I climbed higher, heart racing. The creature's growl reverberated, a low rumble that sent chills down my spine. It continued to claw itself up, leaving scratches on the bark, its frustration growing with every passing moment.
As I reached the top, I looked down at the creature below, struggling to make its way up towards me. Its body was clearly unsuitable for climbing. However, it was now only a few feet away, its eyes locked in my position.
I could feel a sense of fear and panic rising within, but I tried to keep my composure. I knew that I had to be careful and stay alert.
Panic surged through me as I searched for another tree within reach. The forest was thick with trunks and branches, but none were close enough to offer a safe leap. The creature continued to screech and growl, its eyes locked on like a predator watching its prey.
As I scanned the area, my heart raced when I spotted a small opening among the shorter trees below. It was just big enough for me to squeeze through, but the branches were thick and might snag me on the way down. It was risky, but I had no other choice—I wanted to live.
I had to slow my fall using the branches, but one wrong move and I'd break a bone. No time to hesitate.
I leaped, with all my might.
Suff!
"Aaaaaaarrgh!"
As I plummeted, branches whipped against my bare skin, each sting sharper than the last. If only I had something—anything, like clothes—between me and the forest's claws. I could feel some of the smaller branches grazing my skin, and I tried my best to cover my face. Then, I landed in the small opening below. The impact was jarring, and I felt a twinge of pain in my legs as I landed.
I had realized that I was now in a small clearing, surrounded by dense trees on all sides. The creature was still on the tree, its claws digging into the bark as it tried to climb back down. I felt glad that it didn't try to jump as well.
I couldn't afford to wait. I forced my aching legs to move, draining the last of my energy reserves as I sprinted. Took a few pebbles from the ground and held them in my hand, ready to throw them at the creature if necessary.
As I sprinted through the forest, I could hear the creature's footsteps getting closer behind me. Its claws scraped against the ground, probably leaving deep gouges in the dirt.
I glanced back for a moment, though it was quite far away from me, the creature narrowing the distance between us gradually.
I flung the pebbles with desperate force, but they bounced harmlessly off its thick scales. The creature only flinched for a heartbeat. Then I continued to run as fast as I could, putting as much distance between us as possible. The sound of its footsteps grew fainter as I ran deeper into the forest. While at it, I tried to look for any suitable stick that could be used as a weapon. The forest was filled with fallen branches and debris, but most of them were too small or too weak to be effective.
After a few minutes of running and searching, I had spotted a long, thick branch lying on the ground. It was the perfect size and shape to be used as a staff. I ran towards it.
My fingers closed around the thick branch, the only weapon I could find. It was crude, useless against a creature like this, but I had no choice. My hands trembled as I gripped it tighter. I wasn't ready to fight, and really hoped that I would not be forced to. Didn't think I would be able to fight something like that.
The sound of the creature's footsteps was growing fainter and fainter, but I could still hear it close behind me.
I tried to think of a plan to outsmart the creature and escape. I did not know how much longer I could run aimlessly without getting tired or exhausted.
The forest seemed to stretch on forever, and I could feel my lungs burning from the exertion. My legs were getting tired, and I knew that I could not keep this up for much longer. I looked around frantically, trying to find a place to hide. The forest was dense and full of hiding spots, but the creature was still close behind.
Ahead, a small cave cut into the hillside—hardly a safe haven, but seemed like my only option. I sprinted towards it and ducked inside just as the creature emerged from the forest.
"Grraaarrggh!" The long-clawed humanoid creature gave out a guttural growl, clearly frustrated.
I hid myself deeper into the narrow cave. The creature let out a loud roar and looked around, searching.
The cave pressed in on me, suffocating in its darkness, but it offered shelter. Outside, the creature's footsteps echoed as it searched, growing fainter.
I pressed myself deeper into the cave's shadow, barely daring to breathe. My heart thudded so loud it felt like a drum against my ribs, a signal that would give me away. Was it still there? Watching? Waiting?
*******
I stayed in the cave, holding my breath and praying that the creature would just give up. The sound of its footsteps faded slightly as it moved further away from the cave.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, but I tried to calm myself down and stay as quiet as possible. I knew that the creature could still be nearby, waiting for me to make a mistake.
I swallowed a large amount of saliva, trying to keep my throat from getting dry. The last thing I needed was to cough and give away my location.
I stayed still a while longer, holding my ragged breath and listening for any signs of the creature. The silence in the cave was almost deafening, broken only by the sound of my own heartbeat.
The minutes felt like hours, I could hear its footsteps echoing in the distance, growing fainter and fainter.
After what felt like hours, the creature's footsteps faded into silence. Only then did I dare to exhale, a tremor of relief running through me.
I stayed a while longer for reassurance. The creature might come back at any moment. I began to process what had happened. I was in a dangerous situation, and it was real. It was not a dream or hallucination; the pain of grazed skin and strained leg proved it more.
A lucid dream, maybe?
I felt a wave of exhaustion washed over me as the adrenaline wore off. My legs were shaking, and my breathing was ragged. I was covered in dirt and grime from running through the forest.
Reality crashed in with brutal clarity. I was no longer in my world—this was something else. Some twisted nightmares where monsters were real, and survival was far from guaranteed.
The weight of it all hit me.
Fears tried to grip tight, but there was no room for despair.
Not now. Not yet.