In front of me stood what could only be called an aberration. It looked like a hyena but its coat was like shifting flames, its saliva that fell to the sand forming pools of glass as it crept closer.
I had no idea when or how it had gotten so close but it was at least thirty feet away and if not for the fact that my umbrella had fallen to the ground it would have been right at my heels and I wouldn't even know it.
I kept my eyes on the hyena as it had stopped inching forward now that I'd noticed it. Its presence was proof that things were changing and fast. If I was still on Earth it meant that either the existing animals had started to evolve or new ones had been introduced. With this one, I was inclined to go with the latter. How could the have evolved so much, so quickly.
I knew that outrunning this thing was impossible so I had to stand my ground or die trying. The weight on my back felt like a ton in this moment and I knew I had to shed it if I wanted to survive. I slowly shrugged my shoulders to loosen and reposition the straps enough so I could slide the knapsack off quickly.
I counted in my head 'One, two, three' before quickly slipping one hand free but by the time I justled the umbrella to take off the other strap, the flaming hyena had launched itself in my direction, its lunges eating up the distance.
As the bag and its attachments clattered to the sandy ground the flaming hyena was five feet away and bunched its muscles for a powerful jump, its maw opening wide as it aimed for my throat. To which I instinctively lowered the umbrella as if to block. A mistake that cost me as the moment the flames on its body came into contact with the fabric of the umbrella, it burst into flames doing nothing to stop the charging desert dog.
I tried side-stepping but at the last minute, a flaming paw with sharp points was swiped at my arm which was closest to the beast. Searing pain lanced down my arm but I had no time to check on it, I had to put some distance between myself and this beast that seemed determined to make me its prey out here in the middle of nowhere. I skipped to the side some more keeping my eyes on the hyena who had now fallen back to its paws on the sand and was starting to circle confidently after drawing first blood.
All the fabric from the umbrella had now burned off and only the metal spines were left. I held it up before me as if it was the most reliable weapon although my hands shook and my legs felt like jelly, I continued to stand my ground. I refuse to be an easy prey. I would not lie down and allow this beast to rip into my flesh and feast as it most certainly wanted to. I would fight to my last breath if I had to.