The flaming hyena watched my resistant stance and scoffed as if laughing at my pathetic resistance. It already injured me so it was feeling that this was a simple meal to take down. It lunged again this time instead of going for my head it decided to remove the flimsy barrier that was the spiny umbrella. As the paw came swiping down each swipe clipped away another spoke which I kept thrusting out until the only thing left was the metal of the middle.
I knew I was on borrowed time and needed a way to injure this beast enough to best kill it or have it retreat. With this in mind, I started moving towards it and jabbing at its eyes which I assumed was a weak spot. Only managing to graze its snout a few times and at one point it snapped its jaws around the end of the metal pole and started pulling to try to disarm me, which caught me by surprise at first as it nearly succeeded due to the sheer power behind the bite. It was like the untapped strength of a bull. At this point I watched as the end of the metal turned red hot and the red started to inch down towards the handle the longer it stayed in the flaming hyena's mouth.
Seeing this, I started turning the pole which had gotten more pliable until the section in the beast's mouth twisted off. I quickly made another jab with the liberated pole that was now at a point and managed a shallow stab at the eye of the flaming hyena.
It gave a pained yip and tried to back away while shaking its head but I decided to push ahead. Stabbing at its neck that was partly exposed from the head shaking to the side. I again managed to score a shallow wound and got overly confident while trying to make the wound a serious one. Instead, I ended up with another set of deep gashes on my leg as the hyena decided to retaliate by swiping at me, which connected because I went too close.
The pain from this wound blended in with the ones on my arm making the pain get that much more unbearable. I winced as I pulled back, feeling warm blood run down my leg.
The hyena stood apart as one eye was only slightly opened with what appeared like molten lava flowing out of the eyes like tears. Its gaze now weary, though it knew I may not be able to resist if it went all out, it was not thrilled with the feeling of being injured. It watched me for a few more minutes before slowly backing away and when it was far enough it turned to slink away. I feel like he will be watching for the next little while to see any further weakness to attack and wasn't gone too far away.
I remained vigilant even as I looked around to find my knapsack some meters away and already half buried. Even in this deadly exchange, the sandy winds had not stopped howling.
I quickly got to the bag, put my makeshift weapon by my foot, and reached into the bag for a diaper, the wipes, and the water.
Though the pants were ripped open where the claws had slashed into me and the heat had mostly cauterized the wounds, they still needed attention. I opened the water for the first time as I had been trying to conserve, took a drink from it before getting a couple of wipes, soaking them with some of the water and cleaning the wound on my left forearm first then opening the rip in the jeans further and doing the same to my right leg, gritting my teeth through the pain.
When I got the wounds as clean as I could considering all the blowing sand, I tore strips from the bottom of my t-shirt and tucked the open diaper on the more serious gashes on my leg, I used the strips to secure it to prevent anything from getting into the wound. It wasn't perfect but it would have to do for now.
All this time I kept an eye on the direction the hyena went, because even though I could no longer see him, I was sure he was still watching.
I packed up my little parcel and knapsack, picked up my umbrella handle, and turned to the right to continue my journey. I had gotten turned around because of the fight but there was no way I was turning my back on that monster or walking towards it so it was either left or right. I chose right. I chose right and kept on walking.