A horrifying creature crept through the woods, unsteady and creeping into uncanny valley territory. It was humanoid in shape, with intelligent golden eyes, but was horribly deformed, spine flexible and shifting in ways that no being should move. Antlers twisted out of the side of its head, and ox-like ears stuck out from its red mane-like hair. A patchwork of red, painful looking-skin and scales blanketed its body. The face was human-shaped in base but protruded into a parody of a snout, rows of vicious shark teeth lining the inside of the mouth. Its legs were two different lengths as if someone had trouble proportioning when designing the creature. They both ended the same way-in chubby, fur-covered webbed hands with needle-sharp talons in the place of nails.
Using all fours, the creature lept from branch to branch through the woods on all fours, surprisingly agile. Its back twisted from side to side as it moved, shifting like a lizard. It made its way to the walls of the town, zipping up the walls like a squirrel up a tree. From roof to roof, it made a quick approach through the city. Soon, it landed lightly on the roof of an inn. No, not just any inn–the very inn we were staying at.
It sniffed, its not-snout nostrils flaring, searching for a scent. Scent caught, it scurried down the building past my window before stopping at the next window, at Sera's. It used its sharp talons to quietly carve its way through the window and slink into Sera and Helia's room, where they slept unaware of the danger. I opened my mouth to try and warn them, somehow, but the warnings fell deaf even to my own ears. The creature set the glass quietly on the ground.
Not quietly enough. Helia burst up and out of bed, tossing the sheets to the floor with a shout. She grabbed at her sword, leaning against the bedframe, and lunged forward in a desperate attempt to block its claws from catching Sera. Sera jerked awake in time to roll over, dodging the creature's deadly claws by inches. A few strands of her long hair were left in her place as the claws cut through them like nothing. Helia covered her, blocking further attacks from the snarling beast as Sera scrambled out of bed.
Pressing her fingers to her lips, Sera released a deafening whistle that stopped the creature in its tracks. The pause only lasted for a few seconds, but it was enough for Helia. She used those precious seconds to go on the offensive. Her sword bounced off its scales, useless. Sera moved into a defensive position, her empty hands reading as if she were ready to toss something.
The creature readied to lunge forward once again. Millie dove in through the window from behind, slamming into the creature and smashing it into the wall above Sera's head. The whole building shook with the impact. Millie screeched and flapped, her flames licking at the creature, blisters forming over its already pink skin. A pain-filled scream escaped the creature, and, in its desperation to escape, the beast flung itself into the side wall with a loud thump.
With the doorway now unbarred, Helia and Sera burst out the door and disappeared into the evacuating traffic.
Millie and the creature engaged in a fierce battle, swiping and defending with their talons. The air around Millie ghosted with heat as she burned brighter and hotter and brighter and hotter. Miraculously, the hotel room remained unscathed as the beast's skin blistered and boiled under the brunt of the attack. The creature let out a rumbling, broken cry and took its next opportunity to swiftly slither back out the window. Millie followed, unrelenting.
It darted defensively back over the rooftops to the forest, dodging Millie's dissatisfied dives and angry swipes. It slithered up and then leapt off the wall, making its way across the farmland until it disappeared into the dark foliage of the forest.
The scenery faded with it, and I opened my eyes to the wooden ceiling above me, jolting up and panting and aching as though I'd just run a marathon.
Ani tumbled off my chest and onto the bed with a concerned "mreeow?"
I looked frantically around, looking and listening for evidence my dream had been a reality. Finding none, I let creaks, snores, and other stirrings of the peaceful rest of those in the rooms around me sink in, the drumming of my heart slowing. The walls were thin. If it had broken in, I would have woken up.
It was just a dream. I told myself. Everything is fine.
Ani padded up to my hand and demanded attention, which I absently gave him. I recalled the creature's deformed figure and shivered in disgust. My fingers clenched a bit in Ani's hair, and he reached a paw up to bat at them. I let go, and he moved away from me on the bed to fix his fur.
"Sorry," I apologized… to a cat. He paused his licking to look at me, tilting his head to the side and studying me with intelligent eyes. I studied him back, letting the stale air of the room, the dusty smell of the straw, the rustles of the night, and the sight of his golden eyes steady me.
Ani plowed on determinedly toward me and plopped himself down on my lap. Before I could shift to pet him again, he carefully reached a paw up toward my face. I blinked as the warm fur and rough pads of his paw slid gently down my cheek like he was petting me. I smiled and reached a hand up to ruffle the fur on his head, warmth filling my chest. He squawked with indignation at the movement, quickly reaching a paw to smooth his head fur back into place.
"I'm fine now, thank you, Ani," I told him. He studied me a little more as if to check to ensure I wasn't lying before slipping off to curl up next to me, ready to go back to sleep. I reclined back down next to him and resolved to put this strange occurrence behind me.
The rest of my night was peaceful, and I finished my sleep uninterrupted until morning, when a knock came at my door, dragging me from my slumber.