>>5637837As they pant on the ground, they look at the living quarters again. Those monks are little more than dots in the distance. Just a couple more-
MRRRRRRR…
A beast lets out a vengeful growl.
Its set of hooves makes the ground around it tremble.
Emerging from the shade is a Bow Buffalo, an occult beast with elegantly curved bow like horns and a hide so black that light cannot reflect off it. The monks must’ve sent that thing to find them. A particularly powerful spirit, as old as archery and agriculture itself.
Before the crew could fade again, the buffalo opens its mouth. Hundreds of spirits pour out of its throat and scream otherworldly words into the ears of Sira and his crew.
Deafened by the noise and disoriented, they fall to the ground. Warin tries to reach for her occult knife, but the buffalo sneezes at her.
Despite her supernaturally cold body, her arm and hand is burned by the hot air generated from the animal.
Her knife tries to move out of its scabbard, but the Bow buffalo sees the movement underneath her shirt and stomps on her hip.
While the buffalo is focused on Warin, Sira is able to pick up his wheellock pistol and fire at the occult beast.
The muzzle flash briefly clears the black masses and their otherworldly voices. The shot rips through the shadowy hide and makes the buffalo flinch, giving the two crows time to reach out for Sira and Warin.
Before they make contact, the buffalo’s pitch black eyes light up, turning into bright yellow spheres that radiate extremely bright light and heat.
Despite nearly passing out, the crows is able to grab them and fade. They reappear in the air, landing on the large lake nearby the temple.
Sira and his crows spent the last of the stamina dragging Warin to land. As they lie on the wet dirt and rocks, the shadowy beast emerges from the depth of the lake. Its pitch black eyes fixate on the four as it keeps hopping underwater towards them.
