The city of Unari could be seen in the distance and Cara’s heart leapt in her chest. “We’ve made it.” she thought. “Please don’t be too late.”

It had taken two extra days to reach the city. Dozens of black creatures with red eyes had passed them and forced them to take shelter or flee. In all, it had cost them precious time and their horses were on the brink of death. They and the horses were exhausted but she pushed on. Even through the night, she could see the tired faces of each man riding behind her. Neighing in protest, the horses continued at their current speed, breathing heavily.

The moon hung brightly in the sky, lighting up the landscape around them. “Please be in time,” she repeated.

At the corner of her eye, she caught sight of black shadows dashing about. Keeping to the darkest parts of the land, hiding from the moonlight.

To their shock, enormous creatures the size of a horse with thick hides and tails attacked the black creatures. Whatever was happening, the two strange species were fighting each other.

“Your majesty!” one of the guards shouted. “On our right! They are coming.”

Upon realizing they had been seen, the black creatures made a beeline for them. Red eyes bobbed up and down as the creatures sprinted straight at them. Fear crept up her spine from the sight.

“Turn around!” she ordered.

Skidding to a halt, Cara and her ten guards veered to the left, going nowhere, in particular, only heading away from the monsters. To her dread, the red-eyed creatures adjusted their course, following them and her heart sank.

Before Xerath had left Xerixes, Kyburn’s letter had mentioned these creatures. He had called them Thrak. They had attacked Riqun and she knew they were headed for Unari and that only meant one thing. Unari was already under attack. For all she knew the fighting could still be going on. Or Hashem forbid, the battle was over and the Thrak had broken through into Xer.

Whatever the case, the Thrak were here, following them. Cara prayed to Hashem for their safety and Xerath to still be alive. So much doubt and worry filled her mind even with the deadly monsters at their heels.

The other giant creatures resembled the Vog. She didn’t know why, but they were killing each other.

The horses were already on the brink of collapsing and now they were being chased by these things. Snorts and huffs told her the horses couldn’t keep running. They began to slow and her mind raced.

To her horror, they skidded to a halt at the edge of a rock cliff. Thirty feet below was the ground and going around would take them into the path of the pursuers.

“Dismount!” she yelled. “Chase the horses away, they might follow them instead of us.”

Quickly, they all dismounted and smacked the horse's hides making them run away as Cara and the soldiers hid behind rocks and anything they could find. Their hope was short-lived as they saw the creatures follow the horses for a moment then turn toward them once again.

“Captain?” she whispered. “What do we do? Can you fight them?”

He looked at her, eyes determined, “We will protect you with our lives.” he avoided the question. “To arms!” he shouted as they drew their swords and stepped out of the hiding places to confront the terrifying enemy.

They all looked exhausted and Cara nearly wept from their undying loyalty to her. Even in the face of these monsters and on the brink of collapsing, her men defended her.

The Thrak pursued them like bloodhounds. “Were they following their scent?” she asked herself. They were relentless. If Cara didn’t know any better, she believed those creatures were hunting them specifically.

Cara watched as the animals drew closer, then she remembered what Gus had said to her many years ago. He had warned them. For all those years, so many mocked him for his belief, and yet, he was right. The Thrak did exist.

“If I make it out of this,” she thought. “I’ll owe you an apology.”

She counted fifteen approaching figures. Two larger ones remained in the back. Bravely, her ten guards huddled around her pulling up their swords and whoever had a shield braced themselves. Those without shields, Cara knew, were at an extreme disadvantage.

The monkey-like Thrak screeched and yells from her guards made her feel utterly helpless. They were filled with fear and still, they remained loyal. Watching them fight, she prayed for their safety and victory over these demons.

“Hashem help us!” She prayed aloud as the battle began.

To her horror, Cara watched as two men were immediately slain by four Thrak. Two of her men instantly jumped at the opportunity and cut the four creatures down. More attacked without hesitation, rushing from two sides. Her captain howled in rage while swinging his two-handed sword, cleaving two of them in half.

Blood and flesh were torn before her eyes, she could only watch and pray. Her men were pounced on like cats, the weight of the creatures pinning several to the ground. They picked her guards off one by one. Each man, fighting till the bitter end.

The Thrak targeted their legs and went for the head once an opening came.

She screamed in terror at the sight of one man’s head being crushed from a bite. The flesh from his face was peeled down then its jaws tightened around the skull. It popped like a tomato.

Four soldiers remained while eight of them continued the attack. A monster slipped past them from the side and lunged for her, teeth and claws bared. Screaming, Cara jumped backward, getting dangerously close to the cliff edge, and felt a sharp pain in her side.

Blood soaked her riding attire, along with a long slash across her forearm. “Your majesty!” the captain bellowed and came to her aid, cutting its head off.

Cara’s horror continued as huge bone-like spikes were shot from the two largest creatures, piercing her captain’s chest and throat right before her eyes.

He looked at her, eyes wide and gurgled blood from his mouth as he was launched off his feet and over the cliff. The force of the spikes sent one more guard flying to his death and Cara shivered in terror as the beasts drew closer.

The two remaining guards, both with shields backed away, huddling closer to their queen with looks of hopelessness.

Before the Thrak went in for their final attack, a loud growl echoed over the land, piercing her ears along with the creatures who were shaken by the sound. They began shrinking in fear from the roar which distracted them from their prey.

An enormous Vog came crashing over them, uprooting small trees in the process. He charged straight for the larger Thrak and pummeled them. Its gigantic jaws crushed one body effortlessly. One large paw, knocked the second against a small tree, breaking it into splinters. It lay helpless on its back, struggling to get up with splinters of wood piercing its hip.

The Vog placed its massive paw onto its belly and wrapped its razor-sharp claws around it, squeezing the life out of it.

Cara, along with her two remaining guards yelped in fear from the sight. It happened so quickly, they barely had time to register what had taken place.

The Vog was attacked by the remaining Thrak, though their claws and teeth had little hope of penetrating its thick scales. Its back had huge plates of boney armor. It swiped them off like flies and he made quick work of them.

To her left and right, Thrak had crept closer as the fight was taking place.

“Look out!” she screamed to her men.

Both yanked their shields up in time to block the gaping teeth but the creature’s arms and hind legs slashed at her men.

Both men cried out in pain and Cara rushed forward, drawing her dagger. It lay atop the man and she jammed it into its neck, hoping to kill it.

It shrieked and whipped around, slapping her in the shoulder, knocking her backward.

Another two Thrak came out of nowhere from behind, climbing up from the cliff. She sent a last prayer to Hashem and closed her eyes.

A loud slam that crumbled the earth, vibrated at her feet. A massive humanoid figure stood over her, his leg pinning the Thrak by its neck. He casually swiped his sword down, cutting its head off, and turned his attention to the Thrak on the edge.

He lunged forward, skewering one in the chest but the other lunged past him. Going straight for her. Its teeth bared, claws outstretched, the Thrak halted in its track mid-air.

The Ancient, as she then, had grabbed its leg mid-air. He heaved and swung it over his head and slammed it to the ground, stunning it momentarily.

She gazed at her savior. Her ancient descendants. From all the books. Gus, it seemed, was right again. With awe and shock, she watched him place a hand on its lower jaw.

It began to struggle violently and scratched at his chest. The claws bounced off of something that shimmered around his armor.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, then crushed its head like a grape in the palm of his hand.

She let out a short yelp, shocked by the gore and black blood spraying everywhere.

Thankfully, her remaining guards had killed the last Thrak. And they too stared at the Emarine with awe. As if seeing a god.

He flung the body off the side of the cliff and looked down at the bodies below. “Forgive me,” he said calmly, his voice steady and deep. “I’m sorry you had to see that. When you turned your course, it took us longer to catch up to you. We didn’t make it in time to save your men.” he lowered his head.

“I should be the one thanking you.” Cara stammered.

“You must be the queen,” Kaladin said as his helmet pulled backward and revealed his face. “Xerath asked me to get you. Cara was it?”

Cara stretched her neck up to look at him, his helmet had disappeared, seemingly out of thin air, to reveal a handsome face. He must have been nearly nine feet tall, which took her by surprise and her mind raced from everything that had just happened.

“I-I am.” she stuttered. “My husband is alright then?”

“You must be in shock. Xerath is fine,” he said kindly, offering his hand. “My name is Kaladin Valhorn.” he looked her up and down, noticing her shaky hands. “I helped Kyburn and your husband defend Unari. Unfortunately, some of the Thrak escaped over the wall. That is why I am here.”

Her whole body was shaking from the encounter and she just realized it after he noticed. She did her best to control it but to no avail.

The enormous Vog stepped closer to them, apparently listening to them with wondrous blue eyes. He stopped a few paces from them then sat on his haunches as did two other Vog that were much smaller. The two smaller ones had come from nowhere but she put it out of her mind for now as they looked to be peaceful.

“Th-those things.” she shook her head in confusion. “Those were Thrak? They’ve been chasing us for a long time.”

“I know.” he smiled warmly. “My friend has been keeping them at bay. You should thank him and his daughters. They are the ones that saved you. The big one is called Felkuru.”

Felkuru bowed his big thick head at her, his glowing blue eyes looking at her intensely.

“T-thank you,” she whispered, in confusion.

“He says you're welcome.” Kaladin started to lead her away from all the dead bodies and blood-soaked ground.

“Those were the last of them.” he paused. “At least the ones that made it over the wall at Unari.”

“I-I have to tell Xerath,” she mumbled, still dazed from the fight. “He and Erik are in danger. A-Amira is an ass-assassin. She k-killed Jebbin.”

Her two guards followed after them, keeping an eye on the Vog but said nothing.

He held her gently, but firmly, keeping her on her feet as her legs were still shaking. The fear and adrenaline had kept her going but it had worn off.

“I know.” Kaladin grabbed her shoulder as she looked to be falling over again. “You should rest for a bit.”

“My brother.” she looked up at him. “Erik. Is he safe too?”

Kaladin looked back down at her and his expression turned dark and she began to panic. Her knees buckled but he caught her.

“Erik!” she cried. “Is Erik okay?”

“I’m sorry.” Kaladin frowned, sympathetically.

“No.” tears gushed from her eyes. “No. No. Not Erik too.”

Kaladin picked her up in his arms and cradled her. His strong body held her tightly. It was a comfort. She began weeping uncontrollably in his chest. Her wet tears dripped off his cold metal armor.

“Please.” Cara wailed. “Tell me you're lying.”

“I’m afraid not,” Kaladin said gently.

She didn’t know this man. Or whatever he was. But his embrace, cradling her like a child, gave her a sliver of comfort as she wept for her brother.