Crimson Battle

Looking closely at the patches of burnt grass, Hóngsè realizes that they were still hot from the

Crimson Wolf. As she looks closer, she hears a low growl behind her. She twirls around to see

two crimson eyes filled with bloodlust staring her down.

With steam rising up from the Crimson Wolf, it leaps into the air, launching itself at

Hóngsè. Being forced to dodge, she rolls to the side and pulls out her twin daggers. She knew

that this was a battle where she could not be cocky.

As the Wolf got ready for another attack, Hóngsè immediately dashed towards it, not

giving it a chance to attack again. As soon as she draws near, the Crimson wolf leaps at her once

again.

Hóngsè brings up her daggers and slides under the body of the Wolf. Somehow, the

Crimson Wolf swiped downwards and slices up Hóngsè's face. Without even flinching she still

slices the underbelly of the beast, but only slightly.

Unfazed by the attack, the steam rising from the Crimson Wolf increases.

Scorching heat burns the flesh on Hóngsè's face due to the gash that the Wolf was able to land.

The searing heat was almost unbearable for her, but she still stood up and got ready for another

attack.

Trying to distract the wolf, she throws a few stones at it. Distracted, the Crimson Wolf

snapped at the stones that were flying towards it. While it was busy destroying the harmless

stones, Hóngsè dashed forward and charged at the monster.

Launching herself at the beast, she plunged her twin daggers into the nape of the Crimson

Wolf's neck. Howling in anger, it tosses its head trying to throw the little bug off itself. Even

with all of its power, Hóngsè still held on for dear life.

Hóngsè could feel the searing heat emitting from the wolf. Her flesh felt like it was being

cooked. The pain was almost unbearable, it felt like she would soon be cooked alive. Even then, she knew that if

she let go, then her body will be the Crimson Wolf's next meal.

She grit her teeth and continued to hold on as she tried to plan her next move. As she was

being flung around with only two daggers as her anchor, Hóngsè noticed something.

Although

the Crimson Wolf was indeed powerful, it seemed to have a weak spot.

Hóngsè never saw the Wolf get near a tree, and she noticed that the beast was constantly

on the move to prevent fires due to its extreme heat. This meant that if the Crimson wolf wanted

her dead, it will eventually tire out because it must constantly move. All she had to do was climb

a tree and wait.

Already feeling blisters rise upon her hands, Hóngsè quickly let go of her daggers. There

was no way to get them back because the already melted into the flesh of the Crimson Wolf.

Quickly getting as much distance as possible, Hóngsè began to look for a place to climb.

While she looked, the Crimson wolf shook its body, relieved to get the weight off of itself.

Once

again turning to its prey, it got ready for another attack.

Hóngsè noticed the beast in the corner of her eye and quickly sprinted for the tree.

Frantically scrambling, she was just reaching for the lowest branch when the Wolf leapt. Its was

the end for her. She had no chance to dodge, and had nothing to defend herself with.

She flinched, ready for the impact, instead of feeling the attack, there was a shrill yelp.

When Hóngsè looked up, she saw the Crimson Wolf laying on the ground. The daggers that were

in its neck kept it from leaping at her without it feeling an extreme pain throughout the body. This

was a stroke of luck that would not go wasted.

Hóngsè swung herself up the first branch, but as soon as she reached for the second, there

was a searing pain on her palms. She looked down and saw how part of her flesh has melted off.

Some of her muscle and tissue was actually showing.

With a grimace, Hóngsè tore off pieces of her shirt with her teeth and quickly wrapped

them around her hands. Once her hands were protected, she continued to climb up the tree. After

climbing up a good twelve feet more, she knew that she was safe. The Crimson wolf won't be

able to get to her.

Below Hóngsè the Crimson Wolf was just getting up from the dizzying pain from the

twin daggers melted into its body. Looking around, it realizes that its prey has escaped it

somehow. Filled with anger, it began to pace around.

Filled with exhaustion from the fight, both Hóngsè and the Crimson Wolf were ready to

pass out. The adrenaline was leaving their bodies and the pain was starting to seep in.

While the

wolf began to finally cool down to sleep, Hóngsè was trying to not fall off the branch due to how

weak she has gotten.

At last, the Crimson Wolf actually began to settle down in a cleared patch that it had just

made. It layed down and the steam that normally rises from it began to dissipate.

As its breathing

began to even out, Hóngsè slowly made her way down the tree.

She could not believe that her luck could reach so far. The Crimson Wolf seems to no

longer be hot whenever it rests. This means that its unique defense is now gone. This beast

sacrificed protection over comfort.

Quietly, Hóngsè reached into her back and pulled out the small dagger she uses to skin

and gut the beasts she kills. This time though, it is this skinning dagger that will deal the final

blow.

As she drew close, the now sleeping Crimson Wolf didn't even stir. Closer and closer

Hóngsè got and still the beast did not awake. Hóngsè raised the dagger in both hands. Each hand

was wrapped in a cloth soaked and dried in blood. Somehow, the wolf didn't even notice the

scent of blood in the air.

As if time itself had stopped, there were no sounds. Not bugs, no birds, not even the

occasional rodent was heard scurrying through the brush. The forest was quiet, and the only

thing that was heard was the low, raspy breathing of Hóngsè.

Suddenly, time resumed and Hóngsè thrust the small dagger into the Crimson Wolf's

head. The wolf gave a small shudder and then laid still. It was dead. Finally it had died by her

hands. Sound came roaring back. Bugs went back to buzzing, and bird began to sing once more.

Things seemed to finally calm down, and Hóngsè finally took a deep breath to relax. She

did it. She survived. Sure she nearly died, but so what. This was a victory that nobody else has

won, except for her.

Unfortunately, this small victory did not last long. As soon as she began to finally breathe

again, the powerful smell of blood filled her nose like never before. It was overwhelming.

Hóngsè was confused. 'What is going on? Why is this happening to me? What is this smell?'

Questions were racing through her mind. The entire time she was asking herself these

questions though, there was one sentence that played in her head the loudest.

"I. Need, That, Blood,"