Chapter 11

Carrie

As I closed my eyes, all I could think about was the impending impact of the creature rushing toward me. I braced myself for the strong force of hitting the ground or being wounded by its sharp claws. But to my surprise, none of that happened. Instead, a commanding voice made the creature come to a halt.

"Thunder! Stop it, boy!"

Everything unfolded rapidly. Jesse, holding the creature—a leopard—stroked its fur gently, calming it down. The once ferocious beast now sat on the ground, resembling a tamed creature, far from the image that had made me tremble.

Concern filled Jesse's eyes as he tended to me. "Are you okay, Carrie?"

"Y-Yeah," I stuttered, my gaze shifting to the leopard. "Is he... your pet?"

"He's a friend. I named him Thunder," Jesse replied. He beckoned the leopard, and it approached him. Jesse patted its head, and the animal responded with affection. "I grew up with him. My dad brought him back to Silverfang after his prowl abandoned him, probably due to his sm