Blood was everywhere. A sea of dark red pooled onto the leaves surrounding her. She was cold and exhausted. How long had she been in this spot? It felt like hours. She needed to get up. She had to get up. She could hear the clinking of talons getting closer over her labored breathing. Flashes of gold, silver, red, and blue moved through the trees toward her. She knew the battle wouldn’t last much longer. Soon, there’d be no one standing between her and the god coming for her. No, not for her. For whom every bone in her body ached to move and protect. For whom her heart now loved so deeply, it was breaking at the thought of losing her. For the small bundle of hope that she now cradled in her arms. Thunder boomed through the forest and the battle near her suddenly became more intense. She knew he’d do everything in his power to protect them, but she could feel him waning. She tried and failed to push herself off the ground. She was weakening by the second. The pool of blood around her had grown larger and she was growing colder by the minute. The child in her arms felt like a small flame compared to her. She felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She didn’t know if she had just begun crying or if she was only now realizing it. Help had to come. She knew she wouldn’t make it, but she’d tear through the heavens and infernos alike to make sure her child survived this. She’d destroyed plenty of battlefields over the years and she’d be damned if she went down without a fight now. She heard footsteps running towards her. She willed herself to her knees; gritting her teeth so hard that she may very well have cracked one. She looked down and saw the tiniest amber eyes with golden specks, more vibrant than stars, staring up at her through the ringlets of vermillion curls matted to her small forehead. The gods heading for her could go straight to the abyss for all she cared. She cradled the one that would be their downfall, and she’d make sure her daughter lived long enough for the bastards to get the chance to realize it.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.