Once again we sat together in silence. Stargate was dozing off on the other side of the fire, while Ferras was lounging on a fallen tree and I was leaning against it, fiddling around with a pretty stone I had found earlier. When Ferras had said that we would set up camp here, I thought we'd set up a tent or something, but really it just meant that we were going to sleep here, without blankets or a mattress, completely out in the open near a forest of death. Nice.
During dinner, which consisted of some sort of bean soup with crackers, I had tried some small talk. Ferras didn't offer any information about himself at all, so I didn't either. I slowly got the feeling that he didn't want me around anymore. He has been ignoring me for quite a while now.
The crackling fire before us was the only noise in the dark. It was weird being in such a quiet place.
Now that everything had quieted down a bit, I could feel the pressure to relieve myself getting stronger. I tried to suppress it as hard as I could but at some point, I was forced to excuse myself. Leaving the campfire behind me, I noticed my small dilemma. On one hand I really, really didn't want to go out into the creepy forest alone, on the other hand, I also wanted to leave enough distance between me and Ferras. It was so quiet here, you could hear everything. What if he heard me? I shook my head. No, not happening! Nope, forest it is. Gathering all of my leftover courage, I crept further into the forest.
Darkness was nothing. I wasn't afraid. It could do nothing to me...
When I was sure I was far enough to have complete privacy, I quickly did my business, ready to hurry back to the protective light of the campfire. Of course, it didn't actually offer any protection. We were just as vulnerable near the fire as anywhere else in this dark forest, but I guess it was a similar effect to a duvet at night. You know what I mean? When you feel safe hiding beneath it, even though we all know a blanket is totally useless if someone actually came to kill you.
Just as I was about to turn around again to walk back to camp, I felt my skin tingling. I froze up in fear. Was something out there?
I scanned the area carefully. Nothing moved. I must have imagined it. Right? Breathing as quietly as possible I turn around and looked behind me. Nothing but darkness and the faint light of the stars. Sighing in relief, I turned around again. Only to come face to face with two glowing yellow eyes.
I screamed.
The creature screeched.
I didn't have time to think. I spun around and ran for my life.
I realized I was running deeper into the forest. The creature was blocking my path back to the campfire and my only hope of survival - Ferras. Fuck!
I could hear the thing closing in on me.
I've always been a fast sprinter, but even with my adrenaline rush, I was no match for this being. I knew that. Hot tears were running down my face. My lungs were screaming for air. Was this really it? I skidded down a slope, hoping to gain enough time to somehow swing around again and run back to Ferras.
I wasn't ready to die yet! Not before I found out what had happened to us! I must find Kat...
Fallen grey leaves sprayed everywhere as I lunged over a small creek. I did not remember crossing this before? Shit! I had gotten lost. I dared to take a quick look over my shoulder, to check if it was still there.
I couldn't hear it anymore. But I knew better than to stop running.
And sure enough, it was still there. It came crashing down behind me snarling with its gleaming white fangs.
Shit, shit, shit! It's closer! Its gonna catch me! I screamed in terror as I heard it lift off, jumping at me from behind.
The twacking sound of an arrow hitting the creature's flank announced the appearance of Ferras. But he was nowhere to be seen. "Help me, Ferras!"
"Run! I can't hold it off much longer!" Hope filled my tired legs and I muster up all my strength for one last push to safety. Only one burst past this ravine and then...
Something flashed past my face, barely missing me.
Now I could see everything clearly. It was getting lighter.
Roaring, the creature pranced at me from behind and flung me down the ravine with a heavy blow of its claws. The impact stunned me, leaving me breathless. I think my back was bleeding. Bright colorful splotches covered my vision. I made a sound that sounded like a dying whale, gasping for breath.
Have to get up.
Must run.
I spit out some blood. A nosebleed! My back was screaming at me. My knees were scratched open, my hands weren't in any better condition. I crawled my way up into kneeling position.
I looked up and saw the creature staring at me. I could see it as clear as day and it looked so hideous. I think it was a manticore. Just uglier than what I had imagined them to be. A scarred lion's face with a lion body and ...was that a poisonous barb on its tail? The enormous body looked all ragged and more dead than alive. Those leathery lumps on its side must have been wings at some point.
I swallowed. I felt so tiny and helpless.
I started to cry.
Mom. Please, help!
The creature stalked closer, its claws scratching the unnaturally smooth stone.
Why me...
I could hear it breathe. It smelt like foul flesh.
Desperate to get away, I dragged myself backward.
Now the manticore was towering right above me and a sensation of death surrounded me, those ghostly yellow eyes shone in delight. But at this moment of imminent death, I made one last effort. It must have been the adrenaline that was pumping through me that gave me the power to stand up one last time and hurl myself towards a gleaming blue light I could see hovering a few meters away. My last hope. But it was nothing more than just a white overgrown pedestal with a small glowing orb on it radiating the intense blue light I've been seeing. This was it. Nothing left to do, nowhere left to run. But much to my surprise, I wasn't sad. Nor was I that scared anymore. No, I was furious. Life was so unfair! I didn't deserve this! I turned around and stared directly at my walking death. No! The manticore slowly scraped its claws towards me, the poisonous barb was slithering behind it like a snake. I gritted my teeth. No! I grasped the ball of light, the only thing within my reach, and smashed it into the creature's face, screaming.
Suddenly air was rushing towards the orb, pulling everything with it. The creature screamed a shrill cry and flapped its wings against the twisting current sucking it into the ice-cold orb. I tried to let it go but it wouldn't budge. My hands were completely fixed to it. Gritting my teeth, I braced myself against the even colder turning orb that now was ripping apart the monster completely, shredding it to nothing more than dust and a few pieces of leather. The forest around me was shaking and moving. I could hear the trees groaning and the floor shifting beneath me. And immense pressure was weighing down on my shoulders, pushing me into the floor which was on fire. The blue smoke emitting from the orb now had covered up my whole vision. I could see my breath in the air. My hands were shaking and sweating.
And then, suddenly, a warm breeze of air caressed my face and it was all gone. I was left, gasping for air with nothing in my hands. The orb had vanished. Shaking I sit down and brush away the sweat from my face. My vision was covered in black spots that seemed to grow every time I blinked. The last thing I felt was a searing cold yet hot pain burning at the nape of my neck before absolute darkness washed over me.