STRANGER ATTRACTION
He sounded like he was yanking something fierce from the fire.
The light grew bigger, pulling itself higher from Kaelith’s body.
When the shining mass was almost free, the old man turned sharply toward me.
“Turn back! Look away, child!” he shouted.
I dropped to my knees, pressing my hands over my eyes.
A sound tore through the entire cave—a sharp, piercing “Aaaaarrrrrrghhhhhhh!” that twisted through the air, full of fury and pain. It was not like any animal I had ever heard. It carried anger, power, and raw, unyielding energy, a scream that seemed to shake the very stones.