He urged his horse to gallop, but the dense forest made it difficult to gain much speed. The sounds of crashing trees grew louder, and the smell of something rank and wild reached Keal's nostrils. The boar was closer than he'd feared.

With his heart racing, Keal pushed forward, his thoughts focused solely on getting to the rock formation. He couldn’t outrun the boar for long, not in this dense wood. His only chance was to reach the higher ground and figure out a way to fight back or find cover.

As they neared the rock formation, Keal’s eyes darted to the side, where a thick thicket of brambles and wildflowers grew. He saw an opening—just enough space to squeeze through.

"We’re almost there," he muttered to the farmer, urging the horse toward the thicket. He didn’t have time to wonder if it would work.

With a final push, Keal guided the horse through the brambles, dodging low-hanging branches. The moment they cleared the thicket, the rock formation loomed before them, its sheer walls rising sharply. It was the perfect vantage point, but there was no time to hesitate.

He dismounted swiftly, lifting the farmer off the horse. "Stay here. Keep low," Keal instructed, dragging the man toward the base of the rocks. He helped him find a small, concealed crevice in the stone where the man could hide.

Keal climbed a short way up the rocky surface, positioning himself where he had a clear view of the forest below. The sounds of the boar grew louder, closer now—its heavy footsteps shaking the earth, a growl reverberating through the trees.

Keal’s breath quickened, his hand gripping the hilt of his dagger, his eyes scanning the woods for any sign of movement.

And then, there it was—emerging from the trees, its massive form crashing through the underbrush, a wild gleam in its eyes. The boar was huge, its tusks gleaming in the filtered sunlight. It was a beast out of a nightmare, driven by something more than mere hunger.

Keal’s fingers tightened on his dagger. They were trapped, but he wasn’t going to go down without a fight.

Keal’s heart pounded in his chest as the boar approached, its massive frame pushing through the underbrush like a juggernaut. Its malevolent eyes locked onto the farmer’s hiding place, but Keal wasn’t about to let that happen. He quickly scanned his surroundings, looking for anything he could use to his advantage. The rocks offered some cover, but the boar was relentless.

The animal’s guttural snorts echoed through the forest, shaking the leaves above Keal’s head. He could hear its hooves crashing against the forest floor as it drew closer, each step an omen of what was to come. The adrenaline coursing through Keal’s veins sharpened his senses. He knew he had to act fast.

He turned to the farmer, who was trembling in his hiding spot, eyes wide with terror. “Stay down,” Keal whispered urgently. “Do not move. Whatever you do, don’t draw its attention.”

The farmer nodded, his face ashen, and pressed himself further into the shadows. Keal turned back to the approaching boar, his mind racing. There was no way they could outrun it, not with the terrain. And if the boar saw them both, it would charge—there was no doubt about that.

Keal needed a distraction.

He glanced around, eyes landing on a pile of rocks near the base of the formation. If he could cause a loud noise, he might be able to lead the boar away from the farmer. It was a risk, but it was the only chance they had.

Slowly, Keal moved toward the rocks, making as little noise as possible. His grip on his dagger tightened, but he wasn’t going to fight the beast head-on—not without a plan. He grabbed a few loose stones and carefully positioned them. With a sharp motion, he kicked the pile, sending rocks tumbling down the hillside with a loud crash.

The boar’s ears twitched, and for a moment, it hesitated, turning toward the sound. Keal’s heart leapt—his plan might actually work.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Without wasting any time, he dashed toward a nearby thicket, crouching low as the boar shifted its focus. The animal sniffed the air, its head jerking from side to side. It let out an inquisitive grunt and began to move in the direction of the noise, stomping toward the rocks where Keal had created the distraction.

Keal held his breath as he watched the boar’s massive form lumber away, momentarily forgetting about the man it had been hunting. His pulse raced—this was their chance.

He motioned to the farmer, signaling for him to move quickly. “Now!” Keal hissed.

The farmer crawled from his hiding spot, still visibly shaken but now focused on the urgency of the moment. Keal led him by the arm, keeping low and moving swiftly toward the far side of the rock formation. They had to stay ahead of the boar before it realized it had been tricked.

As they moved, Keal’s mind worked furiously. They needed a safe spot, and they needed to be quick. The cliffs were high, but there might be a path around the back that would lead to the higher ground. It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was all they had.

They crept along the rocky ledge, keeping their footsteps as light as possible. The boar’s roars echoed behind them, but its attention was still on the rocks below, distracted by the noise Keal had made. The forest felt unnervingly quiet now, as though the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.

Keal’s eyes scanned the forest ahead as they reached a narrow path that wound upward along the cliffs. It was steep, but it offered a way to gain the high ground and perhaps find a way out.

He turned to the farmer. “We climb,” he said, his voice firm.

The farmer nodded weakly, his fear still etched on his face, but Keal could see a glimmer of hope in his eyes. The man was exhausted, but he understood the gravity of the situation. They didn’t have time to argue.

Keal led the way up the path, his boots scrabbling for purchase on the loose gravel. The farmer followed behind, his breathing labored. Every now and then, Keal would glance back to make sure the man was keeping up, but the boar was still behind them, roaring with frustration as it realized it had been tricked.

As they climbed higher, Keal spotted the faint outline of a cave at the top of the cliff. It was small, hidden by a few large rocks, but it could offer them some temporary shelter. They just needed to make it there.

With renewed urgency, Keal picked up the pace. The path was steep and treacherous, but they had no other choice. The boar’s snarls echoed from below, growing more frantic as it circled the base of the rocks. It was getting closer.

Finally, Keal reached the cave’s entrance, pulling the farmer inside with him. They crouched low, their bodies pressed against the cool stone, as they waited in tense silence. The sounds of the boar’s rampage filled the air, but it was still far below them.

Keal’s breath was ragged as he leaned against the cave wall. They were safe, for the moment. But the boar was relentless, and there was no telling how long they would be able to stay hidden.

"Thank you," the farmer whispered, his voice barely audible as he looked at Keal with gratitude.

Keal nodded, his gaze distant. "Don’t thank me yet. We’re not out of this yet."

The cave was small and cramped, but it offered them some shelter from the beast below. Keal glanced at the farmer. "Rest for now. We need to think about what to do next."

The farmer nodded wearily and sank down against the rock, his eyes closing. Keal stayed on alert, his senses heightened. The boar might be close, but Keal knew it would be foolish to relax. They were still trapped in the woods, and there was no guarantee the boar would give up so easily.

But for now, they had a brief moment of reprieve. Keal had saved them—for the moment—but he knew that this was just the beginning of a far greater struggle. And somewhere, deep in the woods, the boar was waiting.