The Smiling Beast

"What do we do?"

The desperation in Lilly's voice was clear. Still nauseous, Lucian finally managed to prop himself up against a rock.

"How long since Byakko left?"

"A while."

The giant Gnoll got down on all fours, getting a closer look at the children. It was foaming at the mouth and huffing like a steam engine.

"I'll blind it and you run."

"What? No!"

"Listen, Lilly, my head is spinning like crazy. I can't run, but you can. I don't know if it will be enough, but it's our only option."

His mind was made up. He tried to recall the sensation he’d felt back in the forest. It was harder, but he could slowly hear the familiar hum manifesting. It was possible. He could do it.

"Get ready. The next word I say is your signal."

Lilly was profusely protesting, crying in desperation and fear. But Lucian drowned both her complaints and the approaching stomps out, focusing exclusively on his spell.
As the static wove into mechanical clanging, he felt heat accumulating in his palm. Not wanting to engulf Lilly, he raised his other hand as if to shield them and felt a slight shift as the tone nestled itself between his hold.

"Flash."

A beam of light shot from his hands directly into the beast's eyes.

"Now Lilly, run!"

Giving him a last punch, she did.
Lucian did his best to maintain his aim. But the rush from landing a direct hit was soon throttled by a burning sensation. His hands were searing, his inevitable scream disrupting the spell.

He looked at his hands. They were charred. But at least this should've bought Lilly some—
She was still there. Standing right next to him. Defeat written all over her face and hurling rocks at the unmoving foe.

"Lilly, why didn't you?"

"I can't, I'm not strong enough to continue by myself! And even if I was... Just look. It wouldn't have changed anything."

Lucian looked at the giant Gnoll. Unfazed by his spell was an understatement. He was sure he hit its eyes, but it seemed completely unaffected. Even the pebbles Lilly magically flung were getting
slight reactions out of it.
Snickering yanked his attention away from it. Quiet at first, it was coming from all directions.
They were surrounded.

Realizing the futility of her assult, Lilly sank to the ground and fell into Lucian's arms. They embraced each other, knowing full well what was about to happen.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Lilly."

"Shut up and let me cry in peace. You tried, but there was nothing we could do."

Lucian hugged her tight, ignoring the pain from his ruined hands.

"It's my fault. If I had waited with the magic until we were back at the clearing then this wouldn't have happened at all. And now you're stuck here with me." Saying it out loud made the fact hurt even more.

Lilly grabbed him tightly. Her wet face glistening in the sunlight.
"It's okay. We fought till the end and this way neither of us will die alone."

They clutched one another and cried, ready to accept their doom, together.

The Gnolls however, didn't attack. Lucian opened his swollen eyes again. The smaller ones were circling in an anxious manner and the big one stared, not at, but over them.

Byakko was standing atop the boulder they had cradled themselves under, his face wrinkled by fury.
The Gnoll wasn't attacking, but also wasn't backing away.
The two titans began growling at each other. It was strange. Lucian rarely got to hear Byakko's intimidation, but he could tell his tone was slightly off.

The staredown was intense. Even with saliva dripping down on them, the children didn’t move.
Byakko snapped first and a series of barks and growls ensued, before coming to a sudden stop.
The ravenous color from the Gnoll's eyes vanished and it backed away a few steps.
Then its face changed. The aggressive slopes on its lips now angling upwards instead.

"Is that thing... smiling?"

As if to answer Lilly, its unsettling rasp reemerged. Followed by a raucous howl. The Gnoll's entourage erupted into uncontrolled cackles as if they had just witnessed the cruel punchline of some private joke, before scurrying off downstream. The giant Gnoll also departed, making sure to give the children one last look at its wicked smile before trotting off.

The children were shaken to their core. If Byakko hadn't returned, this would've been it.

"Thank you, Byakko. We owe—"

Lucian raised his head only to find himself looking at the sky. The tiger was already gone.
The two of them were alone again.
They took their time gathering the rest of the water, washing fresh and dried tears off their faces, and headed back.
Nobody spoke on the way, too strained from what had just occurred.
This silence wouldn't last. After a few days, they were back to being themselves again.
What didn't return, however, was Byakko, and unbeknownst to them currently, this wasn't going to change.