CHAPTER 92

Velvet saw Mike fall to the ground, the arrow protruding from his back. Both of her hearts stopped, the wind suddenly knocked from her body. Despite growing up in these woods, she suddenly felt lost and was unsure of how to proceed.

Yuki let out a shriek of rage, and her auburn hair developed several thick, white streaks as the snow exploded all around them. Velvet was suddenly lost in the snow flurries, and she stumbled forward until she found Mike lying on the ground. His skin was pale and he was barely breathing.

"Get him to the cabin!" Yuki screamed. Velvet couldn't see the kitsune but did catch a glimpse of something with bright white fur as it passed her by. "Give him the potions he brought!"

Velvet knelt down and shed her armor. She was much faster without it, and time was of the essence. Scooping Mike up in her arms, she picked a direction and ran.

"Uncle Foot!" she cried out. "Please, I need you!"

She hadn't seen him since he stormed off after the Nirumbi. Where could he be? As she moved through the forest, she caught sight of the blazing light of a fire and headed toward it. She really hoped it wasn't the cabin.

"Just gotta..." Mike's hand reached away from her. "Need...pull me out...hot."

"It's not hot, now be quiet," she whispered. If her uncle wasn't within earshot, she didn't want anyone else knowing their position.

"The fire is too hot!" he screamed, his eyes opening briefly. Around her, the forest came alive with hooting. At first, she thought they were coming for her, but was relieved when Dana stepped through the forest. She was covered in blood, and her left arm was broken in at least two places. There was a wild look in her eyes and a complete lack of recognition.

"Um...you good?" Velvet asked.

Dana scowled, her brow furrowing. After a couple of unintelligible grunts, she nodded.

"He's hurt," Velvet began. "We need to..."

"Leave me ALONE!" Mike's scream was magnified by his magic, and Velvet almost dropped him. "Let me out of the car, the fire is so hot! My world is burning! Oh god, my whole world is burning!"

Velvet headed toward the fire with Dana right behind her. Mike's shrieks were unintelligible again, and his breathing was unsteady. When they emerged from the woods, there was a clear line to the cabin.

The two of them ran and were over halfway there when Leeds landed in front of them.

Dana charged first, but Leeds grabbed her head with his forked tail and twisted her around. She slammed into the ground, her head now crooked on top of her neck. She let out an angry grunt, then fell silent.

"Leave us alone," Velvet whispered as she set Mike down.

"No." Leeds waved his hand, and bands of darkness grabbed Velvet by the legs, pulling them apart so that she fell to the ground. The sudden impact hurt her abdomen, and made her painfully aware of the precious cargo developing within. Her eggs shifted, making her queasy.

"After I rip your legs off, I'm going to sit here and wait for your dear Uncle to come back and find you." Leeds chuckled, then pointed at Mike. "And when this one dies, it all becomes mine."

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, then screamed when the bands pulled on her legs.

Leeds turned away from her. "It doesn't matter. You are already dead."

A bundle of white fur exploded from the trees and charged toward them. Shadow hands lifted free of the snow and reached for Yuki, but she slipped between their fingers and expanded upon impact with Leeds. The fur on her body was as white as the snow. Foxfire drifted free from her tails as she shoved her hands into Leeds cowl and shrieked with rage.

Dozens of icicles manifested and pierced his body. Leeds let out a cry of pain, and then the shadows ripped Yuki off of him and slammed her into the ground. Held in place by the icy spears, Leeds frantically tried to free himself by smacking his hands against them.

Velvet heard the heavy crunching of a pair of massive feet. Bigfoot stormed out of the forest, toppling a pair of small trees. His features twisted in rage as he smashed a fist into Leeds. The icicles shattered, and Leeds sailed through the air like crumpled paper.

"Why?" Bigfoot demanded, tears in his eyes. "Why have you brought this hell to my doorstep?"

Leeds groaned, then pulled himself up. His cowl had fallen free, revealing ram horns atop a horse's head. He blinked, his crimson eyes wincing in pain.

"Hello, old friend." Leeds struggled to stand. "I thought you were far away from here."

"Bah. Chasing one of your stupid dopplelgangers when I ran into the Katshituashku. Really, Leeds? Turning the creatures of the land against me?" Bigfoot stomped closer. "I had to kill it, Leeds! To kill such a rare and beautiful thing! But you knew I would, didn't you? Because that's what you do, you force people to make choices that break them!"

Leeds chuckled. "The creatures of this continent are no friends of yours. You turned your back on the wilds, Sasquatch, and now the wilds have turned their back on you."

Bigfoot stomped toward Leeds. Once he was close enough, he lifted a massive foot in the air over Leeds.

"You will betray them," he stated. "Just as you betrayed me."

Leeds laughed, then winced. Bigfoot brought his foot down, and Leeds exploded into black smoke that drifted away into the air.

"Is he dead?" asked Velvet.