"Rhaaaaaa--"
The scream cut through the woods like a thunderbolt ripping the flesh out of the sky.
The devil frog stilled half-way in the gesture. All of its heads turned to the cause of the noise, and its muscles clenched, its ribbons flared, and its frame was shot through with blue energy.
Another predator.
Another threat.
And that--
That was my chance.
I ran.
Since dying was not on my agenda list.
I didn't know who I was. I did not recollect a bit of my past. But there was one fact which was cut deep into whatever remained of my instincts--
I don't want to die.
And running appeared much preferable to being disemboweled bit by screaming bit by that thing.
Branches whipped my face. Roots clawed at my feet. My lungs were being burnt like I was breathing fire, but I did not slow down.
Then I heard it.
Behind me.
The abomination tore through the undergrowth as though it was the end of the world, with a tree-snapping crunch, stone-crashing breaks, and earth-screaming strains. I heard its jeweled tail rattling like fire-bells at my burial. Wet snarls broke forth of its main mouth, overlained with the hissing choirs of those smaller demon features which shriveled up in its mane.
Smoking, smelly breath struck my neck.
Blood. Sulfur. Rot.
Like a graveyard ripped open.
My own blood, which I tasted by biting my tongue and staying conscious enough to do it, was iron. The air was stinking of leaves trampled, body sweat, and fear.
And I hated it.
Not fear.
Not despair.
Hatred.
Blinding hatred that was like a scalding fire, and it was pure.
Fuck you, my head sneered vilely.
You ugly, multi-mouthed freak.
My lungs were shattered glass. Every breath bubbled wetly. Thorns did not rake, but flayed, tearing off the skin in burning strips. I leaped a rotting log, and got sucked in the mud, and ran banging against sharp rock--pain bursting in my shoulder, and stars pricking my eyes.
Too slow.
It was on me instantly.
The huge paw smashed, the claws churned holes in the ground. I rolled--but not fast enough.
Jaws lunged.
Chains fastened round my left arm right above the wrist.
Crunch.
Bone shattered.
I felt the force passing through my skull and twisting my skull, shaking me like a prey. Flesh ripped aswathingly obscenely. Tendons snapped. Heat erupted.
Then--
Nothing.
My hand was gone.
It was jerking between the teeth.
A ragged end caused blood to spurt in jets and the bone showed sickly white, and the muscle was torn into thinned ribbons. My shout tore out of me--animal, savage, unknown.
Pain became everything.
And hatred drowned it.
Chocke on it you motherfucker I said through rapid breath as I felt a blind pain, I said.
You disgusting bastard.
Shock attempted to draw me down, numb, cold--but anger got its claws into my back and tugged me up. I swung myself stupidly on the heaving stump and ran once more, with sticky fingers.
The forest became hell.
The light was devoured by darkness. Moonbeams cut the world in pieces like flashy ghosts. My legs were molten lead. Vision tunneled. Loss of blood made my skin icy despite the sweaty pouring.
The beast toyed with me now.
My back was bathed with its breath. Claws ripped my calf--deep--cutting me to bone. Blood flooded my boot. Tearing came I broke my cry, And with the tearing of a cloth.
Die, my mind chanted.
Die, you filthy thing.
I was a corpse in motion.
Then--
Stone.
Before us rose a crumbling temple which was half eaten up by vines and shadow. Moss-covered steps of ancient type. Doorways yawning black. Battered figures of lost protectors glaring in the moon.
I hurled myself forward.
Lying swamped on the doorstep.
Ancient stone was smeared with blood as I lay there, not breathing, hardly alive.
The monster slide his way to a stop at the fringe of the clearing.
It paced.
Snarled.
Every eye was cooked with hell-fire. Ribbons fluttered. Jewels chimed softly. And one giant paw was raised--toes stretched.
Then lowered.
It would not cross.
Shredded and dying, I lay there, still boiling with hatred.
Come on, I thought weakly.
You cowardly, ugly fuck.
But the beast only watched.
And hesitated.