Emerging from the underbrush stood an enormous creature. It looked like a wolf but was the size of a bear, a very big bear. Its vicious jagged teeth were bared as a snarl rumbled in its throat. This must be what spooked the manx.
Providence didn't move a muscle. She barely even breathed as she eyed the ferocious beast. This wasn't an angry man that she might have a chance defending herself against. This was a predator on the hunt, and it had just found a snack.
The massive beast crouched, its muscles bunching preparing for a strike. Providence tensed as she said a prayer, hoping her wonderful day didn't end in tragedy.
Madhava
The manx were running scarred. Only one creature could frighten a manx like that, a metcor. The beasts were vicious. They were known to tear their prey to shreds after hunting them tenaciously for miles.
"Providence's manx took off that way. We have to get to her." Dagaa hollered as he attempted to wrangle his own beast.
The manx refused to follow the one Providence was riding. No doubt the metcor had also taken off after the lone manx ridden by their female.
"This is not good, not good at all." Madhava growled feeling frantic.
"Do we go on foot or ride? She could be miles off as fast as that damn beast was running." Dagaa snarled as he ran his hand through his hair pulling at it in frustration.
"We go on foot. These beasts are too spooked. They'll never head anywhere they scent a metcor." Madhava reasoned.
Dagaa leapt down, and they were instantly off, running through the forest as fast as their legs could carry them. It was easy to follow the manx's path, there were broken branches all along the way. Even if it hadn't been, Madhava followed his heightened senses. He could track his bonded from a mile away, so tuned to her scent he was.
Madhava's heart pounded in his chest, not just from the exertion, but from fear. His little bonded was no match for a runaway manx or a metcor. Even a seasoned warrior was at risk if he came face to face with the man killer. The thought of losing sweet Providence spurred him on faster.
Madhava and Dagaa stopped as they heard growling ahead. Providence cowered several feet in front of the bristling metcor. Madhava pointed Dagaa to the opposite side of the clearing as they circled down wind of the beast that had Providence cornered.
Providence
Providence braced herself for the worst. Just as the terrible beast flexed its hind legs to pounce on her, out of nowhere Madhava launched at the creature with a primal snarl of his own, landing on the beasts back. Dagaa came out of the woods from the opposite side shoving Providence out of the way.
Providence watched in horror as Madhava sunk his knife into the fatty scruff on the back of the beast's neck. Dagaa narrowly avoided a swipe from the creature's enormous claws. He danced from side to side waiting for an opening. The creature reared and bellowed as it tried to throw Madhava off its back. Dagaa lunged forward and slashed at the beast's gut, opening a large gash. Meanwhile Madhava snatched another blade from the bandolier on his chest, gripped it tight, and brought it down hard at the base of the creature's head. It sunk in deep and Madhava twisted it with a feral roar.
The beast yowled then dropped to the ground, huffing as it bled out. Dagaa moved in and slashed its throat, sending a spray of blood, quickly ending its misery.
"Providence are you okay?" Madhava asked, his face contorted with worry and the subsiding fury.
Providence sat on the leaf littered floor, shaking as the adrenalin got the best of her. Not only had she almost been a tasty treat which freaked her out, but her two warriors had risked their hides and could've been fatally injured themselves.
"Providence are you okay?" Madhava said louder, attempting to capture her attention.
She turned her eyes from the hairy behemoth that lay bleeding on the ground, back to her warriors. They were covered in sprays of the beast's blood. At least she hoped it was all from the creature. Everything happened so fast. The way the creature swiped and gnashed its teeth at her men, Providence didn't know if they were injured or not.
Providence ran her hands over Dagaa, looking for any scrapes or gashes, and then reached for Madhava.
"We are fine beautiful. What about you? You are shaking." Dagaa said as he gripped her shoulders.
"I'm okay. A bit freaked out." She stammered as her lip trembled, tears threatening in her eyes.
She hated feeling like such a damsel in distress with all the things that had happened lately.
Dagaa picked her up, cradling her in his big strong arms. He was covered in blood but she didn't care as she nestled her head against his chest.
"I saw its paw coming for you and..." Providence whispered.
"Shhhh it's okay now, the metcor is dead." Dagaa soothed her.