Poisonwood (Poisonwood & Lyric Book 1) by Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes

Author:Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes [Burns, Sam & Fawkes, W.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-12T03:00:00+00:00

It was strange, seeing the word “love” there, in his own handwriting. He’d only known Jasper a short time, but he didn’t feel like he couldn’t say it to him. Or maybe the note was for Poppy, since Jasper would probably die if Caleb did. He loved her too, so that was fine. If he failed, at least she wouldn’t have to wonder what had happened to him.

He headed out in human form, since it was most comfortable for him, and he knew right where he was going. He’d always made a point of avoiding that part of the woods.

In the stories, the creature of legend was always hard to find. The Poisonwood monster was no white stag or golden fish. It was, like Caleb, a bear. A huge, angry, ancient bear.

As though it felt him enter its territory, he heard a roar the moment he stepped into the clearing near its cave. This entire part of the woods felt different. Not dark and foreboding, but somehow wilder. Not like they were far from the city, but like there was no city left anywhere.

Caleb barely had time to push off his boots and unbutton his jeans before the monster came rushing out of its cave, roaring again in challenge. He had expected to have to spend more time searching, at least—but no, this was better. Time was of the essence, after all.

He forced down his jeans and threw himself into the shift, pushing toward the monster. It was bigger than he was. Angrier too, which was something he wouldn’t have thought possible. Poppy probably would have made a joke about it.

Still, the monster didn’t need to win like Caleb did. Maybe the odds weren’t in his favor, but Jasper needed this, needed Caleb to do this for him. The monster didn’t have Jasper waiting at home.

It threw itself at him with reckless abandon, ignoring Caleb’s claws, and raked its own across his chest. His blood, hot and bright, sprayed across his face. All he could see was red.

This creature was what stood between him and Jasper getting well. This creature had long outlived its time, and Jasper was still so young. This creature was nothing nature had intended, and its death could give Caleb a chance at happiness.

It lunged at him. He fell to one side, ducking the worst of its claws, but it still managed to clip him on the shoulder.

He lunged from the side, going for the monster’s throat. A longer fight gave the monster the advantage. Caleb had to end this as quickly as possible.

It roared and swiped at him with its claws, hitting the already open wounds on his chest. Caleb roared in pain, losing his grip on the creature, which rolled away. It didn’t stay gone long, scrambling onto its feet and launching itself at Caleb again.

And again.

Caleb could feel himself weakening with every drop of blood he lost, but he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t.

He had to think like a man, not a bear.

He fell back, pretended to fall onto his side, slowed his breathing, and listened.

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