Hidden
Eden pressed their back against the cold crystal formation and calmed their breathing, trying to keep the feathers of their wings from making any rustling noise to not alert their pursuer of their hiding spot.
Eden and their patrol had entered the Corrupted Lands at Oberon's request. The scholar was once again searching for rare ingredients for an experiment that was even of importance for the queens. So a group of three knights, Eden included, had volunteered. It sounded easy enough, stay in the outskirts of the Corrupted Lands where no Corruption Beasts roamed, collect some blue crystals and one or two magic plants, and get the Moons out of there.
Turned out that "where no Corruption Beasts roamed" was not quite correct.
They had stumbled upon a nest of them, three young beasts, thankfully unguarded by their parents. But they were already old enough to give off the corruption mist and one of Eden's fellow knights had breathed it in, rendering them immobile almost on the spot. The other knight had dragged their companion away, hopefully to safety, while Eden had lured the three younglings away.
Two had given up on the pursuit, maybe too tired or too hungry to bother much with playing hide and seek with a vexyn knight. Their third sibling however, slightly bigger and probably older, proved to be stubborn. Not old enough to fly any further distances, they had turned to robbing across the ground, big wings dragging them forward. It sniffed the ground, slowly but steadily making their way to Eden's hiding spot.
Eden had enough experience to know it was foolish to take on an Corruption Beast alone, even such a small one. Flying would attract too much attention, and even if the small beast couldn't fly yet, it might still cry out in frustration and attract any possible other beasts nearby.
Eden carefully looked around the corner and saw the beast not too far away, body held upright by its wings, "nose" sniffing the ground. But they also saw their fellow knight, now without their injured companion. The other knight hadn't noticed Eden yet, and the white vexyn flicked their tail silently, attracting their attention. They made eye-contact. Eden nodded, quiet communication taking place.
They had practiced the maneuver often enough to know what the other meant.
They would charge at the Corruption Beast, quick and efficient, taking out their small opponent before they knew what was happening. It was their only chance to get out of the Corrupted Lands without any further injury or even more beasts at their heels. The small beast gave off no sign of giving up any time soon.
If it were any other animal, Eden might feel bad about killing a young one. But with Corruption Beasts, it was a different matter entirely. Better take them out as early as possible, before they could turn into their giant, dangerous, hardly to beat counterparts.
Eden tensed their muscles and said a silent prayer to the Moons. Looking at the sniffing beast, they bared their teeth and risked everything.
