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.
"Don't fire yet," Zoya warned, her voice a ghost of a sound. "He wants you to miss." The tiger emerged
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. Arjun raised his scope, his breath hitching
In the small, isolated village of Rudraprayag, the legend had returned. They called it Rakt-Mukh —The Blood in the Mouth. It was a tiger that didn't hunt for food, but for the sheer thrill of the kill. "Don't fire yet," Zoya warned, her voice a ghost of a sound