CAPTURED BY THE ALIEN Chapter 11: 11

The howls grew louder, reverberating through the forest and making the air feel heavy. My heart hammered in my chest as I clung to Varek’s side, his blade glinting faintly in the dim light.

“What are they?” I whispered, barely able to get the words out.

“Lavrikala,” he said grimly. “Hunters of the forest. They’re drawn to disturbances, and the energy of the Veydra has likely brought them here.”

I swallowed hard. “Can we fight them?”

Varek’s jaw tightened. “If we must.”

The underbrush rustled, and then I saw them—sleek, shadowy forms slipping through the trees, their glowing eyes fixed on us. They moved with an eerie grace, their long limbs and sharp claws making it clear they were predators.

“There’s too many,” Varek murmured, his voice low but steady. “Run when I tell you.”

“What? No!” I protested, panic rising in my chest.

“You have to survive,” he said firmly, his eyes meeting mine for the briefest moment. “The Veydra chose you for a reason. Don’t let it be in vain.”

Before I could argue further, one of the creatures leapt into the clearing, its maw open in a silent snarl. Varek lunged forward, meeting it with a swift, practiced strike. The blade tore through the creature’s dark hide, and it fell with a guttural hiss.

“Go!” he shouted, pushing me back as another Lavrikala emerged from the shadows.

My instincts screamed at me to run, but my legs felt rooted to the spot. I watched as Varek fought with a ferocity that left me breathless, his movements fluid and precise.

Another creature charged him, and he spun, dodging its claws before plunging his blade into its side. But more kept coming, their eyes glowing like embers in the darkness.

“Carmem!” he roared, his voice breaking through my paralysis.

I turned and ran, the forest blurring around me as I pushed through branches and leapt over roots. My breaths came in ragged gasps, fear clawing at me with every step.

Behind me, I could hear the sounds of the battle—snarls, the clash of metal, and Varek’s voice shouting something I couldn’t make out.

The forest seemed endless, each shadow a potential threat. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I had to keep moving.

Suddenly, I tripped, my foot catching on a root, and I tumbled to the ground. Pain shot through my ankle as I tried to push myself up, but before I could, a low growl froze me in place.

I turned slowly, my heart sinking as I saw one of the Lavrikala stalking toward me. Its glowing eyes were fixed on mine, its movements deliberate and predatory.

This is it, I thought. This is how it ends.

The creature lunged, and I threw up my arms instinctively, bracing for the impact. But before it could reach me, a blinding light erupted between us.

The Lavrikala screeched, retreating as the light grew brighter. I blinked, shielding my eyes as the light condensed into a shape—a glowing, pulsating orb hovering in the air.

The Veydra.

I didn’t know how or why it had appeared, but its presence filled me with a strange sense of calm. The Lavrikala hissed and snarled, circling the orb but keeping their distance.

Behind them, Varek stumbled into the clearing, blood streaking his face but his expression fierce. His eyes widened when he saw the Veydra.

“It’s protecting you,” he said, his voice filled with awe.

The orb pulsed again, and the Lavrikala retreated further, their snarls fading into the distance as they vanished into the shadows.

The clearing fell silent once more, the only sound my ragged breathing.

Varek approached me cautiously, his blade still drawn. “Are you hurt?”

I shook my head, though my ankle throbbed painfully. “What just happened?”

“The Veydra,” he said, his gaze fixed on the glowing orb. “It… intervened. I’ve never seen it do that before.”

The orb hovered for a moment longer before fading, its light dimming until it disappeared completely.

Varek helped me to my feet, his hand steady and reassuring. “We need to move. The Lavrikala won’t stay away for long.”

I nodded, leaning on him as we started walking again. My mind raced with questions, but one thought stood out above all the others:

Why had the Veydra chosen me?