Just as the jaws began to close, a silver flash streaked through the air. Zoya’s spear found its mark in the tiger's shoulder. The beast roared—a sound of pure, unadulterated agony—and retreated into the darkness, leaving a trail of dark silk on the snow.
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. Just as the jaws began to close, a
"Don't fire yet," Zoya warned, her voice a ghost of a sound. "He wants you to miss." unadulterated agony—and retreated into the darkness