Euri and Helios raised their hands simultaneously, placing their middle fingers and thumbs between their lips. A sharp, piercing whistle split the night air.
Moments later, the thunder of hooves answered.
Their horses came racing across the field, manes whipping in the moonlight, breath steaming in the cool night air. As the animals closed the distance, both riders seized the reins and vaulted into their saddles in one fluid motion, turning immediately toward the village.
Behind them, the cyclops stood motionless, watching.
Then it dropped onto all fours.
The earth trembled as it lunged forward, charging after them with terrifying speed. Each impact of its limbs sent vibrations through the ground, grass rippling outward with every step.
"What is a cyclops doing here?!" Helios shouted, glancing at Euri, whose face mirrored his own confusion and fear.
Without warning, Euri yanked his reins and brought his horse to a halt, forcing it into a sharp turn.
Helios skidded to a stop behind him, staring in disbelief. "What are you doing!?"
"We can't lead the cyclops toward the village. We have to lead it away," Euri said, already urging his horse toward the charging monster.
Helios gritted his teeth, hesitating only a moment before turning his horse to follow. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"I'm going to lead it away!" Euri shouted as he rode straight toward the oncoming beast.
Helios stared in disbelief. "What the hell? You're going to lead it away by running toward it? What kind of plan is that?!"
"Trust me, Helios! What I need you to do is go back to the village and evacuate everyone!" Euri shouted as he drew closer to the monster.
"No, I can't. If I leave you alone, you'll die!"
"Helios! Go!" Euri yelled.
Helios stopped.
He watched as Euri rode straight toward the charging cyclops.
For a moment, he couldn't move.
Then, with a strangled breath, he turned his horse and rode hard toward the village.
As Euri closed the distance, the cyclops unleashed a deafening roar and swung one massive arm downward with crushing force.
But the horse was too fast.
The blow struck empty air.
The cyclops lurched forward, losing its balance and crashing into the earth with a thunderous impact.
Euri did not slow. He rode past, glancing back just in time to see the creature pushing itself upright again.
This time it pursued him on two legs, towering above the grassland, its single eye blazing with fury. It roared again — a deafening, primal sound — as it thundered after the tiny fleeing horse.
"Lilly, we won't be able to outrun it for much longer…" Euri murmured, leaning forward to gently stroke the horse's neck.
In that moment, he made his decision.
He leaped from the saddle.
His body struck the ground and rolled, grass and dirt tearing at his cloak before he sprang back to his feet.
"Lilly, head back to the village!"
He whistled sharply again, sending the horse galloping away.
Euri stood alone in the open field as Lilly fled into the moonlit distance.
The cyclops charged toward him.
Euri did not move.
Wind tugged at his black cloak as he drew his sword, the blade catching cold moonlight.
I'm a normal human. I don't stand a chance against this thing…
The ground shook as it closed the distance.
He turned and ran.
I just have to stall for as long as I can. I can't let anyone die.
The cyclops caught him in seconds.
A massive arm swept forward, striking Euri across the back.
He was hurled through the air like a rag doll before crashing into the ground and rolling violently across the dirt.
Blood spilled from his mouth as he lay motionless, the world spinning around him.
Helios burst into the village.
Villagers still sat around the fire, eating the deer they had hunted.
He leaped from his horse and ran toward the center of the gathering.
A man stepped toward him. "There you are, Hel—"
"A cyclops is on the outskirts! We have to evacuate everyone!" Helios shouted.
The villagers stared at him, confused.
"A cyclops?" an elderly woman repeated.
Murmurs spread through the crowd as they struggled to process his words.
"There's a cyclops on the outskirts of the village! Euri is risking his life out there so we have enough time to leave!" Helios shouted again.
Panic erupted.
People rushed toward tents and huts, scrambling to gather belongings.
Then a man stepped forward, a confident smirk on his face.
"A cyclops? We have nothing to fear. We have Odin and the gods protecting us! As long as they watch over us, nothing can harm our village."
The elderly woman nodded. "He's right." She clasped her hands and closed her eyes. "As long as we pray, nothing can harm us."
The words spread like wildfire.
One by one, the villagers clasped their hands and closed their eyes. Prayers replaced panic. Fear gave way to blind faith.
"This is no time to be praying to your gods! We have to evacuate!" Helios shouted.
No one listened.
Children, adults, elders — all knelt in prayer.
Helios stormed forward, grabbing a man by the collar and shaking him violently. The man's eyes flew open in shock.
"Stop praying and evacuate! Euri is out there risking his life so that you idiots can live!"
The sound of galloping hooves cut through the night.
Helios froze.
He turned.
Lilly came racing into the village, foam at her mouth, eyes wide with terror.
Helios's face drained of color.
"Lilly…?"
He approached slowly, placing his hands on her head and looking into her eyes.
"Where's Euri?"
He waited.
As if expecting an answer.
Dread tightened around his chest as he stared into the horse's dark, frightened eyes.
Then, from the distant grasslands, a thunderous roar split the night.
His heart sank.