Elena twisted her body sharply in the opposite direction of the goblin, ignoring the sting of countless thin branches cutting into her skin. Without a second thought, she sprinted away with every ounce of strength she could muster.
The goblin had anticipated her flight. Like a seasoned hunter, it immediately gave chase, its feral instincts kicking in as it pursued its prey through the dense forest.
Elena darted between towering trees and jagged rocks, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She didn't know where she was heading—anywhere was better than being caught by that creature. A fleeting thought crossed her mind to check her compass, but the risk was too great. If she dropped it, or worse, tripped while fumbling for it, her escape would end then and there.
Her legs burned as she pushed forward, the relentless pounding of her heart echoing in her ears. Suddenly, the forest opened up into a clearing, revealing a glistening river cutting through the landscape. Relief flooded her chest. A lucky break.
Goblins, though physically stronger than the average man, were notorious for their poor swimming ability. Their wiry limbs and short stature made them clumsy in water. Tales of adventurers exploiting this weakness were common—water mages flooding dungeons, driving hordes of goblins into the open where they could be easily slaughtered.
Seizing her momentum, Elena charged straight into the river. The icy water engulfed her as she plunged beneath the surface. Her body screamed at the sudden chill, and as she broke through to the air, she gasped, struggling to catch her breath. The current, much stronger than she'd anticipated, tugged at her with relentless force.
Though she managed to stay afloat, the river pulled her downstream, the forest blurring around her as the water carried her away. Turning her head, she caught one last glimpse of the goblin. It stood at the riverbank, shrieking in frustration as it slammed its fists against a nearby tree, unable to follow her into the rushing water.
For now, she was safe—but only for now.
As Elena floated downstream, a branch jutted out into the water, snagging her mid-drift. The sharp tug against her torso made her wince in pain, but she seized the opportunity. Gritting her teeth, she grasped the branch with trembling hands, ignoring the splinters biting into her palms, and pulled herself toward the riverbank. Every muscle in her body protested, but she managed to drag herself onto solid ground on the opposite side of the river.
Collapsing in a small clearing between the trees, she doubled over, coughing violently as water dripped from her soaked clothes. Her breaths came rapid and shallow, her chest heaving as if her heart would burst. The icy chill clinging to her skin was unbearable, and her limbs trembled uncontrollably. Evening had fallen, and the encroaching darkness brought with it an unforgiving chill.
Elena clenched her jaw, forcing herself to focus. She didn't have the luxury of dwelling on what had happened—or what might come next. Survival was all that mattered now. She pushed herself to her feet, swaying unsteadily, and began to search for dry branches. Her hands were numb, her vision blurred, and her legs threatened to give out with every step. She stumbled at least five times, each fall harder than the last, but she pressed on, gathering what she could before her body gave out completely.
Dropping her meager collection of twigs into a small circle, she fumbled through her wet leather pouch for her flint and steel. The tools were damp, but she spent precious minutes drying them on her equally wet clothes. Holding her breath, she struck the steel against the flint. A faint spark, but no fire. She tried again. Nothing.
Panic welled up inside her as she struck the flint a third time, her motions frantic. Still no flame. Tears blurred her vision, trailing down her cheeks as she gritted her teeth and struck the flint again. And again. And again.
Finally, a spark caught. Smoke curled upward, and moments later, a weak flame flickered to life. Relief washed over her, but she was too exhausted to smile. She coaxed the flame into a small fire, its warmth licking at her frozen fingers and toes.
Curling up beside the base of a tree, she wrapped her arms around herself in a feeble attempt to conserve heat. Her body remained tense, her tears refusing to stop even as her eyelids grew heavy. The adrenaline that had kept her going was gone, leaving her completely drained. Before long, she slipped into a restless, fitful sleep, the fire casting flickering shadows on her pale, tear-streaked face.