Chase's heart leapt into his throat, even as he slammed the gate shut and ran as fast as his legs could carry him back towards the cabin. His mind raced, trying to come up with a plan, any plan, that might save him.
Just as he reached the edge of the cabin's porch, another shrieking yowl ripped through the air, the sound of it causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. He risked glancing over his shoulder, only to yelp as he immediately dropped, paws bearing what looked like six inch long claws passing through where his head had been.
Chase scrambled to his feet, heart pounding in his chest as he lunged for the cabin door. His shaking hands fumbled with the knob, precious seconds ticking by as the creature behind him let out another bone-chilling shriek. Finally, the door swung open and he stumbled inside, slamming it shut just as a heavy weight crashed against it from the other side.
Gasping for breath, Chase backed away from the door as it shuddered under the relentless assault of the beast. His eyes darted around the dimly lit interior, searching for anything he could use as a weapon. They landed on the wood stove, cold and dark, with a stack of logs and a poker leaning against the brick.
He lurched forward, grabbing the iron rod just as an earsplitting crack rent the air. Whirling around, poker raised, Chase felt his blood run cold. One of the creature's massive paws had splintered straight through the wood, deadly claws flexing as they groped blindly. A guttural growl vibrated through the door.
Sweat beaded on Chase's forehead as he adjusted his grip on the poker, edging towards the far wall. His mind spun, trying to recall anything useful from the countless horror movies he'd watched. But in those, the monsters had always been fiction, not something that could actually kill him. This…this was terrifyingly real.
Another slam against the door sent chunks of wood flying. Chase flinched, knowing it wouldn't hold much longer. Frantic, his gaze flicked to the small window set high in the wall, then to the sturdy oak table in the center of the room. If he could just reach it in time...
The door shattered in a deafening crash, wood spraying through the air as the monstrous creature charged into the cabin. It was huge, larger than any animal Chase had ever seen in real life, and its yellowed fangs gleamed in the faint moonlight streaming through the window. Its bright eyes locked onto him, and a low, rumbling growl rose from its throat.
Chase didn't waste any more time. He ducked, rolling under the table and scrambling towards the window. The creature lunged after him, its massive bulk crashing into the table and sending it toppling. Chase yelped as a heavy paw slammed down mere inches from his leg, claws gouging deep furrows into the wooden floorboards. He swung the poker wildly, feeling it connect with flesh, and was rewarded with an enraged yowl.
Seizing the momentary distraction, Chase surged to his feet, leaping onto the overturned table. The window was tantalizingly close, promising escape if he could just reach it. He stretched out a desperate hand, fingertips brushing the sill—
A vice-like grip clamped around his ankle, sharp claws easily piercing his jeans, wrenching him backwards. Chase screamed as he was dragged off the table, poker falling from his grasp to clatter uselessly to the floor. Hot, fetid breath washed over him as the creature loomed above, its dripping maw parting to reveal rows of jagged teeth.
In a final, hopeless act of defiance, Chase lashed out with his free hand, balled up into a fist, catching the beast square in one glinting eye. It reared back with a pained shriek, its hold loosening just enough for him to wrench free. Half stumbling, half crawling, he flung himself at the window, fingers scrabbling for purchase on the frame.
With a heave, he hauled himself up, squeezing through the narrow gap. Shards of glass scored deep cuts into his skin, but he barely felt them over the thundering of his heart. He tumbled out into the cool night air, hitting the ground hard and rolling to absorb the impact.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Behind him, an earth-shaking roar split the air as the creature slammed against the wall, its bulk far too large to fit through the window. Chase staggered to his feet, not daring to look back as he raced towards the tool shed. The fastest man couldn't outrun a normal mountain lion, let alone one supercharged like this one was, and without the fire poker he'd need a new weapon.
He burst through the door, sending it swinging wildly on its rusty hinges. His eyes swept across the dusty shelves, searching frantically for something, anything he could use. At last, his gaze landed on the old pickax, and he lunged for it, snatching it off the shelf.
The door was blasted off its hinges, sending splinters of wood flying as the creature burst into the shed. Chase dove behind a pile of crates, praying that the monster wouldn't be able to fit between the shelves.
With a deafening crash, the creature barreled through the rickety shelves, sending them toppling to the ground. Chase winced as the sound echoed through the night, knowing that anyone nearby would have heard it. If they came to investigate, though, they would find nothing but their own deaths.
Unfortunately, it soon found him. The monster's jaws snapped, inches from his face, its hot breath washing over him. Chase struck out with the pickax, the flat top of the blade striking the creature's nose with a meaty thunk.
The beast recoiled with a pained yelp, shaking its massive head. Chase didn't wait for it to recover. He swung again, aiming for the creature's eyes, but it was too quick. It dodged the blow with unnatural speed, then lunged forward, its gaping maw filled with gleaming teeth.
Chase threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding being torn to shreds. He rolled across the dirt-packed floor of the shed, feeling jagged bits of glass, wood, and metal dig into his skin. The pickax was still clutched in his white-knuckled grip, and he used it to heave himself back to his feet.
The creature whirled to face him, its movements fluid and predatory. Its uninjured eye blazed with a malevolent intelligence that sent icy tendrils of fear down Chase's spine. This was no ordinary animal. It was something else, something unnatural and terrifying.
It stalked towards him, claws digging into the ground, muscles rippling beneath its thick fur. Chase backed away, his heart hammering against his ribs. He glanced desperately around the shed, searching for an escape route, but there was none. The creature blocked the only way out. Taking a deep breath, Chase steeled his nerves.
“Come on, then,” Chase whispered, adjusting his sweaty grip on the pickax handle. “Come and get me, you ugly bastard.”
As if it understood his words, the creature snarled, lips peeling back from its fangs. Then it charged, covering the distance between them in a single bound. Chase swung the pickax with all his strength, felt it connect with the side of the beast's head with a sickening crunch.
But it wasn't enough. The creature barely slowed, its momentum carrying it forward. Its bulk slammed into Chase, sending him flying backwards. He crashed into the wall of the shed, the breath driven from his lungs by the impact. The pickax slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground.
Dazed, Chase shook his head, trying to clear the spots dancing before his eyes. The creature loomed over him, its hot breath washing over his face. Blood matted the fur on one side of its head where the pickax had struck, but it seemed only to have enraged the beast further.
Scrambling, Chase just barely managed to avoid the swipe the mountain lion sent his way, desperately grabbing the pickax as he did. Half running and half stumbling towards the door of the shed, he blindly swung the pickax in an upward arc behind him as he heard the beast leap. There was a crunching sound, and the pickax was torn from his grasp.
The unexpected resistance nearly caused his feet to fly out from under him, but Chase managed to avoid completely losing his balance. Unfortunately, it caused him to come face to face with-
A wave of relief, and something else he didn’t want to admit to, washed through Chase at seeing his dumb luck. His blind swing had caused the tip of the pickax to punch through the mountain lion's jaw and into its brain. With a final gurgling groan, the beast slumped to the ground, its unseeing eyes staring up at him.
“Holy shit,” Chase gasped, adrenaline coursing through his veins. “I can’t believe I survived that.”
He stood there for a long moment, his chest heaving, then collapsed onto his ass as he let out a shaky laugh. He'd survived. Against all odds, he'd managed to defeat it.
First Enemy Defeated: Blood Hungry Puma (Puma Rank L, 10)
ACHIEVEMENTS EARNED: Jotun Slayer, Front-Runner
Level Gained 6x
Available Characteristics: 30