The mole-bear had grey fur with a reflective surface. It's paws were wide and bore several sharp claws. Its tired eyes were bloodshot and it advanced slowly. A low rumble started shaking the floor as it steadily grew into a roar.
John had never before been in such a life threatening predicament. If he waited, the giant bear would maul him and he would die. If he ran, the Valk would gun him down without a second thought. John chose the lesser of two evils and started crawling towards the exit.
The mole-bear began its slow advance, growling and roaring.
"Help him up!" The Valk leader said, referring to Charrack. "Move out of here, we need to take the fight into the open."
John put all his force of will into crawling as fast as he could. By the time he made his way around the corner all the Valk had moved outside. With potential safety or impending doom in sight, he redoubled his efforts. He rushed in such a panic that his hand slipped into the extinguished fire and sizzled. John let out a silent scream as the smoldering embers made contact with his skin.
As the mole-bear came barreling around the corner John thought to himself, "I'm dead for sure."
By sheer luck, the mole-bear rushed past him and bounded outside. It may have been more bear than mole, but it inherited the bad eyesight of the latter, and it was just angry enough to charge through an open doorway without checking the room behind him.
The hunters outside fired their weapons. Most carried bows, but for some beasts they also carried electric weapons to prevent damage to the hide. There was much shouting and rushing around as the Valk did their best to battle the beast.
Curiosity got the better of John again and he slinked his way to the entrance and watched the fight.
The mole-bear was swung a massive arm at an archer and swiped him off his feet. The hunter screamed as he flew through the air, going silent as he crashed into a toppled wall. He bent double in a backwards whiplash that snapped his spine. His lifeless body tumbled to the ground in a heap.
Another hunter fell victim to the beast's jaws. It shook him around like a mad dog and dropped the lifeless corpse on the ground.
John's eyes went wide with terror and he slid farther back into the shadows.
The mole-bear roared once again, blood dripping from it's mouth and saliva dangling from his yellowed teeth.
The Valk continued to pelt it with arrow after arrow, bolt after bolt. The great beast howled in pain and dove into the ground, throwing up great handfuls of rubble and broken concrete that showered down on the heads of the hunters.
Rather than allow the mole-bear to escape their leader leapt onto its back and plunged a long blade into its neck. The monster struggled to throw him off, but he gritted his teeth and held on tight.
After some moments, the mole-bear drove the blade into its own jugular vein. A fountain of blood erupted from the wound, covering the hunter and staining him red.
The dead beast lay silent, half buried in rubble as a cloud of dust swirled around his fallen body. The rigid form still menacing even in death.
John exhaled the breath he was holding and slid back into the shadows. The fight was over and the number of hunters had been reduced from six to three.
John's movement inadvertently loosened a piece of concrete that tumbled down a few feet from the entryway. He froze in place and listened.
"What's that?" One of the Valk asked.
"I'll check it out." Charrack volunteered, perhaps too enthusiastically.
"No need my brave friend," the group leader insisted. "You must take it easy."
"Captain, I am more than capable of standing on my own two feet, don't underestimate my strength of will." Charrack rebutted.
"I meant no disrespect, only that it would be no trouble for Kyrell to investigate such a trifle thing."
Charrack reluctantly ended his argument, to insist further would be suspicious. He only hoped John was able to take the time to steal himself away.
John lay completely still as Charrack tried to convince the hunter to let him investigate. But now there was no chance he could remain hidden. He searched desperately for a means of escape.
The hunter advanced slowly with his weapon raised. John reluctantly leaned his back up against the wall and raised his hands slowly.
"Well what do we have here?" The Valk, who John recognized as the one with a deeper voice, purred. The sound made John grimace. "A wounded human, I thought you said you killed him Charrack." Kyrell said accusingly.
Charrack stood up and made his way over, "It may be a different human altogether."
"Then what his he doing here?" The Valk asked.
"I don't know, I'll ask him." Charrack looked at John and switched to English, "What are you doing?"
"Trying not to die," John answered in exasperation, "what's it look like?"
"Well you're doing a poor job." Charrack responded.
"How do you speak their language so well?" Kyrell demanded.
Charrack turned slowly and glared at the other hunter, "Are you questioning me, worm?"
Kyrell showed his pointed fangs with a malicious grin, "Perhaps you are a deserter and are trying to protect this human. You didn't seem to happy when Makal wanted me to check it out."
Charrack swung his left fist so fast, John didn't even see him wind up. The blow caught Kyrell in his face, sending him swiftly to the floor. Though Charrack's attack was effective, it made him hiss in pain. His broken ribs were not ready for the speed of his rotation.
Kyrell sprung to his feet and spit a glob of blood on John's boots.
"Enough you two!" The leader, Makal growled. He walked up to the group and asked John in English "How did you get here?"
Not wanting to risk Charrack's safety he gave a sarcastic answer, "I grew apair of wings and flew here. I heard the sights were beautiful."
"If you would like to answer truthfully, can you tell me what you were doing in the mole-bear den?"
John shrugged, "Waiting to be eaten, as you can see I'm rather tasty." John pointed at the stump of his missing leg.
"I like this one, he's rather amusing." Charrack said in Valk.
"Still, we better kill him, he's too dangerous." Makal said reluctantly.
Kyrell lifted his rifle and pointed it at John's face, "With pleasure."
Charrack pushed the weapon barrel down, "Wait, he might be useful to us."
"How so?" Makal asked.
"Why are we even listening to this alien lover?" Kyrell interjected.
Charrack ignored him as best he could, "If he's been on this planet for awhile he might be able to help us."
"He's a liar and a murder. And in case you haven't noticed, we would have to carry him."Makal countered.
"We can leave him here and take him through the portal when it's fixed. We can interrogate him back home." Charrack suggested.
Makal paused for a moment.
"Don't tell me we are seriously considering this." Kyrell hissed. "Humans are nothing but dumb beasts that kill and steal whatever they can get their greedy hands on."
John couldn't stand listening to them discuss his fate any longer, "You know I can understand you right?" He asked in Valken.
Makal looked at him surprised, "Perhaps you might be useful after all. What assurances do I have that you won't cause trouble?"
John gestured again at his missing leg, "Seriously?"
Charrack looked a Makal, "I heard the humans can't regenerate their bodies."
"I'm still not convinced." Kyrell raised his weapon again to kill John, but Makal stopped him.
"We can leave Charrack here to watch him while we take out the dragon and get the portal core."
Kyrell stormed off angrily, but with an order from his superior their was nothing he could do about it.
The Valk hunters left Charrack one of their rifles and went off to kill the dragon. It was a close call, but John and Charrack managed to survive....