Roar! The strong roar of beast broke the morning calm, birds flee their nest in panic as the trees break and fall. A man speed through the woods with a boar right on his tail. "Help me!!!" The man screamed almost peeing his pants. The boar had a malevolent glow in its eyes, chasing the man with everything it got. The man ran without looking back, he had heard people complaining about wild animal chasing farmers, only to experience it today. It has gotten to the point that he doesn't know where he's heading, one thing was certain for sure, he have to run if he still wants to catch those breaths. The man ducked himself behind a big tree to catch his breath, which he was sure that he would lose soon. For a moment he could no longer hear the sound of anything or beast to be precise, behind was a peaceful forest. The farmer heaved a sigh of relief. Just as the man was about to step out from behind the tree, he heard the sound of rustling leaves and twigs snapping. The boar emerged from the underbrush, its malevolent glow intensifying as it fixed its gaze on the man. The man's heart sank, and he realized he wasn't safe yet. He took off in a sprint, dashing between the trees as the boar gave chase once more. The man's legs pumped furiously as he zigzagged through the dense forest, desperate to shake the boar off his tail. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his heart threatened to burst from his chest. Just when he thought he couldn't run anymore, he saw a glimmer of light up ahead - a break in the trees that might just lead to safety. With renewed energy, the man surged forward, the boar mere inches behind. He could feel its hot breath on his heels, and the stench of its bristly hide filled his nostrils. The man's eyes fixed on the gap between the trees, and with a final burst of speed, he flung himself through the opening... Only to find himself at the edge of a steep cliff, with nothing but a dizzying drop to the rocky floor below. The man's momentum carried him forward, and he felt his feet slip on the loose gravel. Time seemed to slow as he teetered on the brink, the boar's enraged snorting and snapping mere feet behind.... Keal followed an old route through the woods, he remembered this road as one of the busiest roads in the village, but thick bushes and a thin lane was the only thing present in the once great road. After riding for two hours, Keal decided to look for water for his horse. [ ] As Keal guided his horse through the dense underbrush, the sound of rushing water grew louder, and he caught glimpses of a sparkling stream through the trees. He followed the sound, his horse's hooves splashing in the shallow water as they reached the stream's edge. Keal dismounted, letting his horse drink from the stream while he took a moment to rest and scan their surroundings. The forest seemed quiet, except for the occasional birdcall or rustle of leaves. Keal's eyes narrowed as he noticed a piece of torn fabric caught in a nearby thorn bush. He walked over to investigate, his hand reaching out to gently pull the fibre free. It was an ordinary fiber, no special design, it was already old and ragged. What make Keal curious about the fibre was because it was stained with blood Keal's grip on the fabric tightened as he examined the bloodstain more closely. It was dried and brown, but it still sent a shiver down his spine. He wondered who the fabric belonged to and what had happened to them. Was it an animal attack, or something more sinister? As he stood there, lost in thought, Keal's horse suddenly let out a nervous whinny. Keal's head snapped up, and he scanned his surroundings, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at his belt. That was when he saw it. A figure, stumbling through the underbrush, crashing into trees and sending birds flying. Keal's eyes narrowed as he watched the figure approach. As the figure drew closer, Keal could see that it was a man, dressed in tattered and worn clothing. The man's face was pale and sweaty, and his eyes had a wild, desperate look in them. "Please..." the man gasped, stumbling towards Keal. "You have to help me..." Keal's instincts told him to be cautious, but there was something about the man's desperation that struck a chord in him. He sheathed his dagger and took a step forward, his hand outstretched. "What's wrong?" Keal asked, his voice firm but gentle. "What's happening?" The man grasped Keal's arm, his grip like a vice. "It's...it's behind me," he gasped. "I can hear it...I can feel it..." Keal's eyes scanned the surrounding trees, but he saw nothing. No movement, no sign of pursuit. But the man's fear was palpable, and Keal couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Suddenly, the man's head jerked up, his eyes fixed on something behind Keal. Keal spun around, his heart racing, but he saw nothing. "What is it?" Keal demanded, his voice low and urgent. "What do you see?" The man's voice was barely audible. "The...the boar..." Keal's eyes snapped back to the man, and he felt a jolt of adrenaline. The boar? What boar? But before he could ask any questions, the man's eyes rolled back in his head, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Keal was left standing there, feeling bewildered and more than a little concerned. What was going on? Who was this man, and what was he running from? As he stood there, trying to make sense of things, Keal heard a faint rustling in the underbrush. His heart skipped a beat as he realized that they were not alone in the forest. And then, a loud roar echoed through the trees, making Keal's blood run cold. The boar. It was coming. He raised the man into his shoulder and climbed his horse. "Sha!!!" He urged his horse, nursing some speed out of it, he could hear the crashing down of trees behind him. After riding for thirty minutes, he came to a stop behind a big tree. He laid the farmer down to examine his injuries. His body was covered in scratches he sustained from branches. His body was covered in scratches he had gained from branches. Keal crouched beside the farmer, his heart still pounding from the chase. The man was unconscious, his breathing shallow, but he seemed to be alive, for now. Keal carefully inspected the farmer’s injuries: deep scratches from the sharp branches of the trees, some bruises forming on his arms and legs, and a gash along his forehead. None of them seemed immediately life-threatening, but he needed to tend to them before the boar found them again. Keal pulled out a small flask of water from his saddlebag and poured it over a clean cloth. Gently, he dabbed at the farmer's forehead, wiping away the blood. His mind raced. The man had mentioned a boar, a dangerous one with a malevolent glow in its eyes. What could drive such an animal to hunt a person? Keal had heard rumors of wild creatures growing aggressive in these woods, but he never imagined something like this. The rustling sound of leaves reached his ears, snapping him out of his thoughts. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his dagger, but he quickly noticed it wasn’t the boar—it was the wind stirring through the trees. He exhaled a long breath, trying to calm his nerves. The farmer began to stir slightly, groaning as he came to. His wide, frantic eyes fluttered open, and Keal quickly leaned over him. "You're safe, for now," Keal said, his voice steady. The man’s pupils dilated as he tried to sit up, but the pain from his injuries made him wince. "The boar," he gasped. "It’s close, you have to—" Keal placed a hand on the farmer’s chest, gently urging him to lie back down. "We need to get you out of here first. The boar won’t catch us if we’re careful. But you need to rest." The farmer shook his head, his face twisted in terror. "No… no rest… It’s coming. I heard it… It’s close!" Keal glanced around the clearing, his senses on high alert. The dense forest around them felt eerily silent, as though it was holding its breath. There was no sound of the boar, but the farmer’s frantic fear had Keal on edge. He couldn't take chances. He stood quickly, looking over the landscape. In the distance, through the thick trees, he could just make out the faint glimmer of a rock formation rising from the forest floor. It was high ground, an ideal vantage point. If they could make it there, they might have a better chance of defending themselves—or at least a better view of their surroundings. Keal turned back to the farmer. "Can you ride? We need to move quickly." The farmer’s face was pale, his hands trembling as he sat up. "I—I can’t…" he mumbled, barely able to steady himself. Keal knew they couldn’t waste more time. He swiftly hoisted the man up onto the horse and climbed behind him. "Hang on tight. I’m getting us to safety." With a firm kick, Keal urged his horse forward, riding through the thick forest once again. He could feel the tension in the air—something was closing in. The feeling of being watched intensified with every step. It wasn’t just the wind this time; there was something else moving through the underbrush. Suddenly, the trees ahead of them shook, and Keal’s heart skipped a beat as a deafening roar split the air. The ground trembled beneath the powerful sound, and he knew that the boar wasn’t far behind.