"Huff.. Huff... Hu.."
Holding my right shoulder in a desperate attempt to stop the blood flowing from the claw mark on it, I ran as fast as I could. As my feet left the ground, I had a hard time finding the courage to put it forward again. I felt so tired that I just wanted to take a sleep, probably because of all the adrenaline that's been squeezed out.
I forcefully put my revolting feet on the ground as I looked at my goal. A translucent green barrier, in the shape of a cylinder reaching up to the sky.
Like someone from above has inserted a straw on the ground.
As I reached closer to my goal the fatigue started increasing. Making my vision a little blurry.
But I didn't let my tired eyes take a rest as I kept looking around.
*ROOAR!*
Hearing the roar behind me, I gritted my teeth, 'Damn that was quick, looks like it has a strong head'. Observing the trees around me my eyes landed on a tree with a low branch.
Putting pressure under my right leg I used whatever energy I had to make a jump. Streaching my only functional hand I grabed the branch.
"Uhhh."
Groning in pain I used my legs to climb on the branch.
Taking a deep breath I didn't let the cold shade affect me. Looking at the wound covered in blood, I rubbed my left palm over it, gritting my teeth at the nerve-wracking sensation of my dust-coated hand rubbing my naked muscles, I collected my blood.
'This is nothing you have been through pain worse than this'. I encouraged myself as I splashed the blood on my palm over the.
Hopping off the branch I covered the wound tightly. Running straight to the barrier.
'I hope it buys me some time. He did track me through my blood after all'. Though I know sensing a large amount of my blood on the tree will only confuse the blood sensing monster for a while, 'that little while is all I need'.
I thought as I was now able to see the inside of the barrier. A small clearing with green grasses and most importantly the small pond inside gave my tired body the courage to continue.
'A few meters more, then I can finally.. re-'
As I ran straight to the barrier, my eyes caught the glimpse of two red balls glowing between a pair of big trees.
I don't need another look to know what those balls were...
*Growl*
Time seemed to slow down as I looked back at the red eyes staring at me.
A creature with the back portion of a grey wolf and front of a black lion, with scary red eyes lacking any pupils, glowing brightly even in the middle of the afternoon. This monster.. I would remember it all my life.
Unfortunately, our staring section didn't last any longer as the illusion of the slow world created by my mind was broken by the monster, pouncing at me with its leg spread out.
I noted a point that I would never forget for the rest of my life.. if I have one.
'Monsters too have intelligence.'
"Khuua!"
Feeling the claw hitting my back, my mouth let out an uncontrollable amount of blood. I could feel my back bending at an unnatural angle as my body became airborne...
The air trip, however, didn't last long as my body collided with the land, my already wounded shoulder which received the first impact made me know what hell felt like.
After a few rolls, my body came to a halt.
"Uhhh.."
The scratches received by my body or the back which may have a fracture were not the reason for my grunt, but rather my shoulder was which by now looked like a piece of meat dripping with blood.
*Growl!*
The monster too seemed to agree as it let out another growl, its dripping drools enough to express its feelings.
'Damn it! I have never felt so..
so powerless before.'
But there was nothing I could do about it other than watching my death approach me...
I was powerless!