Arjun gasped for air, his uniform shredded. He looked at Zoya, who stood like a statue in the moonlight. The hunt wasn't over. The Blood in the Mouth had tasted the General’s steel, and now, it would not stop until the mountains were painted red. They had five miles to go before the safety of the outpost, and the king was still hungry.
Arjun had been sent by the Ministry to neutralize the threat, but he knew this wasn't a standard hunt. He was joined by Zoya, a local tracker whose father had been taken by the same beast a decade ago. She didn't carry a high-powered rifle like Arjun; she carried a hand-forged spear and a burning desire for vengeance. Arjun gasped for air, his uniform shredded
"Don't fire yet," Zoya warned, her voice a ghost of a sound. "He wants you to miss." The Blood in the Mouth had tasted the
The tiger emerged. It was massive, its fur scarred and matted with the remnants of its last encounter. It moved with a terrifying, silent grace. Arjun raised his scope, his breath hitching. The beast didn't run. It stood its ground, baring teeth stained a permanent, rusted crimson. He was joined by Zoya, a local tracker