The forest's canopy seemed to press down on top of them, the landscape reaching for them with twiggy fingers. Before long, the leaves crackled and crunched. Twigs snapped and bushes parted in a small ridge above them, and a creature spilled into view as silent as a wraith. Its body, a mix of ember-orange and gunpowder black.
Li Ji was frozen, clinging to Jian's sturdy back, watching as those two bright orbs of doubloon gold, deep-set into a great and convex head, poked through the foliage.
The pair of chatoyant eyes scanned them probably trying to establish which among them was the easiest of prey.
As the creature descended, its great fiery eyes began to flash with deadly passion and glitter with hostility. And its mighty jaw slammed shut after roaring, teeth grinding in clinks and clangs.
Clutching his sword even tighter, Jian did not exhibit any signs of alarm and was calmly awaiting its approach.
