Which gave me an opening as I stood before Soren. Like Rose said, I swung upward with my axe and a yelp came from above me as the giant creature began to ooze blood from a wound in its belly. But the yelp left as quickly as it came and was replaced by an infuriated snarl. Slathering jaws and wickedly sharp teeth quickly filled my imagination as hot breath blew on my face.

It was an eerie sight. Blood dripped from seemingly nowhere as the hound stalked, painting the muddy ground red. Up close, blood and saliva dripped from its jaws, and I froze in terror. Only to be pushed away as Diaval made another chant, and a burst of blue kinetic energy hit the creature. The energy continued to spark around the creature almost like it had been wrapped in glowing lights.

“That should make it easier,” Diaval panted, her pupils blown from the magic use.

But as she said that, the monstrous hound struck again, and this time Rose barely had a chance to yell out a warning before its massive paw nearly shredded Soren, and before he could say anything, something hit me hard and I flew backward, rolling over a few times in the muck.

I gasped, trying to catch the breath that had been knocked out of my lungs by the blow, but thankfully there was no stinging to suggest I’d been cut. Only a sensation similar to that of being whipped by a dog’s wagging tail. Except in this case, instead of a light sting, I swore that deep bruises were already forming where the tail knocked into me.

“Janneke!” Soren cried out, but mentally I willed him to stay where he was.

“I’m okay!” I said, rolling back to my feet.

The hound was after Rosamund now, but out of all of us, Rose was ready and he stepped backward as the creature came at him. Dodged left, then right, at swiping paws, jumping over a lashing tail, and rolling underneath what I assumed the belly of the beast was. He continued this dance, not even lifting his weapons, but slowly drawing the creature away from the rest of us and toward—toward the Gjall.

“Brilliant,” I said. “Everyone, keep the hound directed to following Rose! I think I know what he’s doing.” Or, at least, I hoped I did.

We created a semi-circle, all of us baring our weapons whether they be blades or magic, and slowly stepped forward, crowding the monster so it had nowhere to go. When it did try to lash out at one of us, the blow was quickly parried and Rose shouted for its attention.

“Good doggie,” Rose muttered. “Keep your eyes on me.”