Counter

Without answering, Caroline made a sweep of her right hand. The forest
shook. Several gigantic trees bent and swung their branches straight down
at the sleeping dhampir.

The left hand countered with an attack of his own. Grabbing hold of the
huge branch it’d just spat out, it hurled the wooden missile at Caroline. The
branch went with such speed there was no time to dodge it. And yet,
Caroline must’ve managed at least a lightning-fast twist of her body,
because it was her abdomen that the huge branch ultimately pierced.
The instant she fell backward screaming, the movements of the branches
came to a dead stop. Even Leila’s bonds came undone.

5 - 3