All three of them froze in place. The beast was staring right at them and then, in a heartbeat, it was gone, vanishing back into the dense foliage with an unnatural silence. All three of them had their backs pressed against each other and their weapons raised. They were looking around in every direction expecting the beast to strike at any moment. Yet, even after a several more moments the beast did not attack them, thus confusing them.
Biast shouted, "Why hasn't it attacked us yet ? "
Clive spoke slowly, ""It's not here to kill us," Clive interjected, his voice low but steady. "Not… quickly, at least, this is a game to it. It wants to hunt us...."
Amina spoke, " A beast playing a game? Are you serious? you-"
Clive cut her off, " Think about it, why else would it reveal itself and then disappear? it wanted us to know it was there and watching us. It wants us to fear. It wants us to run." "
Amina began panicking but Clive placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly, " Look, its going to be alright. We will follow your plan and make a run for it. "
Amina began stuttering, " But-but we "
Clive cut her off, " Like it or not we don't have another choice. This is the shortest way to the capital. Any other way around will cost us a lot of time "
With a silent nod, they huddled together for a moment, Clive crouched low, scanning their surroundings. "See that muddy path to the right? We can't outrun this thing on open ground. It'll expect us there."
Biast squinted into the darkness. The path was barely visible, a muddy ribbon disappearing into the woods. "So what's your plan, then?"
"We split up." Clive's voice held a note of grim determination. "If this creature is as intelligent as I suspect, it'll chase after one of us. The others have a chance to escape."
In the branded, there was no room for any emotions and so they both agreed immediately.
"Alright. Listen close. Amina, you'll take the cover of the trees to the left and Biast you go right"
Amina forced herself to meet his gaze, her voice barely a whisper. "What about you Wyvern?"
"I'll lead the beast on a chase down the path for a while. Hopefully, it'll be too focused on me to notice you slip away." He reached into his pack and pulled out a small vial filled with a crimson liquid. "This is a last resort. It's a wolfsbane potion, strong enough to stun even that monstrosity for a few moments. But use it wisely. It's one use only."
Amina collected the small vial from him and tucked it inside her pouch,
Clive took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Alright, on the count of three. One… Two… Three! Go!"
All three of them took of running in the muddy pathway. The dense canopy of the forest filtered out what little sunlight reached them, making their surroundings darker. As Clive was running he checked for any signs of the beast but found none, it was as if it hand vanished. As if on cue he heard a rustle to his left and turned around and its when he saw....it.
It emerged from the thicket, it was a monster straight out of nightmares. Its skin, was a bright yellow and was stretched taut over a hulking frame easily several times the size of a Chocobo. Black spots, marred its agile form. Two long, tentacles sprouted from either side of its head their ends with razor sharp claws. Its maw, lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, gaped open in a silent scream. It was running parallel to them and when Clive gazed at its yellow eyes, it struck fear in his heart.
Amina reacted first, "It's blocking my path! I'll go right, Clive, with Biast! Good luck!""
They both veered off, changing direction in a frantic bid to split the beast's attention. Unfortunate for them the Beast did not take the bait and instead began chasing Biast and Amina. With swift maneuver, it launched itself after Amina and Biast, its massive form weaving through the undergrowth with surprising agility. Clive shouted, trying to draw the creature's attention, but it was in vain. The beast seemed fixated on Amina, a predator locked on its prey.. Unfortunate for them the Beast did not take the bait and instead began chasing Biast and Amina. Despite Clive's best attempts to grab its attention, it seemed fixated on Amina for some reason.
With one swift move the creature used one of its tentacles and knocked over Clive. Clive watched as it ran past him. Clive knew Amina and Biast wouldn't stand a chance against that thing, not alone. He had to do something – anything – to help.
After a few more minutes he found them in a clearing in the forest. Amina was facing of against the beast while Biast laid unconscious at the edge of the clearing. Her eyes were filled with terror as she held up her dagger .
"Stay back, abomination!" she screamed, her voice breaking.
There was nothing he could do to help Amina as the creature stood between him and Amina, its back against him and poised to lunge at her. Amina had forgotten about the vial Clive had earlier given her. Clive shouted, " The Vial Amina "
As if sensing the imminent threat, the creature lunged. Amina barely dodged it and threw the vital at the creature and with a flick of her wrist, she hurled the vial towards the creature, The vial shattered on impact, spraying the liquid contained within, across the beast's face.. The creature seemed momentarily dazed as it tried removing the liquid from its face using its paws and by rubbing its face against the grass. Clive saw his chance. The clearing backed onto a sheer cliff face. Beyond it, a massive waterfall plunged into a churning abyss. Clive and Amina seeing a chance decided to flee the scene. Clive began was dragging Biast across the soft grass and soon they stood at the edge of a massive valley overlooking a waterfall on the other side.
Before Clive could even propose anything Amina yelled, " There's no way we are jumping in there !"
" Its either this or that creature Amina ! and I don't intend on staying around to become its dinner "
Without another he jumped down with Biast on his back, still unconscious. The air rushed past Clive's face, stealing his breath. The world became a dizzying blur of green foliage and churning white water. He clung to Biast with a desperate grip. Time seemed to stretch and slow, each passing second an eternity. He felt his face get wet from the moisture long before he had even touched the water. the water was ice cold and it hit him like a thousand needles all at once.
Amina turned her gaze back and forth between the creature which was back on its feet again and was rapidly advancing on her and the roaring waterfall. She thought to herself, " I'm gonna regret this " and then she jumped.
Clive's body hit the water and he went under. and after a moment a resurfaced catching his breath. Biast had woken up and was frantically waving his hands. Behind him a heard a thud and turned his gaze towards the source of the sound. It was Amina, she had also jumped.
Even amidst the roaring waterfall they could still hear the Beast's distraught roar and screams.
All three of them swam to a nearby shore in the river and fell on the sand, panting.
Amina spoke grateful to be alive, " I can't believe your foolish plan actually worked !"
Clive and Biast laughed, " There's a lot more to where that came from "
Their joy however was interrupted when they heard a rustle in the forest surrounding them. Something was coming towards them.