CROWNED BY CLAWS

utters, casting crimson light across his modest hut. Even with his eyes closed, he felt its pu

gathered in the square. Jorah stood at the center, armed with his bow and a blade strapped to his belt. Beside

g action. That the beast terrorizing the village would be hu

art of him

t end the way th

lurking in the woods. It left its mark on our village, an

agreement, though their

caught Eamon's gaze. She said nothing, but

ound his shoulders and stepp

, then nodded.

unt B

ly through the forest, their boots pressing into the soft ground. Sunlight filtered through

and scattered tufts of dark fur that littered the

in... f

lse qu

e hunters muttered, kneeling

s fingers, frowning. The shape had changed. The deep im

grunted, "it walks like

wled up Eam

, a

ing party went taut as the

Something moved b

d beast from last night. But when the figur

ma

. His clothes were ragged, torn as if he had barely survived an attack. Bloo

e same as

raised the

n said, step

r. There was something primal in his stare, some

man said, his voice low, guttu

furrowed. "

ply, shaking his hea

h

mov

an any hu

oosed a

ity, and before Eamon could react, the

rough him-no,

e beneath Eamon's skin, rushin

th

rk app

t moon with claw-like slashes through its center. The stranger's eyes wi

n," the man murmured. "I

nters

n horror. "What in the

in still burned, his vision swimmin

back. "You need to leave this p

self to steady h

d answer, a distant

sound that sent ice t

ne. N

a

nters

e others. "Back to

Eamon one last time. "Find A

lur of motio

cross his skin-until where the man had stoo

, then turned and sprinted into the

oment,

r howl-clos

amon

e coming