The monster tree, with its enormous maw-like mouth, almost swallowed half of Leo in one bite. The stench of damp wood and rotting moss filled his nostrils as sticky sap clung to his skin.
For a brief, chaotic moment, he thrashed wildly like a trapped animal, kicking and jerking his arms in every direction, but the more he struggled, the tighter the crushing walls of wood became. There was no escaping its bite.
Then, forcing down the panic, he clenched his jaw, breathing sharply through his nose.
Inhale~
Leo filled his lungs, his teeth grinding, and kept hammering his fists against the monster's inner jaw, striking the slick wooden trunk that was trying to drag him deeper. Each blow sent dull pain up his arms, but he didn't stop, pounding harder until splinters cracked and sharp wooden shards cut into his knuckles.
"Come on!!" he growled, voice breaking with desperation.
