Fear
Stretching, Caru peeked over the ridge and gulped. Stiff as a statue, she stared at a mysterious beast on top of the bluff directly in front of her. Charcoal-black feathers blanketed its body; outstretched wings extended at least 10-feet wide. A broad, white stripe lined the span, tip-to-tip.
Much longer than ever imagined, the neck swelled outward at the base of the creature's head. Menacing eyes, set in its grotesque skull, glared at her.
Red, convoluted skin masked its face in a disguise uglier than a turkey. With its hooked beak fully agape, its forked tongue flicked in and out between two slightly curved fangs.
How was she going to survive? Before her stood a fierce muclone, ready to kill her if she flinched. Below, jagged rock awaited to smash her brains with the slightest misstep.
Never had Caru been so scared. A lump in her throat grew to the size of an apple, or so it seemed. Below the beast's view, she slowly unsheathed her knife, making sure her shoulder did not twitch.
Much longer than ever imagined, the neck swelled outward at the base of the creature's head. Menacing eyes, set in its grotesque skull, glared at her.
Red, convoluted skin masked its face in a disguise uglier than a turkey. With its hooked beak fully agape, its forked tongue flicked in and out between two slightly curved fangs.
How was she going to survive? Before her stood a fierce muclone, ready to kill her if she flinched. Below, jagged rock awaited to smash her brains with the slightest misstep.
Never had Caru been so scared. A lump in her throat grew to the size of an apple, or so it seemed. Below the beast's view, she slowly unsheathed her knife, making sure her shoulder did not twitch.
Call to Action
Caru sprinted toward the screams, growing louder as she neared. Less than 20 yards ahead, a young woman thrashed in a mucky pool up to her waist.
Quicksand! "Come on, Chili!"
Nearing the commotion, Caru dropped to the ground and stuck her fishing pole out over the soupy mess. "Here, grab this!"
Stretching her arm, the villager sunk deeper into the goo, up to her stomach, as her eyes widened. "I can't reach it!"
Caru crawled closer until the victim's fingers gripped the end. "Hold on!"
Behind the sinking swimmer, two long, flimsy sticks, much like willow branches but black, slowly emerged from the surface. As the strange, wiry twigs rose, a crusted head, with sharp pincers on each side of its mouth, followed.
Caru gasped. "Watch out! Behind you!"
The woman glanced at the russet-colored creature and tried to scream — but no sound escaped. The more she struggled, the deeper she sank.
Springing to her feet, Caru jabbed the beast with the bamboo rod and shoved it back under the quicksand. She swiftly swung the tip of the pole closer. "Grab it again!"
Caru turned. "Chili! Help!"
She stuck her end of the rod toward the bear and Chili clenched it with her teeth and tugged.
Quicksand! "Come on, Chili!"
Nearing the commotion, Caru dropped to the ground and stuck her fishing pole out over the soupy mess. "Here, grab this!"
Stretching her arm, the villager sunk deeper into the goo, up to her stomach, as her eyes widened. "I can't reach it!"
Caru crawled closer until the victim's fingers gripped the end. "Hold on!"
Behind the sinking swimmer, two long, flimsy sticks, much like willow branches but black, slowly emerged from the surface. As the strange, wiry twigs rose, a crusted head, with sharp pincers on each side of its mouth, followed.
Caru gasped. "Watch out! Behind you!"
The woman glanced at the russet-colored creature and tried to scream — but no sound escaped. The more she struggled, the deeper she sank.
Springing to her feet, Caru jabbed the beast with the bamboo rod and shoved it back under the quicksand. She swiftly swung the tip of the pole closer. "Grab it again!"
Caru turned. "Chili! Help!"
She stuck her end of the rod toward the bear and Chili clenched it with her teeth and tugged.
Facing Adversity
Suffocating fumes rushed through Tropokt's lungs. Choking and gagging, he swallowed the soured puke that found its way up the back of his throat. Is this it? Will I ever see Hound Dog again?
He looked at the pit below. If Grizzly doesn't kill me, this heat certainly will.
The massive man with the perfect nickname to match his bulging pecs and biceps smiled. Several gaps between his teeth bore witness to previous skirmishes.
Tropokt faced many warriors before, but none as big and ugly as the one that stood between him and freedom. He had seen the brute crush the skulls of many challengers in the past. As he carefully inched forward, the gargantuan Skalag jumped up and down on the rickety bridge.
He looked at the pit below. If Grizzly doesn't kill me, this heat certainly will.
The massive man with the perfect nickname to match his bulging pecs and biceps smiled. Several gaps between his teeth bore witness to previous skirmishes.
Tropokt faced many warriors before, but none as big and ugly as the one that stood between him and freedom. He had seen the brute crush the skulls of many challengers in the past. As he carefully inched forward, the gargantuan Skalag jumped up and down on the rickety bridge.
Anguish
A flying monster buzzed Snapper's ear and he ducked. A moment later, something landed on his shoulder. He swatted at it but missed.
Its scratchy legs moved behind his neck and down his spine. Terrified, Snapper's heart pounded as he tried to scream, but nothing came out.
A searing pain shot through his lower back. Legs still pumping as swiftly as they could, he stumbled to the ground.
Crying, he crawled, but his legs felt like rubber and failed to respond. Uncontrollable trembles vibrated through his torso.
Trying to escape his angry pursuers, Snapper pulled himself ahead with his arms while his useless legs dragged behind. As he grew weary and the venom took hold, his body refused to retreat. Is this it? Am I going to die?
Its scratchy legs moved behind his neck and down his spine. Terrified, Snapper's heart pounded as he tried to scream, but nothing came out.
A searing pain shot through his lower back. Legs still pumping as swiftly as they could, he stumbled to the ground.
Crying, he crawled, but his legs felt like rubber and failed to respond. Uncontrollable trembles vibrated through his torso.
Trying to escape his angry pursuers, Snapper pulled himself ahead with his arms while his useless legs dragged behind. As he grew weary and the venom took hold, his body refused to retreat. Is this it? Am I going to die?