Chapter 47

Maya respected Flint but often worried her favourite human was stupid. He repeatedly put himself at risk to help people that weren’t a part of the pack. She understood he had close friends, but then Flint did the same for strangers or people he didn’t particularly like. Maya often wondered whether it was a human thing or something more.

Personally, Maya loved helping people too. It came with the territory of being good—no, the best girl. However, she knew not to risk herself unless the person was important to her or her human. When Flint sacrificed the last of his strength to light up the wall, Maya wished he had conserved his strength instead.

Annoyance wouldn’t do her much good now, so she yapped at Bjorn, sending him an image of her plan. The big dog appeared surprised but didn’t protest. She wasn’t just his superior in the pack but also his mate. Maya wasn’t sure whether Bjorn had figured out that she was carrying his seed—he wasn’t the most intelligent dog she’d met. However, he was a good boy and knew listening to her was in his best interests.

Bjorn’s hesitation made her doubt herself for a moment as they left Flint by himself and headed down the slope. Winona and everyone else were tearing the hairy giants down with their attacks and bathing slope in their blood. She heard the gate opening behind her too. So, she was sure Flint would be safe.

When barks sounded from behind them, Maya was confident the bloodhounds would provide decent protection for Flint. She had more confidence in their abilities ever since Flint distributed their essence. It hurt her that one of them had lost their mate, but hopefully, they’d find companionship in each other. If not, she didn’t mind sharing Bjorn. He was big and loveable, but she liked her time alone with Flint. Maya was painfully aware that would change when her pups came, but that was a concern for the future. For the time being, she focused on her target.

Essence bubbled in the giants as Maya and Bjorn weaved through them. She could feel their strength returning as quickly as the attacks drained. A quick glance was enough for her to confirm that Flint was secure. Winona’s wings stood crossed in front of her, forming a shield against the swinging giant that had closed in despite the barrage of essence attacks. Meanwhile, Flint’s lovely young friend Ed and a young puck were carrying her favourite human through the gate. Meanwhile, the bloodhounds had busied themselves, ripping into the attacking giant’s calves. Much to her surprise, their recently enhanced jaws were ripping through the tough hide and drawing glowing blood.

Bjorn yapped, bringing her focus to the antlered giant ahead. The essence powering the other giants were pouring from it. Maya was sure bringing it down would end the chaos. She went over the plan again with her mate one last time before they left the slope together and entered the tall grass.

The essence in the glowing-eyed giant continued to boil and twist. A chill ran down Maya’s spine as she felt the difference in their stores. Her opponent didn’t just have several times more magical energy than her, but his control of it was much smoother than hers too.

Following her instructions, Bjorn let his essence flow freely. The circle of cold around him expanded and spun, covering the surrounding grass in frost. When she felt the giant’s eyes shift to him, she took off as fast as her legs could carry her. Instead of running straight at the giant, Maya took a curving path taking the long route around the giant to keep away from his line of sight.

When the creature raised its giant club and approached Bjorn, she knew her mate would stay safe. The thick layers of fur hid his new powerful muscles. Flint had made him more powerful than the bear she faced during her first night in their new home. If he got hit, she was sure his body and essence lining his fur would survive the attack. Bjorn had good instincts, though. He didn’t like fighting a whole lot, but the good boy knew how to use his body well.

Once behind the hairy giant, Maya sent instructions to Bjorn once again. He ran to the side, forcing their target to turn. Once its right ear was facing Maya, she let loose an essence charged bark. The rippling air parted the grass in front of her, and she felt the air crackle around her. Now that she had used the ability a few times, she understood how to direct it. It would be a while before the essence was ready to flow up her throat again, but she was confident one was enough.

The giant roared, letting go of his club mid-swing. His right hand jumped to his ear as blood poured from him. The monster stumbled to his left, making a deep groaning sound. Bjorn used the opportunity to charge straight at him. Unfortunately, the giant wasn’t as incapacitated as she would’ve liked. The creature swung its left arm, catching her mate with a close fit. Maya’s stomach twisted as a loud yelp escaped Bjorn and the force lifted him over the tall grass. He landed with a loud thump, but thankfully, she didn’t hear the crunch of breaking bones.

Instead of taking advantage of Bjorn’s incapacitation, the giant spun around, looking for the source of the bark. He staggered and stumbled but managed to stay upright. Only one of his yes now emitted the green light. The right had lost its glow and was full of red.

Maya stayed low and still. Unlike Bjorn, she would survive a hit from the creature. She imagined one blow would turn half her bones into dust. Running wasn’t an option, though. If the beast saw her escape, he would focus all his attention on Bjorn. So, when the creature faced away from her again, Maya let the excited essence in her limbs free. The world blurred around her as she covered the distance between her starting position and the giant’s leg in a flash.

Since the giant appeared in complete control of its left side, Maya closed her crackling jaw onto the beast’s right calf. Her essence charged jaw had little trouble ripping through the tough hide and the flesh within. Blood sprayed on her face as she ripped a large chunk out. Even though it was tempting to go for another bite—the essence flowing from the creature was delicious—Maya ran through the gap between his legs to Bjorn.

When Maya dropped the chunk by her mate’s dazed face, his eyes grew alert. Bjorn attacked the meat hungrily and was back on his feet in a heartbeat. He held his front left-paw off the ground. The good boy brushed his big snout along the side of her face, and Maya understood he was ready to go again. The giant had fallen onto his bottom, and the essence flowing to his friends by the wall had stopped altogether. Instead, he was focusing the radiant green energy on the injured leg and ear.

The two dogs charged together. Maya once again used her speed to take the long way around to her target’s rear. Bjorn approached him from the front. The good boy stopped short, avoiding the giant’s defensive swing. Maya used the distraction to clamp down on the hairy left upper arm. She would’ve preferred to go for the head, but the monstrous antlers got in the way. When the giant tried to peel her off, Bjorn caught up, closed his big toothy mouth around the stomach, and shook his head violently. He didn’t have essence sharpening his fangs, but brute strength helped him rip holes in the hide.

Pain-filled bellows escaped the giant as he tried to wrestle its left arm free. Meanwhile, the freehand swiped at Bjorn weakly. It lacked the strength to pushed away. When the giant desperately turned on to his right side, Maya found herself lifted off the ground. She let go brimming full of energy. Even though not long had passed since she last expelled essence, Maya felt her body ready to go again.

A yap was enough to make Bjorn retreat. Red painted his white snout, and the blue circle around him felt stronger and brighter. He, too, had consumed the giant’s essence. Even though the new strength felt great, it terrified her. Maya worried about what it could do if she lost control. Once Bjorn was clear, she released her thundering bark again. This time, the rippling air didn’t have to go far before striking the giant’s head. He thrashed for a moment longer before blood poured from the previously good ear. Then the creature stilled.

A stone, the size of Bjorn’s fat paw, peeked out of the troll’s ripped open stomach. It resembled the shiny balls Flint liked playing with so much, so she fished it out and carried it in her mouth as a trophy for him. She didn’t know what it did but was sure her favourite human would appreciate it.

Bjorn padded over to Maya’s side and expressed his affection with a sloppy tongue to the face. She nuzzled him before directing him at the wall. The giant’s flesh and blood had restored his essence but done nothing for the good boy’s injured foot. He needed Flint’s attention. So, she urged Bjorn to walk in front of her and brought up the rear.

Only two of the remaining hairy giants remained. Most of them lay on the ground covered in ugly green and brown bolts. Hints of Winona’s moonlight bolts remained as well. Maya knew at a glance. The fight was over. The shiny humans that attacked them first lay crushed or dead on the ground. She noticed a couple of them moving but ignored them. A trio of horses neighed, shying away from Maya and Bjorn as they padded uphill, avoiding the towering heaps of dead giant flesh. Bjorn paused when they smelled a former friend.

It was one of the new dogs. She spotted a hint of a paw sticking out from under a trampled horse. Maya saw one of the goats and a little green man too. Her essence boiled with her anger. Maya never thought she’d feel that way for anyone outside of her pack. She recognised a couple of the humans on the ground too. Not all of them were the attackers. It took some prodding to get Bjorn moving again. She unleashed essence one last time, zipping to the last troll. A lightning-charged bite ripped open its leg, and the creature fell, dropping the hive chunk it used as a shield.

Dozens of projectiles from atop the wall peppered the creature, and it collapsed not long after. Maya and Bjorn entered the wall’s safety and settled down for a rest by the glowing green pillar.