living daylights out of the guy who’s been keeping you alive all this time."

  "HUH? BUT THERE WAS A BIRD CREATURE WITH AN ALMOST......."

  "Yes, yes, that’s him. His name is Kall, by the way. And could you please stop screaming? You’re giving me a headache."

  Orion lowered the chair, turned it toward the bed, and slumped into it. "Am I still dreaming? Am I dead? Am I losing my mind?"

  Layla looked up, her expression softening just a fraction. "No, you’re not dreaming. You’re not dead. And yes, you’re losing your mind, so calm down."

  Orion took a deep breath, forcing his heart rate to slow. "How long have I been out?"

  A small, mischievous smile played on Layla’s lips. "Well, you slept like a real princess. It's been about a month. I hope you rested well while I was busy taking care of everything."

  Orion, shocked and more than a little bothered by that news, stared up at the ceiling. "So... what happened while I was gone?"