"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIE~" A boy screamed, acting out of character.
It resembled a kaiju. It appeared to be three to four metres tall, two metres wide, and its muscles bulged with an immense intensity, making the creature resemble a Hippo adorned with the protective coating of a bear's fur, but even the presence of fur could be called into question; it barely managed to cover the damn thing. I had no choice but to run.
That thing would kill me in just one charge. My head, my torso, my limbs, obliterated, smashed to bits and left to pool like the pink sludge inside a meat processor. Confrontation was impossible.
'GRAAAAAAAAA~!', it roared out a noise resembling the sound of an eldritch horror being.
With clearly violent intent, the creature burst past the foliage towards its intended target, doing well to incite a primal fear to run within me. Hopefully, it boosted my adrenaline. I sauntered to the side, making sure that I gained enough distance so that its next charge wouldn't happen immediately after. This really isn't good! I could feel my face contort in shock, and my fingers began to tremble.
Regaining my bearings, I quickly surveyed the surroundings. To the right, there was dense foliage and flora, which was good for cover, but it was in the direction the fearsome creature had leapt out from. There was a high chance that another would appear. To the left was the direction that the Bear had charged. That would just be suicidal. To the north, there was a swampland. However, it was guaranteed that this bear was much more adept at navigating the swamp than I was. In that case, venturing there would be a death sentence. That just left the south. To the south, flat lands were revealed. It was perfect for traversing for humans, but a Bear could probably also traverse it relatively easily.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAHGHH!!~~~
"Eeep!"
There wasn't any choice in the matter. I darted south, aiming for the flat expanse. Behind me, the bear had barrelled towards me, carbon claws and razor fangs. It would be an understatement to say I was in distress.
I was sweating bullets. This scenario was entering the realm of cartoon belief. It was extraordinary how quickly the beast could induce such panic. But I'm good at managing my emotions- or I like to believe I can- so I rapidly began breathing in and out in a controlled manner, trying to calm down. I then repeated a mantra in my thoughts because saying it out loud would deprive me of oxygen rapidly. Don't die, don't die, don't die,don't die. Unfortunately, I don't think that was the right thing to repeat. Now I feel even more panicked. Then, without further warning-
GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH~!
I sprinted. There was no way that I'd become bear food and not be able to ask out Clarissa. I wouldn't. Not yet. I kept on running. Running was the fundamental human movement. With my human biology and ability to sweat, I'd outpace it soon enough. Soon enough.
Sidestepping to the right, I dodged another charge; however, this time there were no trees to correct its forward momentum. Using that to my advantage, I ran straight ahead in the direction I was facing towards the tree line.
My head spun.
I trudged through the foliage, getting pricked along the way. My breath abated. This situation was so shitty. Why did it have to be in the territory of that creature?!
From that distance, I had serious doubts about whether or not it could smell me. My gut told me it could easily pinpoint me from much further distances, yet it's just a bear. I told myself. Even I knew such thoughts were too sluggish to help me survive, but I didn't have any fire left.
"Can… I… at least be told about where I am?" I huffed. The air here felt empty. I hadn't even run a kilometre, and I was already deprived of breath. My heart roared, attempting to make up for my lack of oxygen. The thin air had practically crippled me. I could feel my calves twisting like a knot, creating a weak stabbing sensation. How long had it been since I last suffered a cramp?
Suddenly, I heard the crisp-heavy crunching of foliage, the mud squelching and oozing, impossible not to notice. At that point, it felt like the world narrowed, and the thread of my life was being cut before my eyes.
"No… please! Don't!" I exclaimed involuntarily, and the fear stalking and festering within began to unravel. Suddenly, a torrent overcame me, the world twisted and spun in on itself, and my head was racked with unimaginable pain, pulsating frequently and violently, threatening to split itself open like an egg. Each stab had further distorted my view of the world. Suddenly, I was no longer in fantasy land, but instead I was drifting like a log through the deep sea. This was what it felt like to be awaiting death?
I had never been that good with death. Even with my current personality, I probably couldn't handle watching another person die, and I certainly feel the same for animals like dogs, cats, birds and bees. Why? Because life is beautiful in my opinion. I love thinking of all the possibilities and paths that a creature could take because they're endless.
That's why I don't want mine to end so suddenly. Since that day, I've been working to make sure those endless possibilities could exist for me too. So, it's my duty to work towards it and live for it.
_You were chosen_. An ancient voice bellowed. Whether it was in regret or acknowledgement, I couldn't tell, but I know that I need to try harder.
Slowly, I raised my arms; they were sluggish and creaked and scratched like a metal surface colliding with stone with every ounce of effort I poured into them. I balled my fists, clenching hard enough to draw blood. It can't be the end. Not here. Not now. I awaited the fateful arrival of the creature, biting down on my lips, then-
It roared again with frightening intensity.
Standing at 3 and a half metres tall, likely 500 pounds of raw muscle and teeth that could melt steel. The blue bear stood. Its blue fur glimmered in twilight; its pelt bathed in the golden colours of the sun. It was speckled in purples, blues and cyan, forming an icy coat. Its ears had been replaced by horns that resembled the shape of a devil, and its hands had also been curled into fists. Defeating this thing was nigh impossible. That was my conclusion; therefore, I readied myself to brazenly charge.
However, with a mighty booming roar, it exploded, pushing off the ground, leaving a dent in the surface in its wake. Birds flew out from the surrounding environment as I was caught off guard. One strike and I was dead; that was no lie. That's why I ducked to the right, trying to conceal myself in the foliage; however, just before my muscles could facilitate movement, I made the mistake of being unaware.
In other words, my worn-out, haggard muscles had reacted to my brain's command a second too slow. Just like that, the bear's paws with their razor-sharp claws out had made a brutal swipe at me, my dodge being unable to completely avoid the blow.
Maybe it was the effect of the blow, but my world suddenly felt like it was being torn at the seams. I saw mathematical symbols, and it felt like the parts of the sky became colourless, or maybe a part beyond the sky…?
"Gah!" I yelped; my back had been clawed at, but never so deeply and forcefully before. I tumbled to the side, rolling on the ground. I collided with a tree and rolled backwards till I was facing the sky. I could feel the awkward sensation of liquid flowing; however, this wasn't sweat; it felt slightly soupy and pooled quickly. It was my blood.
My head swirled, my environs coalescing around me into a conglomeration of blues, cyan, purples and evening oranges. The sun peered overhead, pulsating slightly. The lone star viewed the spectacle, disappointed. I couldn't let that be the case. I couldn't disappoint him. I wouldn't die. I shouldn't.
As I made that consensus, the bear, already charging towards me, saliva jutting out, creating a cascade down its mouth. Never have I seen such a creature move with devastating alacrity like this one. Shit. This sucks, but I won't die. I pushed off the ground with as much strength as I could muster, trying to dodge to the side. Fortunately, it worked. The bear missed its attack, but the force of my dodge was so great that I crashed into a tree, leaving a sizable concave, smooth, steaming dent.
I quickly rebounded from this; my goal to land a critical strike on the bear was underway. I sauntered towards both the left and the right, letting my exhaustion dictate the effort behind my movements. The bear could not recover from its harsh blows, obviously because it was an animal (even if it was strangely quite intelligent). As a result, I jutted out my left arm, parted my index and middle finger and pushed off the ground with as much force as possible, aiming straight for the eyes.
At the same time, the totem of a creature unhinged its jaw, trying desperately to earn itself a meal. I wouldn't shy away, not with the Sun itself watching; that's why I knew I'd be faster. In the instant that we came in contact, I had pushed the bear's eyes in, forcing it to recoil in shock and agony. While it thrashed about, covering its eyes and standing on 2 legs, I followed up with a weak slash at its underbelly and a strong full punch to the other side in rapid succession. However, the 500 pounds of raw muscle proved difficult to penetrate. My attacks barely left a bruise. Yet, its roars only grew more and more malevolent.
As my arms went to rest as I surveyed the area for opportunities to escape or dodge, a claw soared past me, cutting across my flesh with as much ease as a kid digging around their nails for residue. It shredded from the top of my shoulder down to my temple. In an instant, I was forced to the ground.
"AIEEEEEE~!" I screamed out at the top of my lungs. My bloodcurdling scream could probably be heard by other bears in the vicinity, but I didn't care.
"GRAAAAAAAAW~~"
I stood there, paralysed in shock and fear. I was on the verge of soiling my undergarments. I had never been caressed by the grim reaper so callously before. The Bear let out a victorious roar. In response to the roar, the surrounding ecosystem and flora shook violently - it was like I was experiencing a storm. However, the searing pain emanating from my right shoulder had rendered me blind to all the external phenomena. Through shallow groans, all I managed to muster was a weak but firm grip on the aforementioned damaged limb.
Then suddenly, the Bear started again; its health tank had seemingly recovered rather quickly. As a consequence, it immediately advanced to its newest purpose of: 'Eviscerate Inuwa'. Yet they said Inuwa decided he wouldn't resist anymore. This situation is one of those truly hopeless and impossible ones. David Vs Goliath, but this Goliath was taller than a Bus, and this David is only operating with one weak arm. A hopeless gambit. A hopeless tussle.
The Bear suddenly appeared colossal now; the great shadow of this Bear created an immense canopy over me. At this point, I'm spent. It's too strong. I can't. I think… I give up.
I'm sorry, Clarissa.
I don't see how I can make it out of this one.
I began to smile as I resigned myself to death.
"Hey! Hey!" A child's open palm jutted out towards my chest. A girl with rose-gold hair was staring at me.
It was that memory. The day when we made that promise. Now that I'm about to die, why is it suddenly coming back to me?
"So Inuwa… that's your name? What a weird name!"
"Shut up! Yours is more weirder!"
"You don't say 'more' weirder, silly!"
"Oh... I forgot."
"Hey, Inuwa. Can you promise me? You're my first friend, so it might be weird, but…"
"Go on."
"Please stay with me for the rest of our lives!"
"Huh? That's it?"
"What do you mean by that's it?!"
"Well, I thought that was only natural since we're friends and all. Of course I will!"
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
"Pinky promise?"
"Yeah!"
I don't want to let it end like this. No way in hell.
The Bear raised its paws, ready to execute me. This was it. I didn't wanna die. I don't wanna die. Why am I the one here? Why can't it be lavender-boy? What can I even do? What can I even do against such a force?
I stared up at the sun one last time; it pulsated drearily, as if letting out a sigh.
It was mocking me.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I won't! I won't!" I incoherently blustered.
Stupid Sun. Stupid World. Stupid Forest. Stupid Bear. Stupid Lavender. Stupid Ivan. Stupid Race. Stupid Davee. Stupid Edgar. Stupid Clarissa. Stupid Brother.
It's over.
Soon it dawned upon me. That the seemingly gargantuan plateau that my brother resides upon, shared only by the best of the best, would never be a place that I'd be able to reach. That height that my brother is at... If I can't even survive this… then I never had a chance. How shameful.
The raised paw lowered at breakneck speeds, ready to decapitate me in one swift fell swoop.
As it lowered, I closed my eyes. Then-
White.
Searing White.
A searing white engulfed my vision, disorienting me. Clutching my stomach, I felt as though my insides were being ripped in half. It hurt, it hurt, it hurt.
I was dragged from corner to corner and from side to side.
My face distorted, and my tongue stretched. The area surrounding me was a mix of hallucinogenic and iridescent swirls.
There was no way that this wasn't an area persisting on the outside of reality.
After all, there were an innumerable number of indiscernible qualities to it.
Surrounding me, present were hundreds of letters scattered about, too small to group into words but too big to ignore, almost like some cypher. I drifted through space, unable to ascertain my direction.
Would I spend the rest of my life here? But I have so much left to do. I've been given another chance at life, but I've already blown it.
Slowly, my eyelids fluttered shut as a distant cacophony of voices bellowed around my peripherals. My consciousness was teetering over the edge. Soon, I'd lose consciousness and be out of it for who knows how long.
But I was glad to be home. I was glad to be with them.
However, strangely, I felt myself missing that experience. Was it because the sun seemed so bright and lively in that land– no, world…?
I crave it. I miss it. I want it.