Lira Dresh

Lira didn’t wait. She never did. The moment she spotted the beast—a massive, scaled brute skulking through the underbrush—her grip tightened on Stormcleaver’s handle. The weight of the great axe was a comfort, familiar and solid in her hands. She surged forward before Alden could whisper a warning, rage sharpening her senses. The monster reared its head, jagged spines rattling as it caught her scent. Good. Let it see her. Let it know what was coming. With a roar of her own, she swung. Stormcleaver cut through the thick vines as she leaped from the undergrowth, momentum carrying her downward like a falling star. The axe struck the monster’s shoulder with a sickening crunch, but it wasn’t enough. It never was. The beast shrieked, twisting violently, throwing her off. Lira hit the ground hard, rolling through the damp earth. Before she could rise, Alden’s voice cut through the chaos. “Lira, wait—” But she didn’t. She couldn’t. She was already back on her feet, charging again. Every heartbeat pounded like a war drum. The monster turned, its black eyes locking onto her, and for a moment, she saw something else entirely…