Mishka stood just outside the cave, her massive form framed by the swirling snow. The polar bear’s dark eyes locked onto Mary, her hackles rising as the scent of blood filled the air. She could tell something was wrong—Claude’s absence, the faint coppery tang of death, and the goblin's weak movements all set her instincts ablaze.
Mary tried to skirt around the bear, clutching her cloak tighter as though it might shield her. “Move,” she croaked, her voice weak. “I don’t have time for you.”
Mishka didn’t move. Her growl started low, a deep rumble that vibrated through the ground, growing louder as Mary limped closer. The polar bear’s lips curled back, revealing sharp teeth glinting in the faint light.
“Don’t,” Mary hissed, her glamour flickering to reveal her goblin features for a moment. “I’m already dead. Let me—”
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Mishka lunged.
The polar bear’s massive paw struck Mary with devastating force, knocking her to the ground. Mary let out a choked scream, her fragile body crumpling beneath the bear’s weight. Mishka pinned her to the snow, her teeth sinking into Mary’s shoulder with savage precision.
Mary thrashed weakly, her claws scraping uselessly at Mishka’s thick fur. “Stop,” she whimpered, her voice cracking. “I—”
Mishka growled, shaking her prey violently. The sound was primal, a raw expression of grief and rage. Mary's struggles grew weaker, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. Her red cloak, now soaked in blood, fluttered in the wind as Mishka delivered the killing blow: a final, brutal bite that silenced the goblin forever.
The snow around them turned crimson, the storm swallowing the sound of slaughter. Mishka stepped back, her muzzle stained with blood, and let out a low, mournful roar. She turned toward the cave, sniffing the air as if hoping Claude would appear. But he didn't.
Mishka paced outside the cave entrance, her massive paws leaving deep impressions in the snow. Her growls softened into low whines as she settled into a vigil, lying down near the entrance. The polar bear's gaze never left the cave, her loyalty keeping her rooted in place despite the loss she couldn't yet comprehend.
Above, the storm began to ease, the first glimmers of dawn breaking through the clouds. But for Mishka, the world remained dark, her grief as heavy as the snow blanketing the ground.