Hissing emanated from the exit hatch as steam billowed out, revealing a lone figure within the entrance. Elderond breathed in the fresh air. Just then, he had a thought.
How could he breathe in another planet's environment?
"Medea, how am I breathing?"
"Well, if you used half a brain cell, you would realise that while you were developing, wouldn't I have considered adapting your respiratory system for the environment?"
Elderond facepalmed how come he had not thought of that.
"Sorry, I've been a bit of an idiot."
"Indeed, you are an idiot, Master."
Elderond's mouth twitched in embarrassment as Medea's laughter continued to resound within his mind.
Medea finally quieted down, giving Elderond a chance to redeem himself.
Elderond looked towards the surrounding before him as he moved from the safety of the transportation craft. The valley stretched for a few kilometres in front of him. The rocky walls served as protection against the horrors of the unknown. A stream flowed calmly in the centre, travelling towards the forest in the distance. Bird-like creatures glided swiftly within the air, testing the currents of time.
Just in front of him was a grassy plain, which housed some feeble looking creatures. They had little whiskers protruding from their noses whilst snow-white fur covered their bodies, shimmering within the sunlight, highlighting the fluffiness. They hopped casually within the low-stems of grass, unaware of the greedy eyes which surveyed it.
"It seems I've found food, Medea." A sinister smile appeared on Elderond's face.
"How exactly are you going to catch it, young Master?"
Picking up a medium-sized rock from the undergrowth, Elderond spoke with confidence.
"I will chase it down and break its skull with this rock humph.
"A bit barbaric Master; but, maybe effective… if you can outrun them, that is."
Laughter ensued again within his cerebral system. Before he could retort, low growls came from either side of him.
Autumn coloured fur covered the dog-like creatures whilst puffs of violence emitted from their emerald noses. Hostile-eyes looked towards the black-haired boy. Not much meat covered the boy's frame; this being would appease their hunger. Growling in a deeper pitch, it communicated to its companion as both of them moved stealthily through the low grass stems, closing in on the boy.
Elderond could only curse lady luck had abandoned him.
"Shit! What is this isekai situation? I just woke up in a strange world, only to get instantly hunted. How is this balanced in the slightest?"
"Well, I suggest you run Master, those grazing hounds typically hunt the bush rabbits you were gazing at; but, since you are unarmed, you are frankly easy prey."
Grumbling, Elderond willed his limbs to move against the fear which anchored them in place. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, neurones fired as the undergrowth churned. He ran.
The hunter had become the hunted.
The low-stems of grass flew past as Elderond barrelled his way through like a bull in a china shop. He moved, zigzagging from left to right, trying to pull away from the hounds which tailed him.
It was futile.
The hounds could discern his specific scent: they were natural-born hunters, not some novice who didn't know the surrounding. One of the hounds broke off, heading to the right-hand side of the plain. The righthand side contained a riverbank that bordered the stream. The hound accelerated, killing intent burning in its eyes. It would ambush this foolish boy at the next turning. Using a pincer tactic: it would attack him from the front whilst its companion would flank him from behind.
Something seemed suspicious. Elderond noticed only one of the hounds was chasing him.
"Where the hell has the other one gone?"
"Unfortunately, Master is too weak; otherwise, I could unlock the first seal to use the ability: discern surroundings to locate the hound."
"Damn it, is there anything you can do to help then?"
"Well, looking at the archives of data stored within me, it seems Grazing Hounds: a minor subclass monster is vulnerable to sharp objects."
Elderond stored the valuable piece of information away as he continued to escape his pursuers. The plain curved, levelling out as the grass stems thinned, revealing an embankment. Elderond glanced ahead blankly. There was no path to cross the 50-metre diameter of the stream. He was doomed.
Suddenly, he heard a ferocious bark on his frontal side. The crouching hound pounced, barking in delight: his companion had just rounded the corner behind the boy. It was Checkmate.
Time slowed down to a crawl.
Elderond saw both sets of jaws adorned with vile canines, locked onto his face, approaching him at high velocity. He closed his eyes and thought about whether this was the end. A firm denial echoed from his soul.
His eyelids opened calmly, using his legs-he propelled himself towards the ground, sliding across the coarse mud as he dodged the first hound. Rotating his torso, he faced the second hound and launched himself into the air. Just before somersaulting into the stream, his foot made contact. The polyurethane material on the soles of his shoes smashed into the soft tissue of the emerald snout, dazing it momentarily.
Breathing a well-needed breath, Elderond observed the hounds on the embankment cautiously. He had nearly died. Somehow his reflexes had saved him.
The hound on the edge of the riverbank was furious at the tenacity of this young boy. First, the boy had run away then struck its companion. Deep hate seethed in its canary eyes. Without any regard for itself, it vaulted into the stream. This boy must die.
Elderond turned to the resounding splash he heard behind him, his face tense.
"Can't this damned hound just give up already…?"
"Unfortunately for you, you hit its companion... Grazing Hounds are very protective."
Turning, Elderond focused, powering his arm through the water as he swam towards the forest in the distance.
The current abruptly picked up, carrying Elderond and the Grazing Hound closer to the edge of the stream. However, before them, the mist rose from the edge of the stream in front of them. The water was more turbulent. Loose rocks and driftwood tried assaulting Elderond but twisted his body swiftly, enabling him to manoeuvre out of the way.
The hound did likewise, easily keeping on his tail.
Unbeknownst to the two of them, the stream's edge was a waterfall. The forest itself had trees so tall they dwarfed the waterfall, creating an optical illusion of the valley's stream running into it.
The water churned viciously, the centre of gravity changed.
Something was wrong.
Elderond looked ahead and saw the danger far too late. The fall neared. Desperately, he tried finding some form of branch or protrusion to hold onto; but, none appeared.
"Ah, fuck…"
Gravity ceased for a second. The boy and the hound stood motionless in the air.
Time returned.
They plummeted.