Freya jerked awake. For a second, she blinked against the darkness as her muscles tensed. Her blood rushed through her system while warning bells rang in her ears. The cold swept against her flesh making goosebumps begin to collect on her flesh, but why she did not know. She could feel a burning on her back. She was able to taste the blood on her tongue. She felt the murderous intent in the air, and she felt her mouth water. It choked her. It burned through her veins, and it made her restless. Everything had become still, cold, besides for the adrenaline that ran through her system. Something was hunting her. She could feel its fangs around her throat, and its claws as it tore through her flesh. She felt the power of the beast. Cold.. Calcuated, and most of all patient. Its eyes bore into her pack causing for her to feel suffocated under its pressure. Freya did not dare move a muscle. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her breath came out in panic gasps as her eyes stared straight down at the dying embers of her fire. She could no longer feel the rain or the cold. She could only feel the eyes.
Breathing deeply to calm herself, she dared to glance over to find her steed gone. Her jaws clenched harshly. Her jaw ached from the effort as she then moved her sights for a weapon. Her arrows were on her back, but one sudden movement could be her last. It did not matter though. She was able to feel the pressure leave her. Shit! The spell was broken as she snapped her hand up and ripped an arrow from the pounch on her back. She snatched her bow from the ground and spun as she placed the nock of the arrow against the nocking point. Pulling her string back, she turned to aim. The feather tickled against her cheek as she slowly glanced along the darkness. Nothing moved though. Nothing breathed, rather she sat in silence as her eyes searched the darkness. "Where are you?" Freya whispered softly as she forced herself into a crouch. If needed, she could run. The thick bush around her shelter hide her some, but the space was not open enough for a fight. It would be easy to pin her against the cliff.
Freya became brave enough to glance away to search for an escape route. However, she was not knowledgeable enough of the area. She had not ventured out of the walls of Bellaroos besides for Mouse's cabin. Even there, she had to be guided around. She had to wonder what chances she would have if she ran or tried to escape. At least here, a predator would have only one entry. It was a mistake. As she turned back, movement blurred. Instinctively, Freya threw herself to the side where she rolled. Screaming out, she jumped back again. It was only this time she was able to gain her balance long enough to turn eyes to the creature before it. It... was a fish?
Freya blinked in confusion at the thing before her. It was utterly huge. It stretched out six feet with a huge head that slipped down into a slim body. The creature was mostly black including its tiny beady eyes on either side of its box head. However, white zebra stripes decorated its spine while its stomach was pure white. Its front fins stretched down to prop it up. They looked almost like arms. What... was this? Freya did not have time to think on it though as the creature parted its powerful jaws. It screeched as it revealed large razor sharp teeth. "Shit!" Freya hissed under her breath as she let an arrow loose.
The beast was faster though. It twisted to the side before launching itself at her. Freya sidestepped it, however the creature whipped its tail knocking her onto her back. She skid for a moment, but rolled and kicked herself back onto her feet. The fish was fast even on land. Yelling out, it pounced at her again and snapped at the air. She threw herself to the ground to dodge again where Freya let loose another arrow. This time it sank into the creature's side. It screeched out its horrible sound as it threw up its head. It flailed for a second, yet the movement of her standing caught its attention. It simply roared at her as it slithered forward. Its jaws parting to capture her. Its teeth sank into her boot making Freya cry out in pain. Shaking its head, it tore at her, but instantly let go as her foot slammed between its eyes. Once more, it roared and flailed back. That did little, however, to remove its interest as it started to slowly circle her.
Freya forced herself onto her feet as she loaded her bow again. Her eyes followed the fish as she waited again for its next attack. Her back burned from the fall, and her foot ached from the open wound. This time though, she was prepared for the attack. When the creature lunged, she twisted herself around. Without hesitation, she let her arrow fly into the open jaw of the strange creature. Blood erupted as it impaled the fish's eye. The creature screamed out and fell to the ground where it begun to flop about. It did not take long for death to take away the fish's life, thus it gave one final gasp before it fell silent.
Sweat beat down Freya's neck and back. She too gasped for air as her lungs burned for oxygen. What on earth was going on? What was this thing? Where was her steed? Clenching her jaw, she hooked her bow on her shoulder and shealthed her arrow. She had instinctively pulled out another one just in case her last did not do the trick. With careful steps, she made her way over to the creature and nudged it with her foot. It did not move. Rather it laid there with unblinking eyes... staring into the jaws of death.
"Well then." Freya muttered before a burning started in her back. A low hiss crept across the wind as it kissed her skin. She tensed before turning with practiced percision.
"Oh shit." She cursed. Looking beyond the underbrush, the movement of large slimey creatures caught her attention. Beady bottomless eyes broke through the darkness as tiny needle teeth flashed in the moonlight. The forest was crawling in the fish creatures. Freya watched as one wolfed down a rabbit before screeching out. All she could do was back up and press herself into the corner of her hiding place. If she left now, she was dead. Maybe... she could climb up. Surely, they could not climb too? She chuckled nervously. She did not think fish could walk either or hunted out of water. At this point, it was up in airs. Why her? Why does this shit have to happen to her? Swallowing a groan of frustration, she shoved her supplies into her bag. Freya looked up long enough to debate on the saddle and the reins. Could it be the fish ate her longma? Frowning, she weighed her options. In the end though, she decided she could not carry them. If she had to run, it would be pointless in taking them anyway. They would be to heavy and make it more difficult to get away.
"Fucking great." She almost screamed. She finally turned and hoped there was a flat area above. By getting off the ground, she would at least be safe until morning then she could move better. They had not been there during the day, which meant they probably only hunted at night. At least, she hoped otherwise she would be screwed. Freya secured the bag on her shoulder and tightened it until there was no give. She did not risk dropping it. It had her map, and the little bit of things to get her by. With that, she rubbed her hands along her pants to dry them before risking the climb. The first thing she noted was how slippery the rocks were. It had just rained afterall. Placing her foot, she tried to find her landing while she reached up to grip whatever she could find. This case, it was a thick root. She pulled and took her first step... then her next. Her shoulders burned. Her jaw clenched, and her arms screamed for mercy. It had been years since she had done any type of climbing. Her brothers and her used to when they were children, but it was her grandfather that taught Freya how to mountain climb.
Only now was she thankful for the lesson. Her arms did not even remotely agree though. She chuckled at that thought while Freya reached for her next grip. Yelping, her hand slipped. She threw her body against the mountain side and waited as her legs trembled from the effort. Freya had not noticed she closed her eyes until she was pressing her head against the cold stone. She had to force them open and up to decide if she could contiune. It was still a rather long way. Would she be able to make it? Ugh. Then she made her mistake. She turned to glance down only to throw herself against the stone again. Her stomach clenched and threatened to bring back everything she had eaten. The creatures had invaded her camp, screeching and swinging their bodies about, but also the world below her blurred. Her senses heightened at the idea if she fell she was dead.
No, she had to focus, focus! "Everything is fine. It's fine." Freya mumbled to herself. "This is nothing. I survived a cat fight, literally, this is nothing." She repeated this as she reached up again. Her hand gripped against the stone. It cut into her, yet nothing was worse than the burning in her shoulders. Nothing felt worse than the knowledge if she stopped she would be fish food. Ugh, Alec was right. She was fish bait one way or another. It would be about twenty or thirty minutes before she finally threw herself onto a small cliff. Gasping for air and dripping in sweat, she laid on her back. Her legs and arms instantly turned to jello while a long groan left her. It was painful just to allow her lungs to expand for air, but the cool wind did wonders to cool her. Her thick black hair clung to now reddened skin. She was exhusted. She feared moving even a single inch, even with the knowledge she needed to check out her resting spot.
Groaning, she forced herself to roll over and nearly jumped off the cliff. Screaming, she threw herself back against the rock where she cracked her head against the snow. "Damn it!" Freya yelled out and gripped the back of her skull. Her anger boiled as she curled in herself. "Damn this goddamn place, these goddamn fish, and this fucking-"
A gentle chirp settled Freya's cursing and muttering enough to take in what had surprised her. A small bird sat on the edge of the cliff. It took her no time to remember the tiny creature, as it had haunted her dreams. Slightly bigger than her hand was a black bird with deep orange feathers that wrapped around his chest to its back and shoulders. The orange extended down to cover its stomach and tickle along long greyish blue legs. Black eyes stared back at her in amusement it twisted its head and hopped about. "What do you want now?" Freya, having lost all her patience, demanded as she sat up and folded her legs. She blinked past the need for rest knowing full well this was not a feral. She had seen this bird before. It merely chirped at her again and flapped its wings. For a second, Freya wondered if it was the same bird. Maybe she was starting to mix them together, however something felt... so familiar about this creature. It brushed the back of her mind. Instinct told her to remain awake, that she was in danger, but how or why she could not understand.
Sighing in defeat, Freya moved back against the stone again. This spot at least had some grass and moss growing on the side for comfort. Pulling the bag and her bow off, she settled against it. However, she tugged the bow to her lap and rested it there. For now, she was safe, at least from the killer fish. "If you kill me in my sleep, I will haunt you." Freya mumbled and glanced up at the moon. She might as well get a few more hours in before she had to figure out what to do. It took no encouragement. Simply closing her eyes, the darkness pulled her down.
It made her only vaguely aware of a heaviness being pulled over her and the warmth of it. The last thing she remembered was the softness of words, "Rest little Rose" before finally sleep claimed her once again.