"Don't fire yet," Zoya warned, her voice a ghost of a sound. "He wants you to miss."
The tiger lunged, a blur of orange and black fury. Arjun fired, the crack of the rifle echoing through the valley, but the beast was a shadow. It slammed into him, pinning the soldier to the frozen earth. Arjun looked up into the abyss of the tiger's throat, the smell of death overwhelming his senses. "Don't fire yet," Zoya warned, her voice a ghost of a sound
The tiger emerged. It was massive, its fur scarred and matted with the remnants of its last encounter. It moved with a terrifying, silent grace. Arjun raised his scope, his breath hitching. The beast didn't run. It stood its ground, baring teeth stained a permanent, rusted crimson. It slammed into him, pinning the soldier to the frozen earth
As the sun dipped below the peaks, painting the sky in bruises of purple and gold, a low rumble vibrated through the earth. It wasn't thunder. It was a growl that sounded like grinding stones. From the shadows of the deodar trees, two amber orbs ignited. It was massive, its fur scarred and matted
Just as the jaws began to close, a silver flash streaked through the air. Zoya’s spear found its mark in the tiger's shoulder. The beast roared—a sound of pure, unadulterated agony—and retreated into the darkness, leaving a trail of dark silk on the snow.