Chapter73: The Hero in the Girl

*Roxy* I watch in horror as the witches’ magic lifts Leo into the air, his midnight-black wolf twisting in pain, suspended like a marionette on invisible strings. The witches’ chant claws through the morning. “No!” I scream, slamming both palms against the windowsill. My voice breaks, raw and useless against the sky. Then—they drop him. His body hits the ground with a sickening thud. He’s completely still.--motionless. A scream tears from my throat. “Somebody help me!” I shout, leaning out the window, desperate. “Please! Someone! Throw me a rope!” Below, chaos churns through the valley. Wolves sprint, warriors cry out, magic swirls like smoke. The witches scream again, louder this time. “Please!” I yell again. “He’s—Leo’s—” My voice shatters on his name. Then finally someone hears me. A warrior near the supply wagon—his armor gleaming–looks up, and without a word, he grabs a coil of rope and throws it toward the window. On the third try, I catch it in my trembling hands but nearly drop