Chapter 5: Running Away (Again)
Greg trudged through the forest, his mind swirling with thoughts of escape. Each step he took, he felt the weight of his unwanted new life pressing down on him. He had never been one for adventure—he was a man of comfort, a man of naps, of lazy afternoons spent scrolling through his phone, not battling beasts or befriending mythical creatures.
But now?
Now, he was the unwilling "tamer" of creatures he was scared of. And, despite his repeated attempts to get away from all this, it seemed like the universe wasn't having any of it.
"That's it," he muttered to himself, shaking his head as he stared at the narrow, winding path ahead. "I'm done with this forest. I'm done with beasts. I'm going to find a village. A town. A place with zero adventure, where I can just sleep in peace and not get chased by monsters every five minutes."
The griffin waddled behind him, chirping in its usual upbeat manner, seemingly oblivious to Greg's growing frustration. The fox, too, trotted along, its eyes gleaming with the quiet joy that Greg couldn't bring himself to share.
Greg glanced back at the two creatures, a mix of annoyance and helplessness pooling in his chest. He couldn't understand it. Why him? Why had he, of all people, been chosen for this ridiculous quest?
"Well," Greg sighed, "no more running into random beasts. I'm making it to a town today. If I have to bribe someone with gold to let me in, so be it."
His plan was simple: leave the forest, find the nearest village or settlement, and settle down. If the magical creatures of the world didn't want to leave him alone, then maybe the people would.
He quickened his pace, determined to get out of the woods by sundown.
Several hours passed, the canopy above growing thicker as Greg ventured deeper into unfamiliar terrain. His legs ached, and his stomach grumbled in protest, but he kept moving. The sounds of the forest were alive around him, the rustling of leaves and distant calls of birds the only noise. It was peaceful, if not a bit too quiet for his taste.
Suddenly, there was a shift in the air.
The birds stopped chirping. The breeze stilled.
Greg paused, instinctively looking around. His unease grew. This didn't feel right. The air felt heavy, thick with something dark and powerful. His heart began to race, and a low growl echoed through the trees, sending a chill up his spine.
Not again, Greg thought, panic welling up in his chest. He didn't want to face another monster. He didn't want to fight, didn't want to tame anything else. But his instincts screamed at him to prepare.
And then, out of the bushes ahead, it appeared.
A massive, hulking figure emerged from the undergrowth—a bear-like creature the size of a small building. Its fur was thick and dark, rippling with raw strength. It stood on all fours, but the muscles in its legs looked like they could tear through stone. Its glowing eyes locked onto Greg's with a predatory intensity.
Greg froze.
The creature's enormous paws sank into the earth with every step, the ground shaking as it moved toward him. The air seemed to warp around it, and Greg's eyes widened in realization. This wasn't just any ordinary beast—it had earth magic. He could feel the weight of it pressing down on him.
"W-Wait," Greg stammered, holding up his hands in a futile gesture, hoping for some miracle. "I don't want to fight! Please just—"
His voice caught in his throat as the beast let out a thunderous roar, shaking the trees around them. Greg's legs wobbled in terror, and he instinctively took a step back.
But as soon as his foot moved, he felt a strange surge of energy course through him. The griffin and fox both froze, their eyes fixed on the bear. They seemed to be waiting for him, waiting for him to do something.
Greg's pulse raced. It was happening again. He could feel it in his bones—whatever power had transferred to him in this world was now acting on its own, like an invisible hand forcing him to interact with these creatures.
"No, no, no..." he whispered under his breath.
Before he could stop it, the power within him surged, and in the blink of an eye, a strange connection formed between him and the giant bear. It was almost as if he could feel the creature's emotions—its confusion, its hunger, its instinct to protect its territory.
The bear paused. It let out a low growl, but something about Greg's stance, something about the power coursing through him, seemed to calm it—for just a moment. And then, to Greg's utter horror, the beast lowered its massive head in submission.
Oh no.
Greg had done it again. Somehow, without meaning to, he had tamed another creature.
The griffin, sensing the change, fluttered its wings excitedly and chirped as if to congratulate him. The fox did a little dance on its hind legs, its glowing tail flicking with approval.
Greg felt his heart sink into his stomach. "Not again," he muttered. "I don't need a giant, magic-wielding bear following me around. I'm trying to escape!"
But it was no use. The bear, now tamed, began to follow him, plodding along behind him like a massive puppy, its huge frame towering over Greg as it lumbered awkwardly through the forest.
"This is ridiculous," Greg said, rubbing his temples as he continued walking, the two smaller creatures trailing beside him. "I just wanted a break."
With the bear now in tow, his situation had become even more complicated. Not only did he have the griffin and fox, but now he had an enormous, earth-wielding beast that seemed bound and determined to stay with him no matter what.
As they continued through the woods, Greg's thoughts became more and more chaotic. He could feel the weight of his power growing. Every time he accidentally tamed something else, it only made him feel more and more trapped in this world. There was no getting away from it.
He had to find a way to get rid of this power. To make it stop.
But for now, all he could do was keep walking and hope that, somehow, he could make it to a village. A place where he could finally take a break, even if it meant hiding from his own creations.
Greg continued to trudge through the forest, his mind racing with growing frustration. The giant bear behind him was an unwelcome reminder of just how out of control his new life had become. Every time he thought he could escape, another creature showed up, forced to follow him, whether he liked it or not.
He glanced back at the lumbering bear. Despite its intimidating size and earth-shaking steps, it had an oddly puppy-like quality. It followed him closely, keeping a respectful distance but with its eyes constantly trained on him, like a loyal dog that had just learned it had a new owner.
The griffin, still perched on Greg's shoulder, chirped softly, and the fox trotted along beside him, its mischievous eyes flicking between Greg and the bear. Neither seemed phased by the massive beast following them.
Greg sighed. "Great. Just great. I wanted peace, not a menagerie of wild animals trailing after me."
His irritation was palpable, but he couldn't deny that there was an odd, almost comical aspect to the situation. The griffin, so small and unassuming, yet packed with power, the tiny fox with its mystical abilities, and now this enormous bear capable of controlling earth magic—together, they seemed more like the cast of a bizarre circus act than an adventuring party.
But the more Greg tried to ignore them, the more they made their presence known. The bear gave a soft grunt, nudging him with its massive head, seeking attention. Greg flinched, but the beast's touch was gentle, almost affectionate. Still, that didn't make him any more willing to accept his fate.
"Why do you all want to follow me?" Greg muttered under his breath, not expecting an answer. Of course, none of them responded.
He stopped walking for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. The sun was starting to dip low in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. He could feel the creeping edge of panic start to claw at him as the reality of his situation set in. There was no way out. The more he tried to escape, the more these creatures seemed drawn to him, and the more powerful they became.
His frustration boiled over, and without thinking, he raised his voice, almost shouting to the heavens, "What do you want from me? Why do you all keep showing up?!"
The forest around him was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves. But as soon as the words left his mouth, the ground beneath his feet rumbled—a low, threatening growl. Greg's heart skipped a beat.
The bear—who had been quietly following him—paused, its sharp ears perking up. The fox let out a soft yip of concern, and even the griffin shifted on his shoulder, its eyes darting to the source of the rumble.
Greg's mind raced. No... not again...
The earth trembled once more, this time more violently, and with a loud crack, the ground split open a few feet ahead of him. From the crevice, a massive form emerged—another beast. This time, it was a huge serpent, its body coiled and covered in scales that shimmered with a strange metallic sheen. It slithered forward, its glowing eyes focused on Greg with an unnerving intensity.
Greg's stomach dropped. "You've got to be kidding me."
As the serpent hissed, its enormous body twisting around the trees, Greg's mind scrambled to figure out what was going on. The serpent wasn't just a passive creature; it radiated power, dark energy flowing from it like a river. It was clearly aware of him, and that meant…
"Not this again," Greg groaned.
The griffin chirped excitedly from his shoulder, as if encouraging the encounter. The fox, as if sensing the rising tension, crouched low to the ground, its tail flicking nervously.
The massive serpent hissed once more, its eyes narrowing as it slowly advanced, seemingly unimpressed by Greg's apparent lack of readiness.
Greg did the only thing he could think to do: he turned on his heels and bolted.
"RUN!" he yelled to the griffin and fox, who instinctively followed his lead. The bear, too, began charging behind him, as if responding to his panic, despite Greg's earlier wishes to avoid conflict.
His legs burned as he raced through the forest, heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't built for running, and the forest was unfamiliar, with its dense trees and shifting undergrowth. Yet somehow, with the weight of the earth-shaking bear behind him and the smaller creatures in tow, Greg felt like he could outrun anything—even the terrifying serpent pursuing them.
The ground trembled again. Glancing over his shoulder, Greg saw the serpent closing in on them, its body coiling and uncoiling with terrifying speed. Its glowing eyes fixed on him, and with every second, it seemed to be gaining ground.
"Why can't I just get a break?" Greg grumbled through gritted teeth, his mind racing. He wasn't a fighter. He didn't know how to deal with magical beasts, let alone one that could easily crush him with a single coil.
As if hearing his thoughts, the griffin suddenly let out a sharp screech, swooping ahead of Greg and diving toward the serpent. The fox, always quick to act, darted ahead as well, zipping between the trees and using its mystical powers to create illusions that confused the serpent, making it momentarily hesitate.
Greg, heart still hammering, looked down at the bear. The enormous creature was keeping pace with him, its massive claws tearing through the underbrush as if it didn't even notice the impending danger.
"Hold on," Greg gasped. He wasn't sure how to use his new "taming" abilities to control the bear, but desperation made him try. He focused on the bear, reaching out mentally, hoping to tap into whatever connection had drawn it to him in the first place.
To his surprise, the bear stopped, planted itself firmly on the ground, and let out a guttural roar. It slammed its massive paws into the earth, sending a shockwave of energy rippling outward, directly at the serpent.
The serpent hissed, its movement jerking as the earth beneath it cracked. It recoiled, momentarily stunned by the sudden attack. But Greg didn't wait to see what happened next. He grabbed the griffin and fox and dashed for the cover of the trees.
But even as he sprinted away, Greg couldn't shake the feeling that his life had become a series of endless escapes. There would be no peaceful village. No quiet life. Not with the power he had now.
And as much as he tried to fight it, there was only one thing he knew for sure: This world had become his adventure—whether he liked it or not.